I Returned as a High School Girl

Chapter 126: One of a Kind of Girl (2)

Kang Ra-Eun got back into Shin Yu-Bin’s car to attend the One of a Kind of Girl afterparty. She had returned to her home at 6 AM, and was now going back out at 6 PM. She had reunited with Yu-Bin after only twelve hours.

Ra-Eun placed a coffee next to her.

“I brought it just in case. Have a sip if you get sleepy.”

“Thanks. That’s our Ra-Eun for ya. You’re so sensible.”

Perhaps Yu-Bin stayed as Ra-Eun’s manager because of this side of her.

“Leaving me aside, what about you? Did you sleep?” Yu-Bin asked.

“Yes. I showered and slept as soon as I came back.”

“Good job. Your film shoots are over now, so get as much rest as you can for the time being.”

“I will.”

Ra-Eun was thinking of doing everything that she had been pushing back until now. The biggest on her agenda was, of course, her revenge plan against Kim Han-Gyo. She needed to bring down the businesses that he had friendly relations with. She had plenty of ways to attack, such as a hostile takeover, completely destroying their brand image through constant public opinion bombs through Reporter Ahn Su-Jin, and many more. It would all depend on how she wanted to attack.

‘I’ll have to check up on the stock trading as well.’

Despite becoming an adult, Ra-Eun was still leaving the stock trading to Kang Ra-Hyuk. She couldn’t help it, since she was busy with school when she was a student, and now she was too busy with her TV career and her company as an adult.

‘But fortunately, he’s been doing very well so far.’

Although, he had only been doing well because he had been doing exactly as Ra-Eun instructed. As long as one had a memory better than a goldfish, a hand, eyes, and time to sit in front of a computer, anyone could earn money with the information that Ra-Eun provided.

Ra-Hyuk had done so well because he was following Ra-Eun’s instructions without question. At first, Ra-Eun was worried that Ra-Hyuk would go against her instructions and invest in the wrong stocks, but now she had no reason to worry about him.

‘We live close to each other now anyway.’

She could just talk to him face to face.

There were also smaller things that she needed to take care of.

‘Come to think of it, I promised to go visit Yi-Jun at the base he was deployed to.’

On the day of Seo Yi-Jun’s enlistment, she had promised to go visit him at least once during his military service. She had only said it at the spur of the moment, but Yi-Jun had fully believed it. Even during his last leave, he had asked her several times when she was planning on visiting him. She regretted making such a promise, but it was too late to take it back now.

“Miss Manager.”

“Hm? What is it?”

She decided to ask Yu-Bin whether or not she was allowed to go visit someone in the army, just in case.

“There’s someone I know who’s doing his military service right now, and I was thinking I should go visit him at least once. Can I?”

“A visit? That’s no trouble. It’s not like you’re gonna be doing something bad there. But he’s not your boyfriend or anything, right?”

If that was the case, a problem like the previous dating scandal could arise.

“He’s Yi-Seo’s little brother,” Ra-Eun stated.

“Oh, then that’s fine. I’ll ask Chief Jung too, just in case.”

“Okay.”

She was fine with being a celebrity, but having to get approval for personal things like this was a bit annoying.

***

“Now, all together! Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

Everyone involved in the One of a Kind of Girl production gathered to clink their glasses together. TP Entertainment had prepared an afterparty venue that could be called the epitome of extravagance for the production team who had worked so hard. Staff members could be heard talking from a distance.

“Director Kim. This is my first time eating at a hotel like this!”

“Dammit, man. Be quiet. Must you really give off such bumpkin energy?”

“Come on. Isn’t it your first time too, Director?”

Vice President Park Hee-Woo, the host of the afterparty, was also smiling in a crescent from hearing the staff members chattering.

“You’ve all worked so hard, so please enjoy the afterparty as much as you can. I’ve reserved the whole place, so no one will be bothering us.”

She had reserved the hotel’s restaurant so the staff members would be able to enjoy their dinner without being conscious of outsiders. The staff members’ morale soared. While the venue was filled with joyous energy here and there, Vice President Park walked to the table where Ra-Eun and Director Yoon Tae-Yoon were sitting.

Ra-Eun was in casual wear. She greeted the woman who used to be her older sister.

“Good evening, Vice President.”

“It’s been a while, Ra-Eun. Is it just me, or have you gotten more beautiful in the time I haven’t seen you?”

Ra-Eun simply laughed awkwardly in response. She had gotten fairly used to being praised for her beauty, but it was an extremely weird feeling to be called beautiful by her former older sister. She didn’t know how to describe what she was feeling, but one thing was for sure that it wasn’t anything close to happiness.

Hee-Woo raised her wine glass and had a sip. She then said in slight disappointment, “I want to see you act more, but it’s a shame that I wasn’t able to because I was so busy.”

Hee-Woo had designated Ra-Eun for the role of Min Ju-Tae, the movie’s protagonist, because she was sure that Ra-Eun would be able to play a man who had turned into a woman better than anyone else.

‘She didn’t designate me because she knew my secret, did she?’

It definitely was a valid suspicion. In terms of the outcome, Hee-Woo had made an excellent decision since Director Yoon had produced a film that he was 100%... no, 120% satisfied with.

Director Yoon consoled Hee-Woo to lessen her disappointment even a little, “We’ll show you the final edit before anyone else, so you don't have to be so disappointed.”

“Well, it’d be great if I can watch it first. But of course, I’ll go watch it in cinemas as well when it’s released. Films are best when watched in cinemas, don’t you think?”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Ra-Eun also thought the same.

‘I guess we really are related by blood.’

There were several things that they had in common besides their thoughts on films.

“Ra-Eun,” Vice President Park said with her eyes fixed on Ra-Eun.

“Yes, Vice President?”

“We at TP Entertainment will be helping to promote this film, so you don't have to worry. We’ve already secured a large number of cinemas for the film to be screened in. We’re also thinking about releasing it overseas if it receives good reviews, but that’ll depend solely on the outcome.”

She was talking as if it was a given that One of a Kind of Girl would be a hit overseas as well.

‘Noona sure is great at business and marketing.’

Even if she had a twisted personality, Ra-Eun had to admit her capability if nothing else.

“Oh, right.”

Hee-Woo still seemed to have something to say to Ra-Eun. She got closer to her. The eyes of people in the surroundings shifted to them as Hee-Woo, who was slightly taller than Ra-Eun, got too close to Ra-Eun for comfort.

‘What’s this woman thinking this time?’

Hee-Woo whispered so that not even Director Yoon sitting at their table could hear.

“How is your business faring lately?”

“Are you talking about Levanche?”

“Yes. I’ve been hearing many things about you. Of course, I mean that in a good way.”

At first, Ra-Eun was likely being paid attention because of the fact that an actress had started up a company. However, as time passed, people in the financial world came to realize one by one that Ra-Eun was also exceptional in business as well.

Ra-Eun actually didn’t have a knack for business. She simply knew what would happen in the future, so she was receiving praises that she had a good eye and excellent insight. Hee-Woo had also started to pay great attention not only to the actress Ra-Eun, but the businesswoman Ra-Eun as well.

“Please give me a call anytime you need my help. You know my personal contact information, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

The back of the name card that Hee-Woo had given her when they first met contained her personal phone number. It meant that she was interested enough in Ra-Eun to even give the latter her own number.

“If you’re in the world of business, I’m sure there will come a time when you will need my help. I’m willing to throw myself into any matter that you ask me to, so please don’t feel burdened to give me a call. Just treat it like you’re calling a close unnie. Okay?”

A close unnie. Ra-Eun smiled artificially.

“Okay. Thank you very much, Vice President.”

Hee-Woo left while giggling. Ra-Eun clicked her tongue several times in her head. It felt as if a black-hearted fox had come and gone.

***

Ra-Eun had buried herself in the chair of her chairwoman’s office at Levanche. She was fiddling around with the name card that Hee-Woo had given her before. Her number was clearly written with a pen on the back.

‘I guess her number’s still the same.’

She saved it in her smartphone contacts for now. Building good relations with TP Group was part of Ra-Eun’s plan for revenge, so in that sense...

‘I guess it’s safe to say that I’ve accomplished the first task, right?’

Hee-Woo was not the kind of person to give out her number to just anyone. Only her family, close acquaintances, and people who she considered to be trustworthy had her number.

‘She also used to give it out to people who she had taken a great liking to.’

In terms of the female Kang Ra-Eun, she likely belonged to the final category.

“Chairwoman Kang.”

While she was deep in thought over various things, Seol-Hun came to her office.

“We’re gonna go sign the contract for taking over Entre Happy. You’re not coming with us, right?”

“Yeah. I don’t wanna wear a skirt again.”

They had already made a verbal agreement, so all they needed to do was to seal the deal with a signature. Seol-Hun chuckled, said okay and was about to leave the office.

“Mister,” Ra-Eun said. She put Hee-Woo’s name card in her drawer. “Go tell Ma Yeong-Jun to deliver this message to Reporter Ahn Su-Jin. Publish an extensive article regarding Levanche’s takeover of Entre Happy.”

She was thinking of using this opportunity to let more of the public know of Levanche. Seol-Hun nodded and said that he would. After he left, Ra-Eun turned her gaze toward the drawer that she had put Hee-Woo’s name card in.

“Trump cards are meant to be saved.”

Now was not the time.