Chapter 3 – A Gust of Wind (Part 5)

Dowook stopped in his tracks. He looked at the woman approaching kindly with her head tilted and hands in her pockets. The woman closed the distance with a fluttering skirt that reminded him of a young Woo Junhee from long ago.

“Oh, do you remember me? When we were kids, we traveled together following our parents. We also saw each other at your grandfather’s birthday parties held at Heejeongwon when he was healthy.”

I’m Sim Hye-joo. 

The woman spoke familiarly, exuding brightness, charm, and confidence. Ki-hong traced back where she came from.

Annex Building B. It was the farthest from the main house and the best place to observe people coming and going from Heejeongwon. Originally, it was used as staff quarters, not a place for VIPs like Sim Hye-joo to stay. Her appearance seemed highly intentional.

There’s no way Dowook wouldn’t know what Ki-hong knew.

“Of course.”

Surprisingly, Dowook responded readily.

“We’ve also seen each other at post-economic events and Korea University alumni gatherings.”

“Oh my, you remember.”

The woman noticeably brightened at Dowook’s response.

“I thought you wouldn’t remember since we haven’t talked much since becoming adults… Actually, I was really worried I’d feel awkward today because I don’t know many people here. I just followed my parents, but I’m glad you’re here, Oppa.”

The woman took a step closer, and Ki-hong tactfully stepped back.

“Did you graduate from Korea University’s College of Humanities?”

“Oh my, you knew that too?”

Ah.

Dowook murmured like a response. The woman didn’t seem to notice, but Ki-hong knew. That face that said, ‘So it was you.’

“I often heard news about you, Oppa. You’re quite famous now. But I didn’t know you were keeping up with my news too.”

“I only heard recently.”

“Perfect timing. It’s almost mealtime, and I was getting confused with the paths in Heejeongwon because it’s so big. I was invited to dinner after such a long time, so I thought I’d just look around Heejeongwon a bit and ended up here. Can I ask you to guide me?”

“Secretary Yoon.”

Instead of answering, Dowook turned his body and looked down at Ki-hong at an angle.

“Yes, Young Master.”

Behind Dowook, Shim Hye-joo seemed puzzled but didn’t notice anything particularly strange.

“Did you say that Woo Junhee has been particularly attentive to today’s meal?”

“That is….”

For some reason, his gaze shifted downward. He felt like a child who had been caught hiding something bad, even though he had done nothing wrong.

“In addition to the request I made in the car earlier, I have one more.”

As Ki-hong looked up at Dowook, he stiffened. Dowook’s face, with a sly smile, was chilling.

“Causes, symptoms, solutions for relationship boredom, and so on. Organize it for me. Whether you search the internet, read books, or consult a psychologist, bill the necessary costs, and do it as quickly as possible—”

Damn.

The smile disappeared as he paused to curse.

“Please organize it.”

***

The call from her grandmother came just as Junhee was putting a strawberry in her mouth and turning on the TV.

— What are you doing, my Junhee?

“Just resting.”

In the dark living room, the only light source was the blue glow from the TV illuminating Junhee’s face. Junhee flipped through channels but found nothing interesting. Eventually, she stopped on a daily drama popular among housewives. The drama was predictable enough to guess the plot without knowing the previous episodes.

— Have you delivered the side dishes to the Chairman? This time the perilla leaf kimchi turned out a bit bland, did he like it?

“I haven’t delivered it yet.”

The things her grandmother had packed and sent by courier were neatly placed in the bottom compartment of Junhee’s fridge.

— Why haven’t you delivered it yet? Your fridge isn’t even a kimchi fridge; they’ll spoil quickly if left like that.

“I told you not to send these things anymore.”

It was her grandmother who sent them despite her request.

— Why not? I always send them.

“There are plenty of employees at Heejeongwon who cook and deliver food themselves.”

— Those are people who have to make food because they’re paid to, but what I make is filled with sincerity and care.

How can that be the same? 

Her grandmother’s words carried a hint of pride..

She had always been like that. She was immensely satisfied with the thought that she was helping the people at Heejeongwon and proud that they needed Junhee. Except for Song Yeong-joo, she revered and was grateful to everyone in that household.

In spring, she sent several boxes of strawberries to their house, in summer, she sent dongchimi, and in winter, she sent kimchi. She bragged about these things to the villagers and factory workers. Sometimes, she even boasted as if the Taesan family was a reliable support for them. If something big happened to Junhee’s family, she believed they would immediately extend a helping hand.

Yet, she was too afraid to contact them, fearing they might be displeased or that they would become a burden.

‘Actually, Junhee’s grandmother, you can call her the Director from now on. Instead of Madam.’

‘Oh, yes. Yes, Madam, I mean, Director.’

After hearing that from the secretary, she came back and blamed herself severely. She felt she had done something wrong because she was uneducated. She trembled, wondering how much the Madam, no, the Director, must have thought of her as ignorant.

To the villagers and factory workers, she acted as if she were a close friend of Song Yeong-joo.

Her grandmother often made side dishes that the Taesan family liked and sent them, hoping they would adore Junhee for a long time, keep her around for a long time, and call on her for a long time.

She cherished the occasional thanks and compliments from Song Yeong-joo like certificates of merit, storing them in the drawers of her heart..

When life was tough and exhausting, or when someone belittled and troubled her, she would open the drawer in her heart and take out those certificates. She would look at them, feeling proud, and then close the drawer again.

It was all her grandmother’s one-sided love for the Taesan family. Watching it felt foolish and pitiful, making it hard to point out the reality. Criticizing her love would make Junhee feel like the bad person, so she said nothing.

— I sent the package to your house on purpose so you could deliver it yourself. How nice would it be to see the Director’s face and chat with her? Listen to me. It’s all for your sake, Junhee. You shouldn’t ignore it.

It was also for the sake of her connection with Choi Dowook. To foster a good relationship with him. Junhee smiled weakly. She bent her knees and rested her head on her hand. She focused on the artificially smiling people on TV.

— Think about how much we’ve received from them. How much has the Director taken care of us? Hmm? The side dishes I make for them are nothing compared to what they do for us. It’s not hard for me. Because you failed your exam? Is that why you don’t want to see the adults in that house? So what if you failed? It happens. You can do better next time. Actually, in times like this, the Director might help you….

“I broke up with him, Grandma.”

— …What?

“I broke up with Dowook. So you don’t have to try so hard anymore.”

Her grandmother’s words abruptly stopped. The sudden quietness felt as sharp as a needle.

— …Did he do something wrong? Did Dowook upset you? Did he find another woman?

“It’s not like that.”

— Then why did you break up? Was it just a fight?

“We just fell out of love.”

Her grandmother was silent again, but Junhee could sense her frustration in her faint breathing.

— I understand you’re having a hard time after failing the exam. But, Junhee, that’s not the way. Making hasty decisions now will lead to regret later. Think about how much Dowook has loved you since the beginning, hmm? He cherished you so much. Even married couples go through phases where they suddenly find each other annoying for no reason. But do they all get divorced because of that? No, right?

“It’s not like that, Grandma. I….”

At that moment, a gruff voice of an older man could be heard beyond her grandmother’s words. She hurriedly said to the man, “Ah, I was about to go. You’re so impatient.”

— A guest is here, so let’s talk later.

Without properly hearing Junhee’s response, her grandmother hung up.