CEB - 33

Chapter 33: The Family Meeting

Dan-jung headed to her officetel early in the day, both to change clothes and gather her belongings before the family meeting. Min-hyuk had repeatedly urged her to stay with him, so she had quite a few things to pack—clothes, cosmetics, and other essentials.

Fortunately, Secretary Im’s assistance made her commute and the moving process much smoother.

“Secretary Im, it might take me a while since I need to get ready and pack.”

“No problem, Madam. I’ll wait for you outside when you’re ready. Just call me before you come out, and I’ll help carry your things.”

“Thank you so much for everything.”

After sending Secretary Im off, Dan-jung opened the door to her officetel, already dreading how Jin Hee would nag her about the situation.

“Jin Hee! I’m back!”

“Looks like sparks are flying as you prepare for marriage!”

It was the reaction she expected. But what she didn’t anticipate was seeing Jin Hee holding Ha Yeon.

“What? You brought Ha Yeon? What’s going on?”

“He was starving to death, so I brought him over this morning.”

“I see. Ha Yeon-ah, Auntie missed you so much! Come here and give me a hug.”

“Wash your hands first.”

“Oh right! Just a moment.”

As Dan-jung reached out to embrace Ha Yeon, Jin Hee firmly stopped her. Dan-jung quickly washed her hands, following Ha Yeon’s mother’s strict hygiene rules, and then finally hugged him.

This is what being a parent must feel like… From the beginning, separating a mother and child was an impossible task.

“So, what’s going on with you two? Did you sleep together?”

Perhaps due to Ha Yeon’s presence, Jin Hee’s mood seemed brighter as she asked with a mischievous grin.

“No, nothing like that.”

“Why not? You’re getting married soon anyway. Don’t tell me you’ve never slept with a man before marriage?”

“Why should I?”

“You need to know if you’re compatible, don’t you? These days, there are plenty of men who can’t perform well.”

“Hey! Stop saying such lewd things!”

“Just listen and take it seriously. This advice comes from experience.”

“Huh?”

“Your brother and I... honestly, we weren’t very compatible. He liked certain things, but I didn’t. Pregnancy and childbirth made it worse. Maybe that’s why he ended up cheating on me.”

“What?! Is intimacy really that important between a married couple? What about your own child?”

Dan-jung flared up on Jin Hee’s behalf. No matter how important compatibility was, infidelity was unforgivable.

“So what’s more important? Now that I think about it, I regret not being more accommodating.”

“And divorce? Are you not getting one?”

“Regret is one thing... but I can’t forgive infidelity. Once a cheater, always a cheater.”

Jin Hee didn’t want to live miserably by taking back a husband who’d betrayed her. Even if she forgave him, could the emotional wounds ever heal?

But honestly, if her husband begged sincerely, she might have considered staying for Ha Yeon’s sake.

“What are you going to do now?”

Dan-jung couldn’t help but think about the reality of the situation. It wouldn’t be easy for Jin Hee, unemployed and raising a child alone.

“For now, since he promised to pay child support until Ha Yeon turns two, I’ll raise him myself. After that, I plan to send him to daycare and find a job.”

“What about your in-laws? Are they helping at all?”

“They’ve always been poor, so they haven’t offered any help. They just told me to figure it out myself.”

“But didn’t they used to praise you for being sharp and capable?”

“Money talks. That woman has some assets, apparently.”

“What does she do?”

“She works for one of our client companies... I heard she got a hefty settlement after her divorce.”

“What? She’s divorced? And she’s messing around with a married man? Ridiculous!”

Dan-jung handed Ha Yeon back to Jin Hee, fuming with indignation.

“Forget it. What good will chasing them do? Her family is thrilled that she’s opening a store for her. They even bragged about it to me. That says it all.”

“Ugh! To think they’d replace you with trash like that. Seriously, garbage belongs in the trash bin. Keeping it around only stinks up the place!”

Dan-jung raised her voice, exasperated. However, Jin Hee tried to remain calm despite her bitterness, knowing that enduring was the only way forward.

________________________________________

At the Hotel

Yeon-joo arrived at the hotel an hour early to meet Min-hyuk before the family meeting. Something Min Hee had said earlier troubled her, and she wanted to clarify a few matters.

“Why are you here so early?”

Min-hyuk glanced at his watch as he greeted Yeon-joo.

“I wanted to ask you something and confirm a few details.”

As Yeon-joo sat on the sofa in Min-hyuk’s office, Secretary Oh brought in some tea.

“Thank you.”

Yeon-joo sipped her tea slowly, deliberately waiting until Secretary Oh left the room before addressing the matter at hand.

“I heard a rumor that our daughter-in-law dated Si-woo. Is it true?”

Min-hyuk was somewhat surprised that the rumors had reached his mother.

“If you knew through Secretary Oh, you wouldn’t have waited this long.”

“Where did you hear these rumors?”

Min-hyuk remained calm, determined not to miss any clues.

“From Min Hee. She said the entire hotel is buzzing with gossip.”

“That’s completely false. It’s just malicious slander aimed at Shortest Jung.”

Min-hyuk found it odd that Min Hee, who usually showed no interest in hotel affairs, knew about this.

“Then what are these?”

Yeon-joo handed him a document envelope. Inside were photos of Dan-jung standing next to Si-woo, eating soup with him, and sitting together at a café.

Min-hyuk remembered that day vividly—it was when he feared losing Dan-jung. But the photos were undeniably staged to provoke misunderstanding.

“Dan-jung and Si-woo are merely close colleagues. Nothing more, nothing less. I guarantee it.”

Min-hyuk spoke with firm conviction. These photos wouldn’t sway his decision to marry Dan-jung.

“Alright, if you say so, then I believe you.”

Yeon-joo decided not to press further, especially since she liked Dan-jung personally. Even if Dan-jung had dated Si-woo in the past, everyone had a history.

The real issue, however, was how widely the rumors had spread, reaching even Min Hee, who rarely paid attention to hotel affairs. Such gossip benefited no one—not Min-hyuk, not Dan-jung, and certainly not the hotel.

Still, since she suspected who sent the photos, the wedding would proceed as planned.

“This incident can’t be swept under the rug quietly. If necessary, consider pressing criminal charges.”

Though Yeon-joo spoke calmly, she was furious at those trying to tarnish her future daughter-in-law’s reputation.

________________________________________

At Le Soleil Hotel

“Is this where our son-in-law works?”

Chang-soo’s eyes widened upon arriving at Le Soleil Hotel. Having never cared about where Dan-jung worked, he hadn’t expected it to be such a grand establishment.

“Close your mouth; you’re drooling.”

Hye-sook adjusted her outfit, feeling triumphant. With a son-in-law like this, her life was set. She imagined Dan-jung taking care of her younger siblings and parents without complaint.

Maybe I should ask for their house or car? Hye-sook mentally prepared her demands.

“How many floors does this place have? How much does it cost to stay here for a night?”

“Let’s go inside.”

Hye-sook dragged Chang-soo, who was busy counting floors, into the hotel.

“Welcome. Do you have a reservation?”

“Our daughter is Choi Dan-jung, and we’re here for the family meeting today.”

“This way, please.”

As Dan-jung’s parents entered the hotel restaurant looking around curiously, a staff member guided them to the VIP room. There, Yeon-joo, Min Hee, Min-hyuk, and Dan-jung awaited them.

“Hello. I’m Oh Yeon-joo. Thank you for coming. This is my daughter.”

Yeon-joo introduced Min Hee, who looked sulky.

“Hello. I’m Dan-jung’s mother. Our son is currently serving in the military, so he couldn’t attend today. He’s tall and handsome—you’d like him. But don’t worry, he’ll definitely attend the wedding on leave.”

Overwhelmed by Yeon-joo’s elegance, Hye-sook began boasting unnecessarily about her children.

Meanwhile, Chang-soo forgot to greet his future in-laws and instead stared at Yeon-joo.

“Could it be... Oh Yeon-joo?”

Chest pounding, Chang-soo recognized the actress he’d adored in his youth.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to introduce yourself?”

Hye-sook nudged him, snapping him out of his daze.

“Nice to meet you. Are you the actress Oh Yeon-joo?”

“Forgetful me, yes, I am. It’s an honor that you remember me.”

As Yeon-joo smiled shyly, Chang-soo’s face lit up.

“I’m your biggest fan! I’ve watched With You over a hundred times. The scene where you cried while holding the male lead’s body is unforgettable.”

“Haha, thank you.”

“It’s truly an honor to meet you.”

When Chang-soo extended his hand for a shake, Hye-sook shot him an incredulous look. Meanwhile, Dan-jung buried her face in embarrassment.

Despite the awkward start, the meeting proceeded smoothly.

“We apologize for rushing the wedding. We’ll do our best to ensure everything goes smoothly.”

“Not at all. We understand the urgency due to the late elder’s wishes. Completely understandable.”

Chang-soo reassured Yeon-joo, doing his best to flatter her.

“Our apartment is old and cramped, so we felt embarrassed in front of our son-in-law. Isn’t that right, dear?”

“Hmm! People live similarly everywhere. No need to feel embarrassed, right, future in-laws?”

“Yes, exactly.”

Hye-sook hinted at wanting an apartment, but Chang-soo, fearing embarrassment in front of Yeon-joo, shut her down. Dan-jung blushed, mortified by her parents’ behavior.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

Min-hyuk noticed Dan-jung’s discomfort throughout the meeting.

“No, I’m fine. Please don’t worry about me.”

Though she said so, her heart felt heavy. Her mother’s intentions were clear, and watching her father act starstruck around his childhood crush was embarrassing. All Dan-jung wanted was for the meeting to end quickly.

Fortunately, the families agreed without major disagreements that Min-hyuk’s side would handle all wedding arrangements. The meeting concluded smoothly.

On the way home, however, Hye-sook complained incessantly.

“Why did you stop me when I tried hinting for an apartment? People’s lives aren’t all the same!”

“Why burden newlyweds like that? What if the marriage falls apart because of it? Will you take responsibility?”

Chang-soo, still in awe of meeting Yeon-joo, worried about jeopardizing the marriage.

“Relax, the wedding is just a week away. It won’t fall apart.”

“Hmph! Marriage isn’t official until the papers are signed and the ceremony is over!”

“You’re right, but still...”

“Enough talking. Stay quiet, and maybe we’ll get a little benefit from this. Don’t you know anything?”

“Fine.”

Hye-sook fell silent, realizing her husband was right. A failed marriage would indeed be disastrous.