Surviving as the male protagonist's stepmother

#8 Debts to be repaid

Bushi...

…

전정국

…grave..

전정국

…what time is it,

Jungkook wakes up from his sleep, tossing and turning.

오후 4:30

전정국

…

전정국

How many hours did you sleep on the spot..;

전정국

..?

전정국

what,

Jungkook placed his hand on the wet towel on his forehead. It must have been three or four hours since he placed it there, but it still felt cold.

Perhaps, he knew that Kang Ji-yeon had changed his towel several times while he was sleeping.

Jungkook himself would have guessed it.

전정국

…

Useless…

…

..

.

"A guest has arrived"

…

강지연

Thank you for coming here

김석진

no,

김석진

But, what happened…

강지연

Oh.. I have something to show you, dad.

김석진

?

Swish.-

I handed Seokjin the contract I found in the study earlier.

김석진

…

강지연

Oppa, did you know about this too?

김석진

Yeah, to some extent

김석진

Because I've been by your side for quite some time

강지연

Then, why did you bring me into this house by entering into a contractual marriage with me?

김석진

Representative Jeon Il-guk was a responsible person.

김석진

..Kang Ji-yeon, the debt he feels towards you

김석진

Well... that's it

강지연

Did he do something wrong to me?

강지연

What the heck..?

김석진

ha…,

김석진

You didn't like me bringing this up again...

김석진

in fact..,

…

Clank.-

" What are you doing. "

…

강지연

?

강지연

Oh, you're awake?

전정국

..huh,

전정국

But, why are you here at this hour?

Jungkook glared at Seokjin with an annoyed look.

김석진

Ah, hello Jungkook

전정국

…Why are you here?

김석진

I stopped by for a moment because I had something to talk to Jiyeon about.

전정국

…

전정국

I'll get out of the way.

bang.-

Jungkook leaves the house like that.

강지연

..!?

Where is this kid going with his sick body...;;

But it was too late to catch him.

Because Jungkook has already left the house

강지연

…under,

What should I do with that reckless behavior?

김석진

…are you okay?

강지연

Oh, yeah

강지연

What… , was it like this once or twice?

김석진

… Jiyeon-ah,,

Seokjin looked at me with pitying eyes.

강지연

… anyway, so

강지연

Do I have a past with this contract?

강지연

Just tell me that quickly

김석진

..okay

김석진

It's a bit long if I talk about it...

…

_

_

_

*Kim Seok-jin's point of view

When I first met you

It's already been 20 years

You were 5 years old when you entered the orphanage. You were so strong and didn't even cry.

That little boy who lost his parents

…

"Is this the child who came this time?"

등장인물

Daycare Director | Yes, that's right.

등장인물

Orphanage Director | The child who lived alone with her father, without a mother, has now lost her father, so it's pitiful at such a young age...

등장인물

Why did Dad do that?

등장인물

The daycare director | According to the detective in charge, it was a traffic accident. He died instantly at the scene.

등장인물

Oh my, even the heavens are indifferent to that little thing.

등장인물

Orphanage Director | That's what I mean...

…

김석진

…

At that time, I was 10 years old.

That day, I overheard a conversation between the director of the daycare center and me about a child named Kang Ji-yeon.

Unlike me, who was born in an orphanage and grew up without parents, what would it have been like for a child whose parents suddenly disappeared?

To begin with, it must have been an unimaginable pain for a 10-year-old like me who grew up without parents.

however,

Even so, you, who were only five years old, didn't cry and were brave.

김석진

Hello, are you Yoon Ji-yeon? (*10 years old at the time)

윤지연

Hello (*5 years old)

김석진

You can talk comfortably

김석진

I am Kim Seokjin, I am 10 years old!

윤지연

I'm 5 years old

김석진

Then, call me oppa!

윤지연

huh!

윤지연

But does your brother live here?

김석진

Yeah, I was born here

윤지연

Ah, I see

윤지연

I have to stay here for a while too

김석진

for a moment..?

윤지연

Yeah, dad said he'd come pick me up after I slept for 7 nights.

김석진

okay?

Doesn't this kid know his dad is dead?

윤지연

Yeah! I made a promise with Dad and Jiyeon.

윤지연

It's warm after sleeping for 7 nights

윤지연

I told you to listen well and be good.

김석진

I see

윤지연

lol

Until then, Jiyeon was just a bright child.

7 nights later, until reality dawns on me

…

“Jiyeon, I need to say hello.”

등장인물

Orphanage Director | From today on, these people will be your parents.

???

“Hello, Jiyeon?”

윤지연

…

윤지연

…no

윤지연

…no..!!

등장인물

Daycare director | Jiyeon-ah..?

윤지연

My dad said he was coming!!

윤지연

no..!!

등장인물

Daycare director | … Jiyeon-ah,,

윤지연

My dad said so..!

윤지연

Jiyeon said she'd come after sleeping for 7 nights!!!

???

“Jiyeon, shall we go with you? Huh?”

윤지연

I don't like it..!! I don't like it!!!

Only then did Jiyeon burst into tears.

This is because the reason Jiyeon waited so bravely, believing that her father would come, has disappeared.

…

Well, in the end

Jiyeon was adopted by that woman.

Among the things the director and the adults at the orphanage said, I heard that there was a person who said he was Jiyoung's distant relative.

It took quite a long time for Jiyeon to be adopted.

Because Jiyeon Ha-do kept throwing a tantrum and said she wouldn't go

It took a long time for Jiyoung's heart to open.

For several days, he cried and cried, saying he didn't want to go, and he held onto the director's pants and hung on. Then one day, he tried to escape from the orphanage, but fell over the orphanage's iron fence and cracked his ankle.

Still, it was only towards the end of the day that I was able to see Jiyeon, who had become somewhat more stable.

Without crying, and with courage

Wasn't it...

He looked a little sad.

윤지연

Take care..., Oppa

김석진

Yeah, have a nice time there.

Actually, I was sad to break up with Jiyeon.

My heart was heavy the whole time saying goodbye to her, as she was my only sister in the orphanage.

윤지연

I'll go and write a letter..!

김석진

Yeah, even if you go, don't forget me..!

I gave Jiyeon a bracelet I made myself during art class at school as a token of my gratitude.

???

“Now, let’s go, Jiyeon.”

윤지연

..yes

like that,

It was the last time I saw young Jiyeon.

I graduated from elementary school, middle school, and high school there, and then I went to college with corporate sponsorship.

I happened to meet you again in Seoul.

After graduating from university, I worked as a teaching assistant for a short time.

I came across you, whom I had forgotten.

강지연

Seokjin, oppa..?

김석진

…?

김석진

Yoon Ji-yeon?

강지연

It's been a while, really

강지연

I almost didn't recognize you

김석진

It's me...

김석진

Where did all my childhood memories go?

강지연

What..? lol

김석진

Yoon Ji-yeon, you said you would definitely write a letter, but you forgot all about it.

김석진

I guess your new family did well

김석진

So much so that you even forgot to write me a letter?

강지연

Oh, sorry sorry.. haha

강지연

At that time, I was really out of my mind

강지연

Because I was busy adapting...

김석진

..but,

김석진

Still, it's nice to meet you like this

강지연

Yeah, I guess so haha

강지연

But, oppa

김석진

huh?

강지연

I'm not Yoon Ji-yeon anymore, I'm Kang Ji-yeon

김석진

ah..?

강지연

lol

From then on, Jiyeon and I started to keep in touch.

We never met privately, but as a brother and sister from the same orphanage,

We were on friendly terms, just keeping in touch.

but,

Now, they could never be just acquaintances like brother and sister.

Two years later,

It was when I was scouted by K Group, which had been sponsoring universities and graduate schools, and started working as the former CEO's personal administrative secretary.

…

전일국

Secretary Kim, do you know why I've been supporting you all this time?

김석진

Well... to promote the image through the sponsorship of K Group...

전일국

Well, you could say that was intentional to some extent.

김석진

..?

전일국

however,

전일국

What if this sponsorship is actually due to private influence?

김석진

If it's a private matter...

전일국

(snickers)

Jeon Il-gook smiled faintly between the back of his hand holding a cigarette.

전일국

By any chance, Yoon Ji-yeon... Ah,

전일국

No, do you remember the kid named Kang Ji-yeon?

전일국

I know we were pretty close at the orphanage

김석진

… Yes, it was my younger sibling from the orphanage

김석진

But, suddenly Jiyeon...what happened?

전일국

…

Ilguk paused for a moment, then opened his mouth.

전일국

You, that child

전일국

I hope you protect me

김석진

yes..?

What on earth do you want me to protect you from?

전일국

About a year from now

전일국

I will offer you a managing position.

김석진

yes??

전일국

By then, I won't be here.

전일국

Still, my son is too young to sit in this seat.

전일국

So I hope you will fill my empty spot.

김석진

What do you mean?

김석진

Sir, where are you going?

전일국

I'm going quite far, probably not coming back.

김석진

…

I could sense the representative's words.

전일국

At most, it was a year

김석진

…

김석진

What should I do?

전일국

Nature will explain it little by little as it comes.

김석진

…yes

What is Jiyeon's relationship with the CEO?

Should Jeon Il-gook have protected Jiyeon?

김석진

But..., sir

김석진

Let me ask you just one thing.

전일국

Something

김석진

What is your relationship with Jiyeon?

전일국

…

전일국

It's a debt I have to repay.

김석진

?

전일국

I owe that child a great debt of gratitude.

전일국

So... now I want to pay off that debt.

As he spoke, Jeon Il-gook's expression seemed somehow bitter.

…

..

.

_

_

_

Continued in the next episode>>>>

I think the story will be long, so I'll cut it off.

Hehehehe

If you send me a message, I'll come quickly.

So everyone, hands off.