Once it's peeled off
Chapter 26
The words telling her to act as she normally would for as long as possible kept circling in her mind for some reason. What could he have been trying to see by making such a request?
After choosing the platinum ring, she pushed the other ring box back toward Tae-oh.
He was smiling, but she couldn't tell what he was thinking at all.
Could it be? Is he actually suspecting that she is Hoyeon?
That’s ridiculous.
Hana stared at the vongole pasta placed in front of her.
When they first met on their blind date, Seo Tae-oh had ordered steak for her.
“…….”
Soul-swapping was the kind of thing that happened in dramas or movies. Who would actually think that in reality?
Even while telling herself it was impossible, she couldn't shake the dizzying feeling.
Tae-oh reached out and slid the platinum ring onto her small finger.
“I hope there will never be a reason for me to take this ring back.”
As he gently stroked her slender ring finger while saying that, she looked up.
What reason could there be for him to take the ring back? The word that immediately came to mind was ‘divorce,’ but surely that wasn't what he meant.
Is this crazy man actually convinced that I am Hoyeon?
If I were to say I’m Hana, not Hoyeon, would he try to take the ring back?
Then is he just testing me?
By pulling out a ring that Hoyeon would like? Why go to such lengths?
“That won’t happen.”
She replied dryly, then pulled her hand away from Tae-oh’s, feeling confused.
“Probably.”
As Hana added that quietly and made a move to focus on her meal, he returned to his seat without another word.
As she continued eating, she glanced at Tae-oh. Their eyes met immediately, as if he had been observing her the whole time.
“Why?”
He asked. Seo Tae-oh seemed to be in quite a good mood right now.
“It’s nothing.”
Blinking her eyelids as if she were flustered—or perhaps not—she let out a small sigh.
Does he really suspect that I am Jung Hoyeon?
How?
She couldn't understand it. Why on earth?
It wasn't as if she had to avoid being caught by him as Jung Hoyeon.
But regardless of that, it was hard to grasp.
Yes. Even if she conceded a hundred times, he could be suspicious. Even the JK Group Royal Family members would jokingly ask, “Are you Jung Hoyeon?”
However.
Seo Tae-oh was observing her with genuine caution.
As if it were imperative that I be Jung Hoyeon.
In this world, the original Jung Hoyeon was already a dead person. They had even held the funeral.
“Ms. Jung Hana.”
The world was moving on just as it always did, as if nothing had happened.
She had been too deep in thought to hear Tae-oh calling her.
He began to watch her slowly, as if he had decided to leave her alone while she was lost in thought, staring at her food.
“…….”
Is there a reason he needs me to be Hoyeon? Why?
Does he want me to reveal that I am Hoyeon? If I said so, what would he demand?
“Thank you for the meal.”
Hana stood up, frowning slightly as a headache began to throb.
“And thank you for the ring.”
She smiled faintly, lifting her left hand to show him, and offered a farewell.
“I’m sorry, but I’ll be going now.”
She was tired, having had a lot of work lately. Thinking she would rest for a moment and then organize her thoughts again, she looked down at Tae-oh, who was still seated.
His lips parted.
“Goodbye. Let’s meet again.”
His lips curved into a long arc. The dimple beneath his lip was noticeable.
Whenever they ran into each other at events a couple of times a year after graduation, it had been pleasant, and they had talked comfortably. And whenever they parted, he had always said exactly that.
She watched him blankly and answered as if bewitched. Just like some other time.
“Yes. Let’s meet again.”
Seo Tae-oh’s smile deepened.
To think that someone could recognize me even though I look completely different?
The unexpected fact made her feel somewhat unsettled.
***
Back at JK Furniture, Hana leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes for a moment.
She felt dizzy for no reason.
It was because she had never expected anyone to recognize her. Although he hadn't explicitly said he had figured it out yet.
“Haa.”
A sigh escaped her. She slowly wiped her face with her hands, stood up, and headed toward the window.
One side of the representative’s office was made entirely of floor-to-ceiling glass.
Below, she could see a forest of tall buildings, roads, and countless cars and people. She watched the small, moving things for a while before staring at her own reflection in the window.
“Anyone can see it’s Jung Hana.”
A face that wasn't her own, which she had seen until she turned thirty-four.
It was the face of the person she had loved and cherished the most, but at the same time, the person who had denied everything and been deceived.
It was something she herself still couldn't believe. That she was inside someone else’s body.
It was truly an absurd thing, yet he anticipated it and suspected it?
“Maybe it’s just déjà vu.”
It would be better if he just asked outright. Perhaps she was just imagining things on her own because of the ambiguous situation.
As she clicked her tongue and shook her head, a loud crashing sound came from beyond the office door.
Bang!
She pulled her gaze from the window and turned toward the door of the representative’s office.
“Hey! Jung Hana!”
It was Jung Jisu, whom she had expected to visit at least once. Hana walked calmly to the door, opened it, and looked toward the secretary’s office.
The staff were looking toward the inside of the representative’s office, following Jisu, who had caused the commotion. Managing Director Choi was doing the same.
After scanning the secretary’s office, she spoke.
“Secretary Park.”
“Yes, understood.”
Secretary Park, who understood Hana’s words perfectly, nodded, stood up, and led the staff away.
“Go have some good coffee.”
That much time would be enough. Realizing the hidden meaning, Secretary Park bowed slightly.
Managing Director Choi seemed curious about why Jung Jisu had come in such a rage.
He probably thought that even if he asked, she wouldn't tell him. He would likely try to find out separately using Managing Director Kim.
Only after confirming that all the staff had left did she close the office door.
“What brings you here?”
“You, you… what are you?”
Having barged in, Jisu had been watching the staff, but now that they were all gone, she finally opened her mouth.
“Why are you using Jayden as a model?”
Her high-pitched voice rang loudly through the office.
“Is there a reason I shouldn't?”
Hana asked, raising the corners of her mouth.
At her feigned ignorance, Jisu’s eyes rolled back in a frenzy.
“You. Do you know?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
If she had used him as a model without knowing, it would be like giving herself away out of guilt, so Jisu couldn't easily speak.
“That painting. Where is it?”
“Which one?”
But no matter how she thought about it, it seemed like Hana was pretending not to know, so she let out a shrill cry.
“You, really! Are you going to pretend you don’t know?”
As Hana smiled broadly, Jisu stiffened, feeling a chill.
“This girl, she’s a scary one.”
Jisu muttered and took a step back. After closing her mouth for a moment and watching Hana, Jisu swallowed hard and said,
“Who else knows?”
That must have been what she was most curious about. Jung Hana knew about the past she had thoroughly hidden. Then who else knew? Jisu’s face turned deathly pale.
“Does Grandmother know?”
It seemed that whether Grandmother knew was more important than whether her parents knew.
To think she would hope for a large share of the spoils when she didn't even have the capacity for it. Like her uncle Dong-yun, her greed was great.
“Know what?”
“Ugh…!”
Jisu looked annoyed, as if the circular conversation was frustrating. She trembled, clenching her fists, and let out a deep sigh.
“I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Hana listened silently to what Jisu had to say.
“It was all Jung Hoyeon’s instruction.”
To shift the blame like this. It was merely laughable. Even if she said that, the sins she had committed wouldn't disappear. Hana said,
“Why. Why don’t you say that meeting Jayden was also Jung Hoyeon’s instruction?”
“No, I didn’t know he would turn out this well!”
Jisu, eyes flashing as if to confirm that she did indeed know, stepped forward and grabbed Hana’s shoulder.
“How did you know? Huh?”
She must be curious about the source. How could she know about something Hoyeon had handled without anyone in the group knowing?
“Did Jung Hoyeon tell you every little thing?”
Hoyeon hadn't been shallow enough to tell everything to Hana, who was still a student.
She had intended to keep it all and give it to her when Hana entered the industry, and when she was in a crisis.
“Your imagination is a bit lacking.”
Setting aside Seo Tae-oh, she couldn't reveal the fact that she was Hoyeon to Jung Jisu yet.
When she dragged Jisu into the mud and she could no longer stand up.
When that day came, she would reveal that she was Hoyeon. She looked forward to seeing what kind of face Jisu would make then.
Hana, who let out a breezy laugh, turned her gaze to the clock on the wall.
She had a dinner appointment with her family that evening. Although she didn't particularly want to call them family.
It was a dinner with her mother, Mi-ok, her brother, Wooseok, and Wooseok’s wife, Heejin. Heejin had been suffering from a chronic illness and was recovering after a recent surgery.
Hana scratched her temple while checking the time.
If she wanted to finish the remaining documents and move on, it seemed she had to end this meaningless argument now.
“The thing you’re worried about won’t happen.”
“What?”
Jayden didn't want revenge. He had expressed that he wanted to shake it all off and feel lighthearted after this.
“As long as you stay quiet, Representative Jung Jisu.”
That as long as you keep your mouth shut, everything will remain as it is. Hana raised her index finger to her lips.
“Shh.”
The secretary staff would be returning soon. Hana walked with a click-clack sound, opened the office door wide, and gestured for her to leave.
“You don’t have to worry.”
Jisu looked at the open door, then walked out one step at a time and stopped in front of Hana.
“Hey, Jung Hana. Don’t get cocky just because you caught one weakness of mine.”
Jisu said, gritting her teeth, perhaps annoyed that her secret had been discovered by this person of all people. Hana responded with a scoff.
“I have never done such a thing.”
When she shrugged as if it were nothing, Jisu spat out profanities, perhaps feeling provoked. It seemed her loose mouth wasn't something that could be easily fixed.
“But, you know.”
Jisu, who had been craning her neck past the secretary’s office to see if anyone was coming, cleared her throat once. Then she asked with a subtle look.
“Jayden. Is he doing well? You met him, right? How did he look?”
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