Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: New York Welcome
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Exiting the airport, we spotted a man holding a sign with our names on it.
A blond foreigner in a suit.
The moment he saw us, he approached and asked,
"Lee Kanghyeok, Lee Daeun maz?"
His Korean was clumsy, but he was clearly calling out to us.
"Ah, hello. We're Lee Kanghyeok and Lee Daeun."
"Ah, I James. Evely send me. Wassup. Follow me, I take you."
"Yes, thank you."
James nodded at the greeting, then reached for the carry-on I was holding, trying to take it for me.
But I shook my head and said,
"I'll carry it."
"No. Evely say do this."
"Ms. Yun did?"
"Evely."
"Ah, Evely."
"Ah, Evely always scold me. Say lazy. So must do. Even learn Korean because that, but say I bad, scold again."
Uh... what?
Why did this American guy give off such a familiar Korean vibe?
His speech was definitely awkward, and he looked like a typical American.
But his actions and mannerisms felt so familiar.
"I carry."
In the end, James snatched the carry-on from me like it was his.
Then he pointed at Daeun's bag, held out his hand, and said,
"That too, I carry. Give."
"No way! This Daeun's!"
"James carry. Must give."
"Daeun carry!"
"No. James carry."
"No way!"
"Me carry. Give."
I had no idea why they were arguing over something like this, but I stepped in to stop them.
"How about Daddy carries Daeun's bag then?"
"Okay, Daddy!"
"James carry or Evely scold."
The situation was impossible to mediate, so I had no choice but to enforce it.
"I'll carry Daeun's bag. It has her precious drawings inside, so James, please understand this time."
Ahem.
He looked quite displeased, but he reluctantly nodded at the mention of precious drawings.
"No choice. I get it. Then follow James."
After barely mediating, I followed James with Daeun.
He led us to a car parked in the airport lot and casually popped the trunk to load the luggage.
Then he opened the back door and said,
"Get in, take to Evely place."
Nod.
We nodded and climbed in, greeted by a faint pleasant scent.
Daeun seemed to like it too, smiling as she said,
"Daddy, Daeun like this smell!"
James got into the driver's seat and replied,
"This, James pick. Aroma herb, say give mental stability."
So it was an aroma scent. But it was a bit different from the ones I'd smelled before.
"Oh, really? I should get one later. It's not too strong, just right."
"Then seatbelt, we go."
And with that, James drove us to where Ms. Yun was staying.
"Wow, even New York has apartments."
It wasn't like the typical ones back in Korea—this was a towering high-rise right in the heart of the city.
Stepping inside, we were first welcomed by what looked just like a hotel entrance.
Click!
"Follow James. I guide to Evely place."
After parking and getting out, James grabbed the carry-on and headed into the apartment entrance.
The lobby we followed him into was so impressive I couldn't help but let out a "wow."
'This is incredible.'
It exuded luxury on a level incomparable even to apartments in apartment-loving Korea.
Curious about the place, I asked,
"But how much does something like this cost?"
"Price, yeah?"
"Yes, the price."
"Roughly six million dollars."
"Uh, how much? Six million dollars?"
Hold on—a dollar's about 1,300 won right now.
'Eighty billion.'
Around eighty billion won.
I had no idea the size, but the absurdly high price shut my mouth tight.
Ding!
We rode the elevator to the 15th floor, where a fancy entrance with a keyhole came into view.
'A key?'
What? I assumed it'd be a digital lock, but a key?
As I thought that, James went up and knocked.
Knock knock.
"It's James. Open door."
What? Anyone would think he was talking to a friend.
Was their relationship really boss and employee?
There was a sound from inside, and the door opened.
Click.
And there stood the familiar face of Ms. Yun.
"You all must be tired from the trip."
"I worked hard too."
"James."
"What?"
"I've told you a million times—use polite language when speaking Korean."
"I American."
"That doesn't mean you can use casual speech."
"Why scold right away we meet!"
"Did James make any mistakes by any chance?"
At that, James kept pouting.
His actions didn't match his appearance at all, so I gave an awkward smile and said,
"No, he was very kind and guided us perfectly."
"I see."
She seemed to doubt my words a bit, but she wouldn't pry too much in front of guests.
"Come in first. You must be tired from the long journey. And Daeun, you had a good trip?"
"Hi!"
Having messed up last time, Daeun greeted her properly this time.
Ms. Yun, still expressionless, returned the greeting.
"Hi."
Step step.
Entering Ms. Yun's place, I was once again amazed.
"Wow, the interior is gorgeous."
"I spruced it up a bit since you were coming. What do you think?"
"Yes? Spruced up?"
At my question, Ms. Yun said it like it was no big deal.
"Oh, I bought this apartment a while back and left it empty for a long time. I had it cleaned up to use as your lodging this time."
"Yes? Y-You're giving us this as lodging?"
"Why? Don't you like it?"
No... who in their right mind provides luxury lodging like this?
An eighty-billion-won apartment, no less.
Of course, Ms. Yun was one of those top 0.1% types where common sense didn't apply.
Still, this was on another scale entirely.
"Hmm, maybe a hotel would be better after all. A suite room then..."
"Ah, no. We'll stay here. It's not that we don't like it—I'm just so grateful."
"Ah, I see. Glad to hear that."
Asking for a suite now would make me the weird one.
Anyway, not only was the interior stunning, but the view out the window was breathtaking.
Overlooking the New York skyline from the living room.
"Heh heh."
Noticing my reaction, Ms. Yun approached and asked,
"Nice, right?"
"Yes, it's amazing."
"That's why I bought it. Something about watching the busy world spinning differently from my life... it's cool."
Well, most people don't buy apartments for that reason.
Her standards were just different.
"Anyway, I've stocked everything you'll need during your stay. Even Daeun's favorite snacks and chocolate milk. But this is American stuff, so it's a bit different from Korea's—richer, maybe."
She looked at Daeun and asked,
"That okay?"
"Yes! Daeun love all chocolate milk!"
"Try it later. If you can't eat it, I'll get something else."
"Yes! Thank you!"
After that, she turned to me and asked,
"No plans today, so rest up. You need to shake off the jet lag."
I'd slept plenty on the plane, but I was still tired.
No matter first class or not, it wasn't as comfy as home.
"Thank you for the consideration."
"It's only right. Taking care of the painter collaborating with us is like a company duty."
She said that, then glanced at James and asked,
"James, what about the dinner reservation I told you to make?"
James pulled out his smartphone to check, then gauged her mood and asked,
"Can I speak English maybe?"
"No. I told you—at least in front of me, speak Korean."
"This illegal, right?"
"Go ahead and report it."
Sigh.
James rolled his eyes and said,
"You're too much."
"No, we learned Korean together—why haven't you improved at all? That's the real mystery to me."
"Because Evely smart!"
"So Dad and I hired a dummy?"
"Wow, Evely! Too harsh!"
"Not harsh. So, the reservation?"
We were getting a glimpse of a side of Ms. Yun unlike her usual self.
"Reserved. 6 PM, under Lee Kanghyeok."
Ms. Yun looked at me and said,
"Didn't know your tastes, so I booked the top restaurant. If you don't like it, we can change. Sound good?"
Top restaurant?
"You made a reservation?"
"Yes, it's famous here—need to book a couple days in advance."
A place needing advance booking days ahead? Gotta be pricey.
But as if anticipating that, Ms. Yun reassured me.
"We've already paid, tip included, so no need to worry. Just go, eat what you like. Oh, if it's not to your taste..."
"No, it's perfect."
"Good. Then James, wait nearby and guide them to the restaurant at time."
At her words, I widened my eyes and asked,
"You're not joining us?"
"Yes, it'd probably be awkward with us there. No need to cramp your style."
"Awkward? Not at all."
Daeun, who'd been listening, chimed in.
"Auntie eat with us! Daeun wanna eat with Auntie!"
Huh?
Not expecting our reaction, Ms. Yun asked again.
"You mean eat together?"
That's when James cut in to stop her.
"No eat together. I tell you when study Korean. Korean people say 'let's eat' just polite."
"Ah... I see. Sorry, I'm not too familiar with Korean culture."
No, what are you talking about?
"Ah, no! Not polite. Absolutely not. We really want to eat together. Right, Daeun?"
"Yeah! Auntie, Daddy, Daeun eat together! Daeun wanna eat with Auntie!"
Only after we insisted did her suspicion ease, but James kept tilting his head.
"Weird. Book say 'let's eat' never really mean eat..."
Sure, sometimes, but not this time.
"So you'll join us, right?"
After a moment's thought, Ms. Yun nodded.
"If you're really okay with it... let's eat together."
Daeun threw her arms up and cheered.
"Yay!"
Right then.
Bzzz—
James's smartphone rang with an incoming call.
"Take call sec."
He turned away to answer, and shortly after.
James said to Ms. Yun,
"Uh, um, Evely."
"Yeah, what is it?"
"Looks like dinner separate."
"What do you mean separate? Just now..."
But his follow-up made me tilt my head.
"Richard coming meet Evely."
"My father?"
Ah... father-in-law.