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So those meals delivered from Taesung had been part of this plan all along.
But Hae-in didn’t have the culinary skills to prepare food at that level. At just her mid-twenties, the dish she cooked most often was instant ramen.
“You don’t need to make everything yourself. Just prepare a few dishes personally, and we’ll assist with the rest.”
Director Seok calmly relayed the instructions and then called over a few people working in the kitchen.
“Everyone, this is the young madam. She’s preparing breakfast for Chairman Park today, so please lend her a hand.”
“Hello.”
The woman who appeared to be the most experienced among them greeted Hae-in first.
“Come this way. Let us know if you need any ingredients.”
This was an unexpected situation. Frantically, Hae-in tried to recall what dishes she could confidently prepare.
Everyone in the kitchen stopped what they were doing and waited for her instructions.
“Uh… um…”
After hesitating briefly, Hae-in turned to the woman who had greeted her earlier and asked:
“First, I’d like to ask something. Does Chairman Park have any allergies or foods she avoids?”
Rather than jumping into cooking blindly, Hae-in decided to start by gathering information. As she spoke, she hoped to gauge whether it would be appropriate to ask for help later.
If what Director Seok had told her earlier was true, some of the people smiling at her now would likely report her actions directly to Chairman Park.
Every move she made required caution.
“Hmm, let me tell you something, Young Madam.”
The same woman who had greeted her stepped forward with a gentle smile.
“You’re quite different from the others.”
The middle-aged woman approached her softly and led Hae-in to the refrigerator.
Glancing back discreetly, Hae-in noticed that once they moved away, the remaining staff resumed their tasks busily.
“Um, Ma’am. Please, I need your help.”
The refrigerator was located slightly away from the others. Standing close to the woman opening its door, Hae-in whispered in a low voice:
“I’m completely new to this. I don’t know anything.”
She couldn’t reveal everything, but her desperate tone conveyed her plight as she looked at the woman pleadingly. For a moment, the older woman’s expression shifted subtly before returning to normal.
“I can’t really help you.”
“Please… I’m begging you.”
Hae-in squeezed the woman’s arm gently. Someone passed by behind them, carrying fresh vegetables and ingredients that had just arrived for the day’s cooking.
After staring at Hae-in for a brief moment, the older woman sighed quietly.
“...Alright.”
Her response was barely audible. Then, raising her voice, she said:
“Oh, are you making that? Chairman Park loves it. I’ll bring the ingredients.”
With both hands full of vegetables and seasonings, she returned to Hae-in’s side.
“Steamed eggs and grilled fish should suffice.”
“...Will that be enough?”
“If you try too hard, it might raise suspicion. Let’s focus on enhancing the flavor with broth instead.”
What could she say?
It felt like a lifeline thrown to someone dangling off a cliff. Hae-in bit her lip firmly and nodded.
The unnamed employee shielded Hae-in with her body and discreetly assisted her. People referred to her as the head chef.
“Thank you so much. May I ask your name?”
“I’m Choi Ae-ran.”
“What should I call you?”
“People usually just call me ‘Auntie.’”
Awkward. Hae-in didn’t want to address someone who helped her so kindly with such casual respect.
Looking at the middle-aged women bustling around the kitchen, she saw her own mother in them. It was natural to think of her mother, who worked tirelessly at restaurants to pay for Jeongin’s medical bills.
Moreover, Hae-in didn’t consider herself superior to these women in any way.
“...I’ll call you ‘Ma’am,’” Hae-in said softly.
At her words, Ae-ran paused momentarily, her expression unreadable, before breaking into a faint smile.
“Young Madam… you’re quite special.”
“I’m not special at all. If I see you again, please take care of me.”
Grateful for the assistance, Hae-in bowed slightly to show her respect.
“I always wondered what kind of person Master Soo-hyun would marry. I think he’s found someone good.”
Smiling faintly at Ae-ran’s words, Hae-in whispered:
“Ma’am, have you worked here long?”
“Me? Oh, over ten years already, I think.”
“Ah.”
She resolved to ask more questions when they crossed paths again. Feeling a sense of goodwill from Ae-ran, Hae-in had many things she wanted to inquire about. Above all, she needed to learn as much as possible about the Taesung family, no matter how small the detail.
“Then… you’ve known my husband—Sunbae—for a very long time.”
“Of course. Oh, wait a moment. Let me introduce you to everyone. You might see them often.”
After taking out freshly steamed Japanese-style tamagoyaki, Ae-ran turned and clapped her hands.
“Everyone, come here for a moment. Meet the young madam.”
The busy kitchen staff stopped their work one by one and gathered around Hae-in.
“My, aren’t you lovely. Young Madam, we’re counting on you.”
At first, the women were cautious, but after Ae-ran encouraged them, they exchanged a few polite words and greetings.
Suddenly, Hae-in thought that perhaps they were sizing her up.
“I’m still young and have much to learn. Please take care of me.”
Clearly, being summoned early in the morning to prepare meals wasn’t a one-time occurrence. Hae-in bowed deeply to those who could offer her direct assistance.
Seeing her attitude, the women relaxed visibly and began chatting animatedly.
“Our master, who’s always been like a block of wood, must have waited a long time to meet someone like Young Madam.”
“That’s right. Please take good care of our master, Young Madam.”
Though they worked under the intimidating Chairman Park, their atmosphere was surprisingly cheerful when among themselves. This indicated that their guard toward Hae-in wasn’t particularly high.
After returning to their respective tasks, the women continued exchanging lively conversations. Pretending not to listen closely, Hae-in carefully arranged the dishes while eavesdropping on their chatter.
“Our master will finally settle down.”
“He has to do well. After all, he’s the only one who looks out for us.”
To Hae-in’s surprise, these people held considerable affection for Soo-hyun.
From their talk, she learned that Soo-hyun was the only one in the family who regularly attended to the kitchen staff’s personal events, unlike other members of the Taesung household, who often treated subordinates poorly.
This explained why they seemed less guarded toward her. Pretending not to hear, Hae-in focused intently on setting the table.
“It would be nice to see our master smile for once. Instead of his usual scowl, which makes us feel uneasy every time we see him.”
“He used to be so kind when he was younger. It’s shocking how someone’s personality can change so drastically overnight.”
“...He must have gone through something extraordinary.”
“True... If only Chairman Park hadn’t done that to him back then...”
“Afterward, even seeing that thing made him recoil. Remember when Mr. Choi accidentally mentioned it, and a plate went flying?”
“Not just the plate—he was fired on the spot.”
While her eyes were fixed on arranging the dishes, her ears strained to catch every word of their conversation.
“What did Chairman Park do? And why does seeing that make him recoil?”
Their cryptic remarks left her puzzled. Straining to listen further, Ae-ran approached her.
“Chairman Park has diabetes, so avoid using salt or seasoning as much as possible.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Hae-in nodded gratefully, though she regretted not catching the entire conversation.
Just then, Director Seok reappeared in the kitchen.
“Are you ready? Let’s go.”
Hae-in followed him out of the kitchen, trailed by the staff pushing carts laden with food.
________________________________________
In the dining room, as the women prepared the table, Hae-in stood nearby, waiting for Chairman Park to arrive. On one side of the dining area, a cabinet displayed numerous framed family photos.
“Is that Sunbae Soo-hyun as a child?”
Peering closely at the frames, Hae-in’s gaze froze on one particular photo.
There stood a young Soo-hyun, beaming with an open smile.
Around ten years old, perhaps? His face radiated innocence and joy, leaving Hae-in transfixed as she stared at the image for a while.
“So he once had a face like that.”
The domineering, sometimes violent man she knew bore no resemblance to this cheerful boy. What had he endured after losing his family?
The more she learned about him, the deeper her sympathy grew.
It felt presumptuous, given her position, but she found herself wishing to see that bright smile again.
“What am I thinking? Am I a fool?”
For a man who treated her so harshly, such thoughts seemed absurd.
Hae-in exhaled a short, defeated sigh. Her priority now was to manage her own affairs properly.
“Have you arrived?”
A presence stirred at the doorway, and Chairman Park entered, taking her place at the table.
Though only Chairman Park resided at the main house, the dining table was excessively large.
The food was clustered on one side where Hae-in and Chairman Park would sit, making the rest of the table appear eerily empty.
After Chairman Park settled into the head seat, Hae-in took her place beside her.
“Let’s see… shall I taste the dish prepared by our granddaughter-in-law first?”
Her tone was sharp, and her voice piercing, causing Hae-in’s shoulders to tense involuntarily. Though the head chef had helped, she braced herself for potential criticism.
Chopsticks tore mercilessly into the grilled fish before Chairman Park placed a piece into her mouth. She also sampled the steamed eggs Hae-in claimed to have made.
Suddenly, Chairman Park slammed her chopsticks onto the table and turned to Hae-in.
“My dear, did you really make this?”
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