Chapter 1303. Devoting (3)

Baek Hyeon-Jeong asked suspiciously. “China, you say?”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded. “Yes, mother... It’s a business trip.”

“

Mm

...?” Baek Hyeon-Jeong peered closely at her son, her eyes still brimming full of suspicion. “Really? Is it really a business trip, son?”

“Yes, mother.”

“...”

She gave her son a side-eye, still looking unconvinced. Her gut feeling was crying out to her.

Even though her son was using his expressionless face to hide his emotions and thoughts, Baek Hyeon-Jeong was still his mother, now wasn’t she!

Yes, it’s definitely suspicious.

When Baek Hyeon-Jeong continued to emit this air of skepticism, Kang Jin-Ho sneakily turned his head away. “Mother, when a man is running a business...”

“When running a business?!”

“...”

Baek Hyeon-Jeong scoffed loudly. “

Aha

, so you wanna be a global player? Is that it, son?”

“Well, not exactly.”

Baek Hyeon-Jeong could only groan just then.

Yes, it’s my fault for having such an excellent son. I admit it.

Kids in Kang Jin-Ho’s age group should be busy working part-time while attending university or busy whining to their parents about not having enough pocket money. But here was Kang Jin-Ho, declaring to his family that he’d depart to China for a business trip!

Not because his company had ordered him to, either, but because he was the boss of the company, no less!

Usually, parents of a child like him should’ve been the chairs and CEOs, but too bad, Kang Jin-Ho was the end boss of all self-made gazillionaires. A real dragon rising up from the shallow stream, indeed!

Kang Eun-Yeong tilted her head. “

Eh

? Oppa, are you going to China?”

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at her. “Yeah.”

Unfortunately, he failed to realize that his little sister was butting in to offer support fire... to his mother!

“When?”

“Next week is...”

“Next week?” Kang Eun-Yeong narrowed her eyes. “Really now? But Director Choi told me she’d be in China next week, too. Does that mean you two will be going together? Are you sure this trip is for business?”

Kang Jin-Ho faltered slightly. “Yes, I’m telling you, it’s...”

“Then, what business is it?”

“

E-eh

?”

“I mean, you must be going there to do something, right? Like, what’s your business there and who are you meeting with? That sort of thing.”

Kang Jin-Ho clamped his mouth shut.

Damn. I didn’t think that far ahead...

Still, he must come up with a convincing excuse right now, or...

“Director Choi?” Baek Hyeon-Jeong butted in. “Are you talking about Miss Choi Yeon-Ha?”

Nope, it was too late now. Cold sweat began trickling down Kang Jin-Ho’s back.

“Jin-Ho, my son? Are you going to China with Miss Yeon-Ha?”

“...It’s just that our timings matched coincidentally, mother. We are not going there together. I’ll be engaged in a different business venture from hers.”

“Okay? Then, what is your business over there?”

It was to assassinate. Of course, Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t say that out aloud. And he knew he shouldn’t say it, no matter what, too.

Just why did our timing have to match...?

What an unfair situation this was for Kang Jin-Ho.

He thought about how to provide Choi Yeon-Ha with protection while she was in China, but that didn’t mean he wanted to travel with her. But life had a way of complicating things. Like right now.

Even Kang Jin-Ho had to admit his excuses sounded totally unbelievable.

“Wait. Listen, Jin-Ho,” said Baek Hyeon-Jeong.

“...?”

“I might be your mother, but I’m not a stuck-up person, okay? Don’t you know that I can be quite open and understanding?”

Really? Kang Jin-Ho suddenly thought of many things to say to his mother, but the timing was all wrong. The best thing he could do right now was say nothing, keep his head down, and endure all the body blows.

“Jin-Ho, I’m not saying all this because you’re going to China. And it’s also not because you’re going there with Miss Yeon-Ha, okay? But I’m worried about you... You know, making a mistake. Of course! I know you won’t do that. Still, I don’t want you to lie to us even though nothing suspicious is going on in your trip to China. Even though you’re going there with Miss Yeon-Ha.”

“...”

“You’re not lying about anything, right? Son?”

“Yes, I’m not lying.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded confidently, his expression 100% filled with innocence. He wasn’t lying here, after all!

Unfortunately, it seemed someone in this living room had a policy of never believing what her oppa said!

“By the way~, I wonder why oppa can’t say what his business in China is.”

Bulge.

A vein bulged in Kang Jin-Ho’s forehead. Seeing his little sister’s shoulders bob and weave ever so slightly roused this nearly forgotten feeling of

murderous intent

in Kang Jin-Ho.

Looks like I gotta discipline her soon rather than later.

Even though he knew that the existence of “little sister” was like a spring that bounced right back when suppressed, Kang Jin-Ho had foolishly forgotten about periodically putting Kang Eun-Yeong in her place.

Baek Hyeon-Jeong said something else. “Yes, I get it, Jin-Ho. I trust you if you say it’s not what we think. Even then, I...”

Before she could finish, however...!

Kang Yu-Hwan shoved the door open to emerge into the living room, his face full of annoyance.

“Come on! You said you trust him, didn’t you? Shouldn’t that be enough? So why are you still grilling him, honey! Jin-Ho’s an adult now, right? Not some elementary school kid!”

Baek Hyeon-Jeong faltered. “B-but...”

“I mean, how old do you think our son is now? He’s already finished his military service and even started his own business, you know! So stop treating him like a kindergartner, honey! Isn’t this why our son prefers to stay out all the time?”

Kang Jin-Ho almost blurted out,

But, father? I never stay out, you know? I do my absolute best to come home every night, you know? Yes, I’m grateful that you’re siding with me, but alternative facts like that won’t help...

“I never treated our son like a kindergartner!” Baek Hyeon-Jeong shouted back.

“Our son is old enough to do whatever he wants! So what if he wants to have fun in China with his girlfriend? What’s the problem with that?!”

“Then, why didn’t Jin-Ho tell us the truth from the get-go?!”

Kang Yu-Hwan didn’t back down. “It’s because you’re making such a disapproving face, honey! That’s why he doesn’t want to tell you!”

Kang Jin-Ho nearly blurted out again,

No, that’s not true, father. Definitely not true. Father, why are you forcing that narrative on us? Don’t you understand how that will make me look?

Baek Hyeon-Jeong snapped her head in her son’s direction. “Jin-Ho! Is this true?!”

“N-no, ma’am!” Kang Jin-Ho nervously replied.

Kang Yu-Hwan tutted. “

Hah

! Of course he’s not gonna give you a straight answer! Honey, you gotta fix this side of yours!”

“

Hah

...”

Baek Hyeon-Jeong stared at her husband in flabbergast before sighing deeply. As for Kang Eun-Yeong, she was resolutely pretending to notice nothing to avoid becoming collateral damage!

“Very well, I understand.”

Baek Hyeon-Jeong finally gave in and backed off.

What just happened? Even though Kang Jin-Ho hadn’t done anything wrong, he somehow ended up as the guilty party here. Another vein bulged on Kang Jin-Ho’s forehead.

Even though this situation could’ve been smoothed over without incidents...!

“Son?”

“...Yes, father?”

Kang Yu-Hwan smiled triumphantly while patting his son’s shoulder. “It’s okay, son. Don’t worry about anything and have a pleasant trip. It’s the duty of the parents to trust and support their children embarking on a great adventure, after all!”

Kang Yu-Hwan’s expression proved a bit difficult to handle for Kang Jin-Ho. Also, why did his declaration sound so... contrived just now?

No, wait. Could it be...?

That was when Kang Yu-Hwan suddenly winked subtly at Kang Jin-Ho before whispering quietly. “Don’t forget to put in a good word to Miss Yeon-Ha for me, son.”

Indeed, this was the real reason.

“And tell her that it was an honest mistake the last time.”

Another vein bulged on Kang Jin-Ho’s forehead.

If this was his aim all along, how could Kang Yu-Hwan resolve the situation like this?! Didn’t he know that this would put Kang Jin-Ho in a bind?

Shouldn’t a man be more discerning when providing support fire?! At the very least, he should’ve considered his approach for a minute before butting in!

Kang Jin-Ho sneaked a glance at his mother, hoping to gauge her mood. But then...

“...”

Baek Hyeon-Jeong’s stony face, as if she had put on a mask or something, was enough for Kang Jin-Ho to give up.

So, this was what the old proverb, let sleeping dogs lie, meant. Although, Kang Jin-Ho hadn’t woken up any dogs this time!

“...Mother?”

“What is it?” Baek Hyeon-Jeong sharply shot back.

That convinced Kang Jin-Ho. Something had to be done now.

“Please believe me when I say that this trip to China has nothing to do with that,” said Kang Jin-Ho, his expression graver than ever. “I genuinely have a reason to go there. An important reason.”

Baek Hyeon-Jeong’s expression softened a tad. Even though it looked as if she nagged her son a lot, her trust in Kang Jin-Ho was absolute. If he spoke in such seriousness, he must not be lying to his family.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

“But who can say that for sure~?”

Of course, there would always be someone like Kang Eun-Yeong to spoil the mood for everyone!

Baek Hyeon-Jeong glared at her daughter. “Eun-Yeong.”

“Yes, mom?”

“Keep your opinions to yourself if you wish to get fed from now on.”

“Yes, mom...”

Kang Eun-Yeong immediately started behaving herself.

One must know how to figure out when it was safe to butt in and when it was not-so-safe in order to ensure their enjoyable daily life.

Baek Hyeon-Jeong shifted her attention back to her son. “Okay, Jin-Ho. If you say so, then I...”

Kang Jin-Ho interrupted his mother just then. “Also, regarding that topic...”

“

Ng

?”

Baek Hyeon-Jeong tilted her head. That topic?

“Once her business in China is finished, she wants to stop by at our house and say hello.”

“Say hello? Who wants to do that?”

“It’s... Miss Yeon-Ha...”

That was when Kang Jin-Ho witnessed it. He saw the head-tilting Baek Hyeon-Jeong freeze up, her eyes trembling like leaves caught in storm winds.

Although it ended in the blink of an eye, Kang Jin-Ho’s ultra-sharp senses still caught everything.

“Miss Yeon-Ha, you say?”

“Yes, mother...”

“But, why?”

“...?”

What did she mean, why?

“W-well, because we’ve been dating for a while now?” Kang Jin-Ho cautiously spoke. “She said it’s good manners to introduce herself to the family.”

“Y-yes, indeed! That’s right. Not introducing herself isn’t a problem, sure. But anyone bothering to do that will give off the impression of someone who cares. Yes, that’s all true, but...”

Baek Hyeon-Jeong’s voice began trembling more and more.

“Even though she doesn’t have to...”

Something about this development sounded off? Baek Hyeon-Jeong wanted to say something, but no suitable words popped up in her mind. At least, that was what her expression said.

Kang Jin-Ho had an epiphany just then. Even though he wasn’t exactly known for his quick wits or the ability to read the room, this situation was oh-so clear even to him.

She’s finding the idea burdensome.

That made some sense, of course.

The occasion was ostensibly for the son’s girlfriend to introduce herself to the son’s family, so nothing about it should be so burdensome, but... Unfortunately, Choi Yeon-Ha was that kind of person. A person that was perfectly wonderful to stare at and admire from a distance, but when up close?

Someone that was very bad for one’s heart! Indeed, Choi Yeon-Ha was someone like that.

“Of course, I’m... We should be happy to have her. Very much so. With the era being what it is, we should be grateful for her coming to introduce herself. But... Why? Why did she suddenly decide to do that?” Baek Hyeon-Jeong asked weirdly.

“Oh, that’s...” Kang Jin-Ho glanced quickly at his father.

Flinch!

Kang Yu-Hwan flinched after noticing his son’s gaze, then fake-coughed loudly. “

Kuh-huh-hum

! Honey, why are you grilling our son about that? If she’s coming to say hello, that’s fine, isn’t it?”

“Not now, honey!”

“B-but, uh, they have been dating for a while, and...”

Baek Hyeon-Jeong realized something was up and began peering closely at her husband’s face before breaking her silence. “Honey?”

“Y-yeah?”

“What is our family motto?”

“...!”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“It, it’s honesty.”

“That’s right, honesty. Now, tell our son what he should do. How should he answer in this case?”

Large beads of cold sweat began rolling down Kang Yu-Hwan’s forehead.

Be honest? In this situation? What an extreme dilemma this was!

Should he look after his interests first? Or be honest, even at the cost of himself?

In any other situations, he’d say the answer should be the latter. However, if he did that this time...!

Kang Yu-Hwan squeezed his eyes shut. He was the father here. The head of this family. Even if the fate of wallowing in dirt waited for him, a father could and should say only one thing in this situation.

“J-Jin-Ho, be honest and tell your mother the truth.”

Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

“O-of course! Remember, our family motto is honesty! I’ve been honest all my life, son!”

“I see. Well, then,” Kang Jin-Ho replied with a cool nod, then shifted his attention over to his mother. “What happened was, back in my company...”

Kang Jin-Ho explained what had transpired between Kang Yu-Hwan and Choi Yeon-Ha. Of course, he tried to dress some bits up. He was talking about his own father, after all.

However, despite his concerted efforts to dress up the situation, it seemed Baek Hyeon-Jeong still took a rather dim view of what happened.

There wasn’t much he could do about that, of course.

Kang Yu-Hwan alternated his gaze between his wife and son as a weirdly content smile formed on his face.

“Son, you didn’t have to be so bloody honest...”

To think his son would be so unnecessarily detailed and honest! As a father, he couldn’t be prouder even if he tried!

“...Honey?”

“...Yes, my dear wife?”

“Come with me to the bedroom. We need to talk.”

“W-wait a minute. I think there might’ve been a miscommunication here somewhere...!”

Baek Hyeon-Jeong’s brows began rising higher and higher.

Kang Jin-Ho inwardly flinched. This scene somewhat resembled a horror movie. Was that some sorcery technique he had never heard of before?

“Honey, do you want to have that talk here?”

“No. Let’s... go.”

Kang Yu-Hwan lifelessly got up while looking like a cow getting dragged into an abattoir. Then, he wordlessly followed his wife into the bedroom.

Thunk!

The door slammed shut behind the two.

Kang Jin-Ho and Kang Eun-Yeong eavesdropped on the noises coming from the room with some interest.

“What was that?! I’m treating him like a kindergartner?! Say that again to my face!”

“H-honey, wait. That’s not...”

“Are you trying to kill me?! Is that it?! Humiliating me to death and all?! How could you say things like that in front of your own son’s girlfriend! At least have the decency not to get caught, then! How could you be so thoughtless! How?!”

“H-hold on, honey! Put that down, please! Put that down and...!”

Kang Jin-Ho and Kang Eun-Yeong shook their heads in perfect sync.

“Dad needed to be disciplined, anyway,” said Kang Eun-Yeong.

“...”

Kang Jin-Ho was saddened by the fact that he couldn’t defend his father this time. In any case...

Thanks to Kang Yu-Hwan’s courageous sacrifice, Kang Jin-Ho’s trip to China was approved without too much hardship.

Although, was that a good thing or not?

As Kang Jin-Ho closed his eyes and shook his head, Kang Yu-Hwan’s pitiful screams registered in his hearing.