He doesn't know what he has expected but he's sure that he didn't expect this.
Her house looks like it has emerged from the Joseon Era: a small courtyard, wooden pillars, wooden floor leading to inner rooms, and colourful tiled roofs. The house is loved for sure. Though it's old, it's been taken care of.
Chicken is walking ahead of him. Her not-so-chicken-sister has her arm coiled around her sister's arm. Chicken leans toward her sister to listen to her whispers. Mi-Young gives a dark glance at him before she murmurs something to Chicken.
He's disliked, isn't he? Now, he wants to know who this No Shi Won is. Is that guy good enough to be this chicken's husband? Of course, not! If this Chicken wanted to marry No Shi Won, she wouldn't be lying.
During the car ride, she did tell him about her family a little. Her grandfather, who had died a few years ago, wanted her to marry Mr No's grandson. This chicken ran away from home with a paedophile whom she loved, but that bastard abandoned her. When she had nowhere to go, she came to the share-house and started going to university.
She didn't tell him the details about her relationship with the paedophile. It must be difficult for her.
His heart is broken for his goddaughter after he heard the complete story. He still can't get over the fact that a paedophile took advantage of this chicken. He must find that bastard and put him into jail.
He can only do this after she decides to tell the truth to her family. If her grandfather's friend finds out the truth, that old man might die.
"Mister," Chicken hisses as she elbows him. "Mister!"
"Huh?" He looks at her. "What?"
She signals him to look ahead of them. Sin Jeong-Hyuk raises his head and finds himself face to face with Chicken's parents.
Chang Seol's father, a middle-aged man with a square jaw and olive skin, dressed in traditional robe, is standing with his hands clasped behind his back. His brows are knitting together into a grimace as his dark upturned eyes scrutinize him.
Her mother, an elegant woman in her late forties, looks like an older version of Chang Mi-Young.
He can't help but look for similarities between chicken and her parents. Nonetheless, he fails to find any.
Is Chicken adopted or something? He narrows his eyes on her head.
"Ahem!" Her father clears his throat. "I am Chang Seol's father, Chang Il-Sung."
"I am Sin Jeong-Hyuk." He has never done this before. Jeong-Hyuk glances at Chicken again for some help. She's looking down. Her hands are inside her pockets. He places his hand on her shoulder and says, "I am her husband."
That should be enough, right?
"What is your age, occupation, home address?" Chang Mi-Young shouts. "Why do you own a car when you are a neet?"
He purses his lips. This brat is rather annoying.
"Son, please take a seat." Chang Seol's mother, Park Yoon-Seo, smacks Mi-Young's head. "Don't mind her. My second daughter is blunt."
"Everyone's curious at that age." Sin Jeong-Hyuk gives them a polite smile and takes a seat. The sitting arrangement is an ancient style. He's not used to sitting on his knees. There's a table between him and her parents.
Her mother pours him a cup of tea. "When did you start seeing my daughter?"
"Er…" He's not prepared for these kinds of questions. "We met around…"
"Around a week ago." Chang Seol answers sullenly, "We met, fell in love, and got married."
Her father's steely gaze falls on him. Sin Jeong-Hyuk looks down and elbows Chicken. What is this Chicken saying? Does she want him to get killed?
"That…" Her mother looks at him awkwardly. "This young generation is rather hasty."
"Yes, we like to cook rice fast." Chang Seol shrugs, avoiding everyone's hard stare on her. "It was love at first sight. I asked him to marry me."
"..." Cook rice? What kind of phrase is that? Does this Chicken know the meaning? Damn it! Everyone is watching him as if he's a criminal.
"What do you do?" Her father asks him with a grave tone.
"I am sorry for not telling you the truth." He feels Chicken's glare on him. "I used to be a songwriter, musician, and I also worked as a music producer for a while. Currently, I am on a sabbatical. I intend to return to the field after some time."
It might be a long time.
Mi-Young blinks her eyes. "Daebak!"
"A musician?" Her father glares at Chicken. "You married a musician?"
"I…" Chang Seol gapes at him. "Are you really a musician?"
"How could you not know if your husband is a musician or not?" Her mother gives her a long look. "Seol, didn't we tell you that you can never…"
Chang Seol raises her hand. "I didn't break my promise."
Sin Jeong-Hyuk frowns. What is going on here? Do they have something against the musicians? "I played instruments for some time, but my father was against it. So, I started as a songwriter. Then, I worked as a music producer for a few years before I went on a sabbatical."
"So, you are doing nothing at the moment." Mi-Young narrows her eyes on him. "You are a neet."
He lets out an exasperated sigh. "It means taking a break. I intend to return after some time."
"It must be fate." Her father waves his hand. "It can't be helped. They are already married."
What fate? He shifts closer to Chang Seol who seems to be in a bad mood. Leaning closer to her, he whispers in her ear, "It seems that we look like a fated couple, Chicken."
She gives him a hard shove. "Fated, my foot."
Mi-Young makes a face at them. "Aigoo! Brother-in-law is so shameless. Get a room already."
A heavy silence falls in the room. Chang Seol's parents look away awkwardly. Chang Seol's face burns red. He realizes his mistake and looks at the floor, wishing for it to break open and swallow him.
He's not really married to this girl. Why is he going through this embarrassment?