Chapter 75

#75 <Ingkum Ingkum>

***

After Yoo Jun-sik left, only three people remained in the reception room.

Every time Yoo Myung-sun, seated at the head, asked something, Hong Ki-jun explained without hesitation.

Yoo Myung-sun leaned toward Hong Ki-jun like an old man learning from a young teacher, listening intently, occasionally surprised or laughing.

At the end of the conversation, he patted his son-in-law’s back with a loud thud, expressing satisfaction.

“I’ll get up for a moment.”

Yoo Myung-sun headed to the bathroom. Despite taking care of his health, age was making the stubborn thing act up.

Crunch crunch-.

As silence returned to the reception room, only the sound of Yoo Se-ra munching on cookies could be heard.

It was strange to see her brother bowing respectfully to her husband, and her usually lively husband receiving the greeting like a general.

Lately, Dad smiles brightly whenever he sees his son-in-law. He’s been talking about the dollar and gold, looking pleased. Does he see his son-in-law as a gold mine?

But what does it matter?

Yoo Se-ra thinks the cookies at her dad’s house are delicious. They’re handmade cookies sent monthly from Saint Trading in Hong Kong, but they’re in short supply, so he doesn’t share them with the kids.

Even with such delicious cookies in front of them, the men didn’t touch them. Men are so dumb.

‘Hehe, I’ll eat them all by myself.’

When her throat got dry, she drank some milk.

Crunch crunch-.

Cookie crumbs flew everywhere.

Hong Ki-jun stared at her intently.

While their daughter was starving in the study, her mother treated her as a food competitor. Are you a lioness or a pig? Are you an elegant orchid or a pig? Well, she’s pretty, so it’s forgivable.

Yoo Se-ra’s eyes met his. Almost reflexively, she lifted her chin. Crumbs fell from her mouth.

“What.”

Hong Ki-jun, about to scold his 35-year-old wife, decided to say something he’d been holding back. He braced himself. It takes courage to confront a lioness.

“Eat a lot······.”

He didn’t forget to give an awkward smile. It was his best attempt at a grin.

Hong Ki-jun’s heart raced like a mouse before a lion.

Forget the pig······.

I should call Yoo Mun-sik and encourage him when I get home.

He dreamed of being an actor, and seeing him now, I’m sure he would’ve been great.

– “Brother-in-law, do I really not have to work at the company anymore?”

– “Just do a few tasks for me.”

– “Won’t that sly Jun-sik notice?”

– “I trust your acting skills. Didn’t you dream of being an actor? Give it your all. I’ll take care of the rest.”

– “I have enough money. Dad wouldn’t abandon his children. I really hate company work.”

Though he had a weakness for women, he was friendly to Hong Ki-jun. The eldest son with no interest or greed for the group’s affairs. He was bound to fall behind, so Hong Ki-jun used him, offering early retirement as a reward.

Yoo Mun-sik would probably meet the president of Daejeong Electronics after some rest.

‘Did I move too fast?’

I aimed for it, but I didn’t expect to be recognized so quickly. My father-in-law exceeded expectations. He didn’t care about background or education if he saw talent. In that sense, Hong Ki-jun was also a talent beyond public expectations.

‘Now, the next step is to hand over the semiconductor manufacturing design to my second brother-in-law through Min Yong-rak and restructure the chemical business.’

Yoo Jun-sik, resembling Chairman Yoo Myung-sun, has good instincts and a broad perspective. I’ve learned from experience that it’s better to bring him on board than to push him away.

‘I can’t let go of my little brother-in-law, who works like my right hand.’

Thinking of Yoo Mun-sik, who was wary of his smart younger brother despite claiming to have no greed, made me chuckle.

As I organized the next plan in my head, Yoo Myung-sun returned with a relieved expression.

“Who would’ve thought that Kim guy would release the communication? Anyway, our Ki-jun is amazing. That Park guy who let such talent rot as a section chief is an idiot.”

Even after pushing out his eldest son, Yoo Myung-sun seemed in a good mood. Calling his son-in-law “our Ki-jun” was proof. Park likely refers to Park Woon-chul, chairman of Daejeong Group. Everyone in the business world knows Yoo Myung-sun and Park Woon-chul are friends.

“Se-ra, you’ll visit your in-laws first this Chuseok, right?”

Yoo Myung-sun, focused on the Go board, asked.

It could sound like he’s telling her to visit her parents first, but Yoo Se-ra, ever cheerful, didn’t take the hint.

“Dad, we’re going on a trip for Chuseok.”

“A trip?”

“Yeah, with Kwang-yeon oppa-.”

Oops.

Yoo Se-ra shut her mouth and rolled her eyes. This mouth always causes trouble.

But it was too late.

“Kwang-yeon? Son Kwang-yeon?”

Yoo Myung-sun put down a Go stone and looked at his daughter.

It was shocking enough to pull his focus from the game. But he wasn’t angry at his daughter.

‘He’s alive?’

There was no news of his death, but given his abandoned state, it was as good as dead. Park Woon-chul, his friend and the most influential businessman in Korea, had searched for him for years but never found him.

Yoo Se-ra watched her father’s reaction.

“Dad, we met by chance. I didn’t mean to hide it-.”

“Sigh-. Hong, let’s stop here for today.”

Yoo Myung-sun sighed and threw down a Go stone.

“Yes, Father-in-law.”

Hong Ki-jun, tense from his wife’s slip, straightened up.

When called Ki-jun, it’s Father. When called Hong, it’s Father-in-law.

***

“Father-in-law, I’ll come for Chuseok-.”

“Ohoho-. Sure, our puppy.”

Chairman Yoo Myung-sun watched his daughter Yoo Se-ra’s family leave, hands behind his back. He sighed without realizing.

‘I’m craving the cigarettes I quit.’

I thought he might follow his mother into acting.

Son Kwang-yeon. He resembled his mother so much that even as a boy, he was beautiful. And he was brilliant.

‘Or maybe he just studied hard after losing his mother.’

Yoo Myung-sun took interest in his path after he topped the business school at the top university in the country.

Though Park Woon-chul secretly supported him to ensure he wasn’t in need. It’s said Son Kwang-yeon, who hated the Park family, refused the money Park’s secretary offered.

A beautiful woman. Yoo Myung-sun first saw Son Moon-ye, who worked as a receptionist at the Seoul Merchants Association where Park Woon-chul and others gathered. She looked like a tear dropped by the moon goddess, giving life. Park Woon-chul proudly said he’d sponsor her acting career as his business flourished.

‘It’s been 40 years already.’

Tsk-. The vivid memory left a bitter taste.

After Son Moon-ye’s death, Park Woon-chul wanted to register Son Kwang-yeon in his family register. But Park, who had married into his wife’s family at 18 and had a son and daughter, couldn’t register Son Kwang-yeon. No, he couldn’t even show him to the world. It wasn’t about loyalty to his wife and children. It was because Park Woon-chul, who relied on his wife’s family for business, lacked power.

“Mr. Kwon.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Tell Mrs. Lee to bring me a drink. Something strong.”

“Understood.”

When Son Moon-ye died, and when he couldn’t find Son Kwang-yeon, Park Woon-chul called Yoo Myung-sun drunk, rambling. Yoo Myung-sun was the only one who understood what the Son family meant to Park.

‘You fool. If you couldn’t take responsibility, you shouldn’t have held them in your heart.’

Having succeeded with his wife’s family’s help, Park Woon-chul couldn’t proudly show Son Kwang-yeon. Realizing this, Yoo Myung-sun secretly supported Son Kwang-yeon. Not for Park. It was for Son Moon-ye. She had treated Yoo Myung-sun, who lost all his siblings in the war, like a brother.

‘How could Moon-ye belong to that thief Park?’

Though he pressed many times, Park Woon-chul never revealed the truth.

Yoo Myung-sun always treated Son Moon-ye with respect. He thought of her as a sister, never with impure thoughts.

Housekeeper Mrs. Lee brought strong liquor and simple snacks to the reception room.

“Gulp-.”

He downed a glass in one go, his cheeks hollowing as he pursed his lips. He didn’t touch the snacks.

‘Better than my sons.’

Seeing Son Kwang-yeon tenderly caring for his daughter Yoo Se-ra as a child, Yoo Myung-sun couldn’t help but compare him to Yoo Mun-sik and Yoo Jun-sik. He believed people could be taught and changed, but character was innate.

‘He’s three or four years older than Se-ra, so he must be around forty now?’

Ah, he’s Ki-jun’s college classmate.

Is he married? Does he have children?

Perhaps the sudden mention of Son Kwang-yeon’s name caused the shock. He didn’t even ask how he was. He once cared for him like a son, yet he didn’t come to see him, which left him feeling hurt.

‘With his abilities and looks, he must be married with children.’

A son? A daughter?

How old would they be?

The old chairman’s eyes grew misty.

***

Fourteen-year-old Son Jin-hyeok spent the holiday with his younger sister Son Yoo-jin.

With no relatives to visit and their parents on a trip to Hawaii, the usual visitors—military officers, politicians, bankers, and association heads—were absent, which was nice.

“Ah, home is so good.”

The police chief came by, saying he was checking if everything was okay, smoked a cigarette, and left after circling the house.

Was he a shaman? No, just a man checking out the house.

The car carrying the police chief left, marking the start of the siblings’ peaceful Chuseok.

“Ah, so good-.”

It’s quiet, and there are no annoying couples around, so Jin-hyeok feels at peace. And it’s not like before, with nothing to do and no one to meet. Ah, I’m not alone.

“Yoo-jin, where are you?”

“-I’m going.”

Hng-.

A cute voice came from the bathroom. Why are even the sounds of babies studying so adorable?

He chuckled and turned on the TV. To protect his cute sister’s bathroom privacy.

[-The 7th Weight-Class Ssireum Championship, also the Chuseok Ssireum Championship, is being broadcast live from Jangchung Gymnasium, the holy land of ssireum. Commentary is provided by Um Ki-tak, director of the Korean Ssireum Federation. Hello?]

[Sniff-. Yes, hello.]

[Finally, the weight-class championship final. Now! Sir, please introduce the players. What kind of player is Choi Tae-yang?]

[Sniff. Yes, he’s won all high school-level tournaments this year. Sniff-. Even though he’s still a high school student, he’s challenged his seniors. Sniff-. He’s very promising, right? Sniff-. Yes, that’s the kind of player he is.]

[What do you think? Isn’t it rare for a high school student to compete in a folk ssireum tournament?]

[Sniff-, starting this year, if a player is registered with the federation and meets the weight class and ranking criteria, sniff-. Yes, they can be invited. Sniff-. Yes, that’s correct.]

[Yes, I see. As I speak, both players are standing. With the referee’s signal, the first match of the Halla Ssireum Championship begins.]

Whoa-, Jin-hyeok’s eyes and mouth rounded like Yoo-jin’s.

It seemed like the villagers were gathering at Choi Mi-kyung’s house because of Choi Tae-yang. After working out all summer, Choi Tae-yang’s muscles were thick yet defined, like a bodybuilder’s. His flexible waist stood out on his steel-like body.

A faint smell wafted from the bathroom, and Jin-hyeok covered his nose, focusing on the screen.

The TV commentator suddenly raised his voice.

[Take down! Choi Tae-yaaaang! He defeats last year’s and New Year’s Halla Ssireum champion, Um Sung-tak, with a skilled take down! Wow- isn’t he too good for a high school student? I heard Um Sung-tak is a great player too. Sir, can you tell us about Um Sung-tak?]

[Sniff-, he’s my younger brother.]

[Yes······.]

He wanted to keep watching, but a fairy’s voice came from the bathroom.

“Oppa-, Yoo-jin’s done-.”

“Ah, our Yoo-jin’s done?”

“Yeees-. Hehe.”

Jin-hyeok turned off the TV without hesitation.

Huu-. He took a deep breath and held it. The black aura wafting from the bathroom was an illusion. Why does she smell like that when her face and voice are like a fairy’s?

Lately, Mom’s cooking has been saltier, maybe because she’s losing her sense of smell due to Yoo-jin.

Anyway······.

The thrilling Chuseok with his sister began.