The Heiress in Blue - Chapter 27

“It’s a truly wonderful morning!”

Yeo Reum’s overly bright greeting caught the attention of not only Gi Taek’s family sitting at the dining room table, but also Ju Hwa.

“It’s a wonderful morning, isn’t it?”

The staff standing to the side glanced at Ju Hwa, trying to gauge her reaction.

Sure enough, her brow was furrowing.

Whether Yeo Reum noticed this or not, she approached In Pyo and said,

“Here, this is my seat.”

In Pyo was taken aback.

So were Ju Hwa and Jeong Mi.

As In Pyo was about to say something in disbelief, Yeo Reum spoke first.

“But there’s no wine here?”

It was an abrupt remark.

“If there was, aunt Jin would really like it. No, the whole family would really like it. Right, great-aunt Jin?”

Jeong Mi’s face turned pale.

Ha Eun was the same.

In contrast, In Pyo and Sophia frowned.

“Shall I order some? Though the resort would be better than here?”

As Yeo Reum even took out her cell phone, Jeong Mi hurriedly said,

“In Pyo, what are you doing? Hurry up and give your seat to Yeo Reum.”

He looked at Jeong Mi in disbelief.

She quickly shook her head and frantically gestured with her eyes.

“…Alright, sit here.”

Though seeming irritated, he moved to the next seat.

As a result, Sophia’s seat was automatically shifted as well.

“What do you think you’re doing? Who told you to sit there?”

As Yeo Reum took In Pyo’s seat, Ju Hwa raised her voice.

Gi Taek stepped in.

“Sister, Yeo Reum is part of our family too, so it’s only right that she eats here.”

“Enough, you get out.”

This time, Jeong Mi intervened.

“Brother-in-law. If you keep this up, you’re putting us in a difficult position.”

Yeo Reum’s hand was holding her cell phone, lightly swaying it.

Seeing Ju Hwa’s brow furrow deeply at this, Jeong Mi bowed her head and said,

“What she’s saying isn’t wrong. Yeo Reum is part of our family too. But if you treat her badly, it makes us look bad in front of the staff. People will think we’re encouraging you to mistreat Yeo Reum. It’s just a meal. So just let it go.”

Jeong Mi urgently poked Ha Eun’s thigh beside her.

“Do as she says, auntie.”

“She’s right, auntie. Family should eat together. Is the seating arrangement really that important?”

Even In Pyo stood up for Yeo Reum.

“Sister, let’s just eat.”

As if trying to ease the tense atmosphere, Gi Taek stepped in again.

Ju Hwa glared at Yeo Reum sitting right in front of her.

That brightly smiling face seemed to displease her even more, but she eventually picked up her spoon and said,

“Let’s eat.”

Facing Yeo Reum, Gi Taek gave her a look of relief.

Yeo Reum smiled broadly, put her hands together and said loudly,

“Thank you for the food!”

Picking up her spoon, she scooped up a piece of fish and put it in her mouth in one go.

“It’s really delicious! What are you all doing? Don’t just look at my face, hurry up and try it. It’s to die for!”

Jeong Mi and Ha Eun were forcing smiles to the point their mouth muscles were cramping, while In Pyo and Sophia, though smiling, ate mechanically as rage surged inside them.

*

“I told you time and again to drink gracefully even when having alcohol! What an embarrassment you’ve caused because of this! Why do I have to give up my seat to that wretched girl!”

As soon as he entered his room, In Pyo yelled at Ha Eun.

“I admit I made a mistake. But this is Jung Yeo Reum’s fault! What can I do about that evil bitch!”

“Shut that mouth of yours!”

“You only lost a seat at the table, but I lost my room! Do you know where I slept last night? In the study! My back hurts and my whole body aches! I’m ten thousand times angrier than you, so why are you yelling at me!”

“This all happened because you’re stupid! How dare you blame others!”

“Stupid? Are you done talking? You made a lot of mistakes in the past too! Should I bring them all up?”

“Stop it!”

As the siblings’ emotional fight escalated, Sophia stepped in to mediate.

“Honey, this is more Jung Yeo Reum’s problem than Ha Eun’s.”

“Exactly!”

Ha Eun shouted.

“You saw it too, that Jung Yeo Reum is more cunning than we thought. She was threatening us with a smile.”

“You’re right, son. That bitch is the problem, not Ha Eun. Someone unmanageable has entered this house.”

Jeong Mi also shook her head as if exhausted.

“Honey, if we let Jung Yeo Reum be, something big will happen.”

At Sophia’s words, everyone looked at her.

“Do you have a good plan?”

“Let’s report Ha Eun’s video to madam.”

“…Sister-in-law!”

Ha Eun was shocked.

“Or do you want to keep being dragged around by Jung Yeo Reum?”

“But then I’ll get scolded terribly by auntie! Especially after what happened last time!”

“You’ll just get scolded for a bit, but Jung Yeo Reum is different.”

“What?”

“You know how much madam hates Jung Yeo Reum. But imagine if she finds out about the video and that she even threatened you and our family. Do you think madam will let that slide?”

In Pyo said,

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.”

“…Oppa!”

“Either way, this will eventually reach auntie’s ears. I’ve reached my limit in blocking the legal team. So let’s voluntarily pay our dues. But Jung Yeo Reum will die at auntie’s hands.”

Jeong Mi asked,

“Do we really have to use that method?”

“Mother, if you have a better idea, please share.”

At Sophia’s sarcasm, Jeong Mi closed her mouth.

“There’s no other option. We need to make sure Jung Yeo Reum dies by madam’s hands. That’s the best move.”

With everyone’s gaze telling her to accept it, Ha Eun eventually made a tearful face.

*

“What’s going on?”

Ju Hwa, doing a final check in the master bedroom’s dressing room before heading to work, asked.

The butler was standing in the full-length mirror.

“What do you mean?”

“Why is Jung Yeo Reum sitting at my table?”

“It wasn’t me, the young lady sat there herself. Moreover, Representative Kang’s entire family agreed to it. Ah, and as of yesterday, Ha Eun’s room has also been transferred to Miss Yeo Reum.”

Ju Hwa turned around.

“What did you say?”

“Let me rephrase that. The room has been returned to its rightful owner.”

“What on earth is going on?”

“Why are you asking me? Madam, you know the current situation. No, is it a bit unexpected?”

“What?”

“The fact that Miss Yeo Reum is following in the exact footsteps of the previous young madam when she was in this house, do you really not know? Well, I suppose you’d be flustered since the outcome is quite different from what you expected.”

Looking at the smiling Mr. Park, Ju Hwa’s brow furrowed even more.

“Now that I think about it, the young lady’s personality is exactly like the chairwoman’s, not the young master or previous young madam. She takes after her grandmother.”

“Who’s a grandmother? Stop talking nonsense.”

Ju Hwa turned and walked out.

Her footsteps were heavy as if she was irritated.

*

“Are you going out?”

Returning from seeing Ju Hwa off, the butler’s eyes fell on Yeo Reum.

Wearing a padded jacket with a bag slung over her shoulder, she came down the stairs with a spring in her step, looking excited.

“Yes. I’m going out for a bit.”

The butler walked with her to the front door as if to see her off.

“Do you have a date?”

“Oh my, Mr. Butler.”

Yeo Reum laughed.

“Why, you’re so pretty, do you not have a boyfriend?”

“Actually, there is someone I have my eye on.”

“Really?”

“Yes. He’s a really good person.”

“A good person?”

“Literally a really good person. Plus he’s handsome, has a nice voice. Anyway, in my 25 years of life, I’ve never met such a cool guy.”

“Does he live in Seoul?”

“Probably, I think?”

“Probably?”

“He seems to live here, but I don’t know his exact address.”

“What about his workplace?”

“Hmm, I don’t know.”

“His family?”

“I don’t know either?”

Her face grew worried.

Yeo Reum laughed and said,

“I don’t know much about him. I only know his phone number.”

“Just his phone number?”

“Yes. But I know. That he’s a really good person. And I have a feeling we’ll meet again.”

“A feeling?”

“Yes. A feeling like we’re tied by fate.”

Ah, talking about San Ha makes me miss him more.

Noticing the butler looking at her, Yeo Reum smiled awkwardly.

“Of course, right now I’m on my way to get an application form to look for a part-time job.”

“You’re going to work part-time?”

“Lounging around doing nothing makes my whole body itch, I can’t stand it.”

Plus, she didn’t want to waste unnecessary energy with the three women in this household.

“The chairwoman will have to give permission…”

“That’s true.”

That’s why I can’t get a proper job either.

Yeo Reum let out a small sigh.

“But Miss.”

“Yes.”

“What happened yesterday after I left?”

“Why?”

“Didn’t you take over the dining room table? And even Executive Director Kang In Pyo’s seat at that.”

“Didn’t you say it was my seat, Mr. Butler?”

“Well, that’s true. But honestly, I didn’t expect you to do that even in front of the chairwoman. This is a huge deal.”

Yeo Reum, who had been smiling, leaned close to the butler’s ear and said softly,

“The old hag kept threatening me, so I threatened her back a bit with Ha Eun’s video.”

Looking at the flustered expression on the butler’s face, Yeo Reum put on her shoes at the entrance.

“Alright, I’ll be back!”

“Take care and come back safely.”

Waving to the butler, Yeo Reum ran out the front door.

She saw the facilities management team tending to the flower bed nearby.

“Good morning, everyone!”

She greeted them, waving both arms widely.

“Yes, Miss!”

They responded in kind.

Yeo Reum dashed towards the main gate in an instant.

“Our young miss is lively as ever today.”

“Indeed.”

“Did you know that Miss Yeo Reum not only took over Miss Ha Eun’s room, but also entered the dining room today?”

“Really?”

“She pushed aside Executive Director Kang and sat there.”

Even as he said it, he looked incredulous.

The two men beside him were the same.

“And Madam Kang just watched and didn’t say anything? Are you saying Executive Director Kang really went along with it?”

“No one could say a word. Madam Kang even told Executive Director Kang to give up his seat.”

“Our young miss is really amazing!”

They were greatly pleased.

“Right? I think our young miss is amazing too!”

“Could it be that the chairwoman is favoring the young miss?”

“No, that’s not it. The chairwoman told her to leave the dining room immediately, but the executive director’s entire family defended the young miss. Saying family should eat together.”

“Family? That’s laughable. When they’re itching to tear Miss Yeo Reum apart.”

“Indeed.”

“I think it’s probably because of Miss Ha Eun’s video.”

“Right, if that reaches the chairwoman’s ears, there will be trouble. But I’m worried about Miss Yeo Reum too. In the end, it was the young miss who posted the video. If that impacts the company’s stocks, the chairwoman will be furious…”

“True.”

Leaving behind their worried expressions, Yeo Reum crossed the wide garden, passed the checkpoint, and arrived at the bus stop.

A bus happened to come, so she quickly got on.

‘It would be nice if I could work near San Ha…’

As she looked out the window, San Ha’s face came to Yeo Reum’s mind.

While talking with the butler, she had a sudden realization.

That other than his phone number, she knew nothing about him.

But it felt awkward to ask about his personal details via text.

‘Still, if I go there, I might be able to meet him…?’

Yeo Reum thought of the food stall where she had met him.

Looking at her wrist watch, it was 8:30.

It was still early.

Would he be there at this hour?

Yeo Reum’s heart started pounding.

In the meantime, the bus entered the main road and as the familiar streets appeared, she got off.

She hurried to the food stall as soon as she bought an application form from the stationery store.

It was definitely early, so the streets were quiet and the food stall hadn’t opened yet either.

For a moment she almost felt disappointed, but steeled herself.

‘He seemed to know the food stall owner. That means San Ha often ate the fish cakes here, so this area must be part of his usual route. Let’s look for him.’

Yeo Reum walked around, looking at the passersby.

When she saw a tall person, her gaze would automatically linger, but it wasn’t him.

After walking around like that for about an hour.

She spotted a large figure wearing a padded jacket with his eyes closed on a bench in a small park.

The flip-flops on his feet too.

‘My tiger!’

The corners of Yeo Reum’s mouth rose uncontrollably.

Her legs were already running towards him.

“San Ha!”

He flinched.

His dark eyes appeared between his tousled hair.

And as expected, a dumbfounded expression.

Yeo Reum ran towards him, joyfully calling his name.

“San Ha!”