“Oh, Mr. Gitaek. It’s really been a long time. I heard you’ve been very busy lately, but I’m so glad to see your face like this.”

Hyesoo replied with a bright smile.

Naturally and lovably responding, Hyesoo didn’t even listen to Gitaek’s reply. Instead, she turned her attention to Mi-jeong this time.

“Mother, please try this too. It’s delicious. Ah! The side dishes over there are a bit far, so it’s hard for you to reach. Let me scoop some onto your plate.”

Her attentive gesture of taking care of others before herself was quite endearing. Mi-jeong responded warmly.

“Oh, thank you. Hyesoo, why are you so kind, doing things even for me?”

As Hyesoo delicately placed a plate of greens in front of Mi-jeong, she responded with a shy expression.

“No, Mother. You’re much kinder than me.”

“Oh, dear. Look at this one! How can I be kinder than you? I’m much older than you.”

Mi-jeong laughed, saying she didn’t have to say such things. Then, Hyesoo, seemingly unfairly, extended her hand and replied.

“No, Mother. Really. In fact, I’m not good at empty words… and…”

“…?”

“The massage shop you visit, I also use their services. Although we haven’t met because you visit at different times, you seem to be better taken care of than me. You meticulously manage it, and it seems even better than mine.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. That’s why my skin care manager, Director-nim, always says that among the customers who visit, your skin is the best. So I thought I’d mention it.”

Hyesoo, who had been eloquent until now, hesitated for a moment, then said to Mi-jeong.

“Mother, let’s go get a massage together sometime.”

“Oh, that sounds good, Hyesoo.”

Mi-jeong finally burst into laughter due to Hyesoo’s flattery.

Thanks to Hyesoo, who only spoke pleasant words, the dining room became livelier than usual.

Seeing this scene, Gitaek, feeling amused, let out a chuckle and took a seat in the vacant spot.

Hyesoo, who was sitting across from him, glanced at Gitaek with a side-eye. When their eyes met, she smiled brightly.

Gitaek sighed deeply and said to his grandfather, Baekho.

“I thought it was a family meal, but maybe I misunderstood.”

“Kid, just eat. Why bring that up now? It’s a bad habit to talk like that in front of invited guests.”

Baekho, answering gruffly with his tongue, suddenly made a loud noise as if he was irritated.

“You don’t listen to me well, so it’s coming out like this. If I don’t say it’s a family meal, you probably won’t come.”

“Because you keep lying every time. Didn’t you know?”

“Because you don’t listen to your father, this is what happens. If you don’t want to come, don’t come. Didn’t you know?”

“I wouldn’t come because you keep lying every time. Didn’t you know?”

“Did I lie from the beginning…”

At that moment, Hyesoo intervened.
“Chairman, please cheer up. I’m fine. I’m just happy to be invited. And Gitaek, he’s busy, but he still came late. Don’t say that, okay?”

“Hmm, okay.”

“Anyway, let’s finish the meal happily and have a chat.”

“Sure. Let’s just finish the meal.”

As Hyesoo gently teased my grandfather and he quickly softened, Gitaek let out a chuckle once again.

It was absurd to invite Cha Hyesoo, blending naturally among my family members, claiming it was a family meal. I had clearly mentioned it before.

Gitaek glanced at Baekho but quickly averted his gaze. Then, he lowered his head.

The marriage talk with Cha Hyesoo was already off the table. She agreed to it. So, it was obvious that the unilateral decision made by my grandfather was foreseeable.

Gitaek reluctantly played along, pretending to enjoy the meal. He planned to fill the time and leave.

“By now, it should be time for her to be in the studio.”

Gitaek’s attention was entirely directed toward Autumn, who was in the dining room. Originally, his plan was to visit her right after work.

Thinking about Autumn, a faint smile crept onto Gitaek’s face, which had been furrowed all this while.

He glanced down at the snack set he had placed gently beside him.

I hope she likes it.

Gitaek’s meal gradually became drier as he impatiently waited to deliver the snacks to Autumn.

Then, suddenly, a scream echoed inside the dining room.

“Ah!”

Hyesoo, who had been smiling all along, suddenly frowned, holding one side of her face.

All eyes turned to Hyesoo.

Surprised by her pained expression, Mi-jeong was the first to ask a question.

“Oh, Hyesoo. Why are you like that?”

“Oh, Mother…”

With tears welling up, Hyesoo pointed at one side of her mouth.

“I think I bit on a stone… I think I chewed on a stone.”

“Oh no, what should we do? Maybe it wasn’t properly thawed.”

Hyesoo pointed at the dish she was referring to while painfully explaining.

“A stone… I think there was a stone in it.”

“Oh dear, what do we do? It seems the thawing wasn’t done properly.”

Mi-jeong urgently called Hui-seon, who was in the kitchen.

“Hui-seon, can you come here for a moment?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Wearing vinyl gloves covered in seasoning, Hui-seon entered the dining room. Mi-jeong immediately asked.

“Who made the cockle salad?”