Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Father-in-Law on an Estrogen High
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My father-in-law was utterly estrogenic.
Not long after Kim Ji-hoon headed to work, Kim Sung-tae woke up.
"Yawn~"
He scratched his messy bedhead and shuffled out into the living room.
"Oh? Lily, you're up already?"
Lily, who had been sitting primly on the sofa, broke into a big smile when she saw him.
"Yes~ I saw my husband off to work, Dad!"
"Is that so? Heh heh, good girl."
Kim Sung-tae gently patted Lily's head, clearly pleased with her.
Getting up early in the morning to take care of her husband.
It was the picture of an ideal wife, and it looked so darn pretty.
"Hee hee, Dad. I want to try using the one you gave me today."
"Oh? Ah, that. Sure. Let's all get ready once Mom wakes up and try it out together."
"Okay! Hee hee."
Lily was thrilled with her gifts.
The pretty hanbok from Mom, and this parasol from Dad.
To qualify as a proper "parasol," it needs to block at least 85% of UV rays.
The one Kim Sung-tae picked was a double-layered model—white on the outside, black on the inside.
The optimal design for blocking UV and sunlight.
The outer white reflects the sunlight, while the inner black absorbs the radiant heat bouncing up from the ground.
California's sun was brutally hot.
It was a thoughtful gift from Kim Sung-tae, tailored to his daughter-in-law's delicate skin.
Lily was apparently eager to try it out right away.
A little later, Madam Choi finished getting ready too.
Lily meticulously applied sunscreen, then topped it off with sunglasses and a straw hat.
The moment they stepped outside, she unfurled the parasol Dad had given her.
White wide-leg pants paired with a sky-blue blouse.
With the parasol open, she looked every bit the refined young lady.
"Wow~ It's so pretty, Dad!"
Seeing his daughter-in-law genuinely delighted with his gift.
Kim Sung-tae beamed with satisfaction.
Gifts only truly shine when the recipient uses them well, making the giver feel great in return.
Kim Ji-hoon's parents and Lily headed to the UC Berkeley campus for some proper sightseeing.
Via Uber, that is.
Why the sudden trip to UC Berkeley?
There was a local landmark there.
Sather Tower.
The third-tallest campanile in the world at 93.6 meters.
They passed through the south entrance where Kim Ji-hoon had first tried tteokbokki—Sather Gate—and entered the campus.
Weaving through the bustling students, the trio slowly made their way to Sather Tower.
Each paid the $5 admission and rode the elevator up.
Moments later, they reached the observation deck...
And the view opened up spectacularly.
San Francisco Bay sparkled silver under the sunlight right before their eyes.
Far off, the majestic red Golden Gate Bridge proudly displayed its grandeur.
On the other side, the Berkeley skyline and the beautiful campus interior, lush with green trees, all came into view at once.
"Wow..."
Lily leaned on the railing, entranced by the vast panorama she'd never seen before.
Today, she had her reliable in-laws by her side.
Even with the deck crowded with tourists and students, she didn't feel scared or intimidated like before.
Her red eyes sparkled with curiosity instead.
The students, used to hordes of tourists, paid no mind to Lily with her parasol and sunglasses.
Kim Sung-tae and Madam Choi Mi-hee snapped away with their cameras, marveling at the scenery.
Seeing Lily so happy kept broad smiles on their faces too.
After descending from the observation deck, the three headed to a bustling shopping street for lunch.
As Madam Choi and Kim Sung-tae looked around for a good spot,
"Um, I'll take this one, please!"
Lily suddenly stopped in front of a sunglasses shop and pointed to one on display.
Madam Choi was puzzled.
"Lily, changing your sunglasses?"
Lily took the small shopping bag from the clerk, then scurried over to Kim Sung-tae.
"Hee hee, here, Dad."
Kim Ji-hoon's parents had assumed she stopped to buy sunglasses for herself.
They never expected it was for them.
Kim Sung-tae was deeply touched in that moment.
Ever since having kids, he was always the one giving gifts—no one gave him any unless it was his birthday or a special occasion.
And this was just a random ordinary day.
Kim Sung-tae's mood soared sky-high.
They say old men start producing female hormones, and damn if he wasn't totally estrogenic.
The moment they entered the restaurant, Kim Sung-tae tore open the packaging and put on the sunglasses with Lily.
Lily stared at him and said,
"Dad, you look so cool."
"Haha, really? Ahem. Our daughter-in-law has impeccable taste."
His face lit up like he'd won the lottery.
"Order whatever you want, Lily! How about this? Or that?"
"Uwaaang, too many choices, Dad."
"Good grief, you. Don't overdo it."
Madam Choi, his wife, lightly swatted his arm to rein in his over-the-top glee.
But even after lunch, back on the street, Kim Sung-tae's antics showed no sign of stopping.
He was itching to buy her something extra.
One small gift had touched him so much, he wanted to return it tenfold.
Each time, Lily just smiled prettily, grabbed his arm, and gently dissuaded him.
"...And it was hilarious."
Amid my mother's peals of laughter, I sneaked a glance at Dad.
'Haaang~ Such a softie.'
One sweet act from his daughter-in-law, and he was putty, lavishing her with everything.
I was clearly my father's son.
I'd inherited that softie gene strong.
Looking sheepish under my gaze, Dad cleared his throat awkwardly and averted his eyes.
He must be embarrassed.
With my parents and Lily getting along so well, it was great for me too.
Truth was, my ex-wife Ji-su hadn't been the affectionate type.
"Mom."
"No."
Pardon?
"I haven't even finished..."
"I know what you're gonna say. You want to sleep with Lily."
"...Y-yeah?"
"We'll handle it ourselves when we're here. Give us space while we're around. There's lots to teach her anyway. Daughters learn from their moms. Step aside."
"Yes, ma'am."
Fair enough.
Who knows when we'd see them next after they leave.
Lily needed to pick up some women-only wisdom I couldn't teach her.
"Lily. Tomorrow, wanna hit the salon with Mom? Your hair's gotten so long."
"Sounds good!"
"Alright, let's head in. Mom'll put on some moisturizer. It's from Korea—apply it every night before bed. Got it?"
"Yeees~~"
Lily's retreating figure, toddling after Mom into the room, made me a tad jealous.
"...Dad."
"What."
"D-did you get me anything?"
"Ahem..."
Dad made an uncomfortable face and wordlessly headed to his room.
Oof.
I quietly pulled out my phone and posted.
I'd drop by Stock Gallery now and then, taking dumps like this.
At first, they seemed to look up to me, but now that I visited often, it was all "This guy's trolling again? GTFO."
Even Stock Gallery had abandoned me.
You little shits...
We were happy together... you bastards...
In the quiet living room, only my quiet muttering echoed.
On my office desk.
Lay documents from the Seoul Family Court in Korea.
'Petition for Enforcement of Property Division.'
I skimmed the papers and chuckled.
Client: Kim Ji-hoon.
Berkeley's hero.
Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient.
And... the man who crossed the Pacific because he didn't want to pay his wife $160,000.
"Ha..."
This was gonna be a fun case after a long time.
What he wanted from me was simple.
Screw them over.
"Let's see..."
I checked the name of the US firm hired by his ex-wife's side.
Some outfit I'd never heard of.
They'd follow the standard procedure for 'recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments.'
Theory's straightforward.
'The Korean court ruled fairly, so just enforce it here.'
But.
This is America.
I immediately started plotting strategy.
First, challenge 'jurisdiction.'
Weak card since the client lives in California, but worth a poke.
"Is this property division even the California court's business?"
That buys months.
Second, claim violation of 'public policy.'
The killer move.
US courts can refuse enforcement if a properly obtained foreign judgment blatantly violates American public policy.
Third, and most crucial.
Delay, delay, delay.
I buzzed my secretary on the intercom.
"Jessica. Prep a records request to the Korean court right now. Full trial records from the Seoul Family Court case. All evidence submitted. Full transcripts. Every document must be originals with Apostille certification, compared against certified copies, and attached with flawless translations by court-approved translators."
These papers crossing the Pacific, getting translated, reviewed? Minimum six months.
Meanwhile, plaintiffs burn tens of thousands in legal fees.
The broke side loses first.
And my client? Now America's hero.
I picked up the phone and called the plaintiff's firm.
"Yes, hello. David Kim, attorney. Received your documents on Mr. Kim Ji-hoon. Of course, we'll vigorously contest this outrageous claim."
I hung up and grinned.
This was gonna be a blast.