The Grandfathers.
The Grandfathers.
Inside the car heading toward the party venue, Park Ji-hoon kept glancing at me sideways.
"Whoa, that's intense."
"I know. Shut up and just log into the game."
"Hey~ you suck ass at games too, why are you like th—... sorry."
Seeing my face, Park Ji-hoon apologized and quickly fired up a mobile game.
At the party room entrance, staff took our phones for safekeeping...
Probably because security was mandatory, they scanned our entire bodies very meticulously.
A space where all the chaebol heirs of the Republic of Korea were gathered.
I spotted some faces I'd seen in elementary, middle, and high school.
This party was held twice a year, and simply attending it every time proved your standing within the Republic of Korea.
The ledger recorded how many times you had attended, and the government viewed this place as the future of the Republic of Korea.
The reason being that this was where the students who would lead the future of the country's most prominent establishments gathered.
Especially, since corporations like Da-yeon's family's, which drove national-level development, were included, this gathering couldn't be dismissed even if you tried.
In other words, the collapse of the mega-corporation built by Da-yeon's family alone...
That would essentially mean the Republic of Korea itself would be shaken.
Of course, things might change depending on how these brats grew up, but for the most part, they would inherit the family business, leap into the upper echelon of Korean society, and lead it.
The moment Da-yeon and I moved into the party room, eyes locked onto us.
The chattering voices began to die down one by one, and eventually, the entire party hall fell silent.
Just our entrance alone drew the gazes and simultaneously silenced this vast hall.
Park Ji-hoon looked around eagerly, making it obvious this was his first time here.
Our assigned seats were, naturally, right at the very front.
What's funny about being here is that no adult, including the waiters, ever interfered with anything we did.
Once we sat down, Joo Do-hyeon, sitting at the table right next to us, desperately tried to tear his gaze away.
But Joo Do-hyeon's companions openly stared at us.
Then, as the orchestra performance began, the gazes focused on us gradually faded away.
Park Ji-hoon was too busy stuffing the steak the waiter brought into his mouth.
He didn't even finish eating before signaling for one more with his finger, constantly getting refills.
Probably because of that, a lot of the waiters were positioned around our table.
Before I knew it, the orchestra performance ended, and idols came out and performed.
While some brats were enjoying themselves, quite a few others kept a deadpan expression in their seats, as if trying to maintain some dignity.
Then, a woman's voice came from the next table.
"Why is she sitting there? Shouldn't she be up there too?"
"Hahat! Hey~ they'll hear you~"
"What's a celebrity's daughter doing here? It lowers the class..."
"Wow~ Why is Da-yeon even hanging out with those dull losers~?"
"Hahaha, stop it~ She probably knows herself that she doesn't fit in."
The ones sitting at Joo Do-hyeon's table...
Starting from the title 'Joo Do-hyeon's friends,' it was definitely a gathering of morons.
As if proving why they were at the front table, they certainly were children of quite impressive families.
Five out of the six sitting at the next table giggled, and only Joo Do-hyeon began nervously gauging our reactions.
"They can probably hear all of it~ but they keep pretending not to~"
"They know it themselves, so they can't say anything~ Would they dare talk to us?"
Da-yeon was already openly staring at the other table, expressing her displeasure, and Kim Tae-oh and Park Ji-hoon were doing the same.
Especially, Park Ji-hoon, who had just been eating no matter what happened in front of him, frowned when he heard them insult me, and the brats flinched.
Joo Do-hyeon, trembling badly, squeezed his eyes shut.
"Ugh... the level of this party is seriously so low this time. Tell them to kick that beggar-looking bitch out."
I glared, sipping my drink.
With that single action, the young guys who had been insulting me gulped.
"What nonsense... looking like they've eaten nothing but European cheeseburgers their whole lives."
My thick, coarse voice rang out through the hall just as the performance ended.
"".....""
"Right, they must be on a one-food cheeseburger diet, huh."
"Huh?"
Those guys were uglier than Park Ji-hoon, who looked like somebody else's leftovers.
Especially, the girl who had mentioned 'celebrity's daughter' was about the same weight class as Joo Do-hyeon.
I swept my gaze over the table where Joo Do-hyeon was sitting and spoke.
"Looking like that, how can you talk shit about others... If I looked like that, the moment I first confirmed my face, I would've bitten my tongue and died..."
"Huh? Your tongue's probably the size of a beef patty too? Ah, shit... imagining it is fucking disgusting."
"Especially the pink outfit over there... you probably thought you looked pretty wearing it, right...? Or is that a McDonald's Hot Pink Edition... makes me wanna wind up a punch."
Overwhelming levels of personal attacks.
Park Ji-hoon and I learned how to cuss in 21st-century style through games.
These brats who'd probably barely played online games had never in their lives heard such a filthy exchange of insults, and they turned red in the face as if dizzy from it.
I crossed my legs alluringly, smiling as I forked a piece of steak and brought it to my mouth.
Then I said in a sweet voice.
"They can probably hear all of it~ but they're pretending not to? Ha~?"
At my voice, Joo Do-hyeon's group bristled and rose from their seats.
I wanted to hold my companions back, but I couldn't.
I was so terrified that if I got involved unnecessarily... there'd be repercussions from Park Ji-hoon later.
Just then, I received a text from Park Ji-hoon.
On Park Ji-hoon's orders, photos of four people killed so far out of twelve.
The photos revealed in vivid detail how they had died.
His gaze seemed to ask if I wanted to die like that too.
In my urgency, I looked at my companions and quickly opened my mouth.
"Hey! Sit down..."
"".....""
The party hall fell silent due to my voice...
Seeing Park Ji-hoon's expression looking at me with interest, I felt I had to do something.
"Wh... why are you getting mad...?"
I had to say something... but I couldn't think of any way to resolve this situation.
Just then, Kim Si-yoon gestured for me to come over, so only I could see.
I stood up exaggeratedly, glanced at my companions, and approached Kim Si-yoon confidently.
And... I spoke in a small voice.
"You called...?"
"What, are you stopping me?"
"Is there really a need for you to get your hands dirty...? I'll handle it..."
"...Hmm... then, naturally try putting your hand on Ji-hoon's shoulder."
Park Ji-hoon's eyes on me...
I desperately held back my fear and placed my hand on Park Ji-hoon's shoulder.
Fortunately, Park Ji-hoon didn't say anything specific. He just looked uncomfortable.
Where a normal person's shoulder should have been, this monster bastard had a huge slab of trapezius muscle.
"Repeat after me so everyone can hear. Just shut up, eat your food, and leave."
In the chilly space... I acted as Kim Si-yoon said.
"J... just, shut up and eat your food and leave..."
Kim Si-yoon gestured for me to go about my business now.
I pretended to be as confident as possible and returned to my seat.
From beside Park Ji-hoon, I watched him exchange texts with Joo Do-hyeon.
They were exchanging various words, but Joo Do-hyeon was persuading his companions while still gauging our table's reaction.
Thanks to Ji-hoon, it seemed I could reuse a card I'd already played once.
And I was able to have an enjoyable time with Da-yeon.
Before we knew it, it was 8 p.m., and we had to make way for the after-party of the heirs who had become adults.
The brats naturally received guidance and filed out one by one.
"Si-yoon~"
"Yeah?"
"Can't we go to your grandpa's house today?"
"Today? Should I call and ask?"
"Yeah!"
Just as I was about to call Grandfather, Park Ji-hoon draped his arm over my shoulder.
"How'd I do today?"
Just as I was about to say something because this idiot was fishing for compliments, Da-yeon spoke in an innocent, bright voice.
"You looked ugly today too."
"Pfft."
I couldn't see Park Ji-hoon's face because Grandfather picked up the phone,
but above my head I heard a voice say, "Wow... that was a straight fastball... even my dad would have trouble taking that."
I got permission from Grandfather and ran into Jong-hyeon waiting at the entrance.
"Mister, to Grandfather's house."
"Yes, miss~"
Da-yeon and I naturally got into the car, and I made the rounds calling Lee Gi-seok and Dad.
Jong-hyeon assessed the situation and signaled to me that all of Team 7 would be moving.
Thanks to the fact that all of Team 7 was moving, we naturally got permission.
Team 7 had already started to gain significant recognition within HSW.
Normally they were sloppy, but the single word 'mission' transformed them into the most passionate people.
Above all, Team 7 was a group that followed me around like zealots, displaying incredible loyalty.
Their personality and direction of movement were different from other teams, so they clashed often.
But in their childish fights, Team 7 always battled intensely with Da-yeon's security detail, Team 5, over childish taunts like, 'You guys don't have Miss Si-yoon, do you?'
Park Ji-hoon playfully greeted Jong-hyeon, and Jong-hyeon laughed as he ruffled Ji-hoon's hair while he bowed his head outside the car window.
They seemed to be on surprisingly good terms.
Park Ji-hoon rested his arm on the window and said to me.
"Kim Tae-oh will probably go as originally planned around tomorrow, and I'll be a bit busy because of my training schedule?"
Seeing Park Ji-hoon take his security duties more seriously than I thought and naturally mention his schedule, I let him know I understood.
"Okay, get lost~"
"Tch! That's way too harsh. Just take good care of Da-yeon."
Da-yeon and I laughed, naturally flipping off Park Ji-hoon,
and Park Ji-hoon flipped us off back with both hands.
And so, together with Jong-hyeon, we departed for Gangwon-do.
Even if Da-yeon didn't curse with her mouth, she now knew how to curse with her hands.
But, the person who could receive the cute curses made by Da-yeon's small, pale hands was only one person in the world: Park Ji-hoon.
It's a curse, but he should consider it an honor.
Before I knew it, six vehicles had begun following behind our car.
As we played mobile games, Da-yeon and I arrived at Grandfather's house before we knew it, and Grandfather greeted us the moment he saw us.
"Oh my! Our puppies! You've grown so much, you've grown!"
Grandmother was smiling as she looked after Da-yeon.
Grandfather looked behind us and gave an awkward laugh.
Since Team 7, along with Team 8, had occasionally supported Dad's security duties already, a few of them were already acquainted with Grandfather and Grandmother.
Da-yeon smiled as she talked about the day's events and said she was tired, and Grandmother smiled as she responded.
"Change your clothes first, you look uncomfortable~"
""Yep.""
Grandfather's house had a separate room prepared for Da-yeon, but Da-yeon and I used one room anyway.
Da-yeon surprisingly loved the loose, traditional mombbae pants, saying they were comfortable, which didn't match her princess-like aura at all.
Thus were born the Mombbae Pants Si-yoon & Da-yeon Custom.
The design of these limited-edition mombbae pants created just for us was absolutely wild.
These mombbae pants were practical too, and with a padded jacket, they were enough to withstand the mountain cold.
We went into the vinyl greenhouse in the yard and warmed ourselves with a wood-burning stove and coffee.
It was called a vinyl greenhouse, but it was actually a space made of transparent acrylic panels.
"Are those people going to be outside all day today?"
Following Grandmother's gaze, I saw Team 7 in the distance, smoking cigarettes and searching the perimeter.
The more senior members of Team 7 were laughing heartily and playing with Roy and Rosa.
"Probably... yeah?"
"Oh dear... poor things. Wait here and eat some sweet potatoes. This old lady is going to go give something warm to the people protecting our Si-yoon and Da-yeon."
""Yes~""
Grandmother took Grandfather with her, and the Team 7 guards who had naturally followed them began moving boxes of hand warmers.
And, as if breaking out emergency rations, they handed out various meats and ramen to Team 7, while pointing out the location of the cauldron where hot water was being boiled in large quantities.
Da-yeon absolutely loved those humane sides of Grandfather and Grandmother.
When I looked at Da-yeon, she was wholly absorbed in eating sweet potatoes, her expression relaxed from the crackling sound of the burning wood and the warmth.
"So good..."
"Want some milk?"
"Yeah!"
You shouldn't underestimate it just because it's the countryside...
This vinyl greenhouse— no, acrylic house— was equipped with all sorts of features, from a ventilation system onward.
Grandfather's sensibility as a former author was more than enough to make this place a healing spot.
I opened the fridge next to me, took out milk and dongchimi, and shared them with Da-yeon.
Eating hot sweet potatoes and slurping down cold dongchimi brine was just phenomenal.
I pulled out a piece of paper and a pen for doodling, which had been placed all around the house for me,
and began sketching Da-yeon, her cheeks flushed as she felt the peace.