Ch.207207. Such is the Way of Human Affairs

“I, I’m going to marry this woman.”

After making this bold declaration as if I wouldn’t accept any objections, I observed the reactions around me. The expressions were quite varied. Hwa Nabi, whose hand I was holding, shyly lowered her head, while my parents gazed at me with warm eyes.

If I had to make a comparison, it was like the look of a mother bird watching her chick that had just hatched from its egg.

Even without putting it into words, their affectionate emotions were clearly conveyed. I could tell that my father and mother were feeling the same surge of emotions that I was.

“Well, life is truly unpredictable.”

That was my grandfather speaking. His gaze toward me was just as meaningful as my parents’.

“It’s surprising enough that I’ll see my great-grandchild while I’m still alive, but to think that it’s not my eldest grandson’s wife but my youngest grandson’s wife who will give birth to that great-grandchild. Isn’t that something?”

“What? Ah… yes. That’s right.”

I didn’t even understand the question, but I answered anyway. I quickly bowed again to my waist, and grandfather approached and patted my shoulder.

“Our youngest grandson is twenty this year, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“And my grandson’s wife?”

“She’s the same age. Also twenty.”

Grandfather’s gaze shifted to Hwa Nabi beside me. I tapped the back of Nabi’s hand to signal her.

“Hello, Grandfather. It’s nice to meet you for the first time.”

“Hmm, my grandson’s wife. Are you feeling well?”

“Yes. Siwoo… I mean, your grandson has been taking good care of me. I’m doing fine with no discomfort.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear that. Still, don’t forget to go to the hospital regularly for check-ups. When you’re pregnant, health comes first.”

“Ah, yes. I understand. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Hwa Nabi placed both hands on her lower abdomen and bowed deeply at the waist. Grandfather seemed pleased with this, stroking his chin with a satisfied hum.

“Secretary Kim. Find out if there’s a good obstetrician among the directors of our affiliated hospitals.”

“I’ll arrange regular appointments at a Seoul hospital.”

“Ah, and while you’re at it, look into some herbal medicine too. You know, the one our daughter-in-law took consistently during her pregnancy. Don’t worry about the cost.”

“Yes. I’ll look into it right away.”

Grandfather’s personal secretary retreated after receiving these instructions. I was blankly watching the scene when I suddenly came to my senses. Grandfather’s gaze was now directed at me.

“It seems our youngest grandson doesn’t know. Men aren’t supposed to take herbal medicine.”

“What? What do you mean…?”

“If you take the wrong one, you might not be able to perform as a man. That would be a serious problem for someone so young, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes. That’s right. That wouldn’t be good.”

It wasn’t me who answered grandfather’s question, but Hwa Nabi. I was about to interject with something, but then decided against it.

Although I wasn’t looking at her with the intention of asking for anything, I felt that jumping in would only complicate the conversation.

“Good. I like your spirited answer. My grandson’s wife, is there anything else you need? A house, perhaps, or a car? Just say the word.”

The nuance was like giving pocket money to a granddaughter, but the scale was quite different. Is he saying he’d just buy a house or car if asked?

For a moment, I was tempted to ask but managed to hold back. Hwa Nabi was startled and shook her head vigorously.

“Ah, no. There’s no need for that. I don’t even have a driver’s license, so I can’t drive.”

“Hmm, then you’ll need a personal driver too. Secretary Kim, find a driver. Since it’s for my grandson’s wife, make it a woman, not a man.”

Hiring a personal driver because she doesn’t have a license—as expected, the spending habits of a corporate chairman are on a different level.

While I was genuinely impressed, Hwa Nabi beside me was completely taken aback.

“What? No, no. I wasn’t saying I needed a driver. I was just saying I really don’t need things like a car or a house.”

“Why wouldn’t you need them? Our youngest grandson will get busy once he starts learning the company business, and it would be inconvenient not having your own car when you need to go places. If the daughter-in-law who’s giving me a great-grandchild before my eldest grandson is uncomfortable, this old man’s heart would break.”

“Grandfather. It’s not like I didn’t want to have children. I just didn’t have a partner.”

My older brother muttered complaints like, “And I was too busy with work. I couldn’t help it. I’m abroad for more than half the year,” but grandfather ignored him and clicked his tongue.

“Did someone’s partner just fall from the sky? You find your own match. Besides, Jiyu, you turned down all the blind dates.”

“……”

…Wait, what did he just say? I almost missed it because he said it so casually, but didn’t he just mention company business? Why is he talking about it like it’s already decided?

A new question arose, and I turned my head to the side. Come to think of it, there was someone else who had mentioned something similar.

‘Brother. What does this mean?’

‘Hm? What?’

‘What grandfather just said about company business—is this already decided?’

‘Who knows? I don’t have the authority to make such decisions.’

My brother, who was playing dumb, smiled at me. It was a likeable, refreshing smile, but not the one I wanted to see at this moment.

“So, my grandson’s wife. If you need anything, just tell me.”

“Ah… no. Really, I’m fine. You don’t have to do that. I don’t have any inconveniences right now, and more than anything, it makes me uncomfortable.”

“Hmm, uncomfortable?”

Grandfather seemed a bit surprised that Hwa Nabi would refuse so firmly, and looked at me as if asking if I felt the same way. I nodded.

“Yes. We’ve already received a lot. If we need anything in the future, I’ll take care of it.”

“That’s right. Brother, when you’re young, part of the fun is struggling together. When old folks try to provide things, it just makes them more uncomfortable.”

“Try to provide? A seventy-year-old man being criticized for his word choice? Tsk, this is why uneducated people…”

“Aren’t you also uneducated? Neither of us went to university.”

The two grandfathers suddenly started a blame game. As Hwa Nabi and I were about to quietly step back, both of their gazes suddenly fixed on us.

“Well, since we’re on the topic. Between our grandson and his wife, who was better at studying?”

“What? Studying? Why suddenly…?”

“No particular reason, just an old man’s curiosity.”

Well, I suppose it could be asked in passing, but it doesn’t seem like that’s the case?

There was too much force in their voices for it to be a casual question. It seemed like they wanted to use our academic records as proxies in their not-quite-argument.

“Um, I’m sorry, but Nabi and I went to the same university, so it’s hard to say who was better.”

I explained that university grades aren’t like high school rankings where individual standings are recorded, making direct comparisons difficult. The two seemed to understand to some extent and nodded.

“Hmm, is that so? There are no grade reports in university?”

“It’s not that there are no grade reports, but there are no rankings. Brother, you didn’t understand correctly, did you?”

“……”

You’re both wrong. Grade reports do exist, though they’re rarely sent physically, and while rankings aren’t visible, grades are divided into different levels, so rankings do exist in a way.

Yes, that’s correct, but explaining all this would only prolong the conversation. I cleared my throat to get their attention.

“Um, since we’re on the topic. Nabi and I excel in different areas.”

“Different areas?”

“Yes. I’m better at calculations, while Nabi is more skilled in language abilities than I am. So comparing us isn’t really appropriate. It’s a bit difficult to explain…”

“Siwoo is a mathematician, and his wife is a linguist. So comparing them on the same level is wrong… right, Siwoo?”

My brother, who had been listening to my explanation, summarized it neatly. Then he winked at me, and I quickly jumped on the helpful intervention.

“Yes, something like that. Experts in different fields. Right, Nabi?”

“What? Oh, yes. We are in different fields.”

“Hmm, so if they’re experts in different fields, comparing them would be disrespectful.”

“Yes. That’s why I said not to ask unnecessary questions. This is why young people find you difficult, brother.”

“You, who looks like a Asiatic black bear from Jirisan, what? People find me difficult? If I’m difficult, are you frightening?”

“Father. It’s almost time for the other guests to arrive.”

My father, indirectly suggesting they should tone it down, tapped his wristwatch. Only then did the two grandfathers take a step back from each other.

“Anyway, my grandson’s wife, if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to contact me. I’ll send it through my grandson, alright?”

“Yes. Just hearing that makes me feel very supported, Grandfather.”

“Good. Take care of yourself until the delivery. Now, where should we wait?”

In response to grandfather’s question, my father stepped forward.

“I’ll escort you. Shall we go?”

“Yes, let’s go. Ah, our Asiatic black bear should come too, right?”

“Yes, let’s go together. There’s no one else here to keep a cranky old man company but me.”

“Well, the bear can talk. Maybe we should report this to a broadcasting station.”

Just looking at them laughing and talking, they seem incredibly close, but the content makes me wonder if these are really the men who are about to see their great-grandchild.

I resisted the urge to speak and waited until the two of them, accompanied by bodyguards, disappeared from sight.

And when the grandfathers were finally out of sight, Hwa Nabi turned to me.

“Um, Siwoo.”

“Oh, yes?”

“Those two seem quite close in an informal way, don’t they…?”

“Yeah, well…”

They do seem unusually close. After giving a lukewarm response, I looked outside.

In the distance, I could see several familiar silhouettes approaching.

—Hey, that guy in the suit. Isn’t that Han Siwoo?

—Oh, you’re right. Hey, Han Siwoo! We’re here!

—Nabi! Over here, over here!

Friends from school days waving happily even though it hadn’t been that long since we’d seen them. The vice class president, Jinhee, Sehyun… Looking at them, still with traces of youth, Hwa Nabi and I spoke simultaneously.

“It’s only been half a year since we saw them, but they still look the same.”

“Yeah, they do.”

I smiled at Hwa Nabi. She smiled back at me. Without either of us initiating, we held each other’s hands.

“Well, shall we go greet our guests now?”

“…Yes, let’s go.”