Chapter 46: The Man Han Jung-woo

The house, after so long, remained unchanged.

It was vast, imposing, and utterly unfamiliar. While it was the place Yoo Seo-jin had been born and raised, to me, who merely wore his outward appearance, it felt like an endlessly uncomfortable space.

I had returned in a hurry, my suitcase filled with clothes haphazardly crammed inside. Handing it over to a servant, I made my way directly to my room.

The moment the door closed, I collapsed onto the bed. Despite its owner’s absence, the room had been meticulously maintained; the duvet felt soft and airy, carrying a faint scent of fabric softener.

‘I’ve returned after all.’

Gazing at the familiar ceiling, the reality of my return truly sank in. I had been reluctant to come back, but the news of my mother collapsing had forced my hasty journey home.

To put it simply, my mother was safe. She had suffered from headaches occasionally before, but this time, the intensity seemed to have worsened considerably.

The doctor attributed it to stress, and one particular reason immediately sprang to mind. Although my father said little, he seemed to share my exact thoughts.

‘It’s probably because of me.’

For my mother’s peace of mind, I decided to stay at home for the time being. My father suggested I end my wandering and return permanently, but I offered no reply.

‘Yes, I’ll only stay for three months.’

Initially, I had planned for just a month. However, seeing my mother’s complexion, much paler than before, after such a long absence, convinced me to extend my stay.

I was not Yoo Seo-jin, yet to them, I was. Therefore, despite the discomfort, I resolved to play the part of the Yoo Seo-jin they knew, if only for my mother’s sake.

‘I couldn’t even contact Jae-hyun before coming.’

I had discarded my phone at the airport upon my return, making it impossible to contact Jae-hyun. I had planned to rest for a day before buying a new one, but then I realized it probably wouldn’t be necessary.

‘He’ll find me eventually.’

I would just explain the situation to Jae-hyun when the time came. It wasn’t just anything; my mother had collapsed, necessitating my urgent return. He wasn’t the kind of person who wouldn’t understand that.

Beyond that… I deliberately tried not to think. All lingering regrets had been cast aside the moment I left that place. While forgetting completely might be difficult, I vowed not to yearn for it anymore.

Like a scene from a drama, I had ended up spending a night with Han Jung-woo. Yet, the aftermath was entirely different. Yoo Seo-jin had attempted an absurd blackmail, claiming pregnancy, but such a notion was utterly baseless.

I had drawn a clear line countless times, stating it was the end, and he had accepted it. Our connection had concluded that very night.

That fact remained immutable.

‘We’ll never meet again.’

Cutting off the intrusive thoughts, I curled up, rubbing my aching abdomen. It seemed traveling by plane before the aftereffects of last night had fully subsided had taken a toll.

Of course, given how roughly that large thing had stirred inside me, it was hardly surprising. Hoping the lingering effects would quickly fade, I gently massaged my lower belly. The pain finally subsided after half a day.

****

A week later, my mother was discharged from the hospital.

Upon her return home, she sought me out at every opportunity. Consequently, spending the entire day having tea with her in the garden became my primary routine, much like when I had first inhabited Yoo Seo-jin’s body.

What was fortunate, however, was the passage of over half a year. Unlike before, when I knew nothing and merely echoed my mother’s words, now I could naturally navigate most conversations, even without knowing the full story.

“It’s truly wonderful to have my son here.”

My mother would often take my hand and utter these words whenever she had the chance. Seeing her shy smile, a pang of guilt struck me. I hadn’t told either of them, but I planned to leave after three months.

Therefore, I wished to alleviate my mother’s worries, if only for the duration of my stay. This was the last duty I could perform for them as Yoo Seo-jin.

Today, too, I had spent the entire day with my mother before coming up to my room for a short rest. I wasn’t usually very talkative, but trying to keep up with my mother’s chatter felt as if I had exhausted all my words for the day.

Unable to fight off the fatigue, I drifted off for a short nap. When I awoke, it was already time for dinner. Feeling a growing hunger, I started to leave my room for the kitchen, only to run into Yoo Ju-jin.

‘He said he was on a business trip.’

He had mentioned he’d be back in a few more days, so his current presence suggested his work had finished sooner than expected. Or perhaps he had rushed back after hearing of my return.

Knowing neither of us wanted to see the other, I briefly considered retreating to my room. However, since we would inevitably encounter each other for the next three months, whether we liked it or not, I decided to be brazen.

“Long time no see, brother.”

As I casually waved my hand, Yoo Ju-jin’s face crumpled in disgust. He reacted like that just at my presence; a full-blown commotion would erupt if he knew I was settling in.

Of course, I had no such intention.

“You and that woman are equally shameless. Like mother, like son.”

“As I’ve told you before, you and I share the same father. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t forget that.”

“Who would ever associate with someone like you—”

Yoo Ju-jin, who had instinctively started to contradict me, paused abruptly. Unable to deny his own bloodline, he flushed crimson and spun around, retreating swiftly to his room.

‘How tiresome.’

The thought of these power struggles continuing every time we met already exhausted me. I genuinely wished for peace, but my opponent seemed to have no such inclination.

I truly desired nothing that Yoo Seo-jin had coveted, so why wouldn’t they believe me? Neither Yoo Ju-jin nor Han Jung-woo.

‘Stop thinking about it.’

With a deep sigh, I dismissed the name that had abruptly surfaced and continued down the stairs towards the dining room.

My mother and father had gone out for an intimate dinner together, leaving only Yoo Ju-jin and me to eat.

However, it was inconceivable that we would sit side-by-side, so only my place setting was arranged on the dining table.

‘Delicious again today.’

Back there, I had usually filled my stomach with sandwiches or simple fare, but eating Korean food at home truly revived my appetite.

Perhaps that was why, lately, I would quickly finish one bowl of rice and even eat a second. Today, after scraping my bowl clean, my stomach felt distinctly distended.

“Thank you for the meal.”

Rising from the table, I intended to go up to my room but decided instead to step out into the garden for a digestive stroll. Unlike that place, which was hot all year round, Korea was experiencing a cool, autumnal breeze.

Feeling invigorated, I stood alone in the garden, closing my eyes and letting the wind wash over me. A rustle sounded as fallen leaves scattered across the ground.

‘Peaceful.’

The chaotic last few weeks felt like a dream. In retrospect, the quiet and calm days during my time there had been far more numerous, yet the few weeks when Han Jung-woo appeared had been far more intense.

From our reunion, which he insisted was a coincidence, to our final farewell, it had been a mere two weeks. I had spent over half a year in that place. It was truly strange; I had felt those few weeks stretched on much longer.

Opening my eyes, I continued my walk through the garden. After three months, I would need to decide which country to leave for. Last time, I had impulsively taken the first available flight, but this time, I intended to formulate a proper plan.

Instead of settling in one place from the start, I planned to drift from one location to another until I found the one I liked best. While not as wealthy as Han Jung-woo, Yoo Seo-jin certainly had enough money to live a life of leisure.

‘This time, I’ll truly live a life of extravagant spending.’

Despite my words, I didn’t know how to enjoy lavish entertainment, disliked meeting people, and wasn’t even particularly materialistic. The only “extravagant spending” I was capable of was traveling.

If it had been Yoo Seo-jin, he would have indulged in extravagance more spectacularly than anyone. I was struck anew by how profoundly different I was from him. No wonder acting as him had been so challenging. The memory of having an unusually high number of retakes while portraying Yoo Seo-jin resurfaced.

‘Something I want…’

Even trying to conjure something, nothing specific came to mind. Before portraying Yoo Seo-jin, I had already gained considerable renown as an actor specializing in villainous roles, earning more money than I’d anticipated. Yet, most of it simply accumulated.

I drove a moderately priced domestic car, and apart from clothes I received as sponsorships or those I modeled, I had never really desired to buy any. Watches held no interest for me either.

On holidays, I would simply hole up at home watching movies, or, after I started dating him, I would only go on dates. Consequently, I had no discernible hobbies. Unlike Yoo Seo-jin, Yoo Joon-hee was truly a monotonous person.

‘I’ve lived a truly uninteresting life.’

With plenty of time still ahead, I decided to ponder what true extravagant spending entailed later. I continued my walk through the garden until my distended belly felt flat again. On my way back from the stroll, catching the lingering scent of food from the kitchen, I found myself hungry once more.

‘Am I destined to gain weight?’

It seemed I would have to reduce my food intake starting tomorrow.