Chapter 430: Scoundrel
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 430: Scoundrel
“O-oh, wow.”
The first one to speak upon arriving at the main estate was Yoo Ah-rin.
Her posture was still a bit hunched, likely because she was still in pain, but she couldn't help letting out a gasp of admiration as she looked at the house.
“No matter how many times I come here, I can’t help but be amazed. This place is incredible.”
“We’re used to it, though,” Seo Ye-rin replied with a smile, causing Yoo Ah-rin’s face to crumple instantly.
“Saying it like that makes me feel like I’m losing somehow, you know?”
As Ah-rin huffed and glared, I laughed and tried to soothe her, telling her not to get upset over something so trivial.
“Well, third place is officially decided!”
“Ahem. For your information, even Father has contacted me before.”
Thanks to Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo pouring fuel on the fire, Yoo Ah-rin got even more worked up. Because of that, we couldn't even make it inside the house as a petty squabble broke out right in front of the door.
“Sigh, let’s just go in already.”
“Ah-rin, in a chaebol household, you’re supposed to shout ‘Come out and greet me!’ when you enter!”
“And they wear their shoes inside, too. Like in foreign countries.”
“Do you two seriously want to die? I’ve been here before, you know.”
The two of them kept teasing Yoo Ah-rin until the very end.
When we finally stepped inside, the person waiting for us at the main entrance was none other than Mom.
“Mom?”
I couldn't help but be flustered, seeing the mid-boss waiting for us right from the start. She was dressed more elegantly than usual, looking like she was prepared for a very prestigious event.
As soon as Mom saw me, she furrowed her brows and gestured with her chin for me to get lost and move to the side.
“What is it, Mom?”
When I just stood there confused, she eventually shoved me aside herself. She practically dragged me behind her before greeting the girls.
“It has been a long time, everyone. You must be suffering so much because you’re involved with my pathetic son.”
And then, she actually looked like she was about to bow deeply to them!
“Mom?! What are you doing?!”
Startled, I quickly grabbed her shoulders to stop her, but she just gave me a murderous glare.
“Stay still! You’ve ruined the lives of these precious daughters of other families; as your mother, the least I can do is show some sincerity!”
“Wait, ruined? What do you mean, ruined?! That’s a really weird way to put it!”
“As a mother who failed to keep her son on a short leash, isn't this the least I should do?! Just look at them!”
Mom shouted, pointing at the three girls who were looking at us with bewildered expressions.
“Look at these beautiful girls! You’ve blocked their bright futures, and as your mother, I honestly don't know how I can ever apologize enough!”
“You’re making your son out to be a total villain!”
“You are a villain, you brat!”
Then, Mom gave a signal to a servant standing right behind her. In Mom’s hand were three white envelopes.
The moment we saw them, a scene from countless dramas flashed through all of our minds.
“Uh, this is…”
“Mother?”
“Mmm.”
The classic scene where a chaebol mother hands over an envelope of money and tells the girls to break up with her son!
Panicked, I shouted at Mom.
“Hey, what are you doing?! They just got here, and you’re already kicking them out?!”
“You, shut up.”
Ignoring my shout, Mom forced the envelopes into the hands of the three girls.
“Uh, I’m with Woo-jini…”
“Mother, this is a bit much.”
“I’m sorry, but I cannot accept this.”
“Girls!”
I felt a lump in my throat. Even though I cried out to the three of them, moved that they chose me over money, Mom continued to press the envelopes into their hands.
“Please take good care of my son. I… no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't think of anything better than this. If you need more, just say the word. I’ll find a way to provide it, no matter what.”
“…Huh?”
The three of them stared at her, stunned. They had expected a request to break up, but the words coming out were the exact opposite.
“My son is… well, he’s a bit strange quite often, isn't he?”
“That’s his charm!”
“He definitely is.”
“I’m not sure if ‘strange’ is enough to describe it.”
“…”
Why were they suddenly badmouthing me?
“That’s why, as his mother, this is all I can do to beg you not to abandon him. If you ever feel like dumping him, tell me first. I’ll compensate you financially for however much your heart has been hurt.”
“Seriously, knock it off! You’re looking at your son like he’s hazardous waste!”
As I angrily dragged Mom away, she shouted in distress.
“W-wait! I haven't bowed yet! Money isn't enough to show my gratitude for you taking in a brat like my son! I should at least bow—!”
* * *
We moved into the living room.
We sat on the sofas, waiting for Father. The seating was arranged in a 'U' shape.
The four of us sat together on one sofa, while Big Hyung and Little Hyung sat opposite us. Mother was fidgeting restlessly, leaving the center seat empty for Father.
“Why isn't he coming out? I’m sorry. He still has his habits from when he was Chairman; he still thinks he’s the protagonist.”
“Ahem, Mother.”
“Seeing them all together like this, it really is quite a sight.”
Big Hyung tried to keep Mom’s mouth shut, while Little Hyung looked at the girls in admiration.
“I guess Woo-jin really is capable? How is this even possible?”
“Indeed, how is this even possible?”
Unlike Little Hyung, Big Hyung’s admiration was clearly in a negative sense.
Since Father hadn't arrived yet, I leaned over and whispered to Choi I-seo.
“How much was in it earlier?”
Choi I-seo glared at me with an expression that said she sincerely wanted to kill me.
“Is this really the right time to ask that?”
“No… I’m just curious. I want to know how much Mom’s ‘sincerity’ was worth.”
The white envelope looked pretty thick. I was curious how much Mom had spent to ask her daughters-in-law to put up with me.
I looked at Seo Ye-rin, but she had already reverted to her ‘English Department Goddess’ persona.
“Woo-jin, stay still.”
“…”
I can never get used to her like that. I know her public persona is different from how she is with me, but because we were seeing my whole family today, it was even more extreme than usual.
Finally, I looked at Yoo Ah-rin.
“Oh.”
Since it was her first time at our house, she was busy looking around the place with curiosity.
I leaned back, using Choi I-seo as a shield, and asked her.
“Hey, what are your impressions?”
Yoo Ah-rin also leaned back, poking her head out from behind Choi I-seo’s back with a grin.
“I love you, Young Master.”
“Ack! You crazy girl.”
“But seriously, this is so weird. Looking at you normally, you don't look like the type who’d live in a house like this.”
“Right? I’m—wait, what do you mean by that, you wench?”
“Could you two please stop having secret meetings behind my back?”
Choi I-seo warned us with a sigh, so we returned to our original positions.
Just then, Father came down the stairs. Everyone stood up, but I just stayed seated.
“Ah, why are you guys standing up?”
Big Hyung and Little Hyung looked at me with expressions of resignation, and Mom went to assist Father. I thought nothing of it, but suddenly, three pairs of eyes were fixed on me.
“Let’s stand up, Woo-jin?”
Seo Ye-rin pressured me with a smile.
“Mind your manners.”
Choi I-seo stared at me flatly with a sigh.
Pinch!
Yoo Ah-rin reached behind her and pinched my side hard.
“Agh!”
I had no choice but to stand up.
“What a handful,” Yoo Ah-rin remarked bluntly as Father arrived.
As soon as Father sat in the seat of honor, everyone else sat down one by one.
‘What is this, the military?’
I’m going to the military in a month anyway; I didn't see why I had to deal with this kind of military-style discipline here too. As I sat down grumbling, Father immediately looked at us.
‘He’s a bit…’
Maybe it was just my imagination, but his expression seemed much softer than the Father I used to know. I had felt that he’d changed since stepping down from the Chairman position.
“So, the three of you are dating Woo-jin?”
“Yes, Father! It’s good to see you again. I’m Seo Ye-rin. I’m currently working as an actress.”
Seo Ye-rin greeted him politely with a smile. She had already scored some decent points with Father last time. She had even boldly asked him if he preferred a son or a daughter.
“It’s been a while, Father. I’m Choi I-seo.”
Choi I-seo showed clear respect toward her elder with a gentle smile. Her poised and unwavering demeanor perfectly reflected her meticulous nature.
“Hello! I’m Yoo Ah-rin. It’s a pleasure to meet you! I’m currently a university student and working as a Taekwondo creator.”
Yoo Ah-rin’s energetic greeting was distinctly different from the other two. Her high energy was good, but unlike the others, it was her first time meeting Father, so she seemed a bit nervous.
“I heard the news about a grandchild was a lie.”
Father immediately poked at the sore spot. The three girls hesitated for a moment. I stepped in immediately.
“Just give us a room! We’ll make one for real today—!”
Seo Ye-rin’s hand instantly covered my mouth, Choi I-seo pinched my thigh, and Yoo Ah-rin just slapped my back.
“Agh!”
When I pouted in pain and looked at the three of them, they suddenly realized they had made a mistake.
“Ah, u-um, we’re sorry.”
“We apologize for showing you such an unsightly side of ourselves.”
“A-ahem. We aren't usually like this.”
They’re actually worse.
They probably expected to be scolded for hitting the youngest son in front of his parents and siblings, but…
“I approve!”
Little Hyung clapped his hands with a bright smile.
“They handle that brat so well, don't they?”
“This guy…”
When I glared at him in annoyance, Little Hyung chuckled.
“Look at that. Look at how he talks to his own brother, Father! I’ve never seen anyone hold Woo-jin’s reins so well.”
“What am I, a cow? What do you mean, ‘hold my reins’?”
I snapped back, but Big Hyung was nodding in agreement with Little Hyung. Even Mom looked moved, covering her mouth with both hands as her eyes welled up with tears.
“…Did I, shit, live my life all wrong until now?”
I was so bewildered that I even started to question myself.
“Woo-jin is enlistment is next month, right?”
Father calmly led the conversation back at his own pace. Even if his old aura had faded, his ability to dominate the flow with just a small movement was truly impressive. His presence as a person was just on a different level.
“Unless one of you is actually pregnant, it’s too early to decide anything.”
At Father’s words, Mom actually looked anxious. She was definitely whispering about what would happen if the girls abandoned me. But Father didn't even pretend to hear her and continued with what he had to say.
“Since you’re university students, you might mistakenly think your lives are at stake over a momentary prank. Let’s talk again after Woo-jin returns.”
That was it. Father flatly stated that he had nothing more to say and there was no room for discussion.
“Yes, I think that’s for the best as well.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Father.”
“Right? It was a bit early to be talking about this kind of thing.”
The three of them accepted it without any particular objection. I was the only one who felt annoyed.
“No, it’ll be the same anyway. I’m telling you, I’ll hold onto them no matter what! I’ve already made plans!”
When I mentioned the grand plans I had drawn up, Father sighed and nodded.
“Let’s hear them.”
It wasn't that he was actually curious; it was more of a ‘go ahead and bark’ attitude. I cleared my throat and began my explanation.
“First, we’re going to move somewhere out of the public eye so we can live together.”
“Where?”
Where else?
“I heard you have a villa in the countryside where you were planning to live with Mom after you retired. I was thinking of moving in there first?”
“Are you out of your mind?!”
Yoo Ah-rin suddenly cursed at me. Everyone’s eyes fell on her, and she looked away in embarrassment, but Seo Ye-rin seized the opportunity and immediately spoke to me with a smile.
“Woo-jin, what are you talking about? If we move into the place where they’re supposed to rest, it’ll be uncomfortable for them.”
Choi I-seo immediately poked my side with her elbow and made an excuse.
“Woo-jin is saying all this on his own. He hasn't had much experience in the real world yet, so he lacks a sense of reality. You know how he is.”
Seo Ye-rin and Yoo Ah-rin immediately added to that.
“That’s right, Father. We will move forward while thinking realistically. You don't have to worry about any nonsensical behavior.”
“We’ll make sure to correct him. We’ll educate him well so he learns some manners.”
Hearing that from Seo Ye-rin really rubbed me the wrong way. As I made an annoyed face, Father stared at me and asked.
“Do you have something you want to say?”
“I only said that because I know you have several other villas besides that one, even if I take it. It’s not like I’m just blindly stealing it.”
“Ugh, seriously, are you a bandit?!”
Yoo Ah-rin gritted her teeth and glared at me, begging me to stop talking. Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo were busy doing damage control and explaining things to Father.
After hearing everything…
“Whew.”
Father leaned back against the sofa and made a declaration.
“From now on, Woo-jin, only speak to me when at least one of my daughters-in-law is present.”
It seemed he found the conversation much more pleasant thanks to them.
‘Heh.’
This is what I’m talking about.