TYW Ch 1.1

Personal physician Professor Jang and the attending nurse immediately took swift action. The Chairman, who seemed exhausted from the day’s commotion, suddenly fainted. Due to limitations in providing emergency care at home, he was immediately transferred to a treatment room at Korea Hospital. Fortunately, he soon regained consciousness.

“Rieul.” In a hoarse voice, the old man first looked for the girl.

“Yes, Grandpa, I’m here.” Rieul’s eyes were already red from crying.

As if seeing her own family member fall ill, Rieul couldn’t hold back tears since the Chairman fainted. The aunt, who was also a successful businesswoman, could only glare at her with hatred, as if wanting to devour her. The grandfather, who throughout his life had never shown such tenderness even to his late wife.

“That man, even though his personality is bad, won’t make you suffer. Didn’t I tell you that?”

“Grandpa, please don’t talk anymore. I know. I understand everything. Please don’t talk anymore, Grandpa.” Rieul tried to hold back her tears with a trembling voice.

“Huh, what is this? It’s like a funeral. Father is already in a coffin, right? You ill-mannered girl. Disgusting, stop crying,” the aunt sneered angrily.

Rieul immediately fell silent, wiping her tears silently.

“Tsk tsk, your father is dying, but you’re not even shedding a tear?” Why didn’t Father tell us this before?!”

“Enough, enough. Everyone out, I’m tired.”

Like rice bowing when ripe, Rieul bowed her head all night, feeling guilty. The Chairman told everyone to leave, leaving only Rieul alone.

“Who is that girl? How dare she come and be Father’s accomplice?”

“Watch your words. She’s my future wife.” With a cold, dignified smile, Woogeon stared at his aunt.

“Woogeon… you…”

“Yes, go ahead and speak. Has anyone really cared about Grandpa’s health all this time? Everyone’s just busy with inheritance matters, right?”

“Hey, Woogeon…” His cousin, Sejin, who was his age, spoke up, but Woogeon immediately glared at him with furrowed brows.

“What, huh? You’re just a distant branch of the family. If I tell you to leave, you have to go immediately. That’s the rule in the Woohunwon family lineage.”

“What did you say?!”

“Woogeon.” His father, who was the Vice Chairman of Korea Electronics and the Chairman’s eldest son, called him in a short voice.

However, Woogeon only glanced briefly before re-entering the Chairman’s room. Rieul continued to sob throughout the day, unable to hold back her tears. “Rieul, do you remember? During Christmas in Seattle, it rained. The cold, damp raindrops soaked the city. How romantic it was.”

“Yes, Grandpa.” Rieul nodded, holding back her sobs with her head bowed.

“Yebun… she liked rain, and snow too, right? She always said affogato tasted sweeter when it rained, and cinnamon croffles were more delicious. She said, eating warm croffles with affogato on a rainy or snowy day was perfect.”

Finally, Rieul couldn’t hold back her tears anymore and began to sob loudly. Woogeon sighed deeply, stepping to Rieul’s side. His footsteps made the girl tremble and hold back the sobs in her throat.

“If this continues, we’ll end up with a series of deaths.”

“Right, Rieul.” The Chairman’s eyes, staring at her, began to redden. “I only made you suffer…” It was quite a melodrama, as if they had just found long-lost family.

“Yeon Rieul.”

“I… I won’t cry anymore. I’ll stay by Grandpa’s side.” Rieul’s voice sounded so pitiful, making anyone who heard it feel sorry for her.

***

“Rieul, you said you like autumn, right?”

“I like it because it’s not too hot or cold. Everyone says winter is the end of the season, but I think autumn is like the end of everything.”

“Good, I’m glad I can go in the season you like.”

In the last four days, the Chairman’s body had shrunk drastically, making him look like a living corpse. Seeing that condition, Rieul felt very sad and desperate, unable to do anything. In the past, when they lived in America, her elderly and weak grandmother, and her grandfather, who had to keep working even in his spare time to survive, had done everything to send her to university and provide a place to live. Even when her grandmother insisted on living in a remote village in America, her grandfather still tried to buy her a luxurious house.

Her grandmother once told her that when she was a girl, she was forced by an American soldier who later became her stepfather, so she couldn’t return to Korea. She was afraid of being labeled a lowly woman if she returned. It was more frightening for her than being mistreated by her grandfather. In America, maintaining virginity before marriage was considered a religious value. Was it the same in Korea? Was it true that losing virginity before marriage was considered a great sin?

“Rieul.” The Chairman, who had just been able to remove the breathing apparatus this morning, kept trying to talk. It broke Rieul’s heart. Tears streamed down her face.

“Grandpa, please don’t talk much. I beg you.”

“I… love Yebun very much.”

“Grandpa, I’m very grateful for everything.”

“I… love Yebun very much.”

“Grandpa… I also… consider you like… my own grandfather… Sob…” Rieul sobbed silently.

A man approached and handed her a towel. Rieul finally sobbed louder, unable to hold back her emotions. In deep sorrow, she didn’t even remember clearly what her grandfather said.

Did he say “I love you”? Or maybe, “I love you, Rieul”? All she knew was that she kept crying.

Her grandmother had passed away exactly a year ago, under the bright autumn sunlight. The Chairman was unconscious for two days and two nights, waking up and fainting repeatedly.

***

Professors and specialist doctors from the Korea Hospital cancer center kept coming in and out to examine him. Company leaders and independent directors who heard the news immediately contacted the family.

The media and surrounding community were abuzz with news that Honorary Chairman Lee Jeonghak was likely to pass away soon. Professor Jang praised Lee Jeonghak’s extraordinary mental strength for being able to endure in that condition. Family members were unable to go to the company in this critical situation. Meanwhile, the woman continued to care for the Chairman tirelessly day and night.

Not wanting the grandfather’s skin to deteriorate, she and the nurse changed his body position in bed every few hours. She also meticulously wiped his body with a towel, checked his body temperature, and observed his physical signs very carefully.

Towards the third morning, at dawn, the woman fell asleep while sitting by his side. Meanwhile, Woogeon kept watch, observing them both attentively. Woogeon’s parents, uncles, aunts, and maternal uncles waited at a nearby hotel.

A hoarse and weak voice, like a final breath, woke the sleeping woman with wide eyes. Woogeon, who was working on his laptop, quickly closed it and approached his grandfather. “Grandpa! Grandpa’s awake?”

Woogeon stood by his grandfather’s side, who was now skin and bones. The weak grandfather shed tears, reaching for the woman’s hand with his remaining strength.

“I’m here, Grandpa.” The woman held her grandfather’s rough, bark-like hand, sobbing.

“Rieul…”

“Grandpa, I was so worried about you. Thank you for holding on this far,” she said, smiling through her tears.

“Yebun…”

The woman cried again, tears streaming down her face. Emotionally, she lowered her face onto the grandfather’s hand, holding it tightly.

“Don’t… go yet.” As if given permission, the woman cried even louder, like a child who could no longer hold back her sadness.

***

The grandfather’s vital signs slowly returned to normal since dawn. Although he couldn’t eat normally, he received nutrition through a tube with white liquid injected via IV.

Woogeon went home to change clothes and then headed to a luxury jewelry boutique in Apgujeong to prepare an engagement ring. The polemic about whether he would marry the woman or not finally ended. If he decided to go through with a marriage that felt like charity, he felt the need to prepare an engagement ring. Moreover, if his grandfather’s condition improved and he could survive for a few more months, they would likely need to have the wedding before he passed away.

Besides, the woman treated his grandfather with a sincerity that even surpassed his own grandchildren. Unlike the grandchildren who had only seen him as a source of money since childhood, the woman genuinely cared for him. This made Woogeon begin to loosen his guard towards her.

The woman truly treated his grandfather like her own, so Woogeon began to understand why his grandfather had such deep affection for her. He also thought that, even if their marriage ended in divorce after his grandfather passed away, going through the marriage process properly was still important.

“Welcome, Vice Director Lee. We have prepared the signature ring collection you requested, in sizes between 6 and 7.” Woogeon looked at the rings presented by the personal shopper in a glass box. All the rings had pre-set carats. Because he was in a hurry, he had no choice but to choose from the available collection.

This was the first time he had bought a ring for a woman. Previously, some women had asked him to have matching rings, but Woogeon had never felt the need to formalize a relationship that far.

Finally, he chose a ring with an elegant design, adorned with small diamonds that circled tightly around the ring, with a larger main diamond in the center, shaped like a crown.

***

When Woogeon returned to his grandfather’s hospital room, he looked even thinner, down to skin and bones, and the woman, who was already thin, looked even more gaunt than before.

“Grandpa, it’s warm today. Can I open the curtains a little?”

“Yes, Rieul.”

The woman opened the curtains just a little to let in sunlight. Woogeon, who had been silently observing them both from the sofa, then stood up from his seat.

“Grandpa, I’ll take Yeon Rieul out for a quick meal.”

“Ah, no need, I’m fine,” the woman replied nervously, politely refusing.

“It’s okay. Rieul, go eat for a bit. Quickly.” Grandpa waved his hand, enthusiastically supporting Woogeon.

“But, Grandpa. I’m really fine…”

“Rieul, you going to eat won’t make Grandpa go anywhere. I promised Yebun…”

The woman looked sad and confused, but when her grandfather tried to reassure her, she smiled faintly.

“Go eat something delicious and don’t rush. You’re the one who looks like you’ll faint before me. Woogeon, make sure you buy her good food. If Rieul collapses, you’re dead, kid. Just die? I’ll make sure you’re punished to the end!”

Although not fully recovered, his grandfather’s stubborn nature seemed unchanged.

“In that case, Grandpa, I’ll just go for a bit.”

“Where’s that? Isn’t there a big steak restaurant in Cheongdam-dong? Buy a big T-bone, okay?”

“H-ha, Grandpa! I just want to eat something simple.”

“Rieul.” When her grandfather called her name gently, smiling affectionately like a grandfather who truly loved his granddaughter, the woman finally nodded slowly, though reluctantly.

“You know that steak restaurant, right?” Grandpa turned to Woogeon, who immediately nodded in understanding.

“Yes, I know. Let’s go, Yeon Rieul.”

***

Woogeon left the hospital with the woman after entrusting his grandfather to his mother and several people waiting on the living room sofa.

The car was waiting at the main entrance. The wind was cool, but the woman was only wearing long-sleeved clothes and pants. Woogeon opened the front passenger door by pressing a button, and the woman got in a little awkwardly, nodding politely. Then, Woogeon walked around the bumper and sat in the driver’s seat, then turned on the seat heater for the front passenger.

“Ah, it’s okay, I’m fine.”

“It’s October now. The temperature is unpredictable. That’s why it’s called the changing season.”

“Uhm, Woogeon, about the steak for Grandpa…”

“Didn’t you hear? He said he’d punish me severely if I didn’t feed you well.” The woman looked surprised, her innocent eyes moving restlessly.

“If I don’t make sure you eat well, my position will be threatened.”

“I’m not doing this for you, but for my position. So, don’t be too polite.”

“Sorry, I didn’t know.” Woogeon shifted from park to drive mode, driving the car at a low speed. “And, thank you, Woogeon. I’m really grateful.”

Woogeon glanced at the side mirror, then briefly turned to the woman. Her hair was tied up, with a few fine strands falling on the side of her face—as soft as her personality.

***

“U-uh, Woogeon! I-I can’t eat that much.” Head Jung stared at Woogeon in surprise for a moment, but Woogeon handed over the menu without paying attention.

“For drinks, is cola okay?”

“Uh, yes. Woogeon.”

“Add raspberry ade too. You can go now.” Head Jung, who took the order, bowed respectfully and left.

“But, how can 1,300 grams… I really can’t eat that much…”

“Just leave the rest.”

“How can we just throw away food? Please cancel it immediately.”

“Yeon Rieul, didn’t you understand what I said earlier? That includes the bone weight, so the edible part isn’t actually that much.”

The woman immediately looked downcast and lowered her gaze. Woogeon leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs.

Without appetizers, truffle chestnut soup and two glasses of drinks were served.

“Do you like raspberry ade?”

“I’ve never tried it, so I don’t really know.”

“Should I change it?”

“No, that’s not what I meant. I want to try it.”

The woman just shook her head slightly without touching the table, prompting Woogeon to take a spoon and hand it to her. The woman looked surprised, then hesitantly took the spoon. “Eat well.”

Hesitantly, the woman took a spoonful of soup and tasted it.

“How does it taste?”

“Delicious… You should try it too.”

“I don’t like soup.”

“But… leaving food is a sin.”

Woogeon raised an eyebrow. The woman moved her lips as if she wanted to speak, then lowered her head and said softly.

“Back then, when I lived in a tent camp, we didn’t have food to eat. Hunger isn’t just a problem in refugee countries or Africa.”

“If you don’t want to eat, I’ll finish it.”

“Why do you have to eat mine?”

Woogeon took his spoon and scooped up the soup. The woman looked down again, then earnestly finished her soup.

After the soup was finished, the main course, T-bone steak and pasta, were served simultaneously. The chef came directly and explained that the fresh meat had just been imported that day, then cut it and placed it in front of the woman.

The woman looked awkward, but at Woogeon’s casual encouragement, she began to take a piece with her fork and taste it.

“How does it taste?”

“Very… delicious.”

The woman’s pale cheeks began to blush red. The chef thanked her and placed the remaining sliced steak in the middle of the table.

“Woogeon, please eat too.”

Woogeon frowned lazily. “Yeon Rieul…”

The woman immediately looked nervous again.

“I’m a grown man over 190 cm tall. Of course, I eat more than you, who are only 160 cm

tall.”

“Ah, sorry. I was being excessive again.”

Only now was the woman’s pale and tired face clearly visible.

“I hate women who are like mothers.”

The woman looked at Woogeon with questioning eyes.

“But, Grandpa…”

“Whatever Grandpa says, I don’t like women who are too obedient like mothers.”

“I also don’t like small women. It makes me feel like a pedophile.”

“I’m sorry…”

“I also don’t like childish women.”

“I understand what you mean. Even in America, I was often asked if I was still a child. But

I’m not a child. I’m not as young as you think and not that naive either.”

“In that case, alright.”

As they finished eating and prepared to leave the restaurant, Woogeon’s phone rang. The name on the screen was none other than his grandfather.

“Yes, this is Lee Woogeon.”

“Did Yeonrieul eat well?”

“She almost finished 1,300 grams of beef, leaving only a little.”

“You coward. How much did the bones weigh, and that’s all she ate?”

In a hoarse voice, his grandfather still scolded him, though he sounded weak.

“She doesn’t seem used to eating much, she even looked overwhelmed earlier.”

“Hey, you! Don’t make Rieul uncomfortable! She eats a lot, you know?!”

Woogeon stared at the petite woman beside him in surprise. The woman looked at the much larger Woogeon with a confused look, as if wondering if the person on the phone was really her grandfather. Woogeon opened the automatic passenger door, letting the woman enter first.

“She eats a lot! That’s all she ate? Go buy her more food!”

“I also ordered pasta.”

Woogeon put his hands in his pants pockets, looking at the bright sky.

“Are you kidding? Do you only live on pasta and steak? You only care about what goes into your own mouth, while Rieul’s mouth is just for show, huh?”

‘Ah, really…’

“Don’t get emotional, it’s bad for your health.”

“You insensitive kid. They say you’re popular, that must be a big lie! Annoying.”

Woogeon opened the driver’s door and got in. The car door opened wide. The woman looked curious and worried. “I’ll take you home soon.”

“Give the phone to Rieul.”

Without looking, Woogeon handed the phone to the woman.

“Yes, Grandpa, this is Yeon Rieul.”

Woogeon started the car, considering whether to buy her dessert.

“What? Grandpa… I want to stay near Grandpa. Really? Grandpa is really leaving the hospital tomorrow?”

Woogeon glanced at the woman, who was speaking with a pale face but smiling gently when she heard the words “leaving the hospital.”

“Really? But… Alright, I’ll make sure everything is ready to welcome Grandpa tomorrow morning. Yes, yes. Oh, okay, Grandpa told me to hang up? Alright, see you later.”

The woman swallowed and handed the phone back to Woogeon. He placed the phone in the holder.

“Is Grandpa really leaving tomorrow?”

“Yes. The professor treating him, along with the medical team and nurses, will come to ensure Grandpa’s condition. For the time being, medical staff will stay at the house.”

“Grandpa wants me to stay at Wooheonwon… to rest there…”

Woogeon nodded and started driving onto the highway.

“For dessert.”

“I…”

They spoke at the same time.

“Just say it.”

“Dessert?”

“What do you want to say?”

“Grandpa wants me to sleep in Woogeon’s room… Sorry, if it’s bothersome…”

‘This old man must be in a good mood.’

“It’s fine.”

The woman’s face turned red, and she remained silent. Woogeon increased the car’s speed towards Seongbuk-dong.

“Do you like macarons?”

“Macarons, do you like them?”

Woogeon asked, checking the side and rearview mirrors. The empty afternoon road made him want to take a short drive.

“I… like them.”

“What?”

“What? Yes… Yes. I like them. Why?”

“Grandpa told me to buy you dessert.”

“But I’m full.”

Woogeon smirked, glancing at her with raised eyebrows. That smile made the woman’s face turn red again.

“Grandpa said you like to eat a lot, you know?” Now, even her ears turned red.

“N-no. That’s not true.”

Was she pretending?

“Yeon Rieul, if I don’t make you eat until you’re really full, I’ll be severely punished. I already told you.”

Whether out of embarrassment or reluctance, the woman swallowed with an unreadable face.

“Besides macarons, what else do you like?”

While driving, Woogeon slowed down as the yellow light appeared ahead. The woman remained silent, her lips tightly closed.

“If you don’t answer, I’ll order everything.”

“Brownies.”

Woogeon glanced at her briefly.

“And mint chocolate latte.”

Woogeon’s face slightly frowned, almost imperceptibly.

‘I like the taste of toothpaste?’

The car continued towards Pyeongchang-dong.

***

Summers in Seattle were sweltering with scorching heat waves. That summer was more miserable than usual. June, when she was seventeen, had passed, and it was now mid-July.

“I’m the guardian of Jane Martinez. Where is Martinez now?”

Taking a taxi was a luxury due to lack of money, but that day it was unavoidable. She couldn’t afford an ambulance, but if her grandmother was taken by ambulance, something serious must have happened.

As soon as she got out of the taxi, Rieul rushed into the emergency room nurse’s station.

She wiped the sweat from her temples with her arm and asked,

“Ah… ah, Jane Martinez. You’re the guardian, right?”

A white-skinned female nurse frowned, checking the medical records while glancing at Rieul.

“Yes, that’s right. I’m her granddaughter, Liv Greenwood.”

“Ah, right. Mrs. Martinez is in the emergency room. She’ll be transferred to Bellevue Overlake Hospital soon.”

“Bellevue Over… Bellevue Overlake Hospital is one of Seattle’s public hospitals favored by wealthy people. Why there?”

Her train of thought was abruptly cut off.

‘Could there be a name mix-up?’

Her grandmother couldn’t even afford an ambulance, and shouldn’t be taken to Bellevue Overlake Hospital.

‘Something seems wrong.’

“Could there be a mistake? Is this really in the name of Jane Martinez? Jane Yebun Martinez?”

“Uh, yes, that’s right. A handsome old man came and claimed to be her guardian.”

Rieul was stunned to hear the words “old man” and immediately stepped forward.

‘What’s going on? Is that old man bothering Grandma?’ Her heart pounded with sudden anxiety. Her grandmother was someone who always felt fear and disgust towards men.

When Rieul looked for her grandmother, she didn’t find her in the emergency room and immediately asked a nurse. It turned out to be true, in front of her grandmother’s bed stood a tall, white-haired old man with a very neat appearance and an aura of high class.

More surprisingly, her grandmother seemed to be smiling.

“Grandma,” Rieul called cautiously as she approached.

The old man turned and looked at Rieul with warm eyes before smiling gently.

“Oh, my granddaughter.”

Her grandmother, wearing an oxygen tube, spoke in a weak voice. Rieul approached awkwardly, looking at the old man who smiled warmly and her grandmother who was lying down with a breathing apparatus.

“Grandma, didn’t I tell you to rest at home? I even planned to bring you food. Why push yourself?”

“You must be Yebun’s granddaughter.” The old man spoke in a soft, affectionate voice. Although she couldn’t guess his age, the man was very handsome and charming. Rieul wondered how her grandmother knew someone like this. More confusingly, the man recognized her immediately, making her feel a little nervous. Politely, she said, “Nice to meet you.”

“You’re very beautiful. Just like Yebun when she was young. Yebun, this is your face as a teenager.”

The old man’s words made her grandmother’s face blush like a ripe apple. It was an expression Rieul had never seen before. Usually, her grandmother’s face always looked tired, with wrinkles and heavy eyes. But this old man was able to make her grandmother look so happy.

“I’m Rieul.” Rieul introduced herself with a gentle smile.

“Rieul? You said your name is Rieul?” The old man’s face seemed to light up.

“Yes, my full name is Yeon Rieul. Grandma always liked the letter ‘ㄹ‘ in Hangeul, so she named me Rieul.”

“Ah, that’s right. Yebun once taught me Hangeul. She said the letter ‘ㄹ‘ was very beautiful and she wanted to name her child with it.”

“That’s right, that’s what Grandma said.”

“Ah, you, don’t bring up things like that again,” her grandmother said, blushing with embarrassment.

“Her granddaughter really became Rieul, huh? Beautiful and graceful, like her name. Rieul, you’re very charming.”

The old man was so gentle and friendly, very different from the old men Rieul had met in her life.