Free Web NovelWhen I arrived at the reserved restaurant, the others were already there waiting for me.
“You all came early.”
Seeing my people who had come up from Busan, a natural smile spread across my face.
“You’re here?”
“Yes, the traffic was heavy, so I’m a little late.”
Hyunseong answered his father’s question, took off his suit jacket, and sat next to Grandma.
Grandma gently patted my back.
“I don’t know how long it’s been since we’ve all gathered like this.”
“Right? How many years has it been since you all grew up?”
Myungsoo’s father said with a laugh. It seemed like the first time since we’d gathered back in Busan during summer break in college.
“It’s been a really long time. We used to meet often.”
“You kids grew up, so that’s how it is. That’s how it always goes. Besides, we grown-ups still meet often.”
“Father, you said you’ve wrapped up everything you were doing.”
“When Myungsoo was preparing for the election, I almost got him into trouble because of me. So I decided to wrap everything up. It was getting too much for me anyway. Isn’t it time for me to rest now?”
Even though he was still at an age where he could work plenty, he had dropped everything for Myungsoo’s sake.
“Then what are you going to do now?”
“Live leisurely, what else? When Manager Park retires, I’ll go hiking with him.”
Hyunseong’s father, sitting beside him, laughed. Myungsoo’s easygoing personality seemed to be inherited directly from his father.
“Thank you for always looking after Grandma.”
“Don’t say useless nonsense. When are you two going to get married? Myungsoo, you too, and you as well—no news from either of you? Hyunseong even brought the woman he’s going to marry this time. I met her myself.”
At Myungsoo’s father’s words, Hyunseong’s father cleared his throat. When it came to embarrassing topics, he went silent—just like Hyunseong.
“Miss Mijin?”
“Yeah. You two better hurry and find someone too.”
“I told you, I’ll handle it. That’s enough.”
As soon as marriage was mentioned, Myungsoo, who had been quiet, answered curtly.
“See? He always snaps when marriage comes up. Muhyuk, doesn’t he listen to you? Say something to him.”
“Haha, Myungsoo will handle it fine.”
When I cut in, Myungsoo’s father looked dissatisfied but didn’t press further. I could see Myungsoo sigh quietly.
“What about Grandma?”
“Me? Why?”
“You never tell me to get married.”
“When the time comes, you’ll do it yourself. Do you think I’m not wishing for it? But you’ve always done well on your own, so I don’t say anything.”
Grandma’s words carried deep trust in me.
I thought Grandma must also want to see me married, but aside from once casually mentioning she wanted to see a great-grandchild, she never pressured me.
Soon the food came, and we finished the meal with meaningless chatter. For the first time in a while, I felt at ease.
What I loved about being with these people was that I didn’t need to think about complicated things.
Just trading old stories and updates made time pass quickly.
It was late at night when we finally stepped outside the restaurant and said our goodbyes.
“Thank you all for coming.”
“Stop saying that.”
Myungsoo’s father, perhaps drunk, waved his hand dismissively. Hyunseong’s father supported him as he staggered.
“Take good care of Grandma, and we’ll see you again before going back down tomorrow.”
“Yes, take care.”
I saw them off as they got into their cars first. Then, riding with Grandma, I cautiously called her.
“Grandma.”
“What is it?”
She turned her head. The grandmother who had been everything to me since childhood looked especially small today.
“······Won’t you come live in Seoul?”
Without answering, Grandma stared at my face for a while, then took my hand. Her hand was warm.
“Are you lonely?”
“No, it’s not that. I was just saying.”
“Grandma doesn’t want to be a burden on you. I’ll live on my own, so don’t worry. You just live your life well.”
“Grandma.”
Her smiling face was serene. But I couldn’t smile.
After losing Grandfather, anxiety often welled up inside me out of nowhere. ƒreewebɳovel.com
“I keep worrying you might suddenly leave too······.”
Grandma stroked my hand. Her gentle touch made me nod slightly.
She didn’t speak, but I could guess what she meant.
“Got it.”
“Still, I’ll come up often.”
“Okay.”
Before long, we arrived in Pyeongchang-dong. I guided her to the room prepared for her.
“You can sleep here tonight.”
“Oh my, what a nice room.”
“Grandfather had it ready, just in case you ever came to Seoul.”
Grandfather was always looking after me in unseen ways. As I looked around the room, I continued.
“This is the first time it’s been used since Grandfather passed away. I heard this used to be Mother’s room.”
“Really? Your in-law was so thoughtful. Go on now, I’m tired. I’ll wash up and sleep.”
“All right. I’ll take you back after breakfast tomorrow.”
Grandma patted my back and closed the door.
For a moment, the closed door overlapped with Grandfather’s hospital room door in my eyes, but I shook my head and headed to my room.
I woke early the next morning. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
Coming down to the dining room, the familiar smell of doenjang stew filled my nose.
Grandma placed the stew on the table and smiled at me.
“Sit, let’s eat.”
I nodded and picked up my spoon.
Tasting Grandma’s stew again after so long made me smile without realizing it.
“It tastes the same. Grandma’s touch.”
“I asked the manager to go get the ingredients early this morning just to cook for you. Is it good?”
“Yeah. Grandma’s touch never changes.”
“Eat a lot.”
Thanks to the stew, I cleaned my bowl for the first time in a while.
“Why don’t you eat more?”
At her worried question, I smiled and shook my head. Grandma was always restless that she couldn’t feed me more.
“I don’t usually eat much breakfast these days. I ate plenty.”
“Still, make sure to eat breakfast. That’s the best medicine.”
“Yeah, I’ll try.”
After breakfast, I went with Hyunseong to his house to drop Grandma off.
His parents were ready to return to Busan and waiting.
“You’re here?”
At his curt greeting, I nodded. Soon Myungsoo and his parents arrived too.
“Thank you all for the trouble. Next time, I guess we’ll only gather at Hyunseong’s wedding.”
“That’s probably true. See you then.”
Grandma came to me, hugged me, and patted my back. I hugged her tightly too.
“Grandma, you must stay healthy.”
After saying goodbye to Grandma, everyone got into their cars.
From inside, I saw Grandma waving her hand, and I waved back.
When the cars disappeared in the distance, I turned around.
“Myungsoo, ride with me so we can talk. Hyunseong, you’re going to work, right?”
Like the stoic guy he was, Hyunseong just nodded. Thanks to the company’s growth, he’d been incredibly busy lately.
“Okay. See you next time.”
After watching Hyunseong head inside, I took Myungsoo with me into the car.
“Go to the Myeongdong office. Have someone else bring Myungsoo’s car.”
Manager Ma received Myungsoo’s keys and handed them to a staff member.
Our car started moving toward Myeongdong.
“How’s it going these days?”
“The party? Or me?”
“You’ll take care of yourself fine. I mean the party atmosphere, Chairman Yoon’s behavior, that sort of thing.”
Myungsoo smirked and looked at me as if asking why I bothered to ask when I already knew.
“You said something to Chairman Yoon, didn’t you? Senior lawmakers had been trying to keep down the junior ones I was gathering. Then suddenly, all of that stopped. I heard Chairman Yoon blew up in anger.”
“Really?”
Even if the senior lawmakers were trying to suppress Myungsoo, it was Yoon Changho’s job to stop it. At last, he was acting properly.
“You didn’t say something to him?”
“I met him after the general election and told him not to hold you back—told him to firmly take the seniors, while you manage the juniors. I thought that would be best.”
Myungsoo nodded. He must have been under a lot of stress.
“Yeah, I figured. It was like sitting on needles. No matter how popular I was, I was still just a freshman lawmaker. Of course those people couldn’t stand me.”
Even though he knew I was backing him, his voice still carried a whine.
I laughed at his grumbling, and Myungsoo snapped.
“This isn’t funny. Since entering politics, I’ve been shocked. Politicians are even worse than I imagined—stubborn old men.”
Well, most politicians I knew were conservative too. At least Chairman Yoon was somewhat progressive.
“We created a new party and filled it with new faces, and it’s already like this. Imagine the two old parties that have been around for decades. The first day in the Assembly is already terrifying.”
“You’ll have to endure it. What I want is for you to firmly seize the party after Chairman Yoon. For that, I’ll provide whatever money or support you need, so don’t worry.”
The Myungsoo who had once disappeared from Busan limping was no more.
Now, the Myungsoo who had always been my weak spot grinned with determination.
“I decided to do it for your sake, but I also want to do it properly. Since I’ve come this far, shouldn’t I become the leader?”
“Good thinking.”
I had already funneled a lot of money into lawmakers aligned with Myungsoo’s faction.
“You should work with Chairman Yoon to build momentum for constitutional reform. I’ll handle the media, so don’t worry.”
“Parliamentary system?”
Though I didn’t say it outright, Myungsoo seemed to catch on and nodded.
“Public opinion is still against it. Our party did a poll recently, and nearly 70% opposed it. We’ll need to shift public opinion first.”
Many advanced countries adopted parliamentary systems to prevent dictatorship or incompetent leaders. But Koreans didn’t welcome it.
The last time Korea had tried it, it was a disaster. And Japan next door showed every flaw of parliamentary rule in real time. Seeing that, most Koreans opposed it.
“We need to work on the media.”
“If public opinion tilts that way, politicians will have no choice but to follow. In the National Assembly, more would support it than oppose it once a reform bill is introduced.”
“I’ll handle the media, so you focus on forming a group of younger lawmakers from both Progressive and Conservative parties. You can do that, right?”
“Got it. Forming a group is no big deal.”
Constitutional reform was not something that could be done quickly. It had to be prepared step by step.
And there were still many other hurdles ahead.
“And I’m planning to bring down Ilseong Group. They’ll probably lobby politicians, so that’s for you to block.”
“If it’s Ilseong, that’s serious.”
“This time I won’t hold back. I’ll end it thoroughly—even if it means breaking the law.”
Unconsciously, a murderous light entered my eyes. Myungsoo flinched at it.
“Wow······. You must be really pissed. That look—you’re the same as back then, you know? It’s the first time I’ve seen that since you snapped watching me get beaten.”
“Sorry. Just thinking about it makes me angry again.”
“Well, anyway. Leave the political side to Chairman Yoon and me. You do whatever you want.”
Talking like that, before I knew it, we had arrived at the Myeongdong office.
“See you next time.”
“Yeah, drive safe.”
Myungsoo got into his car and left Myeongdong. I realized there was a pile of things in Korea I hadn’t tended to.
My shoulders felt heavy.
“Have we scheduled with the Blue House yet?”
Inside the Myeongdong office, I asked Manager Ma.
“Yes. Next Friday at lunchtime. They suggested we talk over a meal.”
Friday, huh······. I rubbed my chin, thinking of my schedule. That would overlap with the China trip.
“That overlaps with Elder Jang Daeho’s trip to China, right?”
“Yes. We may need to ask him to postpone. The Blue House said they won’t be available again for a while.”
I closed my eyes briefly. For me it was just a few days, but Elder Jang had waited fifty years for this meeting.
It didn’t feel right to ask him to delay.
“No. Manager Ma, you’ll go alone with him this time.”
“Me, alone?”
He hesitated, worried about leaving me behind. I smiled.
“It’s because Elder Jang’s matter is important that I’m sending you personally. While you’re gone, I’ll move with Manager Ha. So don’t worry.”
At the mention of leaving me with Ha Myeonghun, Manager Ma looked visibly relieved.
“······Understood.”
“When you go to China, help him meet his family. Bringing them out right away will be hard—we’ll need China’s cooperation.”
“Yes, I conveyed that already.”
“Once you return from China, we’ll begin. Finish this matter well and come back.”
“Understood, boss.”
One step at a time, I’d put things in order. The heavy feeling in my shoulders began to lighten.
“Call in Chairman Lee. Let’s take care of that first.”
“Yes.”
I instructed Manager Ma to contact him. After processing some papers, Manager Ma opened the door.
“Chairman Lee has arrived.”
“Send him in.”
Lee Sanggeun entered the office and bowed.
“It’s been a while, sir.”
“It ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ has. Please, sit.”
He straightened his back and took a seat. His face looked a bit worn.
“How’s Geukseong? Still the same?”
At my question, Lee Sanggeun opened his mouth.
