Chapter 213 - Devil is Calling

A few days passed, with everyone's attention focused on Kim Ji Hyeon's searches. The subject became a national obsession, due to the notoriety of those involved and the almost cinematic details of the story.

But Ye Rim was too involved with the production of the drama in which she would be the protagonist, to be with Jun Hyeon all the time, while they investigated each clue.

What would have been a rare moment of complete wonder for her, being a co-star in a production alongside a beautiful and famous actor, had lost the fantasy tone that she would have had in another situation. And it was a job like singing at Pearl. 

Although she was still excited and dedicated, doing her best in this pre-production phase, Ye Rim had to work hard to focus on the job. Many things happened at the same time.

When the news that the female protagonist of Bullet, alongside the coveted actor Joon Jae Yoon, reached the social networks, the matter rivaled the Kim Twins scandal, as the press called the case. 

There was a lot of grudges among Jang Han Ri fans, who took it for granted that the famous actress would be the female protagonist. 

Although Han Ri herself was being diplomatic about it, in the film studio they knew that she was a shrew, and capable of playing only one type of role, just the opposite in real life. But Han Ri was smart enough not to tarnish his image before his audience.

Ye Rim's agency did an outstanding job of public relations to turn every known aspect of Ye Rim's life into a novelesque story of overcoming. Nothing was invented, but even what the singer always considered a failure was shown as injustice and chance of destiny. Even Ye Rim had to agree that the way of looking at events influenced the lesson from her past. 

She could now see, in each rejection and setback, lessons she had to learn to develop humility, maturity and self-discipline. And Ye Rim knew she still had a lot to improve.

She had just met with the production team to decide on costumes and looks, and Ye Rim knew she would have to change her hair color for the period drama. She was a little agitated but knew that she should trust the experts. Ye Rim was just a little attached to her hair's coppery tones!

"I'm just going to be there to support and answer a few questions. I hope it doesn't take too long," while doing makeup in the bathroom, after finishing the assessment with the team, Ye Rim spoke to Jun Hyeon on speaker. The singer was not in a festive spirit, but she could not refuse Duk Mi's request!

The senior singer, now in evidence again, had caught the attention of a group of young filmmakers, who were making a doc.u.mentary about the trot. 

They were going to Pearl tonight, and Ye Rim accepted the invitation to appear on the set.

"Okay… My father and his family are arriving in the country in two hours, I will pick you up at the airport. See you later, call me," her boyfriend had replied in a tired voice. 

Jun Hyeon had already warned Ye Rim of his father's arrival. The event was too important, and Mr. Kim had maintained frequent contact with his son in the past few days after Ji Hyeon's call.

Ye Rim didn't know how he had the energy to handle all of this. He was more silent and sulky, and all she could do was be patient and supportive at that moment. She couldn't be too demanding about their relationship with everything he was going through. Ye Rim would like to help more, but there was not much she could do, especially with the start of Bullet recordings scheduled for ten days from now. Jun Hyeon asked her to focus on that.

Ye Rim imagined that he wanted to make sure that his personal life was not interfering in hers negatively. He had signed the contract on the terms he asked to change, and she knew it was a proof of love. 

Even Ye Rim was receiving phone calls and messages from people concerned about Jun Hyeon and her, now that it was public that they had a relationship.

"Aish ... Thinking about these things gives me a headache," she mumbled to herself before reaching for her bag and car keys. Why did Jun and his noona have to suffer so much?

ººº

She saw two vans standing near the Pearl and soon knew that the film crew was already there, so she hurried to cross the street and enter.

The house was abnormally crowded tonight, and a small group of people was busy around the stage, filming Duk Mi.

And he was especially hammy tonight.

Mrs. Song watched by the bar, with her arms crossed and a worried face. Pearl's employees were also avoiding her eyes. Ye Rim wondered what the problem was this time, before approaching Pearl's owner.

"Is there a problem, President Song?"

"Ah, Ye Rim! I thought you didn't come!"

"Why, but if I said I would come ...?" the matron's hurt look worried her.

"It's just ... it just came out on TV ... Didn't you see it?"

Ye Rim's heart froze. "Something happened?"

"They just announced that Lee Dae Won called a TV station, saying that he would hand over Mr. Go's granddaughter in exchange for some guarantees."

"Oh!" the singer covered her mouth with her hand, shocked. The news made her hopeful while making her heart race, tense. She immediately picked up the phone to call Jun Hyeon, but her finger hesitated.

At that very moment, his phone rang with the familiar ring of Jun Hyeon. Feeling herself holding her breath in anticipation, she answered the call,

"Oppa?"

"Ye Rim. I will need to leave the phone free. Dae Won got in touch. He will hand over Ji Hyeon. I will be with Officer Ji." Jun Hyeon spoke all at once, denoting the urgency of his call.

"Okay. Understand. I can pick up your dad at the airport," Ye Rim tried to be as assertive as he was.

"It's not necessary, Miss Ma is already on her way. Sorry, I have to go."

"Hey, wait."

"What?"

"I love you, Jun Hyeon."

A small silence followed on the other end of the line. She thought he must be surrounded by people. Still, she wanted to say that. She wanted him to know.

"Then marry me," he replied. His tone, despite the urgency, was serious enough that Ye Rim knew he was serious. 

In another moment she would have wished he was being more romantic in saying that, but not now.

"Whenever you want," she replied, and found that, from the bottom of her heart, she wanted it. "I'm going to turn it off now. Call me with news, I'll be waiting."

Ye Rim didn't know how he could concentrate on another subject at that moment and sighed when Jun Hyeon hung up the phone. In fact, during their brief conversation, the sounds at the bottom of several messages coming in already announced the approaching storm.

Ye Rim answered some calls, and messages from several people warning and talking about the news that Dae Won was going to deliver. She tried to speak to Eun Ha, but her unnie didn't answer the phone. All she could do was leave a message.

"You don't really have to stay, Ye Rim," said Ms. Song. "Duk Mi will have to understand the situation. And if he doesn't understand ... I'll make him understand."

It almost made Ye Rim laugh, but she shook her head. "I think I better stay. I may not have time later. I'm not going to be useful anywhere else, anyway. I just need to keep up with the news...!"

"I'll explain the situation to them, so they will hurry to interview you," the older woman offered to help, and Ye Rim thanked him.

Her headache only increased.

Her friends, Pearl's customers, also came to talk to Ye Rim. Apparently the news had spread quickly among Pearl's regulars. After all, Ji Hyeon was Mr. Go's granddaughter.

Ye Rim was explaining to her friends she didn't know more than they did about the news that came out on TV when the phone vibrated in her hand. Discreetly, she looked at the screen.

The cell phone almost fell out of her hand when she saw the name: LEE DAE WON.

"Excuse me, it's an urgent call," she warned, moving away from people and going behind the stage.

She continued to look at the screen in disbelief, with shaking hands. Suddenly, all she wanted to do was run out of Pearl and never come back.

The call stopped, and a message appeared on the screen:

LDW: 'Are you sure you won't answer?'

"Oh, shit!" she hurriedly touched the buttons on the screen, while her mind was still trying to process what was going on. The cellphone rang again.

Swallowing hard and her heart pounding, Ye Rim picked Dae Won's call.