Victory in Twenty Questions and Grandfather's Gifts
This bet was my victory. The game of Twenty Questions I'd started with Han Taejun. The loser had to grant the winner's request, no questions asked.
The first question was, of course, easy to guess. How complicated could the mind of a kid just entering middle school be, really? It might've been a fierce battle against a peer my age, but unfortunately for him, I carried memories from my past life—and I'd reincarnated as the only daughter of the Hansung family.
"Alright, let's start the second round of Twenty Questions."
Han Jihun, our referee, announced the beginning of the next game. This time, it was my question. I'd chosen three simple characters: Han Seongcheol—my grandfather's name.
It seemed easy enough at first glance, but if you aimed your questions wrong, it could get tricky. A deceptively tense answer, you might say.
Han Taejun recited the same questions I'd asked before.
"Is it a living thing?"
Nod, nod!
"Does it exist in nature?"
Nod, nod!
"Is it a material with form?"
Nod, nod!
"Do people make it?"
Nod, nod!
"……"
"……"
Every question got a nod, driving Han Taejun mad. Picking a person's name as the answer meant I could say yes to almost everything.
Fundamentally, humans are living beings—made of cells, with metabolism, growth, reproduction, and responses to stimuli. Do people exist in nature? Humans eat, breathe, and interact with the environment just like any other animal, so yes, we're part of the ecosystem, giving and taking influence.
Are people material with form? Obviously. Bones, muscles, blood, organs—a physical entity through and through.
And do people make people? Well, just watch Mom and Dad lock the bedroom door late at night.
Han Taejun kept asking more, but he couldn't guess it. Whatever he threw at me, I just nodded yes.
"Ha, this is seriously tough."
Our referee, Han Jihun, muttered under his breath as he glanced away. He probably thought it was too tricky even for him.
"Three questions left now."
At my words, a thick blue vein popped boldly on Han Taejun's forehead.
"Ugh!"
In the end, he burned through all twenty questions. Now it was time for him to guess.
"No questions left. Have you decided on your answer?"
"W-Well…"
His eyes darted pitifully—absolutely comical. But pity was one thing; this was a ruthless game. The loser had to accept the winner's penalty, no exceptions.
"The answer is…"
Han Taejun squeezed his eyes shut.
＊
Lunch came late. The entire Hansung family gathered around one table. Nannies and servants stood by, ready to fetch anything we needed.
"Hahaha, sorry I'm late. Something came up right on time…"
My second uncle, Han Yujun, scratched his head, at a loss in the grim atmosphere.
"You don't think the mood's like this just because I was late, do you? What happened, brother?"
My eldest uncle, Han Umin's pupils trembled like aspen leaves.
"Hmph!"
Grandfather—the head of the Hansung family—snorted and scooped up a dumpling with his spoon.
"No? I didn't want to be late—there was business, I tell you!"
Then he poked Han Umin's side with his elbow.
"Brother, what happened?"
"…Don't ask."
"Huh? You look like a divorced guy. Did Aunt really divorce you? Alimony?"
Crack!Han Umin raised his fist but barely held back. He lowered his gaze and focused on his rice cake soup. The seat demanded restraint, it seemed. As the rumors said, the eldest and second brothers were at each other's throats.
Every word stabbed like a dagger straight to the heart.
"By the way."
"Yes?"
Han Umin jumped for no reason.
"Why does your son look so haggard, like he hasn't eaten in days?"
"……"
As Grandfather said, Han Taejun looked a mess. Our Twenty Questions bet—victory was mine. Thanks to that, I'd get detailed intel on Hansung Group internals every week through him.
Hehe~
"We gathered for New Year's to enjoy ourselves after so long, but like father, like son. On this fine day, one schemes out of jealousy to pull his brother's business, and the other sits here like a corpse before his grandfather."
"Sniff!"
Tears welled in Han Taejun's eyes. He probably never imagined losing to his six-year-old cousin.
"Is this New Year's? Looks like a funeral!"
Bam! Grandfather slammed his spoon on the table. He hit so hard the handle bent at a right angle.
"If you're gonna act like this, don't set foot in Bukchangdong again—except Seongu! Aigoo, that old codger from the rival house was right. What good are bean-sized guts?"
"Father, why drag me into this?"
"You're the same!"
"B-But…"
Second uncle Han Yujun protested with an utterly wronged face. Of course, it fell on deaf ears.
Mom, sitting beside me, whispered to ask what happened. I gracefully flashed a V-sign with my fingers.
Mom! Your proud daughter vanquished the villain threatening our family.
The noisy meal ended. Servants brought dessert fruits: apples, pears, strawberries, tangerines, grapes, kiwis. Were they planning an orchard?
The colorful fruits gleamed in a dazzling row. We gathered in the living room for chit-chat.
"So, Taejun's starting middle school this year?"
"Yes, he'll attend Tasan Middle School."
"Oh? Don't they kick you out if you can't keep up academically?"
Pfft! Everyone's heads snapped around. The laugh came from second uncle Han Yujun. He couldn't hold it in at "can't study."
"You…!"
"Not me—blame Father! How could I not laugh?"
"Argh!"
I thought, birds of a feather, and quietly watched third uncle Han Suhyeok and his son, my cousin Han Yeongho.
"Hehe, nice to meet you, Yeongho oppa. I'm Han Seoyeon."
"Uh, nice to meet you too."
Grandfather watched our simple greeting with a pleased smile.
"That's how family should be. Heh!"
Something must've happened in the second-floor study. Dad's face was shadowed.
"Now that we're all here, time for my New Year's gifts."
"Really?"
"What, you're a grown man begging pocket money from your dying dad?"
"That's not…"
"Raising kids is pointless, as they say. This isn't for you—don't get your hopes up."
Han Suhyeok's shoulders slumped like a wilted weed. But why the sudden gift offensive? Grandfather never said anything without reason. He despised anything "free" his whole life. Meaning, even his only granddaughter like me never got something for nothing.
I'd traded with Grandfather a few times—gifts always came with fair terms.
Sudden New Year's gifts after ages apart? No way.
The other cousins, though, lit up at "gift" and chattered excitedly about what they'd get.
"All set?"
"Yes."
"Good. I'll be in the study—come one by one."
"One by one?"
"That bad to chat with your grandpa?"
"N-No."
"Then wait—Taejun first."
Han Taejun's face drained of color. He trailed Grandfather like a criminal to the gallows.
"What's this about? Has Father ever given gifts?"
"Who knows. But what's going on?"
Second and third uncles buzzed energetically now. Dad still looked pale. I asked Mom.
"Mom, something happen to Dad?"
"No idea. Seems like big trouble, maybe…"
After about thirty minutes, Han Taejun came down, face glowing.
"Taejun, what'd Grandpa give you?"
"Well…"
He smirked meaningfully.
"Grandpa gave me a whole building."
"What? A building? Where?"
"S-Somewhere in Seoul, I think."
The family, including eldest uncle Han Umin, erupted in celebration. A middle schooler getting a building? Even if minor with legal oversight, it was huge. Against my expectations, Grandfather went big.
"Next, Young Master Yeongho, please come up."
Woo Shijang called like a bank teller. Calmly managing the order.
Soon, Han Yeongho returned beaming too.
"Yeongho, what'd you get?"
"Me? Just a little something."
"What?"
Third uncle Han Suhyeok probed slyly—his son's turn next.
"Uh… a building. Grandpa said use it for pocket money later."
"You got a building too? Why's Father suddenly doing this?"
"No idea."
Murmurs rippled. Absurd amounts for grandsons.
"Next, Young Master Jihun, please."
Everyone assumed Han Jihun would get a building too. Fair play after the first two.
Soon, he descended cautiously. We waited, curious.
"Me too—a building."
"What? You too? Did Father eat something weird? Suddenly gifting buildings to the grandsons?"
Chatter turned to me. What for the family's only granddaughter?
"Has to be a building. He wouldn't treat his granddaughter different, right?"
"Exactly. Father's famous for being fair."
Honestly, I didn't care. I'd already gotten over 10 billion won from Grandfather via ramen royalties. A building? I could buy my own.
"Next, little miss Seoyeon, please come up."
"Yes. Be right back."
I climbed slowly to the second floor, facing the grand door.
Knock knock!
"Grandpa, it's Seoyeon. May I come in?"
"Come in, child."
A massive desk sat in the vast study's center.
"Sit here."
"Yes."
I perched on the child-sized chair, hands neatly on my lap.
"I've wanted to treat my Seoyeon better, but couldn't—sorry."
"No, Grandpa. I have more than enough."
"Hohoho~ Other kids' faces scream greed, but not my granddaughter. Let's see~"
Grandfather pulled a paper from his pocket. I'd expected a building deed like the others—but no.
"Grandpa, what's this?"
No title or details—like a blank deed?
"Grandpa's special blank check."
"A blank check?"
"But instead of an amount, write whatever you want—anytime you need it. I'll grant one wish, anything."
Grandfather's seal stamped tiny at the bottom.
"G-Grandpa…"
"Seoyeon."
His eyes softened as he looked down at me.
"I think you're different from other kids. Whatever I give, you won't be thrilled."
"No, it's not that. I don't crave much."
True. Royalties alone were astronomical. Building? Buy with Grandpa's money. Need more? A few past-life recipes would net billions easily.
Seeing this, a gentle smile curved Grandfather's lips.
"But I can't favor you alone. Land, stocks, buildings—you could get them easy anyway. So here's a guarantee: anytime, one wish, no matter what."
"R-Really? Anything?"
"Yup! But keep it secret from others. If anyone knows, it's void. Got it?"
"Yes!"
Leaving the study, I was dazed. Like a genie from a lamp granting an absolute promise.
Everyone waited for my answer. But Grandpa said: absolute, secret—even from Mom and Dad. If anyone knew, void.
I beamed innocently.
"Hehe~ I got a building like the oppa's!"