Trial Marriage Husband (Pangyo Couple version)

Chapter 53: Becoming the Backdrop

"They were organized by Jooeun. Otherwise, why would they only pay attention to her and humiliate me?" Shinhye whispered.

After hearing the translation, a smirk appeared across Mina's face. "Originally, today is a day worthy of celebrating, so I didn't want to argue with you. But Miss Park, I've never seen a magazine with two models on the cover, where one model becomes the hottest topic and the other practically receives zero mentions."

"Zero..."

"Do you know what that means? It means, as well as the people present, anyone in the US or even the world that has seen this magazine – did not notice your existence."

The translator translated for Shinhye, word for word. After hearing the translation, Shinhye's face turned pale.

"This is impossible! This must be a conspiracy between the two of you. This is all your doings." Shinhye find it hard to believe. She was definitely on the front cover of the magazine, how could she receive no mentions?

This couldn't be true!

"Are you not aware of your own abilities? Before this issue was released, we were already prepared to accept that you would merely serve as a contrast. But who would have thought, instead of being a contrast, you stooped to the level of being part of the backdrop – without even a trace of existence." Mina took out a copy of Vanity Fair and handed it to Shinhye.

If not for attending this dinner, Shinhye would have still acknowledged her own existence. But after hearing everyone calling her part of the backdrop, her confidence came crashing down. Jooeun was so good at adapting to her surroundings that Shinhye was made to look like part of the background. Above all, Jooeun's eyes were so lively that Shinhye's arrogant stare looked lifeless in comparison.

This was the reason Shinhye had no mentions! Because no one could tell she was alive!

Shinhye held onto the magazine as she took a few steps back. If not for Yonghwa holding onto her, she would have fallen off the stage.

"I heard in South Korea, there is an article comparing you to Im YoonA. If I were you, I would hide in the US for the rest of my life, because I would be too ashamed to go back."

Shinhye looked like she had been struck by lightning. Her mind was blank as she stared at herself on the cover. This couldn't be, everyone had previously praised her on her skills, and there's no way she couldn't compare to Jooeun. This is impossible, Jooeun must have done something...she must have...

"Jooeun, I never thought you would sabotage me in this way!" Shinhye accused Jooeun angrily.

Yonghwa glared at Jooeun. "For the sake of revenge, you would really go to any length."

"Revenge?" Jooeun smiled sweetly. "President Jung, tell me! A person like myself, with no background and no top-class manager, that even got her clothes snatched from her, what lengths can I go to?"

"You..."

"Was I the one that caused her to receive no mentions? It was obviously because she wasn't skilled enough. Also, was I the one that made her too ashamed to return to Korea? It's because you guys shamelessly used someone else's fame to boost her. If you consider this a revenge, then the real revenge is yet to come."

After speaking, Jooeun and Mina looked at each other before Mina welcomed the representatives from IPKN onto the stage. Two tall and handsome French men walked up the red carpet towards Jooeun and Mina. They gave each other a friendly hug before turning to the guests and speak.

"We are pleased to announce, Cha Jooeun will become IPKN's spokesperson for the Asia region."

IPKN, a top French brand with a century-old history. Upon deciding to go international, they actually got Cha Jooeun to be their spokesperson for the entire Asia region! In comparison, the deals that Shinhye received as a result of using someone else's fame – although not a small amount – not a single one of them had a big budget or ranked highly in Korea. How could they compare to a top international brand?

Shinhye's face turned even paler. Her body felt like it's crumbling on its own weight. If word got out about the incident in the US, she may not be able to hold onto even these cheap deals.

"When did you accept this deal? Don't you know it has to pass through the company's approval?" Yonghwa questioned Jooeun angrily in front of everyone.

Jooeun turned around and faced Yonghwa as she spoke. "The contract has already been seen by the company's higher-ups, I forgot to mention it to you. They all approved. As for when I accepted the deal, of course, it was during the time you and Shinhye were affectionately organizing your engagement party. While I was working, what were you doing? If you don't know how to be the CEO of CN, you can pass it on to someone else. There are plenty of people that want your position. What? Is this considered revenge as well? Jung Yonghwa, let me give you a warning: If you continue to protect Park Shinhye, CN will eventually give up on you."

As Jooeun had already risen high above Shinhye, CN's shareholders weren't pleased by Yonghwa's decision-making; always causing trouble for Jooeun, even at public events like this. Jooeun endorsing an international brand is a huge step forward for CN. It's bad enough that he didn't support her, he even went as far as to defame Jooeun for the sake of Shinhye. On top of everything, because they had high hopes for Shinhye, they had wasted all their time and energy on her. In the end, nothing resulted from Vanity Fair and she didn't even receive any mentions. She went to the US under the guise of being on the same stage as Jooeun. In the end, she only became a part of the backdrop. Was this the level of skills Yonghwa was boasting about that was comparable to Im YoonA? It goes without saying, at this moment, Shinhye the international supermodel with a promising future is about to fall into the depths of the abyss and become abandoned. She was overshadowed by Jooeun so much that people even think she wasn't alive. Who's going to look up someone that appeared to be part of the backdrop?

Ryeowon glared at Jooeun fiercely. She had never thought, while they were relaxing, Jooeun managed to accept a deal with such a famous French brand; increasing the distance between her and Shinhye by thousands of miles. As a manager, this is the first time she didn't know how to deal with an artist. After this issue of Vanity Fair, Jooeun's popularity and status increased; whereas Shinhye went in the opposite direction.

Originally, all Mina wanted was a simple celebration dinner, but it had now turned into CN's internal fighting grounds. So she called the security guard over to escort Shinhye out of the hotel. However, she was stopped by Jung Ryeowon.

"We can show ourselves out. Jooeun, you are ruthless."

No matter how ruthless she is, it's only fair.

But it didn't matter if Jooeun had won this battle or signed a deal with IPKN. It wasn't enough. Even watching the three being sent out helplessly wasn't enough. Yonghwa is still the President of CN and Shinhye had not been pushed completely to the depths, so an even more impressive show was yet to come.

After leaving the hotel, Shinhye knelt on the ground dumbfounded. At this time, this helpless scene is being captured by Jeonghwan who's waiting for Jooeun in his car; he secured a recording on his phone. She only received such a small blow and she already couldn't handle it.