Ch.141141. Life Doesn’t Always Go As Planned

“This restaurant is a subsidiary of our group.”

“…Oh.”

I’d heard vaguely that Hwail Group had ventured into the food industry, but I never imagined this restaurant would be a subsidiary. When I should be making the best impression possible, saying something like this is no different from mumbling “I don’t know much about these things.”

Since there’s nothing I can do about it now, I’ll let it slide, but when I get home, I’ll memorize the group’s history first. After making that resolution, I finally noticed my surroundings.

The buzzing atmosphere inside, and the fact that the staff guiding us wasn’t a regular employee but the executive chef. Just seeing this made it obvious this wasn’t an ordinary situation. I must have been quite flustered not to notice.

As I stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to do, Hwa Nabi’s father gave the executive chef a look. With just a single glance and without saying a word, the executive chef moved swiftly to add two more seats to the reserved table.

“Well, sit down.”

Her father, who had just controlled someone with just a look, invited us to join them. No, he didn’t invite—he stated it. Not as a command, but as if stating an obvious fact. I couldn’t possibly decline.

“Ah, yes. Understood.”

We’ve only exchanged a few words, but I already feel like I’m sitting on pins and needles. Feeling unnecessarily tense, I moistened my dry lips, and Hwa Nabi, walking beside me, patted my waist.

“Siwoo, why are you so nervous?”

“…What are you talking about? I’m not nervous.”

I was pretending not to be, but it must have been obvious because Hwa Nabi, who was staring at me, chuckled.

“Don’t be so tense. You know my parents aren’t that rigid, right? So just relax.”

That’s because I met them before we started living together, when we were dating properly. Of course, we’re still dating properly now, but that’s just a manner of speaking.

To exaggerate slightly, from her parents’ perspective, wouldn’t I look like a thief who stole their daughter before marriage? That’s how all parents with daughters feel.

“…Yeah, okay.”

But for now, let’s set aside these worries and anxieties. This is a meal with my fiancée’s parents, my roommate’s parents. There’s nothing to gain by showing a lack of confidence.

You know, they say 80% of a man’s makeup is confidence, right? Since I have nothing to be inferior about, if I act confidently, there shouldn’t be any problems.

“Hmm, that’s better. Your face looks good now.”

Hwa Nabi smiled prettily and held out her hand. She didn’t say anything, but I understood the meaning behind her outstretched palm facing upward.

I grabbed it without hesitation. I intertwined our fingers and pulled her toward me until our shoulders touched. There were several pairs of eyes watching us, but I ignored such trivial matters.

“Well, shall we go?”

*

After the meal was somewhat concluded, I excused myself from Hwa Nabi’s family and went to the restroom.

“Phew…”

I tried my best, but I’m not sure if I made a good impression. When I was a student, I could get away with not knowing things, but now that I’m an adult, that’s not the case.

All kinds of thoughts are rushing through my mind, starting with worries about whether I might have said something wrong without realizing it.

“Ah, well.”

I regretted not answering certain questions differently, but it’s water under the bridge now. I can’t turn back time, so I should let go of any lingering regrets.

I turned on the faucet and washed my face with cold water. As the cold sensation covered my entire face, I felt like all the distracting thoughts in my head were being washed away.

“Whoa.”

That feels better. I pulled a few sheets of hand paper hanging right next to me and wiped my face. Then I opened my eyes to check the mirror.

“……”

To my surprise, Hwa Nabi’s father was standing next to me. More precisely, he was in front of the sink next to mine, but that’s not important. Anyway, I froze for a moment in shock.

The awkward eye contact continued for about three seconds. The strange silence that had formed in the men’s restroom was broken not by me, but by her father.

“Did you enjoy lunch? I heard it was a new menu prepared by the executive chef.”

“Ah, yes. It was really good. And, um, sir. Would it be alright if you spoke to me more casually…?”

It feels really awkward to be addressed so formally by someone who’s the same age as my father, and who is also my girlfriend’s father. Apart from that, it’s also burdensome for me to hear.

After watching his reaction, I cautiously ventured my opinion. Hwa Nabi’s father looked at me silently, then spoke while adjusting his wristwatch.

“Then I’ll speak more casually from now on. You’ll be my son-in-law soon anyway.”

That last part seemed to have a bit of an edge to it… but it’s probably just my imagination. Just as I was about to quietly leave the restroom since the conversation seemed over, her father, who was washing his hands, spoke up.

“So, when are you planning to hold the wedding?”

“…Pardon?”

The tone suggested he was about to say something like “Let’s have a meal together again sometime,” so I doubted my ears for a moment. Did I hear correctly? I had answered all other questions smoothly, but this one left me speechless.

As I clenched and unclenched my hands nervously, my lips trembling without me realizing it, her father smiled faintly.

“It’s a joke, so you can relax. I’m not pressuring a young man who just turned twenty to get married, so don’t misunderstand.”

“Ah… yes.”

Like father, like daughter—he startles people and then laughs about it. Making jokes that only the teller finds funny must be a genetic trait from the father’s side.

“You have thick arms. Is your hobby perhaps exercise? Leisure sports or ball games?”

“No, nothing that grand. I just do simple weight training whenever I have time.”

“Is that so? Weights are good. There’s something about lifting things that seems to clear your mind of distractions. Don’t you think?”

Hwa Nabi’s father also has quite thick wrists. Despite wearing a suit, his broad shoulders are unmistakable, and he brightened up when the topic of exercise came up. It seems exercise is his hobby.

“Yes. That’s right. Weights are good.”

“You went to the same school as my daughter, and which department were you in?”

“Korean Language Education.”

“Korean Language Education, so your goal is to become a school teacher?”

“Yes, barring any unforeseen circumstances, my primary goal is to pass the teacher certification exam.”

This is different from the casual conversation we had during the meal. Maybe because there are no onlookers, or because it’s just the two of us. He continues with a more detailed background check before turning off the faucet.

“Good hobby, good vision. Seems respectful too. Seems to have a sound mind.”

This is obviously about me. There was no subject, but I could tell from context. From what he’s saying, it seems like a positive evaluation, but I steeled myself, not wanting to let my guard down.

Hwa Nabi’s father put his watch back on his wrist. After checking his appearance in the mirror in front of the sink, he glanced at me and casually said:

“Everything’s good, but there’s just one thing lacking.”

…What could that be? As I was going through my answers in my mind, wondering if I had made a mistake somewhere, her father unexpectedly extended his hand.

“You don’t know life.”

“……”

This was another question I hadn’t anticipated. So I just stared blankly at his rough palm, and he added with a slight hint of amusement:

“Fishing is perfect for learning about life. Are you interested?”

*

After I responded to Hwa Nabi’s father’s final question with “Sure, just call me anytime,” our relationship became a bit closer.

How should I put it—it’s as if her father’s gaze toward me had become that of a comrade. It’s hard to express in words, but anyway, it feels like it’s become warmer.

Hwa Nabi’s mother had been favorable toward me from our first meeting, and after the private conversation in the restroom, her father had also softened considerably, so naturally, the atmosphere became even more convivial.

However, just as the meal was about to conclude in such an atmosphere, Narin, who had been asking various questions with a curious face, opened her mouth.

“Oh, sis! I have something I’m curious about.”

“Yes, what is it? Ask away.”

“When are you going to make a baby? I want to see a younger sibling.”

“…Huh?”

Surprised by innocent Narin’s question, Hwa Nabi’s face visibly stiffened. Her parents cleared their throats in embarrassment, and I was similarly flustered before finally regaining my composure.

“Listen, Narin.”

I crouched down to meet Narin’s eye level. I reached out to pat her head gently, keeping my voice as soft as possible. I spoke with a smile.

“Yes, oppa.”

“I think you’re confused about something. Even if your sister has a baby, it won’t be your younger sibling. For you to have a younger sibling, it’s not your sister but your mother who needs to have a baby…”

“S-Siwoo! What are you saying to a child?!”

As I was trying to correct Narin’s misunderstanding, Hwa Nabi tapped my shoulder. She quickly crouched down next to me to meet Narin’s eyes.

“Um, well, Narin? You see, your sister can’t make a baby right now.”

“…Why?”

She looks noticeably disappointed when told she can’t have a baby. See, she’s not that different from me. At this point, it might be better to just tell her clearly.

“Why? Why can’t you make one? Then, will I never have a younger sibling?”

“Huh? Well…”

The flustered Hwa Nabi sends me a distress signal with her eyes. Seeing her pleading look asking for help, I opened my mouth.

“Narin, don’t worry. You’ll have a younger sibling soon.”

“Really? When, when will I have one?”

I was planning to give a vague answer and move on, but she asked persistently. Is this that childlike curiosity or whatever?

Feeling like she would keep asking if I didn’t give a proper answer, I thought for a moment and then replied:

“Um… soon?”

“Really, really? I’ll have a younger sibling soon?”

“Yes, so can you be good and listen to your parents and sister while you wait?”

“Yes, I understand! I’ll be good and wait patiently!”

Seeing her happy smile makes me feel good too. I patted Narin’s head a few more times before sending her back to her parents and standing up. Hwa Nabi, who stood up with me, whispered quietly in my ear.

“Siwoo, why did you say that? Narin will really wait for it.”

“Come on, it’s not a big deal. She’ll forget about it after some time.”

“No, that’s exactly why I’m saying this. I once casually mentioned that I’d buy her a JuJu doll set for New Year’s, and she remembered it and brought it up ten months later!”

“…She’s that persistent?”

Remembering something said ten months ago is indeed an impressive memory for a child. But still, she looked so happy, and I can’t take back what I’ve already said. I patted Hwa Nabi’s shoulder to reassure her.

“Don’t worry too much. It’s ten months away, right? Something will work out by then.”

“We can’t just go out and get a child somewhere. Do you really think it will work out so easily? When Narin gets upset, it lasts a really long time.”

“If all else fails, should we really make one?”

“…This person, really!”