CHAPTER~03
Crisis is Opportunity
“What’s that?”
Yeong-won’s expression was casual, almost indifferent, as she loosened her hair and held the tie in her mouth.
Every time she swept her long hair up with her fingers, Hwi-do felt a strange illusion, as if he could feel it through his own body.
But what did that even mean?
Why was Yoon Yeong-won so nonchalant, even though they were supposed to stay in this house together?
Hwi-do glanced at his reflection in the living room window. His long legs, which never fit off-the-rack suits and always required tailoring, looked elegant and commanding.
Even if he casually threw on clothing worn by foreign models, he would still outshine them—this was Kim Hwi-do.
And his appearance?
After creating his SNS account, how many followers flocked, claiming he was a third-generation chaebol with the looks to match?
Objectively, Hwi-do had gotten even more handsome than he had been ten years ago.
Of course, that “objective” judgment came from Hwi-do himself.
He let out a smirk of quiet confidence.
“I’m worried about you, Yoon Yeong-won. Are you okay with staying under the same roof with me?”
“Yeah. I’ll lock the door and sleep.”
Huh? Why that answer?
Lock the door to sleep?
The more Hwi-do conversed with Yeong-won, the more he felt drawn into her orbit.
Meanwhile, Yeong-won tilted her head, observing Hwi-do’s constantly shifting expressions.
He had said he’d be in Ma-yeong all summer—so why hadn’t he brought anything?
Right now, Hwi-do stood in the middle of Yeong-won’s living room, still in his suit.
“Kim Hwi-do. You didn’t bring any luggage?”
“I came straight from the office, so no.”
“What did you do to get kicked out empty-handed?”
Yeong-won shook her head in disbelief and went into the room at the end of the hallway.
She grabbed some clothes from her brother’s drawer and handed them to Hwi-do.
“Here, put this on first.”
Hwi-do frowned at the clothes she handed him.
A faded navy T-shirt with a stretched collar and bright red shorts.
Of all colors, she picked red. The combination was absurd.
“Do you actually think this has any taste?”
“Why would pajamas need taste? Just wear them. They’re your older brother’s, so they should fit roughly.”
“Ugh. At least change the shorts. I don’t wear red.”
“Why? Because of that video?”
Heat crept onto Hwi-do’s face.
Ordinary people didn’t dare bring up that video in front of him.
So, as expected, Yoon Yeong-won wasn’t ordinary.
After ten years, she behaved as naturally as if she had seen him yesterday, and she even dared to mention the video, turning his insides upside down.
“Really? You won’t wear red because of that video?”
And she confirmed it with a straight, piercing gaze.
“Fine, fine.”
Hwi-do lowered his head, trying to avoid answering.
It wasn’t easy, living under the same roof with a woman who knew no boundaries, no respect, and would freely expose one’s weaknesses.
Should he just fall to his knees before Mi-hwa now and beg, crying?
If he pleaded with all his might, Mi-hwa would surely forgive him.
“Anyway, rest in your room today. You can use my older brother’s room. Work starts tomorrow.”
“Do you really think I’m going to work here?”
“Then why are you here if not to work?”
Hwi-do quickly thought through his words.
“…Well, as a sort of vacation. Work’s been hectic, so I figured I should take a break.”
With a relaxed face, he flopped onto the living room sofa, almost staggering.
“Ugh—”
And he even made a strange sound. It was the same sofa from ten years ago, its cushions completely sagged. It was almost a miracle it could support Hwi-do’s broad frame.
He forced himself to hide his embarrassment and clenched his legs.
“I’ll just stay quietly, so don’t worry about me.”
“How can I not worry? Your grandmother even called to give me some ‘discipline instructions.’”
Mrs. Jang Mi-hwa had said that? Hwi-do felt a tingle in the back of his head.
“She said it’s okay to hit if you do something wrong—”
“…”
“—my dad told me.”
Damn it.
Hwi-do squeezed his eyes shut.
He didn’t want to look. Meeting Yoon Yeong-won after ten years, and exposing himself like this, made him feel strangely ashamed.
He hadn’t imagined meeting her in a place or situation like this.
Not even in his wildest imaginings.
“Sleeping?”
“Like I could.”
“Then open your eyes.”
Hwi-do obediently opened them. Under the yellow fluorescent light, Yeong-won’s face came back into view.
Then, as now, Yeong-won was firm. First, he needed to clear this misunderstanding.
“…That was just Grandma being upset. You think she really wants her grandson to work hard here?”
He continued in a softer voice.
“Just feed me and let me sleep for a few days. I won’t be a burden for long.”
“…”
“Of course, when I go back to Seoul, I’ll pay for the room and meals properly. Just like staying at Wooheonjeong.”
But Yeong-won gave him a dumbfounded look. In her frank tone, she said,
“No work, no eat. Don’t you know?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“If you want to eat, work.”
Yeong-won wasn’t backing down.
Hwi-do couldn’t understand. Why take something as simple as humor or a temporary favor and make it so serious?
Hwi-do stood up, ready to argue.
“Yoon Yeong-won. What work could I possibly do here? What’s there to do?”
“Make knife-cut noodles.”
“Huh. You really think Grandma wants me to make knife-cut noodles? We could just let it slide. You’ve always been so stubborn—”
“You may be fine letting it slide, but we’re not.”
We?
Yeong-won interrupted him.
“Your grandmother called my dad, telling him to have you make knife-cut noodles.”
Hwi-do froze.
“You really think this is just a light-hearted incident? Just a joke?”
Yeong-won’s tone was serious and calm.
“But we’re not. Your grandmother told us you’re to make knife-cut noodles all summer.”
And there was anger on her face. Seeing her after so long, she bit her lips whenever she got upset.
“So, make knife-cut noodles all summer.”
Yeong-won exhaled once, then softened her expression.
“Kim Hwi-do. Let’s handle this properly. If you work seriously here, your grandmother will think better of you.”
Hwi-do couldn’t reply. Every word she said was correct.
“Crisis is opportunity. Remember?”
Even that damn quote Haesung used to say, she kindly reminded him of.
Hwi-do lay in bed, tossing and turning.
The single bed in Yeong-won’s older brother’s room was far too small for his frame. The springs in the old mattress barely functioned. Sleep was impossible.
On top of that, he reluctantly wore the red shorts and navy T-shirt Yeong-won had given him.
He had vowed never to wear red again, yet here he was, utterly defeated.
At least the clothes smelled faintly of fabric softener, a pleasant lilac scent.
The scent of Yoon Yeong-won.
Hwi-do rested a hand on his forehead, staring seriously at the checkered ceiling.
Crisis is opportunity.
And it was true.
Hwi-do hadn’t seized the opportunity.
These days, becoming famous wasn’t easy. Had he taken advantage of the video and used the momentum to promote the hotel, the membership club card sales would have gone to the hotel.
Hwi-do hadn’t been as competitive as Kim Haesung. He had underestimated him.
And he lost to Kim Haesung.
One day, Haesung appeared as his father’s son and, being a year older, became his older brother in name and in skill.
Naturally, Hwi-do’s father also supported Haesung more.
Haesung, born to a loving couple and already a year ahead, would be more appealing than Hwi-do, born of an arranged marriage without love.
Hwi-do wasn’t foolish enough, ten years later, to deny that.
Thanks to Lady Jang Mi-hwa, his grandmother, who had supported and cared for him in place of his father.
She made him feel that he didn’t need his parents’ love to survive.
Yes, it was time to repay her.
She wished to eat knife-cut noodles made by her grandson before she died.
She had longed to make a dish she could be confident in for her lifetime. Could he not fulfill that one wish?
Of course, this was Hwi-do’s personal interpretation of Mi-hwa’s intent.
And then there was Yoon Yeong-won.
“You really think this is just a light incident? Just a joke?”
She pierced through his foolishness like a knife, her expression of hurt impossible to hide.
“But we’re not. Your grandmother told us to have you make knife-cut noodles all summer.”
Yeong-won instantly turned his casual attitude into serious resolve.
“So, make knife-cut noodles all summer.”
Hwi-do couldn’t ignore her words.
No work, no eat.
He etched Yeong-won’s principle into his heart, resolving to accept his punishment willingly and wholeheartedly.
But he didn’t anticipate that this determination would crumble in less than half a day.
