Chapter 398: Sorting Out
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 398: Sorting Out
“What now?”
I answered my big brother’s call with a blunt tone.
Now that I knew the girls’ pregnancies were a lie, I was trying to avoid contact with the main house as much as possible. If Father ever found out the three of them weren't actually pregnant, there was no telling how things would spiral.
Of course, I knew Father wasn't the type to go back on his word once it was given. Still, you never know. I didn't want to risk ruining the hard-won permission I’d finally secured.
— What are you up to?
“What’s with the sudden interest? Why are you asking?”
— Sigh. I’m just asking how you’re doing.
“I’m asking why you’re asking now.”
It wasn't like him. Usually, our relationship was built on the understanding that no news was good news.
— I’m asking because you’re enlisting soon.
“Ah, dammit.”
It wasn't Big Hyung’s fault, but I let out a vent of frustration anyway. He didn't particularly call me out on it.
“I’m staying busy. It’s finals week right now. We’re all pretty swamped.”
— And your studies?
“What, are you Father now? Why do you care about my grades? I’m going into the military soon; do you really think I’m hitting the books hard?”
I was mostly just looking over the notes I-seo organized for me. Even when I told her she didn't have to, she’d stubbornly shove them into my hands. Honestly, thinking about life after discharge when I hadn't even enlisted yet felt completely surreal.
— Right. I suppose I can understand that sentiment.
“Were you like this when you went? You know, all gloomy and stuff?”
— I didn't wear it on my sleeve like you do. Father would have been disappointed if I had.
“I’m glad you’re such a filial son.”
When I offered the sincere compliment with a chuckle, Hyung let out an embarrassed grunt, clearly finding it cringeworthy.
“Thanks to you, I don't feel too much guilt even when I drive a stake through Father’s heart.”
— Feel at least a little.
Realizing it wasn't a compliment, Big Hyung sighed and moved on to the main point.
— Father is retiring. He says he can no longer hold the position due to health reasons.
I figured he hadn't called just to shoot the breeze, even with my enlistment coming up.
“I see. Is he very ill?”
— Not to that extent. It feels more like he’s forcing himself to step down early just to hand the reins over to me.
“So he’s faking it.”
— …….
Finding no suitable rebuttal, Hyung ignored the comment and continued.
— That’s why Father is currently sorting things out in many ways. He says the Uju he led and the Uju I will lead will be different.
“Father said that?”
— Yes, Father.
Hyung’s voice sounded light. There was even a faint hint of excitement. It wasn't that he was happy to own Uju Group; he was happy that Father had finally acknowledged him.
“Heh, I guess he really has changed a bit.”
— Yeah, it seems so.
Father, who had always wanted to hand the company to the son who resembled him most, had finally accepted that Big Hyung would do things his own way. My stubborn father must have undergone a massive change of heart.
— Anyone’s outlook on life would be shaken if they suddenly gained three daughters-in-law at once.
“…….”
— Even I was shocked.
“Oh, right. Your wife called me, by the way.”
— What?
“She said she’d kill me if I put any weird ideas in your head. She said she fought hard for what she has, and if you learn from me and start bringing other women home, she’ll end it for real.”
— ……She would never say that.
“Right? I thought so too. She has that intellectual career-woman vibe. But I guess she felt a sense of crisis.”
I didn't hesitate to give Hyung a piece of my mind while teasing him.
“It’s your problem, Hyung. You need to tell her you love her properly. Like I do.”
— This is my problem? Not yours for creating this whole mess?
“Ahem. Can I hang up now?”
Knowing further conversation would only disadvantage me, I tried to make a quick exit. Hyung added one last thing.
— Bring the girls down to the main house once. They want to see you.
“Father? Or Mother?”
— Both.
“I’m not going to get beaten up if I go, am I?”
— Mother has been doing 108 bows lately.
“Mom’s an atheist.”
— She says she’s practicing kneeling so she can apologize to her daughters-in-law.
“……You’re joking, right?”
— Come and see for yourself.
“Good grief.”
I wanted to end the call, so I wrapped things up.
“Fine. I’ll bring the girls over sometime.”
In truth, I didn't want to go. Mostly because I’d have to reveal that the girls weren't actually pregnant.
‘But they’ll find out eventually while I’m in the military.’
If that was the case, it would be better to go together and settle it once and for all. I needed to set things straight so they couldn't pull anything while I was away.
— Woo-jin. It was like that when I went to the military, and it’s the same for Father as he retires.
“Yeah?”
— When you leave, you have to tidy up behind you.
“…….”
— I trust you’ll do a good job of it.
Click.
Big Hyung hung up. I felt a strange sensation. As I stood there dazed, thoughts began to organize themselves neatly in my head. Thoughts about the things I had to do.
Vrrr! Vrrr! Vrrr!
The vibration of my phone snapped me out of it. I didn't mind the interruption.
— Lee Seo-ah -
I answered immediately.
“Hey, Seo-ah.”
— That was a really long call.
“Ah, I was talking to my big brother.”
— I see. So, where are you?
“Me? I’m at the dorm. I was going to go to the library to study, but it was too crowded, so I just came back.”
Even though I knew it would be packed during finals, I found myself wandering toward the library every now and then. I didn't actually get any studying done, but it made me feel like I tried, and it was just the environment that failed me.
— So you weren't studying. That’s perfect.
“Perfect?”
I wondered what she meant by that, but then I-seo spoke with a smile in her voice.
— Let’s go play.
* * *
It didn't take long to meet I-seo. She was already waiting right in front of the dormitory—along with the other two.
“Woo-jinnnn!”
Seo Ye-rin flew into my arms immediately. As I hugged her back, Yoo Ah-rin marched over and pried her off.
“Hey, hey! What are you doing? People are watching!”
A few students were indeed glancing our way as they passed. Since we were somewhat well-known, we did need to exercise some restraint with public displays of affection.
“You said let’s go play? It’s finals week.”
As I asked in confusion, Yoo Ah-rin pointed at Lee Seo-ah. I-seo was standing in front of an electric bicycle she’d borrowed from somewhere, which even had a small cargo rack on the back.
“Let’s go camping, Woo-jin. It was on your bucket list.”
“Camping? I mean, we agreed to go, but right now?”
It wasn't that I had other plans. In fact, I welcomed the chance to spend quality time with them. But this was so sudden. Besides, there was only one bicycle. No matter how much we squeezed, the four of us couldn't fit on that.
“Wait. I’ll just call the security team.”
They used to drive me to work when I was at Uju Global, so they could get us to a glamping site in no time.
“No, no. Today, it’s just the two of you.”
“That’s right, Woo-jin!”
At Yoo Ah-rin and Seo Ye-rin’s words, I stared at them, dumbfounded. When I looked at them as if to ask if they were serious, Yoo Ah-rin raised her middle finger and shouted.
“So, have a good trip!”
“Ah-rin, you’re flipping us off right now.”
“This is how I truly feel. Dammit, I hope it pours on you two bastards.”
“……Why are you cursing at me too?”
While I was reeling from the confusion, Seo Ye-rin stepped in to clarify.
“It’s that time of the month for me and Ah-rin!”
“You crazy bitch! Why do you always have to lie about stuff like that?!”
Right. There was no way Ye-rin had any actual 'clarifying' skills.
“Sigh. Seo Ye-rin and I are, uh… what was it… Oh, right. We’re meeting up with some high school friends.”
“That sounds like a total lie no matter how you look at it.”
When I stared her down, Yoo Ah-rin’s face crumpled as she scrambled for another excuse. Then.
“Dammit, just go!”
She gave up and just threw double birds at me to gloss over it.
“Because today is the day I-seo prepared everything! The glamping, the food, the bike, and even Woo-jin! That’s why we’re letting you two go!”
“You prepared all that? No, why? You should have told me. Where does a college student get that kind of money?”
“I’ve been working part-time too, you know. And you’re a college student too.”
Well, my situation was a bit different. But I didn't think those two would be convinced by a reason like that.
“Sigh. It’s because you’re leaving for the military soon. We talked amongst ourselves. We decided to spend some individual time with you.”
“For the record, I refused! Because Woo-jin only has eyes for me anyway!”
Seo Ye-rin gave a big thumbs up. When I asked why she wasn't coming then, her expression darkened instantly.
“Some stranger went to my mom and told her to stop making her daughter work as an actress.”
Huh?
“What does that mean?”
It sounded serious, so I pressed for more. Seo Ye-rin continued to mumble with dead eyes.
“They told her not to force an actress to work when she’s pregnant. Even my agency is talking about it, so I have to go to the hospital today.”
“…….”
This wasn't a situation where I could just go off and play with I-seo. Those 'strangers' were almost certainly sent by my father. He probably couldn't stand the thought of his daughter-in-law working while pregnant.
“I’ll… I’ll go with you.”
“Would you? I’ve already thought of what to say when I get there.”
What to say?
“I’m going to lie and say it was a phantom pregnancy.”
I really felt like I shouldn't be going on this trip. Just then, Yoo Ah-rin smacked the back of Seo Ye-rin’s head and unleashed a torrent of curses.
“I wondered how far this bitch would take her fiction! You’re doing everything you can to stop him from going, aren't you?!”
“Ekyu!”
Seo Ye-rin stuck her tongue out and giggled.
“It was a lie?”
“About half? My agency is genuinely worried about my health, and they’re hesitating to book schedules for the next quarter. They even set up a hospital appointment.”
“Ah.”
YS Entertainment had ties to my family, so Mother probably put some pressure on them.
“So don't go, Woo-jin.”
Seo Ye-rin grabbed onto me. As I was debating what to do, Yoo Ah-rin acted first.
Grab!
Yoo Ah-rin locked Seo Ye-rin in a chokehold. Having seen Senior Ju-hee’s moves, I could tell her proficiency was quite high.
“Gack?!”
“Hey! I’ve got her, so get going!”
“Let goooo! Woo-jinnnn! Don't goooo!”
“Ugh, you said you were okay with this earlier!”
“I hate itttt! Now that I’m seeing it, I hate itttt! Woo-jinnnn!”
“Let’s just tell them to have a good trip!”
“I hope it rains! I hope it pours and you get soaked to the bone!”
“You’re insane! I hope your bike tire gets a flat on the way!”
While scolding Seo Ye-rin, why was she suddenly joining in on the curses?
“Fine! I hope the glamping site is out of business when you get there!”
“I hope Kim Woo-jin suddenly gets erectile dysfunction!”
“I hope you eat garlic while grilling meat and can't kiss!”
“I hope Choi I-seo makes you study the whole time!”
The two of them rained curses down on us with double middle fingers. Yet, watching them, Choi I-seo looked as shy as a bride being sent off on her honeymoon.
“Let’s go, Woo-jin.”
“Uh, yeah.”
You’ve grown strong, I-seo. To be so unfazed by those curses.
“Fine! Just you wait! Next time, I’m going to spend time somewhere way better!”
“You don't need to pack clothes when you’re with me, Woo-jin! Because I won't be wearing any!”
Receiving their intense 'encouragement,' I moved to get on the bike.
“Huh?”
“Hmm?”
We both reached for the handlebars at the same time and looked at each other.
“I-seo, I’m the guy. I should drive. You get on the back.”
“I have better stamina and strength than you.”
“I-seo, I’m still a man. And I’ve been working out lately, so I’m no slouch.”
Choi I-seo silently held out her hand. Was she challenging me to a grip strength battle?
“Sigh. I didn't want to use force.”
Using force on my girlfriend felt a bit wrong, but I couldn't pathetically ride on the back—
“Aaaagh! Aaaagh! It hurts! I-seo, it hurts!”
What is this girl? A Super Saiyan?
Releasing my hand, Choi I-seo looked at me triumphantly. I hesitated for a moment, then slowly sat on the back seat and shouted.
“Mush, Noona!”