Free Web Novel“Aunt Sook-ja, please take this.”
“Oh my goodness!”
As soon as we entered the shop, I handed the gift package to Aunt Sook-ja, who runs the kitchen. Grandma glared at me.
“Hey, you—did you come and hand her a gift first?”
“Oh, Deok-soon~”
I grabbed Grandma’s shoulder and smiled proudly.
“You’re jealous... aah!”
“You’re such a jerk. Crazy guy.”
“Eek!”
She pinched my side so hard I screamed. Customers glanced over, so I gave them an awkward “Hello...” and they replied with “Oh, yes...” as I stood there embarrassed.
I turned back to Aunt Sook-ja, still smiling and holding the gift bundle.
“You really put up with Grandma’s temper while I was gone. That must have been tough, right?”
“Your sister’s temperament is something else.”
“What do you mean, Auntie?”
I gave her a playful high-five. Meanwhile, Grandma finished preparing and followed us out of the shop.
“Hey, Sook-ja! I leave the shop in your hands!”
“Sure. You two have fun!”
A chilly late-February wind whooshed past. I brushed Grandma’s drifting hair aside and wrapped her scarf snugly.
“Oh my, my grandma is the most beautiful.”
“Quit with the empty flattery.”
“Empty? My words are full of love. Our Kim Deok-soon is the world’s ultimate beauty.”
I tapped her back and teased, “Where are your angel wings?” She laughed and called me crazy. I held out my hand.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes. Let’s go together.”
My Kim Deok-soon took my hand in hers. Warmth flowed through her wrinkled hand, and the winter wind felt like a gentle breeze.
As we headed out to hail a taxi, we chatted.
“How’s the shop? Auntie okay on her own?”
“It’s the ‘golden holiday,’ but everyone’s away so no customers. Only a few regulars drop by.”
“I see.”
I nodded, and Grandma switched topics.
“What about the kids?”
“The kids?”
“How about your siblings?”
“They all went to see family. Just like me.”
I recalled: Ji-ho’s off at his family’s weekend villa roasting clams; Bi-joo and Jung-hyun are with their families.
“And Ri-hyuk?”
“Ah.”
Grandma looked worried about Ri-hyuk, who lives apart from family.
“He packed his suitcase full of books and went to a hotel.”
“Sending him alone?”
“He didn’t want anyone looking for him.”
“Good grief.”
Grandma clicked her tongue.
“He’s alone, and that’s no fun. Next Chuseok, bring him along, will you?”
“Sure, sure.”
I almost protested, but Grandma declared,
“Holidays are just social conventions. I won’t be bound by them.”
I’d told her I’d rather feed my mind than flip pancakes, and she laughed me a crazy man.
“Anyway, Grandma. Today is Deok-soon’s Day. Forget about the other siblings and just think about yourself.”
“All right. So where are we going now?”
“Just a moment.”
From inside my coat, I pulled out a scroll of A4 paper tied with a ribbon and proudly unfolded it.
“Ta-da!”
Titled “Grandma’s Filial Piety Master Plan — Deok-soon’s Happiness☆,” it listed today’s date spots.
I’d stayed up with Bi-joo planning all night. I flashed her an ambitious grin.
“How do you like it?”
At last, her sullen face broke into a smile.
It was a perfect day.
Moving from place to place flowed naturally, and each stop was meaningful.
“C-can I really buy all of this?”
“My grandson is young and rich now, Grandma. I’ve earned plenty. Unless you ask me to buy you the whole department store, I’m good.”
It was true. I’d saved every penny except what I spent on members or company matters. That’s why you save.
“Then buy everything you want, my grandson.”
At the department store, we collected all the items Grandma had wanted, and splurged in cosmetics shops. I spent my songwriting, fireworks, and Masquerade royalties without regret.
At first, Grandma looked doubtful. ƒreewebɳovel.com
“Wasn’t last Chuseok too much? Are you sure this is okay?”
“I’ve made a lot of money. No one’s going to complain unless you ask for another department store.”
Soon Grandma hid her joy behind grumbling. Afterwards we caught a movie, then had the finest steak and pasta.
“Ugh, I feel sick from all that richness. I need kimchi and rice.”
“....”
“You don’t feel it?”
Grandma, the contrarian, insisted on kimchi. I pursed my lips and we moved on.
Combining our previous luggage with new purchases piled it high, but sharing with Grandma made it manageable. We stepped out of the taxi onto the quiet street leading home. Finally, her house appeared: a row of walls and a slightly rusty iron gate.
Creak.
The nostalgic sound made my arm hairs stand. Beyond lay a modest two-story home. I soaked in the scene.
...It’s really aged.
Fifteen years ago, it looked brand-new in Gunsan; now time had weathered it. Dad had gifted it to Grandma when I was seven. As Grandma opened the door, I inhaled the winter air.
Time is strange: the breeze smelled the same as when I was seven, but I’d changed.
“What are you standing there for? Come in.”
“...Huh? Oh, right.”
Cradling my arms full of bags, I stepped inside—and heard a strange sound.
Thud-thud!
It sounded like a large insect scurrying. Before I could think “Huh?” a slender form sprinted on all fours and halted at the entrance.
“...A cat?”
Ah, right. I’d been so focused on Grandma that I’d forgotten it. Our cat: cheese-colored head and back, four white cotton-puff legs standing straight. Its tail twitched upward as if to say “What’s this?”
“...”
The cat, poised to greet Grandma, froze at the sight of me. I couldn’t read its mind, but it looked startled. It glared at me as if to say “Who are you?” Suddenly I felt triumphant.
“You must be Nabi, huh?”
Like a queen beholding her chosen guard, I admired this feline. “Quite the beauty.”
I don’t know feline standards, but to me she was undeniably adorable. Yet my gaze was cool.
“Kim Deok-soon belongs to me.”
I declared proudly and linked arms with Grandma. One of my bags—one of the envelopes—fell with a clatter. Startled, Nabi bolted from the doorway. I beamed victoriously; Grandma gave me a pitying look.
“You act proud of beating a cat.”
Afterwards, we unpacked the department store haul and the gift bundles from Seoul.
“Oh my... what is all this?”
“These are the gifts the kids bought for Grandma. These clothes Jung-hyuk and Ji-ho picked out.”
I showed each item.
“This is the side dishes Bi-joo made for you—she dripped sweat preparing the jangjorim days ago.”
“Oh, thank you. Your members’ families also sent gifts.”
“Really?”
A box of fresh produce from Jung-hyun’s father sat piled up, and the fridge held parcels from Bi-joo’s mother. There was even an elegant clock inscribed “Chairman Wang Hyun-tak.” And a holiday gift box from our CEO and Director Jo, with handwritten letters: “Thank you for your children; we will raise them well.”
“Grandma’s popular everywhere...”
“Popular? Everyone’s thanking Grandma because you’re making money.”
I laughed at her deadpan.
As we unpacked, Grandma’s cheeks lifted in delight.
“These are signed albums from singers Grandma likes—she got signatures at Midnight Music Concerts. And here’s one from Teacher Noh Jae-hyun...”
In the midst, two neat blue envelopes dropped out. In elegant script they read “To Grandma Kim Deok-soon” and “To New Black Leader Woo-joo,” with the sender’s name below.
“Ri-hyuk...?”
“What’s that?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe he wrote letters.”
I opened one envelope to find a neatly folded letter. Grandma and I unfolded ours.
『 To Hyung Woo-joo 』
[ I always sing “Call me hyung(?)” so this time I’m calling you hyung. (Remember it)
Seollal.
The Lunar New Year holiday celebrated across East Asia. Frankly, since we have the solar calendar, adding the lunar feels wasteful.
Anyway, hope you have a great holiday. Thank you, hyung.
Though I don’t say it, all the members appreciate you. Hope you know that. ]
He went on with “I’m not usually like this, but since it’s the holidays, I wanted to tell you” tone. I couldn’t help smiling.
[ P.S. I wrote each member a letter. So let’s all pretend we don’t know. If you mention this in group chat, I won’t forgive you, Sun Woo-joo ]
I burst out laughing at his hot-headed postscript. Grandma, who reads slowly, was still calmly reading. Whatever it said, it made her smile that sly, gruff smile of hers.
“Such a fuss.”
Writing letters too. I wondered if Ri-hyuk had used a death-note light pen last night when I saw him squatting on the sofa.
As I unpacked, I felt a presence—no, a cat-presence. I turned to see the cat approaching warily, staring at my face.
“...?”
We stared, and she froze. After a while, she rubbed her head against my thigh. I stood frozen, blinking.
What is this?
【 Ragtag Group Chat (5) 】
[Notice] Ri-hyuk wrote a letter!!!
[Notice] Ji-ho is screwed
Ri-hyuk: [These awful people]
Ri-hyuk: ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) [I wrote a letter from my heart and you mock me???]
Ri-hyuk: [Just wait and see]
Ji-ho: [Uhd Ducg Br~~~~~]
Ji-ho: [(mocking GIF)]
Bi-joo: [Hyung, it’s sweet! ^_^]
Bi-joo: [I’m writing replies, so I’ll give you a letter when I get back]
Jung-hyun: [Ri-hyuk wrote one?]
Jung-hyun: [Oh, here it is]
Jung-hyun: [“I’m grateful you’re my hyung,” is that how it ends?]
—Ri-hyuk has left the chat.
—Ji-ho invited Ri-hyuk back.
Ji-ho: [Hyung, outside is tough]
Ji-ho: [You think you can live well alone?]
Ri-hyuk: [Shut up]
Ri-hyuk: [You greenhouse flower]
Ji-ho: [lololol]
Bi-joo: [But why no reply from Woo-joo?]
Bi-joo: [Hyung, what are you doing? I’m curious]
Woo-joo: [Ha...]
Woo-joo: [Guys...]
Woo-joo: [Cats are really strange beings...]
—Woo-joo sent 37 photos.
Woo-joo: [Cat...]
Woo-joo: [How are cats still cats]
Woo-joo: [Cute even upside down]
Bi-joo: [Hyung?;;;]
Ji-ho: [What concept is this]
Ji-ho: [A time was coming where Woo-joo’ll act strange...]
Ri-hyuk: [Let him tire himself out]
Jung-hyun: [Woo-joo’s saying weird stuff]
Jung-hyun: [I’m going to eat]
Woo-joo: [Na-na-nananana]
Woo-joo: [I’ve forgiven Nabi and accepted her as a Souffle]
Woo-joo: [Nabi, Hyung will earn lots of kibble~~~!]
Woo-joo: [Go!]
Woo-joo: [Shoot!]
—Ri-hyuk left the chat.
Woo-joo: [This...]
Ji-ho: [lololol]
Three minutes later:
Ji-ho: [lolololol]
Ji-ho: [Ri-hyuk DM’d me why he wasn’t invited, cussing]
Ji-ho: [Screenshot.jpg]
Bi-joo: [ㅋ.ㅋ]
Bi-joo: [I’ll invite him]
“Nabi, do I love you?”
Meowwww.
“This is a photo of the kids. How is it? Do you like it?”
Meow. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
“Sure, it’s not as nice as me, but you like them too, right? You’re a Souffle, after all.”
“...You’re really something, aren’t you?”
As I fed her Churu treats and doted on her, Grandma clicked her tongue.
“I should have gotten cat toys too...”
Nabi’s tail twitched against my forearm as I beamed. I love cats. Each gentle tap of her paw filled me with warmth—it felt like doting on a little baby.
“Ha ha...”
I found myself laughing like Ji-ho’s father, so I held back.
Grandma scowled, so I quickly went over and massaged her.
“Oh, that’s so good.”
“See? I practiced this just for you.”
Using all the massage techniques I learned on MiTube, I eased Grandma’s stiff muscles.
“Oh yu...”
She lay back with eyes closed as I pounded and kneaded her back.
On TV, the broadcast continued. It was Sunday at 5 p.m., the live airing of PBS Challenge Master Song Discovery Team, episode 2. Following last week, the latter half of the meeting with the original artists and singers was being shown.
As the camera revealed the open hall, Grandma clicked her tongue.
“Wow, so many people. How many is that?”
“A bit over six hundred.”
“They’d come for your face?”
“No, most of them just came to watch the live show.”
I shared backstage stories and fun facts for her curious questions. When the competition began, Grandma sat up straight, eyes glued to the screen, looking as if she’d inspect her grandson’s rivals with her own eyes. I smiled.
“How’s it, Grandma?”
“They’re amazing. Did you really perform that well?”
“You’ll see when you watch.”
Soon we’ll be the best up there. I swallowed those words and watched TV with Grandma.
As Lisa, Jo Yuri Band, Cha Woo-hyun, and Song Bo-hyung performed, the moment arrived: the grand finale with our song. A gentle piano BGM played, and the subtitle “Life｜New Black” appeared with “Lyrics & Composition: Noh Jae-hyun” and “Arrangement: Woo-joo.”
“...”
I felt something strange. It was the first time I’d watched myself on TV with Grandma like this. My siblings, who’d been buzzing over chat, were silent too. They’re watching with their families, right?
The camera panned slowly across the full hall. As the intro played, the camera advanced from afar, drawing every eye. Hidden live band in darkness, beams of light slicing through the air. Beneath them stood the five of us. Then our intro performance: we closed our eyes or smiled softly as we lifted our mics. Our quiet, breath-filled voices prompted a reaction shot of Lisa, “Ooh...” with her hand to her mouth.
Even the celebrities on the panel exchanged “...!” glances. Blue and chartreuse lights changed, tinting our hair. The stage looked like a dreamscape. Harmony built layer upon layer. On TV, I grasped my mic with a serious face. As I faded, Jung-hyun’s soft entry crossed over. Our rapper’s calm, story-like delivery. Jung-hyun handed off to Ji-ho, who nodded in emotion. The lead vocalist placed a hand on his chest. Original composer Noh Jae-hyun nodded in reaction shots. The ballad flowed like water. Bi-joo, bathed in light, raised a gentle hand and opened her lips, heightening the mood. Finally, at the chorus, all five of us raised our mics together. A gasp erupted from the audience and washed over the TV.
At that moment, something else grabbed my attention: the live chat comment feed on my phone was exploding.
