48
Why doesn’t this man have a lover? He has a job working for a company, enough wealth to drive a foreign car, a face that could be considered top-tier, and on top of that, a good personality. He doesn’t lack anything, so why?
Thinking about it, I realized that maybe it wasn’t that he couldn’t date but that he chose not to. Perhaps he knows he’s too perfect, so no one meets his standards. His criteria for dating partners must be incredibly picky. …That’s kind of annoying.
“Don’t say you chose not to date rather than couldn’t. It sounds pretentious.”
“Fine, I couldn’t date because I lacked ability.”
“Bullshit. A guy with zero flaws saying that sounds even more pretentious. Just don’t say anything.”
“No one liked me. Well, there were some… but the people who liked me, I wasn’t attracted to them. It’s not a big deal.”
Somehow it sounded like the truth. Why wouldn’t anyone like this perfect man? No, he said people who liked him didn’t attract him. So he really didn’t find anyone who met his standards. Such a high-standard bastard. I wondered if I looked good enough in his eyes.
“Ah, enough of that. Let’s talk about what to call each other. What would be a good term? Since there’s an age gap, you can just call me by my name, but what should I call you?”
What would work? What would be good? As I rubbed my forehead deep in thought, Kwon Yikang let out a low laugh. While I was racking my brain, he was laughing with not a care in the world, which annoyed me.
“I’ll give you some options to choose from. Hyung, Hyung-ssi, Hyung-nim, Ahjussi, Department Manager-nim.”
“Exclude Ahjussi. And what’s with Department Manager? Do you know some department manager or something?”
“I’ve seen people in dramas call each other Department Manager-nim. Aren’t you a department manager? Then what are you? CEO? Director? Executive Director?”
“We’re not coworkers, so we don’t need to use job titles.”
That’s true. So Department Manager is out, and Ahjussi is out since he doesn’t like it.
“I have more. I searched the internet for these. Honey, darling, baby, yeobong, jagiya, aegiya. Or maybe just something normal like Yikang-ssi, how about that?”
Though it doesn’t roll off my tongue. At my words, Kwon Yikang’s expression became subtle. He was barely holding back his laughter.
“Laugh and I’ll get mad. I’m being very serious right now.”
“…Jagiya.”
Kwon Yikang’s tightly closed jaw trembled pitifully from his effort to hold back. Only after overcoming a great struggle did he open his mouth to answer.
“So jagiya is your preference.”
“All the choices were so excellent that it was hard to choose. Especially yeobong was appealing.”
“Drop the sarcasm when you speak.”
Despite my cold remark, he finally burst into laughter. After laughing for quite a while, a calmer Kwon Yikang glanced at me cautiously.
“Sukyung, are you angry?”
“No, my.dar.ling. I was just watching how handsome you look when you laugh.”
I emphasized each syllable, which made Kwon Yikang quickly swallow his laughter.
“It sounds cute when you call me that.”
“I’m done.”
“Don’t be angry.”
His straight hand gently wrapped around my nape, fingers sliding into my hair. His touch was so smooth it gave me goosebumps, and I shrugged my shoulders.
“Stop that. Can’t you see I’m sitting here not even daring to lean back because I don’t want to mess up my hair?”
“Just sit comfortably, why not?”
“I went to the salon and paid money for this hairstyle before coming. I told you I was putting in full effort for this.”
“Was that it? I thought your hairstyle looked unusual.”
“You missed your timing. You should have complimented me when you first saw me.”
Who are you to talk about timing? I pushed his hand away with a huff.
“Anyway, I came fully prepared, so just trust me. No matter what kind of person your father is, he can’t beat me.”
I’m someone who even made my grandfather’s blood pressure rise. Of course, today shouldn’t be a combative occasion but rather a calm, serious meeting that leads to a good relationship.
“That’s all fine, but just try not to flip things upside down.”
I don’t particularly plan to cause trouble, but I was curious why he didn’t want that.
“Why? Do you have some inheritance you need to receive early?”
“No, it’s just that if my father passes away, all the annoying responsibilities will fall to me.”
“Was he someone who didn’t like to work?”
“I mean I don’t want to work more than I already do. Even now, my father has been timing when to pass on tasks one by one. Nothing is more irresponsible than creating problems and then dumping them on your children. Don’t you think?”
“Other people are fighting to get whatever they can from their parents. This is why being an only child is different.”
Just look at our house—the atmosphere among siblings is no joke over a mere hospital. Meanwhile, this guy doesn’t want what’s being handed to him. Must be nice to be so well-off.
“Still, since you put it that way, I’ll try to restrain myself. But you know how I am, right? I’m nice to those who are nice, kind to those who are kind, and mean to those who are mean. I give back what I receive.”
“That’s what worries me. My father’s personality isn’t easy to deal with. And… whatever my father says, don’t take it too seriously. Just think, ‘That’s the kind of person he is,’ and ignore it.”
There are no adults with easy personalities. They always try to put you down by flaunting their age and possessions. I’m prepared to endure to some extent. There’s no need to raise voices and fight unnecessarily.
“Don’t worry. Today I’ll exercise my maximum patience.”
“But don’t hold back too much either. I don’t like seeing you glum.”
“If my darling says things like that, I might really go at him?”
“Take it easy, easy.”
Kwon Yikang smiled pleasantly as he smoothly turned the steering wheel. The car that had left Seoul for the outskirts and entered Gyeonggi-do had now arrived at a quiet property. There were no dense residential buildings in sight, and after slowly driving down a straight road, we arrived in front of an enormous gate.
“Is this the place?”
As we casually parked in front of the gate, someone quickly approached to open it. After getting out of the car and looking around, I could see the edge of a traditional tiled roof beyond the walls.
“Young master has arrived.”
A group in suits appeared from somewhere and hurried over to greet Kwon Yikang. When I flinched beside him, Kwon Yikang waved his hand.
“Where’s my father?”
“He’s waiting in the reception room. I’ll escort you.”
As we entered through the wide-open gate, a magnificent hanok building spread out before us. It’s true that without building upward, structures expand sideways. It seemed excessively inefficient for Korea’s already limited land, but thinking of our family’s property, it was much the same. Rich people are the problem, after all.
“What kind of noble is your father? Did he live in Cheonghak-dong?”
“The interior has been completely remodeled to be modern. He just likes the traditional hanok exterior.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried the toilet might be some hole-in-the-ground traditional style.”
The shoulders of the man walking ahead and guiding us twitched slightly.
“He lives in quite a remote place. Does he live alone? Does he actually use all of this huge house? It’s so inefficient. Old people seem to be greedy about houses. My grandfather also lives alone in an enormous place. I hope their personalities aren’t similar too.”
Kwon Yikang just smiled at my words. The man in front stepped a little faster. His desire to escape this situation was evident.
“Chairman, the young master has arrived.”
Upon reaching an elegant wooden door, the man addressed the inside with a slightly louder voice. After hearing a “ahem” throat-clearing, he removed his shoes, stepped up, and opened the door.
“Please enter.”
Rather than feeling burdened by the process, I wondered what all this ceremony was about. Following Kwon Yikang, I took off my shoes and stepped onto the wooden floor. Entering through the open door, despite being decorated like an old house, as he’d said, there was a sofa and table prominently placed.
“This way.”
Kwon Yikang guided me to sit on the sofa first. With him sitting close beside me, I looked at the man sitting across from us.
“Hello.”
“One moment. Let’s talk after the tea arrives.”
His features resembled Kwon Yikang enough to confirm he was his father. I wondered if Kwon Yikang would look like that when he aged. He seemed more handsome than his father, so he’d probably look better than him when older. Kwon Yikang’s face would still be quite pleasant to look at even in old age.
As I stared at him openly, the man stared back intensely. It was closer to glaring than mere looking.
After a long silence, a man in a suit brought in tea. Only after placing the tea, which had been brought without asking about preferences, did the conversation begin.
“This is the person I said I wanted to introduce.”
“I know without you telling me. Now we’ll talk just the two of us, so you step out. You anticipated this and brought him, didn’t you?”
“Go easy, please, go easy.”
“There’s no need. If there’s nothing to hide, what is there to worry about?”
His tone made me expect him to stroke a non-existent beard and laugh with a “ho ho.” What an interesting person. As I stared at him wide-eyed, the man met my gaze and asked:
“So, you’ve been seeing my son lately?”
“Yes.”
“How long have you been dating?”
“About a month, I think. It should be around that long.”
We met during my last heat, and my next heat hasn’t come yet, so to be precise, it hasn’t even been a month. But we’ve met quite often. As I nodded, lost in my thoughts, I heard a slightly displeased groan.
“I’ve only heard that he’s seeing someone, but I haven’t heard the details. May I ask you a few questions?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
