OBS Chapter 79 Kim Go-eun's Integration
Chapter 79 Kim Go-eun's Integration
After the script reading, Kim Go-eun visited the company much more often.
It wasn't Su Yu's request; she came on her own. She said she didn't feel the connection to her lines at home, but at the company, hearing other people's voices made it easier to get into character. Cai Xiubin gave her a key, saying, "You can come anytime." Kim Go-eun paused for a moment when she took the key, then smiled.
"Aren't you afraid I'll empty the company?"
"The most valuable person in the company is Su Yu. If you can move him, then move him." Cai Xiubin said this in a relaxed tone, but Jin Gaoyin sensed something else in his voice—not a warning, but trust.
Kim Go-eun didn't move out of Su Yu's house, but she treated the practice room like her second home. She arrived at nine in the morning and left at six in the afternoon, more punctual than most of the company's employees. She practiced her positions, lines, and expressions in front of the mirror all by herself in the practice room. Sometimes when Chae Soo-bin wasn't filming, he would come over and practice with her. The two of them would correct each other in front of the mirror, just like in a college acting class.
Su Yu had seen them a few times when she passed by the practice room. The door was open, and Cai Xiubin and Kim Go-eun were standing in front of the mirror, one playing the goblin's bride and the other playing a wandering ghost. The two characters didn't have any scenes together in the drama, but when they were rehearsing their lines, they would read out each other's lines as well, helping each other find their rhythm.
"You're holding back your emotions too much here." Kim Go-eun pointed to a passage in the script, "She says, 'I've waited for you for a long time,' not out of sadness, but out of relief. She's waited for so long that she's used up all her sadness."
After listening, Cai Xiubin read it aloud again. This time, her voice was even softer, as if it were drifting from a great distance.
Kim Go-eun nodded. "Oh, right."
Su Yu didn't go in to disturb them. He stood at the door for a while, watched for a while, and then left.
One day at noon, Kim Go-eun was eating lunch alone in the company's break room. She had brought homemade kimbap, which was cut into uneven pieces and didn't look very appealing. Chae Soo-bin came in with coffee and, seeing her eating, said, "Is this all you're eating?" Kim Go-eun replied, "I'm not very good at cooking." Chae Soo-bin opened the refrigerator, took out some homemade kimchi soup, heated up a bowl, and brought it to her.
"Don't eat this for lunch anymore, eat with me instead."
Kim Go-eun looked at the bowl of kimchi soup and her hand trembled slightly as she took it.
"Soobin, you're so good to me."
"Unnie, you're one of our company's employees. If we're not good to you, who else should we be good to?" Cai Xiubin sat down opposite her, took a sip of coffee, and said, "Besides, if you act well, the drama will be a hit, the company will make money, and Su Yu will be happy. That's when I'll be happy."
Kim Go-eun lowered her head to drink her soup, and after a few sips, she looked up.
"Soobin, how long have you been with CEO Su?" — Kim Go-eun is 3 years older than Chae Soo-bin, and calling her "Soobin" is an affectionate way for an older sister to address her younger sister.
Cai Xiubin thought for a moment. "It's been almost a year."
"Has it always been this good?"
Cai Xiubin laughed. "It wasn't always good. We argued sometimes. He doesn't talk much, and sometimes I don't know what he's thinking."
"Then how do you know he likes you?"
Cai Xiubin paused for a moment, then smiled. "The things he did. He didn't say it, but everything he did told you that he cared about you."
Kim Go-eun nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
In the afternoon, after Su Yu finished a project meeting at the company, he saw Kim Go-eun standing in the corridor with a script in her hand, as if she was waiting for him.
"What's up?"
"Representative Su, I'd like to ask you a question."
"explain."
"Why did you sign me in the first place? I mean, I wasn't famous back then, and I was only playing minor roles. Why did you choose me?"
Su Yu looked at her and remained silent for a few seconds.
"Because there's something in your eyes."
Kim Go-eun didn't understand.
"Many actors have empty eyes. They're reciting lines, but there's nothing in their eyes," Su Yu said. "You're different. You just stand there, doing nothing, and your eyes tell a story."
Kim Go-eun stared at him for a few seconds, then lowered her head, her voice a little muffled.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. Go practice."
Kim Go-eun turned and walked away, but after a few steps she turned back.
"Representative Su."
"Um."
You won't misjudge someone.
Su Yu didn't say anything, watching her walk into the practice room and close the door.
Shirley arrived at the company at 4:30 pm.
She's been busy with her single in Japan lately and hasn't been to the company for almost a month. Today she was wearing a black coat, her hair was dyed back to black, and she looked a bit thinner than before. She went to Su Yu's office first; the door was closed, and people were talking inside. She stood at the door for two seconds, didn't knock, and turned to go to the break room.
Cai Xiubin was heating coffee in the break room. She smiled when she saw Shirley come in.
"Unnie, it's been a long time."
Sulli smiled too. "Soobin, you've lost weight. Filming must be tiring, right?"
"It's alright. You've lost weight too, unnie. Is your work in Japan tough?"
"It's alright, but I'm not really used to the food."
The two women sat down, coffee in hand, facing each other. The atmosphere was a little subtle, but not awkward. They had moved past that awkward stage—not friends, but not enemies either. More like two people who knew each other's secrets, choosing to remain silent.
"I've read the script for 'Goblin'," Shirley said. "The female lead would be perfect for you."
"Thanks."
"Yoon Shi-yoon oppa's Goblin was also good. I've always admired Su Yu's eye for talent."
Cai Xiubin looked at her and paused for a moment. "Has Unnie been in contact with Su Yu a lot lately?"
Shirley shook her head. "He's busy with the film crew, and I'm busy with things in Japan. We're each busy with our own things."
Cai Xiubin nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
Shirley finished her coffee and stood up. "I'll go check on him. Is he in his office?"
"Yes. Go Eun unnie is inside, please wait a moment."
Shirley walked to the door of Su Yu's office, and the door opened. Kim Go-eun came out, holding a script, and met Shirley's gaze.
The two looked at each other for a second.
"Hello," Kim Go-eun said first.
"Hello unnie, I'm Sulli."
Kim Go-eun smiled. "Sulli, don't be so polite, just call me Go-eun unnie."
"Go Eun unnie".
Kim Go-eun nodded and left.
Shirley walked into Su Yu's office and closed the door. Su Yu was sitting behind his desk, looking at some documents. He looked up when he saw her come in.
"You're back?"
"Yes. Things are almost settled in Japan."
"Did it go smoothly?"
"Everything went smoothly." Shirley sat down on the sofa. "Was that girl who just went out Kim Go-eun? Your new actress?"
"Um."
"She looks very young."
"Born in 1991. Three years older than you," Su Yu said.
Shirley nodded and didn't ask any more questions. She leaned back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling.
"Su Yu".
"Um."
"Have you ever thought that one day the company will become very big?"
Su Yu put down the documents and looked at her. "I've thought about it."
How big?
"Bigger than SM."
Shirley paused for a moment, then laughed. "Are you serious?"
"When have I ever not been serious?"
Shirley stared at him for a few seconds, then her smile vanished. She knew Su Yu wasn't joking. When he said it was bigger than SM, he really meant it—he was planning to be bigger than SM.
"Then you'll need a lot of people."
"We're already looking for it."
Shirley stood up and walked to the window. The Han River outside shimmered in the setting sun, and the Namsan Tower in the distance was bathed in an orange-red hue.
"Su Yu, I have a question for you."
"explain."
"Don't you find me annoying? I'm always coming to see you."
Su Yu looked at her. "You're an artist with the company. It's normal for you to come to the company."
Shirley turned to look at him. "You know that's not what I'm asking."
Su Yu remained silent for two seconds.
"Shirley."
"Um."
"You are a very important person."
Shirley stared at him for a long time, then smiled. That smile held both bitterness and relief.
"Okay. He's a very important person. That's enough."
She turned and walked away. When she reached the door, she stopped but didn't look back.
"Go Eun unnie, that girl is great. You signed the right person."
The door closed.
Su Yu sat at his desk, motionless. He picked up his phone and saw a message from Cai Xiubin.
"Sherry unnie is gone?"
"Um."
"Is she alright?"
"fine."
Cai Xiubin sent a smiley face and then asked, "What do you want to eat tonight?"
Su Yu typed: "What do you want to eat?"
"Ginseng chicken soup".
"Okay. I'll go buy it."
"No need, I'm already cooking. Your return is just in time."
Su Yu looked at the message, and his lips twitched slightly. He stood up, shut down his computer, grabbed his coat, and left the office.
The corridor was quiet. The practice room door was closed, and there was no sound from inside. Kim Go-eun had already left. Sulli had left too. Only a few employees remained in the company, working overtime.
Su Yu walked to the elevator and pressed the down button. His phone vibrated as the elevator doors opened. It was a message from Park Jiyeon.
"Representative Su, I've received the script for an independent film. The female lead is a blind pianist. Could you take a look?"
Su Yu entered the elevator and typed: "Send it to me tomorrow."
"Okay. Thank you, representative."
Su Yu put her phone away, and the elevator doors closed.
When Su Yu arrived home, Cai Xiubin was busy in the kitchen. The aroma of ginseng chicken soup filled the entire house. She was wearing a floral apron, her hair was casually tied up, and her face was a little oily, but Su Yu thought she looked better than ever.
"You're back?" She poked her head out from the kitchen. "Wash your hands and eat."
Su Yu changed his shoes, went into the kitchen, and hugged her from behind. He rested his chin on her shoulder.
"What's wrong with you today? Why are you being so clingy?" Cai Xiubin smiled and used a spoon to block her.
"tired."
"If you're tired, just sit down. Your food will be ready soon."
Su Yu didn't let go. Cai Xiubin stopped urging him and just let him hold her, slowly stirring the soup in the pot with the spoon in his hand.
"Su Yu".
"Um."
"Go Eun unnie told me today that she doesn't know what it feels like to like someone."
Su Yu's hand tightened slightly.
"What did you say?" he asked.
"I told you, you'll see when you meet them. No need to rush."
Su Yu didn't speak.
Cai Xiubin turned off the stove and turned to face him.
"Su Yu, you don't like her, do you?"
Su Yu looked at her. "You're overthinking it."
"I wasn't thinking too much. I was just asking." Cai Xiubin looked up at him, gazing into his eyes. "You know perfectly well who you like."
Su Yu lowered his head and kissed her forehead.
"clear."
Cai Xiubin smiled and turned to serve the soup.
The two sat at the dining table, drinking ginseng chicken soup. The Han River outside the window was quietly lit up at night, and a cruise ship slowly passed by in the distance, leaving a long trail of light on the river.
"Su Yu".
"Um."
Do you think Go-eun will achieve great things in the future?
"meeting."
Why?
"Because she knows she's not good enough," Su Yu said. "Only people who know they're not good enough will keep running forward."
Cai Xiubin nodded and took a sip of soup.
"And what about you? Do you know you're not good enough?"
Su Yu put down his spoon and looked at her.
"I know."
"What's wrong with you?"
Su Yu thought for a moment. "Too few words."
Cai Xiubin smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescents.
"It's good that you know."
She reached out and took his hand.
"It's okay. I talk too much. That's enough."
Su Yu grasped her hand in return, their fingers intertwined.