Chapter 188: Those who stab you in the back (7)
TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir
It was an unpleasantly refreshing morning.
Normally, I would just put on whatever, but today, I spent some time in front of my closet. A suit and tie were too aggressive while a t-shirt would be too lax. Taking the middle ground, I wore slacks and a blue dress shirt and went outside.
It was ten minutes before eleven.
After checking my watch, I opened Neptune’s door and entered.
The entrance was empty. I heard Lee Songha’s voice coming from the kitchen, rather than her usual ‘Welcome’ at the entrance. All I saw in the living room was a fruit basket that was so big it was burdensome. Im Seoyoung, LJ, and Lee Taehee were all gathered in the kitchen.
I was wondering what they were preoccupied with for them to not even notice someone come in and found that they had a guest.
“Why are there so many Western spices in this tiny fridge? Do you really cook that often?”
A middle-aged woman asked with her head in the fridge.
Im Seoyoung gathered her hands in a polite manner and replied,
“No, those spices are from LJ’s parents.”
“Really? Oh my, and you have a variety of kimchi? Do you buy them from the store?”
“Uh, my mom sent us those not too long ago.”
“Ah… Is that so? Then are all these side dishes from your mother?”
“Those were from Taehee unni’s family. There are some Sunwoo oppa brought as well.”
The middle-aged woman, Lee Songha’s mother, closed the fridge. An awkward flashed on her face, which wasn’t very similar to Lee Songha’s.
“The other mothers are working hard.”
“Hello, you’ve come early.”
I went over and greeted her. Lee Songha, who had been sitting at the table, jolted up. The girls, who looked like their living habits were being examined, suddenly brightened. At the same time, Lee Songha’s mother brushed her short hair over her ear and smiled at me.
“Oh, our Chief Jung has been getting more and more handsome. I heard that you’re getting another promotion? Your parents must be full without eating when they have a son who’s so good at working and is famous.”
“If that’s the case, then you must be full forever with a daughter like Lee Songha.”
“Ah, is that how it is? It’s still surreal to me that she’s a celebrity.”
Her tone was wrapped in refinement. Her hair was tidy with no stray strands as though she had just been to a hair salon. Her pearl earrings the size of a thumb caught my attention. She wore an elegant two-piece outfit without a single wrinkle. She truly looked like she was ready for battle.
“I need to check up on her more frequently, but I was so busy. I was busy sending my second daughter to study overseas last year. The year before that, I was busy with my fourth’s college admission. And this year, my first graduated Hyemun Women’s University. I was so busy with her job search…”{1}
“Mom.”
Lee Songha cut her off.
“Let’s go to my room.”
“This child, I’m talking.”
“Unnis are busy since they have to get ready for their schedules. Let’s go in.”
Her voice was chilly. However, Lee Songha’s mother acted like she didn’t notice anything as she said goodbye to each member before finally going in Lee Songha’s room. The girls let out a sigh and flopped on the sofa.
Im Seoyoung grabbed my shirt sleeve.
“Oppa, what is this all of a sudden? What did she come here to say? Is something going on?”
“What do you mean? She just came to see Songha. Your parents come often too.”
The girls narrowed their eyes as if telling me not to lie. The girls particularly had difficulty with Lee Songha’s mother even though they didn’t know that she brought up having Lee Songha quit Neptune in the past.
With their gazes behind me, I prepared three glasses of ginger tea and went to Lee Songha’s room.
The mother and daughter were talking as they sat on the rug below the bed.
“You should have told me if the other mothers sent over side dishes and kimchi.”
“Why?”
“If I knew, I would have sent something too.”
“It’s fine.”
To be exact, it was Lee Songha’s mother who was talking while Lee Songha wasn’t really paying attention.
“Why are you so indifferent? Just because I was preoccupied doesn’t mean you should be freeloading. People must have thought ill of me, thinking I don’t care about you after sending you off. What do the other girls like? Should I make braised short-ribs?”
“I told you it’s fine. We usually eat out. We can’t finish what we already have.”
“Even if you throw it out, I should at least do something.”
Lee Songha let out a laugh that was like a sigh. She glanced at me before her gaze dropped to the floor.
I placed the tray down between them.
“Please have some tea.”
“Oh, thank you. Chief Jung, you’re living by yourself too, right? Should I send you some braised short-ribs?”
“I’m fine, thank you. It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten at home.”
“You need to get married. Aren’t there any good women around you? Wait. I have four daughters at home, and I think there’s only a four-year difference between you and my first.”
“It’s five years.”
Lee Songha put her cup down. Her expression was chilly.
“If you came to talk about me, talk about me. Stop bringing up my sisters.”
“Okay, okay. You still act like a child at twenty-two.”
I looked at them while rubbing my teacup. I had seen the girls’ family countless times during my two years managing Neptune, but Lee Songha’s family was particularly complicated. They weren’t the normally intense type and looking from a distance, they looked like a peaceful family.