Husband Role - Episode 20

“Hello, Aunt.”

 

Eun-seol, coming out of the bathroom, quickly bowed.

 

She had only seen her fleetingly at the wedding, but Eun-seol knew who Rose was.

 

It was because she was the chairwoman of her alma mater.

 

“Yes, you. You were home.”

 

Rose glared at Eun-seol with wide eyes, scanning her up and down. Then, Kyung-ha stepped in.

 

“Aunt, come inside first.”

 

“Yes, sister.”

 

Rose coldly brushed past Eun-seol and headed to the living room.

 

Eun-seol felt like she had somehow incurred her dislike, but she wasn’t intimidated and followed the adults.

 

Eun-seol, Rose, and Kyung-ha sat in a triangle.

 

Rose, with her arms crossed defensively, stared intently at Eun-seol.

 

Kyung-ha quickly called a servant to bring refreshments. Soon, green tea cookies, apple pie, and banana juice were placed on the marble table.

 

Rose frowned deeply as she looked down at the refreshments.

 

“What am I supposed to do with this? Bringing this to a diabetic patient?”

 

“She’s new and didn’t know. I should have told her first, it’s my fault, Aunt.”

 

“…I wasn’t saying anything to my sister.”

 

“I know, of course.”

 

Kyung-ha smiled brightly as she answered, then called Eun-seol. Eun-seol looked at Kyung-ha with a slightly nervous face.

 

“Can you bring something more suitable?”

 

“Yes, Mother.”

 

Eun-seol headed to the kitchen with the fierce gaze fixed on her back.

 

“We made a mistake. We’re sorry, Madam.”

 

“No, you certainly don’t need to apologize to me.”

 

Even though she was a servant, Eun-seol felt uncomfortable with the apology from someone older than her.

 

“Then I’ll prepare something again quickly.”

 

The kitchen manager said. The servants always became nervous whenever Rose appeared.

 

The Yoon family members, including the dignified but uninterested in household affairs Il-sung and the kind-hearted Kyung-ha couple, were generally easy employers to serve.

 

The only somewhat difficult person was Seol-gi, but even she was actually cute compared to the spoiled children of other families.

 

But Rose was different.

 

She always watched people with a scrutinizing eye, and she often acted more like the owner than the owner herself, correcting the servants’ discipline.

 

“I’ll help too.”

 

“What are you saying?”

 

“It’ll be much better if I lend a hand. I’m very fast, ma’am. Trust me and leave it to me.”

 

Eun-seol said with a bright smile.

 

At that, the servant gave in and entrusted Eun-seol with preparing the tomatoes and jicama.

 

A little later, a jicama and beef salad and tomato juice were completed. After placing the whole wheat bread on a silver tray, Eun-seol headed to the living room.

 

Kyung-ha and Rose, who were in the middle of talking, suddenly stopped. Rose scanned the food once and asked sharply.

 

“Did you make this?”

 

“I’m not skilled, so I just helped a little.”

 

Eun-seol answered calmly.

 

“Then what are you good at?”

 

“Aunt.”

 

Kyung-ha called Rose as if to stop her. Rose said, “Sister can’t back down,” and looked at Eun-seol again.

 

“I heard you’re on leave from school and not doing anything else. Who’s just playing around these days?”

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

Eun-seol didn’t feel good about the harsh words, but she silently lowered her head.

 

There was nothing wrong with what she said.

 

While there were adults like Kyung-ha who encouraged her with warm eyes, there were also adults like Rose who awakened her to the cold reality with sharp gazes.

 

That didn’t mean Eun-seol thought Rose was bad.

 

It was because people weren’t originally so one-dimensional.

 

A life full of ups and downs had given Eun-seol some insight.

 

Therefore, in Eun-seol’s eyes, Rose, who was somewhat abrasive but sincere, was much better than those who hid their dark intentions.

 

Eun-seol decided not to jump to conclusions.

 

“Why are you apologizing when I asked a question?”

 

Rose rebuked her once more.

 

“I’m very lacking, Aunt.”

 

“If you’re lacking, you have to make an effort.”

 

When Kyung-ha tried to intervene again, Rose gestured slightly with her hand to stop her.

 

“I would appreciate it if you could be understanding and see it as me going through an adjustment period to integrate with the family.”

 

“Huh, you’re quite the talker.”

 

“Of course, I may not measure up in your perfect eyes, Aunt. But I will try to become a better person. I will never be a burden to the prestigious Yoon family.”

 

Eun-seol stated her beliefs in a calm but firm voice.

 

“…Jung-hyuk is like my own son.”

 

Rose said this time in a much softer voice.

 

“I heard it from Jung-hyuk.”

 

It was awkward to call her husband by his name, but Eun-seol tried to continue.

 

“That the affection he received from you is special.”

 

In fact, what Jung-hyuk had told her was different.

 

He had subtly told her that Rose and Seol-gi would be somewhat difficult to deal with among the family.

 

But the look in Jung-hyuk’s eyes as he told her that was unusually warm. Therefore, Eun-seol could dare to guess.

 

That even those two, who were said to be a little overwhelming, were ultimately good people.

 

“…Jung-hyuk said that?”

 

Rose asked, twitching the corners of her lips.

 

“Yes. That you’re a little wild, but you don’t hold grudges and you have a deep heart.”

 

Eun-seol was just putting into words what she had guessed. Kyung-ha, who noticed that, quickly chimed in.

 

“Like father, like son, our Jung-hyuk has a good eye.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Rose pressed her lips together. Eun-seol divided the salad and bread onto small plates and placed them in front of the adults.

 

“Aunt, the cook made it with more sincerity because she felt sorry.”

 

“You shouldn’t do things that make you feel sorry in the first place.”

 

Rose grumbled as she picked up the salad with a fork.

 

“I’ll prepare it next time.”

 

“Next time?”

 

“Yes, so I hope we can see each other often.”

 

Eun-seol answered with a gentle smile. Rose thought that her nephew’s wife was not ordinary, but somehow she didn’t dislike her.

 

The ‘kids these days’ that Rose thought of were divided into two categories.

 

Those who cried and whined at the drop of a hat, or those who were cold and aloof.

 

But Eun-seol didn’t seem to be either of those. That was a little pleasing.

 

“You think I won’t come if you tell me to come often? I’ll take time out of my busy schedule to come and see if you’re doing well.”

 

“Yes, great.”

 

Eun-seol, who answered brightly, went one step further and handed her phone to Rose.

 

“Can I have your phone number, Aunt?”

 

“…Why do you need my number?”

 

It was Rose who hesitated at that.

 

“Because I want to get closer.”

 

Eun-seol answered with a beaming smile.

 

After hesitating for a moment, Rose soon casually touched the keyboard.

 

Eun-seol, who received the phone back, quickly pressed the call button.

 

When the ringtone rang, she said as if emphasizing, “It’s my number, Aunt.”

 

Kyung-ha, who was watching the scene, secretly smiled.

 

Late in the afternoon, someone came to the SD Heavy Industries company cafe.

 

It was Kim Seung-jae, a lawyer who served as an advisor to Hocheon Hospital and also handled Bong-cheol’s private affairs.

 

It was sudden, but Jung-hyuk, who had made time with difficulty, sat down to face Kim. There, he heard unexpected news.

 

Cash in the name of Eun-seol’s living expenses and education expenses was paid monthly to Kang So-hee from a private equity fund that Bong-cheol had joined.

 

In addition, the necessary lump sums from time to time came separately from a savings insurance product that Bong-cheol had paid in a lump sum.

 

Tuition fees and wedding funds fell into that category.

 

As Jung-hyuk remembered, Bong-cheol had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment about five years ago. Since then, dementia had gradually progressed.

 

Fortunately, Bong-cheol was a neurosurgeon, so he could slow down the progression of the disease a little, but that was all.

 

In fact, he wasn’t in very good condition when they had met recently.

 

So, as soon as Bong-cheol realized his condition, he had sought ways to support Eun-seol.

 

Jung-hyuk was silently impressed by Bong-cheol’s extraordinary love for his granddaughter and thorough preparation.

 

But separately from that.

 

‘But why are you telling me this? Even if she’s married, my wife is an adult. It would have been enough for the person in question to hear it directly.’

 

‘That’s…’

 

Kim explained the whole story with a troubled face.

 

While writing the contract with Eun-seol as the ‘beneficiary’, she had been greatly angered.

 

She had misunderstood that Bong-cheol’s death compensation would be paid to her later, and she had made a fuss, saying, “Why are you giving me my grandfather’s life money?”

 

Since then, Eun-seol had refused all conversations about it.

 

Kim had never seen Eun-seol, who had always been gentle, get so angry.

 

‘…So, when the director briefly regained his senses, he revised some of the plans. In conclusion, it’s difficult to convey the content to Eun-seol. Instead, I decided that the spouse should be informed.’

 

‘To claim rights in case of future problems.’

 

‘That’s right. The guardian or spouse needs to be aware of the content.’

 

There, Jung-hyuk gained one realization.

 

Combining the payment method and the lawyer who handles the agency work, he comes to the conclusion that Bong-cheol does not trust his son and daughter-in-law very much.

 

‘Do you also have a bank account in my wife’s name?’

 

‘Yes. Because the contractor has the rights to the contract, Director Mok did not put anyone’s name on the contract except for Eun-seol.’

 

As expected.

 

Kim added an explanation.

 

‘So, I inevitably have two bank accounts in Eun-seol’s name. One is held by Kang So-hee, who was the primary caregiver, and the other is held by me in case of emergency.’

 

That means that Ms. Kang So-hee has been diligently taking that money all along.

 

Since it was a plan that the maternal grandfather had painstakingly prepared for his granddaughter, it was right for it to find its original owner.

 

Jung-hyuk’s mind worked quickly.

 

‘Is the account that Mr. Kim has still available?’

 

‘Yes. I was managing it so that it wouldn’t become a dormant account.’

 

‘Then I would like you to deposit the payments that come out in the future into that account. Would that be possible?’

 

‘No problem.’

 

‘I’ll discuss it with my wife when I get the chance. Until then, I would like to ask Mr. Kim to manage it.’

 

‘I will.’

 

Jung-hyuk woke up from his thoughts at the sound of his phone ringing. It was the time when pitch-black darkness had fallen on the empty office.

 

After checking the caller, he immediately swiped the green phone shape.

 

“Yeah.”

 

—…Are you busy?

 

It was a cautious voice, as if asking a secret. He imagined Eun-seol’s expression, which was naturally excited.

 

“I’m off work.”

 

Jung-hyuk answered quietly, closing the file.

 

—Have you eaten?

 

Even though she was young, she was his wife, and she thoughtfully asked about his meals. It was a repeated greeting call for several days.

 

He didn’t particularly welcome calls other than those for necessary business, but strangely, Eun-seol wasn’t annoying.

 

“I already ate. What about you?”

 

—I ate too. You know, the maid made steamed clams, and it was so, so delicious!

 

He imagined Eun-seol, who ate everything well. Why were her lips, which were putting food in her mouth with a happy face, so diligent? At that, Jung-hyuk smiled without realizing it.

 

“That’s a relief.”

 

—Later, only clam shells were piled up on my plate.

 

Come to think of it, she was a woman with excellent adaptability. It seemed to be an advantage derived from her bright nature.

 

—I decided to learn how to make steamed clams from the maid tomorrow. She said that the freshness of the clams and the purging are the most important. I’ll make it for you when you come. However, tasting is only possible if you bring white wine!

 

Her chattering voice sounded excited. Somehow, he felt like the heavy fatigue was melting away.

 

“I’ll look forward to it.”

 

Jung-hyuk replied.

 

So… Eun-seol, who hesitated for a moment, continued in a small voice.

 

—…I wish the weekend would come soon.

 

Jung-hyuk slowly frowned at the feeling that his heart was suddenly tickling.