Chapter 3
***
"Huh, what does she do?"
"Says she owns some kind of store. Says she used to work in a store, and she's got grandpa's taste, so fucking classy..................."
The pale fluorescent light of the hospital hallway hardened. Do-geon squinted slightly and looked down at his opponent. Ah, it was her.
He quickly came to a conclusion and broke the handshake. His clasped hands felt unnecessarily tight once he realized who she was.
The woman stared at his hand for a moment with an unreadable expression before looking up again. Her unusually long eyelashes cast shadows at the corners of her eyes.
That was rather unexpected, Do-geon thought. Call him prejudiced, but she didn't look, sound, or carry herself like a woman from the world of the flower girls*. (*Like prostitutes)
She was beautiful, of course.
Unlike her relatively light-colored hair and eyes, which seemed to fade in the sunlight, she had a look that was hard to forget once you saw it.
It was easy to see why his grandfather, a lover of all things aesthetic, had taken her as his lover. She was like a well-crafted work of art.
However, he found her searching, observant eyes strangely disturbing. It was an instinctive repulsion he felt toward his own kind.
Besides, humans are kind of dirty, anyway.
Do-geon had seen the women who claimed to be his grandfather's lovers a few times. They were all the same. Shallow.
Pretending to be something they weren't, but it wouldn't be much different. What else would a young woman want, to be the lover of a nearly ninety-year-old man.
"...... you arranged for my grandfather's transportation to the hospital, thank you so much."
Do-geon skillfully sifted through the emotions beneath the surface. His face was his usual polished smile.
"Oh, what's your name?"
"Jeong Jae-yeon."
"Miss Jeong Jae-yeon.”
Do-geon repeated the woman's name, his voice formal.
"If it weren't for you, there would have been a lot of trouble. It's late, and you've done a lot of work."
"No, it's just that I feel a little bad that you're here with me. ..................."
"Don't say that."
Do-geon cut her off lightly. It was polite indifference.
"I'll keep an eye on this place, and you can go back inside. You must be tired."
"No."
At the firm reply, Do-geon paused slightly, involuntarily.
"I'll stay here, too."
"It’s going to take a long time."
"That's okay."
"..................at your convenience."
With a shake of his head, Do-geon took a seat in the waiting area. After a moment's hesitation, she settled herself down next to him. They were close enough to touch if she turned slightly.
"You."
Her shoulder nudged him, and she spoke quietly. A smile still tugged at the corners of her mouth.
"Your name is .................. Han Do-geon, yes."
Not one to deviate from the expected, Do-geon clicked his tongue, a sneer escaping his lips.
Without breaking eye contact with Jae-yeon, he replied bluntly.
"That's right."
"You're the chairman's grandson."
"Yes."
"I've heard he say that you live in the United States..................."
"That's right."
Well, she's got her chances.
Chairman Han didn’t have many days left to live, and he had the bloodline of Daejin Group in front of him. The bottom was the main battlefield. Looking at her appearance, there must be few men who wouldn't fall for her. .....................
"What brings you to Korea?"
"I'm here for a while for work."
"So you're going back to the U.S.?"
"Yep. I'm going to check on the chairman, and then head back as soon as I can."
"Oh.................. I see."
The woman stopped asking questions. Silence descended on the harsh fluorescent-lit hallway of the operating waiting room. Feeling more at ease, Do-geon pulled out his phone and checked his contacts. The nicest voice in the world didn’t mean anything if the person on the other end was annoyed.
[Hey, Do-geon, thanks for the interview. You can take a break if you want. By the way, I sent you an email to see if you can confirm the LP operation.
Best, Tae-sik
Wonderful news! Congrats Han! You deserve this success. Imma prepare a celebratory drink hahaha.]
The congratulatory calls started early in the morning New York time. Apparently, the success of the financial investment business authorization in Korea was known.
Do-geon replied to each and every one of them before diving into his email box. His work email was already backed up, and he wondered if he should go to his car and get his laptop now.
"I guess that's why the chairman told me to only contact Mr. Han Do-geon."
Jae-yeon's words suddenly broke the silence. Do-geon paused and glanced to the side.
"Because Mr. Han lives in the United States."
At that, Do-geon’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Chairman Han didn't trust his children to bicker in the same house. The only exception was Do-geon, who had stepped down from the front lines of the succession and was living abroad.
The woman seemed to have a general understanding of the situation. He wondered how much she knew, but he didn't want to get into a long conversation, so he answered curtly.
"..................yeah."
"You're not asking me anything, are you?"
"What?"
"Don't you want to know how I know the chairman?"
Jae-yeon's eye corners crinkled, as if she were about to say something. Transparent brown eyes stared straight at him. Do-geon almost frowned in spite of himself.
Ah, those eyes again.
It was not pleasant to be observed. Do-geon spoke, somewhat bluntly, with all the minimal decorum he had left.
"Well, do I need to know?"
"If you'll excuse me, I'm a little tired."
"Oh, I see, I'm sorry."
Jae-yeon stepped away neatly, without a hint of apology. When she turned to face the front again, her face was somewhat blank. From the looks of it, she might as well be a woman with no thoughts.
Only the regular ticking of a small clock's second hand echoed in the now silent hallway. Do-geon immediately adjusted his wristwatch, which had turned slightly.
The woman sitting next to him was curiously unmoving, as if she was deliberately trying to hide her presence.
He checked his wristwatch, and the hour hand was pointing to 10:00 pm. Do-geon relaxed and leaned back against the wall. The silence was comfortable. As always.
***
The surgery didn't end until after dawn. Immediately after the operation, the chairman was moved to a VIP hospital room, and Do-geon was required to stay in the room, just in case.
After all the formalities were completed, Do-geon looked back at Jae-yeon, who had been by his side the entire time, and said,
“You can go now. Thank you for your hard work."
"I............... what if I take a shift in the middle..................."
"No, that's fine."
"But."
"I'm really sorry, but I don't know who you are. I'm not sure I'd want to take you on."
"Oh, I see."
Jae-yeon immediately backed away. He couldn't tell if she was being obedient or if she didn't care. Do-geon bowed his head, then turned away, rubbing the puffy corners of his eyes.
"You're a careful man."
A calm voice stopped him in his tracks. Do-geon turned his head.
"You don't have to be."
Jae-yeon's mouth lifted slightly in a whisper.
At that moment, he realized that, ironically, she had no rational interest in him at all.
In other words, she did not care about him, yet he kept thinking about her. At that subtle realization, he was momentarily offended.
Was that intentional or habitual?
"I'll see you later, Mr. Han Do-geon."
The woman's face, with its soft smile, was strikingly beautiful, but there was something off-putting about it.
Do-geon studied her face for a moment, then turned away without answering.
It was two years ago.
***
His first morning in Korea dawned.
After a quick meal alone, Do-geon dressed in black Polartier cotton pants and shirt and left the outbuilding. He was going to see his grandfather.
As soon as he stepped outside, the winter chill pierced the hem of his clothes. The poor branches swayed with a dry crackle.
Do-geon crossed the great hall that led from the outbuildings to the main house. In front of the floor was an artificial pond and built-in benches, designed to keep it from freezing in winter.
The main house and other buildings visible from the gate were mostly built in Western style, but the inside of the main house followed the traditional style of hanok. It was Han's insistence.
The great hall leading from the entrance of the outbuildings was directly connected to the main building. Do-geon opened the sliding door and stepped inside the mansion. A warm aura enveloped him.
Do-geon wiped the fatigue from his face as he walked.
Inside the main building, he entered the living room. In the center of the living room, a woman elegantly dressed in an indoor dress was sitting on the sofa.
She was Han Yong-seop's first daughter-in-law (*the grandfather’s daughter in law) and Do-geon's aunt*, Ju-ryeong.
(Not biological aunt but through marriage. She married his uncle.)
***
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