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Chapter 15
“She said it seems like Haena’s been avoiding Doyun lately. I was so worried, I came to see her.”
“Ah, no…”
*She couldn’t very well say yes…*
“Right? It’s just gotten a little awkward, hasn’t it? So I was thinking—how about you come over to Doyun’s house today? We can eat something delicious and watch a fun movie together.”
*You little brat, Baek Doyun. I won’t let this slide. Really.*
Haena glared at Baek Doyun, who was hiding behind his mother with only his head peeking out.
*Does hiding behind your mom solve everything? Huh?*
*Just because I’ve been avoiding you lately, you go running straight to your mom? Isn’t that a bit much, you mama’s boy?*
*Our female lead is going to have some serious mother-in-law conflict later.* Haena muttered inwardly.
*Alright, if I think about it, this is also part of social life. Let’s just think of it as having a meal with a business partner and doing a little cultural activity. I’ll let it slide.*
She knew she’d have to face them at least once anyway. They were engaged.
…And more importantly.
She was a little curious about Baek Jaehyun’s condition. She also wanted to check if Hong Yido had kept his promise and if the study abroad plan had truly been canceled.
At first, she thought about asking Baek Doyun, but it was obvious he’d say, *”Why are you asking about my brother?!?! Why?!!?!”* so she didn’t.
*Alright, this is about checking on Baek Jaehyun.*
Haena finally regained her composure and put on her social-life smile.
“Okay! That sounds great! But… can I call my dad? He said I have to tell him whenever I go somewhere.”
“Head Director Hong Yido?”
*…Judging by how coldly she addresses him, it’s clear they’re not on good terms…*
Haena flinched at the murderous aura that briefly emanated from Director Seo, but she pretended not to notice.
Director Seo, as if realizing her mistake, immediately put on a kind smile.
“Mmhm. Alright, I should tell Haena’s father too. How about I call him myself?”
“No, that won’t do… Dad said *I* have to call him myself!”
Haena said that and then trotted over to the chauffeur who had come to pick her up.
“Right, Mister?”
“Huh? Oh, yes, yes. Of course, young lady. Everything you say is correct.”
*What am I supposed to do if you agree with me so suspiciously, looking like ‘I’ve never heard this before, but my young lady is always right’?*
*The Director is going to think we’re weird…*
Swallowing her tears, Haena quickly took out her phone and pressed her father’s number.
*Come to think of it, this is my first time calling Hong Yido. Until now, Uiryeong-ssi always handled the communication…*
Suppressing her anxiety, Haena put the phone to her ear. *What if this guy doesn’t answer?*
But contrary to her worries.
*Drring.*
After just one ring, immediately—
*—Haena?*
Hong Yido answered.
*…What, was he looking at his phone?* Haena was flustered but didn’t lose her smile.
“Daddy!”
*—Is something wrong? Where are you, Haena? Right now.*
“Daddy, guess what? Doyun’s auntie is here!”
Haena spoke in the most innocent, childlike tone she could manage.
*—…Director Seo is there?*
“Yes! Auntie wants me to come over to Doyun’s house today, eat some delicious food, and watch a movie together.”
*—Ha.*
A laugh of disbelief came from the other end of the phone.
*—…Do you want to go?*
“Yes!”
*Because I need to check if Jaehyun really didn’t go to America.*
*—Why?*
“Huh?”
*—…Never mind.*
A long sigh was heard through the phone.
*—Then… go.*
“Really?”
*—But.*
“?”
*—I’ll come pick you up myself later, so wait.*
*Huh?*
Why go out of your way to do something so unnecessary and troublesome? Couldn’t he just ask Uiryeong-ssi or the chauffeur?
Haena didn’t understand, but it wasn’t something she couldn’t agree to, so she nodded enthusiastically.
“Okay!”
*I guess he’s just stopping by on his way.*
—
***
After arriving at Baek Doyun’s house.
Haena couldn’t close her mouth.
*Wow, Haena’s house was really grand too, but this place… this place is on a whole different level.*
Haena scratched her head. If Haena’s house was an old-fashioned, classic mansion, Baek Doyun’s house was the ultimate in modern style.
Both were single-family homes in Hannam-dong with a great view of the Han River, but the owners’ interior tastes felt completely different.
It was a three-story house with pure white walls and floor-to-ceiling windows on the first floor, making the inside completely visible. Of course, the wall surrounding the yard perfectly protected their privacy.
*Looks like it was built recently. You live in a nice place, Baek Doyun. Lucky you.*
Director Seo got out of the car skillfully, then took Doyun’s hand and helped him out. Every action revealed her strong love for her son. The way she cherished him, afraid he might get so much as a hair out of place.
*…Honestly, that’s how parents should be. Hong Yido is the strange one.*
Haena suddenly thought of her real parents and felt a little down, but she straightened her shoulders proudly.
“Our Haena, what do you want to eat? You used to like tteokbokki.”
“I love tteokbokki!”
“No, Mom. These days, malatang is popular!”
“Malatang? Isn’t that too spicy for your tastes?”
“We can order the mildest one!”
“Alright, then. Haena, is malatang okay?”
*Malatang is also a warm soup with rice…* Oh, no, it’s not rice, but anyway, it’s a warm soup, so of course it was fine.
But the mildest flavor? Absolutely unacceptable.
“Please make mine medium spice.”
“Wha?!”
“I can eat spicy food well.”
Haena said that and then shot Baek Doyun a look: *Hmph.*
*This is the difference between you and me, little squirt. I’m medium spice, you’re the mildest.*
“Hey, if you eat that, your stomach is going to hurt like crazy tomorrow!”
“Doyun~ ‘Hey’ isn’t a nice word to use with Haena. You should say ‘Haena.'”
“Ugh…”
Baek Doyun looked a little sulky after being scolded by his mother.
*Why are you getting all worked up when I’m the one who said I’d eat it like that?*
“Why are you so worried, Doyun? We can just order all the spice levels.”
“??”
For a moment, she thought she’d misheard.
Haena suppressed her bewilderment. Ordering that much when they wouldn’t even be able to finish it all. *Earth… Sorry, Earth…!*
“Mom, I want gwobaro, too! And tanghulu! Order everything!”
“Alright, alright. Doyun, you have to speak properly. What did Mommy tell you to say?”
“Order everything, please!”
“Good boy, my precious Doyun.”
Having said that, Director Seo gave Baek Doyun dozens of kisses on the cheek.
*Honestly.*
*It’s an eyesore.* Haena was dumbfounded. *They both know full well that Haena’s mother passed away early, yet they can’t show even a shred of consideration?*
*With Baek Doyun, he’s just a kid, so I can let it slide, but Director Seo, even you? Isn’t that a bit much?*
*Now I can clearly see how much Baek Jaehyun must suffer in this house, it’s so obvious…* Just as she thought that—
“You’re here, Mother.”
Baek Jaehyun appeared.
He still had his backpack on his shoulder, as if school had just ended.
His expression was just as calm and unreadable as before.
“…You’re here.”
Director Seo said only that and quickly brushed past Baek Jaehyun.
*…Even if things are the way they are, to ignore a child right in front of you like that.*
*The father is the one who did wrong, so why are you taking it out on the child?* Haena furrowed her brow quietly.
*I really don’t like this house.*
“Haena, it’s been a while.”
But Baek Jaehyun, as if used to it, immediately turned his head toward Haena and smiled.
“Hi, oppa!”
“These days—”
“Haena, come here. We need to pick a movie.”
Just as Baek Jaehyun was about to talk to Haena, Director Seo called her with a resolute face.
*…This is really too much.*
She had planned to stay quiet, not be noticed, and just deal with them roughly before leaving.
But this was just too much.
“Wait a moment! I see Doyun every day, but I haven’t seen oppa in a long time, so I’ll just say a quick hello!”
“…!”
“!”
The crack spreading across Director Seo’s face, which was pretending to be kind, was visible even from here.
*Not my problem, I guess.*
She might be her future mother-in-law for now, but once she becomes an adult, they’ll be strangers anyway.
“Oppa, how have you been?”
*My real purpose is to check on you, Baek Jaehyun.*
