I Returned as a High School Girl

While Ra-Eun was fixing her hair while looking in the mirror, she thought:

‘Is there even a need to expand the business anymore?’

The only reason that she had begun this business was to take revenge against Kim Han-Gyo; it was all to develop relationships with influential figures in the financial world, and she had even scouted Park Seol-Hun to build her wealth. However, now that she was only one step away from her objective, there was no more need for her to be so hell-bent on the business.

‘But the same goes for my entertainment career.’

Ra-Eun couldn’t understand why she was trying so hard when her revenge was almost over.

‘I feel like I’m having these kinds of thoughts a lot lately.’

They were concerns that she could not tell anyone. Ra-Eun chuckled while sighing.

Seeing that, Ha-Jin asked, “What’s wrong, Chairwoman?”

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

The elevator doors opened at the perfect timing, and Ra-Eun came across a familiar face.

“Huh? Perfect timing, Chairwoman Kang. I was just wondering when you’d be here.”

Seol-Hun greeted her and walked with her to her office. As they were about to take their seats, Ma Yeong-Jun also joined them. Although he was mainly a bodyguard, he also helped out at the company on the side. Hence, he joined Seol-Hun like this whenever necessary.

“This must be about distribution, considering Mr. Ma is here,” Ra-Eun mentioned.

Seol-Hun nodded and explained why he was looking for Ra-Eun.

“I’m thinking of expanding our distribution line.”

The supply needed to match the demand, but Levanche’s supply was so popular that it had reached a point where they could no longer meet the demands. Hence, Seol-Hun was thinking of taking this opportunity to invest more into distribution. However, that was not something that he could decide by himself since he needed Ra-Eun’s permission as the chairwoman. Ra-Eun did not have to think for very long.

“Okay. Do as you like, mister.”

“You’re just gonna decide like that without even taking a look at the report?”

“Yeah. I’m sure it’ll be in your good hands, right?”

“Well, yeah, but...”

Something was off with Ra-Eun today. She always looked meticulously through the details of projects no matter how busy she was. However, she had begun to tell Seol-Hun to take care of things by himself more often lately.

“Is something up with you lately, Chairwoman Kang?” he asked.

“Me? Why?”

“No, well... It kinda feels like you’ve changed.”

The immaculate and thorough Kang Ra-Eun seemed like she had become a little slack lately. It was far from the Ra-Eun that Seol-Hun knew.

Ra-Eun answered as if it was no big deal, “I’m just swamped because of the film shoots.”

It was more than understandable if she was busy... or that was what Ra-Eun forced Seol-Hun to believe. Seol-Hun had no choice but to nod reluctantly.

“Oh, and Mr. Ma. Did you manage to do what I told you to do last time?”

“I’ve talked it over with Reporter Ahn again a few days ago, so you don’t have to worry.”

“What about Kim Han-Gyo? Will he move the way we want him to?”

“Considering how Team Leader Park Eun-Soo is constantly visiting the mansion, I believe so.”

“Good. I guess I’ll have to get ready as well, then.”

Ra-Eun clapped her hands lightly and smiled meaningfully at the two middle-aged men.

“In that case, meeting adjourned. Do you have anything else you want to ask me?”

“No...” Seol-Hun said blankly.

“I might as well go work out since I’m outside. I’m off.”

Ra-Eun grabbed the sports bag that she had brought and stood up.

“Misters.”

Before she went out the door, she said something that made the two men doubt their ears.

“Sorry for putting you through the wringer all this time.”

She quickly closed the door and left like she was in a hurry. Seol-Hun, who was lost for words, suddenly pinched his flank hard.

“Aaarrrggghhh!!!”

“What in the world are you doing?” Yeong-Jun stared at Seol-Hun weirdly.

Seol-Hun said while grabbing his side in pain, “I wanted to check if this was a dream or reality, but... I guess it’s real.”

He couldn’t believe that Ra-Eun had apologized to them. It was unbelievable to him, who had been forced to do all sorts of things under her.

“Was that really Chairwoman Kang?”

There was no way Ra-Eun would apologize to the two of them. Yeong-Jun also thought the same, but he had noticed signs of her irregularity for a while now. He had still not heard her answer to his question of what she was going to do after she had fulfilled her revenge.

Yeong-Jun got up from his chair and tapped on Seol-Hun’s shoulder.

“Let’s wait for now.”

“Wait? For what?”

Yeong-Jun stopped in his tracks and answered, “For what our boss ends up deciding to do.”

***

Seo Yi-Jun, who had been focused on his design work in the workplace, happened to see Seol-Hun waving at him from across the room.

“Me?” Yi-Jun pointed at himself and asked.

Seol-Hun confirmed it. Wondering if it had to do with the upcoming product, he took the files that he had been working on with him and headed to the hallway with Seol-Hun.

Seol-Hun pointed at the files in Yi-Jun’s hand and asked, “Why’d you bring those?”

“Didn’t you call me over to confirm these?”

They headed to the company roof, not the meeting room nor Seol-Hun’s office. It was a break space that employees could use to take a breather or for a smoke break. Seol-Hun brought up the reason why he had called Yi-Jun while looking down at the vast city view.

“You still live with Chairwoman Kang, right?”

“Yes.”

“Did something bad happen to her lately?”

“To noona? I don’t think so...”

Even if something did happen, Ra-Eun was not the kind of person to share something like that with him. She never revealed her weaknesses to anyone, no matter how close she was to them.

“Really?” Seol-Hun put a cigarette in his mouth. He was about to hand one to Yi-Jun, but stopped. “Oh, you don’t smoke, right?”

“Yes, nor will I ever.”

“Because of health reasons?”

“That too, but my sister and Ra-Eun noona hate the smell.”

“What a good little brother.” Seol-Hun smirked and lit his cigarette.

Fuuu.

The long stream of smoke dissipated into the city sky.

“Something doesn’t seem right with Chairwoman Kang lately.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. How should I say it...? It’s as if she’s gonna vanish from our lives soon or something. Well, that’s just my guess.”

“...”

Yi-Jun’s mind was scrambled. He wondered what would happen if Ra-Eun, the love of his life, were to vanish. It was objectively not a welcome thought at all.

“Did something happen in her office earlier?”

“Sure did. She apologized to me and Director Ma about putting us through the wringer all this time. Hah, I can’t believe the day came when Chairwoman Kang apologized to us. I wonder if the sun is gonna rise from the west tomorrow?”

Although not as much as Seol-Hun, Yi-Jun thought it was strange as well.

Seol-Hun put out his cigarette and said while putting his hands in his pockets, “In any case, since you live with Chairwoman Kang, let me and Director Ma know if you notice that she’s in some sort of trouble. Even if she did put me through the wringer, she’s the reason I’m where I am today. She’s helped me a lot.”

That was why Seol-Hun had been able to work with Ra-Eun all this time. The process aside, the woman knew how to make results. And although she wasn’t gentle, she took very good care of her people. Seol-Hun had taken a liking to her before he had realized it.

Yi-Jun agreed to Seol-Hun’s request and said, “I’ll let you know if I find anything.”

“Thanks.”

Seol-Hun left the roof first. Yi-Jun couldn’t seem to move an inch from where he stood for a while.

***

Yi-Jun, who had dragged his exhausted self back home, witnessed Ra-Eun and Seo Yi-Seo enjoying dessert in the living room.

“Welcome back,” Yi-Seo expressed.

“Do you want some coffee too?” Ra-Eun asked.

Yi-Jun nodded without hesitation.

“Let me just change my clothes first.”

After changing into something comfortable, he went back out to the living room and took a seat with the two women. The coffee tasted different from usual; it tasted a bit sweeter.

“Did you make this, Ra-Eun noona?”

“Yeah. I’m surprised you knew.”

“Of course. I know you like sweet things.”

They had lived together for so long that Yi-Jun knew all of Ra-Eun’s tastes in food. Yi-Jun stared at Ra-Eun as he drank the coffee. She was so beautiful that one wouldn’t easily be able to look away. Even her appearance from the side was beautiful. Having noticed Yi-Jun’s blatant staring, Ra-Eun smiled bitterly and asked.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“N-No reason.”

“So weird.”

Like Yi-Jun had thought, there was no other woman for him than Ra-Eun.

“Noona. Is there something on your mind lately?”

“What? Why all of a sudden?”

“It just seemed like there is.”

It might be because of the conversation that he had with Seol-Hun on the roof, but Yi-Jun seemed like Ra-Eun was emitting a different kind of aura than usual. Ra-Eun was about to feign laughter and tell him that there was nothing, but breaking news on the TV caught her attention. The anchor asked for the viewers’ understanding and quickly reported the breaking news.

- Congressman Kim Han-Gyo has announced that he has figured out the identity of the ‘masked woman’ and will be holding an urgent press conference tomorrow morning.

One of the corners of Ra-Eun’s mouth curled up as she was watching the news, and she then answered Yi-Jun’s question.

“There was something on my mind for a long time, but it’s about to be resolved soon.”