Chapter 98
98. Lovesickness
2022.04.06.
Jaekwang developed a habit. A habit of looking at his granddaughter's picture from time to time during work and sighing.
He didn't know his two sons were this cute, was it because she was his granddaughter, or because she was a girl?
Or, just, because she was originally pretty?
Or was it because he couldn't contact her easily?
"I told him so earnestly to proceed quickly and not make me wait too long."
A week after parting ways at the Genetic Research Center, Jaekwang felt resentment towards Ji-heon.
Jaekwang was regretting the past. That day when he went for the DNA test. He should have made it clear that day. He should have told him explicitly to bring Yena and Yena's mother within a week.
"I should have at least exchanged phone numbers."
In fact, he had confirmed Yena's phone number through dark channels. But since he hadn't formally exchanged numbers, he couldn't contact her directly.
It was obvious that he would be scolded by his son again if he called rashly. Not being able to contact her even though he knew the number was also a torment in its own way.
In the beginning, he waited for contact, wondering if it would come now or later, but as time passed, anger welled up. His chest felt stuffy and his stomach churned.
Jeong Ji-heon, that guy. Even after becoming a father, he doesn't even think about understanding his father's heart, the unfilial son.
"I'm so highly regarded at the company. My sons, they take me for granted."
Jaekwang couldn't call Ji-heon and pour out his anger, and he resented his situation of quietly complaining to his executive secretary.
"Find out what he's doing. How busy is he that he doesn't even have time to contact me."
Unable to bear it any longer, Jaekwang instructed his executive secretary.
A little later, the executive secretary returned with the information he had gathered.
"Chairman, Director Jeong Ji-heon is at work after coming to the office. But that's not all..."
"But?"
"It seems that there is some problem between Director Jeong Ji-heon and Assistant Manager Lee Jung-oh..."
*
Starting with the BJ's revelation that Jeong-o was his mistress, various rumors circulated in the internet world overnight.
Of course, most users did not believe the BJ's confession. However, some wrote novels to suit their tastes and attacked Jeong-o based on their beliefs. It was a disturbance to create a disturbance.
Guk-soon told her to be patient since the restaurant was settled. If she was patient and stayed still, the people who were trying to cause trouble would eventually get tired and leave. So Jeong-o didn't show it anymore.
And so, the next morning, Max Planning Production Team 2.
"Cheer up, Assistant Manager Lee."
Eun-ju gave Jeong-o words of encouragement. She sent her support with a prim expression, as always.
"A wicked person never falls without grabbing onto someone's hair."
Before Jeong-o could ask if she knew about what happened last night, Eun-ju's opinion came out smoothly.
"But Section Chief Chae Eun-bi has a lot of handmaidens here and there. It must be nice to have so many people fighting for her. I feel sorry for those people too. They don't even know they're falling together."
It's good to have someone who tells you to be patient and not to worry, but it's also a great comfort to have someone who curses on your behalf. Jeong-o felt relieved, as if she had scratched an itch, by Eun-ju's words delivered with a nonchalant expression.
Yes. I have to endure and persevere without falling together, she steeled her heart and sat down at her desk when the phone rang.
"Yes. This is Lee Jeong-o from Production Team 2."
[This is Jeong Jaekwang.]
Jeong-o lost her words at the voice coming from the receiver.
[Can you come to Ji-heon's office now? I'd like to talk to you.]
While Jeong-o was surprised and stiffened, a calm voice continued to be heard from the other side. It was a soft voice that seemed to be coaxing Jeong-o, which didn't match the image of the stern chairman.
Ji-heon had never told her that the chairman would be visiting the company. It seemed like a sudden visit.
After answering and hanging up the phone, Jeong-o immediately got up and headed to Ji-heon's office. As she reached the door of the office with stiff steps due to tension, the secretary opened the door for her.
As Jeong-o went inside, Jaekwang also got up from his seat. Ji-heon was nowhere to be seen. The fact that Ji-heon was not there made her feel even more hopeless.
"Chairman, hello."
"Yes. Sit down."
Jaekwang nodded at the stiff greeting and pointed to the sofa. After Jeong-o sat down, Jaekwang sat down again opposite her.
In the silence, Jaekwang opened his mouth first.
"I..."
"..."
"I'm lovesick."
Jeong-o flinched and raised her head at Jaekwang's incomprehensible confession. While she was hesitating about how to respond, Jaekwang fortunately spoke first again.
"When will I hear from my granddaughter? Will it be today? Will it be tomorrow? When tomorrow comes, will it be today again...? It's already been a week since I've been living like this."
It was a complaint. A confession of lovesickness for his granddaughter. A sorrow for the indefinite wait.
Hearing the inner thoughts of the chairman of a large corporation, who had felt so distant, made her feel somehow familiar. The tense muscles relaxed a little. But it wasn't a situation where she could laugh. Jeong-o sincerely apologized.
"...I'm sorry."
"No, I didn't say that to receive an apology."
"..."
"I heard that our son had a fake relationship, something like that."
Jaekwang waved his hand and changed the subject. It seemed that Ji-heon had confessed his past mistakes. But Jeong-o couldn't answer comfortably about this either. It wasn't right to talk about it in detail in Ji-heon's absence.
Jaekwang coaxed her.
"Speak comfortably. I've already confirmed most of it."
"...Yes. That's what I heard."
"And because of that, he's being held back by Chae Eun-bi now."
Jeong-o had no choice but to answer one word, but it felt like she was being interrogated, so she quickly asked.
"Yes. Chairman, but where is Director Jeong Ji-heon now?"
"Director, my foot."
Jaekwang scoffed as if he was displeased and pointed to a corner of the office.
"He's over there, that guy."
"..."
"On the Thinking chair."
It was a spot that wasn't noticeable because of the long bookshelf. Ji-heon was sitting on a small chair facing the wall in that corner. His gray top, matching the wall, hid him like camouflage.
Is he a chameleon?
Jeong-o barely managed to hold back a burst of absurd laughter.
"I told him to reflect and think."
A man in his thirties being punished by his father for a fake relationship.
"So let's not worry about us and talk."
Ji-heon didn't move at all despite Jeong-o and Jaekwang's gazes and gestures. It was true that he had done something wrong, but he also looked a little pitiful for some reason.
"Our Yena's mother must have been very upset because the kid is like that."
"Yes. A little."
"Right? I knew it."
Only then did her energy fully return. She felt like she could comfortably open up her heart as if she were having a meeting in the conference room.
It was a pity for Ji-heon, but Jeong-o was very grateful to Jaekwang. Even after Ji-heon approached her first, and even after the results of Yena's DNA test came out, the slight resentment that still remained melted away.
"I raised my son wrong. I'm sorry."
"No, it's not."
"He'll be like that until Yena's mother forgives him."
"Yes. I've let go of all my feelings now too. But I would appreciate it if Ji-heon sincerely apologized to me for that."
Jaekwang turned his head and said to Ji-heon.
"Did you hear that?"
"Yes."
"Come here and apologize quickly."
Ji-heon got up from his seat and approached Jeong-o.
"I'm sorry."
"Again with sincerity."
As soon as Ji-heon apologized, Jaekwang pointed it out sharply. Ji-heon immediately apologized again without complaining.
"I'm sorry."
"Again with sincerity about what you're sorry for."
"I'm sorry for making you misunderstand for a long time because I had a fake relationship with Chae Eun-bi. I'm sorry for making Lee Jeong-o get slandered as my mistress."
"What are you going to do now?"
"I will resolve it as soon as possible."
Ji-heon answered Jaekwang's question with his eyes facing Jeong-o. The whole process was funny, but these people were endlessly serious, which made it even funnier. Jeong-o struggled to hold back her laughter as she responded to Ji-heon's apology.
"Yes. I've let go of everything."
Jeong-o replied.
Satisfied. She felt refreshed.
"Is there anything else you're upset about?"
"No. There's nothing. Then, Chairman, may I leave now? I have a meeting scheduled in the morning."
It was also very fortunate that she could quickly get out of this place because of her next schedule.
"Yes. Yes. Let's meet again."
Jeong-o left the office with Jaekwang's satisfied send-off.
After Jeong-o left, Jaekwang let out a long sigh in the office, which had become quiet again.
"So you call me Chairman."
Jaekwang wanted to blame his son for the disappointment he felt because of the title. Jaekwang glared at Ji-heon and complained.
"Honestly, I'm very disappointed. I made it so obvious that day, but what's so hard about showing me the kid that you didn't even show your face for a week? Do I have to come all the way here making up excuses like this?"
But this dark-haired guy doesn't even think about repenting and confronts him in the same way.
"You too, Father."
"What about me?"
"Shouldn't you have persuaded Mother all this time?"
"Why your mother?"
"Mother came to the company. She said she won't accept Jeong-o and will only raise the child."
Jaekwang's forehead furrowed. Because they didn't talk at home, he didn't even know that had happened.
"You didn't really care much, did you? You realized there was conflict between Mother and Jeong-o that day, but you never said anything directly to Mother, did you?"
At Ji-heon's remark, Jaekwang's voice shrank inward.
"...Your mother doesn't tell me things like that."
"Honestly, you two don't talk to each other, do you?"
"When would I have time to talk? I'm on a business trip for more than half the year."
"But you want to see Yena."
Jaekwang pursed his lips. The excuse that he didn't have time was actually a selfish excuse.
Jaekwang always put work first and family matters last. He had never said a warm word to his wife. He was naturally not interested in his wife's trivial stories.
"With your mother... I don't know what we like."
Before he knew it, his mind had hardened so that it could only react to work.
In the meantime, an invisible wall had formed between him and his wife.
Moreover, Youngmi was very angry about the DNA test issue. After Youngmi shouted at him for tricking her, Jaekwang couldn't even talk to Youngmi.
"...I'll talk to her."
Jaekwang admitted his indifference and said he would try to correct it.
"Do you know what Chae Eun-bi is doing now?"
"She's been absent without permission for two weeks. She was neglecting her work even before that."
Jaekwang sighed in vain.
"You may not know it, but your mother liked Eun-bi a lot. Eun-bi was good at her job as well. Even when you didn't come home for months, Eun-bi came home and kept your mother company."
"She just found the right target to attack."
"I was just grateful to her, but the lack of communication created this mess..."
Jaekwang also admitted that he had been quite deceived. A family without strong bonds each had its own weaknesses.
What should he do now? Even that BJ or whatever is causing trouble.
Jaekwang, who had been silent for a long time in thought, finally opened his mouth again.
"Why don't you just reveal everything?"
He was also a man with as decisive a decision-making ability as his son.
