The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 385

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Yeo Joo Saves the World
Part 2, Episode 206

“Huh?!”
“It seems to be the one I like best among the cars I own.”
“No! That’s quite alright! I must sincerely decline!”
I don’t refuse free gifts or presents, but I absolutely despise these rolling apartments.
“What a shame. There’s only one of these in our country.”
Jung Je Hwa let out a small sigh when I rejected the car gift.
“It won’t take long to reach our destination. Why don’t you get some rest, Yeo Joo?”
“I am tired, but….”
What if I drooled on these premium leather seats while sleeping?
Yet unlike my initial tension, as time passed, my eyelids grew progressively heavier.
And before I could even realize it, I surrendered to deep sleep.
It was because my heart had finally found peace after quite some time.

* * *

True to Jung Je Hwa’s word that it wouldn’t be far, we arrived before a quiet building on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province.
And stepping out of the car, I confirmed the name of the building attached to the fence.
“Is this the place you wanted to come with me?”

[ Hanmaeum Orphanage ]

It seemed to be a facility where children without guardians stayed.
Following behind Je Hwa as she walked into the grounds, I assumed she had come to volunteer.
“Kyahahaha!”
“Catch the person who’s it!”
Hearing the distant laughter of children playing, I found myself smiling without realizing it, and Je Hwa spoke with a smile on her face just like mine.
“I lived here until I was fifteen.”
“You’re from an orphanage, boss?”
I was taken aback.
Je Hwa had grown up at an orphanage.
My eyes widened at this sudden revelation about the Master’s personal history.
“Are you very surprised?”
“Quite a bit. I never would have guessed.”
“This is the first time I’ve brought someone here.”
Je Hwa, speaking those words, actually seemed more at ease.
Even more so than in her own home at Jamsil Tower or the Secret Workshop.
“It must be a place with many good memories.”
“I was fortunate. These days, there are many places with poor conditions.”
Since Gates appeared, the number of children who lost their guardians had increased dramatically.
Naturally, facilities to care for such children had multiplied as well.
As a result, the quality of childcare facilities varied greatly.
“I’m glad for you. I wasn’t quite so fortunate.”
When my parents suddenly passed away at sixteen, with no relatives to take me in, I spent several years until adulthood relying on facilities like this.
It was nothing like this spacious playground, and the sound of children’s laughter was rare in that place.
“Ah….”
Je Hwa seemed quite flustered.
She hadn’t known that I, too, had spent time growing up in an orphanage like her.
“I’m sorry, Yeo Joo. I didn’t….”
“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, boss. Rather, I feel like I said something unnecessary….”
It was just as Je Hwa and I were awkwardly exchanging apologies.
“Uncle Je Hwa!”
“Uncle’s here!”
Children who appeared to be elementary school age came rushing toward us.
Seeing their beaming faces, Je Hwa seemed delighted.
Je Hwa greeted the children with a comfortable smile.
“Have you been well?”
“Yeah! Uncle, it’s been so long!”
“Why didn’t you come! Hee Jin waited for you every day!”
“Really? I’ve been busy with work, sorry.”
It wasn’t just in name—the lively atmosphere felt just like relatives meeting for the first time in ages during a holiday.
Then the youngest-looking girl approached and tugged at my sleeve, asking a question.
“Who are you, unnie?”
“Are you Uncle’s girlfriend?”
“Did you come to play with us?”
The sudden barrage of questions left me flustered, unsure which to answer first.
“Well, my name is Yeo Joo, and I’m not his girlfriend. As for playing… what kind of games do you kids like?”
Do kids these days still know about tag?
“Hehe.”
At my response, Jung Je Hwa laughed again.
“Kids, you’ll surprise Yeo Joo.”
“Wow! Yeo Joo!”
“Uncle said her name is Yeo Joo!”
“Ugh, so cheesy!”
The children shrieked in their shrill voices, and my ears felt completely numb.
Perhaps sensing my exhaustion, Jung Je Hwa began to soothe the children.
“Come on, let’s head inside.”
“Uncle! We need to say hello to the teacher!”
“Right, let’s go!”
The children, who had been properly scolded, began tugging at both of Jung Je Hwa’s hands.
“Yeo Joo…”
“I’ll look around the grounds. Take your time, boss.”
I had considered greeting the facility staff with him, but I changed my mind and waved him off instead.
My stamina was far too meager to be drained by these little sprouts.
“There’s a playground behind the building. Let’s meet there again.”
With those final words, Jung Je Hwa was mercilessly dragged away by children half his size and disappeared.
“The air is nice, being a bit outside of Seoul.”
Though this visit was unexpected, the peaceful and well-maintained facility seemed to put my mind at ease.
With my hands clasped behind my back, I strolled leisurely until I found myself at the playground Jung Je Hwa had mentioned.
The children were nowhere to be seen—perhaps it was lunchtime.
Yet from the worn slides and swings scattered about, I could almost hear the warm laughter of children.
“…Maybe I’ll try it after all.”
Looking at the slide, a sudden playful urge welled up within me.
Still, it felt a bit embarrassing for a grown adult to use equipment meant for children, so I glanced around to confirm no one was watching before cautiously making my way forward.
“…Yeo Joo the Healer?”
“Huh?”
Wondering if I’d misheard, I rubbed my eyes, but the person calling me had a familiar face indeed.
“…Master Jung Hee Ok?”
It was Master Jung Hee Ok, whom I’d met when seeking approval for the uniform merchandise production.
But why was she here, when she should be in the traditional Korean house village in Andong?
Master Jung Hee Ok seemed equally surprised.
She wore a much simpler hanbok than when I’d last seen her, and pointed at me with her thick jade ring-adorned finger, asking loudly.
“You said you two have nothing going on?!”
“We really don’t have anything going on!”
I answered quickly to prevent any misunderstanding, but Jung Hee Ok didn’t seem to believe a word of it.
The way she strode over and burst out shouting made that clear.
“There’s no way Je Hwa would bring someone she has nothing to do with here!”
“I just came because the boss told me to, ma’am….”
“Je Hwa brought you here?”
“Yes, I didn’t even know where we were going until we arrived.”
My sincere explanation finally seemed to ease Jung Hee Ok’s momentum.
She then glanced around like I had moments before, and asked in a hushed voice.
“…Are you two perhaps engaged?”
“E-engaged…! That’s terrible to say!”
“Why is that terrible? What’s wrong with our Je Hwa?”
“Because the boss is too good for that!”
Still, I realized I’d gotten too worked up in front of an elder, so I took a small breath and spoke as calmly as I could manage.
“Think about it, ma’am. Jung Je Hwa is handsome, wealthy, capable, and has great depth of character. But if he and I were e-engaged, or p-promised to each other…anyway, what would happen then! You should be grateful we have nothing going on!”
“Hmm, so you really do have nothing going on.”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Engaged, she said.
Just as I was finally calming my frantically pounding heart at such an enormous word, I heard hurried footsteps.
It was Jung Je Hwa, walking quickly toward me and Jung Hee Ok—practically running.
But why did she look so urgent?
I tensed up, wondering if something had happened inside, but Jung Je Hwa, reaching the playground, called out to Jung Hee Ok.
“Mother! What are you saying to Yeo Joo right now….”
“Mother?!”
Unlike me, who was startled, Jung Hee Ok replied in a flat tone.
“Can’t I ask my son’s girlfriend a few questions?”
“She’s not my girlfriend! I told you that!”
The conversation between Jung Je Hwa and Jung Hee Ok went completely in one ear and out the other.
“M-mother, you say….”
As I looked back and forth between Jung Je Hwa and Jung Hee Ok, a sudden memory flashed through my mind.

“Wait, isn’t Jung Je Hwa the son of Hunter Jung Hee Ok or something?”
“Hunter Jung Hee Ok is a bit too young to be my mother. We are close, though.”

It was a long time ago, but he had definitely said it back then.
“You said you weren’t Jung Hee Ok’s son!”
“Ah, well, at that time….”
Je Hwa averted his gaze and let out a nervous cough.
“I hadn’t decided to reveal everything yet.”
“So it’s really….”
I found myself glancing at my father-in-law Jung Hee Ok.
‘But they don’t really look alike, do they?’
As if reading my thoughts, Jung Hee Ok clicked his tongue and spoke.
“Does a son have to be born from my own body to be my son?”
“Ah…!”
Je Hwa nodded at my sudden realization.
“I lived in the orphanage until I was fifteen, then I was adopted.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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