Chapter 17: A Famous Scarf

Yehyeon was in serious thought about how to get rid of the reporter. But to Yeseo, a carefree middle school girl and a two-year fan of celebrities, a reporter hanging around the house wasn’t that big of a deal. Her interests lay slightly elsewhere.

“Oppa, what’s this scarf? I haven’t seen it before,” Yeseo said as she lightly lifted the unfamiliar accessory.

It was a completely ordinary red scarf, but it seemed oddly out of place around Yehyeon’s neck. Her brother, who claimed to dislike flashy colors and only wore dark shades like gray, black, and brown, would never pick something like that.

“Don’t tell me this…”

“It’s Lee Jeong’s. He said it was cold… he lent it to me, so I wore it.”

“Really?” Yeseo’s face lit up as she started to untie the scarf from Yehyeon’s neck.

Should he be glad she wasn’t scared, or should he urgently teach her about the dangers of stalking? Yehyeon watched with a complicated expression as Yeseo fiddled with the fabric.

Buzz—

[ ♡: Did you get home safe? PM 10:07 ]

He needed to return it. He was wondering if it was okay to give it back all rumpled when Lee Jeong’s text arrived. Watching Yeseo happily wrap the scarf around her own neck, he felt that it shouldn’t stay in the house long.

[ Got home safe. PM 10:08 ] [ I’ll wash the scarf and give it back. PM 10:08 ]

He had to get rid of it quickly. If he left it at home, that immature Shin Yeseo would probably hug the scarf and try to sleep with it.

[ ♡: You don’t have to return it. PM 10:10 ] [ ♡: Keep wearing it. It’s good quality. PM 10:10 ]

It did seem like a nice item—soft texture, neat finishing. It felt qualitatively different from the scarves Yehyeon knitted himself and wore all winter.

“Hehe. Kang Lee Jeong’s scarf…”

But what did it matter? A scarf just needed to warm the neck. And seeing how things were going, Shin Yeseo would probably secretly wear it before he even got a chance. Besides, Yehyeon didn’t really like standing out. Wear a red scarf? Even if someone paid him, he wouldn’t want to.

[ ♡: Photo PM 10:14 ] [ ♡: Couple item haha PM 10:14 ]

Just as he was about to refuse, a photo arrived from Lee Jeong. In the picture, Lee Jeong was wearing the exact same scarf that Yeseo was now happily wrapped in, staring off somewhere. It wasn’t a selfie, and judging by the hairstyle, it didn’t seem recent.

[ ♡: That scarf is pretty famous, so wearing it won’t hurt. PM 10:15 ]

What difference did a famous scarf make? At most, it was a luxury brand item. But since he was insisting this much, there was no reason not to wear it.

Yehyeon said to Yeseo, who was looking at herself in the mirror with the scarf on, “Don’t wear that to school.”

“What? Do you think I’m a kid? Why would I steal something you got from your boyfriend?”

You are a kid.

“I just tried it because I was curious. I’m not an elementary schooler. Of course I know better,” Yeseo grumbled as she took off the scarf and carefully folded it. She looked reluctant, but as she said, she didn’t seem to covet it.

“Lee Jeong might come over when he has time. I don’t know for sure, so I can’t tell you when.”

“Next time he comes, make sure you tell me in advance so I can prepare.”

“Prepare what?”

“Well… clean the house or something,” Yeseo said, looking forward to her next meeting with Lee Jeong.

“Okay.”

He knew his sister liked movies, but he hadn’t realized she was such a big fan of an actor, especially Kang Lee Jeong. It was an unwanted connection, but seeing his sister happy made Yehyeon feel good, too.

“Promise?” Yeseo held out her pinky.

Still a kid. Yehyeon chuckled and linked his pinky with hers.

“Mr. Yehyeon, your scarf is so pretty.”

“Oh my, isn’t that the limited edition M Company released last year? The one that caused a stir when Kang Lee Jeong wore it?”

The next day, just as Lee Jeong had predicted, Yehyeon’s red scarf drew everyone’s attention the moment he arrived at work.

“This is a limited edition of 300, so it’s incredibly hard to find. Where on earth did you get it?” Chief Seo, known around the office for having a big mouth, appeared with a fuss and started examining Yehyeon’s scarf. “If you put this up on secondhand forums with the current premium… really, even at 1 million won—no, 2 million won—people would line up to buy it in a second.”

What was so special about a piece of fabric? Yehyeon looked down at his scarf, dumbfounded.

“Ah, well, you’re not just anyone, you’re Kang Lee Jeong’s partner… Wait, is this the exact scarf Kang Lee Jeong wore?”

Yehyeon, who had thought a scarf couldn’t be that famous, nodded, reflecting on his shallow thinking. After all, clothes could soar in price with a collector’s premium. He had firm tastes and never looked into brands he didn’t like, but M Company was famous enough that even Yehyeon knew it.

“Oh my. Kang Lee Jeong is so sweet. Our new employee Yehyeon always walked around with a bare neck without a scarf, so he even gave him his own… If I had a boyfriend like that, I’d have no wishes left,” Chief Seo said with a blissful face, as if imagining Lee Jeong putting the scarf on her.

“Oh, I didn’t know it was expensive… No wonder it felt so soft.”

Even with just that much, the big-mouthed Chief Seo would spread the rumor all over the company and the internet. Yehyeon buried his face in the fabric slightly, pretending to be shy.

“Of course it’s soft. Look how much it costs. Anyway, I envy you, Yehyeon. Be careful not to lose it.” Chief Seo lightly touched the fringe with her fingertip as she spoke. She had a loose tongue, but she wasn’t openly rude. “I wish I could meet a man like Kang Lee Jeong, or at least someone who resembles his toe.”

The small morning commotion ended like that. Yehyeon carefully took off the scarf, hung it beside his desk, and started processing documents.

Buzz—

After a while, a small vibration lit up his phone screen. The notification appeared over Lee Jeong’s photo, showing a message.

[ ♡: Did you wear the scarf? AM 11:28 ]

He had suddenly contacted him just to ask about that. Yehyeon chuckled and typed back.

[ This scarf is super famous. AM 11:29 ] [ I heard I could sell it for a lot. AM 11:29 ]

Now more comfortable with Lee Jeong, Yehyeon sent a joking remark. Was this really worth 2 million won? Yehyeon glanced around and started slacking off to search online.

M Company Kang Lee Jeong scarf. Would that bring up results? Half curious, half greedy, he searched, and as if waiting, countless posts filled the screen.

#KangLeeJeongPick #MCompanyLimitedScarf Selling Price? #Actor #KangLeeJeong Wore During Filming #MCompanyScarf #Limited

Among the posts, he clicked one with relatively few hashtags and read the scarf’s background information. It was a high-end scarf released by M Company in a limited run of 300. Because it was from an expensive brand but sold at a relatively accessible price, even customers who didn’t usually buy from the brand had rushed to get it. Existing M Company customers also coveted it. The product was famous just for existing, but there was another reason its premium had soared.

[ The scarf worn by actor Kang Lee Jeong in his breakout film ‘About the Things I Had to Know.’ That very scarf featured in the heartbreaking beach confession scene everyone remembers. ^^ ]

The movie About the Things I Had to Know was Kang Lee Jeong’s first 10-million-viewer film and was widely considered his representative work. From the moment Kang Lee Jeong appeared in that climax scene wearing this scarf, the product’s premium skyrocketed, and red scarves had even become a trend for a while.

[ In one interview, it was mentioned that this scarf was actually actor Kang Lee Jeong’s personal treasure. ]

A personal treasure. Well, the quality was good, and it was expensive… There was no reason to dislike it.

Buzz—

Yehyeon, who had been staring blankly at a photo of Lee Jeong wearing the scarf, was startled by the vibration and looked at his phone. Jeez. What was he doing staring at that for so long? Yehyeon closed the search window, brought up an Excel file, and checked the text.

[ ♡: Keep it. You can sell it if you want. AM 11:51 ]

The answer seemed oddly cold. Yehyeon tilted his head. Well, maybe it was just his imagination.

[ Really? I heard I could get 2 million won just by selling it. AM 11:51 ]

[ ♡: I really don’t care if you sell it. I won’t ask for it back. As long as it’s after the contract period, do whatever you want. AM 11:52 ]

Even in the second reply, there was no trace of attachment to the scarf. So the “personal treasure” talk was just for the broadcast. Well, it didn’t matter.

[ Alright. Then I’ll do what I want. AM 11:54 ]

Yehyeon replied casually and started typing his work data again.

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