Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Let's Go to the President's House!
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The morning of the day before Lunar New Year's Day.
I got up at the crack of dawn and packed my bags.
It wasn't a lot of stuff, but you never know.
"Come on in. What can I get for you?"
"Um... could I get the best gift set you have, please?"
"Oho, you've got a big heart for someone so young. Heading off to see the family after a while?"
"Ehehe... yeah."
And before the President arrived to pick me up,
I stopped by the nearby butcher shop and bought a premium Hanwoo beef gift set.
I'd never actually spent a holiday with family or relatives,
so I wasn't exactly an expert on Lunar New Year traditions.
But I did know that it was polite to bring even a small gift when visiting someone on a day like this.
♪~
Oh, the President's calling.
Has she already arrived downstairs?
"Yes, President."
『Yeah, come down if you're ready.』
"Okay."
After that short and sweet exchange,
I grabbed my bag and the gift set and headed out.
For some reason, the gift set felt heavier than the bag.
"President!"
A familiar car was waiting when I reached the first-floor entrance.
I waved excitedly and ran over, and she stepped out of the car with a wry smile.
"You'll trip. Slow down."
"Hehe, I can't help it—I'm just so excited!"
"You're always too much with words... Huh? What's this?"
She was about to take my bag and load it into the trunk for me,
but then she spotted the gift set wrapped elegantly in gold cloth
and blinked in surprise.
It felt a bit embarrassing to explain myself,
so I scratched my head and mumbled awkwardly.
"I-it's nothing much. But I didn't want to show up empty-handed..."
"Good grief, you didn't have to buy something like this. Looks like it cost a pretty penny, too."
Hearing her say that stirred up a strange feeling in me.
She had given all the members extra holiday money for Lunar New Year, after all.
Compared to that, this beef wasn't all that expensive.
"You gave us way more."
"I'm the president—it's only right I look after my employees. You girls just take it gratefully."
"But that's not fair! I want to look after you too, President."
"Aigoo, I don't expect that. Still, it's sweet of you."
She patted my head gently
after closing the trunk with a thud.
It felt just like a mom watching her kid promise, "I'll treat you to the good life someday!"
"Anyway, we'll enjoy it. Mom's gonna be thrilled when she hears our maknae brought it."
"Really?"
"Yeah. She said she misses Da-jeong a ton and keeps telling me to bring you home so she can cook you something delicious."
"Wow."
The President's mom had said that.
I was truly grateful.
Whether she'd heard about my situation from the President and felt sorry for me,
or just wanted to dote on the group's maknae,
either way, I appreciated it.
"You didn't forget anything, right? Let's head out."
"Yes!"
I buckled up,
and we were finally on our way to the President's house.
The President's home was a sleek, upscale apartment building.
I didn't even need to step inside
to tell from the entrance and surroundings that it was high-end.
Wow.
The President really lives in a nice place.
Ra-hee unnie's house had that full-on chaebol vibe,
but this felt more like a place for a successful career woman.
I wasn't sure how to articulate the difference, but that's how it seemed.
"Give me your bag. You carry the gift set up and hand it to Mom yourself."
"Huh? M-me personally?"
"Of course. It'll look weird if I hand over a gift you bought."
She pressed the elevator button like it was the most obvious thing,
looking mildly exasperated.
Sh-she had a point, but...
It felt a little embarrassing to hand it over myself.
Not embarrassing exactly—more like shy.
Like I was proudly showing off, "I bought this gift!"
But she was right,
so I steeled myself and watched the elevator numbers climb.
We finally reached the 17th floor.
The doors slid open with a ding,
revealing a spacious hallway.
Beep-
"Mom, we're here. Can you open the door?"
Why didn't she just punch in the code?
Instead, she rang the bell and asked her mom to open it.
Click-
As I pondered that and tried to calm my nerves,
the lock disengaged, and the door swung open.
A woman in her early to mid-50s appeared from inside.
That must be the President's mom.
"Don't you have hands or feet? Why bother ringing the bell when you could just come in? Huh?"
"Ah, hello..."
She laid into the President for ringing the bell,
then spotted me standing awkwardly behind
and widened her eyes.
Our eyes met, and I bowed late with a greeting.
About three seconds of silence passed.
"Oh my, Da-jeong's here! Goodness, I forgot you were coming with her."
The stern scolding tone from moments ago vanished.
Now the President's mom welcomed me warmly and kindly.
It was hard to believe we were meeting for the first time—her manner was so friendly.
"Ah, hello. I'm Jeong Da-jeong. Sorry to impose on you today..."
"Aigoo, no need to be so formal. Come on in. Make yourself at home. Got it?"
"Ah, yes... thank you."
Dismissing any need for introductions,
she took my hand and led me inside.
"Getting old is rough... Ack?!"
The President, relegated to the background, grumbled as she closed the door and followed,
only to suddenly yelp in pain from an unexpected attack.
I saw it.
The President's mom had kicked her butt at light speed.
It was like that comic line: "Ever been kicked at the speed of light?" come to life.
"Um, uh... Auntie. It's not much, but... h-happy Lunar New Year."
After witnessing that, words stuck in my throat,
but I managed to hold out the gift.
"A gift? Aigoo, you didn't have to. But I'll gladly take it. My daughter won't even give me rice cake money on New Year's, but our Da-jeong's much better."
"No, you handle all the money anyway, rice cake cash or not... Ow!"
This time it was a stomp instead of a kick,
drawing another pained cry from the President.
Ouch, that looked painful...
So the President doesn't manage the household finances—her mom does.
If that's the case, pocket money doesn't mean much.
The President might feel a bit wronged.
"St-still, the President takes great care of us. Sh-she even gave us holiday money this time..."
It felt like the President was coming off as someone who doesn't look after people,
so I cautiously defended her.
"Haneul did that?"
"Yes..."
"Aigoo, at least she's looking after her employees. Plays the president outside, huh?"
"I told you, I take good care of the girls..."
The President muttered like she felt wronged
and came up behind me, hugging me naturally.
"See? Our Da-jeong's the best—immediately takes my side when I'm getting scolded."
"Then treat her better."
Grateful that I'd defended her,
she nuzzled her face against mine.
Auntie kept ribbing the President the whole time, which was kinda funny.
"Where's Dad?"
"He went out to buy snacks for Da-jeong."
"Good timing. Our maknae loves snacks, right, Da-jeong?"
"Y-yes..."
Uu...
Sure, I love snacks.
It's true I devour half the snacks in the office break room.
But being treated like a kid made it embarrassing to admit.
I couldn't lie, though.
I really do like them.
Salty, sweet—any kind.
Snacks are truth incarnate.
"We'll eat when Dad gets back. Should be just in time."
"Yeah, but what for lunch? Wanna go out?"
"It's a special occasion—why not grill the beef Da-jeong brought? It looks top-notch."
"Of course. It's beef our maknae picked out."
It probably had nothing to do with me buying it.
The butcher just did a great job.
But hearing them praise it made me happy,
so I just grinned ehehe.
"How is Da-jeong so adorable? Hugging you like that—she's like a little squirrel."
Auntie came over as I nestled in the President's arms and pinched my cheeks.
Her hands felt a bit rough from years of housework, unlike the President's soft ones.
But I liked it.
It felt like a real mom's hands.
"Th-thank you. You're beautiful too, Auntie."
"Oh my, what a sweet talker. My daughter never compliments her own mom. Doesn't even know who she got her looks from."
"No, my face comes from Dad, not you... Quit hitting me in front of the kid!"
Well, maybe it's rude to say,
but the President's personality is definitely from Auntie.
Just like what she shows at the office sometimes.
"Forget my daughter—wanna be my daughter instead, Da-jeong?"
"I'd love that. I bet I'd be so happy with you as my mom."
"Aigoo, always picking the prettiest words."
She switched from pinching my cheeks to stroking my hair with her calloused hands.
Different from the President's or the members' gentle touches,
but it brought a strange warmth that felt nice.
"Ehehe..."
I let out a dopey laugh without realizing
and savored Auntie's head pats while in the President's arms.
Beep-beep-beep-click-
"...Huh? What's with the group hug?"
Then the President’s dad came home
and blinked at the scene, looking puzzled.
Oh no.