Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Homewrecker
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Sizzle...
Chop chop chop...
The cheerful sound of knives striking the cutting board mingled with the savory aroma of sesame oil piercing the air.
Woojin sat at the dining table with a dazed look in his eyes.
'How... did this happen?'
Just last night, he'd stuffed himself silly at Jihyun Yoo's place.
If he hadn't popped three strengthening digestion pills after devouring even the fruit dessert on the way home, he might've ended up in the ER.
Yet here he was again when he opened his eyes.
'That bastard Kim Sangjin... said he'd come along.'
While eating dinner yesterday, Sangjin had whispered something to Jihyun and boldly set up a breakfast date.
—Hyung, perfect timing. You said you wanted breakfast, right? Can't refuse when your sister-in-law offers to cook.
And then the guy himself bailed, claiming, 'You know I don't eat breakfast,' without even crawling out from under the covers.
Thanks to him, Woojin was stuck facing this awkward, uncomfortable breakfast alone.
'Well... it is delicious.'
Jihyun's cooking was good enough to make Woojin endure all the awkwardness and discomfort.
It was neat and incomparable to delivery food. Honestly, there was no reason to refuse.
"Woojin! Could you taste this for me?"
Jihyun held out a spoon, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Her bare face and apron made her look just like a newlywed bride.
"Huh? Oh, sure."
Slurp...
Woojin took a sip of the soup.
"How is it? Do you like it salty or bland? I'm not sure."
"......Perfect."
No empty compliment. It really was delicious.
"Phew, great! I'll have it ready soon!"
Woojin chuckled as he watched her humming happily around the kitchen.
Who could've imagined a chaebol heiress doing this in the kitchen?
Still, one undeniable fact.
'She's pretty.'
Bathed in morning sunlight, her profile made for a picturesque scene.
'Lucky guy, whoever marries her.'
Then Woojin's brow furrowed as he eyed the dishes on the table.
Mackerel grill, rolled omelet, soybean paste stew, bulgogi...
"This... is way too much for one person at breakfast."
Were Jihyun's hands that big, or did she think Woojin was a pig? The portions were enormous.
Leaving any would just make her pout, no doubt.
Then a good idea flashed through Woojin's mind.
"Hey, Jihyun."
"!!!???"
Thump...
Jihyun's heart skipped at the sudden casual address.
Not 'Hey, Yoo Jihyun,' but 'Jihyun.'
They'd agreed to drop formalities yesterday, but she hadn't expected this flutter from just a name.
"Y-Yes?!"
"It's a lot of food. Mind grabbing two more spoons?"
"Huh...?"
"The kids upstairs. Officer Jo Ayoung's little siblings."
Woojin pointed at the ceiling.
"Ayoung's busy with two households, so she can't even make them breakfast."
Jihyun's eyes widened round, then curved into happy crescents.
She was touched by Woojin's warm heart.
"Oh, what a great idea! Bring them down right now! There's plenty of food!"
"Alright, be right back."
Woojin shuffled upstairs in his slippers.
Ding-dong...
After a moment, a bright voice came through the intercom.
[Who is it?]
"Oh, Gayoung. Open up. It's Uncle."
[Sis said not to open for strangers...]
"Ah... right?"
'Well-trained.'
Woojin smirked and called Jo Ayoung.
Ring ring ring...
[Yes, President? What's up?]
"You're at the bureau, right? Tell the kids to open the door so I can feed them breakfast. Call Gayoung now."
[Huh? What do you...?]
Click...
Woojin hung up without waiting. Moments later, the door lock clicked open, and Gayoung peeked out.
"Hello, Uncle."
The sight brought a smile to his face.
'Cute kid.'
"Good job being cautious. Keep it up. Jinyoung's inside too, right?"
"Yes."
"What about your breakfast?"
"We were about to..."
On the table: dried-up cereal in milk and two slices of plain bread.
Woojin's eyes narrowed. He'd suspected, but seeing it hit harder.
"Troops, follow Uncle immediately. Move out."
"Uh... where to?"
"To eat. Kids your age need a solid breakfast. Jinyoung, wipe the sleep from your eyes and come on."
Thus, Woojin led the bewildered kids back down to 1104.
"Wow..."
Their mouths fell open.
A feast lay before them: meat dishes, grilled fish, all healthy and kid-friendly.
"Come on in, kids. You saw me yesterday, right? I'm Jihyun. Sit down."
Jihyun welcomed them warmly, scooping heaps of rice.
"Thank you, pretty sis."
"Huh? She's sis? I'm Uncle?"
"Uncle's a rich boss!"
"Hey, that sis has way more money. She's richer than me."
"Wow... really? Still, she looks like a sis."
Jihyun finished setting the side dishes and smiled contentedly.
"Thanks for saying so. Eat up."
"Yes! Thanks for the meal!"
Woojin, Jihyun, and the two kids.
The four of them around the table felt just like...
a happy four-person family's breakfast.
Jihyun glanced at Woojin mid-bite.
Grumbling but tenderly deboning fish for the kids and placing it on their rice.
'Oh my... he has this side?'
Her imagination ran wild.
After marriage and kids, would it be like this?
A sturdy son like Woojin and a pretty daughter like her.
'Honey, eat breakfast before work~'
'Yeah, nothing beats my Jihyun's cooking.'
As fantasy Woojin leaned in for a kiss...
"Kyaaah!"
Jihyun screamed, covering her flushed face.
Clang...
"W-Whoa, scared me!"
The kids dropped their spoons in fright.
Woojin calmly deboned more mackerel for them, unfazed.
"Don't freak out. Sis has this weird condition sometimes. It's not bad, just an illness. Keep eating."
"O-Okay."
"S-Sorry, kids."
The kids eyed the weird sis but munched on.
A peaceful, slightly chaotic morning.
"Sob... sniff..."
Suddenly, crying.
It was Gayoung.
Woojin and Jihyun jumped up in alarm.
"G-Gayoung! What's wrong? Fish bone stuck? Where? Jihyun!! 119!"
"Y-Yes! Oppa!"
Jihyun's address had shifted to "oppa" seamlessly.
But no bone.
"S-Sorry... Since moving here, everything's been so good... My own room... Fun uncle and tons of yummy food... If this is a dream, I don't wanna wake up... Sob..."
Pause...
Woojin sighed in relief, stroking her head.
"It won't end. Even better things ahead. Uncle promises."
"R-Really?"
Fourth graders.
Just nine, ten years old.
Parents gone eight years ago—they barely remembered them.
Ayoung played mom, big sis, but could one person give enough love?
So these kids grew up too fast, no spoiling allowed.
Now, Woojin was giving them that bottled-up affection.
Kids should be kids. One old soul like Sangjin was enough.
"Yeah. So eat up. No crying. You'll get an upset stomach."
Gayoung wiped tears, forcing a smile.
"Okay."
Watching, stoic Jinyoung dropped a cool line.
"Jo Gayoung, cry then laugh and you'll get butt hair."
Boys were boys, alright.
"I don't have that!"
Laughter as they ate on.
Beep beep...
The front door unlocked.
Bang...
A silver-haired beauty dragged in a huge suitcase.
"Haa... Delayed by immigration. Korean gov grilled me on my purpose this time. Exhausted."
Eirin Benedict had arrived.
As she entered and glanced at the kitchen...
"......?"
Her blue eyes shook like an earthquake.
An unbelievable scene unfolded.
Apron-clad Jihyun.
Woojin casually at the table.
Two kids eating between them.
Her pupils dilated.
Undeniably... a cozy four-person family's breakfast.
Eirin's brain froze.
'What...?'
She'd been gone to the US just days.
Family in that time? Kids too?
Silence.
Woojin chewed casually.
"Why're you here? What's with the huge suitcase?"
Jihyun bit her lip.
"Could've come... later. Unpack first."
'Damn... ruining the mood!'
The kids paused politely.
"H-Hi!"
Then whispered.
'Wow... foreign sis. So pretty.'
'Shh, Jo Jinyoung. Rude!'
Silence flowed. Eirin's lips quivered.
Logically impossible.
Two kids in days?
But her brain marinated in 15-hour flight K-dramas.
[Secret Birth] [Hidden Child] [Unwed Mother] [Shotgun Wedding]...
Stimulating keywords sparked wildly.
Reality outdid fiction—even Korean dramas lacked this madness.
Finally, Eirin channeled a drama heroine.
Her gaze pierced Jihyun.
"Home... wrecker."
Jihyun blinked in confusion.
"......What?"
"Think this cheap ploy would make me back off? Fine, I admit! If I hadn't pre-studied Korean culture, I might've fallen for this nonsense and retreated."
Eirin swept back her hair, striding to the table.
"But you picked the wrong target. Think I'm that easy?"
Murderous aura.
"Whose kids? Adopted? Don't give me that BS you two popped 'em out. Even dramas don't buy that."
"......"
"......"
"......"
"......"
The rapid-fire absurdity left everyone speechless.
But Eirin read the long silence differently.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"...N-No way...?"
Voice trembling.
"You... gave birth?"
"What...?"
"You gave birth?! For real?!"
Woojin nearly spat his rice.
"Cough! Hack! What the hell! What nonsense right off the bat!! Birth my ass! You idiot!"
Thus, 1104's peaceful morning veered into full K-drama meltdown.