You Are Beautiful

“You make it sound so easy, but there’s no way I can just quit on the spot like that!”

Eun-jae poured draft beer to the brim of a glass, her face a mask of distress. Then, holding two glasses topped with a smooth, velvety layer of foam, she moved briskly through the room.

“Jenny, order for Table 7!”

The moment the words left her mouth, Sun-young’s voice boomed over the gentle jazz music. Locking eyes with Sun-young, Eun-jae began to move her hands even faster.

“I’ll take your order.”

Eun-jae immediately approached the table Sun-young had pointed out. The restaurant, which opened only during dinner hours, was widely loved for its exceptional flavors and antique interior design.

Eun-jae worked here as the floor manager. She was an all-around server capable of handling everything from taking orders and serving to mixing simple cocktails.

Now in her third year, the best parts of the job were that she rarely had to make small talk with customers beyond taking their orders, and the soft, orange-tinted lighting kept the contours of her face from being clearly exposed. This setup was entirely a result of Sun-young’s consideration, as she owned the restaurant.

Eun-jae wore a softly draped white shirt paired with black jeans, with a neatly squared apron tied around her waist. Pinned to her chest was a gold name tag that read “Jenny.” It was a pseudonym hastily created by using the last syllable of her real name—another creation of Sun-young’s.

Eun-jae slipped the order sheet forward.

“Here you go, Boss.”

“Didn’t I tell you not to call me Boss? It’s Sunny! Sunny!”

Snatching the order sheet, Sun-young chided her. However, she instantly turned around with a bright, professional customer-service smile.

The restaurant was named Pantone. It was a far cry from a loud, bustling conventional restaurant. Luxurious yet intimate, Pantone was a sanctuary that restored vitality to weary souls through the medium of taste. That was exactly why the restaurant boasted an exceptionally high number of returning regulars.

“Jenny, did something happen today?”

“Excuse me?”

Sun-young asked as she stepped back into the service area, tilting her head. Her intuition was sharp enough to rival any detective’s.

“Just something a bit unsettling.”

“Again?”

“Is it an ‘again’ situation, I wonder?”

“Of course it is. Why do unsettling things only seem to happen to you?”

Sun-young looked genuinely upset, reacting as though it had happened to her. In truth, it was actually a joyful occasion, but Eun-jae felt deeply unsettled in the literal sense of the word.

“Boss!”

Someone called out to Sun-young from a table. Shaking her head, she patted Eun-jae on the shoulder.

“Let’s talk more after work.”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

Sun-young rounded the salad bar and walked toward the tables. Unlike Eun-jae, who was completely covered up, Sun-young wore an outfit that prominently exposed her collarbone line—a matter of personal preference.

Watching Sun-young’s voluptuous figure recede, Eun-jae let out a small laugh.

Through the sophisticated jazz melodies, she could hear Sun-young conversing with the guests. Hearing a faint mention of a mojito, Eun-jae picked up a nearby lime.

Eun-jae had long, slender fingers. Her pale wrists were so fair that her blue veins showed through. Free of any bracelets or nail art, her pale hands moved with rapid efficiency.

Her hands danced familiarly between the liquor, vodka, carbonated water, and limes. Her movements, finding each item precisely without her even having to look, resembled a single, fluid curve.

Consequently, the patrons seated near the counter—where the kitchen was more visible—found themselves watching her as if under a spell. Perhaps due to the loosely tied apron, her exceptionally slender waist, though hidden beneath the shirt, stood out prominently.

And on the rare occasions when she leaned forward to pick up something she had dropped, her fine hair tumbled down like silk threads, and glimpses of her striking face passed by like an illusion. Her eyes, appearing slightly fatigued, caught the light and projected a mysterious aura.

Just as people were on the verge of becoming completely captivated by Eun-jae, Sun-young would appear like clockwork.

“Is that young lady over there also an employee here?”

It was a pure question, devoid of any ulterior motives. Sun-young peeked back at Eun-jae. Free and unbothered, Eun-jae’s hands were moving swiftly.

Stepping firmly in front of Eun-jae to block her from view, Sun-young replied.

“She’s not a ‘young lady over there,’ she’s Jenny. And she’s not just an employee—she’s the manager.”

“Ah, her name is Jenny?”

“Sunny and Jenny. You can feel the vibe just by hearing it, right?”

“Are you sisters?”

“Well, who knows? I’ll tell you the rest of the story the next time you visit.”

Sun-young smiled brightly, asking minor details like whether the food suited their palates or if they required anything else. The patrons were instantly swayed by her eloquence. By then, Eun-jae was naturally forgotten.

Watching Sun-young share various life stories with the customers, Eun-jae finished preparing the cocktail with a look of relief.

She glanced up at the clock. Before she knew it, it was time for the last order. Realizing closing time was fast approaching, Eun-jae picked up her pace.

“Great work today.”

Eun-jae’s neatly folded apron lay on the counter.

‘I really know how to pick an employee. Diligent, beautiful, and kind,’ Sun-young thought with a smirk.

“We need to finish our conversation from earlier. What’s this unsettling thing that happened?”

“To be honest, I terminated my contract with my agency today.”

“What? That’s fantastic news! Wait, no. Is it bad for me to say that? It’s just that I get so furious whenever I think about that trash agency making our Jenny suffer.”

Sun-young huffed, her chest heaving with indignation. Eun-jae shook her head and continued.

“And I signed a new contract.”

“What does that mean? You found a new agency right away?”

“It’s a bit complicated to explain, but a new agency paid off my penalty fee and brought me over.”

“What? Who are they?”

Sun-young looked suspicious. She primed her defenses, recalling the idiotic behavior of Dong-hyun, who had functioned as either her manager or CEO.

Suppressing a laugh, Eun-jae managed to answer.

“Delight.”

“Huh?”

Sun-young asked blankly. She wondered if it was the same Delight she was thinking of.

“Kim Hyun-sung and Kim Woo-gyeom’s place?”

“Oh? How do you know them, Boss?”

“It would be weirder not to know the two most successful brothers in South Korea! I heard they’re insanely handsome. Is it true? Did you see them?”

Sun-young became far more excited than before. It was comical how she seemed entirely focused on the two brothers rather than the agency itself.

To answer Sun-young’s question, Eun-jae earnestly reflected on her impression of Woo-gyeom. He was striking enough to have caused even her to lose her train of thought for a moment.

“Yes. Though I only met CEO Kim Woo-gyeom.”

“And?”

“He’s incredibly handsome. It was my second time seeing him today, but he was a bit scary.”

“He’s handsome but scary?”

“I’m not entirely sure.”

Looking perplexed, Eun-jae scratched her rounded forehead.

Watching a girl who executed her duties flawlessly yet acted completely clueless when it came to her own life, Sun-young couldn’t help but feel protective. She wrapped Eun-jae in a tight embrace.

“Anyway, this is wonderful. Truly wonderful.”

“Thank you.”

“Then shouldn’t we throw a celebration party?”

“A celebration party?”

Eun-jae blinked. It was a combination of words that felt incredibly foreign coming from her own mouth. Celebration and party.

Eun-jae’s consent wasn’t necessary. Brimming with excitement, Sun-young threw the refrigerator door open.

“I’ll whip up an ultra-special dish using every single ingredient we have. Eun-jae, could you make two cocktails for us?”

“I’m fine, really!”

“Well, I’m not. Hurry up!”

Sun-young deliberately narrowed her eyes and barked playfully. Only then did Eun-jae drop her shoulders and let out a soft smile.

“Lee Se-hun!”

“Lee Se-hun! Lee Se-hun!”

The voices chanting Se-hun’s name were relentless.

Even though the performance had ended well past the scheduled time after he sang five additional encore songs, the screams of the fans lamenting the end echoed all the way to the backstage area.

Se-hun was currently the most successful top singer in the industry. Having transitioned from a boy group idol to a solo artist just a few months ago, his career was skyrocketing.

He had swept the number one spot on music broadcasts immediately with his solo album, and shortly thereafter, he hosted a solo concert. The result was a resounding success.

People loved his candid, unfiltered nature and his bright, cheerful demeanor. Of course, maintaining the center position from his idol group days, his vibrant and sharp visuals played a significant role in his immense popularity.

Leaving the roar of the fans behind, Se-hun chuckled as he entered the dressing room.

“Tonight was absolutely killer, right?”

“You bet!”

“Company dinner after this! Korean ribeye is on me tonight! Don’t you dare think about running away.”

Issuing the warning, Se-hun casually tossed off his sweat-drenched jacket. Pulling his in-ear monitors out with a sharp tug, he shook out his brightly dyed hair.

Out of habit, Se-hun picked up his phone. He couldn’t stay still even during a brief pocket of free time.

He checked his messaging app, browsed his photo gallery, and rummaged through various apps before finally opening a portal site. Looking at the name holding the number one spot on the real-time search charts, he doubted his own eyes.

“What’s this? Is this real?”

Se-hun brushed his brightly bleached hair back. His hair, stiff with styling wax and glitter, stood rigid.

Se-hun sat in his chair and jerked his head back to call out to his manager.

“Hyung!”

However, the manager had stepped out of the room.

Unable to contain his impatience, Se-hun pulled off all the rings crowding his fingers. He then settled into his seat, positioning himself to read the article thoroughly.

“Rookie actress Lee Eun-jae signs exclusive contract with Delight.”

Se-hun slowly read the headline aloud, processing the words. The person in the cleanly attached profile photo was undeniably the Eun-jae he knew.

“It really is her! Lee Eun-jae!”

He had worried it might be someone with the same name, but now he could fully relax, a wide smile breaking across his face.

He wanted to call Eun-jae immediately to offer his congratulations. Impatient by nature, Se-hun abandoned the article and searched for her phone number. Like a seashell treasured inside a childhood box, he dialed the number he had safely preserved for years.

A sudden wave of emotion caused his heart to throb. However, the feeling was fleeting. As a sterile recorded voice began to flow from the receiver, Se-hun’s smile gradually faded away.

- The number you have dialed is not in service...

“Hyung!”

Se-hun roared for his manager, his voice far louder than before.

Because Se-hun rarely raised his voice unless he was raising the morale of his staff, the manager, who was just returning to the dressing room, rushed inside as if a fire had broken out.

“Were you looking for me?”

Se-hun’s mood, which had been soaring right before making the call, had plummeted completely. He held up his phone.

“I need to ask you for that favor I mentioned before, just one more time.”

“Could it be…”

“Lee Eun-jae.”

“Again?”

“It looks like her phone number changed again. Find out through her manager. You know how important she is to me. Please.”

The word “please” rarely passed Se-hun’s lips. He could resolve most matters through his own means. Yet, whenever it came to anything regarding Eun-jae, he became vulnerable.

The manager nodded, treating it as a given this time as well. At that nod, a brilliant smile returned to Se-hun’s face.