episode_0052

Episode 52

As we entered the magnificent banquet hall, we saw people dressed up in stylish attire under the lights of the chandeliers.

Watching the band playing on one side of the banquet hall made me feel like I was at a party in a romantic comedy movie.

Of course, the genre I’m going to experience today is not a romantic comedy, but a horror thriller.

Because this is a corporate charity party that I came to at the invitation of Seol-ha’s father.

“Why are you asking now? I didn’t even donate, so can I just come in here?”

“You saw people’s reactions before you came in. It was an invitation from the CEO of Joo Sang Group, so who would dare say anything?”

I couldn’t help but nod my head at Seol-ha’s words, who was dressed in a beautiful black dress unlike usual.

The reactions of the people waiting around were great, but the person checking the entrance was especially awesome.

He was so flustered that his upper body was not bent at a 90-degree angle, but almost folded at a 180-degree angle.

“So what about your father?”

“He’ll be home later because he has something to do. Let’s grab a quick meal in the meantime, Oppa.”

It’s something that is often forgotten, but Seol-ha was indeed a child of the highest class.

Unlike me, who was a little nervous because it was my first time in a place like this, she nonchalantly took two glasses from a passing waiter and handed them to me before heading towards the food area.

“Oppa, this is delicious! Try it!”

“Oh, yeah.”

I took some food from Seol-ha, who was acting no different than when she was at home, and took a quick look around.

It couldn’t be helped, but we were currently receiving the attention of almost everyone in the banquet hall.

I couldn’t tell if it was because I was with Seol-ha, the daughter of the chairman of the Joo Sang Group, or because the men and women who were talking were much younger than the average age of the people in the banquet hall.

Maybe it’s both.

“By the way, what a great group of people. I see faces I only saw on the news everywhere.”

As I swallowed the food I was chewing and moistened my throat with champagne, Seol-ha shrugged her shoulders.

“Well, my dad is the one who arranged this party. Those people would have no reason not to come, even if it was to get some recognition and improve the company’s image. Since Joo Sang Group is the biggest donor, the burden will be less.”

Of course, a company wouldn’t do something like charity for pure reasons. I guess I need to learn this too.

“That’s right. I remember the image. After the Gold Game Show, your company’s stock price went up a lot. If it keeps going up like that, won’t it be able to get rid of the small business label?”

Of course, as Seol-ha said, the response after the showcase was good, but I don’t know how long this momentum will last, and neither do people and God.

I guess I have no choice but to just quietly work hard like I have been doing so far.

“That’s the best. Even if it looks slow and is actually slow, the one who takes each step with certainty will eventually be able to walk the longest.”

I wasn’t startled by the sound. I knew someone was sneaking up next to me.

What surprised me was not because the person who approached me interjected into the conversation or because he was filling his plate with sweet desserts.

It was because Seol-ha opened her eyes wide in surprise when she saw that person and said this.

“Hey, Dad! You said you had something to do, but you came early?”

“That was a lie from the beginning.”

“, why are you lying like that?”

“I wanted to surprise you. Not you, but our prospective son-in-law over here.”

I took a step back and bowed my head toward Father Seol-ha, who nodded at me.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Lee Seon-woo, and I am dating your daughter.”

“This is Joo Kang-cheol, the head of the Joo Sang Group. But I heard he’s not only dating our daughter?”

Hmm. It’s indeed Seol-ha’s father. He’s stabbing me in the very vital spot.

It wasn’t unexpected, but it really hurt when my girlfriend’s parents actually hit me in the bone.

At this point, I think it would be better to be physically sick.

“Dad!”

“Seol-ha, you stay quiet. There’s something for the men to talk about.”

“No, that’s not it. You’re eating too much sweets! What if your blood sugar level goes up again? You’re going to tell your mom?”

“… … Ah.”

Only then did Seol-ha’s father see the mountain of desserts piled on his plate. He put down his tongs and spoke with a serious face.

“Just look at me today.”

“No! Give it to me!”

The two women bickered for a while over the dessert plate, but like all fathers in the world, even the head of the Joo Sang Group could not overcome his daughter.

Seol-ha’s father, who had his plate stolen, grumbled with a dissatisfied look on his face and suddenly called me.

“Son-in-law.”

“Yes.”

“If you take him right now, I’ll put him in the position of president of Joosang Electronics. What do you think?”

“Yes?”

Is this the part where I should laugh or is this the part where I should answer seriously?

After thinking about it for a moment, I decided to just answer honestly.

“I’ll take you, but you don’t have to give me the position of CEO.”

“Why? Don’t you like the president of Joo Sang Electronics?”

“No. I’m already pretty overwhelmed with what I’m doing right now.”

After hearing what I said, Seol-ha’s father stroked his chin as if thinking about something.

“Come to think of it, you said that you’re not only a CEO, but also a model and an actor. With that being the case, you definitely don’t have much time left.”

To be honest, I had enough free time to take turns hanging out with my girlfriends, but I guess I don’t really need to explain that.

But is it okay if people around you are listening to this conversation with their ears pricked up?

Seol-ha’s father, who saw my face, continued talking as if there was no problem, as if his thoughts were reflected in his expression.

“Ah, that’s okay. Chaebol scandals happen all the time, and sometimes you have to throw something to chew on to make things quiet down, so it’s necessary.”

I had a vague idea what it meant.

Does it mean that if you give them a moderate amount of what they want, they will be satisfied, rather than sticking to mysticism and stimulating their curiosity?

“Even so, scandals that exceed a certain level are somewhat bothersome. So, do you have any plans to end all your relationships with women other than our daughter?”

“Yes. No.”

He gritted his teeth as he answered. Not because he was angry, but because he was preparing for the punch that would come flying at him.

At least, if I were Seol-ha’s father, I would have killed the guy who said such things to his daughter right in front of me.

But contrary to my expectations, instead of swinging his fist at me, Father Seol-ha made a suggestion.

“If you were to end your relationship with a woman, I could give you anything you want, right? You know, when I say ‘anything,’ I mean it literally.”

“Yes. Even so, that can’t be the case.”

After hearing the answer, Seol-ha’s father looked at me quietly.

I wondered if he was planning to order his subordinates around without doing anything himself, but that wasn’t the case.

Seol-ha’s father, who had been watching me as if observing me for a while, suddenly turned his gaze towards Seol-ha, who was quietly watching our conversation from the side.

“Snow White.”

“Huh?”

“Dad likes this guy.”

“… … … Huh?”

One thing was certain: Seol-ha had never expected her father to say something like that.

Her father nodded in satisfaction and continued talking to his daughter, who, like me, was just blinking.

“A man who wants to do something big should have this much wit. If you were afraid of me and the Joosang Group and were going to give up on your lovers, you would have been greatly disappointed.”

I know it’s rude to think that way, but I couldn’t help but think of the phrase “that father and that daughter.”

Is this something a father with a daughter would normally say?

“Well, what can I say, but are you really okay?”

“It’s okay. In fact, you’re pretty normal. The chaebol family is a place where more ridiculous developments than any soap opera unfold every day.”

Is it true? I glanced at Seol-ha and saw her agreeing with me.

“Compared to him, you have courage, skills, and achievements. Since you are the man Seol-ha chose, you must have a good character. Women’s problems are nothing new, and if they said they were okay in the first place, what can I say?”

Is that so? Common sense tells me that it doesn’t seem to be the case.

Or should I think about it differently? Like Ayase’s yakuza family, Seol-ha’s family is also a top-class conglomerate, so it’s a bit against common sense?

“Not everyone is like me. If we look at the percentage, there are a lot more crazy people who think they are normal.”

“Is that so?”

If you say it the other way around, it sounds like Father Seol-ha himself is admitting that he is crazy, and I don’t think that’s a mistake.

“I like people who live like crazy rather than those who act normal while being crazy. Of course, it would be difficult if they committed a crime or something, but fortunately, you don’t seem like that type.”

There were things like stopping time and doing things in Japan, but it would be funny to say that it wasn’t like that here.

“Thank you.”

“Anyway, from now on, let’s meet Seol-ha comfortably. If it’s about the kids’ mother, I’ll tell you everything, so don’t worry. It would be nice to have a meal together sometimes.”

After talking up to that point, Seol Ha’s father said that it was time to go up to the stage and left, saying that they would meet later.

I was a bit taken aback, as I was even thinking about changing my perception to prevent Seol-ha and her family from breaking up in the worst case scenario.

As I was blankly staring at the back of Seol-ha’s father as he walked up to the stage to greet other business leaders, Seol-ha came up to me and linked arms with me.

“What do you think? Is our dad not joking?”

“It’s a different meaning than I thought when I came here, but you’re no joke.”

Even though there was a difference in perspective between us as the father of my girlfriend, even taking that into account, I was overwhelmed by Seol-ha’s father throughout our conversation.

It’s not like just anyone can be the group leader.

“The story is over, so why don’t we go back now, oppa?”

Seol-ha looked like she wanted to go home, but I told her to stay until the party was over.

“Is that because you said it was a party hosted by your dad?”

“That’s also true, but I think there’s something to learn.”

I don’t know what that is either. But for some reason, I wanted to observe the real insides of these people who, except for all the luxury items they wear, seem ordinary at first glance.

… … You can’t do great things when you’re in your right mind, right?

I always think about this, but my own desires are extremely simple.

If I can eat well and live well like I do now, and enjoy sex with my girlfriends and sometimes other women, I could ask for nothing more.

So, there’s no need to make a big deal out of it.

There wasn’t any.

“Brother? What’s wrong?”

“… … No, it’s nothing.”

I don’t know yet and I don’t know why.

“I wanted to think about it a little more seriously.”

“What?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Seol-ha’s puzzled look as she tilted her head.

“I don’t know either.”