Chapter 14
Pildoo stood crookedly in front of Seung-ah, his mouth corners drooping.
He blinked several times before reluctantly opening his mouth.
“I… may have overdone it earlier… ahem!”
Seung-ah remained silent, responding with a polite nod.
It must be over now!
Pildoo quickly tried to redirect the conversation.
“Uh, Chairman, I have something to discuss with you in private… regarding the nomination…”
“You’re discussing a matter that could determine Congressman Park’s political career with just a mere businessman? The timing is off; it’s still bright out.”
“Please don’t dismiss me so abruptly. Just hear me out…”
“The gifts you brought have been put back in your car. With that, let’s end this and you can leave.”
He even meant to return the golden turtle.
Ilbong, who had issued the “banishment” order, turned to leave. Pildoo, now desperate, blocked his path.
“N-No, why are you doing this again? I brought the gifts out of respect for Chairman Kim… just as a friendly gesture…”
“Thinking about receiving them only to have to throw them up makes my throat tighten.”
A blunt remark that naturally silenced him.
“You’ve worked hard to apologize insincerely, Congressman Park.”
Ilbong calmly stepped toward the party hall.
Eugene draped an arm over Seung-ah’s shoulder. As they headed to the party hall, only a stunned Pildoo and his aide remained.
From behind, Pildoo’s voice called out.
“Chairman! You know that if I don’t get the nomination this time, it’s really back to my hometown for me! Just help me this once…”
His voice was so desperate that Seung-ah couldn’t help but snicker.
She raised a hand to cover the twitching corner of her mouth. Eugene whispered softly.
“I think he might follow us.”
Ilbong glanced back, as if to say, I thought so.
“Congressman Park isn’t the type to back down quietly.”
With a mischievous grin unbefitting his age, Ilbong took Seung-ah’s hand.
“Shall we do a little running after a long time?”
“Huh?”
She was caught off guard as he pulled her along.
Though he spoke of running, Ilbong was nearly eighty. Even a brisk walk allowed him to keep up.
Meanwhile, Eugene came to an abrupt stop.
“G-Grandmother…?”
Watching Ilbong trot along like a sparrow with Seung-ah naturally made him laugh.
It was an unfamiliar sight for Eugene, who had always seen her as “Chairman Kim.”
Yet, at the same time, it was heartwarming.
Seung-ah arrived at the party hall in the garden of the mansion with Ilbong.
Pildoo’s desperate voice was gone, replaced by light classical music from the speakers.
“Congressman Park didn’t follow,” Seung-ah said.
Ilbong stopped to catch his breath, then smiled brightly.
“By morning, the intercom will be buzzing.”
“You mean Park Pildoo will come looking for Grandmother again? You’ll have to face him again?”
“Dealing with people is nothing new. It’s not a big deal.”
Eugene caught up to them belatedly. Seung-ah asked him,
“How did you two end up coming together?”
“While I was talking with Grandmother, Secretary Sim, quick-witted as ever, informed me. She saw the woman who came with me heading toward the pond.”
“Thank you. Your timing really helped.”
Ilbong gently tapped Seung-ah’s arm with a kind expression.
“Forget about that congressman now.”
The soft music faded as the orchestra began playing.
“It seems the party is starting, Choi. Shall we try the spread I prepared?”
Eugene stood beside Seung-ah.
“Choi Seung-ah, you’ll eat with me.”
“You live with Choi, so you’re always together. Seung-ah, go over there.”
Ilbong pulled Seung-ah toward him again. Eugene followed steadily.
Seung-ah now had Eugene on her left and Ilbong on her right.
Countless eyes from the growing crowd fell upon them, but neither Ilbong nor Eugene paid them any mind.
Ilbong cheerfully asked,
“What does our Choi like to eat?”
Before Seung-ah could answer, Eugene spoke for her.
“She likes fried shrimp.”
“I wasn’t asking you!”
Though his tone was sharp, Eugene didn’t flinch and continued.
“She also likes gambas, with plenty of garlic. She prefers it slightly spicy.”
Ilbong looked up at Seung-ah as if to confirm.
It would have been funny if she had contradicted Eugene, but Seung-ah could only nod.
“You know me… well.”
Eugene chuckled at her surprise.
“You talked about it at home when cooking, remember? How to make it taste good.”
“I did, but I didn’t expect anyone to remember.”
“And I saw the freezer packed with shrimp every time I opened it.”
Ilbong called his secretary.
“Secretary Sim! Tell the chef to freshly cook the fried shrimp for Choi Seung-ah. Fried shrimp tastes best right after cooking. And the gambas…”
Meanwhile, Eugene handed Seung-ah a glass of champagne.
“When did you and Grandmother become so close?”
“I see her often at the workshop.”
“Seems like there’s more to it than that.”
Eugene had been quietly observing Ilbong’s manner toward Seung-ah.
Even while extracting an apology from Pildoo, Ilbong subtly checked if Seung-ah had been hurt.
Since the day he brought her into the mansion, it was clear Ilbong had taken a liking to her—not just as a granddaughter-in-law, but personally.
Seung-ah took a sip of champagne.
“Ah, I helped Grandmother when she was in trouble once.”
“Seung-ah? For what?”
“She saved my life,” Ilbong interjected.
“She helped me when I was pickpocketed. The thief took my bag with my asthma inhaler, but Seung-ah happened to be passing by and retrieved it.”
Eugene looked at her, silently asking, Really? Seung-ah shrugged.
“I kicked him and knocked him down.”
She laughed with Ilbong, though her kick seemed more like a showy maneuver than a true flying kick.
“Impressive,” Ilbong clicked his tongue.
“If not for her, I’d have been in serious trouble. I was having breathing difficulties at the time.”
To think this happened while he was abroad, and no one had told him until now.
“Where was Secretary Sim while this happened?”
“No blame on her. I sent her on an errand.”
Of all times, it had to be when he was alone that the pickpocket struck.
It was a relief Seung-ah was there. Eugene shuddered to think what could have happened to his only family if she hadn’t been.
It was surprising she had never mentioned it before. Knowing the person she saved was the chairman of Hanul Group, she could have boasted a little.
She simply followed Secretary Sim, looking forward to the fried shrimp.
They sat at the table as guided, and soon the chef arrived, holding a large plate of appetizing fried shrimp.
“The chairman instructed me to make this fried shrimp specially for Choi Seung-ah.”
Seung-ah’s mouth dropped open.
“Wow!”
While admiring the dish, the chef bowed politely.
“Please try it and give your feedback…”
“Feedback?”
Ilbong answered for her.
“I warned him. The chef must keep frying shrimp until Choi Seung-ah is satisfied.”
“Oh, Grandmother…”
The chef placed a shrimp on Seung-ah’s plate.
“Grandmother and Chef, I will enjoy this!”
Seung-ah bowed and took a bite.
The chef also placed food on Eugene’s plate, but he didn’t lift his fork and simply watched Seung-ah.
She bit into the fried shrimp, exclaiming in delight. Her eyes widened, and a joyful smile spread across her face, like a commercial model.
She praised the chef enthusiastically.
“This is the best fried shrimp I’ve ever eaten!”
“Is that so? So it’s approved?”
“Of course! Grandmother is really fun, you know?”
While eating, she glanced at Eugene.
“Why are you staring?”
“Because it’s fun to watch.”
Seung-ah peeked at the smoked salmon on his plate, then returned to her own shrimp, picking one up with her fork.
“Here.”
Eugene hesitated briefly at the sudden offering.
He could have taken the fork, but instead, he accepted it directly into his mouth.
“Where do you put your hands when eating directly like that?”
Ilbong lightly scolded him.
Finally realizing her action, Seung-ah blushed.
It’s really nothing.
Indeed, it was nothing—time to continue enjoying the meal.
Yet Eugene could not focus on his own food.
His eyes kept wandering to the flushed Seung-ah beside him.
