Chapter 8 (Part 6)

He was a middle-aged handsome man, unmistakably identifiable as Do-jin’s father to anyone who saw him.

His features were so distinct that she thought if he were only ten years younger, it would be hard to tell him apart from Do-jin.

However, his expression was somewhat more gentle than Do-jin’s.

Sitting half-upright on the hospital bed, he gave Seo-hye a warm smile as soon as their eyes met.

“Welcome.”

She had worried that as the president of Seonghan Hotel, he might be too intimidating to even make eye contact with. But he was actually easier to approach than Do-jin.

Seo-hye glanced up at Do-jin.

He gestured with his chin as if to say she should go.

Seo-hye moved closer so that Do-jin’s father could speak to her more comfortably.

His face, seen up close, was as bright as sunlight. If she hadn’t heard that his limbs were paralyzed, she would never have known.

“Hello. I’m Lee Seo-hye.”

“I’m Do-jin’s father.”

The way he so naturally called him “father” showed the closeness between the two.

“I was very curious. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Seo-hye’s face showed a question,

‘You were curious about me?’

Jae-jun, reading this, laughed heartily and said,

“I asked to see a photo, but Do-jin wouldn’t show me. He said he’d bring you himself.”

“Did Do-jin… talk about me?”

“He did. It was just a few days after he returned to South Korea. Ah, he suddenly came and said he wouldn’t marry the partner his grandfather arranged for him, but instead, he’d marry the younger sister.”

Seo-hye’s mouth dropped open.

Jae-jun continued with a mischievous expression, as if teasing a young nephew.

“I thought that younger sister must be quite pretty.”

Seo-hye, feeling her cheeks flush, covered them with the back of her hand and glanced at Do-jin, who had quietly moved beside her.

In that brief exchange of glances, Do-jin read her reproach and mouthed,

“What?”

Seo-hye furrowed her brows, then turned back to Jae-jun.

“Seeing you in person, I understand why he chose you without hesitation.”

He was indeed Do-jin’s father, making such embarrassing remarks without a second thought.

“I have so many questions, but did you have breakfast?”

“Oh, yes. I did.”

“Good, then. Mr. Cha, could you bring some tea for the kids?”

Mr. Cha’s affirmative response came from behind.

“Father, it’s her first time here, so take it easy. What if she gets overwhelmed and doesn’t want to come back?”

At Do-jin’s cool admonishment, Seo-hye, surprised, waved her hands in protest.

“Oh, no. Father. No, I’m not overwhelmed at all!”

For a moment, there was silence.

The reason she felt strange was because she had inadvertently let the word “Father” slip out in her state of panic.

Jae-jun’s lips curled upward vertically.

“Alright, since Seo-hye says she’s not overwhelmed, I’ll keep her here a bit longer.”

Seo-hye felt both tense and flustered, as if her whole body was on fire.

Enduring that peculiar sensation, she slowly nodded her head, and Jae-jun spoke again.

“Actually, when Do-jin’s grandfather suddenly called him back to South Korea to marry into an artist’s family, I wasn’t pleased.”

Ah, Seo-hye immediately understood what Jae-jun was trying to say.

In fact, for someone like Do-jin, it seemed only fitting that he should marry the granddaughter of a company chairman on par with Seonghan Group.

No matter how renowned Lee Hwa-woong was as an artist in South Korea, and even if they were a somewhat wealthy middle-class family, compared to their assets, it was like a mere ant’s tail.

“But as you know, since my health isn’t great, I’m not in a position to meddle in his marriage.”

Seo-hye shook her head and timidly shared her thoughts.

“If you don’t meddle, who else would interfere with Do-jin’s marriage…? You’re very much alive and well here.”

At her rather bold statement, Do-jin laughed.

It was so like Seo-hye. It was precisely because she was Seo-hye that she could sincerely express her thoughts in front of the president of Seonghan Hotel.

And it seemed Jae-jun thought the same.

He laughed heartily, his eyes crinkling like a traditional Korean mask.

Even Mr. Cha, who had brought the tea, joined in the laughter.

“Yes. Hearing you say that gives me courage, Ms. Seo-hye. Anyway, when I heard Do-jin broke off the marriage talks and was dating the younger granddaughter of that family, I wanted to support him.”

Dating.

As Seo-hye repeated the word in her mind, she glanced at Do-jin.

Seeing Do-jin looking at her as if asking if she had any complaints, Seo-hye couldn’t think of averting her gaze.

Was Do-jin really planning to go all-in with me from the very beginning?

Well… that’s probably why he talked about me to his sick father. Even back then, when we had barely met a few times.

“I’ve heard a bit about your situation from Do-jin. That you’re the youngest granddaughter of Painter Lee and a half-sister.”

“Ah, yes…”

“You probably couldn’t live comfortably in that house, but it seems you’ve grown up well.”

Seo-hye didn’t know where to put herself at Jae-jun’s compliment.

“I heard just the other day that your mother came to this hospital. Right in the room before mine.”

“Yes, that’s right… Thanks to Do-jin, she’s in a good place receiving proper treatment.”

Jae-jun nodded and didn’t ask further.

Seo-hye could tell. He was being considerate, just like Do-jin.

Do-jin must have told him about her position in Cheongun-dong and the reason she had to bring her mother to this hospital.

Yet, he didn’t pry and only confirmed the minimum facts, letting her know that he understood this much about Seo-hye.

“You’ll be visiting this hospital often from now on, right?”

“Yes. For the time being, I plan to be here personally as my mom’s caregiver.”

“Then, when you have some free time, would you come and draw me?”

Seo-hye widened her eyes, looking back and forth between Jae-jun and Do-jin.

Do-jin spoke for the first time.

“I bragged a bit that you draw better than Lee Hwa-woong, that’s why”

“Oh, really…”

Feeling embarrassed, Seo-hye grumbled at Do-jin and then looked at Jae-jun.

“Yes, I’ll come and draw you as soon as I get some art supplies.”

Mr. Cha, who had been listening to the conversation by the window, chimed in.

“Ms. Seo-hye. The president is calling you because he wants to see you more than the drawing.”

When Seo-hye looked at Jae-jun as if asking if that was true, he replaced his answer with a contented smile.

Seeing that smile, a part of her heart began to warm up.

Since meeting Do-jin, there were now two people who were more interested in her than her paintings.

After saying she would visit often, Seo-hye left the room after saying goodbye.

***

Do-jin and Seo-hye headed to the Sky Garden on the 10th floor of the hospital to get some fresh air.

Seo-hye ran to the railing faster than Do-jin.

She lightly jumped while holding the railing, feeling the wind.

Though the wind had become quite cold, right now it only felt refreshing.

As Do-jin came to stand beside her, his scent mixed with the breeze, making her feel even better.

“This winter seems like it will be very cold, Do-jin. Look how chilly the wind is already.”

“I feel warm because you’er next to me.”

Seo-hye, who was looking at the wide-open sky, slowly turned to look at him.

“Do-jin.”

He gazed gently into Seo-hye’s eyes, prompting her to speak.

“Thank you for letting me meet your father. I always felt heavy-hearted whenever I was with you.”

“Why?”

“First of all, the Chairman doesn’t like me. You wouldn’t know how uncomfortable it is when the family of someone you want to get close to dislikes you.”

“That sounds like you want to get very close to me, Seo-hye.”

Seeing him pick up on something different from what she meant, she relaxed her lips as if conceding.

“Yes. I want to get very, very close to you. I want to know you a lot.”

Is what I’m saying right now really what I mean?

How did I gain such confidence just because Do-jin’s father was kind to me?

“Can I take that as a proposal?”

But that was only for a moment; Seo-hye was taken aback.

“Wha-what, a p-proposal?! That’s ridiculous! Who would think of this as a proposal?”

“Why not? You said you want to get very, very close and to know me a lot.”

Seo-hye couldn’t help but burst into laughter, finding it absurd.

Then she turned around and stood facing the railing, looking at the sky.

Her hair was blown by the wind, tickling her cheeks, but she didn’t mind.