"I'm bored."
Son Yu-ha was unable to join in on the conversations of the adults and was wandering around the mansion alone. Because of that, the secretary in charge of Son Yu-ha was sweating profusely and fidgeting. Grandfather and father were busy talking to a foreign man. What could be so cheerful?
"I'm bored!"
Meanwhile, Chairman Wang's mouth was filled with a smile, and that was because Samuel Gardner had expressed his willingness to actively cooperate. Gardner had originally visited Korea for business. His outgoing personality, which did not match his status as a member of the royal family, was completely different from his older brother's.
"Eternal Crown Prince, I do not like this title. The right to the throne originally belonged to my older brother. I would appreciate it if you would call me Samuel as before."
It was Samuel Gardner who originally did not have the right to the throne. The original crown prince, who had been involved in a series of scandals and incidents during his youth, was displeased with the people and stepped down from his position. As a result, Samuel, who was originally in the position of crown prince, ascended to the position of crown prince. The cheers and support from the people were enormous.
At that moment, Chairman Wang put down his teacup and spoke English fluently.
"Samuel, thanks to you, our hotel has been able to transform into an international business hotel."
"No. What did I do? I just acted as the face of the madam. It's all because of the reputation of Jeil Group."
The speed of development of the department store industry, as well as the hotel industry, was dazzlingly fast. The marketing of companies was fierce and excessive, and they did not hesitate to use famous celebrities as well as people in the political world as advertising tools. Of course, Jeil Group brought in people who were as great as its reputation.
"No. Don't you think Samuel's visit to Korea is being covered in newspaper advertisements every day? I can't tell you how happy I am that the hotel and department store that always serve as the background are ours. Would you believe that this old heart is beating fast again?"
Just Samuel's presence and showing his friendship had a huge additional effect. This is not something that can be done with money. Of course, the one who led and planned all of this was Son Il-seon. Son Il-seon looked at his father, who was smiling, and swallowed his joy inwardly.
"Oh, Mr. Son. If you don't mind, can I ask you a favor?"
At that moment, Samuel looked at Son Il-seon intently.
Please?
He was willing to accept any request. If the value he received from his father were to be converted into money, it would be incalculable.
"Can you get a video of the young gentleman playing the violin at the banquet hall? I think they were filming it at the time."
It was an unexpected request.
Although it was an unknown gathering, he did film a performance video for his daughter. Of course, while he was at it, he instructed Kang Hyun to film his performance as well.
"Samuel, may I ask where you intend to use it?"
"I have an old friend who plays classical music. I really want to show him the young gentleman's violin playing. Even a copy would be fine."
Samuel Gardner was born into the royal family. Since classical music was an indispensable part of European society, even Son Il-seon could not estimate how many great masters he knew. Son Il-seon looked at his father. Chairman Wang looked into Samuel's eyes for a long time and nodded briefly.
"Wasn't it uncomfortable to come such a long way?"
Grandfather tried to erase his awkwardness and spoke to Mother. It had been over a decade since they had seen each other again. However, rather than feeling awkward at dinner, there was a warm feeling. You could tell just by looking at the redness around their eyes.
"I came comfortably thanks to the car my father sent."
Grandfather nodded silently and ate. There were a mountain of things he wanted to ask right away, but just looking at his mother's face seemed to fill her with old sadness. The youngest daughter he had always raised with great care. However, how much time had passed, and wrinkles had formed around his youngest daughter's eyes, just like his own.
After dinner,
The housekeeper brought out a tray of coffee, orange juice, and a jelly with pine nuts floating on it. My mother accepted the jelly and looked at the housekeeper with a moved expression.
"Ma'am, do you still remember this?"
"Oh my. How could I forget that I liked our youngest daughter?"
She was a housekeeper who had been working at my grandfather's house for a long time. She had seen my mother's childhood, so she knew her taste very well. She had never forgotten that she was the only one in the house who enjoyed drinking Sujeonggwa. Deep emotions were written on the woman's face. At that moment, my grandfather slowly began to speak to my mother.
"What are you doing, Kang Seo-bang? Why didn't you come with me?"
"yes?"
My mother was startled and raised her voice. Her face was clearly showing the shock that could have easily dropped the teacup. This was because my father had never acknowledged his husband as his son-in-law throughout his life. In the end, he had cut ties with his child, so I couldn't imagine how deep the emotional wound must have been. But.
"Come together next time."
The mother nodded without being able to continue speaking. The sight of the mother, who seemed ready to burst into tears at any moment, cracked the grandfather's hardened heart. Why did he leave his youngest daughter, whom he had missed so much, so far away? There were many things he wanted to say, but they did not come out of his mouth right away. At that moment, Kang-hyun entered the grandfather's gaze.
"You raised your son very well."
There is a saying that you can tell the character of a parent by looking at their child. In that sense, my grandson Kang Hyun grew up much more upright than I had thought. He seemed much more mature than my greedy and immature uncles. My mother was shaking her shoulders and wiping away tears. I held her hand.
"I missed you."
Grandfather looked into Mother's bloodshot eyes and said something he had never been able to say before.
"My daughter."
* * *
Spio Spio Mememe-!
"Father, we are here."
Kang Hyun's aunt, Mrs. Yoo Bok-ja, came to the Ichon-dong mansion early in the morning. She had a bundle full of things in her hands, and her uncle was walking in with a bashful expression. He was a doctor, but he opened a practice with the help of his grandfather, but his skills were not good at all, so he was just like an empty shell.
"Oh my. The eldest daughter is here?"
The housekeeper suddenly stopped doing her housework and rushed out when she saw her aunt suddenly visiting the mansion. She had shown up with her son before, but now she even brought her husband. It was really funny. I understand. She must feel like she's been hit with a fire under her feet.
"Ma'am, please take this."
When she felt it was time, her aunt handed over the luggage she had brought to the housekeeper and continued to look around the mansion.
"Big lady, why did you do so much?"
"I prepared some of your father's favorite foods. Don't forget to bring them out when you eat dinner later."
Your aunt made all this food? Oh my, she's a lady who's never even touched water.
At that moment, my aunt's eyes opened wide as if they were going to tear as she entered the living room.
"you?"
My aunt raised her voice as if she had seen a ghost. Because my mother and I were sitting on the living room sofa with my grandfather. Blood is thicker than water? When I look at my mother's brothers, that saying doesn't apply. In the past, after my grandfather passed away, my uncles and aunt had openly tried to control my mother over the issue of inheritance distribution.
Followed by.
Before my aunt's shock had even subsided.
"Father, we are here."
My uncle and his wife, my younger uncle and his wife, visited the mansion together. My uncles tilted their heads at the sight of my aunt standing blankly, but then held their breath at the sight of my mother sitting on the sofa.
Oh, I can only sigh. Now that I think about it, if they had even a shred of affection, they wouldn't have neglected their youngest brother for over a decade. I glanced at my grandfather. He had his eyes tightly shut and was holding back his words. As expected.
'Grandpa called them all.'
Somehow, they were not the kind of people who would visit Ichon-dong from the morning breeze.
"Wise man, how come you are here?"
Oh my, my uncle asked with his eyes wide open. He looked even more hostile than when he first saw me. My uncle was already losing his position within the family. Compared to me, who had not even been allowed to go to a golf meeting, my nephew had already attended a banquet where the heirs of the conglomerate gathered. It would be a lie if I said I wasn't nervous. It was right then.
"Everyone, take your seats."
When the grandfather opened his eyes and raised his voice, everyone kept their mouths shut like mutes who had eaten honey.
"Beomgyeong-ah."
At the call of his grandfather, his uncle straightened his back. His maternal aunt also swallowed hard and showed a tense expression. If you just look at his face, it is as solemn as a fighter receiving the decision to save the country.
"It is good to increase your limbs within the company."
Since he lacked ability, the uncle filled his subordinates with his connections. He didn't care about their work ability, but only about pleasing his fancy.
"But you raised a little thief!"
"Oh, Father, what do you mean?"
Grandfather's eyes sparkled at his uncle's question that seemed to not make sense. Looking at his eyes, I realized what it meant to be able to kill someone with a look.
"You little punk!"
At the grandfather's scolding, my uncle's pupils were trembling as if an earthquake had occurred. He must have already started searching for the culprit in his head. Seeing him not being able to properly manage even one of his own limbs, I could see that he was really stupid.
The uncle and aunt were wiping their dry lips, worried that they might be the ones being scolded for no reason.
"The reason I called you today is because of the future Dongju."
The look in my uncles' and aunt's eyes changed at the mention of Dongju. What is Dongju? Isn't it the company and masterpiece that my grandfather had worked for his entire life? A greedy expression passed over their tense faces. Oh my, if you're so greedy, at least protect the company until the end. Rather than feeling relieved when seeing Dongju being torn apart by foreign capital in his past life, his bitterness was greater.
"From now on, the wise man will also participate in Dongju's future."
My great uncle jumped up from his seat at my grandfather's sudden remark. My little uncle and aunt were the same. They looked extremely flustered. My mother also couldn't hide her surprise at hearing this story for the first time.
"Father, it is absurd for Hyunja to come to you now and participate in the management of a company after not being in touch for over ten years. How much more so would Hyunja, who only worked at a laundry, know about management? I understand that you are feeling a little uneasy after seeing Hyunja for the first time in a long time, but you should think about this again."
Grandfather stared at his uncle. His uncle, who had been standing up, swallowed hard at his grandfather's gaze and sat back down.
"I heard that the Hyunsung Group was chaired by a widow. Isn't the housewife who worked at home after her husband passed away running that big company? Also, look at the first thing. Is ability the priority in business management, or is gender the priority?"
Grandfather's voice still made his uncle look displeased. Grandfather had been given many opportunities because he was the eldest son. However, he had always disappointed Grandfather. For a moment, Grandfather's eyes flashed fiercely. It was clearly different from his past life.
"I wonder if you guys know much about business management."
My grandfather's personality changed.