The In-Laws from Hell
"Father, I’m fine with everything."
"..."
"Thank you for praising me for changing the ship. I can even watch the news now. It’s still a bit difficult, but what can I do? My heart won't heal easily, but it will eventually. Time will heal me. Well, something like that."
His attempt to sound cool only stirred tears in his father’s eyes. Though, considering he’d reached the position of Chairman at that age, he figured he wasn't the type to cry easily.
"I still don't understand why this is your fault, Father."
"..."
"I’ve been very interested in company affairs lately. I have a lot on my plate, too."
"...Ri, right..."
"Yes. And I am truly grateful that you assigned such an excellent and capable secretary to my side. Honestly, I wouldn't have been able to receive today's award if it weren't for her. That’s how much help my secretary is giving me right now."
He gestured for Eunbyul to come over. His father rubbed his forehead with his left hand for a moment, collected his thoughts, and then reached out to shake Eunbyul’s hand.
"I see. That’s a relief. You’re... the secretary, right? Yes. I was curious about how things would go, but if Suhyun is praising you this much, there’s nothing more to see."
"Thank you. ...Chairman."
"My son has always been a burden... No, I should stop saying that now. He’s a grown man, what kind of talk is 'being a burden'..."
Then, he added in a slightly sarcastic tone, "You certainly managed to plant the daughter of a prestigious family as his secretary."
"....Hmm. How did you find out about that?"
"I just happened to find out while looking into things."
He embellished the truth, fearing that admitting he’d heard it directly from her own mouth would give her a bad reputation.
"Right. During the last hearing, I didn't say anything because I felt pressured with all the executives sitting there, but your secretary is a smart person. That..."
"Yes. I know she was confirmed by the OJV. ...Father, but isn't this a total waste of talent?"
"Well, Seongmin kept chasing me, begging me to assign her, so what was I supposed to do?"
It seemed his attempt to shift the mood had succeeded; his father shed his melancholic tone and returned to his usual way of speaking to his son. He felt relieved and relaxed his expression, and Eunbyul, too, let go of her tension.
"I heard that even when Chairman Eun asked you in the past, you refused because he was married."
"That’s true, but if someone keeps coming to you with requests like a 'three visits to the thatched cottage,' your ears start to flap. You know?"
"Yes, yes."
Clearing his throat again, his father spoke.
"Anyway... I’m sorry. That’s why I called you. It’s been a long conversation."
"It’s fine, Father. Why would you be sorry?"
"Still... *sigh*... I was so... I didn't even know you were suffering so much inside..."
Fearing the mood was turning sour again, he spoke slowly and monotonously. He had intended to say what Eunbyul had suggested, but wanting to convey his own thoughts this time—
"Father. That..."
"Hmm?"
"My other friends say they go fishing with their fathers."
As he spoke, he looked out the window, and his father watched him.
"They go to the mountains with their fathers to grill meat, go hiking... and sometimes they go out to play golf."
"..."
"They say they go on family trips, too. Overseas trips... One friend even says he goes shooting with his father. They go down to the provinces to catch birds, and since they’re designated as invasive species, the government gives you money if you catch them and turn them in. Then they drink makgeolli together with that money."
The last part was Hoyeon’s story. He had asked him to come along once, but he had declined, saying he didn't have time. To be honest, he didn't think he could bear watching another father and son happily enjoying their hobbies alone.
"Hmm. I see. Shooting... trips."
"Yes. Father, that... come to think of it, I don't think I’ve ever done anything with you. Except for company work. ...You were so busy that we never even went on a trip. Whenever you went abroad, it was for business, so I couldn't tag along... That’s why I’ve never had those kinds of hobbies."
"Actually, what would a twenty-eight-year-old do with his father... but still, I’m curious about what it would be like to try it once. What it feels like... what it’s like. Father,"
He turned around and spoke to his father politely.
"Don't feel sorry, I just wish we could do those things together."
"...."
"I’m not the Chairman yet, but Doowon seems to run well enough even without one. Don't worry too much about the company, and I’d like us to go on a family trip. Instead of saying you're sorry, that would be better for me. ...And for you, too."
—
"Did I do well?"
"Yes. That was the best I’ve ever heard you speak."
"I see. Hmm... like this."
"But it’s unexpected. I suggested it, but I didn't think the Chairman would be the first target."
"Same here. It’s the first time I’ve seen my father say something like that, too."
"What kind of person is he usually?"
It’s a long story, and he’s an exhausting person.
"Someone who ignores his son."
"...?"
"No matter what I achieve, he just acts like it’s nothing. But if I make one mistake, he pours out insults... Ugh, it’s killing me."
"Is that why you said you were a 'burden'..."
"Yeah."
Then he told Eunbyul the other circumstances regarding Jia.
"Ah, is that why the Chairman likes Jia-unni? For that measly 70 billion won?"
"Not necessarily... He just says that because he considers her someone I’m lacking, so it would be hard to live with her~ that kind of meaning."
"But you received a medal?"
"Ah, that was a long time ago."
Since it was late, they couldn't go to a convenience store, so he tagged his card on a vending machine and pulled out two canned drinks. He handed one to Eunbyul.
"Like I said before, I prefer hearing 'thank you' over 'I’m sorry'."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. So, I... I feel grateful to Secretary Eun, too. I feel it a lot today. Ugh, is it this hard to say thank you? I guess the blood doesn't lie. I must have inherited this from my father..."
"..."
Eunbyul, whose cheeks had turned red and then white again, glanced at him and said.
"...Is a single can of soda the extent of your expression of gratitude?"
"Hey. I can't just use my card however I want."
"Jia-unni is..."
"That was when we were married! I can't use it now!"
"Anyway, seriously, if you're really grateful to me, give me something other than a drink!"
"I’m not going to say thank you anymore. Just forget it."
He was about to get on the elevator and head to his assigned room, chatting and joking with Eunbyul, when he stiffened at the face he saw the moment the elevator doors opened.
"Ah, son-in-law."
Her father, who was waving his hand in a slightly awkward motion, stood there with her mother, and Seo Jia. He didn't know they had come. In fact, he hadn't even talked to them. He had only told them he would be home late because there was an event. ...It seemed that when the headquarters replied to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, they had included information about his wife as well.
"We heard you were taking family photos... so we came."
"Han, you’ve worked hard. To think you accomplished such a difficult task..."
These people didn't usually talk like this. Well, the hypocritical tone of his mother-in-law was somewhat similar, though.
Around that time, Eunbyul gave him a simple nod, passed by her parents and Jia, and sent him a look before entering the room.
—
"Anyway, there’s a lot to gain."
"...."
He listened to Eunbyul explain what would happen after the speech, fell into deep thought for a moment, and then asked.
"Then, what about Jia-unni... no, the in-laws, no, um... Seo Jia’s parents' house?"
"...? Well, handle it however you see fit..."
"No, give me a method."
He told Eunbyul about the times he hadn't been treated like a human being by his in-laws, how he had been rolled around like a servant, and how Jia had coldly watched it all and told him to just endure it. Then Eunbyul spoke.
At least in his memory, Eunbyul was—
"What kind of outrageous family is that?!"
"..."
"Crazy, this is a real disaster. No, why do you endure that? You have more money than you know what to do with, Director!"
"No, that’s not something that can be solved with money."
"You’re a chaebol!"
"The person judging that chaebol is my father-in-law, so if I make a fuss for no reason..."
"Can't you just avoid going to court?"
"That’s... it doesn't always go the way you want..."
"Wow, seriously, what did I just hear? If you just swap the genders, that’s the 'In-Law Hell' (Si-world)!"
"In-Law Hell?"
"It’s a slang term for when life with your in-laws is difficult."
"Hmm. Then am I in... 'Cheo-world' (In-law hell from the husband's side)?"
"There’s no such term."
"Why? Hey, men just endure and live, but if you look up 'Cheo-world' on the internet..."
"Oh, seriously, stop with the bullshit, Director!!!"
"...Why are you yelling?"
"You’re the only one I know who lives like an idiot, getting pushed around like that! What, they drag you to church? You have to wash the dishes? Ha, seriously..."
Eunbyul, who had been lost in thought for a moment, gave him a few pieces of advice. He listened, thought about it, and said he would do as she suggested.
His last question and Eunbyul’s words remained as his final memory—
"But what if they explode and get angry?"
"Make it very clear who the 'superior' is. Teach them a lesson."
"....No, but they are elders, and strictly speaking..."
"Now, they are strictly strangers. Not even family. The legal marital relationship has ended, too. Since they like the law so much, what could they possibly do to the only son of a family who is now a legal stranger?"
"..."
There wasn't a single word wrong in that.