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Yeonsuk, unlike other chaebol wives, wasn’t one to enjoy shopping. Although she attended many social gatherings, she would wear and use the same clothes and accessories multiple times. Yet, thanks to her immensely powerful birth family and in-laws, no one dared to disrespect Yeonsuk. In fact, she was even loved by the public as a frugal and humble chaebol wife. To exaggerate a little, she prided herself on having contributed to the noble image of Hanshin Group. Yeonsuk, with her perpetually innocent and cheerful personality, wore quite a serious expression today.
“Hmm, I’m not really into bullying.”
For the first time in her 58 years, having never held a grudge or hated anyone, Yeonsuk was now attempting something malicious. It was the first request from her incredibly successful son, but she was also enraged when she heard that Chairwoman Jo had laid hands on the child who had nowhere to be hit.
“First, shall I use my connections?”
Yeonsuk made a few calls to her action squad, who would move precisely at her word. She considered forming a few new social clubs, with only one qualification: members must not be part of Chairwoman Jo’s existing social circles. Later that afternoon, Yeonsuk, accompanied by her secretary, stopped by Royal Department Store. Soon after, managers appeared in the VIP showroom. However, Yeonsuk frowned at the items they presented.
“My goodness, what kind of extravagant taste does that old lady have, acting so unlike her age?”
The bags and accessories the personal shopper had prepared to take to Chairwoman Jo’s home next week were excessively flashy. Her taste was far too different from Yeonsuk’s own preference for simple designs and clean colors. What’s the point of buying these; I’ll never use them. But now, Yeonsuk had a weighty duty: to sweep up every item that Chairwoman Jo was sure to pick.
“Charge all of these. For the time being, anything Chairwoman Jo of Gayang Hospital tries to pick, put it all under my name. You understand what I mean, right?”
Yeonsuk, who had given a kind smile to each manager and even tipped them, headed to the first floor. She planned to buy and send a baby gift upon hearing that a close acquaintance’s son and his wife had had a baby boy. But Yeonsuk’s eyes widened when she saw a female customer already in the baby products section. She almost didn’t recognize her with her hair down, but it was clearly that child.
“If I go say hello, that boy will eat me alive.”
After a moment of hesitation, just as Yeonsuk was about to turn away, she saw the baby shoes Sehee was holding. Of course, Sehee could also be there to buy a gift, just like her. Even knowing that, her imagination kept drifting in a pleasantly hopeful direction. Perhaps the reason that boy is so impatient, rushing to divorce and marry, might be... As her thoughts reached that point, Yeonsuk couldn’t pretend not to notice.
“You’re CEO Joo Sehee of Inno Fashion, aren’t you?”
Sehee turned around casually and looked surprised when she saw Yeonsuk. With a flustered look, she lowered the hand holding the baby shoes and put it behind her back. That made Yeonsuk even more suspicious. To doubt, she looked thinner than the last time they met. Not to doubt, Sehee’s gaze on the baby shoes was concerning. Yeonsuk pretended not to notice and approached with a smile.
“Don’t be surprised. I just said hello because I was glad to see you. You know who I am, right?”
“Yes. Hello, Madam.”
Unlike her surprised face, Sehee’s tone, with her eyes modestly cast down, was still pleasantly polite. Looking at her again, she was truly a child with a clear and beautiful demeanor.
“I came to buy a gift for a close acquaintance’s son and his wife. And you, CEO Joo?”
“Ah, me too.”
After Sehee’s answer, the conversation ceased, and an awkward silence fell. While Yeonsuk was contemplating whether she should disappear, Sehee checked her wristwatch and cautiously looked at Yeonsuk. Why was she so pretty, seeing those clear eyes that couldn’t hide their welcoming emotion despite her hesitation? Suddenly, Yeonsuk thought, I liked this child much more than I realized.
“I have about 30 minutes free. Would you like to have some tea, if you’re free?”
“Of course! Why wouldn’t I?”
Yeonsuk, unable to contain her joy, eagerly took Sehee’s hand.
________________________________________
Thankfully, the only room on the 8th floor of the cafe was empty. Yeonsuk received the business card Sehee offered with a smile.
“Only the name has changed, but nothing else seems different, does it?”
“I apologize for not contacting you sooner. You were very kind to me, and it bothered me greatly that I left like that. That’s why I really wanted to see you, Madam.”
“It seems you and I had a telepathic connection. I wanted to see you too, Sehee!”
Yeonsuk suddenly stood up, was already sitting next to Sehee, and extended her phone, smiling sweetly.
“We should contact and meet each other often from now on. But shouldn’t we exchange numbers first?”
“Ah, yes.”
Less than a minute after sitting down, Sehee willingly gave Yeonsuk her phone number. Unlike Sehee, who felt a bit bewildered, Yeonsuk was absolutely delighted. Looking at Yeonsuk, Sehee pondered. How should I begin to thank this person? The first thing she had to do, of course, was offer a sincere apology.
“I apologize. It wasn’t my intention, but I deceived your family, Madam.”
“Why are you apologizing, Sehee? As you said, it wasn’t your intention, and frankly, it was Chairwoman Jo who deceived us.”
“Even if it wasn’t my intention, I was still an accomplice.”
“Then, Sehee, you’re both a guilty accomplice and a grateful benefactor to us, aren’t you?”
When Sehee looked at her as if she couldn’t understand, Yeonsuk smiled sweetly.
“If it weren’t for Sehee, my son would still be advocating for bachelorhood, regardless of whether his family was suffering.”
In truth, Sehee had been hesitating until now. Do I even have the right to say such things to this person? But courage surged through her at Yeonsuk’s gaze, which was as kind as before.
“Madam, my real name is Joo Sehee. My father is Yoo Youngguk, the Vice Chairman of Inno Group, and...”
“Sehee, I already know everything, so you don’t have to tell me again and hurt your feelings.”
Sehee slowly closed and opened her eyes, then cautiously asked in a trembling voice,
“Can I openly love Kang-joon with the name Joo Sehee?”
“What’s wrong with you that you’re asking such a thing? Of course, you can.”
“Because I’m so lacking compared to Kang-joon. The name Joo Sehee... might bring trouble to Hanshin.”
Yeonsuk, who had been silent for a moment, as if mulling over Sehee’s words, took Sehee’s hand and patted it.
“Sehee, you must have a lot on your mind. It might not be a big deal for us, nothing to worry about, but it’s different for you, isn’t it? Since you love our son, you’d hate to cause him any trouble.”
Perhaps it was because of Yeonsuk, who understood her feelings. Sehee’s eyes welled up.
“As for Hanshin Group, no matter what happens, Kang-joon and Father will handle it well on their own. Men of the Seo family are naturally exceptionally gifted in that regard. So I’m not worried. So, shall we talk about my son?”
As if enchanted by Yeonsuk’s gentle voice, Sehee lifted her eyes. Just as Kang-joon looked at her, Yeonsuk also looked at Sehee warmly with kind eyes.
“Honestly, my son is seriously outstanding, isn’t he? But as much as he’s outstanding, he also has serious deficiencies. A deficiency in personal emotions, and extreme individualism. And it was you, Sehee, who filled the deficiencies of my son, whom even his family had given up on.”
“...”
“Then my son can fill your lack of origin, background, and financial power, can’t he? Understanding and complementing each other’s shortcomings is what love and marriage are about. Can’t you think of it that way?”
This must be why one should converse with experienced adults. Yeonsuk’s rationalizations, patiently explained, completely cleared Sehee’s choked-up heart, more so than Kang-joon, who simply understood and was considerate.
“To conclude, Father and I are just waiting for the day you become Hanshin’s daughter-in-law again.”
“...Chairman too?”
“Don’t you believe me? Then shall I call Father right now? He should be available for a call even if he’s busy.”
“Chairman, later!”
Sehee, startled, quickly grabbed Yeonsuk’s hand, who was reaching for her phone. She knew she had to meet Chairman Seo too, but dealing with both at once felt like it would overload her heart. Yeonsuk, finding Sehee cute, smiled sweetly and spoke again.
“If you need someone to talk to, contact me anytime. Talking to that Kang-joon boy would clearly be one-sided persuasion, not a conversation. You know that women usually gossip among themselves, right?”
Once again, Sehee felt grateful to Yeonsuk. Should she say it felt like gaining mighty allies, not just a mother-in-law? Since this person loved and embraced even her, she would surely love Pré in her belly even more. Thinking of Pré, Sehee instinctively covered her belly with her hands.
“Sehee, you can think everything through calmly and argue everything, just please accept my son. Don’t just pass this year for the sake of two old people, okay?”
Sehee, with her eyes cast down in gratitude and apology, was completely unaware. She didn’t notice that Yeonsuk’s sparkling eyes, speaking in a soothing and coaxing tone, were looking at Sehee’s hand wrapped around her belly.
________________________________________
The moment his phone rang, Kang-joon was quite disappointed. He had hoped it would be a payment notification.
[I met your mother by chance at the department store today. I haven’t told her about Pré yet, but we decided to contact and meet often. I’ll tell you the details when we meet.]
Still, since it was a message from Joo Sehee, Kang-joon quickly calmed down. And a short while later, the long-awaited payment notification finally arrived. Only then did a faint smile spread across Kang-joon’s lips.
“You’re quite something, Joo Sehee.”
Just then, as he gazed at the message, unable to tear his eyes away, the office door opened without a knock, and Yeonsuk entered. Yeonsuk, who had already settled herself on the sofa without a word, spoke calmly.
“I met Sehee by chance at the department store today.”
Kang-joon narrowed his eyes and looked at Yeonsuk. His mother always seemed in a good mood, but today, humming a tune as she sat on the sofa, she seemed especially cheerful. Regardless of Kang-joon’s reaction, Yeonsuk continued, her face beaming with excitement.
“I was just going to say a quick hello and leave, but Sehee asked me to have tea first, you know? She said the prettiest things. She said she missed me so much! To think I’d hear such words from my daughter-in-law, words I’ve never even heard from my own son.”
“So, you came here wanting to hear me say I miss you?”
“What nonsense, you big grown man! I came to give my son some advice, you know?”
Kang-joon decided to listen, seeing Yeonsuk’s utterly delighted and triumphant expression.
“Sehee will need a lot of time, it seems. I could feel her building a strong wall, afraid of being hurt, afraid of harming others. She’s already thin, and she’s lost even more weight. She started by apologizing, and I almost died of sadness!”
Kang-joon realized once again just how much Yeonsuk adored Sehee. For Yeonsuk, who usually put other people’s feelings aside, to observe her so meticulously...
“It means she’s not pushing you away because she dislikes you, so don’t give up. She’s a very cautious child because she’s been hurt a lot since she was young. It seems she’ll think everything through, even the smallest details, organize it, and then come to you.”
“Who’s giving up? I’m patiently waiting.”
Kang-joon also knew. Joo Sehee had already opened her heart, and it was only a matter of time. He knew she was resolving issues herself to come to him. That alone was enough reason to wait for Sehee, and he was quietly watching. Of course, he was fully prepared in case things went wrong. But this time, Yeonsuk was looking at Kang-joon with disapproval.
“While we met, I accurately conveyed Father’s and my intentions, and only then did Sehee look relaxed, it seems? You, without a doubt, probably ended the conversation by saying something like, ‘I got permission from Sehee, so don’t worry,’ didn’t you?”
Kang-joon flinched, hit in his weak spot for the first time.
“I knew it! That’s why she thinks even more. In times like these, you’re just like your father. You don’t know how to understand a woman’s heart. I’ll meet Sehee and gently reassure her, so don’t worry. If I left it to you, it would take beyond this year.”
Kang-joon felt that Yeonsuk, who was always innocent despite her age, felt like mighty allies for the first time. So much so that he wished he had sought his mother’s help earlier.
“And Chairwoman Jo, I’ve taken care of her appropriately. It will be very amusing to watch a woman who clings to high society slowly be shunned. Oh, slowly, so Sehee can see too...?”
“Thank you, Mother.”
Instead of hearing “I miss you,” Yeonsuk’s eyes widened in surprise at hearing “Thank you” from her son for the first time. But that was only for a moment; she smiled meaningfully and asked Kang-joon,
“By the way, son, don’t you have anything to tell your mother?”
“No.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
After answering calmly, Kang-joon opened a bottle of water on the table and brought it to his lips, watching Yeonsuk narrow her eyes.
“You’re not a complete idiot, are you...? You’re not saying you don’t even know Sehee is pregnant, are you?”
Pffft—. At Yeonsuk’s question, Kang-joon spat out the water he had just taken into his mouth.
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