DOS
Director Kim had brought a fruit basket on his visit and then told Irene in passing that work was resuming. Just looking at his indifferent expression, one really couldn't guess at all what had happened, whether he had taken care of his uncle, or his uncle had taken care of him.
Although Irene's relationship with Jun Cotton was fairly good, it still wasn't easy for her to ask after the other's private affairs, so she simply asked after the person's health instead.
"I would've rather received a beating." Jun Cotton said with a cold smile and turned to look out the window.
And then he didn't say much else, simply inquired about the state of Lisa's injuries and discussed some work matters with Irene.
From then on, Irene had to return to filming.
Fortunately, Jun Cotton knew she had a patient to take care of and so specially slowed the progress of filming, giving her a lot of free time, allowing her to visit both the set and the hospital. Lisa's body also recovered quickly, and she was discharged after two more weeks.
On the day of her discharge, Irene specifically took time off to pick her up, and it was still early in the day even after all the discharge procedures were finished. Lisa then urged her to get a check-up for her right hand.
Previously, Irene had been receiving continuous treatment, but because of Lisa's hospitalization, she really had neglected this aspect recently.
"The situation with your right hand is looking quite good now, and there's already no major issues with it anymore, just attend the follow-up appointments as scheduled. Of course, it won't heal completely, but most of the basic capabilities have already recovered, so it shouldn't affect your daily life." Her primary physician was still that amiable middle-aged man, and after the examination, as he filled out the medical record, he spoke to Irene.
The doctor paused for a moment and asked, upon seeing the records in the case history.
"Originally, you started out very cooperative with the treatments, but then later you had a period of time when you didn't come to the hospital? Every time you scheduled an appointment, you'd miss it, and then you even changed your cellphone number..."
"I was too busy with work, so I couldn't find the time." Irene calmly answered, her face didn't change at all, and she didn't even blink.
The doctor looked at her through thick lenses, "It's good for young people to work hard, but you should still pay attention to your health. Remember to set the date for your following check-ups." Irene made a sound in agreement, maintaining her smile from beginning to end.
Love was the same as business. If you wanted returns, you had to be willing to pay the price.
After all, she couldn't possibly have made no effort and simply waited for the other person to gift her heart on a platter, right?
Even if she had a good card in her hand, she still needed to find the most appropriate time to reveal it.
Irene rubbed her right hand. The moment she walked out of the treatment room, she saw Lisa sitting there with her head down, currently sending out emails on her laptop.
"You've just recovered, and you're already busy with work?"
"I rested for too long, so I can't delay any further." Although Lisa said all that, the moment she saw Irene, she still closed her laptop, "How's your hand?"
"It's recovered very well, and there are already no big issues with it."
Irene picked out the most important details from the doctor's words to tell her, talking as they left the hospital. She then started her car and prepared to send the other home.
Lisa still remembered the missed dinner from last time and insisted on Irene going to her house to eat. Irene could only agree but, in consideration of Lisa's health, allowed her to make only the most simplest of foods, like some kind of scrambled eggs.
This time, all was peaceful and calm, and they smoothly arrived at Lisa's apartment. The moment the door opened, Irene saw the newly remodeled kitchen in Lisa's house.
It was very different from the European-style kitchen before it. This time, it was remodeled to look very plain and simple. Although it wasn't particularly extravagant, it looked far more practical, and far more like a home.
Irene still remembered how she had left this place at the time.
She remembered turning back for a last look. She remembered those stairs she took one step at a time... But she should feign ignorance when it was time to feign ignorance, and she should forget the things that should be forgotten, so she didn't say a word about what had happened in the past, merely walking over to touch the completely unrecognizable kitchen appliances.
"Do you usually cook here?"
"What? Does it not suit me?"
"Uh... it's a bit hard to imagine."
"Then I'll let you witness it firsthand today."
Because Lisa had been lying in a hospital bed for a long time, she was feeling eager to move her body. When she saw that the time was still early, she then rolled up her shirt sleeves and took out the ingredients that they had bought.
And even for simple dishes such as scrambled eggs with chives and tomato egg soup, she still had to pull out the recipe and closely examine it.
Irene held her arm and watched from the doorway. The more she watched, the more interesting she found it, and she couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"You should go sit in the living room and watch some TV instead."
"Hm? Didn't you want me to give pointers?"
"If I need you, I'll call you." Lisa even closed the kitchen door just in case.
Irene leaned against the glass door and laughed.
Other than the remodeled kitchen, practically nothing else had been changed. It was only that the living room had a new DVD player, and on it was an envelope.
Irene picked it up and found a DVD inside the envelope. After placing it in the player, she then reached out a hand and pressed play.
From the TV, the sound of rustling came first, and then the appearance of some beautiful bamboo grove scenery, before finally Irene's figure appeared, running forward while dressed in a historical robe—this was the historical drama that she had gone to Damyang City in order to shoot.
The DVD contained only a small part of the drama; while her arms were holding the gentle and graceful male lead, she was actually looking passionately at the camera when she said 'I love you'. Irene's right hand unconsciously throbbed.
Seeing this scene in Lisa's house, she wasn't the least bit surprised. She simply closed her eyes and then lowered her head to look at the envelope that had contained the DVD.
Only the recipient's name and address was written on the envelope; it didn't say the sender, and the words were written extremely clumsily and carelessly, as if someone had used their left hand to write it.
She placed her foot on her knee and sat back against the sofa, watching her face on the big screen in appreciation, all the while indifferently ripping that envelope to shreds before carelessly throwing the pieces away in the trash can.
"Hotshot celebrity, hurry and come help me taste test." Lisa in the kitchen shouted.
As if nothing had happened, Irene brushed off her hands and stood up, turning off the TV and walking with large strides to the kitchen.
Lisa was currently using the spatula, her face looking singularly grave, just as if she was looking over documents in the office; she really did appear extremely solemn about the proceedings.
Irene's heart thumped, and she hugged the other from behind, slowly sticking her face forward.
Lisa was caught off guard, and the hand used to hold the seasonings trembled, dumping an entire spoonful of salt into the pan.
"Oh no, I put in too much salt!"
"It's fine. As long as it's food you made, I'll enjoy eating it."
"And you say you're a chef, but why did you cause trouble for me?"
Irene smiled and didn't refute. She placed her chin on Lisa's shoulder and, with half-narrowed eyes, looked at the pan of stir-fried food.
Irene restrained her rapidly beating heart, and the hands around Lisa's waist tightened just the slightest bit.
Her goal was clear, and her determination steady. She was cautious to the extreme, patient beyond compare.
She wasn't afraid of failing however many times, and she also wasn't afraid of suffering however many falls, but at the very end, she would definitely hold this person's heart in her hands.
Lisa sat in the coffee shop alone waiting for someone.
It had already been several months since she recovered from her injury and returned to work. It hadn't at all been like she had originally feared; she had neither been oppressed by her father nor her authority stolen by Seulgi.
It was actually that uncle of Jun Cotton's who invited Mr. Manoban out to drink some tea. No one knew what the two of them talked about, but not long afterwards, the scandal between Director Kim and Irene suddenly disappeared without a trace, as if it had never happened, and no one ever mentioned it again.
Because of that reason, Jun Cotton's movie smoothly wrapped on filming, and post-production had also been completed a few days ago. When the trailer came out, Lisa found some time to watch it as a new experience. She didn't know if Irene's acting had significantly improved, or Jun Cotton truly had some skills, but the film actually looked quite interesting.
Irene's performance had been remarkable, with several expressions and movements that bore plenty of grace. The only light from the camera was used to shine across her beautiful and delicate face, and his thin lips were raised in an enticing smile.
Right as she was thinking this, the person she was waiting for finally arrived.
Along with Jennie Kim, that cool and handsome husband of her had also come. Because she had to recover from the car accident, after getting married, Jennie had brought her husband back to her hometown in the countryside for their honeymoon, a honeymoon that ended up lasting for more than half the year, and they had only just returned to the city two days ago.
The husband and wife had both fattened up by no small amount, especially on the part of the woman—just one look at that round stomach, and anyone would be able to see that she had been pregnant for several months already.
Lisa had occasionally talked with Jennie over the phone, but she hadn't heard about this good news. As such, upon seeing this, she was blank for a moment before then smiling.
"Congratulations, congratulations! I wondered how you could bear to come back, and it turned out that you're almost about to be a mom now."
"The big city's medical services are somewhat better, after all. I wouldn't feel at ease give birth in the countryside." Jennie's face was full of smiles, and she held her husband as he sat across from Lisa. "And I've already rested for this long, so it's about time I come back to work anyway, or else I won't be able to afford any baby formula."
Lisa made a sound in affirmation, and knowing that a pregnant person couldn't drink coffee, she then ordered a glass of orange juice.
"How many months along?"
"Almost four months. The expected date of birth is near the end of the year."
"Why didn't you say so earlier? I'm still waiting to be named godmother."
"Don't worry, no one will steal the position from you." Jennie chuckled and then reached out a hand to pat Lisa's shoulder, saying, "When are you going to take care of your own marriage? Although you are younger than me, we're already not young anymore."
Lisa's heart trembled, and she found it strange how she was able to joke around so calmly with Jennie like this.
Those memories from the past were still preserved in her heart—the closeness of childhood friends, the blush of first love—but right now, when she looked back on it, everything was actually hazy and unclear, as if separated by a lifetime of distance.
She hadn't deliberately forgotten this person.
But she had already made the first move, walking forward one step at a time.
Lisa didn't know if she felt happy or disappointed; she simply felt the substantial power of time, mercilessly able to suppress all kinds of emotions, whether love or hate, amity or animosity, no matter how strong.
But even like this, there would still always be that one person by her side.
That person was dedicated and stubborn, not ever losing sight of the goal. Perhaps, the person would use some small tricks in order to achieve that aim, but every time that person dashed forward, heedless of danger, it was for her sake.
Lisa smiled upon thinking about Irene, "There's no need to worry. I already found the person I want to spend the rest of my life with." Her eyes still contained a trace of a smile, and while her voice was as gentle as always, her tone was completely earnest.
"You've really decided to settle down? What kind of person is this? Green-eyed boy?" On the contrary, Jennie was stunned.
"You'll have the opportunity to meet in the future."
"Not bad, not bad. You were too fickle in the past, so it's about time you found someone. When will I have the opportunity to drink at your wedding banquet?"
Lisa had not expected Jennie's thoughts to jump that far, and for a moment, she didn't know how to reply. After being choked for a while, she finally said, "We'll let nature take its course."
But then she thought of an extremely serious matter. If she didn't rush a little, then perhaps even something as important as proposing would be stolen by Irene.
No, she should say that Irene would definitely think of a way to steal the march on her.
It truly was a real headache.
As Lisa worried over this, she also chatted a bit more with Jennie about various life events.
Jennie's husband didn't say much, simply sitting quietly on the side listening, with his left hand continuously holding Jennie's own. Their two matching rings gleamed, sparkling under the sunlight, dazzling people's eyes.
Lisa rubbed her own eyes. Although she didn't find them eye-piercing, in her heart, she thought that Irene would definitely also look good wearing a ring.
When they got onto the topic of work, Jennie expressed her decision to film that movie she had planned two years ago, and Lisa nodded in agreement.
"It really was a good script. It'd be a waste if you didn't film it. Funding won't be an issue. You can just go film it without worries."
Because of their long years of mutual understanding, Jennie didn't bother to thank her, simply saying, "I'll oblige you and let Bae Irene be the female lead, just like we talked about last time."
"...Of course." Lisa's heart skipped, but her face still remained calm.
Irene had already acted in supporting roles too often.
So from now on, the position of the female lead in her heart would always belong to Irene and Irene only.
After Jennie's husband had sat there for a while, under the warm light of the Spring day, he gradually grew somewhat sleepy. Jennie loved her husband dearly, so the moment she saw him yawn, she hurriedly gulped down the rest of her orange juice and stood up to stay her goodbyes to Lisa, also not forgetting to invite the other out for a drink next time they were free.
Lisa made a sound in agreement. A pregnant person shouldn't tire herself out. Upon seeing that it really was getting a bit late, she also stood up, paid the bill, and sent the wife and husband duo off in a taxi.
Before they left, Lisa once again said a sincere word of 'congratulations'.
"Kim Taehyung-ssi, congratulations." Taehyung shook her hand.
"Nini-ya.. Chukkae..." Lisa held Jennie's hand.
It wasn't the same as when she attended the wedding last year. This time, she didn't have to pretend, and she was able to give her blessings wholeheartedly.
― 32 ―
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