When he put his hand into his apron pocket, he felt a hard texture. It was the card Ganghyuk had given him. He said if he was going to invest, he should do it properly, and told him to use this card to buy food ingredients and necessary things.
Ian had accepted the card without shame. This was because Sangmin had ransacked all the money in the house and even took Ian’s piggy bank that had been in his room.
Since he didn’t even have a cell phone, Ian had no choice but to accept the card. He flipped to the back of the notepad and was writing down the food ingredients he needed to buy at the market this time when the door made a rattling sound.
“I saw the sign light was on and thought ‘no way, no way,’ but—are you trying to start the business again?”
It was Okjeong, holding a black plastic bag in one hand. Okjeong held out the plastic bag to Ian while looking around the shop. Her eyes reddened as she saw the shop cleaned up just like when Cheolho was alive.
“Grandmother, what’s this?”
“What do you mean what. I brought some snacks that our Ian likes.”
Just as Okjeong said, the bag was full of snacks Ian used to enjoy eating. Ian grinned widely and hugged the bag with both arms.
“Should I make you a cup of coffee? Instant coffee?”
“Sure. Make me a cold one, nice and cool. Even though it’s cold, I can’t drink hot stuff at all.”
“Okay.”
Ian could see she came because she was worried, so he guided Okjeong to a table. He went into the kitchen, put two packets of instant coffee mix into a cup, and poured hot water. After pouring slightly less than the proper amount, he generously added ice from the freezer.
When he stirred it gently with chopsticks, the ice made a refreshing clinking sound. After placing the coffee in front of Okjeong and sitting down in the chair across from her, Okjeong raised her wrinkled eyes with a quick glance.
“Nothing happened last night?”
“No.”
Even though he tried not to show it, her gaze worrying about him rippled moistly. Ian nodded firmly to convey that she didn’t need to worry.
“Sigh. I still don’t understand it well. If I could afford it, I would take you in.”
“Please don’t say that. If it weren’t for you and Soyeon noona, Grandfather’s funeral would have been twice as difficult. Just helping me then, I’m so grateful for that.”
“What good does that do? I didn’t even know that bastard Sangmin was selling you off and just slept soundly.”
“You know it’s not your fault, Grandmother. It’s all Dad’s fault.”
The day after returning home, Ian went to visit Okjeong and Soyeon who must have been worried about him. The two were so shocked to see Ian, as if they had encountered a ghost.
They belatedly learned that something terrible had happened to Ian because of Sangmin, but there was nothing the two could do. Sangmin had threatened that if they reported it to the police, Ian might really die.
They tried to mobilize their connections to at least find out where Ian had been sold to, but even that wasn’t easy, and the two said they spent every night in tears.
Moved to see Ian return alive and well, but only for a moment. When Ian briefly told them what had happened during that time, the two’s faces were colored with worry.
“Don’t even call him Dad. What kind of father is that bastard? A bastard worse than an animal! Next time I see him, I’ll crack his skull open.”
When Ian told them that Ganghyuk, who had come to the funeral home, saved him, bought this building, and even that they were living together, the two couldn’t open their mouths for a while.
Ganghyuk exuded with his whole body that he was doing dangerous work at a glance. Soyeon knew that Taehyun Construction was the reincarnation of the Hyunho faction that had ruled Seoul for decades. This was because the man she was currently living with had been involved in a low-level organization under the Hyunho faction in his younger days.
Being an executive at Taehyun Construction meant being closely involved in underworld affairs. Although it had transformed into a plausible company now, its essence hadn’t changed.
Their worries were as big as mountains, but Ian, who had actually come to live with Ganghyuk, seemed calm. He didn’t seem to be afraid of Ganghyuk either, and his complexion had improved compared to when he held the funeral.
At Ian’s words that Ganghyuk was treating him well, Okjeong and Soyeon secretly exchanged glances. They were anxious that Ian seemed to be completely captivated by that guy called Ganghyuk.
Anyway, as Ian said, it was true that Ganghyuk had saved Ian, so the two decided to watch for now. In fact, separating Ganghyuk from Ian’s side was also impossible.
Ganghyuk seemed much more dangerous than the guy Sangmin had sold Ian to. Moreover, Hyoseong-dong was currently noisy with redevelopment, and the association members were gathering their opinions to entrust the contract to Taehyun Construction.
“It’ll just dirty Grandmother’s hands for nothing. Don’t worry. If he comes looking again, I won’t just stand still either.”
Ian patted the agitated Okjeong’s hand. He was worried that Okjeong, who had high blood pressure, might collapse from getting worked up.
“I’m thinking of reopening the shop starting tomorrow. Today I’m going to clean and try making some soup in advance.”
“Did that guy tell you to run the shop?”
“No. I said I’d do it.”
When Okjeong narrowed her eyes and asked, Ian quickly shook his head. Looking at Okjeong’s reaction, it was strange how Ganghyuk really seemed like a scary person.
Of course, he had thought that way too, but not now. The more he knew, the better a person Ganghyuk seemed.
Ganghyuk’s smiling face as he looked at him was about to come to mind again, so he took out a snack from the plastic bag.
“Oh, when I make the soup, please taste it, Grandmother. How similar it is to what Grandfather made. I have the recipe, but since it’s my first time making it alone, I’m a bit worried.”
“Sure, how hard can that be? I’ll have Soyeon come and taste it too later.”
“Thank you.”
Ian felt like he had finally returned to everyday life. Although one corner of his heart felt hollow without Grandfather by his side, fortunately there were good people nearby to fill Grandfather’s empty place.
ლ
“…How is it?”
As soon as Okjeong and Soyeon scooped up the broth with their spoons simultaneously, Ian asked. He leaned his body toward the two, so more than half his upper body came up onto the table. When he tasted it earlier, it wasn’t bad, but who knew.
“Hmm.”
“Hmmm.”
The two looked at the anxious Ian and made sounds of contemplation simultaneously. It was when Ian’s face became serious at their ominous reactions. Soyeon suddenly gave Ian a thumbs up.
“Perfect. It’s almost the same as what the old man used to make. Maybe because the broth hasn’t steeped as deeply, the deep flavor is a bit lacking, but there’s no pork smell and it’s delicious. Ian, you’re really amazing. Didn’t you say this was your first time making it today?”
At the praise full of sincerity, the corners of Ian’s mouth rose as if to reach his ears. He had worried about what to do if it didn’t taste right even though he made it according to the recipe, but he was really relieved.
If Soyeon said it was delicious, it really was delicious. He felt reassured knowing she was the type who didn’t say empty words.
“What about you, Grandmother? Is it really similar to Grandfather’s touch?”
Ian’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Okjeong, who hadn’t yet given a proper review. Okjeong smiled warmly as she mixed the seasoning paste into the broth.
“I like what our Ian made better. Sorry to old man Yeon, but.”
“Grandmother…”
At the unexpected praise, the end of Ian’s voice trembled finely. Soyeon outright dumped a bowl of rice into the earthenware pot. As the broth and rice grains mixed evenly, she immediately scooped up a big spoonful and ate it.
“Kyaa, you don’t know how much I missed this broth. Ian-ah, can noona open a bottle of soju?”
“Yes! I’ll bring it to you.”
Ian quickly got up from his seat and took out a bottle of soju from the refrigerator. When he also brought three soju glasses and returned to his seat, Soyeon smiled brightly.
“Ian, are you drinking too?”
“Just one glass.”
He had already learned about alcohol from Grandfather. Although it was his first time drinking with other people, since he had successfully made the soup, he wanted to share this joy with the two of them.
