Chapter – 21
“So, the original wife is President Joo’s mother… that’s… weird? Ah!”
It was only then that Ga-eun slapped her knee in realization.
No wonder the appearances of the two older brothers and Seok-jin were so different. She had assumed it was the difference between children of the same father but different mothers, but that wasn’t the case.
“So, your father and Mrs. Jeong Ban-kkak… ah, sorry. She was so dazzling, covered in jewelry. This means he remarried, right?”
“……”
“But then why did President Joo only get the retail business, the eldest son the prime construction company, and the second son the insurance company? This isn’t some cuckoo’s nest, Dad. That’s just too much.”
Seok-jin’s frustration made sense now.
On top of that, knowing these were things Seok-jin was originally supposed to have, Ga-eun felt a twinge of regret.
His salary and alimony could have doubled…
“It’s not about family arrangements; it’s about shares. Fine, I’ll pour my soul into helping you.”
“Ms. Oh Ga-eun, if you keep doing exactly what you did today, it’s enough. Speak up without shrinking back.”
“That’s not difficult at all. But make sure the promised money is transferred immediately, okay?”
“Of course.”
Ga-eun was satisfied.
Now she could express all the anger she had suppressed as a mere subordinate, raw and unfiltered—and she was getting paid for it. There was no way she could feel anything but satisfied.
“Let’s go in and firmly tell your father we’re getting married, then maybe have some beef for a treat.”
“The beef was just a suggestion.”
“Just a suggestion? Just? I can’t believe this. You said you’d buy me beef! I didn’t even ask for it, and now you’re backing out?”
“Do you want me to punch you?”
Ga-eun clenched her fists, her face turning red with irritation. Seok-jin, calm as ever, spoke matter-of-factly.
“Just one punch?”
“Then hand over the card.”
Ga-eun held out her hand.
“Why should I give you the card?”
“I’ll just go in and eat by myself. And from now on, I’ll be the one using that card. For my shopping-addicted wife.”
“A shopping addict who just bought a hot dog and then put it on a ten-month installment… what kind of ten-month installment is that?”
“So you’ll remember me when we break up. Let’s go inside.”
Five thousand won, ten months installment.
Ga-eun suddenly had a thought.
She had become his wife purely for Seok-jin’s needs, and once he achieved whatever he had planned, their relationship would be over.
Of course, she could end the arrangement every three months, but…
If she disappeared, he would look at the card statement and remember her. He would never marry again, surely.
“If we break up, I’ll pay off the card in full.”
Seok-jin, who had quietly approached her, teased.
“You mean you’d erase me completely from your memory?”
“If you don’t want to be erased, how about a lifelong job?”
“No thanks. I admit you’re attractive, President Joo, but what am I supposed to do if I fall for you in such a short time?”
“Who? Me?”
Ga-eun’s confident words made Seok-jin laugh in disbelief.
She was essentially asking him to become her lifelong husband. Wasn’t that a way of saying she liked him?
“No, it’s because it’s fun. Being next to Ms. Oh Ga-eun is entertaining.”
Having said his piece, Seok-jin started walking ahead of Ga-eun.
I’m supposed to be a comedian? Because it’s fun?
Ga-eun placed her hands on her hips and called after him.
“Excuse me, President Joo.”
“Why are you frowning?”
“Every time you laugh at me, pay me 50,000 won.”
Seok-jin, confused, furrowed his brow.
“If I make you laugh, your body releases endorphins… which makes you healthier, right? This is natural vitamin, natural nutrition. 50,000 won is a bargain, especially for the first time.”
“Do you know what people call someone like you, Ms. Oh Ga-eun?”
“An angel of smiles.”
Seok-jin laughed again at her answer.
How could a man laugh so easily?
When they first met, Joo Seok-jin seemed like a cold-blooded person who wouldn’t even bleed if stabbed. A stiff, self-important man who thought he was the best in the world.
Yet now, he laughed so frequently, it was hard to believe he could hide it for so long.
“Call him a thief without a knife,” he said, regaining his composure.
Wait. If I make him laugh ten times a day…
“I’ll compromise to 30,000 won.”
“10,000 won.”
“What? A chaebol being stingy and asking for only 10,000 won?”
“I am stingy. Money is the best in the world. Love may change, but a saved bank balance doesn’t. I should’ve realized this at twenty…”
Seok-jin’s lips curved gently into a smile.
Ga-eun noticed.
“Okay, 10,000 won!”
“……”
“You just laughed, so give me the 10,000 won.”
Ga-eun held out both hands. Seok-jin almost laughed again but bit his molars to keep it in.
This is crazy. Whenever I see Oh Ga-eun, my facial muscles just melt, and I end up laughing uncontrollably. If I stay with her 24/7, I might lose all my money in no time.
“We’ll settle later when we part.”
Seok-jin turned his head slightly to avoid looking at Ga-eun again, afraid he’d laugh foolishly if their eyes met.
When they entered the hospital room, Seok-jin’s family was gathered around Chairman Joo.
Even the second daughter-in-law, who had escaped claiming she had a seminar tomorrow, came rushing in. She pretended to regret not being there sooner and dabbed nonexistent tears with a handkerchief.
“The seminar is nothing… I’m sorry, Father. Ms. Oh Ga-eun insulted my grandfather, and I just lost it…”
Seeing Seok-jin and Ga-eun enter, the second daughter-in-law’s performance escalated.
“But Grandfather worked so hard to help the country after liberation…”
“Quiet! Don’t you dare open your mouth! If rumors spread that the Joo Group is pro-Japanese, don’t think you’ll get any shares!”
The second daughter-in-law turned pale upon hearing that she could be excluded from inheritance.
“Honey, that’s your family issue. Kyung-jin did nothing wrong.”
“Exactly. This is a family problem. I didn’t cause any trouble.”
Someone like Jeong Han-kyung, utterly useless, yet proud of himself, seemed to appear again.
Ga-eun shook her head in disbelief.
“Our little one has arrived.”
“Honey?”
“Father?”
“Father!”
Chairman Joo called Ga-eun “our little one,” and the family looked on in surprise.
Standing confidently beside Chairman Joo, Ga-eun smiled warmly.
“Thank you for living like this, Father.”
“You saved me.”
“Of course. You are my one and only true father, sharing the same genes as Seok-jin.”
“Thank you.”
Chairman Joo took Ga-eun’s hand and called Seok-jin over. Seok-jin, stiff, reluctantly extended his hand.
“This guy is so self-centered, he’ll have some struggles in life. If that happens, come to me, and I’ll scold him.”
“No, President Joo. He’s such a kind person, he’d hate it if you scolded him.”
Chairman Joo’s eyes curved into a crescent moon at Ga-eun’s playful answer. The rest of the family glared at her.
Despite the piercing stares, Ga-eun remained undaunted, showing affection toward Seok-jin.
“You all should go home to rest. I’ll stay here.”
A flustered Jeong Lady urged the others to leave, hoping to strategize with Seok-jin alone to increase his shares.
“Third, you stay.”
“No, honey… leaving an unmarried child to… how would the in-laws think of us?”
“Then… is that alright, Father?”
Ga-eun cut her off, excitedly accepting Chairman Joo’s offer.
A VIP hospital room was prepared for the caretaker. Ga-eun had confirmed this earlier and was thrilled to take the opportunity.
“You’re still young and think too short-term?”
“Yes, I act rather than think long-term. If I act, I move a step ahead. Why waste time thinking?”
“What? You… really are remarkable.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Ga-eun bowed politely to Jeong Lady, smiling widely.
Jeong Lady, who had always lived off subtly belittling others and asserting superiority, was shocked by Ga-eun’s fearless demeanor.
Seeing Jeong Lady flustered, Seok-jin wanted to meet the reporter who had publicized their scandal to thank them.
Thanks to them, he had met the extraordinary wife he could never find elsewhere.
“Oh my, Seok-jin seems happy thanks to Father. He’s smiling.”
That amazing wife was completely immersed in the joy of making money.
