Managing the Korean entertainment industry: I have superpowers, but I won't say.

Chapter 88 The Return of the Qin

It snowed in Seoul the day Park Jiyeon returned from Vienna.

As the plane landed, everything outside the window was white. She leaned back in her seat, watching the snowflakes adhere to the fuselage, one by one, and then quickly melt away. Her assistant was asleep beside her, breathing very softly. Park Jiyeon didn't wake her; she took her luggage from the overhead bins, slung her bag over her shoulder, and disembarked.

In the arrival hall of Gimpo Airport, Choi Min-soo was waiting for her. He stood at the exit holding a sign that read "Park Ji-yeon," wearing a black coat and with a clean-shaven beard.

When Park Jiyeon saw him, she smiled and walked over, saying, "Chief Choi, you don't need to hold up the sign; I don't recognize you." Choi Min-soo said, "I'm afraid you've forgotten what the president looks like since you haven't been back for so long." Park Jiyeon smiled and said, "I can't forget Representative So's face."

As the car drove out of the airport, the snow fell heavier and heavier. Park Jiyeon looked out the window at Seoul; it had only been two weeks since she left, but it felt like an eternity. The street signs, traffic lights, and pedestrians—everything was so familiar, yet somehow strange.

"Should we go back to the company first or go home first?" Choi Min-soo asked.

"Back to the company. I have something to give to Representative Su."

Choi Min-soo glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "What is it?"

"Bought in Vienna. Chocolate."

Choi Min-soo smiled. "You're quite thoughtful."

Park Jiyeon didn't reply. She looked down and rummaged through her bag for a box of chocolates. The packaging had a Mozart design, with blue and gold accents, and it looked very high-end.

She bought it at Vienna Airport, hesitating for a long time beforehand—buying something too expensive would seem pretentious, while buying something too cheap wouldn't be presentable. In the end, she chose this mid-priced box, just the right amount.

When Park Jiyeon arrived at the company, Su Yu was in a meeting. She placed the chocolate on his office desk with a note: "Representative Su, a Viennese specialty. Thank you for giving me this opportunity." After thinking for a moment, she added, "The movie is finished, and I didn't let you down."

Then she went to the practice room. Kim Go-eun was inside, practicing her moves in front of the mirror. When she saw Park Ji-yeon come in, she stopped and smiled. "Ji-yeon, you're back?"

"Hmm. Goeun unnie, what are you practicing?"

"Reshoots for 'Goblin.' The director said a few scenes need to be reshot." Kim Go-eun walked over, looked Park Ji-yeon up and down, and said, "You've lost weight. Wasn't Vienna good?"

"It's not that the food is bad, it's just that I've been too busy to eat." Park Jiyeon sat down in a chair, put down her backpack, and asked, "Unnie, how's your filming going lately?"

"Filming is almost finished. Everything will be done next week."

"very nice."

Kim Go-eun looked at her. "Ji-yeon, were you tired from filming that movie?"

"Tired," Park Jiyeon thought for a moment, "but it was worth it."

Representative Su said you acted well.

Park Jiyeon paused, taken aback. "He told you?"

"Yeah. He went to the editing room to see the rough cut and came back saying, 'Park Jiyeon is different this time.'" Kim Go-eun smiled. "He rarely praises people."

Park Jiyeon lowered her head, tracing circles on her knee with her fingers. "He didn't praise me. He just said 'Come back.'"

"That's a compliment. You don't understand him."

Park Jiyeon looked up at Kim Go-eun. "Unnie, do you understand him?"

Kim Go-eun thought for a moment. "I don't understand either. But I know that he doesn't talk much, but every word he says carries weight. When he tells you 'come back,' it means 'I missed you.' He just doesn't say it."

Park Jiyeon stared at Kim Go-eun for a few seconds, then smiled. "Unnie, you're really good at analyzing."

Kim Go-eun laughed too. "I was just kidding."

The two chatted for a while, then Park Jiyeon stood up and said she was going to check on Chae Soobin. Kim Go-eun said, "She doesn't have any scenes today, she should stay home and read her script." Park Jiyeon said, "Then I'll just go home," and left with her bag.

As they reached the elevator, the doors opened, and Su Yu stepped out. The two faced each other and nearly bumped into each other.

"Ah." Park Jiyeon took a step back. "Representative."

Su Yu looked at her. "You're back?"

"Yeah. Just got back."

"Did you see the chocolate?"

"I saw it."

Su Yu nodded. "Don't buy it next time."

Park Jiyeon paused for a moment. "It doesn't taste good?"

"No. You don't need to spend that money."

Park Jiyeon smiled. "It's not about the money, it's about the sentiment. Just accept it."

Su Yu glanced at her but said nothing more. He walked towards his office, then stopped after a couple of steps and turned back. "How's the movie going?"

"Very good. The director is very satisfied."

"And you? Are you satisfied with yourself?"

Park Jiyeon thought for a moment. "It's alright. I'll watch it when the final cut comes out."

Su Yu nodded, turned, and left. Park Jiyeon stood there, watching his figure disappear at the end of the corridor. The elevator doors were open, but she didn't go in. She stood there for a few seconds, then pressed the close button.

That evening, Park Ji-yeon went to Chae Soo-bin's house. She brought a bottle of white wine she had bought in Vienna, and Chae Soo-bin's eyes lit up when she opened the door.

"Unnie, you're back! Come in quickly!"

Park Jiyeon changed her shoes and walked into the living room. Su Yu was sitting on the sofa looking at documents. He glanced up at her and nodded. Park Jiyeon placed the wine on the table and said, "This is for you."

Cai Xiubin picked it up and looked at it, saying, "This label is so beautiful." He then turned to Su Yu and said, "Can you open it?" Su Yu put down the documents, picked up the bottle, opened it with the corkscrew, and poured two glasses.

"Unnie, aren't you going to drink?" Cai Xiubin asked.

"I drove here."

"Then let Su Yu take you back."

Su Yu glanced at Cai Xiubin. Cai Xiubin smiled. "Aren't you alright?"

Su Yu remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

The three sat down, and Chae Soo-bin asked Park Ji-yeon about the filming in Vienna. Park Ji-yeon shared some behind-the-scenes stories—the director didn't speak Korean, and she didn't speak German, so they communicated through a translator. Sometimes the translator would make a mistake, and if the director made a gesture she didn't understand, she would do it wrong, and the director would get impatient, and in the end, they would both laugh.

"That concert hall is so beautiful," Park Jiyeon said. "It's golden, and when the lights are on, it's like a dream."

"What about the part where you played the piano?" Cai Xiubin asked, "Did you really play it?"

"I played it. On the last day of filming, after we wrapped up, I played a piece by myself on stage," Park Jiyeon laughed. "Nobody heard it."

Su Yu held his wine glass and looked at her. "I heard you."

Park Jiyeon paused, taken aback. "How did you hear that?"

"Choi Min-soo filmed a video."

Park Jiyeon's face flushed instantly. Chae Soo-bin smiled and asked, "Unnie, how well did you play?" Park Jiyeon replied, "Not good, I haven't practiced in a long time." Su Yu said, "Not bad." Park Jiyeon looked at him; the word "not bad" coming from his mouth was already a high score.

After finishing her drinks, Park Ji-yeon said it was time to go. Chae Soo-bin asked Su Yu to take her home, but Su Yu picked up the car keys. Park Ji-yeon said, "No need, I'll take a taxi." Chae Soo-bin said, "Let Su Yu take you; you've been drinking."

Park Jiyeon paused for a moment. "I didn't drink."

"You're blushing."

"That's because the heating is too hot."

Su Yu had already stood up and was putting on her coat. Park Jiyeon didn't refuse anymore, said goodbye to Cai Xiubin, and went downstairs.

Neither of them spoke in the car. Su Yu drove steadily, while Park Jiyeon sat in the passenger seat, looking at the snow outside the window. The streetlights flickered in and out, casting her face in and out of the light.

"Representative Su."

"Um."

"Go Eun unnie said you complimented me."

Su Yu didn't speak.

"She said you went to see the rough cut and said, 'Park Jiyeon is different this time.'" Park Jiyeon turned to look at him. "Is it true?"

"Um."

"What's different?"

Su Yu thought for a moment. "Before, you were acting. This time, you're alive."

Park Jiyeon stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled. "The way you compliment someone is different from others."

How do others praise you?

People might say, "Your acting has improved," or "Your emotions are on point." You say, "You're alive."

Su Yu didn't reply.

Park Jiyeon lowered her head, gently rubbing her fingers on her knees. "Representative Su."

"Um."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"You should thank me," Park Jiyeon said softly. "I've always remembered the opportunity you gave me."

Su Yu glanced at her. "You're an artist with the company. If you perform well, the company makes money."

Park Jiyeon laughed. "You always say that. I know that's not what you mean."

Su Yu didn't say anything more.

The car stopped downstairs at Park Jiyeon's house. Park Jiyeon unbuckled her seatbelt but didn't get out of the car right away.

"Representative Su."

"Um."

"Good night."

"Good night."

Park Jiyeon got out of the car and closed the door. She stood by the roadside, watching Su Yu's car drive away. The taillights left two red streaks in the snow, slowly disappearing at the intersection. She stood there for a while, then turned and walked into the apartment building.

In the elevator, she took out her phone and saw a message from Su Yu: "Message me when you get home." She looked at the message, smiled, and typed: "Arrived." Su Yu replied with an "Mm."

Park Jiyeon put her phone away, leaned against the elevator wall, and closed her eyes. The elevator slowly ascended, and she remembered what Kim Go-eun had said—"When he tells you 'come back,' it means 'I miss you.'"

She didn't know if it was true.

But she preferred to believe it was true.