[Everyday V13]

[Date: April 12, 2021]

-9:30 p.m. [NEW. Bok Ah-Yung]

[Baro Star] Famous singer Mr. B secretly raised his biological daughter as his younger sister, hiding her identity. A shocking exposé from his ex-wife reveals his scandalous family drama.

[Star Big News] Mr. B's shocking private life. The ex-wife, who left behind their young daughter, is said to have walked away due to Mr. B's affair with his current wife.

[Entertainment All Times] Mr. B's ex-wife speaks out—she left because of his infidelity and drunken violence!

(Emergency meeting: Respond to advertisers under contract with Bok Seon-Ill. Confirm preparations for follow-up coverage and interviews.)

'Mr. B's ex-wife...'

Over twenty years ago, she had been Bok Seon-Ill's first love and Bok Ah-Yung's birth mother, who disappeared when he was still an unknown singer. Now she had reappeared to give a malicious interview. And that interview was scheduled to be published on the night of April 12, the same night as Chief Yoon Dong-Gu's disciplinary hearing.

That meant this was likely an act of revenge by the recently fired Yoon Dong-Gu, using Bok Seon-Ill's ex-wife to plant a scandal. However the event hadn't happened yet—it was still a few days away. This meant there was nothing I could do to stop Yoon Dong-Gu right now.

What I could do, however, was find Bok Seon-Ill's ex-wife and stop that interview before it exploded.

At that moment, Bok Seon-Ill was debating what to have for lunch with Bok Ah-Yung. I approached him.

"Mr. Bok Seon-Ill, could we talk in private for a moment?"

Bok Seon-Ill turned toward me while still holding Bok Ah-Yung's hand. "Oh, right. So the only thing left is for me and Ah-Yung to go public, huh?"

"Yes. But before that, there's something we need to sort out."

"Sort out? Sort out what?"

I intended to speak with him alone, but Bok Ah-Yung insisted on being included. "Mr. Jung, whatever it is, I want to hear it too. That way I won't be caught off guard and can respond properly!"

President Kang Gam-Chan nodded in agreement. "He's right, Yoon-Ho. From now on, we should all be in the loop so we can respond properly. At the very least, let's include Director Kang Ji-Yung and PR Chief Sung Min-Suk too."

It was true. This wasn't just Bok Seon-Ill's issue anymore. The moment his ex-wife got involved, it would affect not only Bok Seon-Ill and Bok Ah-Yung, but also his two sons and current wife.

"It might be a bit uncomfortable to hear. Is everyone okay with that?" I asked.

Everyone nodded. So I took a deep breath and addressed Bok Seon-Ill.

"Mr. Bok Seon-Ill, do you know where your ex-wife—Ah-Yung's birth mother—is living now?"

Bok Seon-Ill's face instantly twisted with emotion. No matter how prepared he was, this was not something he could stay calm about.

"Chief Jung. Is that crazy bitch who you were going to talk about?"

More than twenty years ago, his ex-wife left without registering their daughter's birth, leaving Bok Seon-Ill, then a single father, unable to legally register his child. As a result, he had no choice but to raise his daughter as his younger sister, shedding blood and tears along the way. The memory seemed to come flooding back, and his face turned red.

I calmed him down and said, "I understand you're angry, but we need you to be honest about her so we can respond properly. If she says something different when you announce your relationship with Ah-Yung today, it could hurt not just the two of you but your entire family."

Bok Seon-Ill trembled, unable to give a proper answer. So I changed my question. "Then let me ask you this. When she left you and Ah-Yung, did you ever hit her?"

Bok Seon-Ill snapped. "Hit her? What the hell are you accusing me of?!"

Though his anger was directed at me, it wasn't truly about me. It was fury aimed at the ex-wife who had left him over two decades ago.

Just as I thought I needed to calm him down before continuing, Bok Ah-Yung stepped in. "Oppa, tell him. That way, Mr. Jung can protect us."

Bok Seon-Ill looked at Bok Ah-Yung. "Ah-Yung... But hearing about that woman—"

"I'm not seven years old anymore. What are you so scared of? Just tell it like it is. To me, my mother is only the one I have now and my sister-in-law. Tell him everything about back then!"

Moved by her clear and composed words, Bok Seon-Ill finally took a breath and lowered his voice. "I'm sorry, Chief Jung. I wasn't mad at you. Just thinking about it makes my head spin..."

I shook my head, "It's okay. But please start with the answer."

"Alright." Bok Seon-Ill took a deep breath and began. "There were dozens of times I wanted to hit her, but I never once raised a hand. I felt bad that I couldn't provide for her since I was just a no-name singer, so no matter how much she cursed at me, I just bottled it up."

"Did you ever drink and make a mistake? What about other women?"

"I only drank occasionally. After buying diapers and formula for Ah-Yung, the local shop owner would sometimes hand me a bottle of soju with some kimchi and steamed shrimp chips, saying thanks for buying from him. She threw a fit over even that, but honestly, if not for that, I would've lost my mind."

The local store owner had bought Bok Seon-Ill drinks once or twice a month out of pity. Though he originally hated alcohol because he wanted to succeed as a singer, he admitted that without even that small relief, he might have died.

At that moment, tears streamed down Bok Ah-Yung's face. "Oppa... So that's why you still won't touch soju, kimchi, or steamed shrimp chips? Because of those memories?"

Bok Seon-Ill nodded. "Yeah. Back then, you, soju, overly fermented kimchi, and those chips were all I had. I actually crave them sometimes... but I just can't touch them. The memories come rushing back."

Even when eating grilled pork belly, Bok Seon-Ill would insist on replacing the soju with other drinks because he hated the smell. He wouldn't even look at shrimp products—not just the chips, but shrimp ramen and the like. We had thought he had an allergy to alcohol or shellfish, but that wasn't it. Those foods reminded him of a painful past.

It was in that moment we realized the man we thought was just picky was still suffering from old wounds.

Bok Ah-Yung tightly held his hand. "Oppa..."

Bok Seon-Ill's expression softened a little. Thanks to that, it was easier to ask the hardest question.

"One last thing... May I ask when you met your current wife, Oh Seo-Hyun? Did you meet her after you had completely separated from your ex-wife? I heard she was the daughter of the building owner where you used to perform at a live café?"

Oh Seo-Hyun, Bok Seon-Ill's current wife, had been the daughter of the building owner of a Gangnam live café where he once sang. She had just turned twenty at the time and was working part-time at her father's venue, and she had been a fan of Bok Seon-Ill when he was still unknown.

In other words, I was gently asking if he had started a relationship with Oh Seo-Hyun before his ex-wife was out of the picture.

Bok Seon-Ill clenched his jaw again. To protect Bok Ah-Yung and to protect his family, he braced himself to face the awful memories once more.

"Sigh... I swear, I never cheated. Seo-Hyun was just a fan back then, and we didn't start dating until at least a year after my ex-wife left."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Back then, I was barely making it just trying to raise Ah-Yung. Romance wasn't even an option. But it's true Seo-Hyun helped me after my ex left. She played with Ah-Yung and carried her around when I was performing."

"Then between the two of you, who said 'let's date' first?"

"Seo-Hyun did. She even proposed. I told her I couldn't afford to care about women and that Ah-Yung was my priority. But she said she'd raise Ah-Yung herself. She said a girl needed a woman's touch. And we didn't get married until after I legally registered Ah-Yung under my parents."

After his ex-wife left, Oh Seo-Hyun had carried and raised Bok Ah-Yung when she was just a baby.

"So Seo-Hyun got beaten by her parents and was thrown out barefoot. They told her if she insisted on marrying some poor guy with a kid, regardless of legal status, she had to leave home. We couldn't even afford a wedding. Even when we could, she said she wouldn't do it without her parents, so all we have is a photo studio wedding picture."

"Understood."

"Yeah. And I swear on Ah-Yung that I never did anything improper."

It wasn't an affair, not even close. It was a heartbreaking and sincere story. That meant the article was based entirely on lies from Bok Seon-Ill's ex-wife.

Then Bok Seon-Ill sighed and began to speak of her character. "My ex-wife was ruthless compared to Seo-Hyun. She always belittled me for not making enough money. When I was out working, she'd leave newborn Ah-Yung behind to go out on her own. She's the one who cheated, and she drank far more than I did. And most of all... she only stayed with me because I had potential. The moment I failed to sign with a label, she walked out."

Bok Seon-Ill couldn't hide his resentment, calling his ex-wife a wicked woman. But to me, that was valuable information. A woman like that was bound to have plenty of weaknesses. Now it was time to find out where she was.

I nodded. "I understood. Then... Do you happen to know where she is now?"

Bok Seon-Ill let out another sigh. "Of course not. She disappeared without a trace."

"Do you have any photos?"

"I... burned them all. Not a single one left."

"Still, please think carefully. We need some kind of information in case the worst happens."

Bok Seon-Ill hesitated, then sighed. "I'll check if there's anything left at my house."

"Thank you. And just in case, could you give me her national ID number? Do you remember it?"

"Hmm. I think it was 79XX..."

I saved the number Bok Seon-Ill gave me into my phone. Then I immediately sent a Kk Talk message to Chief Choi Go-Yoon.

[Chief Jung Yoon-Ho: Mr. Choi, I need you to find someone. Her name is Park Hyun-Yung. Her national ID number is 79XX... I'll send you a photo as soon as I have one. It's urgent, so please move quickly. I'll pay double your usual rate.]

[Chief Choi Go-Yoon: Got it. If you have the ID number, I should at least be able to track her registered address. I'll check right away and get back to you.]

[Chief Jung Yoon-Ho: Thank you.]

At the same time, Bok Seon-Ill called his parents.

"Dad, Mom. Ah-Yung knows the truth now. Yes, thankfully, she took it better than expected. Yes, and..."

Bok Seon-Ill's voice trembled as he explained everything in detail. From the other end of the line, I could hear his parents' muffled sobs. A moment later, with tears in his eyes, Bok Seon-Ill asked for a photo of Park Hyun-Yung.

"I need a picture of her. Is there... anything left?"

The answer came quickly.

-Yes. We kept one hidden from you, just in case Ah-Yung ever found out one day. We'll send it right now.

Thankfully, a photo had survived.

***

Ding.

Bok Seon-Ill received a Kk Talk message from his parents.

"Chief Jung, I got it. I'll forward it now."

Ding.

The photo I received was a phone snapshot of an old photo booth photo. In it, a slender and beautiful woman stood next to Bok Seon-Ill. She resembled Bok Ah-Yung in build.

"Got it. I'll send it to Mr. Choi right away."

I forwarded the photo to Choi Go-Yoon via Kk Talk.

Then Bok Seon-Ill looked hesitantly at Bok Ah-Yung. "Ah-Yung... do you want to see the photo?"

Bok Ah-Yung smiled faintly and shook her head. "No. Not right now."

Earlier, Bok Seon-Ill had been visibly pained just talking about Park Hyun-Yung. Perhaps that was why Bok Ah-Yung was suppressing her curiosity.

At that moment, Legal Chief Kwak Moo-Hyuk suddenly grimaced across the table. "Hah. Chief Jung. I think Yoon Dong-Gu may have beaten us to the punch."

Kwak Moo-Hyuk handed me his phone. On the screen was an article that made my hands clench into fists.

[(Exclusive) Famous Singer Mr. B Allegedly Abandoned Ex-Wife for Current Wife Mrs. A After Affair (Entertainment All Times)]

-Singer Mr. B, often portrayed as a devoted husband and loving family man, is widely known for appearing in various commercials.

However, he is now under suspicion of having cheated on his ex-wife and started a relationship with his current wife, Mrs. O.

Were the happy family ads and his image as a romantic all a lie?

What is the true face of Mr. B, the long-time model for matchmaking company K?

(Comments)

-Isn't this about Bok Seon-Ill?

-Bok Seon-Ill always seemed like the loving husband type. But this was an affair?

-Wait, he had an ex-wife? This is his second marriage?

-No way, sounds like tabloid trash. I've never heard he was divorced.

-Who knows? Maybe he got married and divorced when he was a nobody.

-So he cheated and remarried, and now he's pretending his wife is the only one? What a scam.

-If this is false, I'm reporting it to the agency. (Bok Seon-Ill Fan Club)

-Rumors are just rumors!

-Anyone who believes this crap is a fool.

...

'Yoon Dong-Gu. So this is how you want to play it?'

Bok Seon-Ill was deeply devoted to his current wife, Oh Seo-Hyun. They appeared together on broadcasts, shot commercials as a couple, and he had built a solid public image as a loving husband.

That image was why he had been the exclusive model for K-Wedding, one of the top three matchmaking services, for five years. He also endorsed various household appliances popular among married women. Yet if this scandal grew, especially tied to an affair, the damages to his endorsement deals could be enormous.

"Yoon Dong-Gu's basically warning us that if we mess with him, he'll blow everything up," I said.

Kang Gam-Chan said gravely, "Yeah. And at this level, it could even affect Monday's stock market."

Having seen the article, Bok Seon-Ill looked shaken. "Chief Jung, what do we do?"

Since this could be solved by silencing the ex-wife, I reassured everyone. "Don't worry. I'll handle it by the end of the weekend."

As long as I had Everyday, and my memories and experience, Yoon Dong-Gu could never beat me. The fact he was already playing this card meant he was backed into a corner.

Just then, a call came from Choi Go-Yoon.

[Caller ID: Chief Choi Go-Yoon]

"Excuse me. It's a call from the head of the private investigation firm."

Thinking he may have found a lead, I answered immediately.

-Mr. Jung, the ID number doesn't exist in the registry.

"What? That can't be."

I gave the number again, but he confirmed he had checked it correctly.

-In this case, she likely applied for a change to her ID number.

"Can you track her using the photo I sent?"

-It's possible, but it'll take time. And honestly, if someone goes so far as to change their ID, they often get plastic surgery too. That photo's old, so I wouldn't count on a fast result.

I began to quickly brainstorm alternative methods. Just then, Bok Seon-Ill's phone buzzed.

Buzz~

Bok Seon-Ill looked down at it and then up at me, eyes wide. "It's Yoon Dong-Gu. He's calling me. What should I do? We haven't even found my ex yet." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

And then, an idea struck me like lightning.

Flash.

I smiled and said to Bok Seon-Ill, "If we can't find your ex-wife right now... then we make Yoon Dong-Gu find her for us."

"Huh? How?"