PIA 42

Jeong Hee-seo’s long legs quickly crossed the grassy yard. The shadow of the eaves of the Hanok was cast thickly over the stepping stones. As he walked along the stone path, the sound of wind chimes hanging on the eaves followed him.

“Hee-seo. Let’s go together.”

Someone who had spotted Jeong Hee-seo from afar called out cheerfully and ran over.

“What about Ye-seo?”

“You didn’t even say hello to me.”

When Jeong Hee-young teased him, Jeong Hee-seo finally nodded without much enthusiasm. Jeong Hee-young, who also bowed down and greeted him, laughed as though it was absurd.

The two of them exchanged light greetings with the passing servants and headed towards the innermost part of the spacious house. Jeong Hee-seo walked slower than usual, matching his pace to his sister wearing high heels.

“Grandma, we are here.”

As Jeong Hee-young raised her voice, Jeong Hee-seo also greeted her. Myeong Hyun-sook was sitting in a pavilion above the pond in comfortable clothes, reading a book. As she set down her small reading glasses and smiled warmly, she gave off a friendly vibe like any other neighborhood grandmother.

Myeong Hyun-sook’s eyes slowly scanned Jeong Hee-seo.

“Did you come alone?”

Jeong Hee-seo just blinked as if he had no idea what she was talking about.

“How can you be so sly and shameless like your father?”

Having even his sister Jeong Hee-young investigate, it was evident that Myeong Hyun-sook’s interest was unusual. Ji-an would be freaked out if he found out. Jeong Hee-seo nodded with a calm expression.

“My father said that I resembled grandmother more.”

Myeong Hyun-sook laughed in disbelief. Jeong Hee-seo was the best at changing the subject to make her feel good and slip away. She closed the book she was reading, placed her hands on her knees, and stood up. Jeong Hee-young approached and supported her comfortably.

“Let’s go inside. My Yakgwa¹.”

Jeong Hee-seo suddenly took out his wrist and looked at his watch. He came here expecting to have a short conversation, but he thought it would get longer when she brought up the topic of refreshments. As he hesitated, Myeong Hyun-sook turned to look at him.

“Why aren’t you coming in?”

“I have an appointment.  I’ll make it brief and take my leave.”

“And you still come up with excuses. When have you ever turned down Grandma’s Yakgwa? Stop trying to deceive me.”

“When did I ever?”

Jeong Hee-seo frowned slightly. It was because there was a strong misunderstanding. The appointment was a company meeting, and he didn’t like Yakgwa.

Since being caught with Ji-an, every conversation seemed to end like this. No matter what the situation, his grandmother always brought up Ji-an. If this continued, there was no doubt that it would eventually lead to asking for introductions.

As Jeong Hee-seo was about to speak to clear up the misunderstanding, he heard a voice calling grandmother from behind. Myeong Hyun-sook’s eyes also turned in that direction.

Jeong Hee-seo’s eyes narrowed as he turned around. It was because Jeong Han-joo was coming in at a time when she should be busy with team projects.

“Han-joo, did you come too?”

At the sound of Myeong Hyun-sook’s welcoming voice, Jeong Han-joo came running with a brighter expression. He didn’t even pay attention to Jeong Hee-seo. There must have been a lot of work to do, but it was surprising that he calmly ignored his superior’s gaze and came in.

Myeong Hyun-sook hugged him and pulled away the youngest grandson who was making fun of me and asked in a vaguely stern voice.

“Isn’t it working hours?”

“I’ve already done everything. Hyung is the one called me.”

“Is that so, Hee-seo?”

Jeong Hee-seo laughed heartily. Han-joo’s rebelliousness was beyond cute these days.

“Grandmother, you’re excluding me and only giving my brother the delicious stuff.”

“Surely not.”

I have to give it all to my babies. Myeong Hyun-sook patted Jeong Han-joo’s back, leaned against him, and headed inside. Jeong Hee-seo didn’t want to break the mood, so he kept his mouth shut and followed quietly.

As the four of them settled down in the serene atmosphere of the room, the employees served them refreshments as if they had been waiting for them. Myeong Hyeon-sook’s hand-made Yakgwa was equally distributed to her grandchildren’s tea tables. Jeong Hee-young was given an additional portion of beautifully packaged rites.

After setting the table and the employees all closing the sliding doors and leaving, Myeong Hyun-sook rolled up her sleeves and began making tea.

“Hee-seo, now that both you and Han-joo are here, I have something to tell you.”

Jeong Han-joo was visibly nervous, as if he knew what was going to be said.

“I’m not feeling well. My kidneys are in trouble again.”

“Let’s meet Professor Lee right away. I’m sure he’ll have time for you this evening. I’ll make an appointment for you right now.”

As soon as the topic of her kidneys came up, Jeong Hee-seo’s expression stiffened and spoke. It has been quite a while since Myeong Hyun-sook received a kidney transplant, and there have been several complications since then. Hee-seo was always sensitive about this topic. He was about to take out his phone when Myeong Hyeon-sook raised her hand to stop him.

“I already talked to Professor Lee. He told me to rest. So…”

She looked at her two grandchildren in turns.

“Except for the parts your father and Hee-young are in charge of, I’m considering handing over the distribution in the rest of the business to one of you.”

Jeong Hee-seo frowned. He understood what it meant for his grandmother, who was eager for work, to let go of work. Knowing that her health wasn’t as good as he thought made him feel more tense than expected.

“But there’s a condition. Get married and settle down like Hee-young.  It would be even better if you have children sooner.”

“Why is the conversation going in that direction, grandmother?”

Jeong Hee-seo retorted irritably and unconsciously remembered Ji-an. It was Ji-an’s speaking habit.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand his grandmother’s thoughts. And it wasn’t that her mindset from the old days lacked persuasiveness entirely. Her belief that people become stronger when they form a family and put down roots was actually one of JM’s management philosophies. Those who met Myeong Hyeon-sook’s standards received more opportunities.

Jeong Hee-seo spoke again after quickly gulping down his tea. 

“If that’s the case, it would be quicker for grandmother to get better. No, it would be nice if Han-joo got married too.”

Slightly taken aback by the sudden mention, Jeong Han-joo grumbled at his brother’s gaze but silently concurred.

“You know I’m seeing someone, grandmother.”

Myeong Hyun-sook looked at her two grandchildren one by one with a subtle expression. She smiled with a wrinkled face and nodded. Anyone could say that she looked happy, but even though she seemed cheerful, much of her former feisty energy had dissipated.

Jeong Hee-seo spoke while looking at his grandmother’s expression.

“Speaking of which I also… I bought a house. I’m planning to move out.”

“”Oh, that’s really great news, Hee-seo.”

Jeong Hee-seo slightly stiffened at Myeong Hyun-sook’s playful expression. He thought she would show at least a little bit of disappointment, if not outright opposition… But Myeong Hyeon-sook continued with a smile.

“You have to treat them well when you’re in a relationship. If you think they’re the one, keep them by your side, cherish them, and spend a lot of time together. That’s how love grows.”

Once again, the mention of Ji-an made Jeong Hee-seo feel genuinely perplexed. He couldn’t quite understand where his grandmother’s affection for Ji-an came from. Even though she had seen his face, he hadn’t been a person she’d had a proper conversation with, yet he seemed like someone she knew secretly met with.

Seeing Jeong Hee-seo’s tense expression, Myeong Hyeon-sook smiled with even more satisfaction. Jeong Hee-seo never knew that he was conveying so much through his expression.

After the tea break, which felt extremely long even though only a few words were exchanged, Jeong Hee-seo headed straight to the front door. There was no reason for him to linger at the family’s home.When he took out his cell phone, which had been buzzing earlier, he noticed Ji-an’s message.

[I’m reporting on what I ate this morning.]

After they parted ways at the oriental medicine clinic, Jeong Hee-seo pressured him to report what he ate at each meal, and Ji-an had added a photo to the message. However, it was always like this, with no thought put into it. This time, it was just a piece of bread with a little chocolate spread on it.

Jeong Hee-seo stopped, letting out a long sigh. He was about to press the call button when he heard his brother calling from behind.

“What?”

Looking back with an unpleasant expression, Jeong Han-joo’s expression was also not very good. This means that he mumbles for a long time with a hard look on his face.

“Not everything will go your way. No matter how much grandma does… Just know that I won’t just stand by and let everything be taken away.”

“…”

Jeong Hee-seo raised his eyebrows. He couldn’t figure out why Han-joo was doing this again.

“Whatever hyung is thinking…”

“Then do it.”

“What?”

“You take it. Get married or whatever, just take everything.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t have love for the business, but taking over the business under my grandmother’s conditions didn’t suit my temperament. So I sincerely told him to take it all, but Jeong Han-joo’s face turned bright red and he chewed his lip.

“Your lip is bleeding, Han-joo.”

“Don’t be so arrogant. You might regret it later.”

“Do what you want, but do it well. Please just learn quickly. Don’t waste your time talking nonsense. You’ll get your share without being so impatient.”

Jeong Hee-seo clicked his tongue as he watched his stubborn younger brother turn away. He just had a lot of ambition without knowing how to do anything. He was really like a naive younger sibling who only looked at things superficially, like their grandmother’s words.

Was it really that easy to gain abilities just by getting married? As one grows older, they should also develop a sense of responsibility and work harder accordingly, that must have been the underlying message.

Jeong Hee-seo pressed the call button on his cell phone and turned around without hesitation. As he briskly descended the spiral staircase, he heard the dial tone, followed by Ji-an’s cheerful voice.

– Hello, Hyung-nim. What is going on?

Jeong Hee-seo responded sharply.

“Are you coming out on your own, or should I come to get you?”