Chapter 18
Kang Young-jun looked back and forth between Kang Da-som and Baek Sung-tae. Taking out his phone to check his schedule, he nodded.
“Do that.”
“Thank you, oppa.”
“No need to thank me. This much is nothing. Later, you should get a secretary too.”
“If you know someone good, please recommend them.”
“I’ll look into it.”
After finishing her meal first, Kang Da-som nodded politely and left the dining room. After washing up and changing clothes, she found Baek Sung-tae standing in the hallway.
“And oppa?”
“The Vice Chairman has gone to work.”
“Alright. We have somewhere to stop by. Can we ask Director Baek to drive?”
“Understood.”
Baek Sung-tae took the wheel, and Kang Da-som sat in the back seat. She immediately made a call.
“It’s me, Director Min. Did you prepare what we talked about last time? Great, I’ll come pick it up now.”
From the other end came the polite voice of Min Yu-rim.
After hanging up, Kang Da-som leaned back in the seat.
“Thanks for going along with it.”
“I thought this would be better than causing the Vice Chairman unnecessary discomfort. It’s not something I did specifically for you, so don’t worry about it.”
“Director Baek, you’re really loyal.”
“…….”
“I wonder why. Just talking to myself, so don’t worry about it.”
When the car stopped, Baek Sung-tae glanced back, and Kang Da-som lightly smiled with her eyes and changed the topic.
“Please take me to Cheonmyeong Department Store.”
“Understood.”
After a brief shopping trip at Cheonmyeong Department Store, Kang Da-som headed to her family’s home in Seonam-dong.
“You came early.”
“Yes, the traffic wasn’t bad.”
She was greeted by the housekeeper. As Kang Da-som nodded, Baek Sung-tae handed over a bouquet of flowers, releasing a strong fragrance.
“I bought these on the way. I thought they’d look nice on the dinner table.”
“I’ll place them there.”
“Thank you.”
“Please make yourself comfortable in the living room. Would you like some coffee?”
“Coffee is fine. I’ll have tea instead.”
The housekeeper bowed slightly, took the bouquet, and went inside. When Kang Da-som had drunk about half her tea, there was a commotion near the entrance.
“Oh my, someone got here before me? Da-som?”
Jung Ha-na came out into the living room, already switching into slippers as if it were routine. She acted as comfortably as if she were in her own home, having visited Seonam-dong frequently.
Kang Da-som stood and bowed politely.
“Hello, unnie.”
“Hello, Da-som. It’s the first time meeting you without Jin-woo.”
“Same here. Ah, since you’re older, you can speak comfortably with me.”
“Oh, still, there’s hierarchy, so how can you say that?”
“I haven’t been dating Seong-hoon oppa for long. I have a lot to learn from you.”
Kang Da-som set down her finished teacup and smiled softly. Jung Ha-na plopped down next to her.
“Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
“Sorry, then I’ll speak freely. As you know, Seong-hoon oppa’s had a few girlfriends, so it was tiring to always be treated kindly. Oh, I’m not saying you’ll change. You and Seong-hoon oppa suit each other well.”
“I know what you mean.”
Kang Da-som smiled softly to reassure her. She spent time chatting with Jung Ha-na.
“If you’d gone to the department store, we might have crossed paths.”
“If I’d known you were there, we would have shopped together. It’s a pity I didn’t have your number.”
“Number? Oh, really? Let’s exchange numbers. We’ll be seeing each other often.”
Jung Ha-na and Kang Da-som exchanged numbers. Kang Da-som held her phone with Jung Ha-na’s number saved and smiled slightly.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Oh, I actually wanted to get closer to you, unnie. I’m happy we exchanged numbers.”
“Getting worked up over something like that? Anyway, your outfit is really pretty.”
When Jung Ha-na complimented her outfit, Kang Da-som returned the compliment. Just then, Jang Joo-bin came downstairs.
As if on cue, both Jung Ha-na and Kang Da-som stood to greet him.
“It’s a long time until dinner. Why did you come so early?”
“To see our mother, of course.”
Jung Ha-na ran over and acted cute. Despite her long years in the family, Jang Joo-bin had only three sons.
Unlike her vow to prevent daughters from living a similar life, since she couldn’t have a daughter, Jang Joo-bin frequently called her daughters-in-law over and scolded them regularly.
“This is our first time meeting, so we thought it’d be rude to come late, and wanted to help if needed.”
“What help do you need? I just called you over. Sit comfortably.”
Jang Joo-bin naturally perched on the sofa at the main seat.
“Ah, this is a gift for mother.”
Jung Ha-na handed over a thin, flat box beside the sofa. A thin silk string was wrapped around the wrapping.
“Buying more stuff again? I told you not to buy these every time I come.”
Though she said that, Jang Joo-bin’s hands were already unwrapping the package.
“It’s a limited-edition table book from France. I heard you once hosted a salon culture exhibition, so I thought you might like it.”
Jung Ha-na’s gift was a limited-edition table book and stand set by the author Espar Drode. Jang Joo-bin admired the pages as he flipped through them.
“This isn’t a book; it’s a frame, a frame. This is why I like things like this. How did you even get this?”
“I was lucky.”
Jung Ha-na smiled awkwardly, brushing it off.
‘She really knows how to handle people.’
Kang Da-som held a small shopping bag tightly in both hands. Jung Ha-na noticed and spoke.
“Oh, the younger one prepared something for mother too.”
Jang Joo-bin, having received the table book from his secretary, looked at Kang Da-som. She stood slightly and carefully placed her shopping bag on the table in front of him.
“It’s small. I just bought it in case. Sorry if it’s inconvenient. It’s a brand I like recently. Oppa Seong-hoon said you’re sensitive to scents…”
“That’s fine.”
Jang Joo-bin muttered as he unwrapped the gift.
“By the way, what scent is popular these days? They all smell the same to me.”
“That’s possible. But this one’s unique. It’s a collaboration with a French sculptor.”
“Petit Maison? What brand is that? I’ve never seen it.”
“It’s only in Paris. It was a limited collaboration during an Orsay Museum exhibition, not even online yet. I got it through a friend. I thought you’d like it…”
Jang Joo-bin touched the ceramic drop with his fingers and smelled it. The sculpture was detailed, and the scent was subtle and pleasant.
“It’s pretty, and the scent isn’t strong. Perfect for the study. Thank you.”
“No, thank you.”
“Why sit so far? I can’t hear you.”
Jang Joo-bin gestured, and Kang Da-som moved slightly closer. Around sunset, Lee Soo-ha arrived.
Though she came over thirty minutes early, the three were already deep in conversation.
Unlike the casually dressed pair, Lee Soo-ha wore a designer two-piece suit, high-end pearl earrings, and a bracelet, with hair and makeup clearly done at a salon.
“Mother, I’m so sorry I’m late. The traffic was a bit bad—”
“I thought there was plenty of time today. Sit comfortably.”
Jang Joo-bin gestured to the end of the sofa next to Kang Da-som. Lee Soo-ha awkwardly smiled and moved over.
“I tried to adjust so I wouldn’t be a nuisance by coming too early… Next time I’ll come even earlier.”
“Alright.”
“Ah, and this is a gift for you, mother.”
Lee Soo-ha handed over a shopping bag with the department store logo. Inside was a luxuriously wrapped Benoit signature crystal teapot, sparkling elegantly.
“Oh, Benoit, huh? Looks like crystal is back in fashion.”
“I heard you like tea. This line is a limited edition this year.”
“Oh, this. Mrs. Shin gave it before. Back then, the teacups were original, but now the process seems different, a bit lighter.”
