After that, Seo Yeon visited Gyeongwonjae several times.

She had broken the implicit rule of not seeking him out before Seok Hyun called for her.

It seems her behavior looked suspicious.

“Are you really interested in management, not just joking? If so, you don’t need to visit grandfather so often. I can look into a position for you.”

Seo Yeon grimaced at her husband’s unexpectedly serious words and said:

“What are you talking about? Of course I was joking then. How could I who’s only played piano all my life do management? You do plenty of that boring stuff, Seong Jun.”

However, that answer didn’t seem to erase Seong Jun’s suspicions. His eyes narrowed at Seo Yeon’s response.

“If you’re not interested in management, why do you keep visiting grandfather?”

“I told you before. I originally like older people.”

“There are many good older people in the world, why specifically the Chairman?”

Seo Yeon glanced at Seong Jun as if dumbfounded.

“Why are you talking like that? He’s your grandfather.”

One of Seong Jun’s eyebrows raised crookedly.

“I’m saying this because I know him well.”

“That day when you accompanied me, grandfather didn’t know you were coming. But there were many spicy and stimulating foods. Usually grandfather only eats bland food.”

Seong Jun stared at Seo Yeon as if he hadn’t known. His heart softened a bit at the fact that his grandfather, who never cared for others, had been considerate of his wife. He replied in a mellowed voice:

“Still, don’t visit too often. And if you do go, come back early.”

“Why?”

Furrowing his previously smooth brow, Seong Jun replied:

“I feel like I’m losing you to grandfather. We haven’t had time to date lately.”

“……!”

How could he say such things without changing his expression? And was this the reason he seemed displeased lately?

“Do I have to eat alone again today?”

Seo Yeon felt her face heating up at her husband’s actions, staring at her with intense eyes as if needing a definite answer, not taking his gaze off her for a moment.

Seo Yeon answered in a calm voice to hide her agitation:

“Um, I’ll come back early today.”

Seong Jun’s lips curled up slightly, as if his mood had improved at Seo Yeon’s answer.

“Alright.”

Seo Yeon, who had momentarily lost herself in his handsome smile, fell into thought.

Could it be that her relationship with her husband has become closer than in her previous life, making Ye Rin’s actions unpredictable?

When Seo Yeon didn’t respond, Ye Rin sent her messages like someone possessed by anger.

Why does she hate me so much, as if cursing me, when I should be the one hating her? As Seo Yeon was pondering this, a message arrived from her.

−Let’s meet face to face.

It was a different pattern from the usual curse-laced messages with unclear purposes.

After deliberating, Seo Yeon wrote a message accepting her proposal and stating she would set the time and place.

She had thought it was better to ignore her messages since she had no intention of leaving her husband for the time being, but if Ye Rin wanted to meet face-to-face, there was no reason to avoid it. Just as Seo Yeon finished writing the message and was about to press send:

“Who is it?”

“……A friend.”

“Is that so?”

Seong Jun’s eyebrows slowly raised. He stood directly in front of Seo Yeon without saying anything for a moment, examining her face. His strangely expressionless face made her tense.

“How’s your practice going?”

But belying her tension, Seong Jun asked a question with a nonchalant face.

“It’s going smoothly. At this rate, I think I can hold my first concert in the fall.”

“If you have any difficulties along the way, don’t hide it and tell me. I’ll help you.”

After leaving those words, Seong Jun gave her face one more look before turning away.

Seo Yeon stared blankly at the empty space where he had already left for work.

Except when she was young, there had been no one in her life who offered to help her without any purpose. Yet it was strange that her husband, who had felt more distant than others in the past, was now readily offering to help her.

*

Upon arriving at Gyeongwonjae, an unexpected face was waiting.

“Aunt, hello.”

Ji Young, who was looking Seo Yeon up and down as if she had encountered an unwanted face, replied with a sour expression.

“You’re here?”

Ji Young, who had been standing near the entrance, approached Seo Yeon. Then with a bright smile, she said:

“So. I hear you’ve been coming to Gyeongwonjae often lately to see father?”

Seo Yeon was surprised. Despite her reluctant expression, Ji Young had acknowledged her greeting, when previously she would ignore Seo Yeon’s greetings.

And despite Seo Yeon entering Gyeongwonjae without her permission, she asked with a smiling face without showing any displeasure.

There was no way she had said that with good intentions. The Ji Young that Seo Yeon knew liked to keep the Han Kyung family members under her control.

She was not someone who would tolerate her impulsive actions. What on earth was going on? After pondering, Seo Yeon nodded obediently.

“Yes. Grandfather seemed lonely, so he told me to visit often.”

“Father…… said that……?”

“……Yes.”

At that moment, humiliation welled up on Ji Young’s face. It was words she hadn’t heard in the past 10 years.

Ji Young knew the reason was because of her incompetent and greedy husband.

She was suffering this humiliation because of her foolish husband who failed spectacularly in business every time, despite her own family helping whenever a crisis arose.

‘Foolishly just watching his nephew.’

Although Seong Jun followed Seok Hyun’s orders the least, he was Seok Hyun’s most cherished grandson.

Despite receiving little support, he achieved the most brilliant results and eliminated competitors one by one, probably reminding Seok Hyun of his own younger days.

Though no one openly talked about it, it was a fact everyone secretly knew.

Anxious about this, she had repeatedly told her husband that Seong Jun should be the one they guarded against the most.

What was favorable for them was that Seong Jun was not friendly towards Seok Hyun, and Seok Hyun, seemingly displeased with Seong Jun’s prickly attitude, only threw the most troublesome and unprofitable affiliates at him.

Despite being the most alike, they were like oil and water. It was because they were similar even in their unnecessary pride and stubbornness.

But now this impudent youngster in front of her was acting as a bridge between the two. She was giving wings to Seong Jun, who already had almost no competitors.

She was so upset she wanted to slap her, but she couldn’t even do that.

For whatever reason, both Seong Jun, who had seemed uninterested in his wife until now, and Seok Hyun, who didn’t interfere in women’s affairs, were now paying attention to Seo Yeon.

“Seo Yeon.”

Ji Young smiled. And asked in a rather affectionate voice:

“It seems like you and Seong Jun have become much closer lately, unlike before. Am I right?”

Seo Yeon hesitated at Ji Young’s words. What should she answer? After deliberating, she nodded obediently.

“Yes. We do seem to have become much closer than before.”

Ji Young smiled as if pleased with Seo Yeon’s answer.

“No. I understated it. What do you mean just closer? Seong Jun seems completely smitten with you. When I see him unable to take his eyes off you, Seo Yeon.”

Is that how it looked to other people? Hearing about her relationship with Seong Jun from an unexpected source, Seo Yeon’s heart fluttered for no reason.

“So I guess that’s why Seong Jun, who wouldn’t set foot in Gyeongwonjae unless there was a family event, is now coming and going with you.”

Ji Young, who had been nodding as if understanding, turned her gaze to Seo Yeon.

“But Seo Yeon.”

“Yes, Aunt.”

“It’s an important time for Seong Jun right now. Making someone tired from company work come to Gyeongwonjae often, getting on his nerves. It’s not a good thing for either Seong Jun or you.”

“……”

“Now that you’ve gotten close to your husband, don’t do this stifling thing, go out and have nice dates. Unlike older people like me, that’s more important and precious for young people. Time is limited, it’s a waste, isn’t it?”

Ji Young was warning Seo Yeon not to set foot in Gyeongwonjae anymore, using the gentlest language she could.

Seo Yeon found it a bit strange.

While Ji Young wasn’t the type to openly state what she wanted due to her personality, she also didn’t try so hard to speak indirectly like this.

If it was the Ji Young that Seo Yeon remembered, when she wanted something, she would have spoken more directly and contemptuously, as if making an announcement. She had enough power not to need to be mindful of anyone’s feelings.

“Thank you for your words.”

Seo Yeon, who had been silent for a moment as if observing the situation that had changed from before, quietly opened her mouth.

“I’m already going on dates with my husband whenever we have time, Aunt.”

“……Is that so?”

“And if grandfather wants, I intend to see him often like now. I feel like I haven’t done my duty to grandfather for the past 3 years because of my inadequacies. And of course, it’s not stifling at all.”

“……!”

It was a clear rejection. Ji Young widened her eyes as if she hadn’t expected Seo Yeon’s refusal.

She pressed her lips tightly together and glared at Seo Yeon with trembling eyes for a moment, unable to hide her emotions, but after a while, as if calming herself, she smiled, raising the corners of her mouth.

“You’re doing what Seong Jun can’t do. You’re doing well. Keep showing your face often and be a companion to father like you are now.”

After that, Ji Young conveyed a few words of advice including some well-wishes before leaving. Only then did Seo Yeon let out a small sigh. Her shoulders were stiff, as if she had been unknowingly tense.