EPILOGUE Part  9

The outdoor terrace connected to the first-floor hall was half-filled with people leisurely having dinner. Since it was mid-September, most were island residents rather than tourists, and Minhee recognized a couple of familiar faces.

She energetically pushed open the door. As a clear bell rang, Sangjin shouted from behind the sushi counter where he was preparing fish.

“Welcome—Seol Minhee!”

“Dad!”

As Minhee ran to the counter, Sangjin quickly washed his hands and came out to embrace her.

“Oh, my daughter, my little one, how long has it been?”

Minhee gave him a half-hearted hug and grabbed Sangjin’s sleeve, pulling him along.

“Dad, Dad! Taejun is over there!”

Sangjin feigned a frown.

“Hey, Seol Minhee! Aren’t you even going to greet your dad properly? Just because you’re engaged, you’re putting your dad aside?”

“Hi, Dad! I missed you.”

When Minhee smiled bashfully, Sangjin pinched and stretched her cheek.

“Ouch!”

“This little one, already!”

At that moment, Taejun approached them and bowed deeply.

“Hello, I’m Baek Taejun… Father.”

As Taejun straightened his back, Sangjin’s gaze traveled up to Taejun’s height. Holding Minhee’s cheek, Sangjin flinched and released her cheek upon seeing Taejun’s tense expression.

“Oh, uh… Nice to meet you. I’m Seol Sangjin, Minhee’s dad.”

When Sangjin extended his hand, Taejun shook it with military precision, standing straight. Seeing Taejun this nervous for the first time also made Minhee feel a bit tense.

He doesn’t need to be so nervous…

“Please feel free to speak comfortably, Father.”

“Oh? Oh, take it easy. Wow! What did you eat to grow so tall? I thought I fed my kid well too…”

Sangjin marveled as he alternated his gaze between Minhee, who had run over to hang onto Taejun’s arm like a cicada on a tree, and Taejun. Taejun replied earnestly.

“I ate anything and everything well.”

“That’s right. Eating well without being picky makes you grow like this. Oh dear, where is my mind? Are you hungry? Minhee, guide him to the corner booth. I prepared a special omakase instead of a hen for today’s special guest. Go on, take a seat quickly.”

As Sangjin gestured for Minhee, he hurried back behind the sushi counter, and Minhee led Taejun to the corner booth, linking her arm with his.

As soon as Taejun sat down, he let out a deep breath, swallowed dryly, and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. Come to think of it, beads of sweat had formed on his forehead. Minhee handed Taejun a napkin.

“Taejun, should I get you some cold water?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

When Minhee entered the kitchen, the chefs and kitchen staff recognized her and greeted her warmly. Minhee exchanged greetings for a moment, then filled a cup with ice and cold water and came out.

Before returning to her seat, she hurried to the sushi counter to call Sangjin.

“Dad! What do you think? Taejun is really handsome, right?”

“Seol Minhee, now I see you take after your mom in caring about looks. Why didn’t you tell me he was so tall and handsome? No wonder you seemed so smitten.”

“…Mom said she married you for your personality.”

Sangjin snorted at Minhee’s remark.

“Hah! You don’t know. When I met your mom, I was the most popular with the female teachers at our school!”

“Uh-huh… Oh! I need to get back to Taejun.”

“Wait! You said he’s a finance guy, right? He doesn’t do anything dangerous, does he? With that build, posture, and facial scar, he doesn’t seem ordinary. His charisma could catch a cattle thief. Does he treat you well?”

Sangjin’s voice, now hushed, carried a thicker dialect than usual. Minhee knew her dad used his hometown dialect when he was flustered or expressing his true feelings.

People meeting Taejun for the first time were invariably intimidated by his appearance, making Minhee chuckle.

“He works in a hedge fund office, so there’s nothing dangerous. The eyebrow scar is from the military. He got it while deployed in Afghanistan. He has a strong impression, so people misunderstand, but once you get to know him, he’s kind and gentle.”

“He served in the military? In the U.S. Army?”

“Yes.”

“A man becomes an adult after serving in the military. I like that.”

“Taejun’s uncle said something similar.”

“Uncle? You’ve already met his uncle? When? Where?”

“Oh? Uh… I’ll tell you the details at home later. Taejun is waiting. I have to go!”

Minhee realized she had slipped up, forgetting to mention she had gone to Korea with Taejun without telling her dad.

She hurried back to her seat, handing Taejun the glass of water, and sat down. The course meal began with abalone and steamed eggs, coming out endlessly.

In fact, it was Minhee’s first time eating dinner at a guest table in the restaurant. When helping with serving, she would eat after the peak time, not at a guest table but in a small room next to the kitchen with her dad.

Seeing the food laid out on the table, Minhee could tell how much thought and preparation her dad had put into it, making her nose tingle with emotion.

“How is it? Does it suit your taste?”

“Yes. It’s all delicious.”

Taejun cleaned each dish as it came out.

As the course neared its end, Minhee, unable to eat any more, clutched her stomach, breathing heavily. Sangjin approached the table with an octagonal wooden tray.

On the tray were neatly arranged flower-shaped rice cakes and traditional Korean sweets.

“And finally, dessert!”

Sangjin placed the tray on the table with a satisfied expression. Come to think of it, the serving staff were distributing desserts throughout the hall.

“Dad, where did you get these?”

These weren’t foods you could find near Hilton Head Island.

“I ordered them from a rice cake shop in Atlanta. Try them, they’re delicious. You too, Taejun.”

It was a nine-hour round trip by car.

Minhee bit her lip to hold back tears and picked up a crispy Korean sweet. Her tear ducts had been overly sensitive, welling up with tears frequently since earlier.

Suddenly, Sangjin picked up a glass and lightly tapped it with a knife, clearing his throat. The restaurant, which had been bustling, fell silent as the clear, bell-like sound drew everyone’s attention to Sangjin.

[Ladies and gentlemen, friends, neighbors. Has everyone received their dessert?]

“Yes” and “Thank you” echoed from various parts of the restaurant.

[The Korean dessert you just received consists of rice cakes and sweets. Today is a very special day, so we’re offering a special dessert to everyone dining here tonight!]

A voice called out from afar, 

“Seol! What’s so special about today?”

Sangjin raised his hand toward the voice as if greeting.

[Some of you may remember my daughter Minhee, who is here with us. She graduated from Rosewood High School and was admitted to a prestigious university in New York. Now, she’s working as a part-time teacher while pursuing her master’s degree—a daughter I’m very proud of. When we first arrived on Hilton Head Island, Minhee was only twelve. It was just a few months after my wife’s passing.]

Sangjin paused, bowing his head. The restaurant was silent as if a mouse had passed by.

Minhee’s lips trembled, and the tears that had been welling up finally spilled down her cheeks. Taejun moved beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

With his nose turning red, Sangjin continued.

[Without Minhee, I wouldn’t have been able to endure here. I want to thank my daughter, who grew up so well, never causing trouble or complaining, despite having a clumsy father who was just trying to survive day by day after losing his wife.]

As Sangjin’s voice quivered, applause erupted throughout the restaurant.

[That daughter has returned to Hilton Head Island today with a handsome and reliable fiancé. In English, they call him a “legal son-in-law,” right? In Korean, we say “son-in-law,” but I really like the term “son,” even if it’s a legal relationship. Our family is now me, my daughter, and there, my son. Growing from two to three.]

Applause and congratulations poured in from all around at the news of the engagement.

Minhee wiped her silently flowing tears and offered a trembling smile to the people. Taejun silently tightened his hold on her shoulder.

[Our father-daughter duo has no relatives in the U.S. So, I pondered who we should celebrate such a joyous occasion with. I decided to celebrate this occasion with the friends, regular customers, and neighbors who warmly welcomed a stranger from afar 13 years ago. In that spirit, tonight’s dinner is on me!]

As Sangjin dramatically spread his arms, the restaurant erupted in loud applause and cheers.

[And from today, we bid farewell to the ginseng liquor that has been decorating the restaurant since its opening. Over 100 people have tempted me to open it over the past 13 years, but I held firm because of the person sitting next to my daughter. My wife made this 25-year-old ginseng liquor with high-quality ginseng the year Minhee was born, intending to open it when a son-in-law comes. Tonight, I’ll open it.]

All eyes turned to the large bottle of ginseng liquor displayed by the window.

[However, today, for the first time since opening, the restaurant will close at 8:30. We need to test if the prospective “son” is worthy of taking our daughter, perhaps grilling him a bit with ginseng liquor!]

Laughter and enthusiastic agreement burst forth.

[Thank you for celebrating the engagement of these two young people. Have a wonderful evening!]

Sangjin’s speech was drowned out by the thunderous applause, and familiar faces and neighbors approached Minhee and Taejun to offer their congratulations.