I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

* * *

Huijae read a book in the vast, silent house. Music flowed softly from the LP record. The elegant melody blended with the sound of rain, making for a delightfully soothing harmony.

She no longer attended the gatherings of the society ladies.

As the daughter of Hanamura who had caused such a scandal, it was obvious that the looks directed at her would not be kind—no matter that she was Taejin’s wife.

She did not want to bring harm to the sewing factory she had only just managed to establish. The clothes produced there were now selling faster than they could be made.

Of course, that was thanks to Taeseok’s influence.

Huijae gazed out the window.

Why did she feel so powerless?

Her life was incomparably happier than before. And yet... why?

Perhaps it was because she had accomplished nothing on her own.

The sewing factory she had boldly started could barely operate without Taeseok’s help, and this peaceful and wealthy life she lived now could not exist without Taejin’s support.

As Huijae stared blankly outside, a familiar car entered her view.

“What were you reading?”

Today as well, something was in his hand for Huijae. Chestnut jelly sweets he had bought from a famous shop in Jongno.

Taejin placed them on a tray together with pear-blossom tea. On the tea table made of fine wood, a teacup decorated with blooming flowers was set down.

“How are you feeling?”

“As you know, I have nothing to complain about.”

“And your throat? How is it?”

Whenever it rained, Taejin always checked on Huijae with particular care.

“It’s fine.”

At her answer, Taejin smiled and lifted the pear-blossom tea to his lips. After savoring the warm and fragrant drink at just the right temperature, he set the teacup down silently.

“You will go to the night school again this evening, correct?”

“Yes. I should.”

“My wife truly is diligent.”

Taejin gently pulled Huijae’s hand toward him. Then he brought it to his cheek.

“Please stay like this for just a moment.”

Come to think of it, his face seemed rougher than usual. As if he had not slept properly.

“...Have you been very busy?”

These days Taejin sometimes sighed while making phone calls somewhere, and there were often nights when morning came before he returned home.

He was no longer the relaxed and easygoing man he used to be.

“Even so, I still have time to drink tea with my wife.”

Taejin rubbed his cheek against Huijae’s soft hand, as if trying to memorize this moment.

“Wife.”

“Yes.”

“I... think I will become very, very busy.”

He slowly pulled her hand toward him. Huijae’s light body drew close until she was pressed right against him. Their shoulders touched.

“It’s because of the brewery, isn’t it? Did something go wrong? Did another accident happen when you were acquiring it?”

If something happened to the brewery, the people working there would be thrown into the streets overnight.

Their entire livelihood could collapse because of Hanamura.

Huijae felt as if a heavy stone had settled in her chest.

“No. There is nothing wrong with the brewery. From now on, things will only improve.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Have I ever lied to you?”

Huijae looked anxious, as if she needed to hear confirmation two or three times. Seeing his wife act so unusually clingy, Taejin let out a quiet laugh.

That innocent and clear face reminded him of the girl she had once been, with her short hair.

“The Joseon workers there will not lose their jobs. I promise you that.”

The warmth of their touching shoulders was comforting. Taejin drew in a deep breath.

“So please... just tell me once to do my best.”

“Yes. Do your best.”

“Tell me I’m doing the right thing.”

“You are doing well.”

After hearing that the brewery had no problems, Huijae’s expression visibly ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) relaxed. Taejin smiled softly.

His face slowly moved closer to hers. Huijae closed her eyes. One of his hands still held hers, while the other gently cupped her cheek.

His lips landed on her cheek.

“Thank you.”

After placing the brief kiss, Taejin slowly pulled back.

“When my wife says something like that... I feel as if I can become a wonderful husband.”

His voice sounded as though it had been soaked by rain as he smiled.

* * *

Huijae stepped out into the pitch-dark road at night. The rain still showed no sign of stopping.

When she reached the front of the factory, she took a quiet breath.

That was when—

“I heard... the father of the night school teacher got arrested...”

The workers who came to learn to read whispered quietly among themselves.

“What nonsense are you talking about? If he’s our teacher’s father, then he must be a respectable man!”

“You don’t know anything. I heard he runs enormous breweries in Busan and Jinhae—and he got caught secretly committing tax evasion!”

“From what I heard, that wasn’t even the only charge.”

Huijae froze in place.

The conversation from around the corner continued.

“Then... does that mean our teacher might get arrested too?”

“Hey! Words become reality if you say them. Watch your mouth!”

“No... I just meant I’d be worried if she had to go through questioning or something...”

Sighs rose from here and there.

“Still, thanks to the teacher I can at least write my own name. My mother keeps bragging that someone special came out of our house.”

At those words, something in Huijae’s chest ached.

“My house too. Everyone used to be completely illiterate, but now I read things aloud for them. But why do these newspapers still use so many Chinese characters? Every time my father asks what one means, I break into a cold sweat.”

Small laughter burst out.

“Lately I can even read the signs in the market. Back then they used to overcharge me. Maybe you can tell who can’t read. Damn it.”

Listening to the workers’ honest thoughts from behind the wall, Huijae’s heart pounded painfully.

“Anyway, let’s not say nonsense in front of the teacher. No matter whose daughter she is, she’s still our teacher.”

Their voices carried affection and trust toward their teacher.

Huijae felt as if she might burst into tears and covered her mouth with one hand.

Then she turned around and walked away quickly.

Right now, she had to do what she could.

Clutching the Joseon language textbook tightly to her chest, Huijae entered the factory.

The rain fell all day long, as if washing away every bit of filth in the world.

* * *

News of Taejin’s brilliant success reached Taeseok’s ears every single day.

A man the nation could not do without.

The man who would make the ruined Seoul shine the brightest.

“....”

All the spotlights were aimed at him.

If Taejin was light, then Taeseok was darkness.

The brighter Taejin shone, the darker Taeseok became—like a shadow cast behind him.

“....”

Taeseok worked silently in his office.

As always.

He read documents with lifeless eyes.

Whenever he unconsciously thought of someone, his breathing would grow tight. The necklace he had never removed felt as if it were strangling his throat.

“Ha....”

Even as hyperventilation seized him and he gasped for breath, Taeseok could not leave his desk.

Because this was the only love he could offer Huijae.

He could no longer look at her or dream about her.

But it had been something Huijae herself had asked of him, and he did not want to let it slip away.

That was the only reason he could not step down from this position.

Becoming a pitiful man who had lost everything and fallen into ruin in front of Huijae—

He would rather die.

A successful businessman.

A man capable of expanding the sewing factory Huijae wanted as much as he pleased.

If he could appear like that in her eyes, then he would gladly suffocate to death right here.

Even if people called him foolish, it could not be helped.

Just then, as Taeseok covered his face with one hand and struggled to breathe, someone came to see him.

“...Why are you here...?”

It was an old man wearing shabby clothes.

The man who used to act as a butler beside Hanamura.

The same man who had stood beside Hanamura and egged him on when Hanamura came to the harbor and slapped Taeseok across the face.

“I... know... everything.”

The arrogant air he once carried was gone.

A man who had spoken only Japanese before now tried to please Taeseok with awkward and clumsy Joseon speech.

He limped as he approached.

“If President Gi... I can trust you... wise choice... I am necessary person.”

Taeseok frowned in disgust.

The man’s groveling attitude was revolting. The past where he had been trampled by someone like this remained painfully vivid.

“I have... gift for President Gi. Important information. I can become your fukushin, your right-hand man.”

The man’s eyes darted busily around, as if measuring Taeseok’s success. Everything in the office was luxurious, and it seemed he had finished calculating.

“Get to the point.”

“It is here. The documents... I kept safe.”

Like a snake, he ran his tongue over his dry lips and grinned. A rustling sound came from the envelope in his hand.

“Hanamura... and Robert... your father’s crimes.”

* * *

Taeseok ran straight to Taejin’s office.

“President Gi? Did you make an appointment?”

“Move.”

“Our president instructed that no one should enter right now—President Gi! This will really cause trouble!”

Bang!

Taeseok shoved the door open violently.