11.4

“Do you think things will calm down and Joo-eun will start visiting her parents again in a few years?”

“Will that happen?”

Chaeyoon’s voice was somewhat disheartened. From her perspective, there seemed to be no chance at all right now.

“Maybe the child will bridge the gap.”

“I really hope so.”

“Anyway, I can’t figure out what Seonho’s deal is. He doesn’t seem like the type to get involved in other people’s business.”

“I think he’s involved in business with Seokhyun-oppa.”

“Is that so?”

Still, Ah-young wasn’t convinced. A marriage with Joo-eun should offer far more benefits than what Seokhyun could offer. Something didn’t add up.

“Is Dad in the greenhouse?”

Chaeyoon stood up from the sofa.

“Call him over. Your aunt said to come for dinner. We should leave before the traffic gets bad.”

“Auntie? Did she make braised short ribs? And spicy skate salad?”

Chaeyoon’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“You don’t look like it, but you really love your food.”

“Hey, why say that? You always say that enjoying food is one-third of life.”

“That’s right. And your aunt’s cooking isn’t ordinary, is it? Ah, it makes my mouth water too.”

The mother and daughter looked at each other and swallowed their saliva, their expressions so similar that they ended up laughing together.

***

“Ah, why do I only have one stomach? I wish I had four like a cow, so I could eat a lot whenever I think of it.”

After dinner, Chaeyoon patted her stomach and flopped onto her back, causing her aunt to laugh happily.

“Did you enjoy the meal?”

“Yes, Auntie. Other people say that when they come to study abroad, they miss their mom’s cooking, but all I can think about is your food.”

“Look at her, Sis. Talking like this with her mom right beside her. How do you plan I handle the backlash?”

Ah-young glanced sideways at Chaeyoon.

“I’m leaving soon, so I’m being bold. And honestly, Mom, you’re not great at cooking.”

“That’s true. Your dad probably cooks better than I do.”

Ah-young nodded as if admitting a fact.

“But you’ve got a lot of other talents. You’ve studied well, and you’re good at your job. Isn’t that enough? And how wonderfully you’ve raised this daughter of yours.”

The aunt stroked Chaeyoon’s hair.

“Hehe, this is why I love you, Auntie. You always say the nicest things. Come visit me with Mom. I’ll take care of your European tour.”

Chaeyoon thumped her chest confidently.

“Oh, I’m so lucky to have a niece; now I get to go on a European trip?”

From a distance, Chaeyoon’s father and uncle, who had been chatting, approached.

“What about me, Chaeyoon? I want to go to Europe too.”

“Oh, you’re really something.”

Her auntie poked her uncle in the side.

“Hahaha, of course you must come too, Uncle.”

Surrounded by family, the evening was lively and noisy. For Chaeyoon, it was a joyful time soaked in the happiness she had momentarily forgotten.

***

The front gate of the high-security mansion opened, and Seonho’s car glided in. At the front entrance, uniformed guards stood in a row, waiting.

When the car stopped, Junsu got out and opened the door for him. As Seonho got out, the servants all bowed in unison to greet him. Seonho walked towards the dining room, followed by Junsu.

“The youngest master has arrived.”

As Seonho entered the dining room, the butler announced his arrival to everyone.

Seonho’s grandfather, the Honorary Chairman, along with his parents, Chairman Yoon and Seonkyung, and his brother Minhu and sister-in-law Yoonjeong, all turned their eyes towards Seonho.

Their gazes were dry and devoid of emotion, yet a tense atmosphere was palpable.

“Sorry, am I late?”

Seonho asked, glancing at his wristwatch.

“No. We just got here too. Sit down.”

The Honorary Chairman, though not smiling, spoke in a relatively gentle voice.

“Yes.”

Seonho sat down next to the empty seat beside Seonkyung.

“Let’s get started.”

At the Honorary Chairman’s cue, the meal began with the appetizers.

Clink, clink.

It was so quiet that the sound of silverware clashing against the dishes could be heard.

Today’s gathering was a monthly family dinner. A larger family dinner with the father’s siblings and their children took place once every three months.

Whatever the purpose of those first dinners, today’s gatherings with the honorary chairman were not just for socializing.

“Chairman Cha’s daughter got married, did she?”

The Honorary Chairman began indifferently, but his tone shouldn’t be taken lightly.

“Yes, I’m sorry. I didn’t fully grasp the situation.”

The tension caused Seonkyung’s eyelashes to flutter slightly as she responded.

“It’s hard to notice when it’s planned thoroughly.”

Seonho responded with a slight smile, keeping his voice light.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

The Honorary Chairman looked at Seonho.

“I knew she wanted to marry that man and even got pregnant, I didn’t want to marry someone like that.”

“So you actively helped her? You made sure that her relatives couldn’t do anything about it.”

The Honorary Chairman’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but there was no sign of nervousness in Seonho’s relaxed smile.

“I wasn’t going to marry her anyway, so I helped her as an investment. Better a plus than a zero.”

“Are you sure it’s a plus?”

“You always say, Grandfather, that there’s no asset like a person. It’s hard to find someone as capable as Seokhyun. If we just support him a bit from behind, he will soar. I may not be interested in marrying into a wealthy family now, but who knows about the future? It’s not bad to owe him one.”

Seonho spoke assertively.

“Hmm, that’s true. There’s no asset like a person. People are always growing and have the potential to exceed expectations. You’re outsourcing?”

The Honorary Chairman showed interest.

“He’s the best when it comes to app development. Fast and accurate. Much better than our in-house team.”

“Have you thought about hiring him?”

“Would someone like that work for a salary? By the time he’s your age, Grandfather, he could be a tycoon. That’s how the IT industry is.”

“That’s not a bad investment.”

The Honorary Chairman looked pleased with Seonho’s discernment and judgment.