Chapter 117
“My goodness, this already skinny fellow is saying such frustrating things.”
Grandmother looked Cheong-yeon up and down and clicked her tongue. Soon after, her arrow turned toward Do-heon.
“Are you feeding your spouse properly? Why is Cheong-yeon getting thinner by the day?”
“No, that’s not true. I’m eating very well these days, Grandmother.”
“Did I ask you? I was talking to Do-heon.”
“I recently learned that he’s quite picky about food. I’ll try to take care of his meals better, making sure to prepare things that suit his taste.”
Huh? Me? When?
Cheong-yeon glared at Do-heon sitting beside him. Then he pinched his side, meaning “don’t say strange things.”
“Why are you pinching me?”
He turned his head toward Cheong-yeon and asked in a businesslike tone, apparently not even hurt.
“W-why would you say something like that?”
“Cheong-yeon is much younger than you, so it’s understandable if he’s picky about food. When you have a young husband, you, Moon Do-heon, should naturally pay more attention.”
“Right, Grandmother?”
Cheong-yeon quickly agreed with Grandmother’s words.
“Of course. If he has no appetite, you should even dig up wild ginseng to feed him. And I bet you just slip out alone from dawn saying you’re going to the company. I can see right through it without even looking. It makes my blood boil.”
“As expected of Grandmother. You’re absolutely right. He even left home for two days recently for a business trip.”
Cheong-yeon grumbled, mentioning Do-heon’s recent schedule that he had heard about earlier at the officetel.
Then Do-heon, who had been silently listening, tried to defend himself this time, apparently feeling wronged.
“That was…”
“You rascal! By now, you could send someone else on business trips. Did you have to leave home? It’s because you’re out there running around doing business that Cheong-yeon is being picky about food! You have no right to speak even with ten mouths.”
As Grandmother intercepted in extreme anger, Do-heon couldn’t even properly open his mouth and had to close it again.
Of course, Do-heon probably didn’t share his recent schedule for Cheong-yeon to tattle to Grandmother, but it was incredibly satisfying to see him being scolded. The only people who could reprimand Do-heon were the Chairman and Grandmother.
I should have come to Grandmother and told on him like this before the divorce. Would that have reduced the resentment in my heart a little?
“Cheong-yeon. Did you finish the health tonic Grandma made for you last time?”
As if she had never been angry, Grandmother asked Cheong-yeon in a gentle tone.
“Yes. After taking that, my physical strength improved a lot.”
“I’ll make you another one before I go back to America, so take it with you.”
“It’s fascinating. When I listen to this conversation, it’s as if Cheong-yeon is the real grandchild, though there are actual grandchildren here.”
Moon Tae-jin’s wife, who had been quietly listening to the two people’s back-and-forth, interjected.
“Indeed. Should I say he’s sociable? I didn’t expect our grandmother to like him this much. But no matter how I think about it, including Cheong-yeon in the inheritance…”
“Hee-jin. Let’s stop talking about that. It’s already been processed through the lawyer.”
Grandmother firmly rebuked Moon Hee-jin, who was subtly trying to change the subject back to inheritance. Even Moon Hee-jin seemed to have no choice but to close her mouth tightly at Grandmother’s words.
“Please start eating, everyone. I’ve kept you waiting too long.”
As the employee placed the heated soup in front of them, Grandmother picked up her spoon and scooped a spoonful of broth. Following her cue, the people who had been watching her also picked up their spoons.
After that, fairly ordinary conversations were exchanged. Topics like the treatment received in America, travel destinations during vacations, how families with children were educating them, and the recent company atmosphere.
Most were conversations Cheong-yeon couldn’t join, but he didn’t feel as self-conscious as before. There was no longer the pressure to have a child, nor the need to make a good impression.
What was he so afraid of before? They’re just people too, and if they disrespect and ostracize him, he simply wouldn’t deal with them.
Those four people would probably despise him as a leech clinging to Do-heon’s side to extract anything more, but he didn’t care about their views.
He was just satisfied to be at this gathering, able to dine with Grandmother whom he had wanted to see. Although she had Korean medical staff and caregivers always by her side in America, ensuring she had no difficulties, Grandmother seemed to be feeling lonely without many people to talk to.
Cheong-yeon pledged to call Grandmother frequently after she returned to America.
“Ah. By the way, didn’t I hear last time that there was a problem with Yoo Cheong-yeon’s pheromones? Are you feeling better?”
In the midst of the meal continuing in a smooth atmosphere, Park Jong-wook specifically targeted Cheong-yeon who had been quiet.
As if hearing this for the first time, Grandmother’s movement of picking up a side dish momentarily stopped.
Instead of answering immediately, Cheong-yeon picked up his cup and took a few sips of water.
Pheromone problem? Is he referring to when he was diagnosed with infertility and hospitalized before the divorce? Or is he indirectly saying there’s a problem with his pheromones right now?
Since pheromones were the issue Cheong-yeon felt most anxious about, it was difficult to respond hastily to Park Jong-wook’s words.
“…Yes. I’m fine now.”
“Oh, really? That’s good then. I was so shocked when I saw you getting an IV in the hospital room last time. My husband was also very worried when he heard the news.”
Moon Hee-jin winked as she leaned her face on Park Jong-wook’s shoulder. At that, Cheong-yeon’s hand holding the cup tensed.
He belatedly realized that they had brought up this topic to somehow mock and humiliate him about his infertility diagnosis.
As the story from that time came up, the inside of his throat suddenly felt constricted, as if the food that had been going down smoothly had gotten stuck.
Do-heon seemed to be saying something beside him, but the sound didn’t register well in his ears.
“…”
The cold look in Do-heon’s eyes back then, Moon Hee-jin’s lips that seemed about to curl up, and the chilly hospital room air came to mind one after another, making his nerves rapidly sensitive. It was a memory he didn’t particularly want to recall.
Instead of answering the questions flying at him, Cheong-yeon wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up.
“I’m sorry, but I need to use the restroom for a moment.”
A somewhat unstable voice came out. Moon Hee-jin and Park Jong-wook were smirking as if they had anticipated this.
Simultaneously, there was the sound of a chair being pulled beside him as Do-heon stood up.
“I’ll go too.”
“…What? Where?”
Cheong-yeon blinked as he looked up at Do-heon who had risen abruptly.
“You said you’re going to the restroom. I’ll go with you.”
Do-heon turned his body and stepped out from the table.
This drew everyone’s attention to Do-heon and Cheong-yeon. The employees looked at the two with eyes that seemed about to pop out.
“Keck!”
Breaking the short silence, the sound of someone choking suddenly rang out from somewhere.
“Do-heon, you’re going to the restroom too?”
Heat rushed to Cheong-yeon’s surprised face, quickly turning it red. Do-heon, who had actually frozen the atmosphere, didn’t seem to show any sign of embarrassment or awkwardness.
“I don’t need to go, but since you’re going, I’m just following you.”
“Ah.”
“Because I’m worried.”
Krack…! Cough cough! Once again, coughing sounds echoed from across the table.
Cheong-yeon belatedly recalled that he had asked Do-heon not to leave him alone today. It was none other than Yoo Cheong-yeon himself who had asked to be taken along even when going to the bathroom.
But he hadn’t expected him to say he would follow him to the bathroom in return.
“Do-heon. He’s not going far away, just to the bathroom. Is the bathroom dangerous?”
Moon Tae-jin asked, not hiding his bewildered voice.
By this point, even Cheong-yeon felt burdened by the gazes of all the family members and tried to dissuade Do-heon.
“Um… it’s fine. I’ll go by myself.”
Although it bothered him to say one thing and then another, he simply couldn’t bring himself to readily say “let’s go to the bathroom together” in this setting.
“Then I’ll just stand outside the door. Is that okay?”
“What the? I, I…!”
Grandmother pointed at Do-heon with the spoon she was holding and widened her eyes.
“Has that boy gone crazy? Is this really the Moon Do-heon I know?”
“That’s what I’m saying, Grandmother. That’s what I’m saying.”
Moon Hee-jin chimed in with Grandmother’s astonished question as if she had witnessed something unsightly. Sporadic coughs erupted from various places.
By now, Cheong-yeon’s face had heated up so much that it couldn’t get any redder, on the verge of bursting.
Oh, whatever. As Cheong-yeon took the lead and started walking down the corridor toward the bathroom, Do-heon followed.
“In all my life, this is… it’s so irritating… This is the first time I’ve seen a man following his husband because he’s going to the bathroom.”
Grandmother’s words, thrown at their backs as if for everyone to hear, clearly pierced their ears. Cheong-yeon absolutely couldn’t lift his head properly.
Only the impassive Do-heon seemed unaware of this preposterous situation.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
