episode_0055

It seemed like Madam had exerted all her energy, as the dinner was truly a feast fit for royalty.

If my usual dinner as Jungsio was a simple home-cooked meal, today it felt like it was prepared to entertain guests.

Perhaps the professor had firmly spoken to Madam in an attempt to sway my heart.

‘This is delicious….’

It’s quite strange.

Madam’s cooking skills were always good.

Why does it feel even richer in flavor since Chaewon joined us?

Could it be that stress reduction and emotional changes also affect the taste buds?

“Is the food to your liking?”

“Yes. Yes… It’s delicious.”

Despite Madam glaring at me as if she wanted to kill me, I was unfazed by her sharp display of emotions, as I had grown accustomed to it.

She can try to drain my energy all she wants.

But in the end, she’ll be the one to tire out first.

“So, Baekcheongha.”

“Why?”

“I heard Siwoo is sick.”

“I heard, but he’ll recover soon anyway, right?”

“That’s right. But Siwoo is a university student now. He must be busy with competitions and such.”

“So?”

The conversation between a completely exasperated daughter and a father who refuses to entertain whining was unexpectedly amusing.

Normally, the professor would have been flustered. But perhaps it was because Min Chaewon was the prize, but he seemed unusually firm today.

“As I mentioned, I’m thinking of using Chaewon as your new tutor.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Then shall we just skip the tutoring?”

“Siwoo is there. I won’t study with that lady. Never.”

“That’s right. Siwoo is busy now…”

“We only meet once a week, and that’s not enough? Originally it was three times, but Siwoo asked to reduce it to once. And now you want to change the tutor even with that? No. Absolutely not.”

The sharp confrontation didn’t seem to break.

Madam quietly ate her meal, observing from the sidelines.

… Should I say something?

Siwoo likes me.

‘There’s nothing else to make Baekcheongha flustered….’

But it would be a bit much to tease her in front of the professor.

It sounds like there’s no one else responsible for Baekcheongha other than Siwoo or me.

Why does that gorilla like me? If I could figure that out, I could easily detach myself.

What was it? Have I ever done something great for Baekcheongha?

‘… Let’s not think about it.’

I’ve even forgotten the times when I helped Chaewon find her dolls.

I should consider the possibility of showing kindness to someone and then forgetting about it.

Since I was practically like a sibling to the Baekcheong siblings, I couldn’t have done better or worse than I did for Chaewon.

‘Well, no matter how much she likes me.’

I will keep showing Siwoo and me together in the future, making it clear that we are meant to be together.

No matter how much Baekcheongha flies and crawls, Siwoo only has eyes for Min Chaewon.

If I endure Baekcheongha’s torment a little longer, I can easily shake her off.

‘Love me all you want. Will Siwoo’s heart change.’

Even since the incident with the bed involving Baekcheongha, I haven’t been able to speak properly to Siwoo.

I’m clearly in a much better position, having even succeeded in touching his cheek.

… No, I mean.

Chaewon is running much faster.

“I… I will do better….”

“What are you saying? Be quiet, lady!”

“Baekcheongha. Call me sister and use honorifics.”

“Why?!”

It’s about time for Madam to get up.

“Baekcheongha.”

Swoosh.

Silently pushing back the chair, Madam approached Baekcheongha and whispered something in his ear.

Baekcheongha was taken aback. He turned his head to look at Madam and quickly moved to the living room. Madam followed Baekcheongha, and the two began to talk quietly so that Professor could not hear.

“What are they talking about… I wonder?”

“I don’t know either. I’m so busy that I can’t take care of everything.”

Since I wasn’t very close to Madam, I could only guess what they were talking about.

Baekcheongha listened quietly.

Baekcheongha was surprised.

Baekcheongha looked this way.

Baekcheongha chewed his lips as if he were angry.

… What on earth are they talking about?

After a while, Baekcheongha approached me hesitantly.

“Sorry… I apologize.”

Madam must have some kind of magic.

“Oh… No, it’s… fine.”

Baekcheongha hesitated, then turned back to Madam and their conversation continued briefly.

Baekcheongha’s expression changed again.

This is not some melodrama, what is going on?

How many times did he chew and savor the braised ribs?

Finally, the two returned to the dining table.

Baekcheongha, who sat down first, had a somewhat gloomy expression.

Looks like Madam scolded him a lot.

Madam whispered in my ear as she followed.

“Can we talk for a moment after the meal?”

I blinked my eyes and nodded slightly towards Madam.

Madam smiled and returned to her seat.

What is she trying to talk about?

I have no idea at all.

“Men’s thoughts are somewhat predictable, but….”

Just as German mixed with Korean is incomprehensible, women’s language is also like an alien language.

Understanding women’s hearts is much more difficult for Jung Siwoo, who doesn’t know anything.

“I really have no idea….”

After Baekcheongha, I didn’t say a word throughout the meal.

I just quietly moved my chopsticks.

Thanks to that, I was able to finish the meal without any major discomfort, so I stayed at the dining table as Madam had mentioned earlier.

My audition, organized by Baekcheongha, is scheduled to take place shortly, so Professor and Baekcheongha have returned to their respective rooms.

“I didn’t know how much I missed you.”

“Me…?”

“Yes.”

With a warm cup of tea in front of us, the conversation flowed.

It’s not easy from the start.

Why does Madam want to talk to me?

Did Professor talk about me every time he went to Austria?

“Do you remember what happened 14 years ago?”

“Yes, yes. I vaguely… do.”

In fact, I remember vividly.

But I said this because it would be difficult to respond if everything came flooding back and I didn’t know how to handle it.

“Our Siwoo. He stayed there for about six months back then, right?”

Our Siwoo. Such a heartwarming phrase.

From those two short words, you can tell how much Madam thought of me as her son.

“And then he came back. It was really interesting. Why do boys in their teens show so much interest in girls.”

“Well… that’s true.”

“Siwoo doesn’t do that. It’s like he’s already made a pact with someone as if they’ve been together for a hundred years.”

Madam chuckled. Her gaze was directed towards Baekcheongha’s room on the second floor.

“Cheongha was bothering Siwoo like that. No matter how much I nagged him, he kept bothering him. But if you show it like that, the other person just feels burdened. Bother him appropriately. Resistance only grows…. No matter how much I talk, it doesn’t get through. My daughter, how much she resembles her father in her obsession.”

Indeed, Professor’s obsession with his students is outstanding.

Once he sets a goal, he never gives up until he puts that person on a world-class stage to be properly evaluated.

“I was the only flaw.”

Having carried on for 17 years without achieving any notable results, I was the only pathetic disciple.

…Well, what’s the point of talking about this now?

“But honestly, every time I try to approach Siwoo, Cheongha interferes. It feels like she should have some reason for it, but she never does.”

“Oh, I see…”

“He’s too nice that it’s frustrating. I don’t want to hurt Cheongha… but there are boundaries. He can’t just stay in this limbo forever.”

It seems that the incident in the bed didn’t reach both the professor and the mother.

Well, even if I were to turn pale, I could never speak out of embarrassment. I thought I was the superior and the absolute authority, but I was easily overpowered with force.

“So, about Siwoo. You know him, right?”

“Yes.”

“Does Chaewon like him?”

I blinked my eyes and sat there dumbfounded for a moment.

Not because I wanted to play the role of Hitori, but because I was genuinely taken aback.

How did the mother figure it out?

“Maybe it’s a mother’s intuition. Well, with Cheongha coming over for counseling when she’s bored… the child treats me like a friend and tells me everything.”

I see.

With my non-stop talking about my stories, including what happened at the apology store yesterday, the mother must have made an educated guess based on the information she knew.

Indeed. A wise deduction. Apart from Min Chaewon, who spent 6 months together with Siwoo when they were young, there was no one else.

“What do you think of Chaewon? Do you happen to like Siwoo? You don’t have to answer if you think it’s a rude question.”

It’s probably best not to be too direct.

Since the mother is likely to be a reliable ally.

“Yes. I… haven’t told Siwoo… anything…”

The mother’s expression brightened like the sunshine on a spring day upon hearing those words.

It felt like she had found the answer to a question she had been pondering for a long time.

“If you think what I’m about to say is too much to ask, feel free to decline.”

“…Yes. Please go ahead.”

With a flower pin under her chin, the mother made a cheerful proposal.

“Would you help Cheongha… give up on Siwoo? I will actively support you.”

Without even remembering the role of Hitori, I immediately responded.

“Yes!”

Truly a commendable and righteous proposal, mother.

I had the same idea in mind.