Side Story 3.8

The sky was clear, and the autumn leaves were vibrant on the last Saturday of October.

Behind them, a grand mountain adorned with vibrant autumn colors loomed, while in front, the wide expanse of the blue Han River stretched out. The spacious lawn was beautifully decorated with colorful flowers, and several round tables draped in white cloth were neatly arranged. Classical music themed around love floated gently through the air.

Song Yeongjoo, dressed in a modernized hanbok-style gown, surveyed the venue with a satisfied expression. As she took each step, the wedding hall’s general manager walked beside her, providing explanations about the completed setup.

This wedding was the result of Yeongjoo’s long deliberation and significant financial investment. Since it was being held at a hotel affiliated with the Taesan Group, there had been no particular difficulties in preparing for the ceremony. However, meeting Yeongjoo’s high standards and meticulous demands must not have been easy.

The prepared venue was flawless and stunning. All the effort Yeongjoo had put in on behalf of her daughter-in-law, who was busy with her law firm work, had paid off. Her daughter-in-law, whether due to her busy schedule or a lack of interest in such matters, had no specific wishes for the wedding preparations.

‘All I want is a bright and cheerful venue.’

She had said with a gentle smile, leaving the rest up to others. Since they had already registered their marriage five years ago, set up their home, and lived together, perhaps she didn’t feel the need for a wedding. Having already experienced life as a married couple, she might have thought a ceremony was unnecessary.

Nevertheless, Dowook had always wanted a grand ceremony to publicly announce their marriage. However, when his wife had just started at the law firm, she had requested to postpone the wedding, citing her need to adapt to her new workplace. She also worried that being known as the daughter-in-law of the Taesan family might lead to accusations of nepotism. She wanted to establish her skills and achieve results in the legal field before having a wedding. Her son had respected her wishes.

Her son had always been soft when it came to his wife. No matter how much he wanted something, her wife always came first. He had chased after her since they were young, and even now, in his thirties, he hadn’t changed.

“It’s too late to change him now.” 

Yeongjoo murmured to herself. For nearly twenty years, he had been like this. Even her late husband had tried to break their son’s stubborn habits but had ultimately failed. Over time, even her husband had come to accept her daughter-in-law as family, just as Yeongjoo had developed both fondness and frustration for her over the years.

When her daughter-in-law joined the law firm five years ago, it was said that everyone who needed to know about their marriage already knew. Her son would show up at her office dinners to wait for her, or pay for the second and third rounds of drinks for her colleagues. With such blatant displays of affection, it was impossible for rumors not to spread.

Yeongjoo could already imagine her son carrying diapers for his wife when they had a child, or shaking a baby bottle while doting on her.

“Should I call that good parenting?” 

She muttered under her breath. The manager beside her gave her a puzzled look, and Yeongjoo responded with a professional smile and shook her head.

It wasn’t until five years had passed and her daughter-in-law was preparing for a promotion to partner and an overseas study trip that she finally agreed to her son’s request. She felt it was finally time for a wedding.

It was a relief, at least, that they had met young, dated for a long time, and then married. Despite their long years of studying and establishing their careers, they were still only thirty-two. They had a bright future ahead.

Still, her daughter-in-law, who was on the verge of becoming a partner, was always busy. Yeongjoo couldn’t trust her son to handle all the wedding preparations, so she stepped in. She oversaw everything—the venue, the dress, the food, the flowers, the date. Her son occasionally voiced his opinions, though.

‘This dress shows off too much of Junhee’s back.’ 

‘This dress looks uncomfortable for Junhee to wear.’  

‘Pink flowers suit Junhee better than white ones.’ 

‘Junhee prefers fusion cuisine with Korean dishes over Western food.’

His constant input was exhausting, as if he were the master of the house.

It was Junhee who comforted Yeongjoo, whose patience was wearing thin from her son’s fussiness. Though she never outwardly expressed it, Junhee somehow understood and consoled her.

As a child, Junhee had always approached silently to watch whenever Yeongjoo was upset. Now, seeing her in her wedding dress, Yeongjoo couldn’t help but feel emotional.

“The bride looks radiant. Groom, could you tilt your gaze slightly to the side? Yes, yes, that’s perfect. Just five more shots, and we’ll be done. Hang in there a little longer. Ma’am, could you adjust the veil one more time? Groom, bride, now look into each other’s eyes—”

Beside Dowook, who was dressed in a black tuxedo, stood Junhee, adorned in an elegant chiffon veil. As Junhee raised her head to meet her husband’s gaze, Yeongjoo’s eyes grew misty.

Suddenly, Junhee noticed Yeongjoo and turned her head, breaking into a bright smile and waving. For a moment, Yeongjoo was transported back to a long-ago day at a Heejeongwon charity event, where a young Junhee, dressed in a white dress, had walked confidently toward her. The thirteen-year-old Junhee had greeted her with a radiant smile, her face tinged with nervousness.

Had she somehow known back then that they would become family? That child, who had lingered in her thoughts for reasons she couldn’t explain.

Yeongjoo smiled warmly and waved back at Junhee, who was wearing the white, voluminous dress she had chosen for her.

***

It was a beautiful and grand wedding.

Though they had initially planned to invite only close acquaintances, the Taesan family’s extensive connections meant that over two hundred guests had gathered.

The couple was already well-known in the business world. Many marveled at their long-standing relationship, which had begun at such a young age, and at the Taesan family’s decision to prioritize love over social standing. It was a rare love story in their circles.

There were stories about Junhee graduating from Korea University, excelling as a lawyer, and recently gaining recognition in the TMT sector of her law firm, even being mentioned in legal publications. She was also known for her pro bono work supporting welfare for the disabled, for which she had received awards.

People wondered what kind of extraordinary bride could captivate the youngest son of the Taesan family for over twenty years.

The groom, they said, was so devoted to his bride that he had restricted access to her bridal waiting room to prevent her from becoming fatigued. Despite registering their marriage early, he had waited five years to hold the wedding to avoid affecting her career. He had even planned his transfer to the Taesan Group’s U.S. branch to align with her overseas studies. He had taken cooking classes to earn a Korean cuisine certification for her sake. His drunken habit of ordering jewelry for her was also widely known.

Whether these stories were entirely true or exaggerated, the youngest son of the Taesan family had gained a reputation as a devoted husband at a remarkably young age.

The guests seated at the ceremony were all curious about the bride they had heard so much about. Among them were several family members who had been eyeing the position of the bride for the groom, as he was the only direct descendant of the Taesan family.

Finally, against a picturesque backdrop, the picture-perfect bride appeared and stood at the end of the wedding aisle. Many people gasped or held their breath without realizing it. The bride, who had been the subject of so many rumors, was breathtakingly beautiful, and no one could take their eyes off her.

Since the bride’s father had passed away early, a friend of her late father took her hand and walked her down the aisle. The groom, who approached them, was equally striking. He was tall and walked with the grace of a model.

When the groom received the bride’s hand and unexpectedly bent down to kiss the back of it, cheers erupted from the guests. When an excited child exclaimed loudly that the couple looked like a prince and princess from a fairy tale, laughter filled the air.

The sunlight was warm but not harsh, the breeze was cool, the food was delicious, and the music was sophisticated. There was no officiant; instead, the parents of the couple gave their blessings.

Typically, the male parent of the groom gives the speech, but unusually, it was the groom’s mother and the bride’s grandmother who delivered the blessings. The mother’s words were elegant, while the grandmother’s were witty. Both speeches celebrated the union of the couple, and both ended with tears in their eyes.

Before the grand procession, the final event was the couple’s exchange of vows. The host would ask questions, and the bride and groom would respond. However, when asked the final question, “Do you vow to be with the groom forever?” the bride hesitated and didn’t answer immediately.

It seemed her tears had momentarily choked her up, but the groom’s anxious expression at that moment became a topic of conversation for a long time. It was the first time anyone had seen Choi Dowook look so nervous.

Perhaps as a small act of compensation, their vow kiss lasted unusually long. The groom couldn’t seem to pull away from the bride. When the kiss finally ended, the bride wore an expression that said, “What am I going to do with you?” while the groom looked at her with a gaze full of overwhelming affection.

When all the events had concluded, the bride and groom walked hand in hand down the wedding aisle. Just then, the setting sun painted their backs in shades of red. Amidst the cheers of the guests, fanfare erupted, and the couple leaned their heads together, laughing.

In that moment of celebration, Dowook called out to Junhee in a low voice, one that only she could hear.

Woo Junhee.  

Yes?  

Are you happy? 

Very.  

Replying, Junhee wrapped her arms around Dowook’s neck. Countless petals fluttered down over their heads. It was a moment overflowing with love and romance.

— Side Story Fin