Top Management

Chapter 228

After wandering through the department store, they arrived at the cinema just in time. Not only Nam Joyoon's parents but also the relatives who unexpectedly brought gifts, clutching them tightly, had faces flushed with excitement.

I also put on a tie.

My mother insisted on getting me a suit from the department store, so I had no choice but to pick something eye-catching.

Just as I was waiting for my arrival, Lee Kwanwoo came running.

"Team Leader!"

"I got held up due to some business. How about you, everything alright?"

He asked, glancing at Lee Songha, who was talking with the SBE representative. His family accompanying him consisted of his mother and older sister. He had been assured they would attend with the Neptune members. If he had known, he wouldn't have come alone.

"Nothing major."

Lee Kwanwoo replied with a troubled expression.

"Is it always like that over there?"

"As long as there's no trouble."

Lee Songha and her family spotted us and started approaching.

I cleared my throat lightly and put on a social smile.

"Hello, Mother."

"Team Leader Jung. Have you been well? I'm sorry for not keeping in touch often, leaving my child with you. Songha is still so naive, I'm sure you've had a hard time."

"Not at all. Songha, no matter what she does, is reliable."

Lee Songha's mother remained as she was. In the mornings, she would prepare freshly squeezed juice for her family, and on holidays, she seemed like she would enjoy dating with her daughter, arm in arm. She seemed like she had just stepped out of a public service announcement.

Lee Songha stood quietly by her mother's side.

Nam Joyoon's cousin brother gripped his phone tightly and hesitated.

"Unni, what should I do? She's so beautiful. I'm a real fan... Would it be okay if I took a picture with her? Just one."

"You can take as many as you want."

Lee Songha nodded readily. As the two of them leaned in for a selfie in front of the poster, Nam Joyoon's aunt and uncle quietly lined up as well.

Observing them, Lee Songha's mother turned her gaze to Nam Joyoon's parents.

"It looks like all the family members have come. Our child's father wanted to come too, but he had work. He didn't tell anyone at work that our daughter is an entertainer. He was worried it might not be good for her if rumors spread for no reason."

Nam Joyoon's father's face showed surprise at her words.

"We live in a small neighborhood, everyone knows that our child is in entertainment. Oh, even the mayor knows."

"The mayor?"

"I received a text from him congratulating our son on receiving an award from overseas. I just replied with a thank you... How did he know? Did you go around boasting to everyone?"

His mother teased him with narrowed eyes.

"Even if I warned you to be careful with your words outside, once you had a drink, your mouth would start running... Anyway, if there's any trouble because of your child's work, it's on you."

"I'm fine."

Nam Joyoon, who was standing a few steps away, said.

Lee Songha's mother smiled warmly at him.

"You're a good son. You have good character and ability. How happy your parents must be."

"Oh, in Korea these days, who doesn't know about Song, your child? How many good deeds did you do in your past life to have such daughters..."

Nam Joyoon's mother praised him, clapping her hands. Lee Songha's mother's face subtly stiffened. Soon, she gently put her hand on her eldest daughter's shoulder and softly embraced her.

"I must be lucky. My children all grew up well. Our eldest daughter graduated from Hye-moon Women's University last year. The second one was sent abroad to study art, and the youngest one is talented in sports, so she went that way."

"Oh... How are all your daughters so talented?"

"Songha, I was most worried about what she would do in the future, but I'm so lucky that luck followed her like this."

Luck?

His smiling face, which he had maintained, almost crumpled at that word.

Even though she had innate talent and luck, wasn't it too harsh to just lump all her efforts as luck?

Especially considering the difference in temperature between her and her other sisters.

It had always bothered him. The feeling of someone poking and looking down on what he cherished. It felt terrible.

"Team Leader."

He turned his head. Lee Songha was standing there, looking at him blankly.

"Aren't you supposed to greet the SBE representative? You were looking for him, right?"

"Oh. Right."

"We'll go into the theater soon."

Lee Songha smiled casually. Truly, she seemed unaffected.

***

Lee Songha's mother, sitting in the audience, looked around.

"I greeted the SBE Film and Forest Film representatives, as well as the other invited families. I even saw Team Leader Jung. Did I miss anyone? There were people from the agencies of supporting actors, should I talk to them too?"

"Why would Mom talk to people from other agencies?"

At the indifferent response, her mother pursed her lips.

"This child, always thinking what Mom thinks, right? Just in case, you know? Maybe there will be a use for their business cards later? Or are there no employees from bigger companies than W&U here?"

Lee Songha closed her eyes without a response.

Seeing her discomfort, her mother spoke as if scolding her.

"Songha, are you managing your money well? Money matters are sensitive, so Mom has been keeping quiet about it. Many entertainers get swindled by investing in this and that, did you know?"

"They said they would introduce me to an asset manager at the company."

Lee Songha replied without looking at her mother.

"You shouldn't rely solely on the company too much. The contract period is not long, so you need to be careful. If you're unsure about anything, ask your sister. Family is better than strangers. Do you think your sister would deceive you or take your money?"

"I'm fine. It's easier to leave it to the professionals."

Her mother, who had been about to say something, silenced her voice.

"And are you discussing your future plans with the company?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean the group you're in now. You should start thinking about organizing it..."

"I don't have any intention of doing that, so stop. I'll handle my own affairs."

Lee Songha cut her off abruptly. Her frustrated mother sighed and then turned her head, fixing her gaze on one side. Nam Joyoon's family and Jung Sunwoo were happily entering the audience seats, laughing and chatting.

Her mother whispered to her eldest daughter sitting on her left.

"Nam Joyoon's family seems close to Director Jung. Do you see them often? But even if it's a family-invited screening, it's unusual for so many relatives to come, isn't it? Quite unusual."

Lee Songha straightened up in her chair, lifting her back from leaning on it.

"Why are you talking about other families? How uncultured."

"What? What did you just say?"

Her mother's face stiffened as if she had heard nonsense.

"Why? You know your mom values culture."

"Lee Songha, why are you talking to your mom like that?"

This time, her eldest daughter admonished her.

"Look at what she's saying. Hey, just because of you, I went to the salon with Mom and spent a lot of money on my hair. We came here for this."

"Did I ask you to? You didn't need to come."

"Other actors attend with their families, why are we the only ones not coming? Don't you have a family?"

Her mother nudged her.

"If you're alone in a place like this, what do you think others will think? Maybe that family isn't on good terms with each other. You're a public figure now, and you still think like that!"

Someone in the front row glanced back. Sensing the surrounding gazes, her mother, conscious of them, forced a strained smile again.

"Let's talk about it when we get home."

"I'm tired. I'm going straight to the accommodation."

"You...!"

Her mother pursed her lips, which she had just carefully applied lipstick to. The eldest daughter chuckled as if amused. Amidst the tense atmosphere among the family members, Lee Songha alone casually watched the screen.

As soon as the screening ended, her mother took Lee Songha away as if dragging her to the company van. Since cafes attract a lot of attention, it was an inevitable choice.

After sending her eldest daughter, whose mood was soured, back first to soothe her, her mother and Lee Songha were left alone in the van, and her mother seemed much calmer.

"You've been acting strange lately. You don't come home, you don't keep in touch, it's like you're protesting or something. When you were at home, you weren't like this at all. You're becoming more and more impolite. People used to praise you for being successful, but now they say you've changed."

After pouring out the words she had held back, her mother's voice softened.

"Tell me why you're acting like this. Is it because work is tough? Or is there something your mom did that upset you?"

At the end, she glanced surreptitiously at Lee Songha's expression.

Lee Songha leaned her head against the backrest.

"Yeah. I've changed."

"What?"

"When I was at home, that's how it was. The eldest sister is smart, the second sister is talented in drawing, the youngest is good at sports. But I'm just stupid, untalented, and don't know anything except being a pretty face."

As she spoke, Lee Songha looked at her reflection in the rearview mirror.

"So I used to think a lot about how I could also be something my mom and dad could be proud of. But not anymore. Now, I'm too busy living my own life."

There was a silence. Lee Songha blinked slowly with a puzzled expression while speaking.

Her deeply sunken pupils even looked somewhat bored.

"And Dad... Dad, when I see you, I remember when our family was struggling the most, when you begged Aunt and Uncle for help. So that's why you're having a hard time."

The soft tone that comforted her child-like gently turned rigid again.

"Mom, it's not because we resent you. Even though you're an adult, you should understand this much now."

"Yeah. I understand."

Lee Songha replied with sunglasses on.

"Come to think of it, maybe I'll just keep living as I have been. Like a guest."

"What?"

"If I don't have any schedules, I'll come home for Chuseok. See you then."

"Songha!"

Lee Songha opened the car door with a clack. Her mother, who was about to follow her down with a raised voice, felt the piercing gaze from a distance and shrunk back.

As she took a step, Lee Songha paused.

"And."

Her voice was somewhat heavy.

"I didn't go to America because I wanted to. I said I didn't want to go."

"Songha, that's...!"

"I wasn't comfortable at all while I was in America."

This time, Lee Songha took firm strides.

She walked confidently this time.

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