When Onsan-daek and Park Jin-hyuk entered the house, the sight inside was even more overwhelming than outside.
As Onsan-daek stepped in, all the staff working inside came out to greet her.
Their greetings weren’t the rigid, reverent bows reserved for a master, but rather, each greeted Onsan-daek with the respect one would offer an elder, not just a colleague.
“Alright, alright. Has everyone been well?”
Onsan-daek took each approaching hand, greeting them one by one.
Then she approached Oh Seo-young, who was standing at the back, quietly observing the scene.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes, Onsan-daek. It’s been a while since you’ve come here too.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to visit often.”
“No need to be sorry. You’re here too, Jin-hyuk?”
Park Jin-hyuk took a step closer to Oh Seo-young, who had acknowledged him.
“I’m sorry for causing a disturbance this morning.”
“It’s alright. It’s not much of a disturbance. It used to be far noisier here in the old days. Now it’s actually peaceful. Just wait a bit; breakfast will take some time.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The fierce look and readiness to pounce that Oh Seo-young usually showed toward Park Jin-hyuk were gone.
Her darkened under-eyes and pronounced cheekbones betrayed her exhaustion.
‘She must be having a hard time because of her family.’
He had heard that Oh Jung-heon, chairman of Hansung Group, had avoided detention.
But even though he avoided it, there were rumors that he was now under investigation for embezzlement.
Additionally, the investigation into tax evasion was reaching its final stage and was expected to head to trial soon.
Although Hansung hadn’t directly opposed the government, when trouble came around, they’d fanned the flames from the side, earning unavoidable criticism.
Moreover, Hansung Group had never built solid foundations within the bureaucratic circles.
Unlike DS and other major conglomerates, they had no established connections, so regardless of changing administrations every five years, they always had to tread carefully.
Oh Seo-young had tried to use DS’s network to help her father.
But with Park Jun-man refusing to intervene, Oh Seo-young had run herself ragged trying to support Oh Jung-heon, leaving her looking completely worn out, like a wet broom.
As Oh Seo-young finished speaking and was about to turn away, Park Seo-eun appeared in pajamas, her hair disheveled, heading toward where Park Jin-hyuk stood.
She glanced at Park Jin-hyuk, Onsan-daek, and the staff welcoming them, then sneered.
“Who’s the master and who’s the servant, I wonder? If being old is all it takes to earn respect, what’s the point of making money? Or do they still believe the dead are alive?”
Though she spoke as if to herself, her words were deliberately loud for everyone to hear, then she turned and headed back toward her room.
“I must not feel like breakfast, seeing an unwelcome face first thing. I’m going back to sleep, so don’t wake me.”
Park Seo-eun shot a mocking look at Park Jin-hyuk before turning away.
Park Jin-hyuk looked over at Oh Seo-young.
‘Children behave like this because of their parents.’
There aren’t many reasons for a much younger sister to hate her brother.
Besides, Park Jin-hyuk had lived abroad from a young age.
Even after returning, he rarely came home, busy causing trouble.
And considering he’d been living away recently, Park Jin-hyuk and Park Seo-eun’s paths hardly crossed.
Yet, if she was so openly hostile, he could only think it was Oh Seo-young’s influence.
He had no intention of improving his relationship with Park Seo-eun, but he couldn’t understand Oh Seo-young’s willingness to use her own daughter.
Normally, Oh Seo-young would have enjoyed her daughter mocking Park Jin-hyuk on her behalf, but today, she didn’t seem to have the energy.
“She’s just not fully awake, so don’t mind her. Let’s go in.”
Oh Seo-young led Park Jin-hyuk to the living room, while Onsan-daek rolled up her sleeves and strode toward the kitchen, checking on the state of the house as she went.
Park Jin-hyuk glanced at the staff being scolded by Onsan-daek, then headed into the living room.
There, Park Jun-man looked up at him from where he sat.
“You’re here.”
“Yes.”
Park Jin-hyuk greeted Park Jun-man and sat at one end of the sofa.
Just then, as if waiting for the moment, Park Sang-hyuk ran over and hugged Park Jin-hyuk.
Although siblings from Oh Seo-young’s womb, Park Sang-hyuk was nothing like Park Seo-eun.
He approached Jin-hyuk with warmth and said,
“I missed you so much, hyung. What brings you here so early?”
“Did you come out without washing up? Go clean up quickly. We’re about to eat.”
“Okay. I usually skip breakfast, but since you’re here, I’ll eat. Wait for me, hyung.”
Even with his engagement ceremony over and the wedding ahead, Park Sang-hyuk looked as innocent as ever.
Maybe it was just because he was with Park Jin-hyuk, but in any case, it wasn’t a look that would please Oh Seo-young.
Watching Sang-hyuk disappear to wash up like a child, Oh Seo-young sighed.
Even though the family had gathered after a long time, no one spoke.
Park Jun-man read the newspaper, Park Jin-hyuk gazed quietly at the sunlight streaming through the window, and Oh Seo-young looked too tired to speak.
Each occupied their own corner of the sofa in silence.
“Breakfast is ready.”
After about thirty minutes, a staff member announced that the meal was ready.
Park Jun-man nodded, folded his newspaper, and stood up. Park Jin-hyuk and Oh Seo-young followed, heading to the dining table.
By now, Onsan-daek was in an apron, organizing the dishes on the table to welcome Park Jun-man and the others.
“Chairman. It’s been a while.”
“Yes, Onsan-daek, it truly has. Does your visit mean we get to taste those dishes from the old days?”
“I’ve prepared things I know you’ll like.”
Though not long in Hannam-dong, Onsan-daek already seemed to have the system and familiarity to prepare everything efficiently.
Seeing her lay out dishes tailored to Park Jin-hyuk and Park Jun-man’s tastes, Park Jin-hyuk realized the meals he’d had at Hannam-dong before were different from those of the past.
‘So these are the old dishes. Before, it was all to Oh Seo-young’s taste…’
Even at the dining table, he could feel Oh Seo-young’s stubborn efforts to erase the past.
And it probably wasn’t limited to the table.
She had clearly tried to erase every trace of Park Jin-hyuk’s late birth mother from the house.
But hearing Onsan-daek’s words, it was clear she had managed to protect them.
‘When she said she risked her life to protect them, she wasn’t exaggerating.’
He couldn’t know what struggles Onsan-daek had gone through to protect Hannam-dong from Oh Seo-young, but considering her status as housekeeper and the new wife, it was certainly not an easy feat.
And now, Onsan-daek wasn’t even here all the time.
Yet, seeing no change, it seemed her efforts were still holding strong.
Oh Seo-young had probably given up by now, recognizing Onsan-daek’s fierce determination.
Park Jin-hyuk looked at Onsan-daek with gratitude for her efforts.
Onsan-daek, her gaze warmer than ever, placed food before Park Jin-hyuk and spoke.
“Eat a lot with your family today. Seeing you eat alone before always broke this old woman’s heart, but watching you dine with family again…”
Onsan-daek didn’t finish her sentence. She quickly turned away, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.
“I’m sorry. How foolish of me, getting sentimental before a meal… Please, enjoy.”
Hurriedly, Onsan-daek withdrew from the table.
“Onsan-daek cares for you deeply.”
“Yes. I know.”
“Be good to her. Now, you’re the only family she has left.”
She’d never married, and when she arrived at Dongjeong Industries, she’d already parted ways with her own family.
As Park Jun-man said, Park Jin-hyuk was now her only family.
As he tasted the meal Onsan-daek had lovingly prepared, warmth spread through him.
But before it faded, Onsan-daek’s sharp voice rang out across the dining table.
“I told you, just because I can’t see or touch it doesn’t mean you can neglect cleaning! Are your ears just decoration, like everyone else? Or did you just stick them on your shoulders for show?”
It hadn’t even been five minutes since she’d wiped away her tears, yet Onsan-daek’s commanding voice echoed from the kitchen to the dining table.
“Haven’t heard that in a while.”
Park Jun-man dismissed it, Oh Seo-young ignored it, and even Park Sang-hyuk came running at the sound—clearly, Onsan-daek’s scolding was an everyday occurrence.
“Hyung, so what brings you here today?”
As soon as he sat, Park Sang-hyuk grinned at Park Jin-hyuk.
Up until then, Park Jun-man and Park Jin-hyuk had simply exchanged looks, both unwilling to speak first for fear of losing the initiative in the conversation.
Oh Seo-young also knew Jin-hyuk hadn’t come just for breakfast, but didn’t speak up, instinctively feeling she wasn’t the main character in today’s story.
While everyone was treading carefully, Park Sang-hyuk easily broke the ice by speaking first.
Realizing all his careful planning was useless, Park Jin-hyuk smiled, and Park Jun-man, seeing the smile, finally spoke.
“You came because you have something to say to me, didn’t you?”
With Park Jun-man’s brief words, the mood at the table grew heavy.
Sensing the change, Park Sang-hyuk quietly ate, observing Jin-hyuk and Jun-man.
“I think you already have an idea why I’m here.”
“And?”
“I want to know what you think about it.”
“My thoughts? Are they that important to you now?”
As he spoke, Park Jun-man set his chopsticks on the table and half-turned to face Park Jin-hyuk.
His posture showed that, to him, the conversation now mattered more than eating.
Yet Park Jin-hyuk didn’t stop moving his spoon and chopsticks.
Still eating, he said,
“Will you handle it yourself? Or shall I?”
“Can you do it?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t. If someone had come after me directly, I wouldn’t have asked for your opinion. But whether they did it knowingly or just cared more about what’s in front of them, someone tried to lay hands on what’s yours. That’s why I came to ask.”
Oh Seo-young paused her meal and listened to the conversation.
She’d guessed as much when she saw Jin-hyuk arrive.
If she’d been in her right mind, she might have tried to stop what they’d done.
Now, seeing the scene, she knew her instincts weren’t wrong.
‘Looks like trouble’s finally come.’
Oh Seo-young sighed quietly and shook her head.
Park Jin-hyuk didn’t miss her gesture.
“Surely the Director isn’t involved too, is she?”
“Your mother wouldn’t have had the energy to get involved. Don’t go suspecting useless things.”
Before Oh Seo-young could speak, Park Jun-man cut in, firmly distancing her from her uncles.
Seeing this, Park Jin-hyuk grinned broadly.
“That’s a relief. With Sang-hyuk engaged now, I’m glad you stayed out of it.”
Whether Park Jin-hyuk was sincerely relieved or disappointed, Sang-hyuk couldn’t tell.
And he had no idea what they were talking about, either.
The three adults all seemed to share some secret, but Sang-hyuk dared not ask.
The mood was entirely out of place for a breakfast table.
Park Jin-hyuk nodded briefly, then looked at Park Jun-man.
“They’re trying to touch what’s yours. Won’t you deal with it yourself?”
“You came because you didn’t want me to, didn’t you? Do as you wish.”
Park Jin-hyuk gave a deep nod at Park Jun-man’s answer.
That was exactly why he’d come—to prevent Park Jun-man from intervening.
He offered Park Jun-man a grateful smile.
If Park Jun-man intervened, it might all end quietly.
But if things went wrong, even DS could take a major hit, so Park Jun-man might’ve tried to wrap things up with minimal punishment for Park Soo-man and Park Kyung-man.
But Park Jin-hyuk didn’t want that; that’s why he’d come for a clear answer.
Park Jun-man seemed to see right through his heart.
Park Jin-hyuk took a spoonful of soup and said,
“Then I’ll handle it myself, as I wish.”
Park Jun-man shook his head and sighed.
In his sigh, Oh Seo-young sensed that Park Soo-man and Park Kyung-man’s mistakes were not minor.
She looked at Park Jun-man again.
Perhaps he hadn’t intervened directly in Hansung Group’s affairs and had let Oh Seo-young act precisely because he foresaw this situation.