Chapter 71
Chapter 71
Why did you do that?
(Welcome to the Guest House Teaser Trailer)
The video opened with a beautiful, emerald sea, people leisurely enjoying the beach, and nestled among them, the guest house ‘Today.’
└ The video quality is insane.
└ Look at those bodies, damn.
Park Seung-hwan and Lee Yun-jeong were sitting on a large float, calmly reading, while Choi Jun-yeong’s singing and guitar-playing served as the background music. Jin Su-ho was lying in a hammock, watching the people play on the beach.
(Hey! Get over here!)
(You think I’ll come just ’cause you told me to?)
└ Were Yu Yeon-seo and Kim I-jun always that close?
└ This is the first we’re seeing it too.
A slow-motion scene showed Kim I-jun and Yu Yeon-seo splashing water at each other. The water droplets sparkled in the sunlight, looking like a scene from a youth film or drama.
‘I don’t think we were playing that harmoniously.’
Perhaps it was the magic of editing, but the Yu Yeon-seo on screen was smiling brightly.
Of course, such peaceful moments were few and far between.
(Hyung! The toilet’s suddenly clogged, what do I do?)
(Hey! Don’t touch that!)
There was Kim I-jun, startled and stumbling backward as a pot of soup boiled over; Jin Su-ho and Choi Jun-yeong, sitting before the toilet in serious discussion; and Lee Yun-jeong, losing her temper while trying to fix a broken vacuum cleaner.
(The weather’s nice.)
Inside, everyone was in chaos with the mounting chores, but Yu Yeon-seo was outside, sitting side-by-side with Raoul, eating ice cream. The teaser trailer ended with that scene.
└ Seriously, what’s he doing by himself while everyone else is working?
└ Why even come on the show if he’s gonna be like that?
└ Knew Yu Yeon-seo would be like this lol. Just chilling while everyone else works.
└ Isn’t it too harsh to judge him when the show hasn’t even started?
Why not? More interest before the show starts is a good thing. He thought nothing of it.
“Are those all reporters? Why are there so many people?”
“Let’s get out.”
“Yeah.”
Yu Yeon-seo put his phone in his inner pocket and stepped out of the car. Having been notified in advance, bodyguards and staff from the secretary’s office were waiting for them.
From the car ahead, Yu Geon-min, Choi Yu-jin, and Chairman Yu emerged. The press corps erupted in a flurry of flashes, capturing the Juseong Group’s founding family.
‘What a scene.’
Still unaccustomed to the barrage of camera flashes, Yu Yeon-seo re-buttoned his suit jacket and followed his brother into the art museum.
‘Juseong Art Museum’s Special Charity Gala’ Gathers Political and Business Leaders
[Photo] ‘The Royal Family Arrives’—Juseong Group’s Founding Family at the Juseong Art Museum
The founding family of Juseong Group entering the Juseong Art Museum to attend a special charity event commemorating the return of cultural assets. From left: Juseong Group Chairman Yu Chang-ho, Vice Chairman Yu Geon-min, JSENM Vice Chairman Choi Yu-jin, Juseong Electronics Managing Director Yu Eun-ho, and actor Yu Yeon-seo.
- I love seeing my favorite actor in the society pages.
Subject: Yu Yeon-seo.
└ Gotta admit, that’s true.
└ Came in shocked, saw the subject, and now I get it.
- Yu Yeon-seo has to be the only celebrity who shows up in the society pages this often.
And not for scandals, lol.
└ Sometimes he’s in the business section too.
└└ Why’s that?
└└└ For inheriting company shares.
└└└└ Ah... they live in a different world.
└ Wow, but he looks so cool.
└ How much is the combined net worth of the people in that photo? Omg...
└└ Wish they’d give me just a hundred million won for some chicken.
The gazes of everyone who had already arrived at the event were fixed on Chairman Yu and Yu Geon-min’s family. They were all cautiously looking for an opportunity to make an impression on the chairman of Juseong.
“Chairman Yu.”
“Chairman Park. It’s been a while. You’re looking well.”
But no one approached easily. There was a pecking order even for these greetings. Those with a personal connection to Chairman Yu came first, as did those of higher status.
“Chairman, my congratulations.”
“Congratulations? My wife is the one who deserves them… It’s all thanks to your help, Minister.”
“What did I do to deserve such praise?”
The Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the head of the Cultural Heritage Administration rushed over to greet Chairman Yu respectfully.
“The Director has truly done a great thing.”
The cultural assets, returned through Park Geum-ju’s efforts, were scheduled to be exhibited at the Juseong Art Museum for ten years before being transferred to the National Museum of Korea.
“It’s the least one can do as a citizen of this country.”
“You’re a true patriot. Your grandson is also a leading figure in the Korean Wave these days… It’s a great blessing for our nation’s culture and arts.”
“My goodness, you flatter me…”
They didn’t hesitate to use exaggerated and blush-worthy compliments. Since the recipient was Chairman Yu, their words were laced with flattery.
Everyone present knew that Chairman Yu doted on his grandchildren, so this was a deliberate tactic. Looking pleased, the chairman chuckled and patted the other man’s shoulder.
“Vice Chairman, good evening.”
“It’s been a while, Chairman. Eun-ho, Yeon-seo. Come here for a moment.”
Standing beside Yu Geon-min, Yu Yeon-seo let the introduction to some company chairman’s daughter go in one ear and out the other.
“Yeon-seo, come here.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
Yu Yeon-seo, who rarely attended such events, was frequently called over. This time, was it a four-term congressman? Everyone was trying their best to get on Chairman Yu’s good side.
“Chairman, let’s see each other often. And your handsome grandson, too.”
“He’ll be coming out more often from now on. Right?”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
As he listened quietly to the adults, Chairman Yu smiled with satisfaction.
“Father, I’m here.”
“You’re a little late.”
“Work has been busy. You know how many businesses you’ve started, Father.”
His aunts’ families arrived late, making the crowd even larger.
“Is everyone here?”
“Mother, congratulations.”
Park Geum-ju, who had been attending to foreign dignitaries, also stood beside Chairman Yu. Naturally, a large crowd gathered to make their presence known. Yu Yeon-seo discreetly looked for a chance and slipped to the back.
“What’s up, Park Min-woo? You nervous?”
He nudged his tense cousin.
“...Hyung, I probably shouldn’t do a live stream here, right?”
“Read the room.”
Hearing an answer beyond his imagination, Yu Yeon-seo sighed, and Park Min-woo pouted.
“You couldn’t read the room before, either.”
“What are you talking about? I don’t remember.”
“Wow, truly miraculous logic.”
But he was right, so I can’t argue. Park Min-woo looked around before tapping Yu Yeon-seo’s arm.
“Hyung, you spilled champagne on the HT Group’s granddaughter before, remember?”
“I did something like that?”
“Yeah, it was a huge scene. Grandfather was yelling at you and everything.”
“...Was that person, by any chance, wearing something like a white dress back then?”
“Looks like you remember?”
Yu Yeon-seo narrowed his eyes and looked at the HT Group’s granddaughter. As he examined her face more closely, an unpleasant feeling surged within him. What was this?
“But what’s with her expression? Is she dating our brother?”
“No. After you spilled the champagne and stormed out, Eun-ho-hyung stepped in to clean up the mess. He apologized on your behalf and saw her home. Well, you know how Eun-ho-hyung is.”
Aha, so she fell for my brother. It was understandable. Women of a similar age couldn’t seem to take their eyes off Yu Eun-ho. Of course, there were gazes fixed on Yu Yeon-seo too, but they were just a nuisance.
When Yu Yeon-seo’s eyes met those of the HT Group’s granddaughter, he smirked and raised the glass he happened to be holding.
‘That’s better.’
The woman’s face instantly paled, and she scurried away.
‘The original me wouldn’t have spilled champagne on her for no reason.’
She wouldn’t have fled like that just from getting a little champagne on her. Considering the unpleasant feeling and the memory of the white dress, something else must have happened.
Yu Yeon-seo chuckled and turned his head. Just then, he saw his grandmother, Director Park Geum-ju, holding someone’s child and beaming.
“Oh, you’re so pretty.”
“You have to say hello to the Director.”
Yu Yeon-seo stared blankly at the scene before letting out an unconscious sigh.
Park Geum-ju waved away the staff member who urged her to go inside and slowly walked through the now-empty art museum. She loved this atmosphere—the moment when everyone had left and she had the museum all to herself.
The charity event had been a success, and in high spirits, Park Geum-ju flinched when she saw a man standing motionless in front of a painting.
“You haven’t left yet?”
At the sound of his grandmother’s voice from behind, Yu Yeon-seo turned around.
“You startled me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“I was waiting for you, Grandmother.”
With some of the lights turned off as the museum was about to close, he was backlit, and she couldn’t make out his expression.
“I have something to ask you.”
But the fact that her once-distant grandson was approaching her first filled Park Geum-ju with joy, and she took a step, then another, toward him.
She stood beside Yu Yeon-seo and looked at the painting before them.
“They say this painting evokes different emotions depending on the viewer.”
“What are you feeling, Grandmother?”
“Today, I feel a little happy. What do you feel?”
“I wonder… Nothing.”
Yu Yeon-seo kept his eyes fixed on the painting as he spoke.
He had deliberately stayed behind on Choi Yu-jin’s advice to try and talk to her. But perhaps because of his childhood memories, he still found it difficult to face his grandmother.
“When you asked me if I was okay before… there was another reason, wasn’t there?”
Park Geum-ju’s eyes widened in surprise.
“There was no other reason. You were in a major car accident.”
She slowly turned her head. Even wearing heels, she had to look up at her grandson, who was so tall.
‘He’s grown so much…’
Even with all her years of experience, she couldn’t read what her grandson was thinking from his impassive face.
“Grandmother, but… when did I start seeing things?”
“...What?”
“My mom. When did I start seeing her?”
Park Geum-ju recoiled a step in shock. Yu Yeon-seo stared at her with a blank expression.
“You… your memory…”
“Not all of it, but it comes back sometimes. I suppose my memories are gradually returning.”
Yu Yeon-seo tilted his head as he looked at Park Geum-ju’s somber expression. Was she worried? It felt awkward.
In his memories, Park Geum-ju had always ignored him and treated him coldly. Then again, she used to have this kind of expression for her grandson before Lee Hui-seo died.
“...It started when you were discharged from the hospital.”
“I see.”
He had been told that the original Yu Yeon-seo had been hospitalized in a psychiatric facility for some time after witnessing Lee Hui-seo’s accident. That meant he had been seeing her right after the accident.
‘So he’s been seeing her all this time.’
As a long-held suspicion became fact, his breath caught in his throat.
He felt a deep sense of pity for the original soul. As he began to truly understand the real Yu Yeon-seo, sorrow welled up inside him.
“But why were you like that to me?”
“That’s…”
As Park Geum-ju hesitated, Yu Yeon-seo’s eyes reddened. A surge of emotion burst forth, and heat rushed to his eyes.
“Grandmother, I was eight years old then.”
“…”
Park Geum-ju’s lips parted as she looked at her grandson, whose eyes had reddened so quickly he seemed on the verge of tears. She had no idea what to say.
‘Ah, this isn’t what I intended.’
Inwardly, Yu Yeon-seo was panicking. His body was reacting on its own, overcome with anger and sadness. The original soul must have had so much pent-up sorrow that he couldn’t calm down no matter how he tried. His mouth moved of its own accord.
“You could have shown me some pity.”
“Yeon-seo.”
“At the very least… if you hadn’t just cast me aside…”
“My dear, I was wrong.”
Park Geum-ju urgently grabbed Yu Yeon-seo’s shoulders. She tried to meet the eyes of her grandson, whose head was now bowed.
“Do you know how my mom appears?”
“What?”
“No, never mind. It’s nothing.”
This wasn’t how he had meant to say it. He had planned to tell her to stop the clumsy media manipulation and ask what he was curious about.
The past was the past. He was Yu Yeon-seo mixed with Kang Jin-hu, so he had intended to maintain a detached attitude and search for clues about Lee Hui-seo’s death.
But his heart wouldn’t listen so easily. He couldn’t control his emotions, and it was overwhelming even for him.
“Yeon-seo.”
“I’m sorry, I should go.”
“Yeon, Yeon-seo.”
Park Geum-ju reached out a weak hand, but Yu Yeon-seo was faster. As she watched her grandson’s broad back disappear out of the museum as if he were fleeing, Park Geum-ju covered her mouth.
“He asked how she ‘appears’?”