CH 15

It felt more like a welcome to Jang Yoonsung’s family than an engagement ceremony. There was no such thing as a daunting segment. It was the same number of people having dinner at a colorful table as usual. Chairman Jang asked if I was disappointed, and I shrugged. The less complicated it was, the better, and the fewer people there were, the better.

Jang Yoonsung’s family indicated they’d arrive in the evening, so I sat nervously under the garden umbrella, waiting for the time to pass. Jang Yoonsung’s parents and brother already knew who I was, but it was difficult to confront them all at once.

I sorted my thoughts numerous times while I gazed at the slightly cloudy sky. Meanwhile, a car buzzed into the villa. It appeared pricey at first glance, like each car that arrived and departed from there, but it was my first time seeing that car. The man stepped out of the driver’s seat and moved carefully to the back door.

A young woman with a puppy came out of the rear seat. I had no idea who the woman was, but the puppy seemed familiar. Jang Yoonsung’s baby golden retriever, about which he boasted. The woman raised her sunglasses slightly, studied my face, and raised the corners of her mouth slightly.

“Are you Jiyoung?”

I heard that Jang Yoonsung only had one brother so she was more likely to be Jang Hyunsung’s wife. Don’t tell me, she is your cousin.I stood up awkwardly from my chair to say hello. The woman introduced herself, saying, “I am Jang Yoonsung’s sister-in-law.”

“Hello. I’m Han Jiyoung.”

Jang Myungsoo instructed me not to worry about anyone but Jang Yoonsung and Chairman Jang. She had to know who I was because I had nothing else to say to her except my introduction, so instead of responding with a hello, she laughed out loud. I peered around just in case Jang Yoonsung seemed to have heard it. Thankfully, no one seemed to notice because there were no guests present.

“Ah…haha. Sorry. I just got a new sister-in-law, but I’ll stop.”

She didn’t appear to be sorry. When the woman hollered at the man who drove the car, he grabbed an enormous shopping bag from the trunk and handed it to me.

“A gift from Director Choi.”

Choi was the one who taught me how to dress like a lady before I came here. He chose and cared for all of the necessary tools and clothing. There was, indeed, new clothing in the bag. The suitcase appeared to contain long and colorful clothes because it was fairly big, yet there was only one suit.

I felt as though I was about to sigh. The woman with the puppy circled me several times, as if she was watching me.

“I came here thinking I would be seeing something funny, but it’s worth it more than I thought. Jang Yoonsugn still didn’t notice? I’m saying he is pretty perceptive usually. Am I right, Poonjak?”

“Poon…”

The woman asked the dog she was holding as if asking for consent. Did he really name the dog Poonjak? It was the moment when I wanted to call out to the dog unconsciously.

“Noona!”

Jang Yoonsung came out shouting, “Noona ” in a welcoming voice. She said she was his sister-in-law, but they seemed to be more informal with each other than I expected. Jang Yoonsung smiled as he accepted the puppy.

“You really brought him here. Oh, Jiyoung, this is…”

“We already said hello.”

As Jang Yoonsung attempted to introduce his sister-in-law, the woman glanced at me and stated she had known me for a long time. I agreed with a nod. That woman was undoubtedly a touch impatient. Jang Yoonsung escorted her sister-in-law through the villa. Then he asked, a little excitedly.

“What about the thing I asked?”

“I bought it so don’t worry.”

Jang Yoonsung was tapped on the back as if not to make a scene. They appeared to be extremely close. Lee Eunjo was a demanding woman, but she was easier to cope with than Na Heesoo. Even before they married, Jang Yoonsung and his sister-in-law had a close friendship.

It was reasonable that Jang Yoonsung referred to her as “Noona” rather than his sister-in-law.

“Now, what you asked of me.”

When the man accompanying her came with several shopping bags that seemed to be gifts, Lee Eunjo picked one of them and handed it to Jang Yoonsung.

“Thank you~”

Jang Yoonsung greeted lightly and accepted the item and went into the room as he said, “I should check it.” What was it that he was trying to see it for himself? Lee Eunjo smiled unexpectedly as I snooped out of curiosity.

“Are you curious?”

It hadn’t been long since we met but Lee Eunjo wasn’t the type to reveal anything easily. However, I couldn’t say what I felt inside but I nodded my head and as expected, she only giggled. After a long time, Lee Eunjo looked at me again.

“Really, what should we do about our Yoonsung?”

She was talking like she was worried, however, she didn’t even seem willing to hide her face, which showed that she was dying out of laughter.

***

Jang Myungsoo and Jang Hyungsung did not come until the sun had nearly set. I had no idea how the meal went because it had been so chaotic. I was not going to be the family’s daughter-in-law, but numerous pairs of eyes were fixed on me. Was the wig mangled? Did I put it on backwards?

I kept looking at Chairman Jang and Jang Yoonsung’s faces, thinking there was something wrong with the way I looked. Chairman Jang appeared to be too preoccupied with laughing to notice if there was a problem. Jang Yoonsung, who was sitting in front of me, murmured, “it’s okay.” when our gazes met. He seemed to be telling me not to worry, yet it was the same as claiming there was no problem. Only then was I able to swallow a small amount of food.

Following lunch, everyone sat on the sofa in the living room.To see Jang Yoonsung putting a toy ring on my finger. Everything appeared to be in order at first glance, but everything was also in an unusual position. Jang Myungsoo was preoccupied with pleasing his father, and his wife kept her mouth quiet because she was dissatisfied with everything.

Jang Hyunsung nervously checked his wrist watch several times to see if there was anything he wanted to double-check. Only Jang Yoonsung’s sister-in-law, Lee Eunjo, was looking at us with a mischievous smirk.

Jang Yoonsung and I stood side by side, beside Chairman Jang, as Jang Hyungsung pressed it was becoming late. Jang Yoonsung retrieved a dazzling ring case from his pocket. He had to have found something convincing someplace. Yet what came out of that case was unexpected as well. The ring obviously had the same design, but it wasn’t the same thing as the toy. There were far more clear and shiny jewels affixed to it than murky plastic ones, and the rough ring that appeared worn out was replaced with glossy platinum.

When did he prepare this? Jang Yoonsung smiled at his family, pretending not to see the odd look I threw at him. It seemed that this ring was the one that Lee Eunjo bought earlier.

As Chairman Jang and Lee Eunjo began to applaud, everyone else followed suit with bitter expressions. That was the end of the engagement.

The four guests who visited the villa after a long time returned to Seoul by sharing two cars after the engagement ceremony. One of the guests decided to stay in the villa for the time being. Jang Yoonsung seemed to have taken Poonjak because he thought I would be bored if he returned to the United States.

Jang Yoonsung smiled as he waved goodbye to his family. Would I stay at the villa for a longer time if Jang Yoonsung returned to the United States?

“When are you going to America?”

The gaze that was looking at a distance darted back at me. Jang Yoonsung answered, rolling his eyes awkwardly.

“I’m not going. I took a leave of absence.”

“Oh, really? Oh…why? Nevermind, let’s talk about the ring.”

I hastily changed the subject as I was ready to ask why he was taking a leave of absence. I was terrified to find out the answer. Undoubtedly, it was due to Chairman Jang’s health, but I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to face the words that Jang Yoonsung may utter. Jang Yoonsung seized my hands and raised them as I questioned about the ring in a hurry. It was a ring that shone whenever a rare light passed by on a dark night.

“It’s worth 300 won.”

As if he knew what I was going to ask, he promptly said the amount I had previously entered into the drawing machine. I was not blind enough to not recognize the difference between toys and non-toy items, even if I had no idea how much that ring cost. That couldn’t be 300 won. Jang Yoonsung, on the other hand, emphasized as he stated it again.

“So don’t sell it off anywhere.”

While saying this, Jang Yoonsung placed his lips on my hand, as if kissing the ring. The smooth flesh brushed my hand because of the little ring.

Jang Yoonsung’s face was as calm as a night breeze. The stars in the black sky appeared to fall with the wind. The thought of yanking my hand suddenly seemed to fade. Jang Yoonsung let go of my hand with a slightly sad expression when I pulled it belatedly.

I squeezed my fingers into a fist as if they were heavy. I thought of the toy that could have easily broken into bits, but that ring was an item that would last a long time.