Chapter 13

"Ah, there you are."

The Baek Chairman, seated at the head of the table, turned first and greeted them. To his right sat his wife, Min Yeong-ju, while directly across from her was a young girl with a youthful face, engrossed in her phone without even glancing up.

She was probably Baek Tae-ju's niece, the one living in this house whom Ha-jin had already confirmed from the files. More precisely, the daughter of Baek Tae-ju's cousin and his wife, who had tragically perished in a cruise ship accident.

And... As Ha-jin slowly scanned the people settling around the dining table, she felt a quiet sense of relief deep inside. He wasn't there. That man. The savage, dangerous predator from that night, who had loomed over her ready to sink his teeth into her throat at any moment.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Ha-jin. Come, have a seat."

Min Yeong-ju, dressed in a silk dress that softly draped her figure and her hair neatly pinned up, smiled gently and gave a slight nod.

Ha-jin looked from the Baek Chairman to Min Yeong-ju in turn, then bowed her head just politely enough—respectful, but not servile.

"Chairman Baek, and Director Min. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Yoo Ha-jin."

There were times when people threw around overly familiar greetings from the start, calling them "Father" or "Mother" just to seem endearing, but judging from the couple's personalities, this measured approach was the way to build even a sliver of goodwill.

With the two brothers fiercely vying for position right now, what the Chairman and Director would be sizing up was whether Yoo Ha-jin could truly help Baek Tae-ju and prove useful to Hosung. Tae-ju had already taken his seat, but Ha-jin didn't sit yet. She set her tote bag down and placed the shopping bag she'd been clutching so carefully onto the table, then quietly spoke.

"Since this is our first meeting, and it must have all come as quite a shock so suddenly, I prepared some gifts for you both."

Ha-jin glanced at the two gifts on the table, and for a fleeting moment, she recalled Aunt Soo-hee's advice.

"Handing over an object isn't some corny way to convey your sincerity. It's a signal that you've accurately gauged their level. At the same time, it's a chance to show off your own discernment and taste."

Steadying her breath, Ha-jin first met the Chairman's eyes and carefully slid the paulownia wood box toward him.

"The moment I entered Wolsongwon, I spotted Master Jang I-so's white porcelain at the far end of the foyer. I worried the whole way here if I'd chosen well, but it looks like my fears were unfounded."

The Chairman tilted his head, chuckling as if amused, watching Ha-jin with her calm smile.

"You know Jang I-so's white porcelain? I heard you work at Executive Director Yoo's gallery. Glad we might actually have some conversation after all."

The Chairman let out a hearty laugh as he opened the lid of the box Ha-jin had offered. Ha-jin didn't miss the flicker of surprise on his face. Inside was a neatly bound limited-edition facsimile of the Masterpiece Album from the Jansong Art Museum Collection.

"This is something even patrons barely got their hands on—a non-sale item..."

Seeing the Chairman trail off unusually and stroke the cover, Ha-jin spoke up.

"My aunt was a sponsor during the museum's reconstruction. She received it as thanks and kept it ever since. Since you treasure and care for such fine white porcelain, I thought you'd value this book just as much as she did."

The Chairman's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Adjusting his reading glasses, he turned to the first page. As the perfectly reproduced landscape painting by Jeong Seon, the master of true-view mountains and rivers, unfolded on the heavy stock paper, a faint smile of satisfaction curved the lips of the seasoned collector.

This wasn't the crude gesture of some nouveau riche flashing an expensive trinket. The realization that someone with such refined taste might join the family stirred a strange thrill in him.

"Jansong, huh. To think the treasures he preserved will share space with my porcelain. Miss Ha-jin, you've got quite the eye."

The Chairman's pleased laughter filled the dining room. Ha-jin turned to Min Yeong-ju, who wore a subtle smile beside him, and offered her something in a deep navy velvet case.

"And for you, Director. Since you face precious artworks every day, I thought this might suit you. I put a lot of thought into choosing it."

A rare spark of excitement flickered in the eyes of the woman who rarely showed emotion. After a brief thank you, Min Yeong-ju opened the case. Nestled on the crimson cushioned lining was an antique loupe, its exquisite silverwork standing out. The metal frame around the lens, etched with intricate patterns, was unobtainable today and a work of art in itself.

"I found it in a New York antique shop. It's a loupe from around the 1880s, probably from a noble collection, so I thought it would suit you perfectly."

Instead of replying, Min Yeong-ju picked it up and held it to the light. As a gallery director, she'd received countless bribes and gifts, but few praised her professional integrity so elegantly. After quietly examining it, she finally broke the silence.

"What a discerning young lady. I should tell our gallery curators to learn a thing or two from this sensibility."

The Chairman valued tradition and authority; Min Yeong-ju prized expertise and respect. Ha-jin's perfectly calculated opening move had just pried a small crack in Wolsongwon's formidable walls.

While Aunt Soo-hee and Baek Tae-ju had laid the groundwork and built the stairs, these meticulous, insightful touches from start to finish were all Ha-jin's ideas.

Caught off guard from an unexpected angle, Baek Tae-ju stared at her with widened eyes before letting out a low, wry chuckle. When he looked up again, his gaze held undisguisable satisfaction.

Ha-jin met his eyes, a hint of pride in her own, but quickly lowered them lest anyone catch the signal.

Her opening shot had been a perfect success. But she knew full well this was just the prelude. The real battle would likely unfold over the course of this dinner.

On the surface, this gathering was Ha-jin meeting her fiancé's parents, and the Chairman and his wife meeting their prospective daughter-in-law for the first time. But in truth, it was a testing ground.

From what she'd heard, Aunt Soo-hee had some past connection with the Chairman, but it hadn't ended well. Whether it was a massive fight or some messy affair, no one knew the details, and there was zero info on how they'd even crossed paths.

From the Chairman's perspective, the niece of an acquaintance he'd parted with on bad terms—someone whose own niece had once gone missing, no less—was back, sidling up to his son and declaring she wanted to marry him.

He seemed pleased with the gifts, but... He was a thorough businessman, a shrewd gambler, and a calculating strategist. Gratitude for her qualifications and the presents were entirely separate matters. She had no idea how he'd test or probe her.

Min Yeong-ju, on the other hand, wouldn't be so tough. Built for arranged marriages to reap benefits for both families, she'd landed a snake like the Chairman, so she wasn't ordinary, but at least she wouldn't require agonizing over every angle.

In the midst of the adults exchanging pleasantries laced with goodwill, the girl who'd been glued to her phone finally seemed to feel left out and stole a glance at Ha-jin. Ha-jin deliberately met her eyes and smiled, crinkling the corners.

"You're Na-young, right? Tae-ju's niece. Nice to meet you."

Her porcelain-pale skin and doll-like features made her strikingly beautiful, every bit the poised member of this household. Na-young awkwardly worked her lips before bowing her head like a glitchy robot.

"Baek Na-young. Greet her properly."

At Baek Tae-ju's low warning, Na-young pouted sulkily and grudgingly opened her mouth again.

"Hel... lo."

Was it 'hello,' 'hi,' or just 'hey'? Muttering so incomprehensibly, she spat out a curt greeting and sulked even more.