chapter 15
Seoha lived in this house with her maternal grandmother and worked as an accountant at a factory. Most of the money she earned inevitably went toward her grandmother’s medical bills.
However, after being fired from the factory, she couldn’t find a new job, and while she was unable to visit the hospital properly, her grandmother passed away.
“I only found out late and brought her to the hospital, but the complications were too severe—it was too late to do anything. Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Well, maybe even you didn’t know. Damn it!”
Jaewook muttered as he chewed on some pork belly. How he could be so irritable about everything was remarkable.
“By the way, why are you just picking at the lettuce? Don’t you know meat gets tough if it cools down?”
“It’s been meat for several days now. I’ve already said I personally prefer a vegetarian diet.”
“How many times do I have to tell you that you’d wake up in the middle of the night just to eat meat? And patients are supposed to eat meat—you need protein to recover!”
“Excessive animal protein can actually be harmful to patients. Everything is better in moderation.”
Seoha wiped her mouth with her fingers in front of her half-empty bowl.
“Thank you for the meal. I appreciate your help today as well.”
“That’s all you’re eating?”
“I feel heavy if I overeat.”
Jaewook looked incredulous and poured the remaining rice from Seoha’s bowl into his own.
“Go get ready.”
“For what?”
“You said you’re going to the hospital today. I’ll take you, so be ready in thirty minutes.”
“I appreciate it, but I can go alone.”
“I’m not offering because I have free time. I have a bulk order to deliver over there anyway.”
Though reluctant, Seoha rode Jaewook’s fruit truck to the hospital. The cigarette smell that clung to the seats made riding the truck far more unpleasant than taking a bus or subway.
“How long will your treatment take?”
“A few hours. Don’t worry about me, go ahead.”
As soon as Seoha arrived at the hospital, she jumped off the truck. In reality, she wasn’t here for outpatient treatment—she came to find her mother.
If she could talk to her mother face-to-face, maybe her mother would regain her senses. Even though she was in a completely different state, she recognized Seoha at once.
For Seoha, this family was her only hope, her lifeline.
‘Perfect weather for a walk.’
After her treatment, Seoha headed to the garden behind the hospital where she had met Haeseon before.
It was an excellent choice. Haeseon appeared on the opposite side of the walking path, and she was alone.
‘Why is she alone?’
Neither Kyungjun nor any caregiver was in sight. Feeling both joy and worry, Seoha hurried to grab Haeseon’s hand.
“Mom!”
“…?”
Haeseon looked puzzled at Seoha suddenly blocking her path, then smiled brightly.
“My baby. Did you have a good day at school?”
Tears welled up uncontrollably. Seoha quickly wiped them with her sleeve and smiled back.
“Do you recognize me, Mom? Who am I?”
Haeseon blinked several times. The smile on her lips slowly faded.
“You’re a stranger. Is your name…?”
“CEO!”
At that moment, Kyungjun came running from Haeseon’s direction, shouting. Sweat covered his forehead, and his jacket was draped haphazardly over his hand, as if he had run all over the hospital searching for Haeseon.
“What are you doing? I warned you last time!”
Kyungjun grabbed Seoha’s wrist while gasping for breath, causing her to let go of her mother’s hand.
“Ouch!”
“You were peeking last time too when the CEO came out. Why do you keep sneaking around? What’s your purpose?”
Kyungjun growled aggressively, blocking Seoha’s view of Haeseon.
“That’s extremely rude.”
Seoha lifted her chin and stared directly at him.
“What did you say?”
“Don’t cut me off subtly. Am I your subordinate?”
Kyungjun didn’t answer. His gaze toward Seoha was complex, inscrutable like a spy’s.
“I was just taking a walk after outpatient treatment, and I saw someone not in full control of their mind alone, so I held her hand because I was worried. Meanwhile, what were you doing while CEO Kang was wandering alone that you can come now so confidently? Do you know I could report you for assault right now?”
The grip on her wrist loosened. Seoha rubbed her sore wrist and turned away. She wanted to say a few more words to her mother, but with Kyungjun here, that was impossible.
“Something’s off. She never called her CEO Kang in front of that woman.”
Kyungjun muttered quietly, watching Seoha walk away.
“And… why does she talk just like Yoon Seoha?”
Seung-oh Lee and Ryu Kyungjun were on their way home from work.
The car was silent, not even a radio or music.
“It’s spring.”
Kyungjun, who had been staring ahead while driving, said something completely out of place. Seung-oh was slightly taken aback and awkwardly replied:
“Yes. It is spring.”
“How does it feel to have tanked S/S season sales again, after last year and the year before?”
“It’s not like we completely tanked…”
“You did. The chairman was very disappointed.”
In three years, Seung-oh had only met Chairman Ryu of the Taeyang Group once. But that one meeting had such an impact that the word “Chairman” became traumatic for Seung-oh, whose patience and capacity were extremely limited.
“Check the design team. It was a mistake to appoint Lee Jisoo as the main designer due to personal relations.”
“I was just judging by skill.”
Kyungjun sneered.
“Taeyang Group is not a charity. Remember that your performance here will significantly affect key positions after the M&A.”
Seung-oh had no reply, only biting his lips nervously.
During his first year as CEO, Kang Yun’s work remained stagnant. The following year, sales declined, and the year after that, the decline was even steeper.
The car entered the apartment complex. Aptly named “DH Forest,” the complex was eco-friendly throughout and was a house Haeseon had given her daughter as a wedding gift.
“Let’s go in.”
Kyungjun stopped the car and politely opened the rear door. To outsiders, he appeared merely as an assistant or secretary efficiently aiding the CEO.
“Thank you. See you tomorrow.”
Seung-oh bowed deeply.
“Yes. That’s all.”
Kyungjun moved to his parked car and drove out. Seung-oh exhaled in relief and took the elevator up.
“What is that smell?”
As soon as the elevator doors opened, a pungent smell hit him. Given the apartment layout, it was clear the smell came from his unit.
“Honey!”
Seung-oh swung the front door open to see Jisoo wearing a cute apron, holding a ladle, rushing out.
“Oppa, you’re home! Give me your bag. And your clothes.”
“What is that smell?”
He handed her his bag.
“I made cheonggukjang. I’ll make you delicious ssambap, so take a bath first. I already ran water for you.”
“Cheonggukjang?”
Seung-oh’s face twisted. Jisoo noticed immediately.
“Yes, I remembered you liked it back then… You don’t like it now?”
“That was at your place! How can you make it here?”
Jisoo rented a rooftop studio before, but this house was a luxury apartment with marble and wood interior. The ventilation system barely circulated air, and she made cheonggukjang?
“The smell will linger for days.”
Grumbling, Seung-oh opened all the windows he could and turned around, feeling strange.
“Honey! What are you doing?”
Jisoo had been about to pour the pot into the sink and looked startled.
“I-I’m sorry! I’ll throw it away quickly.”
“Why throw it away? You’ve already cooked it.”
Seung-oh took the pot from her hands, put it on the induction stove, and tasted some that had splashed on his hands.
“Tastes good. Give me rice. I’m hungry.”
“R-Really?”
Jisoo’s face lit up immediately.
She always reacted to Seung-oh’s words with laughter or tears. If he was late, she dozed on the sofa, waiting. At dawn, she’d make freshly cooked rice and soup for breakfast.
It felt good—being treated like the head of the household made him feel confident and proud.
For the first few months, it was like this.
Seung-oh looked at Jisoo across from him with renewed eyes.
Since they began living together, Jisoo decorated everything with luxury or designer brands—everything she used before, everything new. Even the hairpin she wore now was a foreign luxury brand.
He had wanted to give her all this: only the best clothes, the best food, never suffer again.
Yet he felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
“How’s the F/W collection coming along?”
Holding his spoon, he asked. Jisoo pouted.
“We agreed not to talk about work during meals.”
“Now isn’t the time for that. The samples will be ready this month, right?”
“It might take a bit longer. Another person resigned.”
“Again?”
While Seoha was team leader, no one resigned in the design team. Now, five people had already left. Naturally, work efficiency dropped, and new designs were chaotic.
“It’s okay. I’ll handle the design. The person who resigned hadn’t been here long and wasn’t essential.”
“….”
Seung-oh put his hand to his forehead mid-meal.
He loved Jisoo but had to face reality. Her designs were too safe, too bland. Good if anyone could wear them, bad if they were just generic designs sold everywhere.
“We need a new brand. A new designer.”
Jisoo’s eyes widened.
“A new brand and designer? Then what about me?”
“You’re not losing your position. We just need to hire more people, and the new brand has been planned since you were fine.”
“But—”
“Do as I say.”
Seung-oh cut off Jisoo before she could argue. Even leniency has limits. If the M&A fell through, the loss wouldn’t be minor.
