8.8

Even after Oh Soohyun left, Chairman Gu Jaman sat motionless, eyes closed, buried deep in his chair. He appeared lost in thought.

“Chairman, breakfast is ready.”

The eldest daughter-in-law quietly informed him, and Gu Jaman struggled to open his eyelids. His jet-black eyes held a faint regret.

“Chairman, if you’re not feeling well….”

“No, I’m fine.”

He adjusted his posture. The regret had already vanished.

“So Junmo went ahead and did it?”

Junmo had visited recently. It was just after dinner had been cleared away, and Chairman Gu Jaman was sipping sikhye.  

Wearing a sharply tailored suit, a calm-colored tie, and cufflinks, Junmo looked like a different person. His expression was serious, his face resolute.

“He said he would, so of course he did.”

“Why didn’t you stop him? Junhyung’s mother looked pale today.”

“You heard it yourself, didn’t you? That he wasn’t here to ask for permission.”

Dressed to the nines, Junmo had said exactly that, word for word. He’d even boldly asked Chairman Gu Jaman to bless his marriage on his way to the registry.

“There’s an old saying: ‘He who eats salt will want water.’ Since I’ve received so much from him, what can I do?”

Gu Jaman spoke lightly, and the eldest daughter-in-law listened quietly.

“I’ll never forget the day my youngest grandson brought his first paycheck in a bank envelope and handed it over. He had lost his father so suddenly to leukemia and had nowhere else to place his heart. What he couldn’t give his father, he gave to me instead.”

The eldest daughter-in-law remembered, too.

“He’s just like his father. His father did the same. With one son already buried in my heart, I had no joy left in living, but that boy filled the void. Our youngest… he may not say much, but his heart runs deep.”

It was around then that the large donations began. Chairman Gu Jaman had made huge annual donations to the National Leukemia Center and various medical foundations and research institutions.

“Chairman.”

“Speak.”

“This time, Ms. Yoon Leeseo is holding an exhibition. The works of the newlywed artist couple are drawing considerable attention in the art world.”

“Really?”

“That’s why I bring this up, Chairman. What if you publicly display your art collection through Ms. Yoon Leeseo? I humbly ask.”

She cautiously sounded him out—it was private property, after all. Chairman Gu Jaman twitched his white eyebrows. Was it too forward? But it wasn’t a donation, just an exhibition, so why not?

“To support Ms. Leeseo as family, to see her capabilities, and for various reasons… I thought it would make a great wedding gift.”

“A wedding gift….”

Chairman Gu Jaman murmured in surprise, staring blankly at his eldest daughter-in-law.

“Contact Junmo. No, I’ll do it myself.”

Chairman Gu Jaman picked up his phone, ready to call immediately. His face showed excitement at the thought of inviting the newlyweds together.

“Chairman.”

“What?”

“It’s still before breakfast. Please eat first….”

The family was waiting. At his daughter-in-law’s suggestion, Chairman Gu Jaman reluctantly put down his phone and stood up, looking disappointed.

* * *

Sitting in the backseat of her car, Oh Soohyun leaned into the seat. Since morning, she’d felt herself sinking endlessly, closing her eyes.

‘If only I could just….’

She opened her eyes wide and clenched her fists.

No matter how uncontrollable children are, Junmo was especially so.

How could two born at the same time from the same womb be so different? Their appearances were distinct, and nothing about them was alike. Their tastes differed, their preferences even more so, and they grew at different rates. Sometimes, Oh Soohyun herself wondered whether she’d had twins or children a year apart.

“Where have you been so early?”  

As she entered the house, Junhyung, ready for work, was coming out. Not in his usual suit jacket, but wearing a jumper—definitely headed to work. The company logo on his left chest was why she’d gone to see Chairman Gu Jaman; she disliked the work uniform. But now, after meeting the Chairman, Junhyung seemed reliable.

In fact, since Junhyung started commuting between Seoul and Cheongju, many things had changed. He woke up early, drank less because of the long commute, and went straight to sleep after work, leaving no time for trouble with women.

“Grandfather praised you.”

Oh Soohyun dropped herself onto the living room sofa, tossing her handbag aside.

“You met Grandfather? At this hour?”

“Let me ask you one thing.”

Junhyung immediately checked the time, which Oh Soohyun found unfamiliar—he’d never cared about commuting hours before. That was another change.

“Does it suit you?”

Junhyung paused, tilting his head.

Suit him? Did he ever think about that?

He’d never considered such things. If he had a life goal, it was to live lavishly off his mother forever. His biggest ambition was to get a decent job by playing it cool at work, just like his cousins.

That was why he’d reluctantly gone to the Cheongju Factory.

He’d never dreamed Chairman Gu Jaman would welcome him so warmly. On his first day, he toured the factory with the Chairman. Since the Chairman wore a work jumper, Junhyung couldn’t wear a suit and asked for a jumper. He was glad for that bit of sense. Seeing the Chairman’s changed expression, he felt relieved.

He was amazed by the factory’s sheer scale—it seemed endless, with buildings so far apart you had to drive between them.

During the factory manager’s briefing, Junhyung followed Chairman Gu Jaman’s group to the First Development Lab. The tight security surprised him again.

Seeing the results of robotics and artificial intelligence under development, his eyes widened. Even though it was still in development, it was on a whole different level from anything he’d known.

Chairman Gu Jaman’s foresight and management philosophy, looking toward the future even at ninety, moved Junhyung deeply.

On the drive home, he thought of Leeseo—her haggard face, yet dignified bearing.

He’d rushed over upon hearing she’d had surgery. But seeing Leeseo with Junmo, he’d only spouted nonsense. Lame excuses.

In the hospital room, Leeseo showed none of the trademark fatigue she used to carry. She shone beside Junmo, looking perfectly at ease, as if she belonged there.

He didn’t want to admit it, but she was strikingly beautiful.

Just like Leeseo three years ago.

Maybe he’d always known—there was never any room in Leeseo’s heart for him.

Junhyung gave a bitter smile.

“Oh my, Junmo’s calling? That’s a first.”

At his mother’s sarcastic tone, Junhyung returned to reality. His wistful gaze vanished instantly. The phone in Oh Soohyun’s handbag rang loudly. She looked at the lit screen, just staring.

“Aren’t you going to answer?”

“Leave it. He’ll come if he’s desperate.”

She pushed the handbag aside.

“Mother.”

“Hmm?”

“Please stop hating Father.”

“What… What are you talking about? When did I ever hate your father?”

“Stop being so hard on Leeseo.”

“Oh, you’re blaming the wrong person.”

Oh Soohyun jumped up. Junhyung glanced at the clock. He’d need to leave now to stop by headquarters before heading down to Cheongju….

“You know, Mother. I went to Cheongju because of Leeseo’s advice.”

At his weary words, Oh Soohyun looked up in surprise, then quickly lowered her gaze like someone with a guilty conscience. Junhyung sighed quietly—she knew.

“How would I know?”

“Just admit it, please.”

“You’re getting strange.”

“Stop being stubborn and accept them now. Junmo probably called because I went and pushed him.”

“Why do things I never asked you to do, tsk.”

“Maybe this is your last chance, Mother. Junmo is the type to cut family ties if he has to. I can’t, but Junmo can. You know that, right?”

Junhyung walked out the front door without any hesitation. As soon as Junhyung disappeared outside, Oh Soohyun quietly picked up her persistently ringing cell phone. After a moment’s hesitation, Oh Soohyun pressed the call button and brought it to her ear.