(Seorin)
Imagine how desperate I must've been to come and ask you for help.
If the prosecution starts investigating my company...
and even carries out a tax investigation,
it'll be an emergency for us.
You can't expect to live so comfortably.
I'm not asking you to help me with no strings attached.
- I have an enticing offer to make. - I reject the offer.
Regardless of whatever common interest we may have,
I can't pour water into a filthy cup.
"Filthy cup"?
I'll make sure I pay you back...
for the mistreatment I received today.
(Episode 39)
Come and take a seat.
Do you know what it means to be a friend?
Your father and I were pretty close.
And we even wanted you and Jung In to get married.
It's not like Jung Min will ever listen to me,
but it'll be useless to stop him...
since he's already head over heels for you.
This afternoon,
I saw you and Jung Min having a quarrel.
I know what you're worried about, but you don't need to be worried.
I know Jung Min likes you one-sidedly.
Don't let him in your heart.
He's the only child I have left.
Nothing will change...
just because your dad and I were friends.
So don't even dream of becoming a member of my family.
I won't allow a daughter-in-law who once got a divorce.
Sir.
This may sound out of line,
but Jung Min...
I mean, Director Seo...
I will only treat him as my boss.
So you don't need to worry anymore.
My late father wouldn't have approved of him either.
And I would never do something that my father would disapprove of.
You're very bold.
It looks like you'll do great when it comes to work.
Come to think of it,
you look a lot like your dad.
You have his eyes and nose.
I feel so sad every time I think about...
your father's death.
I heard he got into an accident because a motorcycle...
suddenly showed up out of nowhere.
Did you find the guy who committed the hit-and-run?
No, we couldn't.
It happened all too sudden.
The witnesses gave unclear testimonies.
So there was no way for us to find him.
But one thing is for sure.
His sin won't disappear.
And I'm sure he'll get punished for that in the afterlife.
How's work? Does it suit you well?
Chung Group is currently...
very satisfied with the process of our joint project.
You promised not to do anything to make me worry,
so you may leave now.
She's cold-hearted...
and a lot more daring than I thought.
She also got that from her father.
(Seorin)
(Turn off device)
She even turned off her cell phone.
I bet she feels conflicted.
I mean, think about it.
Because of her,
Mr. Jang might get fired from Seorin.
How do you expect her to be okay with that?
But still, we can't keep walking on ice forever.
If we're dealing with the Gordian knot,
the only solution is to cut it off.
That's not entirely wrong...
if you're that sure about how you feel toward Ji Eun.
But Jung Min, think about it in Mr. Jang's shoes.
Do you really think he'd give up his career for his ex-wife?
That's completely absurd from his point of view.
I really don't have enough energy to care about his situation.
Okay?
Does it have to be Ji Eun?
Do you think your dad will approve of her?
You're obviously going to have a feud with him because of her.
Then you'll turn backs on each other.
I was born as his son,
so I don't intend on cutting ties with him.
I may not be the best son in the world,
but I can't turn my back on him even when Jung In is gone.
That'd be too cruel.
But of course, that doesn't mean I'm going to give up on Ji Eun.
It's going to take some time.
And it won't be easy.
But I'm going to create an opportunity...
to make my dad like Ji Eun.
And I'll make sure he eventually welcomes her into our family.
That's my conclusion.
That's the conclusion you've reached.
Not only will your dad disapprove,
but he'll also start pressuring you guys.
Do you really think Ji Eun will be able to put up with that?
On top of that, it looks like Mr. Jang still has feelings for her.
He's just refusing to let go.
Jang Se Hoon might feel that way, but Ji Eun doesn't.
Are you sure?
I should trust her.
That doesn't exactly mean you do.
What matters is how determined I am to trust her.
Jung Min, we might not know since we've never been married.
But even if they got divorced,
they still used to be married once.
What's your point?
I don't think Ji Eun will open up to you...
now that you know who her ex-husband is.
So my point is, just get over her before things get really messy.
I never would've started this...
if I could stop liking her that easily.
I know...
that she's just scared to love me.
I can't live without her.
And that's my way of loving her.
This might lead to a fight.
Ji Eun isn't calling.
I guess she doesn't know how impatient you can be.
I'll see you.
That lame punk.
Your mom went home early because she felt sick.
It doesn't look like you came from work.
But you must not have come from home either...
seeing that you're here looking for your mom.
Do you want me to be your drinking buddy?
No.
I'm not in my best mood, so I'm not going to drink.
Then why don't we have spicy chicken feet...
to brighten up your mood?
Why are you taking tranquilizers again?
I was glad to see you stop taking them for a while.
I almost fainted today.
I found out whom Jung Min likes.
It turned out to be Lee Ji Eun.
Lee Ji Eun? You mean your friend's daughter?
He was never my friend.
Did Jung Min tell you that he likes her?
He's obviously struggling to tell me...
because he has a conscience.
I was going to call him to my office and throw a fit,
but I barely managed to hold it in.
Good.
He's not the type to listen.
So you should avoid any conflicts if you don't want to cut ties.
Of all the women in this world, why does it have to be Ji Eun?
Is it so bad to have a daughter-in-law who got a divorce?
Will you stop being absurd?
I know you want to get along with Jung Min,
but if you take his side regarding this matter,
I'll be very upset with you.
He may not be my biological son,
but I still care about who he marries.
I want him to marry someone from a nice family who has no flaws.
It looks like Ji Eun has been turning him down.
But if Jung Min keeps swaying her, she might fall for him.
On top of that, she might suddenly want to become...
the daughter-in-law of a rich family.
She's persistent just like her dad.
We need to get rid of her.
There's nothing more powerful than the power of love.
Don't be so drastic just because you're angry.
Find a way to naturally make them fall apart.
How about Han Na Kyung?
Why don't we use her to our advantage?
How?
You should send her to the TF team...
and make her work with Ji Eun.
You're a shrewd man.
So I'm sure I don't need to explain.
You want me to pour dirty water...
so I can flush out the waste?
I know you keep refusing to accept this,
but Na Kyung is the mother of Jung Min's baby.
And she's doing her best to grab her share.
If you don't give her something to be satisfied with,
she'll eventually cause a big mess.
So if you can't get rid of Na Kyung,
at least tell her that she'd better earn her keep.
She keeps asking for Seorin Logistics,
so you can tell her to learn stuff while working in that team.
Why would you come home drunk at a time like this?
He's not drunk. It looks like he only had a couple of glasses.
Why are you getting so angry at him all of a sudden?
You always fail to satisfy me.
Did something happen?
Why is he angry at me this time?
He had a gathering with some people...
from the Federation of Korean Industries.
And it looks like he had an argument with Chairman Kim.
So he isn't in a good mood.
Dad looks down on Chairman Kim for being a nouveau riche.
But his company stock price keeps going up,
so I bet my dad's really upset...
since he's such a greedy man.
My gosh.
- Have a good night. - Are things going well with Ji Eun?
You should bring her to the gallery.
Let's eat together so I can get to know her better.
Sure.
I'm going to go upstairs now.
As we live this harsh life,
some things happen that are hard for us to understand.
Some live a rich and comfortable life...
but end up going broke after a really bad crisis.
And some couples who were once madly in love...
break up without a warning.
I'm sure they all have their own stories.
But some things are just hard for us to understand.
Why do those things happen?
We meet people whom we never want to meet again.
And there are people whom we should've met a long time ago.
It's useless to meet them now,
but we just do.
Instead of thinking about the cause, why not think of a meaning?
A meaning?
Maybe it means you should stop hating the person in your past...
and stop pushing the current guy away.
I don't think I'll easily be able to stop hating the man from my past.
And I'm not brave enough to hold onto the guy approaching me.
Back when my parents gave my ex-husband a hard time,
I thought he was obligated to put up with everything...
if he really loved me.
But now that I've experienced it myself,
I feel miserable and insignificant, and it makes me so angry.
Whom are you angry at?
I don't know.
I don't even know who it is that I should be angry at.
If Director Seo is in your heart,
get angry at him.
And ask him to console you.
No.
That's just wrong.
For whom?
I think liking someone...
is just like feeling hungry.
When you get hungry, you know that you are.
And when you like someone,
you also know that too.
But if you still don't know, that means you don't like him.
I do like Jung Min.
But I don't want to lose this fight against myself.
I've already learned once that a reckless love...
only ends up creating the worst situation.
I can easily predict how things will turn out.
Is it because of your difference in backgrounds?
Or is it because you think you don't deserve him...
just because you once got a divorce?
It's both.
Both of them are too much for me to handle.
If you don't let go of your past scars,
you'll never be able to become happy.
I know love may seem petty,
but it's the best thing we can ever experience.
By the way,
I asked your mom out.
But she rejected me.
Why?
I chose the wrong place.
I asked her out at a tonic store.
I would be more than glad to see you guys date each other.
Ji Eun.
They say we end up...
living the kind of life we dream of.
And I want you to start dreaming of love again.
You didn't answer any of my calls,
and that made me feel sad. So I had a drink.
Ji Eun.
Ms. Lee Ji Eun.
Don't focus on anything else.
Just focus on how much I care.
Let's meet tomorrow with a smile on our faces.
Good night.
He's the only child I have left.
I won't allow a daughter-in-law who once got a divorce.
Ji Eun.
Yes, Director Seo?
Do you want me to do something for you?
Sir, your elevator is here.
Thanks to the partnership between Seorin and Chung,
we were able to secure a distribution channel in China.
And if we lower the price while maintaining the quality,
the consumers will start to show interest.
That means our joint project team...
must build a strategic partnership with the designer brands...
so that our products will be different...
from the products that are already in China.
Therefore, I think it's essential that we do a collaboration...
with a high-end designer.
Director Seo, what do you think?
Whether it's a collaboration or brand licensing,
we must collaborate with a high-end designer...
and start producing a new line of products...
in order for our company to grow.
Licensing has a high chance of causing a dispute,
so I don't think that should be our aim.
I also agree with Mr. Jang.
I'm not saying that's the goal.
I'm saying we must collaborate with a high-end brand designer.
I agree that the design of our products is important,
but we also need to make sure they're functional.
We must make a big investment in the laboratory.
I'll think about it.
I have high expectations for this joint project.
So people in the TF team must do their best.
Can we talk?
You can talk to me here, sir.
Can we talk outside?
I don't wish to talk about anything that's not related to work.
If it's related to work, you can talk to me here.
Ms. Lee.
What time is the European buyer scheduled to arrive at the factory?
We'll make it in time if we depart in an hour.
We'll be receiving our first batch of fabric next week from China.
Did you check the bill of lading?
I'm aware that it's necessary...
to hand in a BL to customs as I hand in the other documents.
If that's all you have to say, I'll be off now.
I need to check the emails from Chung Group.
He's just refusing to let go.
Jang Se Hoon might feel that way, but Ji Eun doesn't.
- Are you sure? - I should trust her.
That doesn't exactly mean you do.
We might not know since we've never been married.
But even if they got divorced,
they still used to be married once.
They're not just a couple that once dated and broke up.
Darn...
Sorry.
Jung In.
I know it's not you.
But I suddenly thought you had come back to life.
You used to be a flight attendant, so you speak English, right?
I'm good enough to communicate.
I would've eventually given you your share.
I don't get why you had to act up.
I want to be a competent mother to my son.
Don't expect any kind of affection from me.
But Young Min is Jung In's son.
And that means he's your grandson, so please be kind to him.
I do things based on what I need.
The reason I'm putting you in the TF team...
is that I want you to make Jung Min...
get over Ji Eun.
I'll do what you ask me to do, sir.
I want you to start work starting next week.
If you ever tell anyone about Jung In's death,
I'll do everything I can to make sure...
to destroy your life as well as your son's.
I'll take it to my grave, sir.
You know Han Na Kyung, right?
She's close with Yoon Mi Ran, your girlfriend.
It's nice to see you, Se Hoon.
What brings you here?
You can go now.
I want Han Na Kyung in the TF team.
(Resume, Han Na Kyung)
Why do you look so unsatisfied?
The main reason I came to Seorin...
is because you wanted to innovate your business management style.
That's what moved me.
You promised not to do anything wrong.
Did you forget that, sir?
How dare you act up?
I help you pay off your company's debt.
So don't you dare try to lecture me.
Just do as I say.
Mi Ran, you're a rising star these days.
So I called you to make an offer.
I'm curious to know what it is.
Can I speak to you comfortably?
Of course.
I'm planning on holding a photo exhibition...
with you as the model.
It's going to be a charity event.
We'll be donating all our profits to the House of Hope.
And it will be funded by Seorin Group.
But of course, you'll be paid a hefty amount for being a model.
That's a good amount, isn't it?
It's way too much. It's making me get suspicious.
What's there to be suspicious about?
I'm just trying to treat you well.
Plus, you'll be marrying the CEO of Seorin.
So this is the least I can do.
Thank you for the offer,
but I think no one is kind to a person for no reason.
You're paying me way too much,
and it's making me think there must be an ulterior motive.
Don't analyze my intention. Try to understand it.
What is it that I need to understand?
When you do something, you need to have a good reason,
determination, and the right circumstance.
The reason I offered to pay you that much...
is that you're a rising star.
And I'm determined to use your photo exhibition...
to raise the brand awareness of my gallery.
On top of that, Seorin offered to fund a big amount of money...
to celebrate the end of the year, and that also helped.
Then I'll take it.
By the way, it looks like you and I have very similar tastes.
It can get humid,
so please make sure you place enough desiccants.
And this single silket is very expensive,
so please take extra care of it.
All our employees get nervous every time you come...
because you're always so meticulous.
That's not good. I was hoping you'd all be glad to see me.
Of course, we're glad.
You buy us snacks every time you visit.
We should gather the factory workers and have a meal together next time.
I'll buy you guys beef.
(Seorin, Factory 1)
Please check and let me know if there are any issues.
After careful inspection, I can see that...
it's definitely made of a higher quality.
I'll be sure to let my boss know that the CEO...
came out here himself to show me in.
- Thank you. Bye. - Thank you.
Do you remember this place?
This is where my late father...
held a protest with the laborers of Seorin Fashion Group.
I also brought you here on our first date.
Because of you, my life is going to get pretty complicated.
Ji Eun, a man should be the one...
to initiate the first kiss.
I once regretted it.
If I didn't kiss you back then,
our lives would've been...
very different.
Yes, probably.
That probably would've been better.
Life is so ironic.
My father was a laborer who worked for Seorin Fashion Group,
and I became the CEO of Seorin Group.
And the guy you've fallen for...
just so happens to be the chairman's son.
That made Jung Min the victim.
"Victim"?
It sounds like you're blaming me.
No, I don't blame you.
I was immature and too immersed in my own feelings.
So I blame myself for being careless.
I followed you around even though you kept rejecting me.
And I was the one who ended it with you.
Now that I think back,
love came to me without a warning,
and I think I ended up being too defensive about it.
I fell for you the moment I saw you,
and I loved you.
But I didn't...
do my best to protect our love.
- That's why... - Our love...
was a failure.
You just need to accept that.
Are you in love with Seo Jung Min?
I won't let myself collapse.
I'm not saying that because of my pride.
And it's not because I care more about protecting myself than love.
The feelings I have for Jung Min...
The man that slowly found his way into my heart...
is so foolish that he doesn't know what's bound to happen.
He doesn't know what he'll have to go through if he loves me.
And he doesn't know how much he'll end up losing.
He can't even think that far.
So I don't want him to risk his life for me.
I don't want him to suffer.
Director Seo, let go of my hand.
Ji Eun, I won't condone this again.
Let's go.
I never asked you to condone anything.
Let's go to eat.
(Phoenix 2020)
What is it that I need to do?
Hey, stop right there.
Seo Jung Min must be having a hard time...
seeing that he even got into a fist-fight.
I'm pretty sure it hurt his pride.
Can we talk?
Don't you know that I hate you?
I left my scarf in the fitting room.
Can you please get it for me?
I guess there never really is a perfect lie.