“Wait, hold on.”
I suddenly thought of something, so I asked Sohee again.
“Then what about the money?”
“Uh?”
“Yang Hye-in’s annual salary is 500 million, right? You said Hye-in funded this, claiming it was her savings. If it’s around 1.5 billion, then it sounds like all the money she saved until then, right?”
“Y-yeah?”
Sohee looked stunned, probably not expecting such a question.
“Honestly, I don’t know how she managed to come up with that money either. Back then, my senior handled the work, you know.”
“……”
I placed my hand on my forehead again.
Then I turned my head and looked up at my grandmother’s house where we slept and ate yesterday and today.
Even if they said they rebuilt the house that burned down in the forest fire, it looked too clean. This must have been over ten years ago, back in Yang Hye-in’s childhood.
No matter how much she didn’t spend much personally and just saved up money… wouldn’t a normal family use some of that to help each other?
There’s no way she didn’t give even a penny of that enormous salary to Grandma.
“……”
Or maybe…
Nah, no way. That can’t be right.
It shouldn’t be.
*
But once a suspicion is planted, it doesn’t easily settle.
“Sorry for leaving you alone after breakfast. I just went to pick some greens for a bit.”
“Ah, it’s fine. We were just waiting comfortably anyway.”
Luckily, Ha Neul quickly waved her hand to respond. Otherwise, I would have had to answer since I was closest.
“……”
Yang Hye-in still didn’t say a word.
She must be trying to be considerate of me. She probably knows I’d feel extremely uncomfortable using the term ‘older sister’ for her.
On second thought, Yang Hye-in might be the uncomfortable one. She’s been using honorifics to me these past few years, and now I’m being told to use informal speech.
Even if it’s just in front of the remaining family.
……Thinking back, considering the past few years, it means Yang Hye-in has probably seen me more often than Grandma.
Of course, it wouldn’t be solely because of Sara. It’s probably an overlap of various events along with her desire not to return to this house filled with painful memories.
If I think one of those causes might be Choi Na-kyung…
…….
“C’mon, dig in. You must be hungry after breakfast!”
As she said that, the spread in front of us looked like a feast that could bend the table.
*
“Hey, hold on a second.”
After the meal, while Yang Hye-in and Grandma were out to clean up, I stepped in and stopped those trying to follow them.
Of course, I do have at least minimal conscience. Thinking that I should help since I got this meal for free.
So, I wanted to go to the kitchen alone.
I had something I wanted to ask Grandma.
“Is it okay for me to go help alone? You all helped yesterday, after all.”
In fact, Ha Neul and Sua also came to help after dinner yesterday.
We originally planned to help each other, and although Grandma tried to dissuade us, we pushed hard because of the pangs of conscience.
Since the kitchen was quite cramped, having all four of us in there would only cause trouble, hence we decided through a draw who would go.
So technically speaking, it was right for me and Sohee to go in this morning, although I had personal matters to ask.
……Technically, it was related to Sohee as well, but I hoped she wouldn’t feel the need to hear this story.
Did that show on my face, giving away my thoughts? The kids looked at each other and nodded.
“Yeah, then after lunch, I’ll go in.”
Sohee said that, and I nodded in agreement with her and stood up.
The kitchen was right next to the living room where we were sitting, but it felt like another room because of the door. By just closing the door and speaking softly, our conversation wouldn’t leak out. Especially since we were in the middle of washing dishes; the sound would probably drown it out.
“Grandma!”
I opened the door and entered with a cheerful voice.
“Today, I’ll help out!”
“Oh, there’s no need for that.”
But luckily, Grandma didn’t firmly refuse like yesterday. Ha Neul and Sua had already helped her.
“No, I’ll help.”
I said that while picking up a cloth to wipe down the table we hadn’t touched yet. Since Grandma and Yang Hye-in were both at the sink, I couldn’t help with the dishes.
“……”
Yang Hye-in glanced at me from the side, and when our eyes met, she averted her gaze back to the dishes, focusing.
……Hmm.
Having Yang Hye-in here makes it a bit awkward to ask questions.
“Hey, wasn’t it Sara?”
While I was shining up the dishes, Grandma asked. I thought it was better than remaining silent, so I quickly replied.
“Yes, it’s Ye Sara.”
“I see. When you get older, it’s harder to remember everything at once. Sorry~”
With a slightly drawn-out ending, Grandma spoke, and I quickly shook my head.
“No, it’s fine. We came without notice.”
“Still, it’s great to have guests after a long time. With such pretty girls around, it’s bright and pleasant. Hye-in should hurry up and get married, bringing kids here!”
No, even if you say that, the age gap is just too large for us to be compared to great-granddaughters.
Well, I suppose that’s just how people talk.
“By the way, this girl doesn’t talk much, but does our Hye-in have a boyfriend?”
“……”
“Uh…”
I was momentarily speechless.
A boyfriend?
I think it’s almost a 100% probability that she doesn’t have one. Yang Hye-in wouldn’t have the time to date. She’s always waiting for my call 24/7; if she managed to have a relationship in the meantime, it would have to be with a male colleague.
And I already obliterated any possibility of that male colleague relationship.
…Separately from that, I feel like Yang Hye-in hasn’t had any sort of romance, but that might just be my prejudice from seeing only one side of her.
“Ah… I mean, she doesn’t, right?”
So in the end, I fumbled over a similarly awkward sentence.
“Unni?”
I accidentally even used that title.
“……”
Ah.
I think Yang Hye-in just paused for a moment.
But that pause was literally just a moment. She moved her hand again and immediately replied.
“…… no.”
That was the first time I heard her speak informally.
“Is that so…?”
Hearing that response, I was torn between feeling relieved and apologetic.
If she originally didn’t have a boyfriend, then it wouldn’t be because of me. In that sense, I was glad—but—
If the only reason Yang Hye-in couldn’t date was purely because of ‘work,’ then it would be because of me.
Or maybe it is because of me.
…….
“Our Hye-in is so pretty…”
At the very least, I have no choice but to acknowledge that she is indeed beautiful.
I feel like a lot of guys probably approached her when she was in college.
“If there’s a good guy, introduce him to her! Sara’s parents are the same company, right?”
“Grandma.”
Grandma said that jokingly, but Yang Hye-in’s reaction was sharp.
“Ugh, it’s just a joke.”
She said that while laughing, but her voice sounded a bit bitter.
“……”
Yang Hye-in silently put down the dish she was holding. It seemed she had almost finished the dishes.
I quickly finished polishing the plate until it was shining brightly. I had wiped both tables clean, and while I was at it, I also cleaned the kitchen table.
“Grandma, I’ll go throw out the trash.”
“Okay.”
At Yang Hye-in’s words, Grandma seemed somewhat flustered in her response.
Yang Hye-in’s image felt a bit more sharp than usual. It seems the earlier conversation had made her even sharper.
……Is it because of me?
No, it could only be because of me. I was the one who dragged her here against her will, and I was the one who stuck around, leading to all sorts of undesirable discussions.
“Ah…”
Thanks to that, I ended up alone with Grandma as Yang Hye-in left.
“Um, Grandma.”
“Yeah?”
I glanced at Grandma, who was looking longingly at the door Yang Hye-in left through, and I threw out a question.
“Does Hye-in treat you well?”
A question that might be a bit rude.
