5. Housewarming
"Recently, Congressman Won Seong-hyeok's movements have been unusual."
Jae-hee looked at Cheon-woo. His white hair was clearly visible, and he openly showed signs of discomfort. His upright gaze revealed strong dissatisfaction. Being careful not to upset him further, Jae-hee cautiously replied.
"Are you talking about the engagement?"
"Yes."
If Cheon-woo was a prominent presidential candidate of the ruling party, known as a cunning figure in the political world, Seong-hyeok was a leading presidential contender from the opposition Conservative Reform Party. Although they shared the commonality of being three-term lawmakers, their key difference was their age.
Typically, those recognized as viable presidential candidates were seasoned figures in their 60s or older, having weathered the ups and downs of politics. These were usually political heavyweights, such as former party leaders, parliamentary floor leaders, minister-level high-ranking officials, or legal professionals who once donned judicial robes. In other words, they were the crème de la crème with long-standing careers.
Cheon-woo, too, was a well-known figure who had made a name for himself as a judge-turned-lawyer. He had entered politics at a young age and had gained nationwide recognition over the years.
However, Won Seong-hyeok was different. He had achieved the status of a three-term lawmaker in his late 40s, a notably young age. A former prosecutor, Seong-hyeok had captured nationwide attention by leading the investigation into the "Abyss Gate" scandal, a case of political-business collusion that shook the country. In this scandal, the domestic corporation "Abyss" was revealed to have provided illegal political funds to prominent politicians, leading to the downfall of several figures.
It seemed only natural that someone like him, who had been at the forefront of the investigation and earned the public’s trust as a "fair prosecutor," would enter politics. Declaring his ambition to eradicate corruption and bring integrity to politics, he resigned from his position as a prosecutor and joined the Conservative Reform Party. Since then, he had become a pillar of support, sustaining the party's approval ratings.
"I heard he became in-laws with the CEO of Cheonbo Bank."
"So, he has secured the financial lifeline."
Running for the presidency was no ordinary endeavor—it required immense financial resources. Starting with the deposit for candidate registration to the exorbitant costs of campaigning, the expenses were overwhelming. Seong-hyeok, coming from a family of local influential figures, faced no significant obstacles in preparing for regional elections. However, for a national-scale election like the presidential race, his ability to mobilize funds was severely lacking.
Now, he had gained “in-laws” in the business world, a well-connected tycoon who could give him wings. Jae-hee glanced at Cheon-woo for his reaction, but Yoo-jin paid no attention and remained focused on her black tea.
“...Engagements are always used as tools, but there is something that bothers me more.”
“What is it?”
“Never mind. I am hesitant to speak carelessly without being certain.”
Cheon-woo quietly recalled the documents related to Cheonbo Bank. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, obtaining such information should have been difficult. However, a junior colleague from the Finance Committee had cautiously sought his advice and presented the materials.
‘Sunbae, it seems... dangerous.’
‘…Are you sure?’
‘The insolvency of the investment companies might be one thing, but the capital depletion is happening too quickly.’
‘What about the Financial Supervisory Service?’
‘It doesn’t seem like they’ve officially started an audit.’
That would mean they were merely watching with suspicion. Cheon-woo didn’t express his thoughts aloud but silently agreed with his junior’s assessment. The bank's capital was rapidly flowing out. While fluctuations in bank capital due to economic conditions weren’t uncommon, this time, the situation felt off. Still, lacking concrete certainty, Cheon-woo decided to wait a little longer.
“…In any case, there’s nothing more to be done on our end. We just need to focus on doing our part diligently.”
“Yes, that’s all we need to do.”
Jae-hee obediently replied, doing her best to appease Cheon-woo. Watching this, Yoo-jin's mood soured unmistakably. Realizing this, Jae-hee broke out in a cold sweat. What should have been a natural duty as a daughter-in-law only drew Yoo-jin's resentment. For Jae-hee, who was desperate to win Yoo-jin's approval, the current situation was truly unbearable, but she forced a fake smile.
"Your role is crucial. They seem to think you’re my greatest weakness."
She had expected such blunt remarks, but they still didn’t feel good, even though she had prepared herself for this marriage. However, it wasn’t wrong either. Her nationality, gender, academic papers, and family background—all of it had become targets. The opposition party desperately tried to dig into Jae-hee’s past. Yet, even the Howon Group hadn’t fully grasped her family background, leaving the opposition with little to act on. Instead, they had recently begun attacking her nationality.
Public opinion was divided. Some mocked the opposition for grasping at straws by making an issue of her nationality, but others, aligning with the opposition, looked down on Jae-hee with disdain. After all, there were always those who thrived on pettiness.
Jae-hee smiled confidently and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t cause any trouble.”
Cheon-woo studied Jae-hee’s face. She looked just as tense as when she first came to introduce herself after the wedding, but she didn’t show her nervousness. Instead, her tone carried assurance, exuding a mysterious power that made it impossible to doubt her. Cheon-woo nodded, thinking she was someone with that kind of presence.
“Alright, do your best. No mistakes. Achieve the best outcome.”
Yoo-jin’s expression darkened, but Jae-hee responded calmly, nodding her head. It was about time. Since the wedding, this was Jae-hee and Yoo-jin’s first official visit to the house in a long time. Reporters had already gathered en masse outside Cheon-woo’s home, ready to take photos. The two had come to accompany Cheon-woo to a recital by Hyun-hee, Yoo-jin’s maternal aunt and the matriarch of the Ho-won Group. Cheon-woo, looking impassively at the pair, slowly rose from his seat.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Yoo-jin got into the car in the garage and glanced in the rearview mirror, seeing Jae-hee opening the car door for Cheon-woo. She frowned in irritation, wondering if such courtesy was really necessary for someone who couldn’t even open a car door on their own. Biting her lip in annoyance, Yoo-jin started the car as Jae-hee climbed in.
The barrage of camera flashes at the entrance made Jae-hee furrow her brows slightly. Yoo-jin noticed and shot a sidelong glance at her. Their eyes met.
“Are you okay?”
Jae-hee gave a faint smile. She was fine but didn’t want to act like she was. If she didn’t, Yoo-jin would treat her kindly like this. Fully aware of how disadvantaged she was in their relationship, Jae-hee decided to savor the role of being part of a “showwindow couple.”
****
After dropping Cheon-woo off at home following the recital, Jae-hee took Yoo-jin's place in the driver’s seat. Throughout the performance, Jae-hee had noticed Yoo-jin nodding off multiple times and had gently shaken her awake. Rather than risking drowsy driving, Jae-hee decided it was safer for her to drive.
“...To the office.”
Without responding, Jae-hee steered the car. Yoo-jin’s voice was on the verge of an outburst. Staying silent and focused on driving seemed like the wisest choice. Glancing sideways occasionally, Jae-hee kept her eyes on the road. The drive to the office would take at least thirty minutes, and she was tense, unsure of what Yoo-jin might say next.
To calm herself, Jae-hee recalled the earlier performance. Thinking of the flute’s soul-stirring melody soothed her nerves. A smile crept across her face as the beautiful tune replayed in her mind. Yoo-jin stared at her intently.
“...Honey.”
“H-huh?”
The melody lingering in her ears abruptly stopped. Startled by Yoo-jin's voice, Jae-hee tightened her grip on the steering wheel. Watching Jae-hee’s startled reaction, Yoo-jin crossed her arms and spoke slowly.
“Talk to me.”
“…About what?”
“Anything. I just want to think about something else right now.”
It wasn’t a harsh comment, nor was she being temperamental. That alone was surprising. Jae-hee pondered what to say and recalled what had happened last night.
“Did you finish reading “A Lucky Day”?”
“Yeah, I finished it.”
“What did you think? I want to hear your thoughts.”
“…I didn’t like the ending. Imagining what happens next is horrible.”
“True. He brought home the seolleontang*, but she couldn’t even eat it. That lingering note leaves it open-ended.”
*ox bone soup
“And what about the kid left behind? The poor wife, who suffered and died after everything? …I couldn’t stand the husband, hitting her and calling her a filthy woman. I didn’t like him from the start.”
Considering the environment Yoo-jin grew up in, it made sense for her to dislike Kim Cheom-ji. Hearing her voice filled with utter disdain, Jae-hee felt slightly relieved. That sharp criticism, which would usually have been directed at her, was now entirely aimed at Kim Cheom-ji. She felt a strange sense of gratitude toward Yoo-jin for steering the conversation away.
Thinking that the usually sharp Yoo-jin seemed a bit softer today, Jae-hee continued the discussion.
“If we’re talking about the degree of misfortune, Kim Cheom-ji might actually be the least pitiable. I also think the dead wife and child are the saddest. But… if we’re discussing misfortune as a whole, I don’t think we can exclude Kim Cheom-ji either.”
Yoo-jin listened silently to Jae-hee's gentle voice. Normally, she would have interrupted with a rebuttal, but ever since Jae-hee had changed, Yoo-jin found it harder to speak up so easily. As Yoo-jin didn’t cut her off, Jae-hee calmly continued sharing her thoughts.
“The use of violence is an unforgivable flaw, but through the seolleongtang, we can understand Kim Cheom-ji's love. If he were truly a cold-hearted person, he wouldn’t have bothered with the seolleongtang, nor would he have thought about his family while pulling the rickshaw far away.
I think that was just the way he was—clumsy, reserved, and… he’s pitiful too for losing someone he loved. Like you said, though, his actions overshadow that fact and make it hard for people to see.”
Silence. No response came. Jae-hee wondered if she had taken the conversation too seriously. But Yoo-jin was actually contemplating Jae-hee’s answer with surprising sincerity. Biting her lips thoughtfully, Yoo-jin eventually spoke, her gaze unfocused as she looked out the window.
“...What would you do if you were Kim Cheom-ji?”
“Huh?”
“If you were Kim Cheom-ji, what would you do? Would you leave me behind and go to work?”
“...Mm.”
At that moment, raindrops began to patter against the car window. Jae-hee felt as if Yoo-jin’s words were not just a question but more like, ‘Would you leave me? Would you really go?’ Her tone sounded almost like a pout. Jae-hee turned on the wipers. Swish, swish—the monotonous sound repeated rhythmically.
Well, if I were Kim Cheom-ji...
“I think I’d still go to work.”
“...I see.”
Yoo-jin’s voice carried a noticeable note of disappointment, prompting Jae-hee to chuckle softly. Did she expect her to say she’d obviously stay by her side? It wasn’t like Jae-hee to give such an unromantic answer, leaving Yoo-jin to brush her arm with a bitter feeling.
“But.”
“But?”
“If you had indigestion, I’d rub your back, prick your finger with a needle, and tell you I love you.”
“...”
“Then I’d go out, work just enough for the day, and come back with some seolleongtang.”
“...What if I were dead?”
“...It may not be glamorous, but I’d bury you, take care of the child until a single father could manage, and then... I think I’d come to your side.”
“I don’t like that.”
“If I were being romantic, I wouldn’t go to work and would stay with you instead. But then both you and the child would starve.”
“...”
“I’m just a person with no fun or depth. Sorry.”
If the family was starving, even romance would be nothing more than a pretty shell. Knowing that one needs the luxury of food in their stomach to truly enjoy romance, Jae-hee gave a wry smile. Seeing this, Yoo-jin stayed silent for a long while. She fiddled with her neck, her eyes unfocused as she stared into some unknown spot.
"…"
"Then, what about you?"
"...Me?"
"Yeah, if you were Kim Cheom-ji, what would you do?"
The sound of the heater hummed softly. The rain grew heavier. Yoo-jin still did not speak. Jae-hee, anticipating what Yoo-jin might say, pressed the gas pedal.
"…I would..."
Yoo-jin, the realist who didn’t pursue romance. In the past, she would have avoided such thoughts, saying something like, “I’ve never thought about it,” and slithered past the question. At the point where her true nature had come out, she would have spat out something like, “Instead of thinking about that, why not focus on research?” Either way, it would have been a negative response. The fact that Yoo-jin was actually pondering for Jae-hee made her feel thankful, so Jae-hee added a hint.
"You don’t have to answer after all that thinking. Anyway, we’re not Kim Cheom-ji."
"..."
"How about Kim Yoo-jeong’s “Camellia Flower” tonight? I liked the hopeful ending."
"...Hmm."
Yoo-jin didn’t respond, as if possessed by Kim Cheom-ji. Jae-hee, who was used to it, kept her mouth shut and made a right turn, entering the department store. Since it was Yoo-jin’s car, they passed through the gate straight into the VIP parking lot. Stopping next to the elevator, Jae-hee looked over at the passenger seat. Even after all that time, Yoo-jin hadn’t once shown irritation.
Seeing Yoo-jin, who had once exploded with intense love-hate feelings toward her father Cheon-woo, express her emotions in a different way, Jae-hee marveled but also believed that this change in Yoo-jin was because of her. Watching Yoo-jin, who had become so lost in thought, Jae-hee reached out and grabbed her shoulder. Startled, Yoo-jin turned to look at Jae-hee.
"Yoo-jin."
"Uh, uh?"
"We’ve arrived."
"......Ah."
"I’ll come to pick you up."
"I’ll be late today. I’ll come with Driver Yoon."
Yoo-jin stepping back was now familiar. For each step she took back, it meant Jae-hee could move one step forward. With a slight smile, Jae-hee took out a bottle of water from the dashboard and handed it to Yoo-jin. Jae-hee couldn’t remember when she had seen Yoo-jin touch her throat whenever she was thirsty, and with a cool smile, she spoke kindly.
"Then, I’ll wait without sleeping. Since it’s raining."
"…You know."
"Yeah?"
Jae-hee blinked when she saw Yoo-jin, who was struggling to speak while looking at the water bottle Jae-hee had handed her. Yoo-jin unbuckled her seatbelt and looked at Jae-hee.
"I know it doesn’t make sense, but... I think I’d wrap the baby in a swaddle and carry it on my chest, then I’d put you in the rickshaw and take you around."
"…?"
"I can’t earn money, and you might get even more sick... but... I don’t want to leave you alone. Even if your breath stops, I want it to stop in my arms."
"..."
"...I mean, just. That’s all. Thanks for the ride."
Yoo-jin slammed the door and walked away quickly, and Jae-hee comfortably rested her face against the steering wheel, watching her. This was why she couldn’t help but love Yoo-jin. It was as if Yoo-jin were mocking the way she could only love halfway, making her thoughts awe-inspiring. Yoo-jin seemed much more romantic than Jae-hee, who pursued romance. Yoo-jin never said the words "I love you" to the end, but that, too, was just like her. That woman’s way of loving made Jae-hee’s heart flutter.
"...You’re so beautiful I could die, Ha Cheom-ji."
***