Chapter 11 (Part 3)
With a relaxed expression, the Chairwoman sipped the dew tea and addressed her.
“We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
“Oh, yes. At the Jinseong founding anniversary event.”
The Chairwoman chuckled.
“Young people these days don’t seem to have good memories.”
Her pupils darted as she tried to remember where else they had met.
Meanwhile, the Chairwoman stopped smiling and got to the point.
“I want to renovate the kitchen furniture in my house… Right now, it looks too much like an old man’s kitchen.”
“Oh, you want a younger kitchen?”
Hye-yoon finally spoke up and asked a question. The Chairwoman glanced at her briefly before turning her attention to In-ah.
“Not just young, but something that doesn’t scream old.”
“That’s difficult.”
Words slipped out of In-ah’s mouth before she realized it. Embarrassed, she smiled awkwardly.
The Chairwoman nodded as if it were no big deal.
“It is difficult. Did you think making kitchen furniture for my house would be easy?”
“No, I was prepared for it to be difficult.”
Her immediate response made her stare intently at In-ha.
“Seems like you’re not afraid of anything, young lady.”
In-ha met her gaze and replied,
“No, I’m afraid of many things. But right now, at this moment, there’s nothing in particular that scares me.”
The Chairwoman’s stern expression softened into a slight smile.
“You’re quite bold. My request is simple. Check the kitchen and bring me a design. It won’t be easy to get an okay on the first try. I’m curious if you’ll still be fearless then.”
After the Chairwoman, whose mere presence was intimidating, left, they finally entered the kitchen. Hye-yoon gaped in disbelief, while In-ah took out a measuring tape.
Hye-yoon looked around the kitchen with wide eyes and said,
“Are we supposed to tear down such a perfectly fine kitchen?”
Indeed, the Chairwoman’s kitchen was already flawless. It was luxurious and pristine, the epitome of a Chairwoman’s style.
As In-ah began measuring the furniture lengths, Hye-yoon spoke incredulously.
“Why? If she doesn’t like this, what kind of kitchen furniture are we supposed to design?”
“We heard it together. Make it young. But not just young, something that doesn’t scream old.”
Hye-yoon glared at her with a resentful expression.
“Who doesn’t know that? How do we meet such vague demands?”
In-ah shrugged, indicating she didn’t know either, and continued examining the kitchen furniture closely.
The more she looked, the more puzzling the situation seemed. It didn’t look old or worn enough to be tired of.
Returning from the restroom, Hye-yoon excitedly approached her.
“Did you see the photo in the hallway? There’s a family photo of the Director, no, the CEO, and he totally looks like a chaebol’s son.”
It was about Seong-jun. In-ha seemed uninterested, not even looking up.
But Hye-yoon’s next words caught her attention.
“You know the Jinseong Construction CEO who occasionally visits the company? I had no idea they were brothers.”
That was enough to pique her interest. She rushed to the hallway to see the family photos on the table.
Just as Hye-yoon said, there was Seong-jun and Seongtae next to the kindly-looking Chairwoman.
It seemed to be an old photo, as the Chairwoman, Seong-jun, and Seongtae all looked quite young.
“But who is this?”
There was another man beside the Chairwoman in the family photo.
“He looks familiar.”
As she was about to give up trying to place him, a young woman rushing from the opposite direction bumped into her, dropping the bread she was carrying.
The woman wore the same uniform as the others working at the Chairwoman’s house.
Pale with embarrassment, she hurriedly picked up the spilled bread.
In-ah quickly moved to help.
“Leave it. I’ll do it.”
The woman tried to stop her, looking around nervously as she crouched to pick up the bread.
“Stop!”
A sharp voice rang out. Looking up, she saw Shin-hye approaching with her arms crossed.
“What’s going on here?”
Shin-hye approached with an incredulous expression, questioning the young woman who dropped the bread, treating In-ah as if she were invisible.
“Where were you taking this bread? Doesn’t seem like you were heading to the kitchen or the dining room. Were you taking it to your room?”
The woman was flustered, unsure where to look.
In-ah sensed the situation and intervened, siding with the young woman.
“Why are you curious about that, Director Jeong? It’s not even your bread.”
At that moment.
“If you’re talking about the bread owner, are you referring to me?”
The Chairwoman appeared, having overheard.
Shin-hye, delighted by the Chairwoman’s arrival, clung to her arm.
“Dismiss her immediately, Chairwoman. You can’t fix a kleptomaniac.”
The Chairwoman turned her gaze from Shin-hye to In-ah.
“What do you think?”
“Excuse me?”
“Shin-hye thinks she should be dismissed. What do you think?”
In-ha glanced at the young woman, who stood with her head hanging low.
“She should be scolded.”
Just as the Chairwoman seemed to agree and was about to withdraw her gaze, In-ah continued.
“But also tell her that if she asks, you’ll gladly give it to her, so there’s no need to steal.”
Shin-hye openly sneered.
But the Chairwoman’s face remained serious as she stared at In-ah.
This girl is clever.
If the Chairwoman doesn’t forgive the woman here, she’ll become a petty old hag.
To maintain her dignity, she must forgive the woman.
She signaled to her secretary, who led the young woman away.
As the Chairwoman turned to leave, In-ah quickly spoke.
“What will happen to her…”
Without looking back, the Chairwoman replied.
“I’m not a petty old hag.”
After she left, Shin-hye hurried after her.
***
In-ah and Hye-yoon left the Chairwoman’s house. As they did, Seongtae, arriving in his car, saw them.
Entering the house, Seongtae immediately questioned the Chairwoman.
“Why was she leaving here? Did you meet Seo In-ah? Why?”
“Why are you interested in your brother’s woman?”
“Huh?”
Seongtae laughed incredulously.
“My brother’s woman? Did he say that? That she’s his woman?”
Unfazed by Seongtae’s reaction, the Chairwoman spoke calmly.
“He said she was on his mind.”
“Wow, what a strange taste.”
“And yours isn’t strange?”
“Ah, why bring up Jin-kyung here~ Is my brother not home yet?”
With no response from the Chairwoman, Seongtae grumbled as he looked around the house.
“Geez, I should’ve come home late too.”
“Are you whining about not wanting to have dinner together once a week? If you want the inheritance, show some sincerity.”
Seongtae quickly approached the Chairwoman, massaging her shoulders.
“Oh, mother, why would you say something so hurtful? Oh? Looks like brother’s here!”
He was relieved by his brother’s timely arrival, which saved him from the awkward situation.
After dinner, Seongtae approached Seong-jun in the living room, whispering in his ear.
“Do you know she was here? Seo In-ah.”
“Yeah.”
“What are you planning?”
Seong-jun didn’t respond to Seongtae’s question, instead sipping from his teacup.
Lowering his voice, Seongtae asked conspiratorially,
“Did you give her the Jeju voucher?”
Finally, Seong-jun looked at him.
“And what are you planning?”
Glancing around to ensure the Chairwoman wasn’t coming, Seongtae smiled.
“Will she really go to Jeju alone? If she goes with Lee Jinwon, that’s great for us. We can send them off together.”
Without a change in expression, Seong-jun set down his teacup.
“Stop it. I told you not to handle things so conspicuously.”
Seongtae, reclining comfortably on the sofa, wore a relaxed expression.
“I’ll do it discreetly. If she goes on a trip with her boyfriend and there’s an accident, screech—”
He gleefully mimed slitting his throat.
“How disgraceful and wonderful.”
“I said stop.”
With a chilling expression, Seong-jun added a final warning.
“Don’t touch that woman.”
“Brother, no way!”
Seongtae feigned shock, covering his mouth.
Just as he was about to tease further, the Chairwoman and Kyung-soo appeared, silencing him.
Instead, he chuckled mockingly behind his hand.
In-ah and Hye-yoon were in a taxi returning to the company.
“Who are you going to Jeju with, using that voucher you got?”
Hye-yoon asked, eyes full of curiosity.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
Disappointed by her answer, Hye-yoon offered advice.
“Don’t be foolish and go with a lover or something.”
“Why?”
“Why? Did you just ask why? It’s a five-star place!”
With wide eyes, she silently questioned what the problem was.
Hye-yoon, frustrated, tapped her chest and spoke.
“The era of coy women is over. You said you like someone. Just ask him to go with you. There’s no guarantee he won’t refuse, though.”
Her last words left In-ah momentarily stunned.
***
A few days later.
As she waited for a meeting in the conference room, a single thought occupied her mind.
Why didn’t I think of that? He could refuse if I ask him to go with me.
What if he thinks I’m being too forward? He might misunderstand and think I’ve been playing coy.
Jinwon entered the room, and the design meeting began.
It was about designing the kitchen furniture for the Jinseong Group Chairwoman.
Presentations with design drafts and explanations from her and Hye-yoon followed.
After the meeting, team members gave sharp evaluations and opinions. Finally, Jinwon spoke.
“Your designs have contrasting feels. It might be good to present both proposals to the client. Offering two different options is also a strategy.”
“Are we going alone again this time? Aren’t you coming with us, Team Leader?”
She raised her hand to ask.
“I haven’t been involved in your designs, so it’s better if I don’t go. This concludes the meeting.”
In-ah watched him leave the room without hesitation.
In-ah watched Jinwon leave the conference room without any regrets. Whether it’s kitchen furniture or anything else, furniture reflects the user. It’s like the person, so if you design while thinking of that person, you won’t go wrong. That’s what he used to advise.
She pouted slightly, unnoticed by others.
It seemed to be the first project where Jinwon showed little enthusiasm.
Was it because it was for the Jinseong Chairwoman? No, he should be more enthusiastic then.
Looking at him, she thought he wasn’t cut out for power.
What is he doing shrinking back when he should step forward?
She felt sorry for him.
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