[What shall we eat for lunch today?]
Honestly, since Father-in-law was quite stoic, I didn’t have high expectations. If it were our Saebyeok, he would reply immediately…
“Wahhh!”
A call came in right away.
As if the phone were a hot sweet potato, I was startled and tossed it upward.
“M-Mother-in-law, it’s a call for you.”
Mother-in-law was equally startled and answered the phone in a fluster.
“Yes, yes? Is something wrong?”
-Do I need a specific reason to call…
Mother-in-law, I can hear everything. Should I pretend I didn’t hear that…
Gong Pyeonghwa stood awkwardly still.
-Um, well. It’s quite warm today, so how about having cold noodles that you like?
“Ah…”
Oh! Father-in-law, you knew all along. Pretending to be indifferent but actually keeping track of things. Wow.
Gong Pyeonghwa whistled inwardly like a rogue and tried to recall. It had been over 8 years since he’d updated his information, but cold noodles. Cold noodles.
“Th-that’s a good idea. Okay. I’ll do that. You must be busy, I’m sorry for contacting you about something trivial. I’ll hang up now…”
-It’s not trivial.
“…”
-Just contact me anytime. I’m not that busy.
If Father-in-law isn’t busy, why is my dad always busy?
-Enjoy your meal and see you later.
“Alright. Um, work hard and come home safely.”
Mrs. Lee hung up the phone, flustered.
Gong Pyeonghwa showed Mrs. Lee, whose face was completely flushed, a compassionate Buddha-like smile and politely spread both palms.
“Mother-in-law, I won.”
Gong Pyeonghwa promptly took the phone.
Turning his back to his mother-in-law, who was fluttering like a young girl, Gong Pyeonghwa quickly scanned the phone.
Notice!
This is the ‘Living with In-laws 101’ group chat. Please follow these guidelines. (See more)
Oh my? This was quite a sight.
Gong Sonhwan
On my way to work
(Photo)
Lunch: raw beef bibimbap, beef soup
(Photo)
Cream cotton candy latte
Dad’s eating delicious food by himself.
Kang Seonga
(Video)
Iseul yawning
Ahhh Iseul! Daddy’s here! Daddy is trapped at your maternal grandparents’ house! Iseul! Cry to Grandma and Grandpa that you miss Daddy!
Gong Sarang
(Photo)
Selfie with Princess and baby Princess >.<
Gong Sarang, you’re really dead.
Gong Jeong
I’m reporting the situation in case you’re worried. Today, Shin Saebyeok started his first day at work, and for lunch, we had raw beef bibimbap and beef soup. We also ordered beef pancakes on the side, which I mostly ate. (This is a brag.) Being his first day and as an intern, I understand there won’t be any difficult work tasks. He’s scheduled to leave work on time today, and we plan to eat chicken soup for dinner. If there are any precautions like allergies, please feel free to let me know.
Everything’s fine but why is he bragging about eating all the beef pancakes? So annoying.
Raw beef bibimbap and beef soup sound really delicious. The cotton candy is pretty like a cloud too. Iseul’s yawning is so cute. I can already see she has good features. So pretty. Her small hands clapping are so adorable. With my in-law’s daughter and Iseul together, I can’t tell who’s the flower. They both have such beautiful features. Chicken soup is fine. Thank you for your consideration.
Mother-in-law, you don’t have to respond to all the messages. If you respond to things like this, that orangutan Gong Sarang will again…
Gong Sarang
(Video)
We just happened to come to a flower garden for a walk, where are you? ><
Is that mountain gorilla crazy?
“Mother-in-law, don’t indulge Gong Sarang. My dad has already spoiled her so much that she actually thinks she’s a princess…”
“Um, Mr. Gong. But if it’s just contact rights, there’s no need to hand over the phone, right?”
Did she regain her senses that quickly? That was fast.
It seemed impressive that Mother-in-law found her rationality in less than 5 minutes when it would have taken Gong Pyeonghwa at least 30 minutes to come to his senses.
Having no choice but to return the phone, Gong Pyeonghwa was shortly after granted permission for a video call with Iseul. He waved his hand tearfully.
“Iseul! It’s Daddy!”
But Iseul wasn’t interested.
“Iseul. Iseul! Iseul, here, here, you need to focus. Hey? Hey, dew!”
Usually Iseul was good at both listening and speaking, but she was too distracted by the wild walk with her grandmother and aunt to see her dad trapped in the phone screen.
-Looks like Iseul doesn’t need her dad. I’m hanging up. Nyeh.
That damn Gong Sarang…
Watching the video call end so abruptly, Gong Pyeonghwa recited the Heart Sutra in his mind.
“…Iseul is doing well, healthily. Yes… Ah, how joyful.”
He didn’t look joyful at all.
“Then shall we go eat?”
Iseul’s dad’s nose was already tingling at the thought of eating cold noodles with tear-soaked eyes.
***
The office that Saebyeok returned to after lunch was filled with the aroma of coffee to the point where it was hard to tell if this was an office or a café.
To overcome the post-lunch drowsiness, coffee was placed at each person’s desk.
Even those returning from smoking breaks were holding coffee in their hands.
After the chaotic lunch hour ended and work hours resumed, the office workers who had been loosely relaxed focused on their tasks as if they had never been distracted.
Shin Saebyeok also concentrated on the monitor until his face turned red.
“Time to go home.”
After focusing only on work, it was suddenly time to leave.
Wait, did he really only work?
Yes, he really only worked.
Only then did he feel the stiffness in his shoulders and the burning in his eyes. Still, thinking about looking a bit more, as he lingered on the mouse, a notification light flashed on the messenger.
[Executive Director-Gong Jeong: GoHomeGoHomeGoHomeGoHomeGoHome]
[Executive Director-Gong Jeong: LeaveOnTimeLeaveOnTimeLeaveOnTime]
[Executive Director-Gong Jeong: ChickenSoup]
[Executive Director-Gong Jeong: Which department still hasn’t tidied up their computers? Haha, is it Overseas Sales Team 1? Haha]
[Executive Director-Gong Jeong: Haha~ They might get in trouble~]
Shin Saebyeok finished organizing his surroundings without hesitation and left the office.
Everyone whispered as they watched Intern Shin Saebyeok, who had kept the chairman waiting for all of 3 minutes.
‘He’s not even trying to hide that he’s a parachute hire.’
‘Wow, royal family.’
‘Wow.’
He was indeed part of a royal family, but from a different house. The intern from the competing company’s noble lineage couldn’t explain and just got into the back seat that the executive director opened for him.
Shin Saebyeok was too overwhelmed to know what to do, but from Gong Jeong’s perspective, he simply didn’t want to sit next to his father and passed the bomb to someone else.
“Hmm. So, did you do well today?”
“What kind of work would he do on his first day? He probably just installed the company messenger and set up his computer. You should know better than anyone.”
“This rascal.”
Shin Saebyeok could only laugh awkwardly, unable to say anything.
“Today might have been disorienting as it’s your first day, but from tomorrow, you’ll be busy. Don’t chirp like a chick and handle things well on your own. I may have brought you in as a new hire, but I don’t think of you as a new employee.”
“With a boss like that, I can’t even resign.”
“What did you say, you brat?”
The title “I’m a new employee, but my boss doesn’t provide training or teach me work, and the company’s president tells me to figure it out myself, saying he doesn’t think of me as a new hire – is this a signal to quit? Are all companies like this? ㅠㅠ” immediately came to mind, but Gong Jeong said he wouldn’t write it on an employee community site for fear of hurting his father’s feelings, making a filial statement.
“Father, I am an unfilial son.”
“I know that.”
“Hah… To help you live longer, I should post online and have you cursed at, but I can’t bring myself to do that, so I’m an unfilial son—who else would be an unfilial son?”
It was quite the unfilial statement.
Chairman Gong pointed his finger angrily, telling him not to talk because it was annoying, and Gong Jeong made a gesture of zipping his lips.
He was just Gong Pyeonghwa with a more refined speech pattern.
Caught between the arguing father and son, Saebyeok just observed cautiously.
“Ah. Come to think of it, that guy will start coming to headquarters from tomorrow, right?”
That guy?
“Team Manager Dok?”
Team Manager Dok?
“That guy may lack social awareness, but he’s good at his job, so learn well from him.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Saebyeok, being accustomed to compliance and having a submissive personality, did well with whatever he was told. Unlike his own sons, Chairman Gong was quite pleased with his docile answers and gentle manner of speaking, and inwardly gave him bonus points.
Soon after, the car stopped, and Chairman Gong got out without looking back.
Saebyeok and Gong Jeong also got out of the car. But they couldn’t go in right away like Chairman Gong.
That’s because Gong Jeong stopped Saebyeok.
Gong Jeong twitched the corner of his mouth. He was smiling, but it wasn’t a genuine smile; it looked a bit concerned.
“There’s someone called Team Manager Dok.”
“Ah, yes.”
“It’s not that his personality is harsh or anything like that. No, wait. Maybe he is a bit harsh? Anyway, his surname is Dokgo, that’s why. His personality is also a bit intense, but he’s not a bad person, just often disregards personal space? Tends to ignore the implicit rules of society? Anyway, he lacks social awareness and sometimes courtesy too, but…”
Judging by what I’m hearing, he seems to have nothing but flaws.
“He doesn’t do it on purpose, so don’t take it too personally, and learn what you can from him. That’s what I’m saying. He’s good at his job. It’s just that Team Manager Dok doesn’t get along with mild-mannered people.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
