Chapter 11 (Part 5)

In-ah and Hye-yoon visited the Jinseong Group Chairwoman’s house to explain their design proposal.  

Today’s guest tea seemed to be Solomon’s seal tea.  

As she savored the subtle fragrance while sipping her tea, the door opened, and the Chairwoman entered the room with her usual expressionless face.  

Once seated, her secretary spoke in a gentle voice.  

“You may begin the explanation.”  

At that moment, the Chairwoman raised her left hand to stop them.  

Both women looked at her, puzzled.  

“I’ve already seen the design proposals you sent. I have an eye for these things, so there’s no need for an explanation.”  

But they came all this way to explain, so what were they supposed to do? Hye-yoon struggled to hide her bewilderment.  

Surprisingly unfazed, In-ah spoke calmly.  

“Still, there’s a difference between hearing the explanation and not.”  

“I’m not interested in the meaning or intent behind the furniture. I only look at the final product.”  

In-ha had nothing more to say.  

If the client didn’t want an explanation, insisting on one would be awkward.  

“Bring new ones. None of them caught my eye.”  

“Are you saying you didn’t like either of the proposals?”  

Hye-yoon asked, surprised.  

But without answering, the Chairwoman stood up and headed for the door.  

Her secretary answered on her behalf.  

“That’s correct. Please bring new design proposals.”  

This wasn’t just a revision; it meant starting over completely.  

Stunned, they stood up and bowed to the departing Chairwoman.  

Suddenly, she stopped, turned around, and looked at the teacup on the table before focusing on her.  

“How was the tea today?”  

“It’s very savory, Chairwoman.”  

Hye-yoon smiled brightly as she shared her impression.  

“And you?”  

The Chairwoman directly asked In-ha. She looked down at the teacup on the table and replied.  

“It’s a hot tea, but I feel a cold breeze.”  

A slight smile appeared on one corner of the Chairwoman’s mouth. Without another word, she turned and left the room.  

After the Chairwoman left, Hye-yoon sat back down, taking a sip of tea, and looked up at her.  

“A cold breeze? What kind of nonsense is that?”  

In-ah shrugged her shoulders in response.

Before revising their proposal, they decided to take another look at the kitchen.  

While carefully inspecting the kitchen, In-ha saw a familiar face.  

Through the open door, Kyung-soo peeked in and gestured for her to come over.  

In-ha smiled and glanced at Hye-yoon before stealthily heading toward him.  

“I’ll be right back, just going to the restroom.”  

Kyung-soo grabbed her hand and led In-ha somewhere quickly.  

Confused, In-ha lowered her voice and asked,  

“Where are we going?”  

He put a finger to his lips and said, 

“Shh!”  

Then, standing on tiptoe, he opened a secluded door.  

In-ha instinctively looked around to see if anyone was coming.  

Once the door was open, he firmly held her hand and led her inside.  

After carefully closing the door, Kyung-soo sat down with In-ah in the corner.

“You shouldn’t be in here.”  

Kyung-soo whispered so quietly that In-ah had to lean close to his ear to hear it.

“Why?”  

In-ah also lowered her voice to match Kyung-soo’s.

“Because it’s the room where Grandma cries.”

“Cries?”

Surprised, her voice naturally rose. He immediately hushed her.  

Seeing Kyung-soo nod, In-ah’s curiosity grew.

In-ah slowly looked around the room. She didn’t know who the owner of this room was, but it was clear they were an avid bookworm.

The walls of the room were filled with nothing but books, books, books. There were also drawings that seemed to be done by hand.

Even to In-ah, who didn’t know art, they looked like high-level works. Moreover, they were landscape paintings that brought peace to the viewer’s heart.

“But why did you bring me here?”  

Feeling it was the right thing to do, she still whispered.  

Kyung-soo pretended to read a book he had already opened.

“Noona, don’t I read well?”

In-ah, finding Kyung-soo’s proud expression cute, couldn’t help but smile. She patted Kyung-soo’s head and replied.

“Yes, you do. You read well.”  

Delighted by her response, he asked again,  

“Do I look like a good kid who likes books?”  

“Why? Do you want to be a good kid who likes books?”  

With a determined expression, he nodded.  

“They say I look a lot like Dad. I think so too.”  

“Of course, you should look like your dad.”  

“I don’t want to look like Dad.”  

His unexpected words left her momentarily unsure of how to respond.  

Back in the kitchen, In-ah sat absentmindedly. Her eyes wandered over the well-kept garden beyond the window.

A child living in this extremely nice house… says he doesn’t want to resemble his dad.

And he wants attention from a complete stranger like me.

What kind of family makes a child feel that way?  

“This kitchen should definitely have warm colors and a cozy mood.”  

At In-ah’s sudden remark, Hye-yoon put down her notebook and spoke.

“I was thinking of going with some bold colors. Let’s proceed with two options again. Is that okay?”

***  

“Welcome.”  

Her mother, greeting customers out of habit, paused when she saw In-ah entering the restaurant.  

Without a glance at her mother, she headed toward the kitchen.  

“Dad, I’m here.”  

“Oh, you’re here~”  

In-ah picked up an apron hanging on the wall and put it around her neck. Then she glanced at her mother.

Her mother, who had been watching In-ah’s every move, quickly approached and tied the apron from behind.

“Are you still upset at me?”  

At her mother’s words, In-ah pouted in a pretend manner.

“When did I say I was upset? I’m angry.”  

“Right. Our In-ah was angry at her mom. I’m sorry.”  

At her mother’s words, In-ah’s hardened expression softened.

“Did you miss me?”  

“Of course. In-kyung came last week but left quickly.”  

“Why do you say that like it’s something new?”

In-ah chuckled as she wiped the tables with a cloth.

Then, her mother suddenly looked at her face and said,  

“I heard from In-kyung. Jinwon was the boy in the market when he was young, right?”  

In-ah suddenly brightened up and ran to her mother.

“That’s what I’m saying. Isn’t it amazing? Mom, you treated him so well back then. He remembers everything.”

“Yes, I did.”  

Her mother’s face softened with nostalgia.  

“What fault could a child have?”

Then, feeling her daughter’s piercing gaze, she flinched. In-ah seized the opportunity.  

“Exactly. Just like it wasn’t his fault he got hurt seven years ago. Right?”

“I already apologized for that.”  

Nodding, In-ah suddenly remembered something and asked.

“But why didn’t you tell me? Seven years ago?”  

Her mother stroked her hair and spoke softly.  

“Jinwon made a difficult decision, and you barely accepted it. I couldn’t make you go through that again.”

“Were you worried I’d meet him again, even though he was paralyzed?”  

Instead of answering, her mother gazed steadily into In-ah’s eyes. Then In-ah quickly tried to smooth things over.

“Sorry, I take back what I just said.”

Her mother spoke calmly.  

“In-ah, I’m your mom. Of course, I was worried. Every mom in the world is like that. My daughter is the most important.”

In-ah quietly looked into her mother’s eyes. Her mother’s words resonated with her heart.

“Since I brought you home, I’ve never thought of you as just a niece. Not even once.”

“Then hit me on the back too.”

“What?”  

Her mother widened her eyes at her unexpected request.  

“You always hit In-kyung and In-woo’s backs, but you’ve never touched mine.”  

Hearing this, her mother’s eyes quickly reddened. Then she slapped her back.  

“Ouch!”  

In-ah grimaced as she reached for her back, pretending to be in pain.

Her mother, holding back a smile, playfully scolded her.  

“You silly girl, you’re jealous of the strangest things. Come here. I’ll hit you to your heart’s content.”

Her mother’s hand repeatedly slapped her back.  

“Ouch! It hurts! Mom, your hands are small, but why do they sting so much? In-kyung was right!”  

She dodged her mother’s hands, whining about the pain.  

***  

At the department store’s men’s clothing section, employees gathered in groups, staring at someone.  

It looked as if an idol had visited the store.  

At the end of their gaze, Jinwon was carefully selecting clothes.  

“That’s not it. Beige tones suit you better.”

He turned to see Shin-hye approaching with a triumphant expression.  

“What are you doing here?”  

At Jinwon’s words, the female employees who had been watching him from a distance pouted and dispersed like the ebbing tide.

Satisfied with the sight, Shin-hye casually replied.

“I was just passing by and saw you.”  

In truth, a friend had told her that Jinwon was at the department store, and she had rushed over.

“Are you shopping for clothes? Not a suit? What’s gotten into you?”  

Ignoring Shin-hye’s curiosity, Jinwon continued to look at clothes.

Shin-hye, examining the clothes Jinwon was choosing, offered generously.

“I’ll help you. Clothes should match the occasion. Where are you traveling to?”  

“……”  

Surprised, Jinwon kept his lips sealed. He rolled his eyes, wondering how she knew.

Seeing Jinwon’s reaction, Shin-hye smiled. The clothes Jinwon was picking were clearly travel outfits to anyone.

“Where are you going?”  

“None of your business.”  

Jinwon left Shin-hye and moved to another section.

“Are you worried I’ll follow you? How petty.”

Feigning a pout, Shin-hye quickly stuck close to Jinwon again.

“What do you think of my outfit today?”

Shin-hye dramatically shrugged off her outerwear, revealing an outfit that exposed her neckline and shoulders.

Jinwon instinctively turned his head away.

“Why? I asked you to see how it looks.”

In the end, Jinwon left the store to avoid Shin-hye.