The Song family members arrived at the Chung family home, situated at a privately owned town, just outside of Main City that following weekend. They were due to visit the Chung family for a formal meeting with the in-law when they were met with this massive mansion that took their breath away.
"This is..." Hyun-Shik's father gazed around the family estate. "Oh, wow..."
They had spent quite some time outside of the elegant mansion admiring the entire space. While the Song family may be considered wealthy by most people, it seemed they just can't compare to the display of grandeur that was right in front of them. The mansion towered in front of them, while the row of lovely flowers surrounding the living space enticed them completely. The touch of femininity moved Hyun-Shik's mother who had always appreciated a well-kept garden.
They were looking everywhere when they heard the front door open.
"Su-Won! Seungwoo! You're all here," the Chung elder rushed to greet his guests. "Ah, my son, Hyun-Shik. Come inside! It must have been cold."
My son? Hyun-Shik seemed a bit embarrassed to be called as such this early, but he didn't say anything. The President really was too forward, isn't he?
Chung Luo-Yong was over the moon at the prospect of having his soon-to-be in-laws visit his family home. He strode forward to shake Song Seungwoo's hand and to hug his former secretary, Song Su-Won.
"We can do the tour later if you want," the elder ushered the family in. "You have to warm up first."
The Chung elder guided them toward the large drawing room on the right side of the mansion. The drawing room was spacious and warm, housing a family couch and several strategically placed daybeds under the windows. To Hyun-Shik, this seemed like a room where the father and daughter tandem spend most of their time in. He imagined the Chung elder drinking his tea here, while Ji-Eun read a book on one of the daybeds.
"Please let Old Chen here know what you want to drink," he introduced their family butler, who bowed to the Song family. "Dinner is nearly ready, but we can have a light snack if you want."
As the elder and his parents talked, Hyun-Shik was busy looking around, waiting for Ji-Eun to show up.
The elder, noticing this, leaned over. "She'll be here soon," he said in a playful tone. "She had some business to take care of."
"President," Hyun-Shik nodded sheepishly.
The elder laughed heartily. "No need to be shy, dear boy!"
At this, Hyun-Shik's father, Seungwoo, smiled. "You are so lucky to have such a talented and hardworking daughter, President."
"She's really beautiful too," Su-Won added.
"Thank you," the elder cannot stop smiling. "As the saying goes, I must have saved the country in my past life to have been blessed with a wonderful and filial daughter."
They talked for about twenty or so minutes, drinking tea and enjoying each other's company, before they saw Old Chen crossing the drawing room hurriedly.
Ji-Eun? Hyun-Shik guessed as he looked over.
There was the sound of a door opening and then they heard a soft voice, "Grandpa Chen! Oh, I missed you!"
"You have to come home more often, Young Miss," they heard Old Chen speaking gently. "Are you eating well?"
"Yes, of course! Jaehyun makes sure I do."
The exchange continued as they neared the entrance to the drawing room. "I brought some fresh fruits over for you. These came from Jaehyun's Grandma. And these are for the house. Maybe we can have some for later?"
When the owner of the voice came into view, they all saw Chung Ji-Eun hugging the smiling butler. "Thank you, Young Miss. I'll take care of them and bring them over. You have guests right now."
"Auntie Su-Won!" Ji-Eun exclaimed when she saw Song Su-Won. "You came!"
The people in the drawing room stood up to receive her. Ji-Eun walked straight to Su-Won and held her arms out. "I missed you, Auntie," she said as she hugged Hyun-Shik's mother. "How have you been?"
From what Hyun-Shik heard, his mother had taken care of Ji-Eun for some time when she was little, so it wasn't a surprise that she'd remember her. He watched her as she interacted with his parents.
She really gives off a warm feeling, doesn't she? Hyun-Shik smiled at the thought.
"You're still as pretty as ever!" His mother gushed. "How lucky is Hyun-Shik to have met you."
Ji-Eun smiled at her compliment and proceeded to greet Song Seungwoo. "Uncle, thank you for coming."
Hyun-Shik's father seemed very taken with her too as he gladly accepted her greeting.
"Did you drive over by yourself?" The Chung elder looked around, looking for somebody. "Where is Jaehyun?"
Hyun-Shik glanced at the President and then at Ji-Eun. Secretary Oh?
"Father," Ji-Eun laughed. "Let's give him some time to himself, okay? I've annoyed him well enough these past few days already."
"Silly girl," the elder shook his head. "That poor boy ages quickly because of you."
Ji-Eun laughed. "So, that's why I'm saying we should give him some time off. He just brought me home from The Regal anyway."
The elder sighed. "He should've dropped in. He is part of this family too anyway."
Part of the family? What did the President mean by that?
Ji-Eun and Hyun-Shik exchanged glances and smiled at each other. She stepped close to him just enough to be respectfully close.
"Father regrets not having a son," Ji-Eun leaned closer to Hyun-Shik to whisper to him. "When he learned that Jaehyun and I were friends from way back, he immediately took a liking to him and treated him as one."
Hyun-Shik nodded. "Why is he not here then?"
Ji-Eun shrugged. "Jaehyun... shies away from events like this most of the time. I don't know why, really."
"Oh?" The Chung elder smiled at both of them. "You two seemed to have a lot to talk about. Ji-Eun, why don't you take Hyun-Shik for quick a tour, so you can catch up with each other, while we talk about the things we need to arrange for your wedding?"
"Yes," Song Seungwoo agreed, wanting his son to get closer to Ji-Eun. "That's a great idea, President."
"Just don't go too far though since dinner will be ready soon," the Chung elder said thoughtfully.
Hyun-Shik glanced at Ji-Eun whose smile twitched a little as she listened to her father's suggestion. It wasn't as if he didn't want to spend time inside the house and listen to the elders' conversation, but he was thinking that maybe now was a good time as any to get to know the girl he was supposed to marry.
"I'd like a tour," Hyun-Shik said to Ji-Eun, agreeing to the elders' suggestion. "Walk with me, won't you?"
Ji-Eun could only watch as Hyun-Shik offered his hand out to her.