Chapter – 15
“Son, you’re here? Your father wants to talk after dinner. Come to the dining room quickly to eat.”
“Yes.”
Taewook took off the suit jacket he was wearing, handed it to the housemaid, loosened his tie with a slight shake, and headed towards the dining room.
It had been a long time since all four family members had a meal together at the main house, so the table was laden with food, enough to make the table legs groan.
“Taewook, you like braised fish, don’t you? Eat a lot. Jeongwook, you like japchae, so have plenty.”
Bu-hyeon, struggling alone to keep the conversation going amiably among the three silent men, continued speaking kindly.
After finishing the meal, the four of them gathered in the living room.
Hwechan sat on the single-seater sofa, the seat of honor, while the two sons and Buhyeon sat on the long sofa.
“The reason I called you, Taewook…”
Hwechan took a sip of his dried dandelion flower tea and continued.
“…is to inform you that Jeongwook will be joining your team.”
At this thunderbolt out of the blue, Taewook’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.
He placed his hands on the table and let out a short, stifled sigh.
“That can’t happen, Father.”
“Why not? Putting you in that position was also my decision. I’ve heard all about the meaningful results you’ve achieved as the head of the Business Support Team, so this time, take good care of your younger brother and make a proper man out of him.”
“Father.”
“He himself says he wants to work under you and do his best. It seems he’s finally come to his senses. If I don’t trust you, who would I trust, Taewook?”
His attitude was markedly different from when he dealt with Jeongwook. Feeling compared yet again, even here, Jeongwook pressed his lips tightly together.
Taewook seemed to hesitate for a moment, lost in thought, but soon opened his mouth to voice his opinion once more.
“Even so, having brothers on the same team could cause confusion. Moreover, since we’re twins, the team members might mix up our faces.”
“They might at first. But won’t they tell you apart as time goes on? You, moving with the authority of the team leader, and Jeongwook, awkwardly sitting in an intern position receiving instruction—fewer and fewer people will mistake the intern for the team leader. Your posture and demeanor will be different.”
…There it was again. The continuous, subtly flying words of disregard and comparison.
He was the one who wasn’t acknowledged in the world of men, the family’s sole problem child, the outsider, the lonely existence.
Jeongwook let out a quiet breath through his nose and averted his gaze downward.
When no suitable answer came from Taewook, Hwechan began persuading him again.
“Is there a law that says identical twins can’t be on the same team? Anyway, you’ll be promoted to department head soon, but if you’re uncomfortable being in the same team, I can expedite your promotion a bit.”
“Pardon?”
“Then, you won’t actually be on the same team as Jeongwook for very long. Since he’ll be an intern for two years, I’ll have you promoted within that time, so just take good care of him for a few months. I’m sure he’ll learn a thing or two by watching his older brother.”
Taewook, whose time as the Business Support Team leader was nearing its end and who was scheduled to soon become the general department head of the Business Management Division, looked even more displeased.
Seeing his brother’s expression, Jeongwook let out a sigh and leaned back against the sofa in a somewhat languid posture.
“Hyung, Father is giving me a chance like this. I’ll work hard from now on. So you have to teach me a lot, okay? I’m counting on you, Hyung?”
Jeongwook spoke in a smooth tone and gave a wink, scrunching his face playfully.
Taewook looked utterly exasperated. As Hwechan added a few more words of persuasion, as if coaxing him, Taewook found himself unable to refuse any further.
“Now that both my sons are focusing on the company, my mind is at ease. Until now, my heart felt heavy only seeing Taewook, but since my second son says he’ll try to come to his senses, I’ll keep a close eye on you. Understood, Choi Jeongwook?”
At Hwechan’s sharp eyes and stern voice, Jeongwook gave a slight, satisfied smile.
“Of course, Father. I’ll do my best in Hyung’s team to live up to your expectations. I’ll also build strong bonds with the team members.”
Taewook let out a deep sigh. His face remained stiff the entire time.
So this is why he called me here.
Although he expressed his refusal because he was uncomfortable with welcoming Jeongwook to his team, he ultimately couldn’t go against his father’s will.
‘If I get promoted to department head and leave… then only Seol-ah and Choi Jeongwook would remain behind, wouldn’t they?’
He clenched his fist resting on his knee, applying steady pressure.
* * *
After the frustrating family tea time, which likely only frustrated Taewook.
Buhyeon gave him some insam (ginseng) water she had prepared in advance for the health of her eldest son who lived alone.
“Although the housekeeper takes good care of you, this is precious, so keep it well in the refrigerator and drink it often. Okay? You strain your body working.”
“Thank you.”
Taewook bowed his head slightly and took the paper bag Buhyeon had prepared for him.
Although she had hired a skilled housemaid for her eldest son who lived alone, she still occasionally gave him food like this.
“Oh, look at me. Wait a moment. I bought some healthy supplements for you. I’ll go get them.”
Buhyeon clapped her hands together and hurried into her room with quick, short steps.
Taewook, who was about to leave, stopped to wait for her.
As he waited, he suddenly noticed Jeongwook on the second-floor railing, staring straight down at him.
The faint, peculiar smile on his face and the gaze staring quietly down at him were unpleasant.
Without breaking his stare at Jeongwook, Taewook moved his steps towards the second-floor staircase.
Jeongwook, meeting his gaze directly as his brother appeared on the second floor, playfully raised both palms in a surrender gesture.
“I surrender.”
Taewook narrowed his eyes and approached, dragging his slippers.
The paper bag in his hand swung heavily.
“What scary thing are you planning to say now?”
As Jeongwook acted scared, pretending to flinch, his behavior seemed even more ridiculous, prompting Taewook to let out a scornful laugh and offer sharp advice.
“What are you thinking?”
“About what?”
“Why do you suddenly want to come to this company, and to my team of all places?”
A moment from the past, when Jeongwook had a heated argument with Taewook at the main house, flashed through his mind.
“I don’t even remember past events. Don’t think about doing unnecessary things; just focus on your own work properly.”
“I have no work to focus on? I don’t have a job like you, Hyung. Didn’t you know?”
“Is that something to boast about? Live diligently, little brother. Don’t harm the family by lazing around like a good-for-nothing.”
“Hyung told me to live diligently.”
One of Taewook’s eyebrows twitched.
“So I changed my mind. I’m going to work hard now, Hyung.”
“……”
“At everything.”
Seeing the meaningful smile on Jeongwook’s lips, Taewook’s mouth hardened into a firm line.
Now that his father had decided to have him join the Business Support Team as an intern, it was difficult to stop.
“I don’t know what made you decide to join my team, but don’t cause trouble for the family. Don’t cause any incidents; do well. Understood?”
At that, Jeongwook tilted his head sideways and looked at Taewook.
“And you, Hyung, declared you won’t get married. Isn’t that causing trouble for the family?”
“What did you say?”
Taewook’s eyebrows contorted sharply.
He had offered advice, meaning for him to follow the team leader’s instructions well as a team member and behave quietly at the company, but Jeongwook was nitpicking and dragging out the issue.
“Why are you suddenly bringing that up?”
“Did I hit a nerve, Hyung?”
“Why do you care about my marriage? You focus on doing well yourself.”
“If Hyung does well, shouldn’t this younger brother learn by watching his esteemed older brother?”
“Ha. With that attitude, can you properly carry out work instructions under me, the team leader? It’s perfectly clear you’ll only bring disappointment to Father again.”
“You can’t know that, Hyung. If a team leader pre-determines a team member’s limits, is that really a qualified superior? Are you upset and sulking because I hit a nerve?”
“You crazy bastard.”
Sparks of laser-like intensity shot from both brothers’ eyes.
Sparks flew where the lasers met, but neither brother seemed willing to back down.
“Oh dear, those two are at it again!”
Just then, Buhyeon, who had come out of her room holding the supplements for Taewook, looked for her eldest son. Seeing the housemaid pointing awkwardly towards the second-floor railing, she couldn’t hide her irritation.
