The Proof in the Family Register
Hwigyeom flipped through the copy of the family register. Then he turned the page.
In the register and in the family-relationship certificate alike, only one name appeared: Yu Yeong-a.
For some reason, Hwigyeom felt strangely unsettled. No, it was as if his chest had sunk a little lower, deep enough to make him forget the heavy weight of the job he’d been doing.
***
That evening had been supposed to be the first time Hwigyeom and Suho would leave together after work, but Yeong-a had insisted she had to drive Hwigyeom home anyway.
“You want me to drive this car?”“
The gloom in her heart vanished the moment she saw his car. It wasn’t that she liked it.
“If I scratch it even a little, it becomes a lifetime contract, you know?”“
“Should I ask you to pay for that too? Just drive.”“
Yeong-a had never once driven in Seoul before. The city itself was the problem.
“Oh, I’m so nervous… but I’ll try my best.”“
Sitting in the driver’s seat, Yeong-a shook her shoulders and clutched the steering wheel with both hands. Before long she was turning with only one hand.
Cars gave way without a word, and compared with the truck at the Hermitage, the ride felt like riding in a bed. Smooth, undisturbed comfort.
Only after they reached her home did a slightly embarrassing incident occur.
[[Hanbit One-Room, Tenant Group Chat]]
201: (photo) Did anyone see this car in the parking lot?
303: Yeah~ It’s the one the World Star rides, right? It’s gigantic and I was already eating two parking spaces.
202: Just like the guy who got here because he heard the boss was driving anyway. The parking lot here is almost empty and he still manages to crawl in. Too much.
402: No conscience, only dedication. He’s already irritating enough, so I’m reporting him for illegal parking right now.
601 (Rooftop): It’s me. Sorry if I startled you.
***
The next morning.
Yeong-a parked in the reserved spot the real-estate director had given her and sent Hwigyeom a message.
[Team Manager, I’ve arrived at the parking lot.]
Less than a second passed before his call came through.
“You gave me the card key. Why aren’t you coming up?”“
“At your house?”“
“Team Leader carrying your bag?”“
“That won’t work. It absolutely won’t.”“
He was protecting the precious bag he’d earned by refusing to take shortcuts with his feet even when he was being judged unfairly. Yeong-a couldn’t figure out why her own hands were fine.
The parking garage and Hwigyeom’s home were directly connected. He had bought an entire three-story building inside a luxury villa complex and turned it into his residence. The first floor belonged to the real-estate director, and the second and third floors were his.
The moment the elevator doors opened, Yeong-a startled badly.
“Oh my gosh!”
A shinier, more revealing outfit than anything she’d ever seen in an indoor setting lay right in front of her.
“Why are you staring?”“
Yeong-a immediately straightened her face.
“Why are you standing there?”“
“I contacted you the second you finished showering. I was worried you’d be embarrassed with no one around, so I waited.”“
It was obvious he hadn’t noticed how bare his lower half looked. Hwigyeom pointed downstairs with a nod.
“Sit in the living room for a moment.”“
He disappeared into the inner room and Yeong-a moved carefully. The marble corridor was so polished that her footprints seemed to appear the moment she stepped.
“Wow.”“
At the end of the long hallway the living room opened up, luxurious yet cozy. That was why she remembered the first time she met him.
The first time she had stood so close to a man in such a tense situation and felt strangely at ease.
Probably because of the scent that filled the room like the one inside her home right now.
Even if it wasn’t that, Hwigyeom somehow managed to pressure people while still making them feel comfortable.
Yeong-a sat on the sofa, which felt as soft as the scent, and gazed out the living-room windows. The wide veranda had been neatly planted into a garden.
“What kind of human is this.”“
Muttering, she stroked the soft sofa fabric when a button sounded.
Who was it?
Yeong-a shot to her feet. A moment later a woman in an elegant trouser suit appeared before her.
The woman’s eyes, which had been swept into a perfect ponytail, flew wide open. Yeong-a had no time to speak.
“Has this human finally gone insane?”
Before the woman’s eyes could roll back, the real-estate director, leaning on a cane, followed her inside. An elderly woman in a neat uniform came with them.
“Director, this is the new employee who joined today. Because I can’t walk, I’ve been assigned driving duty. Yu Sawon, please greet Team Leader’s mother, Director Hong Jeonghye.”“
The real-estate director explained the situation quickly.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, madam. I am Yu Yeong-a. I’m sorry I startled you.”“
Yeong-a bowed politely.
Jeonghye sat down with a thud on the sofa and fanned herself. Like the woman who had given birth to Hwigyeom, she was beautiful and carried herself with grace. Her figure was slender and she stood taller than Yeong-a.
“Whew, if the director had been even one second late, I would have fainted. But our son isn’t the type to do something like that. Please forget anything I said in anger.”“
Jeonghye winked with her eye makeup perfectly applied.
“That’s right. Hwigyeom, why did you bring a female employee into a man’s house and scare people like this?”“
At that moment Hwigyeom, impeccably dressed in a suit, stepped out of the living room.
“Is it a problem if my unmarried son’s house suddenly has a mother visiting?”“
Jeonghye startled and rolled her eyes.
“That’s exactly what you say the moment you see your mother.”“
Before she finished speaking, Hwigyeom turned to Yeong-a.
“Sit. Why are you standing there. Come. Come eat something.”“
Yeong-a trailed after him awkwardly while Jeonghye shot to her feet and walked just as quickly as she had entered.
“Oh, right. My mind… Today’s the day I’m supposed to put a pinch of dried beef tongue in the hot pot. It’s so rich that I almost forgot I brought it with me. Miss, is it heating up?”“
The seat she was pushed into felt like sitting on thorns, but the dishes on the table multiplied until Yeong-a’s eyes widened happily. The various side dishes took a lot of effort, and the meat soup was packed with thick pieces of meat.
“Please, eat while it’s hot. It must have been hard work. By the way, our son has never brought another person home except the director.”“
“Yes. I’ll eat.”“
Born in a hermitage, Yeong-a had no choice but to love meat. After confirming Hwigyeom was using his spoon, she dipped her own into the broth.
The moment it touched her tongue her eyes widened. Jeonghye smiled and asked.
“Does it taste good?”“
“It has the flavor of the wild mountain cattle I ate before. It’s so delicious.”“
Yeong-a chewed slowly, and the rich, savory taste lingered exactly as she remembered.
“How did you know? We raise our own cattle on Uldo Island. Because my father’s health is frail, we only caught one recently. Eating and drinking the good things is like medicine for people.”“
Jeonghye clapped her hands happily. Seeing her radiant smile made Yeong-a feel strangely warm too.
“I once worked as a kitchen assistant at a good Korean restaurant. The owner’s grandmother would make me taste everything and told me I had a good sense of flavor.”“
“Smiling so brightly, you must have worked hard and been praised. Our Hwigyeom will help you with your work too.”“
The thought of how she had been cursing Hwigyeom in her mind a moment ago made Yeong-a feel a twinge of guilt.
“I’ll work hard.”“
The situation was slightly awkward, but the food wasn’t to blame. It was too delicious. Even though it was simple, the taste was deep.
While Yeong-a was busy eating with wide-eyed concentration, Jeonghye suddenly tilted her head.
“Wait, where have I seen you? What was your name again?”“
Now Jeonghye was staring openly at Yeong-a.
“Yu Yeong-a.”“
“Ah… Your name is pretty.”“
“Thank you. My grandmother gave it to me.”“
After being kidnapped from the mountains and returning, a few months later, Yeong-a’s legal guardian, her grandmother, had convinced the nun Yoseop and the director to change her name. She had heard it from Uncle Park.
“That can’t be.”“
Jeonghye murmured, and before long Hwigyeom, who had emptied his bowl, set his spoon down and spoke.
“He’s cute.”“
“Look at that. Calling a grown adult ‘he’ is adorable. It’s true he looks young, but the more I see him, the cuter he gets. He eats well too.”“
Jeonghye laughed aloud and gazed at Yeong-a with affection.
Receiving an unexpected compliment for simply eating well made Yeong-a feel oddly warm. Her chest felt pleasantly heated.
A little later, inside the car heading back to the company, Yeong-a sat in the driver’s seat and Hwigyeom in the back seat with the most important position.
When the light turned red, the phone linked to the car rang. A large name flashed across the front screen.
[Suho the Guardian Angel]