Chapter – 18
At Gaeun’s words, the haughty expressions of the second couple crumbled instantly.
“It’s in the past, so what? It’s not like I did anything wrong.”
“Oh my, Brother, if you say that, how tragic it would be for our ancestors who gave their lives for our lost country! Second brother, make sure to set some time aside for a reflection session with me on Wednesday.”
“A reflection session?”
“Every Wednesday, we go in front of the Japanese embassy, which your grandfather adored so much that he served them loyally.”
“Why would I go there?”
So shameless. He claimed to have done well in school but must’ve slept through history class.
Gaeun deliberately wore an innocent, naïve expression and said,
“Don’t you know? There’s a weekly Wednesday gathering there with the comfort women. Anyone with a proper conscience should go there and apologize for why your grandfather acted as a collaborator for the Japanese.”
“Hey, are you doing this on purpose?”
Mrs. Jung furrowed her brows in displeasure at Gaeun.
“Oh my, how did you know?”
“What?”
“That you’re doing it on purpose. I was so shocked listening to what the second brother and his wife said. It’s like hearing the words of the Japanese who assassinated Empress Myeongseong through the ears of Kim Gu himself.”
Watching Gaeun quietly make her points and embarrass the second couple, Seokjin’s lips formed a perfect “O.”
When he first met her, she hadn’t been intimidated even after receiving his business card and had spoken her mind.
Seokjin briefly wondered if it was fate that he and Oh Gaeun were tied together like this.
“The feeling of blood boiling from the tips of your toes—oh! Sorry, but the spirit of the independence activist runs hot like this.”
“I didn’t know the second sister-in-law was a descendant of a pro-Japanese collaborator. That’s quite shameful, you know?”
With Gaeun methodically stating the truth and Seokjin adding in the second couple’s ignorance, the rest of the family remained silent as if they had honey in their mouths.
Yunna, usually unshakable, hurriedly stood, flustered by the scolding.
“…Father, Mother, I just remembered I have an important seminar tomorrow. Can we leave first?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“We’ll see you at the next family gathering, brother-in-law.”
“Gaeun, come along next time too, sister-in-law.”
Seokjin’s face, full of a smile, hinted that she would be by his side for the future.
“…Let’s just eat.”
Chair armrest in hand, Chairman Joo watched the second son and his wife hurriedly leave, clearly considering them pathetic, before rising.
After the other family members moved ahead to the hall where the meal was prepared, Seokjin and Gaeun were left alone to speak in low voices.
“Excellent acting.”
“It’s not acting,” Gaeun replied. “Once we’re married, every Independence Movement Day, we’ll be singing ‘Manse’ right here in this living room.”
“Then we’ll do it together.”
“I’ll include you. But… Chairman Joo?”
Gaeun suddenly remembered that Seokjin hadn’t promised her the success fee for this task.
The fee for accomplishing a very simple task—to get his father to stop opposing—was still undetermined.
“How much should I ask for?” she asked, glancing at Seokjin.
“Money?”
“Yes. I hoped you would’ve mentioned it first… Normally, the one giving the money brings it up first.”
“I’ll give you one bill if your father immediately says to get out of this house.”
One bill.
Gaeun’s heart pounded.
Just for making his father say “get out,” one bill? The scale of the wealthy is truly on another level.
Even just getting the opposition removed would earn 100 million won… It’s a good deal for just taking the money and wiping her mouth.
“One bill?” Gaeun spread her fingers to show ‘100 million.’
At that moment, Seokjin looked confused. Wasn’t one bill supposed to be 100 million won?
Ten million? Where’s that?
“Then ten million?”
Seokjin shook his head.
“One million?”
“It’s an extremely easy task,” she said.
Although a million won is still a lot, expecting 1 billion, then 10 million, and finally hearing one million felt disappointing—like being tricked without anyone scamming her.
“But you understand, right? If you fail to get the opposition, you’ll have to pay back ten times.”
“Excuse me?”
Gaeun questioned Seokjin, stunned, but quickly did the math in her head.
There was no way this family would accept her as one of their own in this atmosphere.
Even if she begged flat on the floor for marriage approval, it would still be questionable if they agreed. Giving the second couple such embarrassment meant their opposition was certain.
“Of course, ten times. Not that it will happen, though.”
With confidence, Gaeun walked ahead toward the dining area, even surpassing Seokjin.
But this house was huge—so vast that it was hard to tell one place from another.
“I’m getting lost. Come with me.”
“As long as there’s a place to sleep… Why does the house have to be unnecessarily big?”
“Exactly.”
Following Seokjin’s guidance, Gaeun entered the multi-purpose room where the meal was set.
She was stunned to see the long table, reminiscent of medieval-era movies, set with only a single bowl of noodles.
Even if she was far beneath them in status, she hadn’t expected such poor treatment in terms of food.
Gaeun resolved to show them the bitter taste of underestimating her as she sat down in the chair Seokjin pulled out for her.
“We prepared only this in a rush. Eat plenty.”
With a hint of mockery, Mrs. Jung said, “You eat what’s given.”
Unfazed, Gaeun replied, “Eat what you give.”
Chairman Joo couldn’t hide his discomfort at Gaeun’s stubborn expression.
“It would be nice… but I don’t eat flour-based food well. Seokjin, will you have some of mine?”
“Sure.”
Seokjin naturally placed the two bowls together and watched Gaeun’s face fondly as she served the noodles.
“The adults here, but…”
“Don’t worry about it, Sehwa. Manners are learned. She didn’t have anyone to teach her.”
Sehwa, the eldest daughter-in-law, exchanged glances with Mrs. Jung. Lifting her chin arrogantly, she looked down at Gaeun and said,
“This is why household education is important.”
Ah, they keep poking at sensitive things—food and family.
At this point, it’s war.
Gaeun clenched her fists.
“Sister-in-law, your words are a bit too much.”
“Hey, the sister-in-law can say whatever she wants. What’s wrong with speaking to an elder this way?”
“Shut up!”
At Chairman Joo’s scolding, Mr. Joo Taejin quietly lowered his hand, having pointed at Seokjin.
“I’m sorry for causing the household any trouble,” Gaeun said.
“Stay quiet if you know what’s good for you.”
The voice was colder than ice.
Sometimes when Seokjin spoke coldly, she wondered who he resembled. Now it was clear—Chairman Joo.
If Seokjin was just like Chairman Joo, could he be unfaithful too?
Gaeun’s gaze sharpened. She interpreted it as Seokjin asking her to handle the situation.
“We were young and happy once, too. Isn’t that right?”
“No matter how happy, you have to know time and place. This is why birth matters,” Taejin said with a sneer.
Under the table, Seokjin’s clenched fist trembled. Seeing his hand, Gaeun felt frustrated.
Seeing how Mrs. Jung spoke and how Seokjin’s family treated him, Gaeun realized he had also been humiliated like her.
She wanted to help him.
After all, since they needed to overcome opposition to marry, she could be the one to speak boldly.
“Taejin, father’s here, watch your words.”
“I thought I was the only one, but it seems there’s another who doesn’t know how to speak properly. Nice to meet you, eldest brother-in-law.”
“There’s nothing to see. Yet you insult my precious son?”
“Mother, I’m also a precious daughter to my mother. Thinking only your own child is precious is extremely arrogant,” Gaeun said. “It’s worse than I thought. Seokjin, I won’t marry him.”
“It’s not that you refuse; we won’t give permission. Are you stupid?”
As Seokjin tried to intervene, Gaeun held his hand under the table.
Handling people with terrible character was her specialty.
She decided to generously accept the fee for easily taking on the task of confronting them.
“I may be dumb, but I didn’t buy my way into college. Eldest brother-in-law, I heard you got into an American university through huge donations by your father. Is that true?”
“….”
Donation-based admissions were a taboo in this family, but Gaeun casually asked, darkening the already tense atmosphere.
“Oh, I have another question for the eldest brother-in-law.”
“W-what is it?”
Startled by Gaeun’s boldness, Sehwa tried to act fine but stammered. Gaeun feigned curiosity before brushing it off, saying,
“Never mind. We can talk next time, just the two of us.”
“Y-yes, let’s do that.”
This is why one should live without committing sins.
She just casually dropped a comment, and the eldest daughter-in-law immediately started tiptoeing around her.
“Father, how long will you just sit there and watch?”
Seeing Taejin get riled, Chairman Joo placed one hand on his forehead and thumped his chest with the other, clearly uncomfortable.
Father, now just grab the back of your neck.
Gaeun silently cheered. Success was almost within reach.
“Honey, what’s wrong?”
“My digestion is off.”
“Then I’ll handle it. Why bring this chaos to the house?”
“Because the eldest son messes everything up. That’s why it’s frustrating!”
Chairman Joo’s face contorted in displeasure, beads of sweat forming.
Sensing something odd, Gaeun studied his face closely.
“You need to go to the hospital right away.”
Gaeun’s concerned insistence made Seokjin rise, unsure why she was being so urgent.
