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Chapter – 08
Hospital Visit
I became curious about just how much property they had and what kind of family they were, to speak so confidently.
“What do you do for a living?”
At the light question, Gyeoul, who had momentarily stopped walking, stiffened slightly. She seemed to regret having spoken, and Do-kyung, finding this odd, also stopped and turned around. Seeming to notice his gaze, she resumed walking and gave a vague answer.
“Well, they run a restaurant. We make enough to get by. Just know that much.”
“A restaurant?”
“Yes. Just a self-employed business. A restaurant.”
She said it as if it were nothing special, so Do-kyung didn’t ask further. He simply guessed inwardly that it must be some famous restaurant that had been featured in the media.
“Then I guess I can sell these things to you, Cha Gyeoul-ssi. Since your family has plenty of money.”
“I’m not buying! And it’s not even my style.”
When he grinned and joked, Gyeoul scowled fiercely.
They had entered the department store right at opening time, and in just over an hour, among all the items purchased, not a single one had been chosen by Gyeoul. Naturally, there was nothing that suited Gyeoul’s taste either.
They were probably all his taste. Or perhaps his grandfather’s preference. As he was pondering which it might be, Do-kyung’s voice came.
“What is Cha Gyeoul-ssi’s style, then?”
She looked around. After scanning the various luxury brands that were入驻, Gyeoul pointed to a bag and shoes that caught her eye.
“Um… bags that look light like that one. Or, like, sneakers from this brand over here?”
“If you act well for six months, I’ll buy them for you.”
Do-kyung, who had been closely watching the direction her finger pointed, leaned down and whispered in her ear.
The warm breath touching her skin and the man’s scent that suddenly filled her nose made Gyeoul’s shoulder flinch. Embarrassed by the sudden closeness, she moved her body to the side and spoke gruffly.
“I said I don’t need it. I can buy stuff like that right now. I just don’t buy them because I don’t need to.”
“Alright, then. Keep carrying that grubby eco-bag around. Oh, except for the bag I bought you today.”
“Yes, yes. I’ll use it cleanly only when I meet your family, and then I’ll return it.”
Adding a “don’t worry” comment, Gyeoul walked briskly ahead. Do-kyung followed slowly behind her, a smile lingering at the corner of his mouth.
A university hospital in Gangnam.
Gyeoul, fully dressed up in the items Do-kyung had bought her, stood in front of the VIP hospital room, thoroughly nervous. And on her small shoulder rested Do-kyung’s large hand lightly.
“You can do it, right?”
“Hup! …Yes.”
At her thinly trembling voice, Do-kyung glanced down at her and his brow furrowed slightly. He looked worriedly at her lifeless cheeks and drooping eyebrows, then lowered his gaze further. The hand holding the bag was trembling faintly.
Where had that confident, back-talking attitude gone? Watching Gyeoul, trembling like a rabbit caught in the rain, unease clouded Do-kyung’s eyes.
“…Are you really sure you’re okay?”
“Yes. …Actually, no. I mean, you said both the former Chairman and the current Chairman are in there right now.”
“That’s right.”
“Exactly! What if they throw a scalpel at me, saying things like, ‘How dare a mere employee try to seduce my son!’?”
Gyeoul looked up with a tearful face, and her imagination was so absurd that he pressed his hand to his forehead.
“Why would there be a scalpel in a hospital room… You watch too many dramas. And in what drama do they throw scalpels at people?”
“You never know.”
“Do it like you do with me. Confidently.”
“What if I get fired for that?”
It seemed she was more worried about that than the scalpel, as her shoulders visibly slumped. Do-kyung, dumbfounded, let out a dry laugh.
“So, you talked back to me because you didn’t think I’d fire you?”
“Th-that’s not the point right now.”
“…Act confident. You have nothing to be intimidated by, Cha Gyeoul-ssi.”
Gyeoul glared at him, who was encouraging her.
“Why wouldn’t I be intimidated? I’m just a regular employee…”
“You said your family’s well-off. You’re capable, smart, and pretty. And now you’re dressed well too. So what’s there to be intimidated about? So, just do as we rehearsed. I’ll take care of the rest.”
At his encouraging words, her round eyes grew even wider. She stared at him, genuinely surprised, before finally parting her lips that had been hesitating.
“…You think I’m pretty?”
“You’re pretty. Objectively and subjectively. But if you’re still worried, just stick close to me. You can even hide behind me.”
Do-kyung lowered his head and whispered in Gyeoul’s ear.
“My crazy personality isn’t just for the office, you know.”
You’ll be able to breathe, behind me.
He grinned, assuring her he’d protect her, and Gyeoul couldn’t take her eyes off his face.
Once, at the words “you’re pretty.” And again, at the words “stick close to me, I’ll protect you.”
Her heart, which had taken a big hit, pounded rapidly. She clenched her fingertips, which had begun to tremble for a different reason than before, and took a step closer to Do-kyung’s side.
Her gaze was now fixed on the firmly closed VIP hospital room door. With an unusually resolute expression, she took a deep breath and nodded once. Do-kyung also took a breath before raising his hand and knocking twice on the white door.
“Yes, come in.”
At the permission given in an elegant voice, Do-kyung opened the sliding door. Simultaneously, the gazes of the family inside the rather spacious hospital room poured onto them at once.
As Gyeoul slightly flinched her shoulders, Do-kyung whispered lowly.
“We’ll discuss the agreement later.”
“Huh?”
Before the words even finished, his large hand gently pulled her waist. She was startled by the sudden physical contact, but strangely, the solid body touching her one shoulder put her at ease.
Gyeoul, exhaling the tension and anxiety that had clung to her in a short sigh, bowed politely and greeted them.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Cha Gyeoul.”
“She’s my girlfriend.”
At Do-kyung’s brief introduction, four curious pairs of eyes turned to her again. Unsure how to react, she only managed an awkward smile when an elegant and beautiful middle-aged woman approached her with a smile.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Do-kyung’s mother. I’m a bit sorry that our first meeting is in a hospital room. I should be treating you to a nice meal in a good place, but the situation is like this. Please understand.”
“Oh, no, Madam. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Madam? Just think of me as your boyfriend’s mother and feel comfortable.”
“Thank you. I’ll speak comfortably then.”
“Oh dear, shall I?”
Fortunately, Do-kyung’s mother seemed to welcome Gyeoul very much. Greatly relieved, she nonetheless felt a hot stare on the back of her head.
However, since his mother was smiling and continuing to talk in front of her, it seemed rude to turn around, so she tried to ignore the prickling gaze.
Just then, a clearing of the throat came from beside her. Turning to the source of the sound, she saw his grandfather, Seok-yong, whom she also recognized, looking at her with displeased eyes.
Again shrinking back, Gyeoul bowed deeply, and Do-kyung immediately came over and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
“Mother, let’s talk later. First, let me say hello to Grandfather.”
“Oh my, look at my head. This is the first time you’ve brought a girlfriend. I was just so happy I got carried away. Quickly, greet your grandfather.”
As soon as his mother finished speaking, he took Gyeoul’s hand and walked toward the medical bed placed in one corner of the room.
His older brother, Ha-kyung, was sitting beside the bed. Though she had never seen him in person, she knew his face well from newspaper photos, so Gyeoul bowed slightly. However, he sat upright, watching her with suspicious eyes.
Startled by the unkind gaze for a moment, Gyeoul quickly came to her senses at the touch of Do-kyung’s patting hand on her shoulder, composed her expression, and smiled again.
“Hello, nice to meet you. I’m Cha Gyeoul, Do-kyung-ssi’s girlfriend.”
“Are you really dating?”
Seok-yong shot out suspicion without even a greeting. Consequently, Gyeoul’s smile froze.
As she pondered how to answer this question to gain trust while sounding natural, Do-kyung intervened.
“Of course.”
“I wasn’t asking you. I was asking this young lady.”
It seemed the scalpel was probably attached to his tongue. Still, as Gyeoul relaxed, thinking that at least a real scalpel wouldn’t come flying at her, Do-kyung’s expression gradually hardened at Seok-yong’s sharp tone and voice.
‘You told me to act well.’
Feeling like she would ruin the situation, Gyeoul gently took his hand and smiled. Of course, she too was tense under Chairman Noh’s suspicious gaze. Her forcibly raised lips seemed to tremble, but she spoke calmly.
“We haven’t been dating long, but I am his girlfriend, Grandfather.”
However, despite her efforts, Seok-yong’s suspicion only seemed to deepen.
‘I heard he’s quite ill. That he doesn’t have much time left?’
As rumored, Seok-yong looked noticeably thinner than the last time he appeared in an official setting. However, the aura and expression emanating from him were still robust.
‘As expected, the person who grew and maintained a single company into a large corporation is different,’ she thought, when a cold voice cut in from the side.
It was a sharp tone, as if he too had a scalpel on his tongue.
“How long has it been? Since the two of you started dating.”
“Excuse me? Ah…”
At Ha-kyung’s voice, laden with suspicion and hostility, Gyeoul glanced quickly at Do-kyung.
