Father-nim’s Gift

The moment I stepped into the unfamiliar room, all my senses sharpened vividly.

The sound of people breathing and the movement of their gazes.

Even the subtle vibrations in the air.

There was only one person inside the room.

My quickly darting gaze landed on the man sitting on the sofa.

Judging by the circumstances, it must be Sohee’s father-nim.

He was sitting comfortably, tilting a teacup.

His clothes were like those worn by any ordinary middle-aged man on the street.

His impression wasn’t particularly striking either. A blurry yet kind-looking face.

Overall, he looked like a neat and unassuming middle-aged man.

However, the moment our eyes met, that impression changed drastically.

Transparent eyes that seemed to see right through a person’s psychology scanned my entire body.

At the same time, I realized that this appearance was artificial, created to avoid raising suspicion.

Suddenly, a pleasant smile appeared on Father-nim’s face as he looked at me.

What on earth did he find so pleasing?

,Ah, hello…!

The greeting flowed out naturally.

I bowed my head and waited for a response, and a reply came back with a soft chuckle.

,Nice to meet you.

An easy-to-listen-to voice.

I felt my favorability naturally increasing with the voice that was full of respect for the other person.

,I’m Sohee’s old man.

Sohee’s father-nim said that and handed me his business card.

All that was written on the pure white card was his name and phone number.

Judging by the lack of other information, it seemed like a business card he only gave to special people.

Or maybe he just had that kind of taste.

[Lee Hyun]

Father-nim’s name is Lee Hyun.

I nodded and stored the information in my head.

,Sit comfortably. Sohee, how long are you planning to stand there?

Father-nim’s permission was granted.

I went to the opposite side and sat next to Sohee.

Habits are truly scary things. I was sweating bullets as I stared at Sohee’s lap.

If I hadn’t been so nervous, I would have unconsciously gone and sat on Sohee’s lap.

In that state, a subtle silence descended.

Disliking this awkward atmosphere, I sent a look to Sohee for help, but she remained silent.

She was just staring at her father without saying a word.

Sohee’s father-nim was also a problem.

Like Sohee, he was just staring at Sohee without saying anything.

Could it be that Sohee’s family can communicate through something like telepathy?

Amidst my fidgeting, the silence was finally broken.

,I’m glad.

,Yes, y-yes?

,Because Sohee looks happy.

That’s what a happy face looks like?

I tilted my head at Sohee’s father-nim’s words and looked up at Sohee.

An expressionless face that didn’t reveal her emotions well.

It was Sohee as usual.

There’s something I want to say first.

I swallowed the saliva that had gathered in my mouth and carefully opened my mouth.

,Um, well… please speak comfortably…

,Hmm… would that be alright?

,Y-yes…

I would actually be more comfortable that way.

Sohee’s father-nim smiled faintly and opened his mouth.

,Alright. Let’s do that.

But even after that, the situation didn’t change.

Stuck between the two, father and daughter, who were just looking at each other without a word, I could only fidget with my fingers in the uncomfortable silence.

,Dad.

It was Sohee who broke the silence.

She stared at her father for a moment, then turned her gaze to me and opened her mouth.

,When are we eating?

,Are you hungry?

,Hayeon is hungry.

,Ah, geez… I’m sorry. I didn’t even think about it.

The moment those words ended, Sohee’s father-nim took out his cell phone.

I stared at Sohee with a horrified look.

Of course, I was hungry, but I wasn’t in the mood to eat.

Eating in this situation? I was sure I’d get indigestion.

,What do you want to eat?

,Umm…

There’s nothing in particular that I want to eat.

So I just hope this time passes smoothly.

But contrary to my wishes, breakfast was prepared incredibly lavishly.

After Sohee’s father-nim finished a short phone call, we moved to the dining area.

From the reception room where guests were received to a very large dining room.

,Eat a lot, everyone. I didn’t know what Hayeon would like, so I prepared a little of everything… I hope you like it.

From foods that took a short time to prepare to foods that took a long time.

As time passed, the number of dishes on the table kept increasing.

There was no way we could eat this much, so I just felt burdened.

,Try this.

After starting the meal, Sohee didn’t even glance at her father as she piled a tower of various foods on my plate.

I looked at Sohee’s father-nim with a subtle gaze.

I thought he would ask me all sorts of questions as soon as he met me, but he didn’t ask anything.

Does that mean he’s not curious? This makes me even more uneasy.

Feeling anxious, I carefully opened my mouth.

,Um… Father-nim…?

Father-nim, who looked slightly surprised at my title, smiled brightly and nodded.

,Yes. What is it?

,Um, don’t you have any questions for me?

,Questions?

,Yes…

,Hmm…

Father-nim pondered for a long time at my question, then nodded as if he had thought of something and opened his mouth.

,Tell me what you want as a wedding gift.

,A w-wedding gift…?

,Yes.

Father-nim nodded and looked at me.

His sparkling gaze, full of anticipation, flew into my heart and stuck there.

He seemed to believe that Sohee and I would get married as a matter of course.

Of course, it’s not that I didn’t want to, but this made me even more flustered.

What on earth did Father-nim see in me that made him want to marry me off to Sohee?

,Is it okay for me to marry Sohee…?

,I heard that Sohee wants it and you want it too, Hayeon. Isn’t that all that matters?

,Huk…

I blankly opened my mouth at his words, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Sohee didn’t miss the opportunity and put food in my mouth.

Omul omul.

As I moved my mouth to chew the meat, Sohee’s father-nim continued.

,And I like you too, Hayeon.

,Huk…!

I was a little surprised, but it was an understandable reaction.

After all, where else would they find a groom as handsome, pretty, and cute as me?

I may be a little short, but my talents more than make up for that shortcoming.

As I was making such an objective self-assessment, Sohee opened her mouth.

,Ask for Chewy Milky Cow.

,Ch-Chewy Milky Cow…? That’s just caramel…

I looked at Sohee and tilted my head.

I was thinking about what would be good for the wedding gift list, but suddenly she’s talking about caramel.

I thought it would be better to ask for a pretty set of dishes that could be easily found at a department store.

,Just ask for it.

,Ah, okay…

But it’s Sohee’s request.

I couldn’t refuse her request, so I nodded and opened my mouth.

,G-give me Chewy Milky Cow.

,Chewy Milky Cow?

,It’s milk-flavored caramel…

,Hmm… I’ll prepare it as soon as possible.

Is that it?

When I looked up at Sohee, she gave me a bright smile and stroked my hair.

I hope I did the right thing?

The meal, which was long if it was long and short if it was short, ended, and we got up from our seats.

Because Sohee’s father-nim said that he couldn’t stay in this place for a long time due to his schedule.

,I hope you’ll treat me more comfortably next time we meet.

A friendly gaze and a gentle smile.

Sohee’s father-nim sent me a warm look and left the dining room.

Did he really like me that much??

I tilted my head and looked up at Sohee.

,Sohee-ya.

,Yeah.

,Am I really marrying you?

,Don’t you want to?

,Ah, no…

,Then do it.

,Ah, okay…

I nodded as I looked at Sohee’s burning gaze.

In the end, I officially received permission to marry.

Since neither family has any objections, wouldn’t it be easy to set a wedding date?

On the way home.

I pushed away Sohee’s hand that was stroking my thigh and fell into thought.

***

That evening.

I was able to accurately understand the meaning of the Chewy Milky Cow that Sohee had told me to ask for.

Sohee, who said she was going out for a moment, came back with a stack of documents in her arms and handed them to me, saying.

,Sign here.

,Huk…

,And put your seal here.

,Wh-what is this?

,A gift from Dad.

I slowly began to read the contents of the document with trembling eyes.

The contents of the document could be roughly summarized as follows.

If I sign and stamp where Sohee tells me to, the factory that produces Chewy Milky Cow and all rights to Chewy Milky Cow will be transferred to me.

,I-if I do this, I’ll become a factory owner?

,Yeah.

,I’m not unemployed anymore…?

,Yeah.

,Huk…!

I can’t not sign.

I need to read the details more, but I trust Sohee.

I immediately finished signing and ran to the master bedroom, rummaged through my dresser, took out my seal, and stamped it with a bang.

,How do you want to manage it? Should I ask someone from Dad’s side?

,Is that okay?

,Yeah.

,Then please do that…

I signed and stamped it, but I have no idea how to run a factory.

As Sohee said, it would be much better to hire a salaried president to run the factory.

After finishing all the signatures and Sohee was reviewing the documents.

I went into the room and started changing my clothes.

I put on the white dress shirt that Sohee usually wears.

Because I’m small, it’s oversized and hangs down, covering my thighs, but that’s even more attractive.

Then I take out a pair of pure white pantyhose and put them on.

Because I’m only wearing stockings without underwear, the pure white line continued smoothly without any distracting areas.

Now I know.

Why there were holes in my stockings.

The culprit was Sohee.

So I prepare this outfit for Sohee, who has a stocking fetish.

So she can taste it right away if she pokes a hole in it.

,Um. Sohee-ya…

I opened the door and carefully poked my body out.

Sohee, who was sitting at the table reviewing the documents, raised her head and looked at me.

Then, the moment I came to my senses, I was lying on the bed.

,Uh…?

,Aren’t you going to sleep today…?