****
"…As expected, the third-generation chaebol's newlywed home is…"
"Ooh… A professional security company…"
"It's a castle, a real castle~"
"Hey, you country bumpkins. Let's just go inside."
"Hey, you're the one who's the most nervous, though. We can't go in right away. We have to wait until Jae-hee comes out."
Despite being professional researchers who had completed their doctorates at Ivy League schools, their speech betrayed their amazement at the youngest siblings' newlywed home. Unlike ordinary apartments, the luxurious villa was built with a penthouse concept, and its exterior was dazzling. A spacious and neat terrace jutted out, partitioned off to secure a private space. The exterior was painted in a soft beige that was easy on the eyes, suggesting great attention to detail. Furthermore, the visible spacing between floors was notably wide, and the interior seemed to have a duplex design.
Soo-jin, who had visited once before, looked around with a bit more ease, but most of them were filled with admiration. As they gazed at the gold-plated fountain visible beyond the intimidating iron gates, they finally understood Soo-jin’s earlier remarks comparing the place to a grand mansion.
"Real rich people live in villages like this, huh…"
"This place is really famous. Do you remember Kang Tae-sung, who was involved in that scandal last month?"
"Oh, oh, that Ellis guy? The one rumored to be dating Jane?"
The scandal involving a popular girl group leader with a decade-long career and a handsome actor loved nationwide for his dazzling filmography became a hot topic. However, the buzz quickly sank beneath the surface due to a political scandal that simultaneously shook both the political and entertainment worlds. The reason why the studious members of the overseas study group still remembered the scandal was that, right after it broke out, news of Yoo-jin and Jae-hee's wedding flooded the internet.
Yoo-jin, who had attracted attention from a young age for her celebrity-like looks and her chaebol family background, naturally made headlines with her marriage news. It became even more of a sensation since her partner was far from ordinary. On top of that, Jae-hee gained even more fame when a recently uploaded photo of her on S University's faculty intranet, leaked by an unknown source, caught the media's attention.
People who asked what's so great about “just an ID photo” found themselves speechless when they saw her picture. It was because of the elegance captured in that "just an ID photo." The marriage of two stunningly beautiful people caused a megaton-level shock. Either way, the fact that this place was where one of the "unlucky couples" displaced by the shockwave of that gorgeous couple lived made Sang-woo look again at the nameplate. Even if they were an "unlucky couple," hearing that a famous actor with several blockbuster hits to their name lived there made the place feel entirely different. It looked absolutely dazzling.
“That house over there is Kang Tae-sung's. Jane’s Benz came out from that side… And, well, Kang Tae-sung came out to see her off and got caught kissing her.”
“…How do you even remember that?”
“Hehe.”
“Kang Tae-sung… Do I have to star in about three blockbuster movies to get a place here?”
“Maybe?”
“I feel like Yoo-jin’s going to be basking in the glow from behind. What should I do? She’ll probably walk in doing a triple bow.”
As they whispered while keeping an eye on the sharp-eyed security guard, they smiled and waved energetically when they saw Jae-hee walking out from a distance.
“Professor Seon-!”
“It’s been a long time everyone. It must’ve been tough to get here.”
“Hey, you’re living in such a great place!”
“It’s thanks to Yoo-jin that I’m living here. Let’s go inside. Sang-woo oppa, what about drinks?”
“As expected, the alcohol fighter goes straight for the drinks~!”
At Soo-jin's words, Sang-woo puffed out his chest and handed over the alcohol, carefully packed in a famous brand's paper carton. Jae-hee smiled brightly at his confident posture.
“Here it is!”
“What, did you two make up now?”
Sang-woo had clearly put some thought into it and bought a high-end line of whiskey that Jae-hee liked. It was heavy, and it looked like there were two bottles. Jae-hee smiled broadly and high-fived Sang-woo.
“As expected, great taste.”
“Stop talking about taste, you drunks. I can smell the alcohol.”
“Always the alcohol fighters…”
“So, is this it? What about soju?”
“It’s here too!”
Sang-woo said, pointing at the backpack that was hanging like a turtle's shell, and Jae-hee threw her head back and laughed. The clinking sound of soju bottles colliding rang out, and both Sang-woo and Jae-hee laughed cheerfully, clearly in high spirits.
“Kim Sang-woo, you’re going to crawl back home today.”
“You both look like you can’t hold your liquor, I’m telling you, it’s no joke.”
“You have the face of a light drinker, but your alcohol tolerance is off the charts, seriously!”
“Alright, let’s go in now~!”
“Oh, so we can go in now?”
“Of course!”
Jae-hee carefully cradled the whiskey and led the way. Tae-ho, who had been watching her, asked cautiously.
“Hey, you’re the one who cooked, right?”
“...You don’t mean... Yoo-jin cooked, do you?”
Turning around, Jae-hee flashed a bright smile and tossed her hair back. Soo-jin tilted her head, not understanding what was going on. Jae-hee, seeing the pale faces of the four people who had tasted Yoo-jin's cooking, smiled even more brightly.
“You can look forward to it.”
***
"Welcome!"
"Ha Yoo-jin!"
"Yoo-jin unnie!"
"Yoo-jin, hello~"
It was a noisy greeting. The first to enter, Jae-hee, naturally placed her hand on Yoo-jin's waist, just like before. Jae-hee, looking as if she had found water, put strength into her arm. Yoo-jin, pretending not to notice the obvious behavior, greeted her friends while feeling very tense. After meeting them for the first time since returning from America, Yoo-jin awkwardly smiled. Unlike Jae-hee, who was with her in love, Yoo-jin wondered if these people would understand her.
"Thank you for coming to our new home."
"Hey, let's put aside the pretenses between us."
Seeing Yoo-jin, who was extremely nervous, Tae-ho smiled warmly and handed her a paper bag with a gift inside.
"Congratulations on your wedding!"
"Thank you, Oppa."
"Unnie, this is my gift!"
"Thank you so much!"
Trying to ease Yoo-jin's tension, everyone greeted her playfully, and as Yoo-jin's nervousness gradually eased, Jae-hee smiled brightly. Soo-jin looked at her and whispered while poking Jae-hee in the side.
"Devoted wife, Professor Seon~. Oh my, oh my, I think I’m going to puke."
Normally, Jae-hee would accept the teasing, but she silently stared at Soo-jin. As Yoo-jin moved ahead to guide everyone, Jae-hee whispered in Soo-jin’s ear.
"Hey, didn’t you bring any spam?"
"Why would I bring spam to a housewarming?"
Thinking it was an odd remark since it had been so long, Soo-jin blinked her eyes. The fluttering eyelashes seemed as fidgety as Soo-jin’s personality, and she didn’t like it.
"Isn’t it a national rule to bring spam and toilet paper?"
"Ah...?"
"You’re only getting jajang. Good job."
"Ah, wait a minute. Ma’am, ma’am!"
Jae-hee raised her middle finger playfully, and walked leisurely toward Yoo-jin. Left alone in the entrance, Soo-jin sensed the cold atmosphere and stared at Jae-hee's back. That, that person, surely, surely will get revenge. Realizing that she needed to calm Jae-hee's mood during the housewarming, Soo-jin hurriedly chased after her.
After unwrapping the gift, Jae-hee tilted her head at the wooden duck. Unlike Yoo-jin, who immediately recognized what it was, Jae-hee had no idea what it was for and shook the duck. It was empty inside.
"What is this...?"
"A duck*. It’s something every newlywed house has."
*wedding/mandarin ducks are a pair of wood-carved ducks that are used in traditional Korean wedding ceremonies and are also a common wedding gift. They are a symbol of love and marriage in some parts of Asia.
"Ah, I know this! It's the signal thing, right? Beep beep."
"...What is it? Tell me too!"
Shi-yeon grinned and, holding a duck in both hands, started explaining.
"It's something given to newlywed couples to wish them a happy marriage. It has two purposes. The first one is, that if they fight, they turn it like this, and when they want to make up, they turn it to face each other like this. The idea is that they naturally start talking after seeing it."
"So it's like a signal for reconciliation?"
"Mm, newlyweds fight a lot. They bump heads over even small things, so it's used to prevent it in advance and solve it afterward."
"Then what's the second one?"
Yoo-jin blushed and hurriedly tried to stop Jae-hee's words, but Shi-yeon made a sly face and whistled. Sang-woo and Tae-ho coughed awkwardly and avoided eye contact, while Soo-jin grinned wickedly and added a remark.
"Whoa~!"
"Honey, we don't need to ask about that..."
"Honeymoon."
"...?"
"Honeymoon signal."
“...!”
As Jae-hee's face turned red in real time, Soo-jin burst into laughter. Jae-hee, flustered, looked at Yoo-jin, and as soon as their eyes met, she quickly turned away and shouted.
"We-we're doing well even without that!"
"Oops... you're ruthless, Seon Jae-hee."
"Magnificent stamina wraps around you, unnie."
"Puhahaha-!"
Before long, the atmosphere had ripened. The food grew cold, and those who had tactfully led the mood gradually fell silent. The artificially bright mood gradually settled. Just like Jae-hee, it was now Yoo-jin's turn to explain, and she, looking tense, picked up her water glass. She was more nervous than when she first stood before the executives or when attending the shareholders' meeting. Sensing Yoo-jin's emotions were in turmoil, Jae-hee gently took Yoo-jin's hand.
“…I think it’s okay to ask questions now.”
“Why did you hide it?”
“...”
Yoo-jin put down her cup and looked around at the people. She had fled from Korea, and the first "good people" she met, including Soo-jin. When she set foot in a foreign land, she was already in a state of confusion. Yoo-jin, who wasn't even ready to live on her own, had been able to finish her doctorate there safely because of their help.
Jae-hee had been the greatest support, but it was clear that she wouldn't have been able to endure without them. Tae-ho, who had given her his side like an older brother, Sang-woo, who was awkward with expression but took care of the younger ones, Shi-yeon, who helped her blend into the crowd with her cheeky personality, and the gentle Tae-hee, who had always been by her side.
How should she say it for her sincerity to reach them? They patiently waited as Yoo-jin struggled to open her mouth. Soo-jin, who was somewhat detached from the atmosphere, glanced around at the others and picked up her chopsticks, reaching toward the delicious gambas shrimp. However, upon seeing Yoo-jin speak, she hesitated and pulled her chopsticks back.
"The story I told everyone about my family is true."
"...That you don't have a good relationship with your father...?"
"Yes. My father is very strict, and the atmosphere at home was suffocating, so I left for the United States almost like I was running away... without any plans."
The four of them, excluding Soo-jin, recalled the past five years. They thought about the story Yoo-jin had kept silent about, the story she had drunkenly revealed while crying. They remembered how Yoo-jin had cried so much that she was gasping for air, showing her resentment toward her father. Tae-ho and Sang-woo, who had good relationships with their parents, and Shi-yeon and Tae-hee, who did not, all had nothing to say when they saw Yoo-jin crying so bitterly.
No words seemed like they could provide comfort. They chose to silently listen to her sobs and wait for the truth to come from her own mouth. Thinking about those past days, the taste in their mouths turned bitter. The future presidential candidate, Ha Cheon-woo. Some people supported him here, and others didn’t, but as Yoo-jin’s friend, he was someone they couldn’t help but dislike.
"I rejected all the help my maternal family offered... so yes, it’s true that I struggled through my study abroad years."
No one could refute those words. If she had really intended to hide it, she wouldn’t have lived so miserably. Yoo-jin, who had only ever sought the best of the best from the moment she was born, had somehow endured a life more humble than that of an ordinary person. Those who had taken care of her, despite their own difficulties, listened quietly to Yoo-jin’s words.
"After finishing my doctorate, I received help from Jae-joon oppa. If I wanted to follow in Jae-hee’s footsteps as an instructor... I had no choice but to reach out."
Those who realized that the "Jae-joon oppa" Yoo-jin casually mentioned was the vice president of Howon Group were secretly in awe. He was the person who had been featured on the economic section’s headline this morning. They had no intention of rejecting or drawing a line because of Yoo-jin’s glamorous background, but it was a bit surreal to feel the difference in their worlds.
"Before studying abroad, my mother’s assets were all transferred to my name, and Jae-joon oppa came and talked about succession... And now, here I am."
"...Then when did Jae-hee find out about that?"
“Jae-hee also found out about my background right before our wedding.”
“I’ve said it before, but I was really surprised… Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I could handle it… I struggled a lot with it.”
In fact, the fact that she came from a wealthy family wasn’t the problem at all. Jae-hee had intended to marry Yoo-jin even if she had debts. Thinking back to the time when she didn’t know anything and couldn’t respond for a long time after Yoo-jin confessed, Jae-hee gave a wry smile.
She hadn’t actually hidden anything, nor was it something she meant to hide. There was simply no reason to reveal everything about her family. Moreover, throughout their time together, Yoo-jin had wanted to struggle alongside her, not remain distant. Though she was upset about the marriage being hidden, she understood it was their personal matter.
"I wanted to invite you to the wedding, but because things got bigger, we only invited close family... I really didn't mean to deceive anyone... I'm sorry."
Seeing Yoo-jin sitting there like someone who had committed a crime, Sang-woo, who had made a mistake during their last meeting, felt even heavier in his heart. Showing discomfort, Sang-woo sighed and shouted, "Stop being so cautious. Where's the bold Ha Yoo-jin?"
"It reminds me of when you two came out. It's rare to see Yoo-jin looking so defeated like this."
"Aigoo, look at our Yoo-jin all deflated~"
When Tae-hee gently pulled Yoo-jin into a hug, Jae-hee pushed Yoo-jin behind her with a firm shove. Seeing Jae-hee's jealous nature, Tae-ho burst into laughter. With a tough, gangster-like expression, Tae-ho spoke in a surprisingly gentle tone.
"Thanks for telling me."
"...Oppa."
Though many words were left unspoken, the meaning was clear. Whether a daughter of a wealthy family or a politician, none of it mattered. The message was that Yoo-jin was still just Yoo-jin, still a friend. Finally, Yoo-jin relaxed. She almost cried, but held it back. She wasn't sure how those mischievous friends would tease her.
"By the way, Seon Jae-hee~ You're impressive. The person who hates getting involved causes the hottest political scandal in Korea and gets married."
"...Love makes people disregard danger."
"Wow, crazy! Are you Korea's Juliet?"
"I almost threw up! That's creepy."
"Agreed, that's something a male lead in a morning drama would say..."
"At this timing, they'd normally kiss the female lead..."
"Nope, at this time, a relative should show up and slap them."
The conversation flowed smoothly, and as they happily exchanged words, Jae-hee laughed heartily, just like in the past. Yoo-jin and Jae-hee enjoyed the most comfortable night since arriving in Korea.
"Unnie, let's do it together."
"No, it's okay."
"Eh, but still!"
"Then, could you just take the plate and wipe it?"
"Okay~!"
While the group of smokers and Jae-hee went out to separate the trash, Soo-jin peeked around the house and then helped Yoo-jin.
"...That day, thank you."
Soo-jin understood that Yoo-jin was referring to the day she had brought the life-saving medicine and shook her head vigorously.
"No, it’s not like that! But I feel like I might be bothering you..."
"No, it's me who should be thankful. I'm glad I got to know a side of Jae-hee that I didn't know about."
"...I'm the one who's happy."
"Hmm?"
"The only graduate student who gets to chat with a big celebrity like you is probably me... hu hu...hu... such a pathetic life being a professor's lackey... Unnie... I'm really your fan, you know? But to think I'm here, doing the dishes with you in your house... it feels like a dream."
Yoo-jin let out a small laugh, recalling the past when she had been so sharp with Soo-jin. Looking back, she realized that Soo-jin was just a young sister who liked Jae-hee and liked her.
"Soo-jin, you really like me, huh?"
"Unnie... you have no idea how much of a fan I am of you. Rejected by Jae-hee unnie, who doesn't even tell me anything about you... she's such a terrible person..."
"I see, Soo-jin~"
"I've been a fan since you became famous for your airport fashion 10 years ago."
"10 years ago... I was in high school... Oh, no way!"
"Yes! The rich young lady in the tteokbokki coat* that suits you so well!"
*duffle coat
Yoo-jin forgot she was wearing rubber gloves and placed a hand on her forehead. To think someone still remembered that embarrassing article title... Looking into Soo-jin's sparkling eyes, she finally understood why Jae-hee kept quiet about her to her close younger sister.
"...Ahaha..."
"To think I'm doing the dishes with someone like you... Unnie, why are you touching your forehead? Are you hurt?"
"No, it's just a habit."
"Aha, Jae-hee unnie does that sometimes too! Couples really do start resembling each other!"
Yoo-jin felt she now fully understood why Jae-hee acted that way. She smiled softly.
"I'll invite you over often."
"Unnie... really... I would be fine even being your doormat."
"You already have to deal with your professors; there's no need to put up with me too..."
"It's fine. If I have to be a servant, I'd rather serve in a grand household."
At Soo-jin's words, Yoo-jin couldn't help but burst into hearty laughter.
****