Chapter 6
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That evening, Do-geon made it to the main dining room just in time.
As much as he wanted to eat alone, he couldn't miss the gathering for his first time in Korea.
His grandfather was a big believer in eating together.
He was skeptical about the idea that such a meal would help family relationships. But it's what he wanted, so it's the least he could do.
He lifted his gaze slightly. Han Do-seok was walking down the other side of the hall, and he could see his face contort at the sight of him.
Do-geon walked on, not paying much attention. The other man, however, did not.
"Move, asshole."
Han Do-seok punched Do-geon in the shoulder as he passed, but the angle was off and it barely grazed.
Do-geon turned his head slightly to look back. The off-center shape of Han Do-seok’s body receded toward the end of the hallway.
There were no signs of life: slightly dilated pupils, a pale glow, tic-like behavioral responses, or babbling................... It was even more naked in the light.
At first glance, you might think he was just a little unstable, but Do-geon could tell. The addiction was pretty severe.
Han Do-seok also went to college in the United States. Unlike Do-geon, he went abroad when it became difficult to get into a prestigious university in Korea.
‘Maybe that's where he got it.’
He had already suspected that Han Do-seok was into drugs. Marijuana alone wouldn't make him like that, so he must have touched various things.....................
Well, it was none of his business.
Do-geon strode into the dining room, hiding his fatigue. The long, wide table was already perfectly set.
"There you are, Do-geon."
"Hey, I haven't seen you in a while."
"You look good. Are you well?"
As soon as he walked in, there was a flurry of greetings. Do-goon smiled brightly and bowed slightly.
"Sorry, I'm late."
"Never mind, I'll unpack and then we'll get busy. Have a seat."
The seat reserved for him was in the middle of the table, and Ju-ryeong replied coldly to his apology.
He exchanged a quick glance with his cousin, Han Jeong-yoon, with whom he was only marginally friendly, then sat down and quickly scanned the noodles.
"How are you, Do-geon? You're looking better, very well."
"Haha, thank you. You, too."
Everyone seemed to have gathered except for the chairman and Han Do-seok.
Starting from the grandfather's seat, the oldest son, Vice Chairman Han Dong-jin, and his wife, Ju-ryeong, sat across from him, followed by his second son, Han Dong-woo, and his only daughter, Han Seon-hee, and her husband, Kim Sang-wook.
In the traditional order, Do-geon was supposed to be seated at the very end. But since it was his homecoming dinner, he had given up this position.
"I'm an outsider now, so what does it matter?”
Still, it was a troubled family.
"Hey, Do-geon, it's been a while. How are things these days? Are you still busy?"
Han Do-joon, sitting right next to him, tapped him on the shoulder. His smile was gentle. It was his cousin, the one person who had kept him in check more than anyone else before he settled in America.
He smiled back.
"Same old me, same old. Where's your brother?"
"He's busy. You know, the new reorganization, the dividend increase................"
In fact he was going to have a lot of headaches with the inheritance taxes and finding the money to pay for his share after the grandfather's passing. Do-geon asked politely.
"Which affiliates are you going to touch? The shareholders must be nervous."
"Well, I know. It's up to my dad."
"So, Do-geon, there's been talk of selling the FutureCard affiliate to you guys, what's the deal structure?"
The question came out of nowhere. He answered, and then another, and another, and another. After answering one question after another, more questions followed.
"Mr. Chairman, please come."
Immediately, the room fell silent. Then a wheelchair rolled into the dining room. Just as everyone was about to rise from their seats, Mr. Han stopped them with a wave of his hand.
"Enough. Sit down. You're getting a little too much."
As they settled back into their chairs, they chattered, "Hey, Dad, how are you feeling?”
Do-geon brought his water cup to his mouth and swallowed back a chuckle. It was Jeong Jae-yeon, the woman, pushing the chairman's wheelchair.
The gazes of several men at the table lingered for a moment on her doll-like face. Do-geon didn't miss them.
Jae-yeon, who had positioned the wheelchair at the head table, asked in a soft voice.
"Are you okay? Do you need a little more pull?"
"It’s good."
Jae-yeon checked the wheelchair to make sure it was secure, then pulled up a chair next to it and sat down. Do-geon had thought the chair had belonged to his grandfather, but apparently it had belonged to a woman.
Do-geon set his water cup down with a little clatter.
‘It's not a lover, it's not the government, it's more.........’
She was more than he thought. Regardless of how much he actually thought about it, he had to admit that she was resourceful.
The chairman, who had his arms on the table with some difficulty, spoke up.
"Yes, it's been a long time since we've had a.................. family reunion, and it's so nice to see everyone together like this.......... Everyone is always healthy and harmonious with each other..................."
Chairman Han seemed to be in worse shape than in the morning. He admired his willingness to organize a family meal with such a weak body.
After Han's slow greeting, the meal began in earnest.
Jae-yeon scooped up the rice spoon and placed it in the chairman's mouth as he had difficulty moving. Chairman Han ate like a child, as if he was used to it.
Jae-yeon would ask him how he was doing, or offer him a light blanket. When Chairman Han answered, he would roll his eyes and laugh lazily.
Seeing that, Do-geon’s appetite dropped for some reason.
'Ha................'
That's why she was sitting at this table. Yeah, well, that was part of being a caregiver.
Jae-yeon hadn't even glanced over at him the entire meal, as if she wasn’t interested in talking to him. Do-geon stopped paying attention to her, too.
The conversation was going well, until suddenly, Ju-ryeong asked.
"So, Do-geon, are you seeing anyone?”
"Oh, not yet, I'm busy with work."
The adults commented on Do-geon’s answer.
"Well, if you're that good, they’ll be waiting in line.”
"It's harder because you’re overseas, but you still need to meet a Korean girl. Since you're in Korea, why don't you try to meet one?"
"Yeah, there are plenty of girls who wouldn't mind living in the U.S. Plus, she’ll be the wife of the director of IMK, so there's plenty to go around."
Do-geon chuckled softly.
"They’ll be grateful for a good position."
Marriage. The idea was still vague, but it's definitely on his mind, because it would help him with the rest of the life he had planned.
Especially in the family-oriented American culture, where a partner was expected to accompany you to every event, a spouse was a necessity. It was a necessary step for a comfortable and stable life.
"If you're sure about this, I have someone for you.................."
"Ai, if you say she’s good then I’ll trust you, but if she's still studying..................."
"Still, it's better that she's studied abroad than someone who's been born and raised in Korea all her life..................."
"If Do-seok gets married soon, you’ll be the only one of the chairman's grandchildren left."
During the conversation, Han Do-seok's marriage was mentioned. Do-geon unconsciously glanced at the woman. Isn’t it a big deal to talk about the marriage of a man you're dating?
Jae-yeon, however, didn't seem to be interested in the conversation at all, and was focused on feeding the chairman. Suddenly, the chairman noticed the empty seat next to Dong-woo and asked.
"By the way, Dong-woo, where is Do-seok …?”
At the same time as he asked, everyone's eyes were drawn to Han Do-seok's empty seat. Dong-woo stammered out an answer.
"Oh, he said he had an urgent call.................. It must be work, haha. He has been very busy lately, that kid."
"Busy… he’s walking around like he’s losing his mind. He’s going to get married soon.”
"Aww, not really, his schedule is so tight that he doesn't get much sleep."
Chairman Han still clicked his tongue in disbelief, but his eldest son, Han Dong-jin, chimed in.
"He should learn from Do-geon. It's ridiculous that we have to keep track of his schedule, but you never know."
"..................What do you mean, you never know?"
"I'm just worried that he's busy with something other than work, especially after what happened last time."
He was referring to the reprimand Han Do-seok received for going on an extramarital golf outing with female celebrities. For a moment, the table was silent.
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