Chapter 30
thoughtful
Villain in Love
30.
Middle School Reunion
Six o’clock in the evening. The main hall of Domyeongjae was uncharacteristically bustling with guests. It was the start of the reunion hosted by Hyeonuk.
Hyeonuk, who had disappeared for a few days with nothing but a camera, had returned just in time, and about ten middle school classmates gathered together for the first time in ages.
The staff of the main hall served dishes prepared with seasoned skill. The spread of traditional food, which had graced the feast tables of the Nam family since ancient times, filled the large table—a far cry from the cheap snacks one might order at a local bar.
Manager Mun brought out Songyeopju, one of Domyeongjae’s three signature liquors, made by aging pine needles over a long period. Songyeopju, with its exquisite, fragrant, and refreshing scent unique to pine needles, paired perfectly with meat dishes and was a symbolic liquor that had brightened the Nam family’s festivities for generations.
“Wow, Hyeonuk, I’m getting to drink such rare liquor thanks to you.”
“The food is insane. And what is this drink? The scent is incredible.”
The classmates were busy offering their praises. Since Domyeongjae’s traditional liquors were only known to be brewed by the likes of Manager Mun and Eunja and were never distributed commercially, they felt exceptionally precious.
Vowing to drink as much as possible while they had the chance, the classmates devoured the food and alcohol with a somewhat aggressive fervor. Watching Manager Mun refill the platters before they were even emptied, one classmate looked up.
“Manager, are there any other guests coming today besides us?”
“Nope.”
“Eat your fill before you go. You’re guests of Domyeongjae and classmates of our young master Hyeonuk, so we can’t treat you poorly.”
Ooh… Young master.
Jeering voices erupted from all around. Hyeonuk held up his glass, his lips pressed tightly together.
“If you’re going to tease me, spit out all the food you just shoved down your throats first.”
“Man, a silver spoon indeed. I’m so jealous of that silver spoon. Just so you know, if I’m reborn, I’m definitely coming back as you.”
Hyeonuk took a sip of his drink at his friend’s words.
“Well, give it a try. Being born with a silver spoon isn’t easy. Anyone can be born into it, but not just anybody is. Keep that in mind.”
“Ugh, seriously. I’m so annoyed, but it sounds right, so I have nothing to say.”
“Hyeonuk. I, for one, am not jealous of you. I just want to stay friends with you for a long time, so even if you cut everyone else off, keep hanging out with me forever. That’s all I need.”
“Me too.”
“Me too.”
The friends’ reactions varied over a glass of precious liquor. Hyeonuk, who had rarely invited friends to Domyeongjae, ended the conversation with a short laugh.
He hadn’t made these friends by flaunting or promoting what he had. Inside Domyeongjae, he was the young master of a chaebol family, but among his friends, he was just a kind-hearted, good-natured member of the group. Sharing his life wouldn’t have ruined their relationships, but it was also something he hadn’t felt the need to show.
Today, for the first time, Hyeonuk had opened Domyeongjae to his friends. The secret kingdom of Moksan County, a historic mansion where no uninvited guest could enter.
It wasn’t an easy decision for the thoughtful Hyeonuk.
“By the way, why isn’t Yeonwoo here?”
“Oh, right. Didn’t you say Yeonwoo was here? Is she late?”
Hyeonuk sipped his drink again. The reason he had decided to gather at Domyeongjae was because Yeonwoo was here.
“I don’t think Yeonwoo can make it.”
“Huh? Why? You said she was here.”
“She can’t even come for a bit? Why? Hey, host, does Yeonwoo even know we’re here? I came to see her.”
The host was inwardly flustered. He had bragged so much to everyone about Yeonwoo being here.
“Well, how should I put this? Yeonwoo works here.”
“And?”
“It looks like she really can’t get away from work. She said she was sorry.”
The classmates all looked bewildered.
“Hey, look what time it is. Tell her to come after she clocks out; we’ll wait. Exactly how late does she work?”
Hyeonuk just raised an eyebrow instead of answering.
Yeonwoo was on duty today. It was a long-standing tradition at Domyeongjae for the newcomer to take the night shift. Manager Mun, a stickler for rules and principles, wasn’t one to grant favors, so Yeonwoo ended up being absent.
Explaining the truth would require too much detail. He didn’t know if his friends, who were used to corporate life, would understand the inner workings of Domyeongjae, so Hyeonuk kept quiet and refilled his empty glass.
He couldn’t ask Manager Mun to let Yeonwoo off just because they were classmates. Having been born and raised here, Hyeonuk knew that better than anyone. This was a place where rules and principles lived, where tradition and stubbornness were everything.
A place where the decisions of Manager Mun, who managed many employees without a hitch, stood above the law.
“Um, excuse me.”
It was then. Everyone turned their heads at the sound of the main hall door opening and someone peeking their head in.
Most of them jumped up from their chairs with surprised faces.
“No way, Yeonwoo!”
“Hey! Ji Yeonwoo!”
With a small smile through the gap in the door, Yeonwoo looked at her classmates. Hyeonuk, equally surprised, stood up and set down his glass, his eyes wide.
“Sorry I’m late. Can I come in?”
The classmates scrambled around in a frenzy.
“Of course! Come here! Welcome, Yeonwoo!”
“Woooo! Yeonwoo’s here, Yeonwoo! How long has it been!”
Yeonwoo stepped inside after taking off her shoes. Hyeonuk, his eyes following her as she slowly walked in, let out a hollow laugh after a moment.
“How did you get here? You said you couldn’t come earlier.”
“Well, Manager Mun told me to clock out. Where should I sit?”
“Ah, here. Sit over here, Yeonwoo.”
It was an early departure for Yeonwoo that no one had expected.
Having finished work, Seongheon passed by the main hall. He glanced at the many shoes neatly arranged, listened to the sharp sounds of laughter echoing outside, and headed toward Unseondang.
Manager Mun, who had been waiting at Unseondang, greeted Seongheon as he took off his shoes. She had just finished sweeping the yard and airing out the house.
“You’re back, Vice President.”
“Yes. The main hall seems noisy.”
“Young master Hyeonuk is having a reunion today.”
“Ah. That’s today.”
It seemed Hyeonuk, who had been away for a few days to take photos, had returned. As Seongheon walked straight into the bedroom, Manager Mun followed him.
“Vice President, it looks like you’ll have to have your meal here at Unseondang today.”
“I’m not feeling hungry. Just brew me some coffee, please.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Seongheon took off his jacket, washed his hands, and sat at the tea table in the parlor. Manager Mun stood before the electric coffee machine with a small espresso cup and operated the machine with slow fingertips.
Coffee dripped down along with hot steam. The rich aroma of coffee filled the space, and before long, Manager Mun brought the coffee out on a tray.
“Drinking on an empty stomach might give you heartburn; shall I bring out a bit of bread?”
Seongheon raised a hand to signal he was fine and gripped the small cup. As he sipped the freshly brewed coffee, a bitter aroma pooled in his mouth. Closing his lips as if to savor it, the rich acidity followed by a unique nutty flavor was quite good.
He watched the yellow pine pollen staining Manager Mun’s hands as she wiped the coffee machine, and then he spoke.
“The pollen won’t be flying much longer. I’m sick to death of it this time of year.”
It was an annual occurrence. Seongheon let out a faint chuckle, feeling a touch of regret that Yeonwoo might no longer sweep the Unseondang yard once the pollen stopped.
Then, he asked Manager Mun.
“Come to think of it, Manager Mun, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you at Unseondang.”
“Yes. I’m here because there’s no one else, since I sent the newcomer to the reunion.”
“Ah. The reunion.”
Ah. So she did attend the reunion.
“I told her to go, but she kept insisting she didn’t have to. She’s so inflexible.”
“Are you talking about Ji Yeonwoo-ssi?”
“Yes. Even when I give her time off, she makes a fuss. Oh dear, I’m swearing right in front of the Vice President.”
Seongheon finally let out a chuckle.
“I finally managed to send her off after a long back-and-forth of ‘please go’ and ’no, I can’t.’ With her friends here eating, how could I let her work all by herself?”
“You did well.”
The laughter he had heard echoing outside the main hall suddenly came to mind. Since she had cried so much yesterday, he hoped that today’s Yeonwoo would laugh a lot and enjoy herself.
“Manager Mun, you can go about your business now. I’ll be fine.”
“Um, Vice President.”
When Manager Mun called him, Seongheon looked up.
“Yes, Manager.”
“There’s something I’d like to say.”
“Go ahead.”
Manager Mun rubbed her hands on her apron. She looked as though she was trying to bring up a difficult subject.
Seongheon, who had been sipping his coffee, set his cup down and straightened his back. As he showed through his actions that he was ready to listen intently, Manager Mun spoke after a moment.
“How long will you be staying at Domyeongjae?”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
It was an unexpected question. Seongheon seemed to think for a moment before answering.
“I initially expected about a month, but now I’m thinking about three months.”
“As long as three months?”
“The situation at the site is messier than I thought, so it looks like it’ll take some time to straighten out.”
Seongheon himself had only just realized that he planned to stay for three months.
“Does my being here make you uncomfortable?”
“Oh, no. Not at all. It’s not that, it’s just… aren’t there many, you know, lawyers at the head office?”
“I was wondering if I could meet those people who go to Seoul with you, Vice President.”
Seongheon’s eyebrows twitched.
“Has something happened to you personally, Manager?”
“No, it’s not about me.”
Manager Mun waved her hand dismissively.
“There’s a matter nearby that needs a bit of consultation, so I was wondering if I could get some advice. It’s nothing too major, but I don’t know anyone or have anywhere to ask, and I thought I just needed to ask a few things.”
“…….”
“Technically speaking, our Domyeongjae staff have a close connection with Seolyang Group, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they belong to Seolyang. So I was wondering if I could get a little help…”
“Is it a problem with a Domyeongjae employee?”
Manager Mun, who wasn’t gifted at asking favors, looked quite embarrassed. Seongheon watched her silently, then clasped his hands and tilted his head slightly.
“Is it about Ji Yeonwoo-ssi? The Vice President of Namsong Industrial Development?”
“Oh my, Vice President, how did you know that?”
When Seongheon asked with a sharp retort, a startled Manager Mun looked flustered. Only then did Seongheon take another sip of his coffee and continue.
“I happened to find out. Since it was something that happened in my office.”
“Oh dear…”
Manager Mun let out a long sigh. It was a sigh mixed with many emotions.
“How much must he have tormented her for the poor child to be so thin and look like she’s about to crumble?”
Now that she knew Seongheon was aware, Manager Mun finally poured out her inner thoughts. Even though she had told Yeonwoo so sternly not to utter a word, she had spent all night looking up articles related to stalking crimes. Having stared at her phone for so long through her reading glasses, her eyes had been blurry all day.
“I can’t tell her to stay at Domyeongjae forever, and I’ll have to send her out eventually, but since those wicked men are looking for her, I’m worried one way or another.”
“Looking for her? Who?”
“…Yes. Not long ago, right out front, I met a truly wicked fellow who was carrying around a photo of the newcomer and asking if she was here or not. What would have happened if I hadn’t been there?”
Seongheon’s breath grew heavy, having understood the preceding explanation while the latter part barely registered. To avoid revealing his clenched jaw, he swallowed his coffee while trying to relax as much as possible. It had tasted deep and rich, but now it felt as bitter as poison.
Having finally confessed to Seongheon, Manager Mun looked troubled. After telling Yeonwoo so firmly to keep it absolutely quiet, she was now tattling to Seongheon with her own mouth—it was a maddening situation in its own right.
“I tried to just watch and see, but I started thinking something might actually happen at this rate.”
“Manager Mun, I didn’t take you for the meddling type. So you know how to interfere, and how to tell on people?”
Manager Mun looked embarrassed at Seongheon’s words.
“Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, or maybe I’m catching spring fever at this age. I’m doing things I don’t usually do. Or maybe I’ve been influenced by Eunja? As you’ve seen, that girl pokes her nose into everything everywhere.”
“I like it. If you don’t look after the Domyeongjae staff, Manager, who will?”
Seongheon stood up from his seat.
“I don’t think you’ll need to go all the way to the head office, Manager. It’s far. It’s a long drive.”
“Pardon? Then how am I supposed to see the lawyers?”
Seongheon replied as he draped his jacket over his arm.
“I actually met with a lawyer today.”
“Pardon? You did, Vice President? Personally? Why?”
When the question of why followed, Seongheon seemed to think for a moment before giving a short laugh.
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s spring fever.”
“I enjoyed the coffee.”
As Seongheon walked away to go wash up, Manager Mun’s lips only twitched.
She watched Seongheon’s receding figure for a long time. They were dependable shoulders and a steady gait, no matter when she saw them.
