PIA 30

Ji-an frantically tried to recall what the episode of meeting Madam Myeong Hyun-sook was about. Jeong Hee-seo supported Ji-an, who was staggering, and whispered.

“Are you okay?”

Thanks to this, everyone’s attention was immediately focused on him, and Ji-an felt like he was going to throw up.

It was like that in the original drama. Seo Ji-an became anxious as his marriage to Jeong Hee-seo was pushed back day by day, due to the genetic test and all. It was even more so because there was no problem with Jeong Han-joo’s relationship with Seo Ji-hyuk. Eventually, when witnessing the exchanging of engagement rings between the two, the overwhelmed Seo Ji-an decided to take drastic measures.

That was the first meeting between Myeong Hyun-sook and Seo Ji-an.

On the day that Jeong Hee-seo held a seminar to announce JM’s new business, Seo Ji-an stormed into the seat where Madam Myeong Hyun-sook was sitting. In front of all the prominent JM members, he introduced himself as Jeong Hee-seo’s lover with a child.

When Madam Myeong Hyun-sook questioned Jeong Hee-seo about the truth, he reluctantly admitted it, which led to the two families’ meeting and wedding. Even when the drama aired, the plot moved so quickly that it seemed like a very short episode.

So, was this scene now replacing the episode where Ji-an announced pregnancy?

Jeong Hee-seo pressed Ji-an’s trembling head. The hat brim lowered, and everyone who was in sight seemed to disappear at once.

Ji-an blinked slowly as he gazed at Madam Myeong Hyun-sook’s green shoes. Only then did he feel oxygen enter his lungs and expand. Until then, he had no idea he had forgotten to breathe.

Jeong Hee-seo’s calm voice rang above his head.

“This is… He is the person I am meeting these days.”

Ji-an’s eyes widened. The timing looked right for the pregnancy to be revealed, but as he listened to the change in the narrative from Jeong Hee-seo’s mouth, his heart began to beat wildly.

Jeong Hee-seo held Ji-an’s shoulder and continued to speak.

“We don’t know much about each other yet, so I didn’t intend to reveal him to grandmother like this. We were just excited to meet Han-joo here, but it seemed a bit noisy from an outsider’s perspective.”

“That’s right. Hyung and I ran into each other here, grandma. I was about to ask him to introduce me to the person. It was definitely not a fight.”

As if he wasn’t completely oblivious, Jeong Han-joo also cooperated and agreed.

“…”

Myeong Hyun-sook looked straight at Jeong Hee-seo’s face without responding. She then moved her gaze to Jeong Han-joo, whose face was flushed, and then looked at Ji-an again.

She slowly looked around at the person crouching with his head down, letting her to see only the top of his hat. Judging by his physique and pheromones, she was certain that he must be an Omega…

“What’s your name child?”

Ji-an raised his head at the mention of him, then hastily took off his hat and mask and bowed.

“Hello. My name is Seo Ji-an.”

“I see. I’m Hee-seo’s grandmother. Nice to meet you.”

Jeong Hee-seo took half a step forward, slightly blocking Ji-an.

“If it’s okay with grandmother, I’d like to send this friend away for now. Today, I wanted to have a separate conversation within the family.”

“…”

Myeong Hyun-sook narrowed her eyes and carefully scanned Jeong Hee-seo’s expressionless face. There wasn’t any sign of disapproval, but it wasn’t a smile either. Ji-an watched Madam Myeong Hyun-sook’s mood from behind Jeong Hee-seo and lowered his gaze in case they made eye contact.

“Hee-seo, something seems to be going on. Is this child the reason you keep staying out these days?”

Myeong Hyun-sook broke the short silence and spoke with a sigh.

“I’m sorry.”

“Never mind. It’s better than having a grown-up who diligently crawls into the house every day. I want to listen to that child’s story later.”

Jeong Hee-seo bowed her head while receiving Myeong Hyun-sook’s subtle gaze. He respected his grandson’s will not to talk about Ji-an at all. It was rare. Ji-an, who had been looking at the two people blankly, also lowered his head.

“So, I will escort you up to this point and then join the group.”

“I asked Hee-young and Han-joo to see me today because I had some business to do. You don’t need to come with them. Apparently, you had a prior arrangement.”

“Thank you. I’ll stop by your house soon and explain.”

“Come quickly. Maybe it’s because your grandmother is old, but she has no patience.  It would be nice if the child also came to play.”

After saying those words, Madam Myeong Hyun-sook turned inward. The footsteps of the secretaries following her created a loud noise.

Jeong Han-joo couldn’t take his dissatisfied gaze from Ji-an as he was reluctantly dragged along. Jeong Hee-seo saw that, but Ji-an did not. It was because I kept my head down.

Soon, Jeong Hee-seo patted Ji-an on the back.

“Why are you so scared?”

“What to do… Shouldn’t I go to another hotel?”

“You heard her say you won’t see her today. She is someone who keeps her promises.”

“What about Han-joo hyung?”

When dissatisfied, Jeong Hee-seo’s eyebrows reacted faster than a response.

“I’m his older brother.”

Jeong Hee-seo took a long breath. The lobby became quiet again as if nothing had happened. Ji-an looked in the direction where Madam Myeong Hyun-sook’s group disappeared, then felt eyes on him and turned to Jeong Hee-seo.

Ji-an’s body, which had been filled with fear and anxiety, felt like it was about to collapse as the tension eased. His heart was still pounding wildly with gratitude for Jeong Hee-seo. On top of that, Ji-an felt strange when he met those eyes that were looking at him intently.

“Why, why?”

“It’s strange.”

“What is?”

“Earlier…I did mention meeting someone recently. But saying it out loud made me feel a bit strange.”

Jeong Hee-seo looked once in the direction where Madam Myeong Hyun-sook disappeared and then looked at Ji-an again.

“What do you think, Seo Ji-an?”

Ji-an swallowed dry saliva. Jeong Hee-seo was still looking at him. His eyes  were scrutinizing Ji-an’s every expression as if searching for something.

“What I said… In your opinion, is this just a way to avoid the situation?”

“…”

Ji-an knew what Jeong Hee-seo was asking. He was so grateful to Jeong Hee-seo for covering up for him and even lying for him, but now the fear was overwhelming that he couldn’t afford to think deeply.

He didn’t know what would be the best answer. It was just too awkward and embarrassing.

Ji-an avoided his eyes and said something else.

“I want to get out of here quickly.”

“Are you going to avoid it like that?”

“What do we do when people come out again?”

Ji-an moved towards the elevator. In his heart, he wanted to suggest leaving this hotel and going somewhere else, but he wasn’t sure if Jeong Hee-seo would understand that.

Moreover, he wanted to be in a confined space right away. He just wanted to go into the comfortable space he had become accustomed to, the hotel room filled with Jeong Hee-seo’s pheromones.

Jeong Hee-seo slowly followed Ji-an slowly as he walked away.

∞

Madam Myeong Hyun-sook, who was walking down the carpeted hallway after getting off the elevator, suddenly burst into laughter. Jeong Han-joo, who was standing next to her and keeping pace, looked down at his grandmother’s face in surprise. Myeong Hyun-sook covered her mouth and laughed for a long time before calling Jeong Han-joo.

“Han-joo. Did you see Hee-seo’s expression?”

“I… didn’t.”

It wasn’t a very pleasant topic, so Jeong Han-joo frowned.

“This is really the first time I’ve seen your older brother make that kind of expression. It seems like something really interesting has happened.”

“…”

“I was wondering which of my two grandsons would show filial piety first, but I secretly hoped that Hee-seo would go faster because he was the older brother. It’s really something to see in life. The day will come when I hear those words coming out of that kid’s mouth.”

Unlike Jeong Han-joo’s rotten expression, who hates anything that compared him to his older brother, Madam Myeong Hyun-sook had a smile on her face for the first time in a long time. The fact that she kept thinking about the scene she saw a little while ago made her feel old and withdrawn.

The short-haired secretary walking half a step behind smiled slightly, lifting the good mood of her employer.

“You seem to be in a very good mood, Chairman.”

“Anyway, Secretary Yeon, I think I’ll be able to treat you to noodles soon.”

Surely the last thing Myeong Hyun-sook wanted was for her good mood to be ruined, but Jeong Han-joo, without catching the hint, stepped forward and chuckled.

“Grandmother, you seem to be thinking about marriage too hastily. They haven’t officially dating yet, and the other person is too young… “

“What does that matter? I also met your grandfather when I was seventeen.”

There was no room for questioning whether it was the same now as it was then. Because in JM’s land, Myeong Hyun-sook was the law. Jeong Han-joo just bit his lip and continued to follow his grandmother.

“Actually, you need to establish a family and put down roots to entrust significant responsibilities. Once Hee-seo has settled down, I can hand over the headquarters and this old lady can get some rest.”

“Already planning for my older brother?”

“Your father is not interested in business, so what can I do? I put you under Hee-seo so that you could learn something, but why are you still like this? Hee-seo told me everything. I heard you often make mistakes with the numbers.”

“He even bother to tell grandmother that I wrote down a few numbers incorrectly?”

“Bother? Why don’t you have the same guts as your brother?”

Jeong Han-joo had no chance to argue further. The corridor leading to the restaurant came to an end, and the door opened as a 4-year-old child ran out.

“Uncle! You’ve come?”

Jeong Hee-young, the woman who walked out with her child, bowed to Myeong Hyun-sook.