Chapter 477: Are You Healthy?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 477: Are You Healthy?
Naturally, I think anyone would have asked the same question.
“Wait, you still haven't told them?!”
They were already two weeks pregnant.
Of course, it hadn't been that long since the pregnancies were confirmed, so it was understandable they hadn't said anything yet.
Still, I felt like they should be going to tell their parents right now instead of hanging out and eating chicken like this.
“What are you guys even planning to do?”
As I made a fuss, the girls suddenly shot me sharp glares.
“How exactly are we supposed to say it?”
Choi I-seo was the first to speak.
Seeing her set down her chicken drumstick, it looked like she was revving up to let out a real earful.
If you get into an argument with Choi I-seo when she looks like that, you’re looking at a record of a hundred losses in a hundred battles.
I wanted to run away, but it was already too late.
“‘I’m a senior in college now, but I got pregnant, so I think I’ll have to take a leave of absence. It’s a shotgun pregnancy.’”
“…….”
“‘But my boyfriend is a really great guy. Let me introduce him to you.’”
“…….”
“‘By the way, he has about five other women besides me. But I love him, so it’s not a problem, right?’”
“…….”
“Well? Should I say it like that?”
Choi I-seo asked back, her teeth gritting with burning resentment.
I slunk over to I-seo and gently wrapped my arm around her shoulders.
“I-I-seo. Don’t be mad. I’m sorry.”
As I quickly started massaging her shoulders and acting cute, she seemed to soften up a little.
Of course, the other two were still glaring at me.
“Hey, so how are you actually going to tell them?”
“Give me a massage toooo!”
It seemed one of them was angry for a different reason.
I tried to slide over toward Seo Ye-rin, but Choi I-seo placed her hand on the back of mine and gave me a look, so I went back to massaging her shoulders diligently.
“Sigh. Honestly, I think I can persuade my mom and dad,” Yoo Ah-rin said.
“What!?”
I looked at her in surprise. Honestly, even though I was the one who caused this, I wondered if it was even possible to make them accept it.
“You can actually persuade them?”
“I said give me a massage!”
“Ugh, someone shut that Shin-chan brat up!” Yoo Ah-rin snapped, clearly annoyed.
Oh Yun-ji, who was eating chicken, pulled a ball gag from under the sofa and tossed it to Yoo Ah-rin.
As Yoo Ah-rin stood up with the ball gag, Seo Ye-rin shrieked.
“If you’re going to do it, have Woo-jini put it on me!”
“Ah, I’m getting dizzy.”
Yoo Ah-rin handed the ball gag to me and sat back down. I went over to Seo Ye-rin, fastened the ball gag on her, and gave her a massage; only then did she settle down.
“Mmph, mmph.”
She seemed to be in a good mood.
Anyway, after satisfying Seo Ye-rin, Choi I-seo and I turned our gaze toward Yoo Ah-rin.
Our eyes were filled with the question of how on earth that was possible.
Especially in Choi I-seo’s case, since she was also in a position where she had to persuade her parents, she seemed curious about what kind of approach Yoo Ah-rin would take.
“Sigh, my mom and dad are just… they love each other way too much. I guess you could say they’re very lovey-dovey.”
“And?”
“So, their perspective is a bit… strange? Anyway, there’s something like that. I think if I prepare properly, I can manage to persuade them.”
Hearing that, Choi I-seo looked dejected and picked up her chicken again.
It wasn't particularly helpful advice for persuading her own parents.
On the other hand, Seo Ye-rin and I nodded at Yoo Ah-rin’s words.
“No wonder.”
“Mmph, mmph.”
“What do you mean, ‘no wonder’?”
“I mean, you’re definitely not the kind of kid who would come out of a normal household.”
“Mmph, mmph.”
“You bastards.”
While we were bickering and chatting at the kitchen table, the living room was quite peaceful.
A program was playing on the TV where they talked to parents and children with behavioral issues.
Apparently, it was a popular show lately, and the three of them were completely absorbed in it while eating chicken.
“Those guys don't have a care in the world since it’s not their problem yet,” Yoo Ah-rin said while eating chicken, making Oh Yun-ji smirk.
“Oh, I already told my mom. She’ll probably welcome it if it’s Woo-jin. That bastard of a father is in prison anyway.”
“…….”
How were we even supposed to respond to that?
“I don't even have a chance to hear anything from my parents. We fought,” Choi Jin-ah said confidently.
I’d heard she was trying to improve the relationship in her own way, but for now, it seemed she was going to do whatever she wanted.
“I… don’t have parents.”
Finally, the eldest, Senior Ju-hee, spoke with an awkward smile.
Hearing that, Yoo Ah-rin froze and her eyes darted around.
She looked at me as if telling me to do something about this.
I suppose it’s a husband’s role to fulfill his wife’s request.
“Don’t worry, honey.”
“…….”
Yoo Ah-rin looked at me as if my choice of words was absurd, but I immediately approached the three of them with a smile.
“Because I’m going to be a good father. You can rest easy.”
“You crazy bastard, saying that to three people at once—!”
“W-Whaaat?! I-I said I’m not ready to have a baby yet!?”
“Just being a good employer is enough for me.”
What was this? I thought I’d said something nice, but all I got back was a heap of insults.
“Honey, they’re mean to me.”
When I went back, Yoo Ah-rin pushed me away with her foot while sitting in her chair.
“Get lost, get lost! My husband takes a request from me and then goes to other women to say he’ll be a good father? How am I supposed to take that?!”
“I’ve halfway given up now.”
“Mmph-mmph!”
Choi I-seo didn't even look at me, her expression full of pathetic pity, while Seo Ye-rin made laughing noises as if she found the whole thing hilarious.
* * *
A wooden villa located a bit away from the city.
Chairman Kim, who had completely stepped down from the management of Uju Group and retired, had recently taken up the simple task of tending to a vegetable garden.
Ironically, he felt a greater sense of accomplishment from growing cherry tomatoes and lettuce than he ever did from managing thousands of employees.
He quite agreed with his wife’s remark that if he hadn't become the owner of a company, he would have become a farmer.
To others, it might look luxurious, but to Chairman Kim, it was a relatively modest two-story house.
As he got older and his legs began to ache, he had kept the number of floors low and expanded the area of each floor.
He heard that dinner tonight would be potato dough soup. His wife, who had no talent for it, had recently taken up cooking as a hobby, which was his only real concern.
That was his daily life.
One could say Chairman Kim was enjoying a fairly successful retirement.
— Ah~ If that’s the case~
A ringtone sounded.
He had been watching trot competitions often lately, and his wife had set that as his ringback tone after hearing him enjoy it.
Chairman Kim liked it quite a bit too, so he savored the song for a moment without answering.
It wasn't because he particularly wanted to hear more of the song or because he was overflowing with leisure.
It was because of the name of his youngest son appearing on the phone screen.
“Phew.”
It was exasperating that the boy hadn't visited even once since being discharged from the military.
Still, since he had called, Chairman Kim answered, acting as if he were doing so reluctantly.
“Is that you, Woo-jin?”
— Yes, Father. Are you healthy?
“……I suppose you did mature a bit after going to the military.”
To think he would ask about his father’s health, even if it was just lip service.
Chairman Kim felt inwardly proud, thinking his son was finally doing some growing up.
— I’m your son, after all. I should at least ask that much.
“Your daughters-in-law probably taught you to say that.”
— ……If I told you which daughter-in-law it was, you’d just get upset, wouldn't you?
“Sigh.”
Chairman Kim let out a sigh.
But he didn't actually feel that bad.
If the parties involved had decided to accept it, Chairman Kim had decided not to interfere.
After all, his role was over, and he felt like he could even give a round of applause to Kim Woo-jin’s ability to make such a situation a reality in modern society.
Wasn't that his talent, in a way?
And since there were many daughters-in-law, there were many people to look after him, and he looked forward to having many grandchildren.
Even now, Chairman Kim’s stern face would soften whenever he saw his second son’s child.
For the record, Choi I-seo often called to check in and ask if he needed anything.
Seo Ye-rin made sure to get autographs or photos from trot singers for him.
And Yoo Ah-rin would give him various tips regarding health and exercise.
— No, anyway, I called because I was worried. You’re healthy, right? I haven't even seen you properly since I got out of the military.
“So you do know.”
— You know that villa you gave me, Father? I’m planning to move in there with the girls.
As expected.
He must have had a real reason for calling.
But Chairman Kim actually felt relieved. He would have been more surprised if Kim Woo-jin had called just to say hello for no reason at all.
“You can just tell your big brother. He’ll probably make the arrangements so you can rest well.”
Since three of them were actually pregnant, Chairman Kim had set aside a separate villa so Kim Woo-jin and the daughters-in-law could rest.
— Thank you. Oh, and how is Mom? Is she healthy?
“…….”
At this point, Chairman Kim sensed something was off.
With his sharp intuition, he realized that Kim Woo-jin’s main point wasn't the villa story just now.
He felt a sudden urge to hang up the phone immediately.
But if he didn't hear the story now, he didn't know what kind of forest fire the boy would start and dump on him later.
It was better to put it out now while it was still just a candle flame.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
Chairman Kim closed his eyes tightly.
When he told him to just speak, Kim Woo-jin actually got indignant.
— What, do I have to have something to say just because I’m worried? I was just worried about my parents’ health.
“…….”
— Since you’re living in the countryside lately, the hospital must be far. I was worried your legs or knees might be aching. It’s really nothing.
“I see.”
Chairman Kim answered calmly and asked back.
“I’ve heard enough of your useless chatter.”
As Chairman Kim told him to get to the point, silence hung between the two.
— Father, your intuition is still sharp even though you’re living in the country.
“…….”
— But really, I just… called because I was worried.
Kim Woo-jin’s voice sounded serious.
— Because you went through a lot of trouble because of me. I thought about it a lot while I was in the military. You need to take care of your health.
“Hmm.”
To think this fellow would be so thoughtful for once—.
— Because you have to kneel down with me.
“……Kneel?”
Chairman Kim’s eyes slowly snapped open. Frowning, he questioned Kim Woo-jin on the other end of the phone again.
Kim Woo-jin cleared his throat awkwardly and replied.
— Well, I’m going to go ask the girls’ parents for permission. And I was thinking the former Chairman of Uju Group should get down on his knees and give a good—!