Chapter 13
Seungjo’s mother had never been an ordinary person.
She was one of the few people Na-ae had ever truly acknowledged throughout her long life.
In the end, hadn’t the child also given birth to a smart son, just like herself?
Thinking of Seungjo, Na-ae smiled contentedly.
Seungjo had inherited both the sharp brain of his clever birth mother and her beautiful appearance. He had been exceptionally bright since childhood, different from others, and just like his mother, he possessed strong masculine desires and bold ambition—truly a grandson to be proud of.
Na-ae looked down at Serin. She had personally chosen a suitable partner for such a grandson.
Serin, aware of Haejoo for the first time, glanced at her. Having just been clinging to Na-ae’s arm with a pitiful expression, Serin now gave Haejoo a sharp, scrutinizing look.
Who is that woman anyway?
Her whole demeanor bristled with wariness like a wildcat, but when Serin turned back to Na-ae, her face quickly softened back to a sweet and delicate look.
“Elder, have you not been feeling well lately? My father often visits an oriental medicine clinic during the change of seasons. Shall I take you there?”
“No need to fuss. When you get older, your circulation just doesn’t work as well. Earlier, I had tea with Chairman Hwang from Johwan Trading, and now my legs are tingling.”
“I’ve always thought you were in great health, but seeing you like this makes me uneasy. Elder, next time, I’ll bring you some herbal medicine that’s good for circulation.”
“No need for that either. I’ve got talented doctors, acupuncture, and herbs if I want. But none of them are better than Haejoo’s hands!”
“What?”
Serin blinked her pretty eyes in surprise as Na-ae shouted in annoyance.
Na-ae’s gaze was on Haejoo, who, with her slender back turned, was diligently massaging Na-ae’s calves without stopping.
Haejoo made no unnecessary noise and worked silently, as if she’d done this countless times before.
Feeling Haejoo’s warm yet firm touch, Na-ae’s lips curled up lazily. Watching the quiet and comfortable familiarity between the two, Serin’s face stiffened for a brief moment.
“Is this Haejoo?”
“Yes, my Gwak family’s niece. I suppose this is your first time seeing her.”
“Gwak family… you mean one of your household staff? But why would the niece of a servant be in your bedroom…? I can bring a skilled masseuse for you, Elder!”
Serin frowned as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have. The curiosity in her eyes toward Haejoo quickly turned into a condescending gaze, looking down on the relative of a servant.
“Haejoo has been massaging my legs for over ten years now. It’s hard to find someone as quiet, trustworthy, and steady as her.”
“…Over ten years? Then you’re saying a servant’s niece has been coming and going here for ten years?”
Serin asked again in surprise, her face growing more uncomfortable. She shot Haejoo a sharp look.
Na-ae let out a slow, amused laugh.
“Why? Are you worried she and Seungjo might have exchanged glances or something?”
“Of course not! There’s no way Seungjo would ever pay attention to a servant’s niece!”
Serin flushed red like someone doused in hot water and shouted. Her every word insulted Haejoo, cutting deep, but Haejoo simply continued to move her fingers quietly.
“Exactly. Seungjo’s not that kind of person. Don’t worry.”
Serin bit her beautifully painted lower lip and clung even tighter to Na-ae’s arm. Na-ae patted the back of her hand soothingly and smiled.
“Oh dear. I didn’t realize our Serin was so jealous. Over nothing at all.”
Na-ae added:
“Haejoo.”
“Yes, Elder.”
“Serin is the girl who will marry Seungjo. You’ll be seeing her often around here from now on, so don’t make any mistakes.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“If she’s going to be Seungjo’s wife, she’s as good as Seungjo’s other half. You’re smart, so you know exactly what I mean, right?”
Haejoo lowered her head briefly. Clinging even more tightly to Na-ae, Serin straightened her back and beamed proudly.
The seat next to Taehwa Group’s Managing Director, Seungjo, belongs to me—Kang Serin!
Just as Serin pressed herself even closer to Na-ae with growing affection, Aunt Suni’s voice rang out again.
“Elder, the Managing Director just arrived as well.”
“What? That brat? Didn’t he go golfing with Chairman Kang? Why’s he back so soon?”
Na-ae frowned in surprise. She was so flustered that she pushed Haejoo away with her smooth foot as the girl massaged her leg.
“Ah…”
Her thigh stung from where Na-ae’s foot had struck, but Haejoo quickly stood up and bowed. As she hurried to grab her bag—
“Go, quickly! Head out through the side wing so you don’t run into Seungjo!”
Na-ae barked sharply, chasing Haejoo out.
Serin, smiling with satisfaction, watched Haejoo’s retreat—just as the door opened.
“…!”
There stood Seungjo, with his suit jacket slung over one arm and a few buttons on his shirt lazily undone, holding the doorknob.
His eyes, after briefly glancing over Na-ae and Serin clinging tightly together, shifted toward Haejoo—who was trying to flee the room.
“I made myself perfectly clear. If you wanted a massage, you should have gone out or let me arrange a professional.”
Seungjo’s cold, level voice cut sharply through the air in the room.
Haejoo, trapped by Seungjo’s tall frame standing at the door, couldn’t escape his sight, nor could she flee.
“Ahem, you brat. Haejoo came because she wanted to see me!”
Na-ae, flustered, quickly covered her exposed calf under her dress. Her seasoned face only ever showed such embarrassment in front of her grandson, Seungjo.
“Th-that’s right! I don’t know what misunderstanding you’re having, but when Elder told her to stop, that Gwak family niece just kept massaging on her own!”
Serin, equally startled by Seungjo’s appearance, quickly chimed in to support Na-ae’s explanation.
Of course, she was also completely captivated by Seungjo’s handsome face, but even in that state, she was sharp enough to assess the situation and take Na-ae’s side.
“You should at least lie to someone who might believe you.”
Seungjo sneered coolly. His gaze, however, wasn’t on Na-ae or Serin, but on Haejoo—who had frozen at his voice.
He had just returned from playing screen golf with Chairman Kang of Sungjin Group.
Chairman Kang had even suggested dinner, but Seungjo had felt nothing but boredom. Ever since leaving the office, Haejoo had been on his mind. The thought of her had been too overpowering, making it easy for him to decline the dinner offer without much thought.
‘Didn’t Elder Hong say the wedding can wait but the engagement should happen soon? It’s all to make sure Sungjin Group fully supports us, giving you more power.’
‘A wedding takes time to prepare, but an engagement? We can set that up by next month, easily.’
Chairman Kang had said, trying to soften Seungjo’s earlier rejection, as he changed out of his golf clothes.
An engagement ceremony with Kang Serin, next month.
Seungjo had listened to it all with the same detachment he gave to conference reports.
Then… he thought of Sun Haejoo.
The woman who always clung to him, gasping for breath, trembling whenever their eyes met.
Haejoo, who always unsettled him.
Somehow… she felt like the first person who would cry upon hearing the news of his engagement.
That was why Seungjo headed straight for Taehwa Street in Seongbuk-dong.
His real purpose was to delay the engagement with Kang Serin.
‘Who’s it for?’
‘Ah… Managing Director, that’s…’
While walking past the dining room, the smell of food stopped him.
Housekeeper Suni was carefully packing side dishes into a lunch box.
Seungjo had seen this scene from her before, several times.
And on days like this, there was always that faint rose scent lingering in Na-ae’s room—a scent that Seungjo now recognized better than anyone else.
‘Is she in Madam Hong’s room right now?’
Brushing past the trembling Suni who couldn’t answer, Seungjo walked straight to Na-ae’s room.
Sure enough, they were talking about his marriage, and among the mixture of women’s voices… one voice stood out too clearly.
Sun Haejoo.
Seungjo furrowed his brows dangerously.
And when he opened the door… there she was.
Standing there trembling, like someone caught mid-escape.
