Chapter 91
91. Mother and Mother 2022.03.12.
Jaekwang said to Yena.
“I’m your grandfather. I’m your dad’s dad. Got it?”
“Oh, but……”
Yena, who seemed to be thinking hard and hesitated, called her mom who was next to her.
“Mom, isn’t this grandpa the one who was standing in front of the academy on Monday?”
Jeong-o, surprised by the title ‘this grandpa,’ quickly ran over and covered Yena’s mouth. Jaekwang was also surprised by the child’s words. Because the child was so smart. Jeong-o looked embarrassed, but Jaekwang laughed heartily. She’s really smart. She’s really my granddaughter.
“Yes. Grandpa went to see you.”
The grandfather’s heart was indescribably pleased, but Ji-heon’s expression was sullen.
“Father, you went to see Yena? Even to her academy?”
He was displeased with the fact that he had persistently gone to Yena’s academy. His father was reckless. What if the child got scared?
“I didn’t go inside the academy, I just saw her passing by in front of the building.”
“You were just passing by there?”
“Yes. I just happened to run into her.”
His father’s answer sounded like an excuse. Ji-heon was well aware of the tendencies of his family, including himself. A family that casually lied for personal gain. That was the biggest difference between them and Jeong-o’s family. Jaekwang felt unfairly accused in his own way, and his voice rose slightly.
“I didn’t even acknowledge her, and I didn’t talk to her.”
I just looked at her. Just looked! But Ji-heon’s expression was so fierce that Jaekwang felt the need to escape.
“I have to go. I’m too busy.”
He really was busy. Today, too, he had come to see the child by squeezing out time from his busy schedule.
“We’ll be able to meet again soon, right?”
He had given up on his son, so Jaekwang smiled kindly at Jeong-o, intending to make a good impression on his future daughter-in-law and become close to his grandchild, and patted Yena affectionately.
“Yena, see you again. Remember Grandpa?”
He still found it difficult to make a friendly expression towards his son.
“Don’t make me wait too long, and proceed quickly.”
Kind to his future daughter-in-law, affectionate to his grandchild, and stern to his son. After Jaekwang, who showed customized responses to each person, left, Ji-heon examined Jeong-o’s expression.
“My father isn’t usually like that. He’s a very scary person.”
Why was it? He felt strangely resentful at the sight of Jeong-o looking at Jaekwang with respect.
“He left smiling like a nice old man, but in reality, he probably thoroughly investigated Lee Jung-o and even Yena. That’s why he went to the academy.”
“……”
“So don’t trust him too much. And don’t like him too much either.”
“You’re talking about your father like he’s a stranger.”
“My father isn’t a family man. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve faced him in 33 years.”
Jeong-o recalled what Ji-heon had told her seven years ago. Ji-heon had said something similar back then. It was amazing that even though he had lost his memories, his feelings about his father were the same now as they were then.
“Still, we should be grateful. He trusts Oppa and readily cooperated with the ridiculous DNA test.”
“That’s true.”
Ji-heon reluctantly agreed with Jeong-o’s opinion.
\ Eun-yeop waited for a call from the Genetic Research Center. The call from the research center employee came quite late. The employee told him about what had happened in the meantime in a somewhat anxious voice.
[I did everything as you said. The client’s name was Jeong Ji-heon, and the other person being tested was anonymous. So I completely switched the anonymous client’s blood as you said. I succeeded, but it seems they conducted an additional test on their end. That test came back as a match.]
“Another test?”
[The client had someone else conduct another DNA test. They used the fact that a DNA test can be done anonymously to conduct the test.]
Eun-yeop, hearing the employee’s confession, shouted.
“You should have watched carefully and stopped it!”
[How could I have known and stopped it when the test was requested anonymously? Do you think the hair had a name written on it?]
The employee retorted to Eun-yeop. Eun-yeop covered his forehead. He didn’t expect Jeong Ji-heon to do this. At most, he thought that if the second test failed, he would try a third time. He never thought that he would involve a third party in a task that had to be done secretly. Since he thought from Eun-yeop’s perspective, who didn’t trust others, he couldn’t understand Ji-heon’s mind. He hastily concluded that Ji-heon’s feelings for Jeong-o were shallow. There was one fact that Eun-yeop had been firmly misunderstanding all along. It was the premise that Lee Jung-o had approached Jeong Ji-heon first. The hypothesis itself was wrong. Eun-yeop had not considered the fact that Ji-heon was clinging to Jeong-o even more desperately. Chae Eun-yeop had seen Jeong Ji-heon as such a person. Someone who couldn’t get along well with anyone, who didn’t give his side to anyone, who didn’t reveal his inner thoughts, who regarded everyone except himself as insignificant, and whose pride was the only thing that mattered. At least for seven years, that was the case. He never thought that such a cold-blooded guy, whose blood seemed to be cold, would defend so passionately. He also didn’t think that he would sincerely cherish a child who seemed to have fallen from the sky after rolling around somewhere for seven years. It was a miscalculation from the beginning.
[Do you have any idea how much trouble this has caused me? The client filed a complaint saying the test was wrong. Anyway, I did as your lawyer told me to do, so you should help me with my divorce case as promised. I’ll be looking forward to it then.]
The employee finished speaking and hung up first. The work failed, and he was left to handle the difficult aftermath. It was a complete defeat for Eun-yeop. \ The three people who had parted ways with Jaekwang and came to Guk-soon’s restaurant had an early dinner. Guk-soon set the table early because Ji-heon had to return to work and work overtime. Yena sat on Ji-heon’s lap again this time. Yena asked Ji-heon, receiving side dishes like a baby bird.
“But if Mom is Mom and Dad is Dad, aren’t Mom and Dad a couple?”
Ji-heon answered.
“Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because we haven’t gotten married yet.”
“Why haven’t you?”
“Because we haven’t had time. But we’ll do it soon.”
Ji-heon was happy that his daughter had said what he wanted first.
“When would you like Mom and Dad to get married?”
“On Saturday.”
“Why would you like it to be on Saturday?”
“Because it’s the day Yena doesn’t go to daycare and the academy.”
Ji-heon smiled contentedly, and Jeong-o sighed deeply.
“Yena, marriage isn’t something you can just whip up in a few days. Even when Yena gets married later, Mom will say no if you try to rush through it. You can’t just do marriage carelessly, got it?”
“Okay.”
Whether she understood the answer or was just answering. Yena’s answer was just bright.
“Let’s register our marriage first. Let’s do it tomorrow. We can sort out the rest one by one.”
As the topic of marriage came up, Ji-heon also talked about the next steps one by one.
“First of all, the house issue is the most urgent. We’ll have to move to a bigger house if we’re going to live together. I was hoping we could all live in my house for now, what do you think?”
“I think Mom would be uncomfortable with a high place.”
Jeong-o said in a careful voice. Yena said brightly again.
“Then Dad can come to our house!”
“Then should we do that?”
Ji-heon chimed in. Guk-soon came out of the kitchen and said bitterly. Guk-soon had also been listening to their conversation.
“Why would Dad live there? Leaving Dad’s big house behind.”
“Mother, I’m fine. I can live together anywhere, anytime.”
“Still, prepare slowly. Our house is too small. It’s uncomfortable because there’s only one bathroom, so it won’t work.”
Guk-soon’s advice was sharp.
“Set some rules. For now, live as you have been living until you move the house. That’s easier for me and easier for you guys.”
The situation was quickly resolved with Guk-soon’s rules. Of course, even if Ji-heon lived with Jeong-o in Jeong-o’s house right away, Guk-soon, Jeong-o, or Yena wouldn’t be too uncomfortable. It would just be adding one more spoon to the table. But it might be overwhelming for Ji-heon, who has lived without any shortages. A room that’s too small to stretch out and lie down, furniture that gets in the way, only one bathroom……. Ji-heon has never experienced all of that. Guk-soon took on the role of saying harsh words, considering Ji-heon’s position. As she was about to marry off her daughter, the mother was troubled. She couldn’t match Ji-heon’s family’s circumstances, so the dowry and betrothal gifts wouldn’t be up to their standards. Guk-soon kept feeling sorry for her daughter. While Yena said she wanted to go to the bathroom after dinner and Jeong-o took Yena out of the restaurant, Guk-soon said to Ji-heon.
“You can take Jeong-o and Yena.”
“Yes?”
“Yena’s dad’s house is big, right. You can take our Jeong-o and Yena and live happily together.”
“Mother, if you say that……”
“That side of the family is the real family. I was just a temporary family.”
Guk-soon's voice, as she conceded happiness, was firm. But there was also an unavoidable loneliness in it. Guk-soon deliberately smiled at Ji-heon, trying not to reveal her true feelings.
"I couldn't raise her that way, so I hoped that at least our Jeong-o, or the child Jeong-o gave birth to, would have a complete family. Finally, my dream is coming true."
"Not a temporary family, Mother."
Ji-heon replied in a polite voice.
"Before I got close to Jeong-o, Jeong-o said that her mom and she are soulmates."
"……."
"For a long time, you must have been Jeong-o's best friend. Her only support."
Would she believe him if he confessed that he had never felt the love of a complete family himself? Would she pity him if he told her that the image of the family he wanted to resemble and blend into was all shown by her? Rather, Ji-heon felt a little ashamed because his own heart, his family's heart, seemed so barren and poor.
"And probably will be in the future. To Jeong-o."
"……."
"And now to me too."
Guk-soon's eyes, which always maintained coolness, became warmly moist.
"You have to stay by her side, Mother."
- The next morning. Ji-heon, as usual, stopped by Jeong-o's house to drop off Yena at daycare and went to work with Jeong-o. Having been apart overnight, Yena acted spoiled towards Ji-heon before getting on the daycare bus. It was a day that started with emotion and excitement. Arriving at the company, Ji-heon greeted the secretary guarding the entrance to his office with a pleasant greeting.
"Good morning."
But the secretary's expression was not very bright.
"Director, your wife is waiting for you."
Youngmi was waiting for Ji-heon in his office. Ji-heon opened the office door with a stiff face.
"What brings you here again?"
At the unfriendly greeting, Youngmi looked at Ji-heon with resentment in her eyes. But soon, she sighed as if resigned.
"Mom has been agonizing all night."
Youngmi's eyes were wet. But to Ji-heon, those eyes did not feel as warm as Guk-soon's. As expected, Youngmi's decision was cruel.
"Just bring the child. Mom will raise the child. I'll make sure she gets a good education and lives without envying anyone, Mom will."
"Mother."
"I can't let you be tied to that family. A Cinderella is still a Cinderella."
Youngmi's voice rose as if she was bursting with resentment. But the two were in Ji-heon's company. Thinking of her reputation, Youngmi soon lowered her voice.
"I can't marry you off like that, as if selling you off cheaply. Mom can never do that."
But her heartless claim remained the same.
"It's all because I cherish you. It's because I love you. Someday you'll understand Mom's heart. How much it breaks my heart."
Ji-heon faced his mother's tears for the first time in a long time.
