Husband Role - Episode 32

On Sunday evening, Jung-hyuk visited Il-sung’s study. He had something important to discuss. Il-sung greeted his grandson with a nonchalant expression.

However, as Jung-hyuk spoke, Il-sung’s expression turned serious. It was a small matter if small, but a big deal if big.

“I’ve found out that his conduct has been questionable.”

“Hmm.”

“He selectively performs VIP surgeries and prescribes medication to acquaintances even for non-specialized departments.”

In addition, Jung-hyuk detailed everything he had learned about Mok Dae-hyuk.

It was probably the first time he had such a long conversation with Il-sung.

“It’s a miracle he hasn’t been referred to the ethics committee. It’s probably thanks to Honorary Director Bong-cheol’s influence.”

Il-sung was deep in thought.

He knew that Bong-cheol had recommended Mok Dae-hyuk as a candidate for the next director. Judging by the date, it was written long before he was diagnosed with dementia.

Of course, it didn’t matter from the founder’s position. Bong-cheol was just an honorary director of one of Il-sung’s many hospitals. Therefore, incinerating the recommendation letter was too easy for Il-sung.

Moreover,

There were plenty of reasons to bring Mok Dae-hyuk down. It wasn’t an emotional decision, and it could be seen as reasonable for the greater good.

Therefore, it was far from an overreach of authority.

But…

For Il-sung, Bong-cheol was not someone he could consider in terms of interests. He was literally a benefactor. Even now, he occasionally visited him, holding onto someone who had already passed away, and had various conversations.

His heart felt heavy, as if something was severely stuck in his throat.

“If it can’t be resolved at Grandpa’s level, I can call an extraordinary general meeting with the authority of an outside director.”

Jung-hyuk was unusually firm. It was truly unfamiliar for Jung-hyuk to assert his will so clearly.

“…Then things will get too big.”

Il-sung replied in a troubled voice.

“As things get bigger, Professor Mok Dae-hyuk will do his best to defend himself. He has to.”

Il-sung sensed a change in his grandson’s inner self. He seemed to see a small shadow behind Jung-hyuk.

“Why are you going this far?”

Il-sung asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.

“Because no one is above anyone else, and no one is below anyone else.”

“Is that person…”

It probably wasn’t the certain patient Dae-hyuk had ignored.

“Is it your wife?”

“There’s no one more important than my people.”

It was a definite answer. Jung-hyuk, who had risen from his seat, bowed briefly and left the study.

Eun-seol sat on the terrace attached to the master bedroom, staring blankly outside.

The sounds of summer insects chirped like a chorus. The surroundings were dark, but the lush green summer grass seemed clearly visible.

At her feet, mosquito coil smoke rose gently. The high-frequency mosquito repellent she had been using had broken down, so Jung-hyuk had quickly gotten her one. He probably received it from a servant.

Incense was truly mysterious. It easily brought back forgotten memories.

Memories came with the pungent smell.

One summer, in the gazebo in Bong-cheol’s front yard. They were burning mosquito coils and eating watermelon,

‘Our Eun-seol should meet a good man.’

‘My dad was a good man too.’

Bong-cheol laughed heartily at Eun-seol’s protest, who was in middle school.

‘Yes. I’m sorry this grandpa didn’t recognize it sooner.’

‘…It’s okay.’

‘Next time you meet a wonderful husband you must introduce him to this grandpa.’

‘Even if I just meet a husband… I’ll introduce him.’

She answered, crunching on the sweet, bland watermelon. Bong-cheol laughed like a wave again and wiped Eun-seol’s mouth.

‘Husbands and wives are a team. Our lonely Eun-seol should meet a man who cherishes you the most, not a rich man, not a handsome man.’

‘Like Grandpa?’

‘Hehe, there’s bound to be another man as good as me.’

He joked like that, but Eun-seol now knew that such a man ‘also’ existed.

She missed her grandfather.

But she didn’t want to go see him.

It was her grandfather who sent her to Dae-hyuk’s house. Even if the intention was noble, it was still difficult. She tried not to be aware of it. But it was also true that she felt a tiny bit of resentment.

After going so far away that she could no longer rely on him.

And occasionally coming back and asking if she was doing well.

How could she say it?

That it was too hard and painful.

To you, who would surely distance yourself again.

“You’re awful…”

Having such thoughts about her grandfather, who had loved her more than anyone else. She felt like hitting her forehead with her fist.

She also made a resolution. That on the coming weekday, she would buy a fancier bouquet of flowers and Melona ice cream and go to Bong-cheol.

And she would say.

That she was truly doing well.

“Who’s awful?”

The sash door rail was so smooth that she didn’t even know Jung-hyuk had come.

Startled, Eun-seol quietly bit her lip.

“Don’t self-deprecate.”

“…Tch. You don’t even know what kind of person I am.”

Jung-hyuk pulled up a steel chair. There was a squeaking sound, and soon he sat down opposite Eun-seol.

“What kind of person are you?”

He asked quietly.

She was like a seedling that had sprouted alone in a vast meadow. Waiting endlessly for the rain that seemed like a fluke among the dense bushes.

Whenever she seemed to wither, her grandfather, Jung-hyuk, Su-jin, and then Jung-hyuk again, gave her rain.

She was revived and lived and lived.

But she was sad and lonely all the time, forgetting her gratitude.

“I was just… maybe too caught up in self-pity? That’s what I think.”

“That’s a healthy mind, that is.”

“Why?”

Eun-seol looked at Jung-hyuk with curious eyes.

“Because it means you know how to pity yourself to protect yourself. It’s much better than pretending you’re okay.”

That’s what I think.

Eun-seol nodded at Jung-hyuk’s words.

Her husband was not a passing shower. He was a cloud that constantly rained. A cloud that would never be washed away unless the seasons changed.

“Don’t be lonely.”

Jung-hyuk said, stroking Eun-seol’s hair.

No one in the world wanted to be lonely. But, thinking about Jung-hyuk going back to Ulsan, a week’s worth of loneliness rushed in all at once.

“…Yes.”

It was when Eun-seol answered quietly.

“Shall we go together tomorrow?”

As if he had read her mind,

“To Ulsan.”

He suggested.

The reception last night was long. From nighttime golf rounds to drinking with executives. Dae-hyuk catered to the whims of prominent figures from all walks of life.

It was painful to be dragged around like a dog even at this age, but it was an unavoidable chore to climb higher.

By the time he returned to Seoul from Pyeongchang, a complete morning had already arrived.

Anyway, he spent the day with a lack of sleep.

The long day was fading dimly.

He came out to the living room with a face that still hadn’t shaken off the alcohol.

The housekeeper, Ma-san Madam, quickly brought out hangover soup.

It was Ma-san Madam’s specialty, Gyeongsang-do style beef radish soup. It was a menu that Dae-hyuk liked very much, with plenty of chili powder and a spicy taste.

“Phew, I feel alive now.”

Sweat poured like rain from Dae-hyuk’s face. It was as if he had been to a sauna, and he felt much refreshed.

“Min-seo’s mom.”

Dae-hyuk held up the empty bowl to Ma-san Madam, looking for So-hee. He wanted another bowl. Ma-san Madam refilled the bowl and placed it in front of Dae-hyuk.

“Yes, dear.”

So-hee, who approached, replied cautiously.

“First, lower the air conditioner temperature.”

“Yes.”

So-hee put on a cardigan and aimed the remote control at the air conditioner. The temperature dropped so much that her teeth chattered.

“Where are the kids?”

Dae-hyuk asked So-hee again.

“Jun-seo went out to play, and Min-seo is at the bookstore.”

“Keep a close eye on that Jun-seo. I don’t know what kind of nonsense he’ll do again. Tell him if he makes me pay damages like last time, I’ll twist his neck off. Got it?”

“Yes, dear.”

So-hee answered and gestured to Ma-san Madam. Ma-san Madam, who had been perking up her ears, quickly left the room.

“Um… I have something to tell you.”

So-hee said, sitting across from him.

Just then, Dae-hyuk, who had finished his second bowl of soup, put the bowl down loudly and asked, “What?”

Startled by that, So-hee tried to put on a smile.

“It’s just that Jung-hyuk came last week.”

“Did he arrange another blind date or something?”

So-hee quickly poured water and handed it to Dae-hyuk, who was wiping his mouth and sneering.

“It’s not that…”

As Dae-hyuk looked at So-hee, who was hesitating, he grabbed the glass of water.

“I found out how Eun-seol lived in the basement.”

Dae-hyuk took a cool drink of water and put the glass down again with a bang.

“Is that a problem?”

At his outburst, So-hee opened her lips and said, “No.”

“He seemed pretty angry when I saw him… I don’t know what they said to each other.”

I also don’t know what kind of story he told when he went home. He also said he wouldn’t forgive me. So, I’m so anxious about that.

So-hee somehow felt very anxious, but it was hard to put into words.

It was clear that the more she babbled, the more angry her husband would be.

If he got angry, everything would be So-hee’s fault. It might be the same this time. He would say, what did you do sitting at home, you old woman?

“So—?!”

Dae-hyuk, with a good voice, shouted loudly. His roar was like a prelude to violence.

He wasn’t the kind of person who beat his wife and children with a barrage of blows, but he was the kind of husband who would raise his hand once or twice when he lost it.

Instinctively startled, So-hee smiled abjectly again,

“No, it’s nothing.”

So-hee heard that Jung-hyuk had been appointed as an outside director of the Hocheon Foundation. She didn’t hear it from Dae-hyuk. It was just that there was a person from the foundation among her closest aides.

There was no way her husband didn’t know that. Moreover, Jung-hyuk was the eldest son of the Hocheon Foundation. Regardless of the ‘secret of birth’ that some people were talking about, he was also a grandson who was favored by former President Yoon Il-sung.

That meant that, in the long run, it could be a threat to Dae-hyuk.

The more sincere Jung-hyuk was to Eun-seol.

So-hee never expected such a hidden danger to erupt when she married Eun-seol off.

“If you have time to worry about personal matters, think about how to make that Jun-seo a human being.”

So-hee looked blankly at Dae-hyuk’s back as he turned around, spitting out words as if chewing them.

Suddenly, an unknown anxiety wrapped around her like a snake. Her fine hairs stood on end all at once, and she suddenly felt chilly.

Bang!

The master bedroom door closed, and So-hee hurriedly turned up the air conditioner temperature.

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