Chương 26: A Dinner With The Wang Family.
The school week went quite smoothly; Yong-rae had finally returned after a week's absence, and Eun-kyung was certain that he had learned his lesson as he had been displaying a newfound calmness since his return.
Eun-kyung expressed her desire to meet U-jin's entire family, but he quickly declined her proposal. He mentioned that, apart from his grandmother, the rest of his family members were less than desirable. She found herself following him around school, holding his hand and pleading with him to at least let her meet his grandmother. Finally, after some persistence, he relented and informed her that the entire family would be having a dinner at his house on Friday, inviting her to join them.
"But," U-jin instructed, "you must pretend to be passionately in love with me in front of them, so they don't find out that Ji-woo is no longer interested in me and, God forbid, that they discover Ji-woo is actually dating Diego."
"Yes, sir," Eun-kyung chuckled as she saluted him. "Si-woo is waiting, I must go," she said, noticing Si-woo heading towards his car. As she walked away, U-jin advised her to wear a royal blue dress.
"Are you itching to impress U-jin's family?" Si-woo asked, observing Eun-kyung descending the stairs.
"Don't mind him, dear. Si-woo is just jealous that Mun-hee hasn't invited him to her home yet," Chae-young laughed.
"Why not ask her yourself?" Eun-kyung suggested.
"Well, some individuals lack the audacity to do so, unlike you," he retorted before departing.
Chae-young playfully remarked, "Such a killjoy. Enjoy yourself, dear."
Eun-kyung reciprocated the sentiment, saying, "Have a delightful time on your date as well," as Chae-young blushed.
Chae-young then informed Eun-kyung that her own date awaited her outside and playfully pushed her out of the house.
Outside, Eun-kyung caught sight of U-jin, casually leaning against his Porsche Panamera, as always. He donned a black, long-sleeved shirt, unbuttoned at the top, accompanied by royal blue tailored trousers and black shoes. U-jin appeared remarkably handsome under the moonlight. She admired him, even the way his curly hair glistened in the night. She recalled that after U-jin graduated from college and became a director at his grandmother's company, styled his hair in a matured and sophisticated manner that made him more irresistible to his female fans and older women alike.
Eun-kyung chuckled to herself, realising that U-jin would have even more responsibilities and work as he grew older. She walked gracefully down the stairs towards U-jin, who finally noticed her presence.
"You look absolutely stunning," U-jin complemented her, his smile radiating warmth. Eun-kyung couldn't help but reciprocate the smile. She had elegantly donned a flowing, sleeveless royal blue gown adorned with intricate gold designs, complemented by silver heels and a matching silver bag.
"Wait a minute, did you purposely tell me to wear a royal blue dress because you planned on wearing something in the same colour?" Eun-kyung asked mischievously, causing U-jin to gasp audibly. "Did I?"
She playfully smacked his arm as he laughed and opened the car door for her. U-jin joined her in the car, and they began their journey.
As they approached the grand gate, it automatically swung open, revealing the path to the magnificent mansion. U-jin skillfully navigated the path, eventually arriving at their destination. Eun-kyung couldn't help but gaze in awe at the sight before her. A distinguished man in his fifties, dressed in a sharp black suit, descended the stairs and graciously opened the door for her. Eun-kyung smiled warmly and expressed her gratitude, to which he bowed respectfully. His attention then shifted to U-jin, who had exited the car.
"Young Master, everyone except Madam Wang is already assembled in the dining hall," the butler informed them, and Eun-kyung couldn't hide her disappointment.
"Why isn't Granny there yet?" U-jin inquired.
"She isn't feeling well, Young Master," the butler replied.
U-jin sighed softly. "That's alright," he said, turning his focus back to Eun-kyung. "Shall we?" He extended his hand towards her, and she took it without hesitation, a smile playing on her lips.
The butler opened the door, and they stepped into the opulent surroundings. Eun-kyung marveled at the lavish interior, the priceless artworks and luxurious decorations. The air was filled with a sense of grandeur and elegance, making Eun-kyung feel both honoured and a little intimidated.
They then walked through a corridor adorned with framed pictures, showcasing the history of the Wang family and their ancestors. Eun-kyung's gaze rested on a portrait of Granny Wang with her loved ones - her daughter, U-jin, his father, and even Diego. Another photograph depicted U-jin's father, stepmother, and himself with Diego.
"Did Diego enter the family before your mum passed away" Eun-kyung asked.
"Well yes, she was an understanding woman," exclaimed U-jin, his tone tinged with nostalgia. "She was the one who brought Diego here when she found out about his existence. I was happy to have a brother back then, but after she passed away, my stepmother seized the opportunity to enter the house, knowing we no longer had a mother to take care of us." U-jin's eyes softened as they flickered to a photograph of his mother.
Seeking to comfort him, Eun-kyung gently placed her hand on his shoulder. "You have your grandmother and your friends," she reassured him.
"And you," U-jin responded, laying his hand atop hers. However, Eun-kyung swiftly removed her hand and started walking away.
U-jin cleared his throat, causing Eun-kyung to halt and look in his direction. "The dining hall is in the opposite direction," he informed her, pointing the way.
Blushing with embarrassment, Eun-kyung made her way towards the direction U-jin had indicated. As she approached the door leading to the dining hall, two maids opened it. However, before she could step inside, U-jin gently pulled her back.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" he asked, pointing to his arm. Eun-kyung suddenly realized what he meant and quickly looped her arm through his before they entered together.
As they entered the dining hall, Eun-kyung's eyes widened at the sight before her. The long table was beautifully set with shining silverware, crystal glasses, and exquisite floral arrangements. The family members were already seated, their eyes turning towards U-jin and Eun-kyung as they entered the room. Eun-kyung immediately sensed a mixture of contempt, disappointment, and..... jealousy emanating from the onlookers. She glanced at Diego, who appeared fixated on the hand she had placed on U-jin's arm. Feeling slightly self-conscious, she swiftly withdrew her hand and bowed respectfully to the assembled guests.
"Good evening, everyone. My apologies for my tardiness," she offered, but her words were met with a scoff.
"You're always apologizing. Isn't it high time you change your annoying habit and start being on time?" sneered the woman seated near the head of the dining table, where a man was seated whom Eun-kyung assumed to be U-jin's father, so that means the woman that just spoke up should be U-jin's stepmother. Internally, she chuckled, realising she had deliberately delayed U-jin slightly to gauge who among them had disdain for Ji-woo, and it seemed U-jin's stepmother was the culprit.
"Mrs. Wang, you arrived mere seconds before they did, so ranting is unnecessary. Besides, considering Ji-woo's near-death experiences, you should be mindful of how you treat her. As a mother, I assume you know what to do," interjected a woman in her mid-thirties, who appeared to be of Chinese descent, speaking up in defense of Eun-kyung. Eun-kyung had never heard of this woman before and U-jin had never mentioned her.
Eun-kyung watched as Mrs. Wang gritted her teeth in anger. She was grateful for this woman's support and presence, and she couldn't help but admire her courage to stand up against U-jin's stepmother.
"Ji-woo, please try to be punctual next time you join us for dinner at the Wang house so that peace may prevail," the Chinese woman continued, her eyes meeting Eun-kyung's. Eun-kyung nodded in acknowledgment, feeling a sense of gratitude towards this unexpected ally. She and U-jin made their way to sit beside Diego, who was seated close to his mother.
On the other side of the table, the woman who had spoken up for Eun-kyung sat near the head of the table, followed by a woman in her late fifties and a teenager, who appeared to be either younger or older than both U-jin and Diego. The teenager was smiling in Eun-kyung's direction, but she chose to ignore his advances. She assumed the older woman was Granny Wang's sister, and the teenager was her grandchild.
The meal was served, and they all began to eat. Occasionally, the Chinese woman and Mr. Wang engaged in discussions about business. U-jin's stepmother attempted to join in the conversation, but the Chinese woman skillfully countered her with questions that silenced her. Eun-kyung found herself appreciating the presence of this woman. She never imagined that the Wang house could also provide entertainment in the form of U-jin's stepmother's reactions whenever the Chinese woman put her in her place. Eun-kyung genuinely liked her, though she couldn't recall this character from the novel.
"U-jin, who is she?" Eun-kyung whispered to U-jin as he delicately removed fish bones from his plate.
"Her name is Kwanita. She was my mother's close friend," he answered, Eun-kyung then confirmed that she hadn't been mentioned in the novel.
"No wonder," Eun-kyung mused, her expression thoughtful. "I had assumed that she was your stepmother's rival."
"There's no way," he replied firmly. "She simply despises my stepmother, that's all."
"Nothing more?" Eun-kyung probed further.
"Do you want there to be more?" he asked teasingly before continuing. "Although, I must admit, it would be nice if there were."
"You do realise that I can hear you as well, right?" Diego interjected with a nervous chuckle, causing Eun-kyung and U-jin to laugh as well.
"You two lovebirds should really mind your manners," U-jin's stepmother chimed in, her gaze piercingly directed at both of them ignoring the fact that Diego was also laughing with them.
"Leave the lovebirds be, Mrs. Wang," Kwanita raised her voice. "All you seem to know how to do is interrupt people."
"You should be blamed for stealing my husband's attention," Mrs. Wang retorted, rising from her seat.
"I'm here to discuss a business deal with your husband, woman," Kwanita attempted to diffuse the situation.
"A business deal? You really don't know how to lie," Mrs. Wang mockingly laughed.
"Mrs. Wang, it would be best if you sat down and continued your meal. Besides, I'm not the one who shares a bed with him every night. A few minutes of his time now won't prevent you from having him later. And you're his personal assistant, after all, so you have plenty of time with him. Why be a jealous woman? Or is it because deep down, you know he could leave you at any moment?" Kwanita harshly fired back. Mrs. Wang's eyes welled up with tears as she hastily fled from the dining hall, prompting Mr. Wang to excuse himself and chase after her.
'Why on earth did she leave just as things were getting interesting?' Eun-kyung thought, feeling certain that the woman had faked her tears for attention from her husband.
"Ji-woo, we need to talk," Kwanita informed her, motioning for Eun-kyung to follow. Eun-kyung glanced at U-jin, who nodded for her to follow. Reluctantly, she trailed after her, hoping against hope that her concerns were unfounded.
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