Episode 19
Myung-sook looked up a number and made a phone call. When the other party answered, she softened her voice, speaking in a gentle tone.
“Director, how have you been? Itâs me, Ahn Young-sook from TK.”
â “Yes, maâam. How have you been?”
The calm voice of a middle-aged man came through the receiver. The person she called was Director Lee of Joeun Hospitalâalso the long-time family physician who had taken care of the familyâs health for years.
After exchanging brief pleasantries, Young-sook sat down on the sofa. She gestured for Mrs. Kang to bring her tea and lowered her voice to get to the point.
“Director, you know that Seorin is staying with us, right?”
â “Yes, Iâve heard that through the grapevine. I heard sheâs staying at TK and being looked after.”
“Looked after? Thereâs nothing to take care of. Sheâs polite and helpful. Honestly, Iâm benefiting more than she is. Thatâs why I calledâyou see, Iâd like to ask you for a favor.”
â “A favor? What kind of favor?”
“I want to find a marriage match for that girl.”
â “A marriage match?”
“Yes, you know how parents are. This is a good time for her to settle down with someone from a decent family. If there’s someone suitable at your hospital, please help arrange a meeting.”
â “But shouldnât we consider her opinion on that⊔
“Why not? If itâs a doctor from Joeun Hospital, thatâs more than ideal.”
Young-sook laughed loudly. In the kitchen, Mrs. Kang, who was taking out teacups, shook her head at the sound. She knew full well that if Byeoryul found out about this, it would cause another uproar.
Perhaps because Young-sook pressured the director so much, it didnât even take half a day before a marriage meeting was arranged. The director sent over several profiles, and Young-sook casually flipped through them before throwing one in front of Seorin.
“This manâs family is well-known in real estate. Not bad, right?”
Seorin scanned the documents quickly. A man she had never seen before smiled awkwardly in the photo.
“Iâm sorry, maâam, but I donât understand what youâre talking about.”
Young-sook, acting completely innocent, replied:
“Seorin, I want you to go on a blind date.”
“A blind date?”
She said it as casually as if she were asking her to go buy bean sprouts from a corner shop.
“Itâs just that this is so suddenâIâm honestly a bit flustered.”
“Flustered? Come on, youâre at the age to start thinking about these things. Wouldnât it be nice to have someone? Tae-yoon is getting engaged soon, so I asked Director Lee to find a nice, dependable man for you. Itâs really not a bad thing.”
As Young-sook spoke, Seorin could read her intentions clearly.
She wanted to get rid of Seorin.
Next to her, Mrs. Kang looked nervous and fiddled with her hands. Seorin could already imagine what had happened. The pressure that had been held back was finally being released.
Seorin stared at the documents in front of her. The profile, recommended by Director Lee and selected by Ahn Young-sook, couldnât be rejected outright. Even if she declined now, another profile would surely appear soon after.
“Youâre never going to marry Baeyoon anyway. You know that Ahn Myung-sook would never accept you.”
Seorin remembered what Chae-hee had said during their last meeting. The technical alliance between Ohsung Group and TK, the declining Dongyoung Foods, and the fierce look in Ahn Myung-sookâs eyes whenever she looked at her.
“Why are you like this, Eun Seorin? Didnât you already decide to let go of unnecessary emotions?”
Seorin composed herself and lifted her head.
“Yes, maâam. I understand.”
She looked straight into Ahn Myung-sookâs eyes with a firm gaze.
“Iâll go on the blind date.”
Young-sook immediately lit up with joy.
“Good. You made the right choice, Seorin. A doctor is a solid match, donât you think? Iâll arrange it soon, very soon. Okay?”
“Yes.”
“Now go rest a bit. Or would you like to go out? Itâs been a while since you visited your home, hasnât it?”
During her stay at Hyeonmujae, Seorin hadnât been able to visit her father who had already been discharged from the hospital. It had been weighing on her mind.
After a brief hesitation, Seorin carefully asked:
“Would it be alright?”
“Of course. Iâm free this afternoon anyway.”
Having gotten what she wanted, Young-sook allowed her to go out without fuss.
“Okay, then Iâll go and come back soon.”
Seorin bowed politely and left. Young-sook watched her walk away with a satisfied smile.
Seorin took a long bus ride to the Dongyoung Foods factory located on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province. In her hands were bags full of snacks. She remembered the factory workers who always complained of hunger after workingâthose thoughts made her smile a little.
Getting off the bus and walking a bit further, she saw the Dongyoung Foods sign. The courtyard beyond the fence, once full of trucks waiting for delivery, now stood completely empty.
A sense of gloom appeared on Seorinâs face. How did Dongyoung Foods end up like this? It was once the leader in the industry.
She entered the factory, and the workers who had been smoking outside quickly put out their cigarettes. They fanned the smoke away and patted themselves down to clean up as they greeted her with smiles.
“Well, look who it isâit’s Seorin!”
“Hello, Mr. Yang.”
“What brings you here, when you should be resting at home?”
“Coming here is my way of resting. Whereâs my dad?”
“Heâs inside, as always, but… hmm.”
Mr. Yang hesitated. Mr. Kim elbowed him to stop and signaled him to be quiet. Watching Seorin closely, Mr. Yang cleared his throat awkwardly.
“You… better go inside. Just donât be too surprised.”
Seorin tilted her head in confusion. Who could be here that made them act so weird? Sheâd find out soon enough. Smiling calmly, she lifted her hands to show the snacks.
“Iâll go in then. I brought snacksâcome and eat later.”
“Sure, sure.”
They waved awkwardly, and Seorin walked past them, unaware of their nervous expressions.
Passing the first floor filled with factory equipment, Seorin headed toward the office upstairs. As she reached the office hallway, she heard loud shouting from inside.
“How dare you come here? Get out right now!”
It was her aunt, Eun Ae-sun, yelling. Ae-sun was usually cheerful and had taken care of the household after Seorinâs mother passed away. Despite her long years of responsibility, she was never known to yell like this.
“Whatâs going on?”
Seorin put down the shopping bag on a nearby table.
“Well…”
A staff member sitting nearby couldnât find the words to explain. Instead of waiting, Seorin walked toward the CEOâs office where the voice came from. Who could cause this reaction?
As she approached, the office door flung open, and someone stormed out.
Tall. Unforgettable handsome features. A perfect suit fit. The person stepping out was none other than Seo Taeyoon.
“Oppa? What are you doing here?”
Frozen in shock, Seorin couldnât even speak. Her aunt Ae-sun stormed out after him, shoving him.
“Get out now! That cursed familyâthereâs no worse fate than being tied to you!”
“Ae-sun, please.”
Seorinâs father came out to stop her.
“Thatâs enough. This isnât Taeyoonâs fault.”
“Youâre not even angry? Look at what TK did to us!”
Ae-sun stomped her feet in rage but stopped when she noticed Seorin standing in the hallway.
The moment she said those words, both her father and Taeyoon turned to look at Seorin.
She stood motionless, silently watching the three of them. Ae-sun exploding in anger, her father trying to calm things down, and Taeyoon with his lips sealed like a sinner.
That alone was enough for Seorin to understand.
Taeyoon had finally found out. He now knew that the downfall of Dongyoung Foods was orchestrated by Ahn Young-sook of TK Group.
Why had they reached this pointâone that no one wanted?
No matter how hard they tried to avoid it, they still ended up here. The pain of it all, the bitterness of being destroyed by others, overwhelmed Seorin.
To hide her sorrow, she quietly closed her eyes.
