Today is the day when the honorary chairman Tae Seok Hyun and the daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law of the Han Kyung Group gather for lunch at Kyungwonjae once a month.

From the day I received the schedule, I felt strange somehow.

Seo Yeon’s paternal grandfather and the head of Han Kyung Group, Honorary Chairman Tae Seok Hyun, was a person who suddenly passed away in her previous life after missing the timing for treatment.

People thought that Chairman Tae was usually so healthy that he neglected his health management due to overconfidence, but in fact, he had hidden his precarious health to prevent the troublesome situation of stock prices falling amid all sorts of speculation just from getting a check-up.

Although he was her grandfather-in-law, Seo Yeon had rarely had a one-on-one conversation with Seok Hyun in her previous life.

What she remembered was that, like her husband in her previous life, he had almost no expression, showed no interest in Seo Yeon, and was so scary that family members and employees could barely make eye contact with him and trembled in fear.

As Seo Yeon was lost in thought, recalling her grandfather-in-law’s appearance when he was alive, Seong Jun’s voice was heard in front of her.

“You don’t have to struggle to attend every time. If you want to skip, I’ll let them know, so you can.”

Seo Yeon gave him a playful glare.

“How can I be the only one to skip when everyone from Mother to Aunt is participating today?”

“You can skip. It’s not that important. You’d better enjoy your hobbies at home or practice the piano.”

It seemed ironic that he said this so easily while he himself had been working even on weekends until now to gain Seok Hyun’s favor.

But come to think of it, her husband had always been like this. Even though it was his own family, he didn’t show his face unless it was an absolutely necessary event. Work was always his priority, and he was a man who knew nothing but work.

Thinking that at least she should keep her place, she more desperately participated in family gatherings and events. Although no one welcomed her, after years of enduring sarcasm while showing her face, now some people had come to accept it as normal.

It was pathetic, but it was an achievement for Seo Yeon. So to not let her past efforts go to waste, it was right to keep her place today as well.

“No, I want to go to see the elders’ faces after a long time and greet them.”

“We saw them last month, and every time. Unnecessarily.”

“I want to see Grandfather too.”

At Seo Yeon’s words, Seong Jun’s eyebrows slightly raised. And for a moment, he looked at her as if curious. It was a look as if gauging whether she was sincere.

“Others find it difficult to please the old man who nitpicks at everything, making it hard to even say a word to Grandfather, but it seems you’re different. Aren’t you afraid of the cranky old man?”

His words were true. Was it because she had experienced the situation once before? Seo Yeon didn’t find meeting Seok Hyun burdensome.

No matter how scary people said he was, could it be scarier than not being able to protect her child and receiving news of her husband’s accident? Except for those two things, nothing in this world scared Seo Yeon.

“I don’t know if you’re fearless or just acting tough. It’s strange when I look at you.”

No matter how strange you think it is, it can’t be stranger than this situation where you and I are talking so comfortably right now.

The fact that you’re in front of me and that you don’t look down on me.

Seo Yeon muttered in her heart.

And she realized once again that the relationship between the two, which had been so cold before that they were lucky to exchange even one word a day, had become quite close.

And Seo Yeon didn’t dislike such a change. Even if it was a change that would someday change again.

Seong Jun, who seemed to have finished preparing for work and was moving towards the entrance, suddenly turned around.

“When does it end?”

“Thinking about usual times, it should end around seven o’clock.”

“I’ll come pick you up in the evening.”

Seo Yeon looked at Seong Jun with surprised eyes. This was something that had never happened in her previous life. Her mouth didn’t open easily. She could only manage to say one word, abbreviating her curious thoughts.

“Do you have time?”

“I’m saying I’ll go because I do.”

Seong Jun said his piece almost like an announcement and turned around. Left alone in the living room, Seo Yeon’s brows furrowed.

“Why is he suddenly saying he’ll come pick me up.”

Once again wondering if she was attaching meaning to her husband’s small actions, Seo Yeon shook her head and hurried to prepare to go out.

*

Although there were still two hours left until the time she had been told, the alley where Kyungwonjae was located was filled with black sedans.

While making the food was the job of the employees, everyone had arrived early to at least help with placing plates and utensils.

But even the task of setting plates and utensils on the table wasn’t something anyone could do just because they wanted to.

Only the eldest or the most influential members of the family could enter the dining room.

Of course, Seo Yeon, who was treated as a nuisance in Han Kyung, couldn’t enter that place, nor was she in a position to dare to converse with Seok Hyun.

As she opened the main gate, a pond appeared in the center of the well-maintained landscape.

Crossing the stone bridge connecting the entrance after passing through Kyungwonjae’s prized garden, the building’s entrance finally came into view.

As she got a little closer, a familiar face at the building entrance came into sight. It was Min Ji, Seong Jun’s cousin. Just then, Min Ji, who had spotted Seo Yeon, twisted her face as if displeased.

“Hah.”

It was the moment when Seo Yeon, who had lowered her head, tried to pass by Min Ji after giving her an eye greeting.

“You let your hair down?”

Min Ji’s voice stopped Seo Yeon.

“Ah.”

Only then did Seo Yeon realize that she had let her hair down, unlike usual. It was probably after hearing from Seong Jun that her hair looked pretty when it was down. Since it wasn’t a conscious action, she felt somewhat embarrassed.

No. Really, was it true that she didn’t do it consciously? Did she perhaps unconsciously want to look good for her husband?

“Why aren’t you answering? Are you planning to sit there with your mouth shut like an invisible person and then slip away today too?”

Thinking that Seo Yeon’s serious silence was due to being flustered by her words, Min Ji spoke in an even more triumphant voice.

“Do you think you’re some kind of celebrity? What’s with that look? Is this some kind of event venue?”

Seo Yeon lowered her gaze and checked her clothes. Except for letting her hair down below her shoulders, it was the same modest attire as usual.

Well. Come to think of it, Min Ji was someone who used to sneer, asking if this was a funeral, even when Seo Yeon used to keep her hairstyle tightly tied up as if afraid to show even a single strand of hair.

She was a woman who would spare no criticism for whatever action Seo Yeon took, as if she had prepared a tailored strategy.

There was no need to try hard to manage her expression. Due to the humiliation she had endured over the past few years, Seo Yeon was adept at hiding her emotions. Moreover, the current situation didn’t even qualify as humiliation. Seo Yeon smiled brightly and said,

“It’s the same as usual except for letting my hair down… I’ll take it as a compliment that it looks good. Thank you for the praise.”

“Huh?”

Min Ji’s complexion turned pale as if she had seen a ghost. And for good reason, as until just recently, she had been a woman who never talked back no matter what insulting words she heard. But now, when she should be lying down as if dead, she was talking back.

“Has she gone crazy? Why is she suddenly like this?”

While Min Ji was staring at Seo Yeon’s back in disbelief, muttering with her eyes wide open, Hwa Young, who had been carefully observing the scene, quietly passed by her and followed Seo Yeon.

“Seo Yeon.”

Seo Yeon turned her head when someone tapped her shoulder.

“Ah, Mother. You’re here?”

Realizing Hwa Young’s presence, Seo Yeon bowed politely.

“Yes. It’s been a while, right? You came early. You look pretty today.”

Seo Yeon stared at Hwa Young with an expression that suggested she didn’t know what to say.

Although in a different way, Hwa Young had also been one of the people who had been tormenting Seo Yeon as if they couldn’t wait to devour her. She was definitely not someone who would approach Seo Yeon first with such a friendly face.

“Min Ji, that girl. She was irritating you again, wasn’t she?”

“…”

“Be patient, Seo Yeon. She’s jealous because you’re prettier than her.”

It was a shocking and new interpretation that the reason for hating Seo Yeon was not because of the Han Kyung Group corruption scandal caused by Jung Hyuk, but because she was pretty.

Meanwhile, through the open door, Seo Yeon’s eyes met with Min Ji, who had not yet entered the house. She frowned as if displeased.

“That kid, she grew up as an only daughter, so she’s very jealous and selfish. Her mother raised her like such a princess that she really grew up thinking she was one. That’s why even as an adult, she can’t stand having someone prettier than her around. So Seo Yeon, you should forgive her. Okay?”

This was also something she was hearing for the first time. While Seo Yeon was lost in thought, finding Hwa Young’s evaluation and interpretation of Min Ji interesting, Hwa Young’s cautious voice was heard.

“Um, Seo Yeon.”

Seo Yeon lowered her gaze slightly and replied.

“Yes, Mother. Please speak comfortably.”

For a moment, Hwa Young, who seemed to hesitate while looking at Seo Yeon like that, carefully opened her mouth.

“I’m just asking out of curiosity… Did you meet well with Director Tae back then?”

Wondering what she meant, Seo Yeon recalled the time when she had gone to Hwa Young’s house to serve her at her call, but had left early saying she had an appointment with Seong Jun.

“Yes. Thanks to your consideration, I was able to arrive on time.”

“I see?”

Hwa Young’s expression darkened upon hearing Seo Yeon’s answer. It was as if she had just witnessed a bolt from the blue right in front of her. But it was only for a moment. As her eyes met Seo Yeon’s, Hwa Young smiled brightly again.