Flashback: Drying Heena's Tears
After crying for what felt like ages, Heena finally calmed down and pulled away from me.
"You okay?"
"Sorry... I was kind of a nuisance, wasn't I...?"
A nuisance? No way.
"Nah. You gotta let it all out when it's built up like that. If you'd just bottled it up, I'd be the one in trouble. I don't wanna be the kind of guy who doesn't even know what his girlfriend's going through."
"Thanks... But what about that...?"
She cautiously raised her hand, pointing at the collapsed, wrecked shelf.
"It's fine, we can just clean it up. You drank a ton. I get it. One mistake doesn't end everything, so don't beat yourself up."
"Ugh..."
"It's okay, it's okay. Aigoo, our pretty Heena. Just having you here makes me happy, so don't blame yourself. If you wanna cry more, go ahead and let it all out."
"......"
Thankfully, my words seemed to sink in. She gave a small nod and didn't cry anymore.
I laid her down on the roughly straightened bed and finished cleaning up. What I thought would be quick took nearly thirty minutes.
"Heena. Cleaning's all done..."
I clamped my mouth shut. Heena had fallen asleep on the soft bed. Between the booze and bawling her eyes out, she was bound to be exhausted.
"Yeah. Sleep's the best medicine."
I tucked the blanket around her properly, and she stirred a bit. But she stayed fast asleep.
Gazing at her deeply sleeping face, I let out a sigh. The image of her sniffling just moments ago weighed heavy on my heart.
I pulled out my phone and started searching for info on Yangho Group and Lee Heeyeon.
Lee Jintae. Chairman of Yangho Group. The titan who elevated what was once a hole-in-the-wall operation into one of Korea's top two conglomerates, rivaling even Taesan.
I knew he was impressive, but...>
I shook my head quietly. Sure, he was beyond exceptional in business, but he was the culprit behind driving his own blood—Heena—to such a state. No matter how great he was, I couldn't see him in a good light.
Lee Heeyeon. Eldest daughter of Yangho Group Chairman Lee Jintae. A genius from childhood, excelling in sports and academics alike. She swept up awards and was currently an executive at the U.S. branch. Famous for her icy, flawless demeanor, she rarely showed her face to the world. Even in rare interviews, she maintained a poker face, betraying no emotion.
And...
Lee Heena, second daughter of Yangho Group Chairman Lee Jintae, rose as a golf prodigy with wins in world tournaments but has since suffered ongoing slumps and suspended competitions.>
After that, there was hardly any substantial info. It was all fluff, so I set my phone down.
What should I do?
"Ugh, uh... I'll do better... I'll make Dad proud to call me his daughter..."
I glanced at Heena. Blissfully asleep, she was whimpering in her dreams.
"......"
Yeah. I knew exactly what I had to do.
* * *
The smell of food woke me up. The blanket I'd tucked over Heena was now draped across my stomach. Turning my head, I saw her in the kitchen, simmering a stew.
She must've woken up early, covered me since I was sleeping without one, and started prepping breakfast.
"Whatcha doing?"
"Ah, you're up, oppa?"
"Yeah... Yawwwn..."
I stretched with a big yawn and got up. Up close, it was kimchi jjigae, made with the kimchi we had and some frozen pork belly.
"Kimchi stew, huh?"
"Yeeep..."
It looked pretty decent visually. No matter how poorly her father treated her, Heena was still Yangho Group's second daughter. Servants probably handled everything without her lifting a finger. Was cooking a hobby?
That mystery was solved by her phone propped up in the corner—specifically, the kimchi jjigae tutorial video playing on it. Heena sheepishly grabbed it and pocketed it.
"I... I figured I should make breakfast, but I've never done it before... So I tried this..."
She smiled bashfully and covered the bubbling pot.
"It'll take a bit to finish."
"O-okay..."
Golf goddess Lee Heena's kimchi jjigae! Made for me!
"Why're you staring?"
"Nothing... Just... I love that you're cooking for me."
"W-well, it's only natural..."
"Psh, plenty of people don't even do the 'natural' stuff. Feel free to be touched."
"Seriously..."
She poked my side with her elbow. It felt just like a real girlfriend teasing her boyfriend.
We laughed and chatted as we set the table together. For someone who lived mostly on instant ramen, this home-cooked feast was a rare treat.
"Oppa. Um, try it and see."
"Got it."
Heena gulped nervously, watching me. I reached for the meal she'd prepared just for me.
Since it was her first time, I wasn't expecting miracles. But following a recipe meant it wouldn't be cartoon-level poison—no foaming at the mouth. A bit spicy, salty, or bland? I'd praise it anyway.
Heena's self-esteem was already in shards. Patching it up would take effort. I didn't want to waste hypnosis on something like this.
First bite of the kimchi jjigae—visual pass.
"Oh?"
The broth hit with classic kimchi stew flavor. Not over-the-top, just solidly good.
Not bad at all.
Actually, better than "not bad." My ingredients were mostly old or missing. Pulling this off surpassed "decent" by a mile. To a ramen guy like me, it was five-star hotel special.
"H-how is it...?"
Heena's eyes sparkled expectantly. I gave her a thumbs-up.
"Delicious! You're a great cook, Heena."
"R-really?"
"Yep!"
To prove it wasn't empty flattery, I scooped up a big chunk of meat and devoured it with rice.
"Hehe, phew."
She beamed, relieved.
"Seriously delicious!"
"S-stop, it's embarrassing..."
She squirmed, but a smile clung to her lips.
"You eat too, Heena."
"Huh? Oh, right!"
I ladled meat into her bowl. Only then did she start picking at her food.
After eating, I insisted on doing the dishes. She protested, but my persuasion (no hypnosis, obviously) won out. She stood by, watching me scrub.
"It was really good. Yangho Group ingredients? Top-notch flavor."
"Ah... Yeah..."
She blinked slowly, struck by my natural rhyme.
I'd have to get her to cook more often.
Ring ring ring!
Heena's phone buzzed in her pocket. Her face stiffened at the caller ID.
She carefully answered with both hands, unprompted.
"Yes... Manager Park. Yes? Father?"
"Yes, yes... I'll come. Please wait just a bit."
I could hear the voice on the other end. A curt order to come home immediately.
Perfect timing. I'd wanted to confront her father ASAP anyway.
"Oppa... I think I have to go."
"Why?"
"Dad's here, they said."
I set down the last dish, shook off the water, and grabbed my jacket.
"Let's go together."
"Huh?"
Heena looked flustered.
"You're my girlfriend, right? Gotta meet your dad."
"B-but Father is..."
Her voice trailed off. She was scared of him.
I took her hand.
"Don't worry, Heena. It'll be fine. Just greetings and a quick chat."
"He's really strict..."
"Gotta pass that test."
She tried persuading me a few more times, but I held firm.
"A-alright."
She surrendered to my stubbornness. With an uneasy expression, she followed a step behind as I led the way down the stairs.
"No car? Or someone picking you up?"
"No... nothing."
Even average daughters got chauffeurs. Was this her usual treatment?
Probably.
We caught a taxi to Heena's mansion. She tried paying, but we split it.
Stepping out, I took in the grandeur.
Unexpected.
Given how she was treated at home, I hadn't pictured such opulence.
"Actually... this is my sister's place. I lived here with her after returning from golf studies abroad."
"Your sister?"
"She's in the U.S. now, so it's just me."
"I see."
So the favored eldest got the mansion? Heena was just tagging along?
Makes my blood boil.
"You've arrived, miss."
A burly man in a suit approached and bowed.
"Hello, Manager Park. Where's Father?"
"In the living room. But this gentleman is...?"
"Geon-woo oppa. My boyfriend."
"Pardon?"
Incredulous look. But it vanished, replaced by the secretary's cool professionalism.
"Let's go in."
"Yes, sir. I'll guide you."
The interior was vast. Art and decor screaming Lee Heeyeon's taste led to the living room, where the chairman's back faced us. White smoke wafted above his head—he was smoking.
"Father..."
"You're late. And I told you not to call me that in public or private. Still acting like a child?"
"Sorry, Chairman..."
Heena clasped her hands and quickly corrected herself.
I squeezed my eyes shut and held my tongue.
"......"
Ah. Not even ten seconds in, and it's already suffocating.