"Good work, Driver Kim." Sending him to guard the door, Lee Jin-woo pressed again.
"I know, I know…"
Cheon Kyung-tae sat stiffly, one hand on the desk, the other raised, shouting, "Yongchang, Yongchang Construction, Rep Song."
Getting the name, Lee Jin-woo warned him to leave Angel Garden alone.
"If I hear anyone's bothered the director or kids…" Grabbing Cheon's collar, he yanked him from the chair.
Pushing open the street-facing window, he dangled Cheon outside like trash.
"Ah~"
Screaming, Cheon plummeted from the second floor.
When he came to, Lee Jin-woo and Driver Kim stood beside him. "Next time, it's a taller building. Wanna try?"
Cheon curled like a dog, face glued to the ground.
He waited long after the car's sound faded, then cautiously looked up.
The Land Rover was gone from the alley. He slumped, soulless.
Today's events, he'd never forget.
Even in dreams, that face would jolt him awake.
"President, where to now?"
"Home."
"Quanzhou's home?"
"Mm."
Driver Kim glanced at the rearview mirror. The President leaned back, eyes closed, feigning sleep.
Hesitating, he spoke, "Chief Ahn said if you're going home, notify him first. Okay?"
No need to ask—Madam's orders. "Oh, handle it."
With approval, Driver Kim hit speed dial. "Chief Ahn, President's heading home."
"Eomma, eomma, eomma… Really? Driver Kim said that? Jin-woo's coming back?"
"Ne, President's in the car. Driver Kim called in front of him."
"Yah~" Dressed glamorously, skin tight and fair like a twenty-year-old, Madam laughed gleefully.
"Perfect! Ajumma, Jin-woo's back. What's in the fridge? Pull it all out!"
Seeing her joy, Chief Ahn smiled, leaving to report to the Chairman.
How long would he stay? An hour… 30 minutes? Or turn back halfway?
Aish, really…
Couldn't this family meet halfway?
Off the highway, the car wound through mountain roads, circling dense forest.
About eight minutes in, a five-meter black iron gate blocked the path. A guard inside spoke on a walkie-talkie.
Lowering the window, Driver Kim leaned out. "It's me."
"Got the notice… Young master, welcome home."
Lee Jin-woo opened his eyes, watching the unchanged scene from decades past.
Suddenly, it felt nostalgic yet funny.
This gate held twenty years of memories.
The car climbed, a white roof peeking through treetops. Far off, he saw a woman by the fountain, gazing.
"Oh~ He's here!" Han Soo-yeon, like a dainty girl, grabbed the maid's arm, hopping.
"Ne." The maid smiled awkwardly, politely.
Madam's personality was getting more childish.
"Yah~~" As the door opened, a piercing squeal hit.
Brows twitching, Lee Jin-woo stepped out, smirking helplessly. "Eomma, full of energy, huh?"
"Haha, my son's home—how could I not be? Jaang~ Eaten dinner? No, right?"
Seeing her nerves, he nodded. "Oh, not yet."
"Yay~ Perfect! Ajumma, start dinner… Sashimi, don't forget sashimi."
Raw fish, Han Soo-yeon's specialty. Raised seaside, she learned knife skills from market ajummas.
Even as a chaebol wife, she never forgot.
Just, chances to cook grew rare.
"Where's that guy? Out again?"
"He's here. And who calls their father 'that guy'? No respect, so rude."
"Respect… got anything to do with me?"
Back home, Lee Jin-woo felt possessed.
His mind was clear, but every word came out laced with gunpowder.
Bang~
His mouth fired like a machine gun, blasting everyone.
"Arasseo, arasseo, eat already!"
"Aigoo, who's this? Our Jin-woo's back."
An uninvited woman, dressed as glamorously, with a flawless oval face lightly made up, stunning.
Her gaze at his back brimmed with flattery, tinged with hidden fear and anger.
The maid, about to serve soup, retreated to the kitchen, dodging stray shots.
The second madam was here. The dining room was no place for her now.
One misstep, and she'd catch "friendly fire."
"Oh~ Oppa."
Ignoring the woman, Lee Jin-woo spun at this voice.
"Soo-mi-ya, come sit. Eomma made a feast. I was wondering how to finish it."
"Ne." Timid as a mouse, Lee Soo-mi inched forward, dainty and cautious.
After hesitating, she braved, "Oppa, can Eomma… join us?"
He glanced at the woman. Meeting his eyes, Kang Ji-hee flashed a fawning smile.
She both hated and feared the family's only son.
No matter what, he'd inherit it all. Her gaze shifted to Han Soo-yeon at the head, eyes full of envy.
Aish, if I'd come just a bit earlier…
Jin-woo would be my son. How perfect would that be?
"Sit."
At his nod, Kang Ji-hee scurried to the opposite seat.
Ahem~
Han Soo-yeon cleared her throat, waiting.
Kang Ji-hee's smile stiffened. Standing by the table, she gritted her teeth, suppressing rage. "Unnie, may I sit?"
"Mm, sure, sit."
Han Soo-yeon smirked, waving like she was pacifying a puppy.
Aish~
Kang Ji-hee's anger nearly burst, but with Jin-woo here, after all this, how could she leave?
As she sat, she spotted the Chairman beyond the glass partition. Her half-seated butt shot up.
"Chairman, you're here."
Han Soo-yeon, savoring her rare win, jumped like a startled hamster.
"Chairman, y-you're here." She gaped at Lee Jin-woo, still seated, unmoved, eyes nearly popping.
"Jin-woo's back, hasn't eaten, so I made this. Join us!" She vacated the head, swapping for fresh cutlery.
"Your father's here, and you don't greet him? Is this how this house raised you?"
Lee Kang-ho stood, hands behind back, voice icy.
He'd meant to talk calmly.
But seeing him, endless rage surged, clouding his cool head.
"A father should act like one for kids to respect. Can't even give a name to the woman who bore his child, introducing her to guests. What kind of father?"
Gnawing the last meat off a rib, Lee Jin-woo tossed the bone on the table.
Seeing Lee Soo-mi shrink, scared silent, he rubbed her head with his clean hand. "Soo-mi, oppa'll visit again."
"Eomma, call me in Seoul sometime. I'm out." Grabbing his jacket, he smiled, heading out.
"Jin-woo, Jin-woo!" Han Soo-yeon, fuming and frantic, moved to stop him.
But the Chairman's cold face rooted her like lead.
"Chairman~"
Her pleading eyes couldn't melt his icy glare.
He watched his son vanish beyond the gate, silent.
"Aaah~"
Clawing her hair into a mess, Han Soo-yeon bolted to her room.
Kang Ji-hee, with her daughter, said cautiously, "Chairman, I'll take Soo-mi back."
"Stay in your wing unless needed."
"Ne."
"Father dear, aniyo!"
The lively dining room emptied, leaving a feast abandoned on the table.
"Chairman."
Chief Ahn appeared beside Lee Kang-ho, eyeing the vacant room.
As expected, father and son couldn't talk normally.
When would this family function?
"Chief Ahn, you think I'm wrong too?"
Chief Ahn bowed, serious. "Your deep thoughts are beyond my shallow mind."
"Sigh!" Lee Kang-ho trudged to his study, back heavy.
In the Land Rover, Driver Kim sat quietly, awaiting orders.
The President left the house, silent, clearly upset.
But he seemed to have unfinished business.
He must be torn.
"Aish~ Why couldn't I hold back?" Lee Jin-woo shook his head, rubbing his temples.
He craved a head massage to blank his mind.
That man—his brain just short-circuited.
If he hadn't clung to restraint, it'd have been uglier.
He'd come to discuss Wall Street. Aish…
"Driver Kim."
"Ne."
"Get Chief Ahn. Tell him I'm waiting in the car."
"Ne."
As Driver Kim left, the back door opened.
"That fast? Hey, what're you doing?" Seeing Kang Ji-hee slide in, Lee Jin-woo's eyes were all question marks.
(End of Chapter)