Chapter – 30
“Jian will be happy if you go. I’ll give her a call.”
“Yes, Grandma. Thank you.”
Soonyoung immediately contacted her younger sister.
—Will you be home this evening? Yugeon’s wife said she wants to stop by and see you. She had some business in your area and thought she’d say hello while she’s there.
“I’m at the bank right now, but I’ll be home tonight. But is only Yugeon’s wife coming?”
—Yes, just the wife. Not Yugeon.
Soonja wanted to ask why only one of them was coming, but she was in the middle of something and didn’t have time. She decided she’d ask when the girl arrived.
Just as she was about to finish up, Yugeon called.
—Grandma, did you have a good trip to Southeast Asia? We didn’t see each other at Chuseok. I miss you. Can I come by tonight?
Huh? Wasn’t it supposed to be just Yugeon’s wife?
Well, maybe they decided to come together after all.
Soonja didn’t think much of it.
But the one who showed up was Yugeon alone.
“Yeah, my wife had something to take care of, so she couldn’t come.”
“Huh? Really?”
Soonja tilted her head, wondering if she had misheard her sister earlier.
“What’s this? Aren’t you Yugeon’s wife?”
Soonja recognized Jian and welcomed her warmly.
“I heard Yugeon came alone because you were busy. What happened?”
“Hello, Grandma. I was leading a pottery class at the community hall this afternoon. I’m doing it again tomorrow. I wanted to see you, but I didn’t find your name on the participant list, so I thought I’d come by to greet you. I didn’t know Yugeon was here.”
After explaining calmly, Jian glanced at Yugeon with mild surprise.
Of course, she had wanted to see him and was glad to run into him—but she hadn’t expected it at all.
The same went for Yugeon.
He had been about to wrap up his conversation with the grandmothers and call Jian.
And now she had appeared in person? How did she know his grandmother lived here?
Since he didn’t know about the call between Jian and Soonyoung, Yugeon was genuinely startled.
At Jian’s explanation, one of the three “Samshin grandmas” clapped her hands as if something clicked.
“Oh! You’re the instructor we saw at the community hall earlier!”
“That instructor was Yugeon’s wife?”
“Oh my, we had no idea. How fascinating!”
The grandmothers who had attended the pottery class nodded in recognition.
“Well, well. So Yugeon wasn’t exaggerating after all, huh? It was true.”
Yugeon, who had been frozen in shock at Jian’s sudden appearance, snapped back to his senses at that remark.
Oh no… A bad feeling washed over him.
But there was no stopping the grandmothers’ chatter.
“She’s as pretty as a fairy who came down from the moon, just like you said.”
Grandma… please!
“You got all upset saying if there was anyone prettier than your wife, bring her out. I see why now.”
Please, stop…!
“I get now why you’re so anxious. I wouldn’t want other men looking at her either.”
Be quiet, please!
After three direct hits from the grandmothers, Yugeon felt dizzy.
He quickly glanced at Jian.
Her eyes, wide and blinking in confusion, soon seemed to understand everything.
Her face flushed red like a ripe persimmon.
‘Ahhh…’
Yugeon covered his mouth with both hands.
I’m doomed…
How am I supposed to face Eun Jian now?
“What is this? You said you were newlyweds—are you still shy around each other?”
“Oh my, how sweet. Such a lovely time.”
“That’s right. Later on, you’ll be looking at each other like ‘when will that stubborn fool finally kick the bucket?’ Right now’s the best time.”
The grandmothers teased them as the two stood there, faces burning, staring at each other in stunned silence.
Even women who had weathered life’s storms couldn’t help giggling like schoolgirls at the sight of young love.
The grandmothers pulled Jian over and seated her on the wooden platform.
An interrogation began—where was she from, how did she start pottery, how did she meet Yugeon?
While Yugeon wished he could crawl into a hole, Jian regained her composure and answered with a gentle smile.
“Maybe it’s because you do such beautiful work, but your hands are beautiful too.”
“We’re all old now. Our hands are all wrinkled.”
“That’s right. So pretty. I’m jealous.”
“Yes, our niece’s granddaughter-in-law has such lovely hands.”
The grandmothers took turns holding Jian’s hands and commenting.
“It’s thanks to elders like you that our country became such a good place to live. We can live happily because of your hard work and sacrifices. Your hands are far more beautiful.”
Oh my… she even speaks beautifully.
The grandmothers beamed, their wrinkles spreading warmly across their faces.
Yugeon quietly took in the sight of Jian surrounded by the women he adored.
She looked peaceful and radiant, like a scene from a fairy tale.
For a long moment, he couldn’t take his eyes off that picture-perfect scene.
As Jian munched on songpyeon brought by one grandma and yakgwa from Soonja, chatting away, the night grew deeper.
“Grandmas, I’m so glad I got to see you. I’ll come again next time. Please stay healthy.”
“Of course. You stay healthy too, Jian. Come visit Grandma again with Yugeon.”
The grandmothers chimed in once more.
“Your lodging’s nearby? Yugeon should escort you properly.”
“That’s right. What if some other guy snatches her away?”
“The moon’s out over there. She might put on her fairy wings and fly back up to it. Hold on tight!”
They burst into laughter.
‘I’m going crazy…’
Yugeon couldn’t lift his head.
After another polite farewell, Jian left Soonja’s house with him.
“I’ll… drive you. Get in.”
Yugeon awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.
“The pension’s only a ten-minute walk. The weather’s nice, so I thought I’d stroll.”
“Then… I’ll walk you there.”
Jian didn’t answer, just looked up at him steadily.
“W-why are you looking at me like that?”
“Are you worried some other guy will snatch me away? That I’ll fly back to the moon?”
She asked teasingly.
Yugeon froze as if struck by lightning.
Jian chuckled softly and turned, walking ahead with light steps.
Ha… Yugeon sighed, rubbing his face, and hurried after her.
“Eun Jian, about what they said earlier… The reason that came up was… I mean…”
“I know.”
She nodded.
“You… know?”
“Yes. I can tell. You said those things because you wanted to make the grandmas happy.”
Jian smiled gently.
She had already known he was the type who was adored by elders. Just watching how easily he joked with Soonyoung made it obvious.
It must have been the same just now.
‘Since we’re newlyweds, he probably wanted to show that we’re doing well. To make them smile.’
She could easily guess that it came from a kind heart.
“So I know you didn’t mean it seriously. Don’t worry. I’m not taking it to heart.”
She added the reassurance so he wouldn’t feel any more embarrassed.
In truth, she had enjoyed it. Even if it wasn’t sincere, hearing him say those things about her hadn’t felt bad at all.
But—
Yugeon felt as though he’d been doused with cold water.
The way she so easily dismissed his words as not his true feelings—
For some reason, irritation surged inside him.
