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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: My Mom and Her Bat
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‘Don't worry!’

Well, I understand how she feels.

Thinking of me, that kind of worry is only natural.

“If Gongja is shy around strangers, I just won't do it.”

Ansan-daek shook her head.

“That's not it.”

“I felt it during the magazine photoshoot, too. Gongja takes after you, milady.”

Huh.

“Oh, you felt it too, Ansan-daek?”

“Yes. He was like a fish in water during the photoshoot.”

My mother looked down at me.

“What should I do?”

“Bapua!”

I want to go!

‘If I miss this chance, I'm not Gongja, I'm a fool.’

I beamed. I was even prepared to use a coin if necessary.

Seeing me like that, my mother chuckled a little.

“My intuition is telling me. Gongja wants to come to the premiere.”

Wow.

I clapped my hands and flapped my whole body.

“Byawoo!”

Excellent. Very excellent.

“Ahahahaha! Gongja, you're so cute! My Gongja, you want to go to Mommy's premiere, right?”

“Ba!”

Yes!

My mother held me and patted my bottom.

“You're so cute I could die. What does my angel eat to be this adorable?”

Formula and baby food.

Ansan-daek shook her head and said.

“What else could it be? It's your love and affection, milady.”

Ah, that's important too, I suppose.

I smiled brightly and kicked my legs.

‘There are many babies in the world, but it's rare for one to receive all of that.’

That's why I was so grateful to her.

I looked at my mother. The actress who became my mom, Ma Sujeong, was incredibly beautiful.

‘*City of the Dead* will be a massive success.’

Besides, the movie was popular even when the 'female warrior' character lacked a backstory. Now that the most regrettable part has been filled, the outcome was obvious.

‘Mom.’

I grabbed my mother's hand and kicked my legs.

‘I'll do even better for you.’

Raising a baby isn't cheap, you know.

‘Look forward to it!’

I said with a wide smile.

“Mama!”

“Oh, my Gongja! You're just the cutest!”

My mother held me and spun around.

“You have no idea how much strength you give me, my Gongja. Did you know? Mommy can do anything for her baby angel.”

Wow.

‘No, you don't have to go that far.’

My mother placed me in the cradle and whispered softly.

“Yes. That's right. I can do anything.”

Huh.

‘This feels like she's making a resolution to herself.’

Just as I was tilting my head in confusion, my mother flexed her fingers and pulled on a pair of leather gloves.

‘Uh, no. It's still cold, but why leather gloves?’

I wasn't the only one who was curious. Ansan-daek asked.

“Milady, what are you doing?”

“Yeah. I'm going to go mess up Lee Yugyeong.”

Hmm, Lee Yugyeong... the one who spoke so carelessly back then?

‘I did give her a mouth sore.’

My mother rolled her shoulders.

“We tracked down the malicious online commenter, and a familiar face popped up.”

“Oh, my.”

Ansan-daek covered her mouth and gasped.

“So... you're saying you're going to the main residence to beat up the second daughter-in-law?”

“Yep. I'm gonna wreck her.”

My mother tied up her hair.

“N-No, milady! Still!”

“It's fine.”

My mother smiled refreshingly.

“I'm bringing a bat, you see.”

Wow. A bat. What a beautiful weapon.

‘My mom. She's amazing.’

But still.

‘Will it be okay?’

I looked at my mother's arms. They were toned from exercise, but slender, as befitting an actress.

‘Can she even swing that thing with any force? No, wait! Even so, she's the second daughter-in-law. A bat?’

Rolling her shoulders, my mother strode confidently out the door. She didn't forget to flash a V-sign and a wink on her way out.

A sigh escaped me.

“Puaah.”

“Sigh.”

I glanced to the side. My eyes met Ansan-daek's.

We didn't need to say a word.

Ansan-daek and I sighed in unison.

“Gongja, dear. Don't worry too much.”

That's what I thought, right?

No matter how much she hates her, they're family. She wouldn't actually hit her with a bat. Right?

“I just hope she doesn't mess her up too badly.”

...What?

Looking at me, Ansan-daek shook the mobile once. The clear sound of bells chimed.

“Gongja, you don't know how milady grew up, do you?”

Of course I don't.

“Milady started with rhythmic gymnastics, then learned ballet.”

‘She learned such beautiful things!’

“After that, she evolved to Taekwondo, boxing, and kickboxing.”

Huh.

“And after that, she'd swing a bat whenever she was stressed. I bet she still beats up tires these days.”

Wow.

I pictured my mother holding a bat and swinging it at a tire.

‘She learned strong and beautiful things.’

But I was still worried.

‘Is she really going to hit her?’

Hmm.

‘Was her name Lee Yugyeong?’

She's the one who gave me that irritating welcome when I first came to this house, right?

‘Hmm, if she really does get hit, I'll patch her up with a coin.’

But will she really hit her?

Whether she knew my thoughts or not, Ansan-daek kept muttering.

“I hope she doesn't beat her up too much. The settlement money will be expensive.”

Huh? Is it already a foregone conclusion?

‘Hmm, I hope she doesn't hit her.’

A stray fragment could fly off and hurt her,

‘My mom's face is precious.’

Ansan-daek continued to worry.

“Oh dear, milady. I hope she has the sense to hit her where it won't show. I wonder if she can control her strength, swinging it after so long.”

For a moment, I was speechless.

Still, the conclusion was the same.

‘Hmm, my mom really is amazing.’

I smiled brightly and prayed for the safe return of my mother, who had gone on an expedition with her bat. For some reason, it felt like the right thing to do.

* * *

Ma Sujeong, holding a metal bat, opened the front door and walked in. A servant with an unfamiliar face was startled to see her.

“Milady?”

“Where is she?”

“The madam? She's in the second-floor drawing room.”

“No. Not the madam. My sister-in-law.”

“She's on the third-floor veranda.”

Ma Sujeong replied with an actress's smile.

“Thank you.”

Actress Ma ran like a deer. She was so graceful that the metal bat looked like a luxury handbag.

Perhaps that was why. The servant stared at her retreating back before finally snapping to their senses.

“Ah, I have to call! Call!”

They came to their senses in a hurry, but the bus had already left.

Ma Sujeong moved like a flash of lightning.

Arriving at the third-floor veranda, she scanned her surroundings, searching for her target. Fortunately, the target was nearby.

She swung the bat lightly. Reunited with its owner after a long time, the bat let out a joyful cry.

*Woong-*

*Woong-*

Ma Sujeong walked gracefully out onto the veranda. Of course, she didn't forget to rest the bat on her shoulder as soon as she was outside.

“Hello?”

Lee Yugyeong, who had been about to elegantly sip her coffee, let her hand slip.

“Ah, sister-in-law?”

Ma Sujeong didn't answer. In times like these, actions were more effective than words.

*CRACK-*

The luxurious tea table rattled violently. Lee Yugyeong stared at the table, deeply dented from a single swing of the bat.

“Wh-What do you think you're doing!”

“What am I doing, you ask?”

*CRACK-*

She struck the corner of the table, and it went flying. Lee Yugyeong tried to scramble out of her seat, but Ma Sujeong's knee pinned her down first.

“S-Sister-in-law!”

“My Gongja got a malicious comment, and when we tracked it down, it turned out to be you.”

“N-No!”

“I got the call yesterday, so I dug out my leather gloves for the first time in a while. Hey! What did I tell you? I said I wouldn't let it slide, didn't I?”

Ma Sujeong grabbed Lee Yugyeong's chin.

“Th-This is thuggish behavior!”

“Your family are the thugs. Aren't you from that great family that got rich off loan sharking and baccarat?”

Lee Yugyeong bit her lip.

“I thought my own family was rock bottom, but as I lived, I realized there's a basement even lower than that. Seeing you reminded me of it for the first time in ages.”

Despite her sharp words, Ma Sujeong smiled elegantly. Lee Yugyeong trembled.

“In your family, a little threat like this is nothing, right? Why are you shaking?”

“I-I've never had this happen to me before!”

Lee Yugyeong was already crying. Ma Sujeong tilted her head.

“Really? So? Just because it hasn't happened before means it should never happen?”

Terrified, Lee Yugyeong shivered.

“If you try any tricks with my Gongja again, I won't let you off.”

“Y-You...!”

“Got it? If you understand, nod your head.”

Lee Yugyeong remained still. But when Ma Sujeong brought a hand toward her face, she flinched and cried out.

“I-I get it! I'll never do it again!”

“Never do it again? Are you speaking informally to me? You should respect your elders.”

“I-I won't do it again, sister-in-law.”

“Good. That's a good girl.”

Ma Sujeong stood up lightly. Then she kicked the overturned table once more and turned away.

“I'm a mad dog. When I say I'll do something, I do it.”

Actress Ma turned gracefully and said.

“Think carefully about what 'do it' means.”

For a moment, Lee Yugyeong's body twitched in fear.

Ma Sujeong slung the bat back over her shoulder and left the veranda. A Mr. Cha came running in a hurry, but the game was already over.

“Mr. Cha! It's been a while.”

“Milady!”

“Don't shout. She's perfectly fine over there.”

“Ah, and you, milady?”

Ma Sujeong blinked.

“Pardon?”

“You're okay too, right?”

Actress Ma covered her mouth and laughed. Perhaps it was because she was an actress beloved by all. She was popular even with the employees.

“Of course.”

“I see. I'll go check on the veranda now.”

As he was about to turn back, a formidable opponent blocked the way.

Ma Sujeong greeted her brightly.

“Ah, Madam, hello.”

Madam Na Hwajin frowned at the sight of her daughter.

“What is this disgraceful sight?”

Ma Sujeong glanced at her bat and smiled sweetly.

“I was heading into battle. I needed a weapon.”

“You, surely you didn't...”

“It was for intimidation, not violence. You know I don't hit people these days.”

Though I do hit tires.

“I've been living a good life ever since Gongja came to me.”

Seeing Ma Sujeong, Madam Na Hwajin shook her head.

“How shortsighted. You still see only the trees, not the forest.”

“Because I was looking at the forest, I didn't land a single blow.”

“If you act like this, do you think the second son's wife will stay quiet? You must consider that she might do something worse. Tsk.”

“Is that so?”

Ma Sujeong turned slightly.

“I guess I should go back, then.”

“To do what?”

“Things like this need to be handled decisively. If I break something for sure, she won't try any funny business with my Gongja.”

“That won't be necessary.”

Na Hwajin sighed and said.

“I will take responsibility and make sure she doesn't.”

“Oh my! Why? You hate dealing with troublesome things.”

“We're still entangled with the second son's family.”

Ma Sujeong scoffed.

Right. When her second older brother got married, they'd mixed something up—an affiliate or a subsidiary, something like that.

“So you're saying it wouldn't matter if we weren't entangled.”

“For now, we are very much entangled. It's a matter that will take time.”

Ma Sujeong scoffed.

“Anyway, this goddamn family is always like this.”

She was sick of it. Ma Sujeong shook her head and said.

“Still, it's surprising to see you step up when you usually don't. Did my Gongja perhaps win you over?”

Na Hwajin's face immediately soured.

“How could that be? I felt like I was suffocating from the smell of a mongrel.”

Ma Sujeong was about to say something but just closed her mouth. She'd known since she was a child that this was a person who wouldn't listen to reason.

A bitter feeling rose within her.

“My angel, who would be loved anywhere he goes, has to come here and hear things like this.”

She swept her hair back and sighed.

“This goddamn family.”

Ma Sujeong tucked the bat under her arm and glared at Na Hwajin.

The matriarch of Seongjin Group pretended not to hear, leaning on her cane as she passed by gracefully.

Ma Sujeong was about to hurl a string of curses at her back, but then she thought of her cute baby angel.

‘I have to make my Gongja happy...’

She had been so confident when she first brought him home, but the situation kept getting more unsettling.

‘Am I not qualified to raise an angel?’

Bitterness lingered on her lips. Ma Sujeong let out a deep sigh. For the first time in a while, she desperately wanted to go on a batting spree.