NILWM - 59

“Then I’ll do that. But I don’t like being called ‘Ma’am.’ I’m also a working person with a specific title.”

Won Miran scrunched up her nose slightly, opened her bag, and took out a business card.

“Here’s my business card. Can you call me Director Won from now on? Ms. Jeong and Ms. Kim, my secretary, all call me that.”

On the elegant business card, it said ‘Won Miran, Director of Gaon Art Center.’ Gaon Art Center? I’ve heard that name before. I’ve never been there, but wasn’t it a pretty famous place in the Itaewon area?

“Yes, I understand. Director Won.”

“And later, when Juhyeok formally introduces you, you can call me ‘Baekmonim,’ like he does.”

Yeseo hesitated for a moment at the unexpected suggestion. But Won Miran added nonchalantly,

“Because when Juhyeok formally introduces you, it means... your relationship has already been completely recognized by the family.”

“...”

“Our Juhyeok needs to get married.”

Yeseo’s hand, which was bringing her iced coffee to her lips again, stopped in mid-air.

“Marriage proposals are pouring in from all the prominent families. Now that he’s finished his military service, gained experience with his startup, and has joined the company, there’s a huge fuss. They’re all so eager to have him.”

Something in Yeseo’s heart stung. Won Miran nonchalantly sipped her coffee and added as if to herself,

“But nothing else matters. What’s the point of coming from an amazing family or being a wonderful prospective bride? Juhyeok is the type of person who would only marry someone he genuinely likes, even if it meant a knife to his throat.”

“...”

“If it’s a child who was raised properly from an ordinary background, I’m all for it. For example, the British Crown Princess is also from a commoner background. Of course, her family is quite wealthy and is in the upper class financially, but she wasn’t on the level of being a member of the royal family, was she? Oh, I think I’ve gone off on a tangent. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that we will fully respect Juhyeok’s wishes.”

“Yes...”

“What are you doing for Christmas? Oh, right. Of course, you’ll be with Juhyeok... Then, would you like to have lunch with me on the last Saturday of the month? Since you treated me to coffee today, it’s my turn that day.”

“What? On the 30th...?”

“When I think about it, since we’ve run into each other by chance like this, I think it’s okay for us to meet separately. Juhyeok can formally introduce you later, and we can meet again then...”

Yeseo hesitated for a moment. It seemed clear that she was being kind, but it was also a lot to handle.

“I... Ma’am, no, Director. Thank you so much for the offer. If it’s okay, I’ll ask Sunbae about his thoughts first...”

“No, we’re the ones meeting, so why do his thoughts matter? Of course, if he wants to join us, I won’t stop him.”

“...”

“First, let’s exchange numbers. This is my number. Oh, don’t worry. I don’t really like non-face-to-face communication, and I’m slow at typing, so I won’t call or text you much.”

“Ah, yes...”

After Yeseo saved her number and gave her own, Won Miran smiled with satisfaction. And she added with a meaningful tone,

“But our Juhyeok needs to get married soon... Juhyeok is actually a very pitiful child. I hope things work out for you and him until the end.”

Yeseo didn’t know how to respond and just moved her lips. Just then, her phone rang, and it seemed to be a call from home. She talked briefly with the person who was presumably Ms. Jeong, the housekeeper, and then got up, offering to drive Yeseo home.

“Oh my, our old man just got home, and he’s scolding me, asking when I’m coming home... I can’t even go out for a day without something happening that he can nag me about. Which way is your house, Yeseo?”

“I’m fine. It’s close from here, so I can get there quickly.”

Yeseo politely declined and saw Won Miran off. It was past 9 p.m., and she couldn’t bring herself to say she was going to Han Juhyeok’s officetel. Even if she knew they were a couple, showing it openly was a completely different matter.

“Okay, then! But let’s definitely have lunch on the 30th. Got it?”

Yeseo headed for Juhyeok’s officetel only after Won Miran’s car had completely disappeared. Just before he joined SG, he had gotten rid of his old work officetel and moved to a residential one nearby.

Yeseo took out the business card again in front of the traffic light. That’s when Gaon Museum of Art suddenly came to mind. It was a fusion art museum established by Seogang, the cultural foundation of the current SG Chemical Group. And the company Juhyeok was now affiliated with was SG Bio, a subsidiary of SG Group.

• Marriage proposals are pouring in from all the prominent families. Now that he’s finished his military service, gained experience with his startup, and has joined the company, there’s a huge fuss.

Won Miran’s words immediately came back to her. ‘Now that he’s joined the company,’ she had said, clearly.

No way.

Yeseo was frozen in place even after the traffic light turned green. Her mind was blank. She also remembered the rumor from college that his family ran a pharmacy.

It was true that their family business involved medicine. The only difference was that it was a leading pharmaceutical company in the country, not a pharmacy.

________________________________________

Han Taejin, the chairman of SG Chemical Group, irritably opened a case, took out a cigar, and lit it. After puffing on it for a long time, he suddenly let out a thunderous roar.

“Why is it always a surprise with you! It’s not like we’re a family with no foundation!”

Juhyeok listened to his uncle’s continued scolding in silence. He showed no signs of remorse or regret. Standing upright like a lamppost in front of the desk, he even gave off the vibe that he had emptied his brain and only his body was there.

“Are you all alone in this world? If you were going to eat, sleep, and live all by yourself, why didn’t you just cut ties with us and go your own way!”

“I was going to, but it was my grandfather and you who always held me back.”

“...”

“After my grandfather’s funeral, you earnestly told me to merge my startup with the group and officially join the company. You said you wouldn’t interfere with anything else.”

“Who said anything? Who interfered? All I’m asking is for you to give me a heads-up, within reason, but is that so difficult for you?”

“...”

“How surprised do you think your aunt will be? You’re leaving in a week, just like when you went to the military. Honestly... you’re a complete bastard.”

“...”

Thankfully, Han Taejin’s furious outburst and yelling didn’t continue. Instead, he made him sit on the sofa and lectured him for a long time before finally letting his nephew go.

By the time he arrived at his officetel, it was already past 9 p.m. He had sent a text message to Min Yeseo when he left, but he only checked her reply after arriving at his building.

[I’m on my way.]

[Yes.]

Something felt strange. She never replied in monosyllables like this.

Min Yeseo was different from him, who always sent short and concise messages and replied with brief, one-word answers. Normally, she would have said things like, ‘Take your time, it’s cold,’ or ‘Should I make you some coffee,’ or ‘Do you need anything else,’ and added various other things.

Is she not feeling well?

Juhyeok got out of the elevator and tried to figure out if there were any pharmacies or hospitals open at this hour. His steps toward the front door were slow but steady.

He no longer behaved like a beast as he used to. He was consciously refraining from immediately taking off her clothes and aggressively forcing himself on her without any conversation as soon as he entered.

When Min Yeseo had brought up that issue, he had even spewed nonsense, saying he was thinking of breaking up with her if she crossed the line, which was a lie. But in the end, he had tried to take a “warm-up” period before having sex, as she wanted. He had gathered his patience and slowly built up the atmosphere through conversation, and now that process had become a familiar routine.

Still, I hope we can go to bed earlier than usual today. We’ve talked enough during dinner.

He swallowed a sigh and opened the door. But Min Yeseo wasn’t at the entrance. Just like her short text message earlier, a subtle sense of alienation washed over him again. She was supposed to be waiting for him like a dog wagging its tail, and then follow him around, but she wasn’t.

“Yeseo.”

A cold wind faintly permeated the indoor air. Just then, the balcony door opened, and Min Yeseo appeared. Her face was flushed from being exposed to the winter air.

“Oh, Sunbae. You’re here?”

“It’s cold. Why were you outside? You’ll catch a cold.”

“I was just getting some fresh air...”

Something was definitely off. Normally, she would have snuggled up to him or hugged him first, but today she was being hesitant and wouldn’t even meet his eyes.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“It’s not that something happened... but there is something I want to ask you.”

The two of them soon sat across from each other on the living room sofa with warm cups of tea. Her story about running into his aunt at the sukiyaki restaurant and being invited to lunch on the last Saturday of the year wasn’t particularly surprising. Sooner or later, Min Yeseo’s existence was bound to be revealed to his family.

The problem was the distance that Min Yeseo was silently showing him. The look in her eyes as she looked at him was somewhat unfamiliar. Juhyeok was very displeased with that fact.

“Sunbae. I’m going to ask you directly. Are you... the nephew of the SG Group chairman?”

“Yeah.”

He answered nonchalantly, as if tossing it out. Min Yeseo looked flustered by his response, which seemed to be questioning what was so important about that.