Chapter 24. Like Someone Out of Their Mind

“Wow, this brat is really yelling at his grandfather!”

“Grandpa, how can I not yell right now?!”

“Hey, what did you say?”

“Why would you send an innocent, rabbit-like girl to live with a sly fox of a man?!”

Mrs. Jincheon, who had walked close to the couch and table, turned her head and laughed out loud.

Chairman Joo clicked his tongue and scolded Taeseong.

“You brat, how dare you call your older brother a fox!”

“Do you know how much of a player he is? He changes girlfriends every two months!”

“So?”

“I’m saying you never should’ve let her tutor him! Ugh, it’s already past nine—why isn’t she back yet?”

Taeseong glanced at the clock in frustration. Seeing his angry face, Chairman Joo sighed and clicked his tongue again.

“Are you jealous?”

Taeseong quickly turned to his grandfather.

“No! I’m not jealous, I’m worried. Even if she doesn’t look like it, she’s really innocent!”

“Wasn’t it you who didn’t like Haeyoung before? Hmm?”

Chairman Joo raised his eyebrows playfully.

“That was then. Things are different now.”

“What’s so different?”

“Back then, I didn’t know her well. Now I do. And Gijun knows her even better.”

“Aigoo, you fool. Instead of blaming Gijun, why don’t you think about treating Haeyoung better yourself?”

“Grandpa, I’m your grandson! Whose side are you on?!”

Taeseong grumbled and flopped down next to Chairman Joo. He started shaking his leg nervously like someone anxious.

Chairman Joo couldn’t stand it and pressed down on Taeseong’s knee with his palm.

Then, unlike before, he spoke in a serious tone.

“I allowed Haeyoung to tutor Gijun and let her take him porridge and medicine today because I’m confident nothing will happen between them.”

“But still—”

“I trust both Gijun and Haeyoung.”

Chairman Joo’s face was kind, but his voice was strict.

“So think about why you’re acting so emotional when you don’t usually act like this.”

“I’m not being emotional…”

Taeseong mumbled to himself.

Just then, Haeyoung came home and walked into the living room.

“Oh? You’re all here?”

She smiled softly and came over to them.

“Oh, you wouldn’t believe how much Taeseong—”

“Grandpa!”

Taeseong quickly stood up, grabbed a fork, and picked up an apple.

“Here! Have some apple!”

“…Heh.”

Chairman Joo laughed at the apple being pushed in his face.

Look at this kid.

He glanced at Taeseong with a small smirk, then took the fork as if letting it slide just this once.

When Chairman Joo took a big bite out of the apple, Taeseong finally relaxed and sat back down.

Haeyoung naturally sat on the couch across from Chairman Joo.

“Did Gijun eat the porridge?” Mrs. Jincheon asked.

Haeyoung nodded as she took off her coat.

“Yes, and I stayed to make sure he took his medicine too.”

“Why did you need to stay for that too…?”

Taeseong turned his head and muttered sarcastically.

Chairman Joo clicked his tongue again at his childish behavior and quickly cleared his throat, feeling the need to change the topic.

“Now that everyone’s here, I might as well say it now.”

“What is it?”

Mrs. Jincheon nodded like she already knew, while Taeseong still sounded annoyed.

“My birthday is coming up, and I’m planning a party.”

Chairman Joo smiled warmly as he looked at Haeyoung.

“I was thinking of announcing that you’ve officially become part of our family at the party. What do you think?”

“Oh…”

“Would that be okay with you?”

Haeyoung froze. She hadn’t expected that.

Chairman Joo didn’t know, but she and Taeseong were planning to get divorced in a year.

That was if his confession to his first love succeeded—but that part didn’t really matter.

The main point was that she and Taeseong didn’t love each other enough to stay married.

Besides, there was little chance his first love would reject him.

He was becoming more and more of a fine young man as he neared twenty.

Even she could see that clearly, and the woman who hadn’t seen him in a long time would be even more shocked.

So, the confession would probably succeed…

“Haeyoung.”

“…….”

“Hey, Haeyoung. What are you thinking about? Say something.”

Snapped out of her thoughts by Taeseong’s voice, Haeyoung flinched.

“Oh, uh…”

“Is it too much pressure?”

“N-No, it’s not that…”

She stammered, looking toward Taeseong.

Their eyes met, and she silently asked what she should do.

Taeseong, who had been quiet until now, turned to Chairman Joo.

“You already decided everything, didn’t you? That’s your specialty—decide first, tell us later.”

“Haha… well…”

Chairman Joo let out an awkward laugh, glancing at Haeyoung.

Yes, everything was already prepared. But if Haeyoung truly felt uncomfortable, he would cancel it.

“That’s true… but if it really bothers you, I’m okay with canceling it.”

“No, Grandpa. I’m fine with it.”

Trying not to make him feel bad, Haeyoung smiled as she answered.

As Taeseong walked up to the second floor and headed to his room, Haeyoung called out to him.

“Joo Taeseong.”

Taeseong stopped walking and turned around.

“What.”

At his rude tone, Haeyoung frowned and walked up to him.

“What are you thinking?”

“What do you mean?”

“The party—if we go through with it, everyone will know I’m your wife…”

The word “wife” felt awkward, so Haeyoung paused before finishing her sentence.

Whether he noticed that or not, Taeseong stared straight at her with a cold look.

“I mean… you like someone else, right? There’s no need to spread rumors like that. If that girl finds out later, it could be awkward.”

Feeling embarrassed, Haeyoung tried to explain.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“…….”

“The noona I know wouldn’t treat me differently because of something like this.”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that—!”

“Then what about you, Cha Haeyoung.”

Taeseong cut her off.

“Why do you ignore what I say?”

His sharp tone and intense stare made Haeyoung press her lips together.

“I told you Kwon Gijun is dangerous.”

“…….”

“So why did you go?”

“…….”

“To his house, where he lives alone, carrying food like you’re his wife.”

Taeseong clearly didn’t try to hide his anger, spacing out each word.

“I just—”

As Haeyoung tried to explain, Taeseong went into his room like he didn’t want to hear any of it.

Click.

The door closed instantly, and Haeyoung, left alone, let out a sigh.

She shouted toward the closed door.

“Do I have to do everything you say?! You childish jerk!”

Still angry, Haeyoung huffed and added another line.

“You’re seriously, seriously the worst, Joo Taeseong.”

But no answer came from inside the room.

It was a night where their feelings, though slowly turning toward each other, ended up hurting one another through misunderstanding.

One week later.

Early in the morning, Haeyoung blinked her sleepy eyes.

“Oh, it’s today…”

She muttered quietly, then got up and pressed her fists against her temples.

Thinking about acting like the daughter-in-law in front of everyone already made her cheeks hurt.

And seeing Joo Taeseong’s still-awkward face all throughout the event would be exhausting too.

Sigh…

Knock knock—

Just as Haeyoung sighed, a knock came at the door.

“Yes!”

She quickly jumped out of bed and opened the door.

“Madam…?”

Mrs. Jincheon stood at the door dressed for going out, smiling brightly.

“Miss Haeyoung, hurry and get changed.”

“Huh?”

“There’s no time.”

“But the party is in the late afternoon…”

“Exactly! That’s why we have to start getting you polished and glowing right now!”

“Whaaat?”

With Mrs. Jincheon’s serious tone, Haeyoung’s day started early with a packed schedule.

After getting a massage and spa treatment with Mrs. Jincheon, Haeyoung headed to the department store.

“Welcome.”

As they entered a luxury brand store, the staff lined up and greeted them as if they’d been waiting.

“W-What is all this?”

“We have to pick the outfit you’ll wear today.”

“But I…”

I’m okay with anything.

Haeyoung mumbled quietly under the pressure of the situation, and Mrs. Jincheon patted her on the back.

“You need to look the prettiest today.”

“We’ll help you right away.”

As soon as Mrs. Jincheon spoke, the staff came over eagerly.

Haeyoung tried on outfits that Chairman Joo had selected in advance.

Before she knew it, she was exhausted.

“Whew, I didn’t know trying on clothes could be this tiring.”

Picking an outfit wasn’t easy with Mrs. Jincheon’s surprisingly picky taste.

To Haeyoung, all the expensive clothes looked the same, but clearly not to Mrs. Jincheon.

“…Do I really not have to buy all this after trying it on?”

She muttered inside the fitting room, and the staff helping her kindly replied,

“All the outfits Chairman Joo picked have already been paid for. Everything except the one you’re wearing today will be delivered to your house.”

“…Huh?”

Stunned by the sheer scale of it, Haeyoung didn’t even get to ask more questions as the staff zipped up her dress and stepped back.

“Shall we go out?”

Click—

As the staff opened the door, Haeyoung stepped out without saying anything.

“Oh my! This is the one!”

And then came Mrs. Jincheon’s excited voice, clearly approving of the outfit.

In front of the K Hotel banquet hall, Haeyoung hesitated and looked at Mrs. Jincheon.

“This feels so awkward… The outfit, the makeup…”

“No, you look so beautiful. Now go ahead—Chairman is waiting.”

With Mrs. Jincheon’s encouragement, Haeyoung finally nodded and stepped into the banquet hall.

“Oh—”

Right away, she saw Gijun and Taeseong standing together.

Seeing someone she knew in this unfamiliar place gave her an unexpected sense of comfort.

With a bright smile, like a newly blooming flower, Haeyoung walked toward them.

“Joo Taeseong, Gijun oppa!”

So happy to see them, she didn’t even realize they were staring at her like they were in a daze.