Wedding Ending Chapter 21

As Min Jaeyoon entered first, the male manager moving inside noticed him first and came down the stairs.

“Executive Director Kang. What brings you all the way here without notice…?”

A look of welcome appeared on the manager’s face. Min Jaeyoon answered as if stepping between the two.

“I was passing by and thought of the food here.”

“Is that so? Welcome. I will guide you inside.”

Following the manager, they walked around the U-shaped daecheongmaru (wooden-floored main hall). Everywhere they moved, items were carefully arranged like a place where ancient yangbans (nobles) enjoyed the arts. Passing through rooms decorated with bungap (low stationery chest), gobi (wall-hanging letter holder), and seowan (writing desk), the hexagonal door of ‘Dodamroo’ opened.

“I will prepare it right away.”

The manager bowed his waist toward Kang Seunghyun, turned around, and walked back hurriedly the way he came. Min Jaeyoon went inside and took a seat. The scent of the interior made of hinoki cypress brightly awakened his head. The wide wooden table seemed like its grain was alive and breathing.

Kang Seunghyun sat opposite and took off the coat he was wearing. Min Jaeyoon snatched it before it fell to the floor and hung it on a hanger. Then he also took off the ivory coat he was wearing.

Since it is currently December, all the windows were closed so it couldn’t be seen, but this was a place where one could feel all the colors of spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Also, it was good when it rained, and when the weather was clear, it was good because one could look up at the clear sky.

As a hanok built on a vast piece of land, no stuffiness could be found. Listening to the sound of birds and the wind chime hanging under the eaves, one could feel leisure amidst comfort.

Min Jaeyoon placed one hand on the table and rested his chin on it. He carefully examined the face of Kang Seunghyun right in front of him. The corners of his eyes tilted upward and his finely set facial features harbored an aura that was hard to approach easily.

“If you stay still, you can’t even tell.”

No one would ever imagine that Kang Seunghyun was hurt. However, his mouth was the problem.

“Did we hook up here too?”

“No! You weren’t that kind of person….”

Min Jaeyoon raised his voice in anger, then rapidly lowered it. If anyone else heard, it would be main headline news material. Min Jaeyoon pressed his temples firmly with both hands. Let’s endure. Must endure… The opponent was a patient. Once he recovered his memories, everything would be resolved smoothly. But that was easier said than done.

In front of Kang Seunghyun, a bowl of yeonhyang samgyetang with rich, milky broth was placed. It was food eaten at royal banquets.

“I was very worried after seeing news of your accident on TV, Executive Director.”

The manager spoke toward Kang Seunghyun, but the answer came from Min Jaeyoon.

“He just slipped a little on the icy road, but the reporters exaggerated it.”

“Still, it is such a relief that it wasn’t a major issue.”

The manager set the specially made samgyetang in front of Min Jaeyoon as well. The fresh green herbs served as side dishes were all well-dried, allowing one to taste and smell the nature as it was. The seasoning was very mild. And in front of Min Jaeyoon, a small brazier was placed. Next to it, red-tinted Hanwoo striploin was added. Kang Seunghyun looked at the manager.

The manager said as if flustered,

“Since you don’t eat meat in the morning… Should I bring some?”

The manager knew the two people’s food preferences inside out. Min Jaeyoon curled his fingertips under the table, nervous that Kang Seunghyun might say something strange. It was a moment he pondered whether to kick him with his foot. Kang Seunghyun answered with an expressionless face.

“Yeah. Unconditionally the same.”

The manager gave instructions to the person who was putting down side dishes. After she left, the manager personally set down the rest.

Min Jaeyoon swallowed hard. He glanced sideways at the manager’s complexion. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to find it strange. No, rather, it looked as if he couldn’t even think it was strange, overwhelmed by Kang Seunghyun’s presence.

After the manager left, Min Jaeyoon put two pieces of meat on the brazier. While doing so, he also put some on Kang Seunghyun’s brazier. While the meat was cooking, Min Jaeyoon sprinkled salt gently into the samgyetang bowl. Suddenly, he spoke in a hurry.

“Don’t sprinkle salt. Try it first.”

Stopping mid-motion of trying to do the same, Kang Seunghyun picked up his spoon. He scooped up the deeply brewed broth and ate it. As if it suited his palate, he took another bite. Min Jaeyoon added as he tossed salt in,

“You really eat so blandly. Completely opposite from me.”

While Min Jaeyoon liked sweet, salty, and spicy things, Kang Seunghyun only sought foods that were bland by his standards.

“Lately I’ve been busy so I couldn’t come often, but when I was sick as a child I came here to eat samgyetang. You ate the food here very well.”

Kang Seunghyun nodded almost imperceptibly. Min Jaeyoon quickly grabbed the cooked meat from the brazier and popped it into his mouth. Kang Seunghyun moved his chopsticks slowly. After putting a piece of meat in his mouth and chewing a few times, he furrowed his brow.

“See. You can’t eat it, right? So I’m eating this.”

Even though Kang Seunghyun didn’t say anything, Min Jaeyoon skillfully caught on. He slid over a piece of meat on Kang Seunghyun’s brazier.

Min Jaeyoon officially used both braziers. While Kang Seunghyun mostly ate the mild samgyetang, Min Jaeyoon attacked the meat.

“Try this too.”

He pushed the side dish Kang Seunghyun enjoyed eating in front of him. And while the meat was cooking, he also took a spoonful of samgyetang. Min Jaeyoon seemed busy talking and taking care of him.

“…Small appetite, you really require a lot of work anyway.”

Min Jaeyoon scolded Kang Seunghyun, who had set down his chopsticks at some point and was watching him eat. Even though they were brothers, he was completely different from Kang Jion. Min Jaeyoon stopped his hands and put down his spoon.

“If it were Jion hyung, he would have eaten all of this and ordered more.”

Naturally, food tastes better when the person eating with you eats well. But Kang Seunghyun, who was a picky eater, always barely touched his food. Min Jaeyoon’s personality became several times more aggressive whenever he ate with such Kang Seunghyun. Because he didn’t eat properly to the point of worrying him, Min Jaeyoon often couldn’t eat properly himself while looking after him.

“Order more.”

Kang Seunghyun barked sternly.

“No, I’m not saying I want to eat more… Let’s just go.”

Min Jaeyoon waved his hand. He stood up as if backing off and grabbed his coat. Kang Seunghyun received his coat and put it on. Min Jaeyoon glanced down at his bowl. It wasn’t even half empty. Truly, just like before. Kang Seunghyun was a person more sensitive than he looked. While his work processing was perfect, he skipped meals. Even if his brain couldn’t remember that fact, did his body know?

“Are you leaving already? Was the food to your liking?”

The manager came down the stairs. He asked toward Kang Seunghyun, but his head suddenly turned backward. Min Jaeyoon flinched.

Kang Seunghyun spoke with an unperturbed face.

“Was it delicious?”

“Huh? Yeah….”

Min Jaeyoon nodded repeatedly without realizing it. The corners of Kang Seunghyun’s mouth subtly lifted.

“If you liked it, that’s enough.”

The manager, seeing Kang Seunghyun’s smiling face for the first time, had a puzzled look, but soon wore the same smile at Kang Seunghyun’s satisfied gaze. The two were seen off by the manager and came out past the stone wall. The Mercedes driven by Min Jaeyoon smoothly backed up and then moved forward.

💍

Yeonjin Group engaged in various social economic activities besides hotel and duty-free business. Privately, it sponsored Aram Hospital, and publicly, it supported the Tennis Association.

“We practiced together over there.”

Min Jaeyoon recited while pointing at the tennis court beyond the wire fence. Perhaps because it snowed not long ago, it looked desolate. Because the ground was frozen, there was no one training outdoors. This place was also equipped with a separate indoor gymnasium.

“Us?”

“Yeah. You, me, Jion hyung… and….”

Min Jaeyoon trailed off. He turned around and faced Kang Seunghyun.

‘It would be better to tell the truth. Who I like….’

Kang Seunghyun was looking far out at the tennis court. Min Jaeyoon nibbled on his lips as if looking for the right timing.

Yeonjin Group provided extensive support, from the food athletes ate, to the uniforms and shoes they wore, rackets, and a place where they could focus purely on training. And backed by that support, key star players were produced one after another. Among them, the one who made the biggest name was the Omega, Lee Yuseong.