LM 31

Woo Hyunse moistened his dry mouth with some coffee. Today was the day he was supposed to visit the main house. The old master insisted on seeing his independent children at least once a month, summoning them when the day came around. It was an unwritten rule that they had to come to pay their respects, no matter how busy their lives turned out to be, even if they had a cold or were seriously ill.

Strictly speaking, Woo Hyunse wasn’t born into this family. He was a cousin to Woo Gibbeum and Woo Jihye. After his father’s sudden death left his mother a widow, she chose to send Woo Hyunse as an adopted son to the main family, who had been eyeing him this whole time as they had no sons of their own, rather than raising him on her own. Woo Hyunse was only nine years old at the time.

While it might have been common in the old days to send a child from a lesser branch to the main family, it was rare in Woo Hyunse’s generation. Though it could be prettied up as being adopted into a wealthy family, in reality, it was tantamount to being abandoned by his birth mother.

However, Woo Hyunse accepted it with relatively more calm than what was expected of him. That was the reality. Given the choice between being a burden to his young mother or becoming a dependent of the wealthy main family who had inherited all the wealth from previous generations, the latter just so happened to be more preferable.

“The assemblyman has arrived.”

At the announcement of their father’s arrival, Woo Gibbeum was the first to sigh. Woo Hyunse skillfully hid his irritation and reluctance as he got up to his feet. The day already felt long, though it wasn’t even past lunchtime yet.

The meal ended amicably. It might have been somewhat stiff with just the children present, but the grandchildren also came to do their part, showering their grandfather with all sorts of aegyo. They didn’t hesitate to kiss his wrinkled cheeks, knowing they’d receive generous pocket money in return for their efforts.

Dessert was laid out on the living room table. His brother-in-law barely touched his food before making an excuse about the children and leaving. It was the back of a man who knew well this wasn’t his place.

With the grandchildren gone, the stern nature beneath the old man’s pretense of kindness emerged. They say as you age, it gets harder to hide the life you’ve lived. His sharp eyes and thinly pressed lips clearly showed his stubborn personality that refused to listen to others.

Looking at that face that wouldn’t even let a needle through, Woo Hyunse inwardly sneered. While they say no one was without their faults, Woo Hyunse had indirectly witnessed the old master’s dirty and messy side before. Things like secret bank accounts and illegitimate children seemed almost like trivial matters in comparison.

“You, how exactly are you educating those children?”

Now it was time for the lecture. The first target was Woo Gibbeum. The old man grilled his eldest daughter as if conducting a hearing, from the grandchildren’s grades to their hobbies, and Woo Gibbeum’s current gallery management and plans for the future. Like father, like daughter—Woo Gibbeum answered submissively without the smile on her face wavering even once.

In the suffocating conversation that lasted over thirty minutes, Woo Hyunse barely managed to control his rising boredom. He knew it was his turn next.

“How can you still be so immature? Other kids your age are already settled and busy gaining experience in youth committees and whatnot, while you’re just fooling around as they get ahead. Stop that and start wrapping things up. I’ll arrange a position this time, so come and make your presence known.”

“It’s still a bit early for that.”

“Early? What’s early about it?! How many times have you put things off like this?!”

“They’re all senior members, aren’t they? It would be lucky if a wet-behind-the-ears kid like me didn’t just get cursed at for sniffing around. Besides, even if they talk about young blood and reform, the voters here don’t readily give their votes to young candidates. That Assemblyman Kim Myeongtae who lost the election last time was about my age too. Was that his third loss?”

No matter how much you sweet-talk, that world would crush you the moment your head got too big. How many times had he seen such a thing happen? Though he couldn’t claim his own work was all that righteous, it was at least cleaner than the world the old master was involved in.

“With that way of talking…Who’s going to give you a chance on your first try? You need to climb the ladder step by step. You need to show your face to get even one more vote later. Do you know how many people wither away without ever gaining a foothold because they keep putting it off like this? Come in while I’m still offering to pave the way for you. How long are you going to live making pocket change running a business?”

He struck the armrest, his face livid. At times like this, Woo Hyunse detested the unique arrogance and sense of entitlement that obviously was an innate part of his uncle’s personality. Was this some neighboring country where electoral districts were passed down like land?

While inherited politics wasn’t unheard of, he really didn’t want to get involved with something like that. From childhood to now, he had consistently despised politics. Above all, there was no greater ordeal to him than pretending to be amiable and pandering to old men.

“Oh, Father, please. Hyunse is still young at his age. These days, they say it’s better to gain experience in other fields first. That’s how you get more support…Hyunse will realize it soon enough and listen to your words, Father.”

Woo Gibbeum, who had been watching carefully, quickly put in a few good words for Woo Hyunse while at the same time creating an opening for herself. If he really wanted to secure the assembly seat for the next generation, he should pass it on to his ambitious eldest daughter.

Woo Gibbeum was more suited for politics than anyone else in this family, even more than her father. If it weren’t for her father’s outdated notion that those without male parts shouldn’t enter politics, she would have worn the golden badge long ago.

“That’s right. It’s not like oppa doesn’t know…Right, oppa?”

Even Woo Jihye joined in to defend him. In reality, their intention was to warn him to behave himself before the old man threw another fit. Woo Hyunse swallowed the curse that had risen to the tip of his tongue and smiled faintly, hiding his true feelings behind the veneer of a smile.

Displeased with his pretense of stupidity, the nagging continued. Usually, he would have let it go in one ear and out the other, but today it grated on him like the ongoing buzz of a mosquito. Even the vague mentions of marriage were equally displeasing to his ears.

When would the old man realize the truth that even a governor of Pyeongan would step down if he didn’t like it? In his younger days, Woo Hyunse had vehemently expressed his dislike for politics, but after seeing the old man end up in the hospital from falling backward while swinging a golf club in anger, he had taken a step back in his arguments.

Woo Hyunse plastered a plausible smile on his face and let his mind wander. Only after recalling the intense previous night and someone who might still be at the hotel now did the boring meeting become somewhat more bearable.

The meeting finally ended after lunch after listening to the lecture, and hearing his youngest sister’s performance. By the time his sister’s violin melody ceased, the sunset was already painting the sky.

Whether it was the bad energy of the place or simply his incompatibility with it, he felt exhausted from the moment he set foot in this house. Though his stamina wasn’t lacking elsewhere, he keenly felt his energy draining every time he visited this place.

The old master seemed to want him to stay the night, but Woo Hyunse escaped the house before dusk, using the plausible excuse that he couldn’t sleep well anywhere but at his own home. As soon as he got into his car parked on the roadside outside the main gate, he reached out for a cigarette. His tongue felt like it was growing needles from sustaining all day.

As he put a cigarette in his mouth and was getting ready to light it, he heard a tapping sound on the half-lowered window. Looking up, he saw that it was Woo Gibbeum.

“Let me have one too.”

“The old man will have a fit if he sees you.”

“He’s in the study with the kids now. I just came out for some fresh air. Hurry up and give me one.”

Sensing her urgency, he lowered the window completely and held out the cigarette pack to her. Woo Gibbeum skillfully took one and put it in her mouth. He was surprised to see her smoke in front of him, as she usually didn’t. Ignoring the question in his gaze, Woo Gibbeum exhaled a long stream of smoke and leaned against the car.

“You’re not staying overnight?”

“Are you, noona?”

“No, I need to go home. I find this place suffocating.”

He shared the same sentiment. Woo Hyunse buried the back of his head in the seat and inhaled the smoke deeply, his cheeks hollowing. The smoke that swept through his lungs and escaped a beat later was hazy.

In the silence, Woo Hyunse took out his phone to check it. There was just one text message. As he was about to open it, he noticed the stare from outside the window and tossed the phone onto the passenger seat so that the other person wouldn’t be able to see what was on it.

“Do you have someone you’re seeing these days? Not just hookups.”

“No.”

Woo Gibbeum made a “hmm” sound and put the cigarette between her fingers to her mouth. Her eyes seemed to reproach him for lying. Woo Hyunse simply continued to flick his cigarette ash out the window, pretending not to notice.

“It looks like Father is trying to find you a marriage partner.”

“I’m too busy working to even think about marriage.”

“Don’t you know that old man? He thinks life is only complete with a supportive wife and children. You don’t have that much time left to live freely, you know.”

Her face showed she was thoroughly enjoying teasing him. Woo Hyunse simply continued to finish his cigarette. He threw the butt in the ashtray and started the engine. The gentle vibration made Woo Gibbeum straighten up from leaning her body against the car. As she threw her cigarette on the ground and crushed it with her shoe, she casually remarked, “You’re not avoiding marriage because you’re seeing someone now, are you?”

“I told you, there’s no such person in my life.”

“Good then. And even if there was, you still need to get married.”

“Why?”

“Think about how much they’ve fed and housed you all this time, Hyunse. You need to fulfill your role as a stud horse properly. Don’t bother with any unnecessary thoughts. And don’t put it off any longer.”