Chapter 26
After finishing their meal, the four naturally split into pairs and went their separate ways.
For the sake of the teacher’s safe return home, the secretary—who had completely abandoned any concern for his boss’s return—left cheerfully with Dain in the opposite direction.
“Seems he’s forgotten his duty as a secretary.”
“When you fall in love, your boss doesn’t matter anymore. Who cares about the CEO? The woman you love is far more important.”
“Love?”
“Don’t you see it?”
At Ga-eun’s words, Seok-jin looked genuinely puzzled.
“You really don’t know? Those two are totally flirting right now.”
“Flirting?”
“It means they’re in that stage right before dating. It’s hard to explain, but it’s when you like each other but haven’t confirmed feelings yet. That kind of stage. Lucky them.”
“If they like each other, why waste time circling around like that? Isn’t that inefficient?”
Ga-eun suddenly understood the feeling her mother used to have when she said to her father, “Ugh, why do I even bother talking to a man like you?”
This man would probably go through life never understanding that the process of dating—the uncertainty, the guessing—can be more thrilling than the relationship itself.
“Then, President Joo, if you like someone, don’t you ever wonder whether she likes you back?”
“Why would I wonder about that?”
Right. Of course he wouldn’t.
If Joo Seok-jin liked someone, what woman would possibly reject him?
“I like you.”
What…?
For a moment, all sounds in the world disappeared, and only Seok-jin’s voice remained in her ears.
I’ve lost it, Oh Ga-eun.
It had been so long since she heard a man casually say “I like you” that her senses must have short-circuited.
“Why go the roundabout way instead of just saying it directly?”
“…Y-yeah, right.”
“Why are you suddenly stuttering, Ms. Oh Ga-eun?”
“I—I usually stutter.”
“You didn’t seem like it at all.”
“Well, from now on I do. Okay?”
Afraid he might notice she was flustered, Ga-eun quickly walked ahead of him.
But Seok-jin, with his much longer stride, caught up to her in no time.
When he came beside her, he slowed his pace to match hers.
If a man had this level of consideration, even an arranged marriage might not be so bad.
But her mother still lingered in her thoughts.
* * *
She opened her closet, but there was nothing suitable to wear.
Wearing the same outfit she had worn when visiting Seok-jin’s house felt too awkward. Especially since today she was going to meet Madam Jeong.
“I should’ve stopped eating and bought more clothes.”
Rummaging through her wardrobe, Ga-eun pulled out a black sheer lace dress she had once bought thinking it suited her style.
If she wore this, she could already imagine what Madam Jeong would say.
Something about her lack of class, no doubt.
After getting ready, she debated whether to inform Seok-jin. She called him, but he didn’t answer—likely in a meeting.
Deciding she could handle it alone, she headed to the appointment.
Shusin Hotel, 43rd floor.
She pressed the elevator button, but nothing lit up. It seemed broken.
Even the opposite elevator wouldn’t respond when she tried.
“Excuse me.”
Ga-eun went to the front desk.
“Yes, how may I help you?”
“The 43rd floor button isn’t working.”
“Do you have a access card?”
Access card?
“I have an appointment. At 2 o’clock, under the name Jeong Hye-gyeong.”
At the mention of the name, the staff looked startled and quickly made a phone call, glancing at her nervously.
“Are you Ms. Oh Ga-eun?”
“Yes, I am.”
“We will escort you personally.”
“I just need you to press the button…”
In the elevator, the staff used a card to activate the 43rd floor. Only then did the elevator begin moving smoothly.
It was her first time realizing such a place existed.
Like a VIP lounge in a department store—except here, without a pass card, the elevator simply wouldn’t work.
“Thank you.”
After thanking the staff, she removed her cardigan and placed it in her handbag.
Then she straightened her posture, lifting her chin slightly.
At the room entrance, the staff knocked and gestured for her to enter.
“Hello?”
When she entered and looked up, Madam Jeong was not alone.
At a round table sat not only Madam Jeong but also her sisters-in-law, Se-hwa and Yoon-na.
“Sit there.”
“Yes.”
“What would you like to drink?”
“Coffee, please.”
“Understood.”
She expected criticism immediately after the staff left—but surprisingly, all three women smiled warmly in silence.
Their friendliness felt suspicious. Ga-eun remained on guard.
Soon enough, she expected the masks would drop.
“You’re all here too. Aren’t you busy with hospital work?”
“Well… not particularly.”
Ga-eun directed her words at Yoon-na, the one who had once been humiliated by her, and smiled slightly.
People who had been embarrassed once tend to remember it—and even a glance could make them uneasy.
“I thought doctors were always busy. It’s surprising to see you enjoying tea on a weekday afternoon.”
“A doctor is just a doctor. I’m different from most.”
Yoon-na scoffed and sipped her tea.
A knock came again, and coffee was delivered.
“Your outfit… lacks refinement.”
As soon as the staff left, Madam Jeong clicked her tongue in disapproval.
“Isn’t it better for clothes to lack refinement than for a person to lack refinement, Mother?”
“If you don’t know better, I’ll teach you. In situations like this, you should say, ‘I’m sorry, Mother. I lack experience.’”
“You should pay more attention to your appearance… it’s quite vulgar.”
Ga-eun admitted her outfit was bold.
But it was intentional.
And she had also expected this reaction.
Still, hearing it directly made her uncomfortable.
“By the way… where is that from?”
Se-hwa asked, examining the dress.
“I’m not sure.”
“Where did you buy it?”
“Shusin Department Store.”
Even though they had called it vulgar, Se-hwa now seemed interested in the design.
“Enough.”
“Sorry, Mother.”
Seeing Se-hwa back down immediately, Ga-eun thought she might actually be better off than them.
No matter how educated or wealthy their families were, constantly walking on eggshells didn’t seem like a happy life.
“Let’s get to the point of why I called you here.”
“Yes, of course.”
Madam Jeong pulled an envelope from her handbag. Yoon-na stood and placed it in front of Ga-eun.
Inside was a folded paper.
A marriage dowry list?
That was what it looked like—an attempt to pressure her with excessive wealth.
Didn’t matter. She would just use Seok-jin’s card anyway.
“Open it.”
Slowly, Ga-eun unfolded the paper.
“You’ll likely be summoned by the chairman soon. What you say then will determine the peace of our family.”
“What is this?”
It was a list of subsidiaries under the Shusin Group.
Yoon-na stood again and marked them with colored circles.
Only one company was marked in red: Shusin Retail.
“Seok-jin only needs Shusin Retail.”
“Exactly. Retail is best—department stores, supermarkets, shopping malls… perfect for liquidity.”
“I agree. Finance or insurance is too unstable.”
“Can I drink my coffee now?”
Setting the paper down, Ga-eun took a sip.
In truth, all of it originally belonged to Seok-jin.
Yet these people spoke as if he was receiving too much.
“When the chairman calls you, tell him you want an overseas branch. Seok-jin will do anything you say, so you can tell him directly. It’s a good chance to broaden your horizons.”
“Mother.”
“Yes?”
“You know I lack refinement.”
“What are you saying?”
“I don’t even know which fork to use for steak or which spoon for soup.”
Confused, Madam Jeong fiddled with her diamond ring.
“I can’t live abroad not knowing table manners. If this is a chance to broaden horizons, maybe my second sister-in-law should go instead.”
“What did you say?”
“My second sister-in-law is a doctor, right? She could go to an American hospital, like in dramas. Improve her skills. And my brother-in-law always liked studying—he could even get a PhD.”
“Why should we go?”
“What about us?”
Se-hwa tried to hide her laughter.
Even though they appeared united, they were clearly envious of each other.
“Mother, I told you I’m not refined.”
“If I say something indirectly, you don’t understand. So let me be clear.”
“I understand perfectly. Isn’t this like dividing land? From here to here is first daughter-in-law’s, this is second’s, and the rest is third’s?”
Ga-eun traced the lines on the paper.
“Shouldn’t everything originally belong to Seok-jin?”
“Why would it? I also contributed. Without me, the Shusin Group wouldn’t exist.”
“Then discuss it with Father. If he asks me what I want, I’ll just…”
The two sisters-in-law swallowed nervously.
It didn’t have to be Oh Ga-eun who caused chaos in this family.
