Become a Star

Just because Chae Woo-Ra came to understand her mother didn’t mean things suddenly got better for her. She spent a few days struggling in despair. Her father was a separate entity that was disconnected from her, while her mother was the wrong answer to her problems and someone she never wanted to be like.

In the midst of it all, Chae Woo-Ra’s mother browbeat her into visiting Chae Woo-Jin. She told her that even though they were only half-siblings, they were still related by blood, so he would listen to her. She then instructed her daughter to plead with him to convince her father not to get a divorce.

Chae Woo-Ra might be arrogant and impudent, but she wasn’t that shameless. She had nothing left apart from her pride. So, though she couldn’t latch herself onto him and beg, she blindly said yes to her mom, just like how she normally responded when she didn’t have a clue what was happening.

In truth, she agreed because Woo-Jin felt like an older brother to her, and he really was her biological brother in reality. Yet, this didn’t make things any better. She felt ashamed, and she couldn’t bring herself to see him face to face. Thus, her mother yelled and told her to grab him by the leg or something and beg him.

Despite Chae Woo-Ra’s efforts to explain that she couldn’t meet with Chae Woo-Jin as he was currently shooting a movie in the US, it was pointless. To add to this, when he briefly returned to Korea before leaving for America again, things deteriorated even more. Chae Woo-Ra’s mother became increasingly hysterical with each passing day. Ultimately, she couldn’t overcome her mother’s constant badgering and decided to go to Chae Woo-Hee instead of Chae Woo-Jin.

She appeased her mother by using the excuse that Woo-Jin wasn’t in Korea and that it was more effective to convince her father by taking the roundabout approach via Woo-Hee. Although Chae Woo-Ra said this, she didn’t have any expectations. She only picked that option because meeting with Woo-Hee was strangely less burdensome than meeting with Woo-Jin.

Chae Woo-Ra had already predicted the obvious outcome, so she came looking for Woo-Hee with the mindset that it would be great if she were to accede to her request, and if she didn’t, there was nothing she could do about it. Thus, she didn’t feel disappointed when she heard Woo-Hee’s response.

Chae Woo-Ra found it amusing that her encounter with Woo-Hee wasn’t as difficult as she had previously expected. Though they had lived together for a few days when they were little, she had almost no memory of it, so it didn’t count. She’d thought that she would be angry with her half-sister and harbor hatred toward her when they met her for the first time, but unexpectedly, it wasn’t that bad. Even Chae Woo-Ra was taken by surprise. In her vague memories from when they were young, the little girl hiding behind her brother was Woo-Hee.

It seemed as though Chae Woo-Ra was being unreasonable because she was very jealous of Woo-Hee and wanted to torment her by making things difficult. Despite several years passing, her negative feelings towards Woo-Hee didn’t diminish, and her competitive streak was still as strong as ever. She couldn’t bring herself to like Woo-Hee because her family constantly compared the two; even the public compared them! When it came to her feelings toward Woo-Hee, she was definitely leaning toward hatred.

Yet, fascinatingly, she was more comfortable around Woo-Hee than she was around other people. Since Chae Woo-Ra had already revealed her true colors, there was no need for her to force herself to be civil and polite in front of Chae Woo-Hee. It seemed like she would only make a fool of herself if she were to continue keeping up the pretense in front of someone who had already seen through her act.

On the other hand, she didn’t want Chae Woo-Jin to see this side of her. Since he was her biological brother, it suddenly became difficult for her, and she felt ashamed of her situation. The way she felt towards him differed from what she felt towards Chae Woo-Hee. Perhaps, to her brother, Chae Woo-Hee was someone he was very comfortable around, a person who he could bear his heart to. This was something that he couldn’t do with Chae Woo-Ra.

“You’re lucky.”

Chae Woo-Ra unintentionally uttered those words. She felt embarrassed after revealing the emotions she was struggling to control, but she tried her best to hide her feelings and maintained a nonchalant attitude.

“Do you need me to console you?”

“Absolutely not!”

“In that case, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you just said. I’m also going to pretend I didn’t hear your earlier request, so let’s wrap it up here. Also, if you or your mother visit my brother, we won’t put up with you any longer.” Woo-Hee firmly warned her, and as she did so, the expression on her face instantly changed into a terrifying one.

“I’ll pass on the message. But right now, my mom doesn’t care about anything or anyone else, so I don’t know what she’s capable of doing next.”

“What exactly does your mother like about that person to cause her to refuse to let go of him?” Woo-Hee looked disgusted as she continued to say that she would never accept someone like him, even if he were her biological father. To Chae Woo-Ra, this reaction was something she wasn’t familiar with, and it shocked her.

The concept of marriage that Chae Woo-Ra was acquainted with was more of a calculated transaction rather than an institution based on mutual affection between both parties. Her parents’ relationship had always been one where her mother was constantly struggling with no bargaining chips while she chased after her father. Thus, she could somewhat understand her mother’s attitude as she prepared for a divorce. These recent events made her wonder where her mother could even find another person as wealthy and successful as her father.

“Perhaps wealth and honor?”

“What? That’s so lame.”

Woo-Hee was deeply disappointed because she’d thought there was something more meaningful between the two parties. Initially, she’d believed that she would be able to learn about her biological father’s charms that she wasn’t aware of, but ultimately, it was nothing more than the generic plot of an ordinary drama.

Woo-Hee’s indifferent response had taken Chae Woo-Ra by surprise instead. She widened her eyes as though she had just heard a new theory that had never crossed her mind. Her mother looked more glamorous and beautiful than anyone else; she seemed just like a dazzling jewel next to her father.

Isn’t living like that the only way to enjoy life to the fullest? Naturally, everyone wanted to live like that instead of rolling around in the dirt like a pathetic pebble. Chae Woo-Ra thought about how Woo-Hee had the audacity to say it was ‘lame’ and wondered how she could downplay it as something trivial.

“Do you think you’re special or something?” Just a while ago, Chae Woo-Ra unintentionally let it slip that she was envious of Woo-Hee, and now she was taking her mother’s side, at least in terms of emotion.

“That’s why I’m working hard so as not to be called ‘lame’ by others. Is there a problem with that?” Woo-Hee replied in a dignified manner as she looked out of the window. Then, seeing that the car had almost reached her destination, she grabbed her bag. Even though Woo-Hee had a feeling that the driver had taken the long route, she arrived comfortably and earlier than the original meeting time.

“Coming to me must have been a difficult step for you to take. Nevertheless, I think you’re a filial daughter. If I were you, I wouldn’t have even tried.”

Of course, Woo-Hee’s mother wouldn’t make her do something like this, but even if she did, Woo-Hee wouldn’t have been able to go through with it. For a person to carry out such a shameless act, even the greatest determination and courage wouldn’t suffice. Woo-Hee was reminded once again that celebrities didn’t think like normal people, just as she expected.

“However, let’s not see each other ever again if possible.”

Although their encounter was not as bad as she had expected, Woo-Hee didn’t want to hear about that family’s affairs in such a manner. Rather than being thrilled by the news that her biological father was filing for a divorce from his wife, Woo-Hee was more worried about how the crazy aftermath would affect her family. Nonetheless, thanks to their encounter, she got to know what went on in their mind, so it was quite a fruitful meeting.

“Goodbye.”

Woo-Hee gently waved and said her farewell. As soon as she left the car, she walked off in a hurry so as to avoid being grabbed from behind. Chae Woo-Ra stared blankly at her as she walked off and tilted her head.

“Does she think everyone’s like her?! In any case, what’s so difficult about commuting by car to see her? Still, she’s…concerned about me, huh,” she muttered softly.

Yet, Chae Woo-Ra then remarked bluntly that the words ‘difficult step’ was used to describe people in Woo-Hee’s situation, as they didn’t have a chauffeur or a car. However, she wasn’t offended or unhappy because nobody had been concerned about her lately. Hence, what Woo-Hee said next about not seeing each other ever again fell on deaf ears.

This misunderstanding created by the words ‘difficult step’ came about because of a certain someone’s lack of comprehension skills.

***

As someone in her early forties, Kim Hye-Ryeong had taken such good care of herself that she looked like she was only in her early or mid-thirties based on her face alone. She kept her hair tied up without a single strand of stray hair in sight, and her choice of accessories and makeup gave her an elegant fashion style. Perhaps it was these factors that attributed to it, but in spite of how young she looked, the vibe she gave off made her seem older than she actually was. Thus, people were surprised in more ways than one when they found out how old she was.

While people would tell her that she had great skin and no wrinkles despite her age, they also often mentioned that she dressed a little older than her actual age. This was the outcome of worrying incessantly about her outfits out of fear that people would call her shallow because she used to be a celebrity.

As the wife of Chae Mu-Seok, the CEO of Garam and Bareunjeong Foods, she had always tried her best to look flawless. And although being an actress in the past didn’t make her any less respectable, she couldn’t overcome her inferiority complex and always pretended to be a virtuous and elegant lady.

“I’ve worked so hard to get here… Divorce?” It was so absurd that she felt suffocated, even though she was breathing.

She met Chae Mu-Seok for the first time when she was in her early twenties, shortly after debuting as an actress. Back then, he was a man whose life was so perfect that he felt bored. And so, he became interested in Kim Hye-Ryeong as a way to deviate away from his usual lifestyle and ended up falling in love with her.

For quite some time, he believed what he felt for her was love, but a year or two was enough for him to break out of that illusion. Even so, their relationship dragged on only because of her efforts and hard work. She relieved Chae Mu-Seok’s boredom, and even when he dated other women, she didn’t get jealous. Everything revolved solely around him.

In her own way, she was able to establish herself as an important figure in his life by fulfilling his needs that were not met by his previous wives. Other people might mock her, but she was proud of herself for gambling her life and winning the jackpot, but then this happened.

“What about Woo-Ra? Have you heard from her?”

“Not yet…”

Kim Hye-Ryeong massaged her temples with both hands after hearing the response. She couldn’t understand how things got to this point. It was said that people who worked hard would be rewarded, so she felt indignant that such justice did not materialize for her.

“There isn’t anyone who works as hard as I do.”

She was not religious, but she still lamented about how the heavens were indifferent to her plight. And then, she bit her lip before she realized her mistake and began to look for a handheld mirror. She only put the mirror down after checking for any smudges on her lipstick or marks on her lip.

Even when she was at home, she wore a lace dress that fell to her feet and accessorized herself with jewelry, looking like a countess from a movie that was set in Europe. Despite molding her outfits and living according to her husband’s taste and preferences, it was never enough to capture his heart.

Nonetheless, Kim Hye-Ryeong was able to become Chae Mu-Seok’s wife because his second wife was inadequate in many ways. If she had been up against his first wife, Park Eun-Soo, she would have been ousted.

“Ma’am, there’s a call for you from Nice.”

Kim Hye-Ryeong was already in a foul mood, and since the call was coming from someone who could add fuel to the fire, Kim Hye-Ryeong’s secretary had a grave tone. It was only natural for Kim Hye-Ryeong’s face to contort as she took the phone from her secretary, who was walking on eggshells.

“Oh, my. Mother! What are you doing at this hour? Did something happen to father by any chance?”

Kim Hye-Ryeong checked the time. Right now, it would be very late at night in Nice, France. Kim Hye-Ryeong’s voice subconsciously became higher in anticipation. Since her mother-in-law called this late, she was hoping something might have happened.

–– You sound as though you’re hoping something terrible has happened.

“Of course not, mother. I wouldn’t do that. I’ll feel sad if you misunderstood me and took my words the wrong way.”

Even though Kim Hye-Ryeong said those words in a sweet and charming voice, she looked very annoyed, and her face was contorted like a dueoksini[1].

–– I’ll cut to the chase. How much longer is he going to let Woo-Jin do as he pleases?

“What do you mean?”

Despite knowing what her mother-in-law was talking about, Kim Hye-Ryeong tried her best to act like she was unaware. Since her mother-in-law knew what her intentions were, she also spoke bluntly without elaborating anything.

–– It only gets harder and harder to quit when he becomes that famous, so it’s time for him to leave the entertainment industry and learn business management. How can he waste his time like that?

“He has no interest in that, so what can we do about it? Although he passed the bar exam, he gave up pursuing a career in that field and continued being an actor. You’re expecting a little too much from him. The most important thing is that he’s happy, regardless of what he does.”

–– Are you sure you’re not saying that because you don’t want him to learn?

“Oh my goodness! You always make me out to be a bad person. Does it make you feel better? It was the same situation when it came to Woo-Young. I made him learn horseback riding, but Woo-Ra took horseback riding lessons as well. However, you made it sound as though I did that intentionally to put him in harm’s way. Do you know how shocked I was when I heard that?”

Despite the sharp retort from her daughter-in-law, the mother-in-law simply snorted. Since she hadn’t been dealing with Kim Hye-Ryeong for just a year or two, she didn’t believe anything her daughter-in-law said at all, as she knew what kind of person she was. Thus, when her grandson, Woo-Young, died in a horseback riding accident, she didn’t trust her daughter-in-law in any capacity. Her distrust was so great that she even conducted a separate thorough investigation. Ultimately, it was ruled an accidental death, but she was still suspicious of Kim Hye-Ryeong.

According to the spy she planted in her son’s house, the process of her daughter-in-law suggesting horseback riding to Woo-Young was not without obstructions. At the very least, Kim Hye-Ryeong wasn’t involved in the accident back then, but she wondered if something like that would have eventually occurred because of someone’s interference, just that it happened in advance. If that were the case, Kim Hye-Ryeong was very lucky –– she got what she wanted without doing anything.

–– If you’re trying to provoke me by bringing Woo-Young up, you’ve succeeded. If you feel so indignant because of that incident, you can show your sincerity this time around. If you take responsibility and invite Woo-Jin over, nobody will doubt your sincerity.

“Yeah, I’m sure he’ll come if I ask. When you badmouthed his mother, he cut off all ties with his grandparents. What do you expect me to do?”

Kim Hye-Ryeong criticized Chae Woo-Jin. She even sarcastically said that he was someone who only thought about his mother, and even if they were to invite him over, it would only cause trouble in the family.

–– He lost his temper back then because he was young. He’s more mature now, and he’s at an age where he needs to start having a sense of responsibility for his roots. He’s old enough to know what’s good for him, so it’ll be very different from how it was before. Nevertheless, Woo-Jin is staying far away from his father’s house because of you. Mu-Seok couldn’t be against his return, so aren’t you the one who keeps obstructing him?

Kim Hye-Ryeong secretly smiled when she heard her mother-in-law’s words. A few years ago, information and details about their family affairs had begun to make their way to her in-laws in France. As soon as this happened, Kim Hye-Ryeong started replacing the employees that her mother-in-law hired one by one.

It seemed as though her efforts had paid off, and the results were finally showing. When she realized that her mother-in-law wasn’t aware of the conflict between Chae Mu-Seok and her, as well as their pending divorce, she felt less anxious.

Her mother-in-law had mistakenly thought that her daughter-in-law was in charge of their family affairs instead of her son, who didn’t care about the family’s matters. Kim Hye-Ryeong thought she was a cunning old woman, but she seemed to have lost her edge as she grew older and became less sharp. How could she not know what her own son was like?

Chae Mu-Seok had already been making preparations and taking methodical steps to bring Woo-Jin into the family business a long time ago. It was just that Chae Woo-Jin couldn’t care less about their family affairs, so it was nothing but empty talk. However, judging from how Chae Mu-Seok didn’t even take a second look at the young, beautiful, and intelligent surrogate mothers Kim Hye-Ryeong painstakingly vetted, it seemed as though he still hadn’t given up on Chae Woo-Jin.

1. An evil demon/spirit in Korean mythology that weighs on a person’s head. ☜

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