Chapter 115
“I really said it because it’s delicious.”
“You don’t need to lie that much. It’s the same tea bag as before.”
Cheong-yeon shook his head with a grin. Do-heon’s gaze lingered on that clear face for a long time.
A little while later, after taking another sip of tea, Do-heon continued his explanation. After all, to naturally pretend to be a couple, they needed to align their stories about aspects Grandmother might be curious about, at least roughly.
By the time they needed to depart, their conversation had ended. Meanwhile, Do-heon’s mug had been emptied.
“By the way, what’s with your hair?”
As Cheong-yeon was preparing to get up, Do-heon suddenly asked.
“I was wondering when you’d bring that up. I thought you said you respected my fashion choices.”
“It’s a question arising from pure curiosity.”
Do-heon, pointing out the hair that had been dyed a brighter color and trimmed to fit the audition requirements, adamantly claimed it was just pure curiosity.
Cheong-yeon casually ran his fingers through his hair with a shrug. As he did so, his Omega pheromones subtly spread around.
“I changed it for an audition. Does it look strange?”
“It suits you well.”
This time, Do-heon shook his head without any sign of disapproval. He checked the watch on his wrist.
“We should leave now.”
Then Do-heon opened the ring box he had brought. Watching him take out the wedding ring from the case, Cheong-yeon bit his lower lip anxiously.
“Can I ask you one favor?”
Do-heon pulled in his chin as if to say go ahead.
“When we go to see Grandmother today… at the dinner, please don’t leave me alone. I might get cursed at by Moon Hee-jin while you’re away.”
“I heard about it. Sister seems quite agitated. What did you do?”
Do-heon asked with great interest about what had happened. Fortunately or unfortunately, it seemed Moon Hee-jin hadn’t detailed the whole story.
Cheong-yeon couldn’t bring himself to truthfully say that he’d made an impossible threat about smearing her department store’s exterior wall with her face. It was a somewhat shameful content to admit from his own mouth.
“I’ll, I’ll tell you later. For now, we should get going. Anyway, today you really can’t leave me alone and go out to take calls or move away from me. You have to take me with you even when you go to the bathroom, okay?”
Cheong-yeon extended his hand and requested again to Do-heon.
“I promise.”
It was meant for Do-heon to give him the ring so he could put it on himself, but Do-heon seemed to interpret it differently as he took Cheong-yeon’s hand and slipped the ring onto his fourth finger.
The moment their hands touched, his heart fluttered greatly.
‘I promise.’
Three years ago, while putting the wedding ring on his finger, Do-heon had said the same words.
Could it be that he remembered and said it intentionally?
He stared at him with surprised eyes, but Do-heon’s expression was the same as usual, making it difficult to distinguish whether it was coincidental or intentional.
“Let’s go.”
Do-heon held the hand he had just put the ring on and turned towards the entrance. Cheong-yeon lowered his head to look at their clasped hands. Then he swallowed dryly upon discovering that Do-heon’s ring finger already had a ring on it.
*
Grandmother’s house looked bleaker compared to the last time he visited. It seemed the garden hadn’t been maintained during that time, as the lush leaves and petals had fallen, leaving only bare branches.
Cheong-yeon scanned the landscaping from the corner of his eye as he walked towards the front door. The last time he crossed this place, the fragrant scent of flowers had been vibrant. Now, he felt disappointed that only a damp wooden scent filled the air.
Moreover, thinking about the faces he didn’t want to encounter beyond those tightly closed doors made him feel like something was weighing on his chest, as if he had indigestion.
“It’s been a while. Please come in.”
An employee working at the house recognized Do-heon and Cheong-yeon and came out to greet them.
Still not perfectly mentally prepared, Cheong-yeon entered the house under the employee’s guidance.
As his heart grew anxious, he unconsciously linked arms with Do-heon.
“The others have already arrived and are waiting. Grandmother especially wanted to see you, Mr. Cheong-yeon.”
As soon as the employee finished speaking, the dining room appeared, and the gazes of the four people inside all turned towards Do-heon and Cheong-yeon at once.
Instantly, sharp glances were directed at them, and whispers were exchanged among themselves. Some faces showed open astonishment.
Cheong-yeon’s back stiffened at the hostile reactions. And at some point, his previously confident steps slowed down.
But it was too late to run away now. And he didn’t have the intention to do so either.
Since it couldn’t be undone anyway, wouldn’t it be better to think of it as acting? After all, except for the absence of cameras, it wasn’t that different from a filming set.
Cheong-yeon took a deep breath, trying hard to calm his racing heart.
“Are you okay?”
Do-heon checked on Cheong-yeon, who had completely stopped walking.
“Yes…”
“Here comes Do-heon, Grandmother.”
When one of the four people sitting in the dining room spoke, Grandmother, who had been inside the room, slowly walked out leaning on a cane. The employee immediately grabbed her arm to support her and prevent her from falling.
“Grandmother! Have you been well? How was life in America?”
As if he had never been tense, Cheong-yeon pulled Do-heon closer to Grandmother.
Her complexion had definitely improved, but her gait was much slower, perhaps due to further weakening muscles in the meantime.
“You show your face so quickly. You rascal.”
“How was the treatment? The doctor said there was quite an improvement.”
Cheong-yeon warmly asked various questions as if he hadn’t heard anything like a rebuke. Just behind him, Moon Hee-jin’s gaze, with fire in her eyes, fell on his face.
“Can’t you tell by looking? I’m still doing fine. Hurry up and sit down at the table, both of you.”
Grandmother urged them, pointing with her chin toward the dining room. The familiar scent of seasonings wafted strongly, suggesting the food was already prepared.
The employees in the kitchen began to busily move around to serve the meal. Ignoring the sharp glances, Cheong-yeon sat down next to Do-heon and smiled brightly.
“What food did you prepare? It smells incredibly delicious.”
“This is unbelievable, really.” A faint murmur was heard from somewhere.
Only then did Cheong-yeon straighten his head and scan each person sitting at the table.
Moon Hee-jin and her husband Park Jong-wook. And Moon Hee-jin’s older brother Moon Tae-jin and his wife.
The four people didn’t bother hiding their uncomfortable expressions, as if they couldn’t believe Cheong-yeon was sitting there as if nothing was wrong.
If Do-heon hadn’t been by his side, Cheong-yeon would have already received harsh words from them.
“Seeing the faces of my grandchildren in one place after so long, I think this old woman is being treated well enough. You all look good.”
Grandmother, seated at the head of the table, gestured to the employee standing right beside her to bring something.
“Before we eat together, there’s something I want to talk about. You all seem to know already, but I think it’s time I pass on what I have before it’s too late.”
“Grandmother.”
“It may not be as much as what your fathers received, but it’s better than nothing.”
The employee who had gone into the room and brought back document envelopes distributed one to each of the six people sitting at the table. An unusually solemn atmosphere hung in the room.
Having sat down without knowing what was going on, Cheong-yeon rolled his eyes in confusion upon receiving the envelope, wondering what this was all about.
The others seemed composed, as if they had anticipated this situation.
While peeking at others checking the contents, Cheong-yeon’s eyes met Do-heon’s. He gestured for Cheong-yeon to open it quickly. Consequently, Cheong-yeon also took out the contents from the envelope with his name on it.
“This is.”
The document stated that upon Grandmother’s death, part of her real estate and assets would be inherited by Cheong-yeon. At the very bottom were the signatures and seals of Grandmother and a lawyer.
“I’ve divided it as fairly as possible among the six of you.”
“Grandmother. No matter what, isn’t it a bit much to include Cheong-yeon in the inheritance? He came in with nothing from the beginning and hasn’t contributed anything to the family.”
Moon Hee-jin raised an objection as she put down the document she was holding.
“What’s the problem? I’m saying I’ll give equally to my grandsons-in-law and granddaughters-in-law.”
“He hasn’t even been involved in management all this time. And Do-heon and he are already…!”
“Hee-jin. Do you really need to raise your voice when you know Grandmother is unwell?”
Moon Tae-jin intervened, stopping Moon Hee-jin’s words.
“Oppa, does this make sense to you?”
“…We can talk about it again later. Don’t make a scene here.”
Moon Hee-jin rubbed her forehead and scanned the contents of the document in her hand once more.
“Grandmother. Do Father and Uncle know about this inheritance?”
“Why would I need my sons’ opinions when I’m leaving my assets to my grandchildren?”
“Even so…!”
At that moment, a loud alarm sound broke the serious atmosphere, loud enough to hurt their ears.
Those who had been on edge seemed to relax, swallowing sighs.
The alarm was coming from the employee’s phone. She turned off the sound and approached Grandmother.
“It’s time for your injection. Let’s go to your room for a moment.”
“Is it that time already? Bring out the food while I’m in the room. After all, I should feed the children before sending them home.”
“I’ll do that.”
Grandmother entered the room with support, walking at a slow pace. Only after seeing the resident caregiver and nurse follow her in did Park Jong-wook speak up.
“Yoo Cheong-yeon hasn’t even participated in management all this time. It doesn’t make sense for him to get the same share as us.”
“Grandmother doesn’t know they’re divorced, right? Then this is obviously invalid. How can he receive an inheritance when they’re not even a couple? He’s a complete stranger to Do-heon now.”
It was then that people began to reveal their intent to tear into Cheong-yeon, as if they had been waiting.
“Well. If we look for a way for him to receive the inheritance, we’ll find one.”
Do-heon, who had been quiet until now, spoke for the first time. At that, the gazes of everyone sitting at the table all fixed on him.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
