Chapter 23. The Gift Meant for the Daughter-in-Law
Fortunately, everyone seemed hungry enough to momentarily set aside their curiosity about Lee Hyun’s unrequited love and focus on eating.
Thanks to Mrs. Yoon’s suggestion that the secretaries eat in a separate space, Han Yerin was able to catch her breath for a moment.
Throughout the meal, the secretaries whispered among themselves about what Lee Hyun had said earlier.
“Director Cha Lee Hyun must have fallen for someone truly extraordinary if he’s experiencing unrequited love.”
“Exactly. He’s such a perfect man that just looking at him would make anyone fall in love.”
“Do you think that woman already has a man in her life?”
“Probably. Otherwise, why would she reject someone like Director Cha Lee Hyun?”
As Yerin quietly listened to their conversation, one of the secretaries suddenly directed a question at her.
“Secretary Han, do you know anything?”
“Sorry?”
“The woman Director Lee Hyun is head over heels for. You must’ve seen her, right?”
Yerin swallowed hard.
Um, actually, the amazing woman you’re talking about is me.
Of course, there was no way she could say that.
“What’s she like? That woman?”
“She must be incredibly beautiful, right?”
Everyone’s eyes sparkled as they eagerly awaited Yerin’s response.
It was too awkward to say either yes or no.
Admitting it felt like she was praising herself, while denying it felt like she was undermining Lee Hyun’s dignity.
“I honestly don’t know much about her.”
This was the best answer Yerin could give.
At that moment, a knock on the door signaled the arrival of Mrs. Yoon.
“Secretary Han, could I see you for a moment after you finish your meal?”
Though it was likely a casual request, Yerin couldn’t help but feel a cold sweat trickling down her back.
There was no way she could leisurely continue eating in this situation, so she rose from her seat.
“Ma’am, I’ve finished my meal.”
Mrs. Yoon glanced at Yerin’s untouched plate and shook her head.
“Finish it slowly. I have plenty of time.”
With a warm smile, Mrs. Yoon left the room first.
The secretaries beside Yerin gestured for her to sit back down.
“Mrs. Yoon is very particular about people finishing their meals.”
“Really?”
“Yes. She’s one of the few people who believe food is more important than work.”
“She really meant it when she said to take your time, so you can.”
“…Alright.”
Even though she didn’t feel comfortable at all, this was still an instruction from Mrs. Yoon, so Yerin had no choice.
After eating about half of her meal, Yerin stood up and headed to the backyard garden where Mrs. Yoon was waiting.
When Yerin approached, Mrs. Yoon smiled brightly and beckoned her over.
On the table were neatly sliced fruits and a steaming cup of chamomile tea.
“The men are in the study, talking about boring matters.”
“Yes.”
As Yerin sat across from her, Mrs. Yoon carefully observed her before speaking.
“Secretary Han, what do you think of our Lee Hyun?”
At that question, Yerin quickly set down the teacup she had been holding.
Her trembling hands were hastily placed under the table, clasped tightly on her lap.
Forcing a smile, Yerin responded cautiously to Mrs. Yoon’s question.
“I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”
“Exactly as I said. I’m curious about what unmarried women think of our Lee Hyun.”
Yerin’s lips grew dry.
Was this because Lee Hyun kept looking at me during the meal earlier?
She wanted to say, “We’re really not involved, so there’s no need to worry,” but she held her tongue.
Since she couldn’t be certain what Mrs. Yoon was thinking, she couldn’t give a definitive answer.
Mrs. Yoon seemed to interpret Yerin’s hesitation as her carefully formulating a response.
“Don’t feel pressured. I’m just curious how women in their twenties view our Lee Hyun.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Did you already know?”
“About what, Ma’am?”
“That Lee Hyun has someone he’s secretly in love with.”
Of course, Yerin knew.
Not only that, but she also knew that the woman Lee Hyun was in love with—the one who had disappeared—was herself.
But admitting that would lead to far too many questions, so she decided to feign ignorance.
“I only found out today.”
“Really?”
Mrs. Yoon studied Yerin’s expression closely.
Yerin forced herself to look calm and answered without hesitation.
“Yes, I don’t have personal conversations with the Director, so I hadn’t noticed. I apologize.”
“Oh, no, no. Why would you need to apologize?”
Mrs. Yoon waved her hand dismissively.
“It’s not your fault that Lee Hyun is in love with someone.”
Mrs. Yoon’s words were likely meant to comfort Yerin, but they only made her feel worse.
It felt like it was her fault.
And yet, it also felt like it wasn’t.
She was standing on that ambiguous boundary.
“Because he’s my son, I can’t see any flaws in him.”
“Yes.”
Objectively speaking, Lee Hyun really didn’t have any flaws.
“I thought the woman Lee Hyun is in love with might be around your age.”
“…”
“I was just curious about what women in that age group think of someone like Lee Hyun.”
Mrs. Yoon waited patiently, genuinely interested in Yerin’s answer.
What should I say?
Her mind felt like it was about to explode from the pressure.
After a long pause, Yerin cautiously began to speak.
“The Director is an admirable person.”
“You don’t need to flatter me with empty compliments.”
“Well, then…”
“He can be a bit cold, can’t he?”
“No, not at all.”
“I’ve heard that from Secretary Choi, so I know.”
Yerin tensed up again without realizing it when Mrs. Yoon said she knew something.
What could she possibly know?
That Lee Hyun was looking for the woman who disappeared?
Surely Secretary Choi wouldn’t have shared such trivial details, right?
Her thoughts spiraled endlessly.
Sigh.
She felt like she wouldn’t live long at this rate.
Fortunately, Mrs. Yoon didn’t seem to know anything about the missing woman.
“They say he’s pretty prickly at the office.”
“Well, that’s what people say, but…”
“You’ve been spending the most time with him lately, so you must know better than anyone.”
“But this isn’t just flattery or anything…”
“Go on, speak freely.”
Even though the situation was far from comfortable, Yerin slowly began to speak.
“The Director has been kind to me, so I’ve never really felt that way…”
Ah, come to think of it, he hadn’t always been this kind.
On her first day, he had been so cold that they barely exchanged words.
Right.
But since when had he started treating her so well?
As she thought hard about it, she realized it was after they visited the Chetto Headquarters.
Yes, from that point on, his sharp tone seemed to soften a bit.
Why?
Yerin’s eyes trembled slightly.
Why on earth?
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
“Sorry.”
She couldn’t find the answer on her own.
And she certainly couldn’t ask Lee Hyun why he was being so kind to her.
For now, she felt she needed to answer Mrs. Yoon’s question first.
“At first, the Director was a bit cold, but these days, he’s been very kind.”
“Really?”
Mrs. Yoon tilted her head as if she found it puzzling.
“So it’s not a personality issue either.”
It seemed that the reason her son was stuck in unrequited love was becoming even more of a mystery to Mrs. Yoon.
“Secretary Han, can I ask you for a favor?”
Mrs. Yoon handed Yerin a shopping bag that had been sitting on an empty chair.
“What’s this?”
“A gift for you.”
“Pardon?”
“Open it.”
Looking bewildered, Yerin opened the neatly wrapped shopping bag.
Inside was a designer handbag.
Yerin’s eyes wavered slightly.
“This is one of only three bags that came into the country this time.”
“I see.”
“I bought two of them.”
Mrs. Yoon sipped her tea with a smile.
“I planned to keep one for myself and give the other to my future daughter-in-law.”
“Cough!”
At the sudden mention of a daughter-in-law, Yerin choked on her tea and started coughing.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I was just startled. I’m fine.”
Yerin’s fingertips turned cold again.
As she swallowed hard, Mrs. Yoon quickly continued.
“But I think it’s more fitting for you to have it, Secretary Han.”
“Why would I…”
She had said it was meant for her future daughter-in-law, so why was she suddenly handing it to me?
It was hard to follow the flow of the conversation.
“Could you find out who the woman Lee Hyun has been chasing after is?”
Yerin was so shocked that she nearly dropped the bag she was holding.
She was glad she hadn’t admitted earlier that the woman was herself.
Not that she had ever planned to, of course.
Mrs. Yoon then pulled out a black card.
“Whether you convince my son or meet the woman he’s so infatuated with and persuade her, could you help me?”
Yerin stared blankly at the designer bag in her hands—one of only three in the country, and originally intended for Mrs. Yoon’s future daughter-in-law.
“I know you’re busy, but I’m this desperate, which is why I’m asking.”
“…”
“Oh, is it not enough? If you don’t like the bag…”
“No, Ma’am. It’s too much.”
Yerin put the designer bag back into the shopping bag as if to refuse it.
Mrs. Yoon’s face fell slightly.
“I suppose it’s too much to ask for personal favors like this. I’m sorry. I didn’t think it through.”
“No! You can ask me for anything work-related. It’s just that this gift is far too extravagant.”
Mrs. Yoon smiled brightly.
“No, it’s just that I think it’ll be hard for Lee Hyun to give up. In that case, the only option is to persuade the woman he likes. And I think you’re the perfect person for the job.”
As Yerin wondered why Mrs. Yoon thought she was so uniquely qualified for this, Mrs. Yoon spoke again.
“Surely women around the same age would understand each other better, don’t you think?”
Now that she thought about it, it did make some sense.
Yerin found herself slowly being swayed by Mrs. Yoon’s eloquence.
“Especially if I step in, the woman might feel too uncomfortable.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
Under no circumstances could Mrs. Yoon be allowed to get involved.
That thought caused Yerin’s face to stiffen instantly.
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