Dinner that night passed harmoniously, both families extremely pleased with the upcoming wedding between Hyun-Shik and Ji-Eun.
"We'll make sure everything goes well, President Chung," Su-Won said. "You and our daughter-in-law can just relax and we'll take care of everything."
Hyun-Shik's father was nodding in agreement beside her.
Daughter-in-law, huh? Hyun-Shik smiled at his Mother's words.
"Ah," Chung Luo-Yong glanced at his own daughter, who was eating her dinner silently beside him. "It doesn't have to be grand. My Ji-Eun..." he held his daughter's hand. "She's not really fond of crowds or being in front of a lot of people."
Hyun-Shik raised an eyebrow at this revelation. This Lady-Boss doesn't like crowds? That's going to be a problem. He thought as he stole a glance in her direction. My parents really liked events that showcased their capability and status.
And that meant crowds and media.
Hearing the elder's words, Su-won's face fell a little. "Oh... If that's the case, maybe we can come to a compromise, dear? Maybe we have to meet on another day to talk about it? We also have to decide on your wedding dress."
Ji-Eun nodded, agreeing. "The Regal can help out with that, Auntie," she said. "We have an extensive line at our boutique and we'd be willing to help out."
"Ji-Eun, we've known each other a long time. I've nursed you for a while too." Su-Won smiled at her. "Maybe it's time you start calling me Mother?"
Ji-Eun smiled awkwardly. "It might take some time for me to get used to it," she said honestly.
"It's okay, dear," Su-Won held her hand. "We have all the time we need."
Ji-Eun smiled at her warm gesture. So, this is how it is, huh?
The elders were talking about all sorts of things they should prepare for the wedding as the children just listened and ate their meal, commenting here and there to show their interest. The invitations, the theme, the gifts for the guests, the food... While it's normal for the groom's family to spearhead and pay for these types of events, one cannot just discount the Chung family's involvement. They are a conglomerate family after all.
Chung Ji-Eun and her father offered to host the wedding at The Regal Hotel, even offering to have her boutique bring in interesting wedding portfolios for them to look at her convenience. Her staff, as Ji-Eun informed them, had been handling events like these since they started, so there shouldn't be any problems.
This helped Song Su-Won relax a bit, as she readily agreed to their suggestion.
"This way," she said, relieved. "We can have the wedding ceremony sooner rather than later."
Ji-Eun laughed nervously and drank her water, hiding her slight discomfort at how fast things were going. And it was decided then that the ladies would be meeting each other on another day to shop for the aesthetics of the event.
"This wedding preparation," Hyun-Shik's father, Seungwoo, said. "Seems to be just a simple gift from our family to yours, President Chung. When comparing it to the value your daughter is bringing to our family... We cannot be any more grateful to you."
Song Seungwoo could only bow his head. The elder Chung accepted Seungwoo's sincerity and laughed lightly.
"Family is as a family should be," he said. "Help and money are things we are able to give freely because we have an abundance of them right now."
Ji-Eun smiled at her father's words.
"My only wish is for me to be able to take care of my grandchildren in the near future," the Chung elder added as an afterthought.
At the table, the two Song elders expressed their loud agreement with the Chung elder's words, while Hyun-Shik's mouth hung open in surprise. Ji-Eun on the other hand, began laughing nervously, refilling her father's wine glass and nudging the elder gently.
"Father," she said, smiling awkwardly. "Let's not talk about these things this early, huh?"
While Hyun-Shik agreed with Ji-Eun, he could only remain silent under the circumstances. He looked at his parents and at Chung Luo-Yong's hopeful faces and began feeling a bit disturbed.
They'd be so disappointed if they found out about us, wouldn't they? He thought to himself sadly as he looked over at Ji-Eun who was holding her father's hand. But then again...
"While I do agree with you about having a baby being a great gift," he heard Ji-Eun say. "It's not exactly what I have in mind as a gift for all of us right now."
"Hmm?" Chung Luo-Yong looked at his daughter carefully. "What do you mean?"
Hyun-Shik eyed her with interest and admired her skill of being able to escape from the elders' excitement easily.
"Hyun-Shik and I," Ji-Eun felt everyone's eyes on her at that moment. "We just met and we don't really know each other outside of our own businesses. I just thought that before anything else, we can sort out our public issues first."
Everyone was listening to her intently then.
"You mean...?" her father urged her to continue.
"The gift I am thinking of giving our family and Hyun-Shik's family," she said. "Is bringing Song Corp. back their power and status. I can and will help my husband rebuild Song Corp. Everything else, we can think about afterward."
Silence followed her statement. Chung Luo-Yong could only give his daughter a proud smile as she bowed to the Song family members.
At that moment, Hyun-Shik felt really thankful for the decision he made.