Episode 104: Lumière Daejeon - Seong Yubin, the Sole Server at Park Halmae's Gukbap
Seong Yubin was the only server at Park Halmae's Gukbap, a restaurant that could truly be called as much. She felt deep gratitude not just to Park Sun-ok, but to her grandson as well. After all, they'd helped her out tremendously.
"If it's not too complicated—mostly money issues—I can sort it out easy."
Those were the words she'd heard when she got Shin Jaewoo's number. Naturally, she had no intention of actually calling him asking for help. Still, every now and then, Seong Yubin would blankly stare at his number in her contacts.
'Jaewoo oppa.'
Her kind oppa. If repaying the favor he'd done her meant working hard today too, then that's what she'd do. With that resolve to treat Park Sun-ok well, she opened the restaurant door.
"Halmae?"
She never could have imagined this. Seong Yubin was shocked. Park Sun-ok, who had seemed perfectly healthy aside from a slight hunch in her back, had collapsed in the restaurant.
"Halmae!"
Startled, Seong Yubin rushed to her side. From that moment on, everything was a blur. She called 119, and the ambulance came to load Park Sun-ok onto a stretcher. Seong Yubin had to close up the restaurant and follow them to the hospital. Even then, it didn't occur to her to contact anyone else.
"Are you Park Sun-ok's guardian? Granddaughter?"
She only snapped back to reality after arriving at the hospital. A nurse approached and asked.
"Ah, no... I'm not her granddaughter. I'm just an employee working under halmae...."
"It looks like she'll need surgery right away. Could you contact her guardian, just in case?"
Those words jolted her.
"S-Surgery?"
"Yes. We need to do it immediately...."
The nurse explained that guardian consent was required.
"O-Okay, I'll try contacting someone."
From there, panic set in. Seeing halmae collapse was terrifying enough, and now surgery? 'Oppa...'
Her hand trembled as she dialed Shin Jaewoo. KindOppa♥—that's how she'd saved his number. She hit call.
It was right when Shin Jaewoo was with Oh Miyoung.
"Hello?"
"Oppa...."
Shin Jaewoo's voice came through the receiver, and her emotions burst forth. It wasn't her fault, but she felt like it was somehow.
"...It's okay. What happened?"
His voice sounded soft and soothing, like he was comforting her.
"Halmae...."
Choking back sobs, Seong Yubin's mouth finally opened.
The call from Seong Yubin.
'Something's up.'
That was Shin Jaewoo's first thought upon seeing her name. He'd told her to call if she needed his help. But from the look on her face back then, she didn't seem like the type to actually do it. Still, if she'd reached out now, some new trouble must have arisen for her. Maybe even something he thought he'd already "handled" wasn't fully resolved.
"Hello."
"Oppa..."
Her voice seemed to tremble, so he paid extra attention. Seong Yubin, who had looked at him and called him her kind oppa. That's why he wanted to remain her "kind oppa."
"It's okay. What happened?"
To her, it was a heavy burden. But he figured it was something he could handle easily. That's how he approached it.
But reality differed from his expectations.
"Halmae..."
Maybe his initial read on her was right after all. She wasn't calling for help out of nowhere. Anyway, Shin Jaewoo's expression hardened.
"...It's okay. Can you tell me calmly?"
As he spoke, he returned to where he'd stepped away from. There were his aunt Oh Miyoung and Kim Minseo. If something had happened to Grandmother Park Sun-ok, they needed to know too. Kim Minseo watched him curiously now that he'd gotten the call and moved aside.
'Who is it? A girl? Girlfriend?'
Her eyes said as much. But seeing his hardened expression, she wiped the curiosity from her face, replacing it with worry.
"Sob. So halmae..."
She couldn't get the words out properly. Then another voice cut in, as if unable to wait.
"Hold on a moment. Are you the guardian? Mind if I speak?"
It was a woman's voice, calmer than Seong Yubin's. It seemed Seong Yubin had handed the phone over.
"Hello, are you Park Sun-ok halmae's grandson?"
By then, Shin Jaewoo had already beckoned Oh Miyoung and Kim Minseo over—with a focus on calling Oh Miyoung, the eldest there.
"Yes, that's right. I'm her grandson."
"Ah, the grandson. Are your parents with you by any chance?"
Apparently, a grandson seemed too young to act as guardian in this situation.
"...I'm with my aunt right now."
As he spoke, Shin Jaewoo switched to speakerphone. Oh Miyoung and Kim Minseo watched curiously but stayed quiet, sensing the tension.
"So, could you tell us where you are?"
"Ah, sorry. Daejeon OO Hospital. Emergency room. Park Sun-ok arrived via 119 just now, and right now..."
The kitchen's light atmosphere shattered at her words.
"She needs surgery immediately—can we get consent over the phone?"
Those follow-up words hit hardest.
"Jaewoo, give it here."
Oh Miyoung snatched Shin Jaewoo's smartphone. From then on, she turned off speaker and exchanged words with the ER.
Kim Minseo bit her lip and asked, "Oppa. Is our halmae... okay...?"
Honestly, he didn't know. Oh Miyoung had taken the phone before he could hear the details. But "surgery" made his heart pound.
'She seemed fine when I was in Daejeon...'
He wondered if he should have stayed a few more days.
His maternal grandmother, Park Sun-ok. After his parents passed, he'd lived without major hardships thanks to her and Oh Miyoung. If that pillar, Park Sun-ok, was...
'Hoo.'
He couldn't even think about looking after Kim Minseo right now. Just one thought: 'To Daejeon.'
He could go anytime. Oh Miyoung finished the call and emerged.
"Mom—halmae said she's okay?"
Kim Minseo clung to Oh Miyoung now.
"...I don't know. Cerebral hemorrhage."
Thud.
Just hearing "cerebral hemorrhage" chilled his head.
"I need to report to the company... Jaewoo, what about you?"
"...I'll go first."
"Hoo. You do that?"
"Me too!"
"Then you two head to Daejeon first?"
Oh Miyoung felt tied down by work in moments like this. It'd be great if Park Sun-ok was fine, but though the bleeding was light, her age made it risky. Brain surgery at her age was dangerous in itself. The hospital said it had to be done, but no guarantees she'd survive it.
'Preparations... gotta make them.'
Oh Miyoung bit her lip. As the adult, she needed to stay composed in front of her daughter and nephew.
"...No need for clothes—we can buy there. Let's go like this. Minseo, if you're coming with me, now."
Her reliable grown nephew was a comfort now.
'When did she grow up so much?'
It was admirable.
"...I'll go right now too."
In comparison, Kim Minseo still seemed like a kid.
"I'm off."
Shin Jaewoo was flustered too. He headed straight for the entrance, no time to waste.
"Wait for me!"
Kim Minseo followed immediately. In the elevator, Shin Jaewoo messaged via smartphone. Heading to Daejeon. To Choi Jincheol.
Long story short, Park Sun-ok pulled through. The surgery went well, and even better, she woke up sooner than expected.
"Mom, you okay? You recognize me?"
"What're you doin' here when you're busy? Ain't you got work?"
Oh Miyoung arrived later than Shin Jaewoo or Kim Minseo. Seeing Park Sun-ok awake, she sighed in relief.
"Old folks hit the hospital now and then. No need to skip work and rush over for this."
Park Sun-ok scolded her daughter like that. Oh Miyoung could only react with disbelief. Shin Jaewoo felt the same absurdity.
"Mom, you sure got nine lives."
"Enough. And ain't this hospital room pricey?"
Park Sun-ok looked around. Oh Miyoung felt much the same. Even as room manager at Lumière Seoul, this was her first time in a university hospital VIP room. Not just a private room—a true VIP suite. Rumor had it daily fees ran into the millions of won.
'How'd Jaewoo snag this?'
She knew he'd come into big money recently, but not to this extent.
Anyway, one major worry was off their backs. Still, Oh Miyoung fretted over Park Sun-ok.
"I'll stay here for a while."
Shin Jaewoo said. Someone needed to nurse her during the hospital stay. Or if something like this happened again, family nearby was best.
"Hoo. You will? I'll head back to Seoul for a few days and come again on the weekend."
Oh Miyoung looked apologetic as she spoke. She had to return for work, but her worry showed plainly. Park Sun-ok tugged at her heartstrings, yet quitting now wasn't feasible.
Still, her affection ran deep.
"Gotta bring ya to Seoul or find ya new work in Daejeon."
She muttered bitterly. Seeing Park Sun-ok conscious, Oh Miyoung struggled to leave for Seoul, her steps heavy. Watching, Shin Jaewoo's eyes gleamed.
A plan he'd meant to delay.
'Might as well speed it up.'
Lumière Hospitality's second branch. Time to push forward with Lumière Daejeon.