Chapter 14 The Dinner
Disclaimer: I wished I could have Joon Pyo at least, but my wish would never come true because he's Jan Di's ;)
I'm sorry for the mistakes at the grammar, I tried to fix some, but I guess I didn't do a great job on them. Here is another chapter nonetheless. Hope you enjoy it :)
The helicopter that brought Jan Di and Joon Pyo from the village landed safely at the helipad on the rooftop of Shinhwa Hotel. Joon Pyo checked his watch and saw that it was twenty minutes before four. Joon Pyo rushed them to the suite, so they could get ready for the dinner. Secretary Jung instructed the maids to help them when they got into their own bedrooms. Like before, Joon Pyo would get ready at the master bedroom when Jan Di would get prepared at the second bedroom.
Five minutes before five, Jan Di walked out of the bedroom and found Joon Pyo already paced around the living room. He looked impatient with the pacing, but most of all, Jan Di could see that he was nervous as well from the fidgeting of his hands. Jan Di walked toward him slowly and got his attention. Joon Pyo stopped the pacing and looked over to her. He was stunned seeing her in the dress. Jan Di simply smiled and walked toward Joon Pyo's open arms before he encircled her in his embrace.
"You really are pretty," he murmured before kissing her lips. He stepped back before bringing her hands to his lips and kissed them. "I think we better get going if we don't want to be late," he reminded them about the plan before escorted her out of the suite.
A black limousine had already been waiting for them in the hotel drop off. Jan Di frowned when she was ushered inside the limousine. They were the only ones who rode in the back of the limousine. Secretary Jung was riding in the passenger seat in the front with the driver. Jan Di used this opportunity to look at Joon Pyo and scowled at him. Joon Pyo, being Joon Pyo, was still clueless about the scowl on Jan Di's face and just watched the street.
"Joon Pyo," Jan Di called, practically growling at him. The tone in her voice made him jump a little before turning to look at her. He frowned when he saw the scowl.
"What now?" Joon Pyo asked with confusion was clear on his face. "Why are you scowling at me now? What have I done this time?" It was clear that he really didn't have any idea why Jan Di acted like that.
"Limousine? Really?" Jan Di asked him in disbelieved tone.
"Why not?" Joon Pyo asked back. "Really, Jan Di," he started with exasperate tone. "Look, we're going to my house. It's not like I want to show off with the limousine. My family is just expecting something like this. They used to see people coming out of limousine," Joon Pyo tried to explain.
"I just don't really understand. It's not like your family will be waiting for us at the front door or something. They won't see us coming out of limousine or any other car. Why don't you just use one of your shiny normal cars or your favorite red car? At least they will be respectable enough, but not too outrageous like limousine," Jan Di rambled.
"But, your dress is not suitable for my Lotus. Your dress is supposed to be treated with elegance and luxury. It will look funny coming out of my Lotus," Joon Pyo argued and pouted his lips.
"Really? You pay attention to what my dress look like when I come out of a car?" Jan Di asked disbelievingly. Joon Pyo just shrugged. "You're such a girl sometime," she added teasingly.
"I'm not!" Joon Pyo yelled. "Is it wrong of me to treat you like a lady, especially when you dress so nicely like this?" Joon Pyo protested.
"Well, treating me like lady doesn't mean we have to use limousine. You still can treat me like lady, even though you just use normal car," she argued back.
Joon Pyo sighed. "Look, can we not do this now? I'm still drained from the argument we had this afternoon. And I'm sure I will need my energy to handle my mother later. So can we argue about this another time?" he practically begged. "I promise I'll arrange something for the time we have the argument," he added cheekily.
Jan Di narrowed her eyes. "Fine. We'll talk about this some other time," she gave in. Honestly, she was also still too tired because of the argument earlier. She had to admit that Joon Pyo was right. It was more fun to argue when you were not too tired.
A few minutes later Jan Di was restless in her seat. She looked at Joon Pyo and pouted. "There's a bad effect for us not arguing right now," she said mysteriously.
Joon Pyo frowned. "What do you mean?" he asked, furrowing his eyebrows together.
Jan Di sighed. "Now that we're not arguing, I can't keep my mind from imagining of how your mother will act tonight," she explained. "I already know that she doesn't like me and it makes me nervous of what she will do to show me that."
"Don't worry about that. She won't do anything too bad, really. My father wants to meet you, she won't ruin tonight for him. Besides, my sister will try to help us getting out of this dinner unscathed," Joon Pyo tried to calm her. "Besides, you have me! I won't let anything happen to you," he added cheekily.
Jan Di slapped the back of his head. "Babo. Like you can protect me from your mother!" Jan Di said half annoyed half teasingly.
"Yah! Of course I can. Who do you think I am?" Joon Pyo boosting again.
"You're a spoiled brat!" Jan Di answered before laughing out loud.
They arrived at Joon Pyo's house ten minutes before six. The butler opened the car door for Jan Di to let her get out. Joon Pyo was already standing besides the car waiting for her. He put his hand around her waist to escort her into the house. Secretary Jung was walking behind them to be ready if Joon Pyo needed him later.
The butler announced their arrival when they stepped inside the house. Jan Di's heart was beating really fast because she was really nervous meeting Joon Pyo's family officially for the first time. Footsteps were sounded from the stairs. Jan Di was preparing herself to see Joon Pyo's parents. However, the one who greeted her later was Joon Hee.
"Jan Di!" Joon Hee called her name happily. A wide smile was gracing her face. She stopped in front of Jan Di and pulled her to her embrace. "I miss you!" she said with Jan Di still in her tight hug.
"Yah! Don't suffocate her, noona!" Joon Pyo protested before helping Jan Di out of the hug.
Joon Hee slapped his head. "Who wants to suffocate her?" she demanded, feeling annoyed.
"You.." Joon Pyo tried to argue back, but Jan Di cut him off.
"Joon Pyo, you're overreacting!" Jan Di protested. She turned her eyes back to Joon Hee. "Hello, Joon Hee-unni. I missed you too," she greeted politely.
Joon Hee chuckled before throwing her arm on Jan Di's shoulder and guided her into the house. The action practically left Joon Pyo behind. "Yah! That's my girlfriend. You have no right to steal her away!" Joon Pyo protested which was ignored by Joon Hee and Jan Di.
Joon Hee was asking Jan Di about her life and her family when Mr. Goo and Mrs. Kang Hee Soo came to the living room. Mr. Goo was still a little weak, so he was being helped by Kang Hee Soo and a maid. Jan Di stood up immediately when she saw their arrival. Joon Hee and Joon Pyo also stood up at each of Jan Di's sides, as if they wanted to protect Jan DI if there was an attack. When Mr. Goo and Kang Hee Soo finally arrived and stood up in front of them, Jan Di bowed down in greeting.
"Hello," Mr. Goo greeted warmly. "So this is Miss Geum Jan Di. It's nice to finally meet you," he added in kind voice before thrust his hand in front of her.
Jan Di reached out her hand to shake Mr. Goo's hand before she looked up to see his face. Jan Di gasped lightly. "Ajuhssi," she whispered.
"Huh?" Mr. Goo heard something, but he didn't catch Jan Di's words.
"Oh, nothing. It's really nice to finally meet you too, Sir," Jan Di answered politely after she finally remembered her manners. Her mind was filled with the memory of ajuhssi who she had been visited years ago. She glanced at Secretary Jung who was standing close to the wall. Secretary Jung was watching her before he gave her a small knowing smile. Jan Di sent a silent question to him and he nodded his head as if to answer her question.
Other Goo family members didn't notice the exchange, but Joon Pyo did. Being close to her, he had heard her when she called his father 'ajuhssi'. He didn't understand anything, but he knew that something was going on. He was planning to ask Jan Di later.
Joon Hee and Kang Hee Soo were walking beside Mr. Goo in front of Jan Di and Joon Pyo. The maid had already informed them that the dinner was ready. So Joon Hee and Kang Hee Soo helped Mr. Goo to go to the dining room. Joon Pyo walked beside Jan Di. When he saw that his parents and his sister had walked ahead of them, he held Jan Di back.
"What was that? Why did you call my father ajuhssi?" Joon Pyo whispered to Jan Di, so there were only them who can hear him.
Jan DI's eyes widened when she heard Joon Pyo's question. She didn't realize that her actions earlier were noticed by Joon Pyo. Her eyes searched for Secretary Jung. But it seemed that Secretary Jung wasn't supposed to be present at the dinner. Jan Di didn't want to get Secretary Jung into trouble, but she didn't want to lie to Joon Pyo either. Jan Di looked up to stare at Joon Pyo's eyes. Before she could say anything, Joon Hee called them. "Why are you guys doing there?" she asked.
Jan Di sighed in relief. "Nothing, Joon Hee-unni," she answered before turning back to Joon Pyo. "Come on. I don't want to make your parents wait," she said to Joon Pyo before grabbing his hand and headed to the dining room.
They used the six-seats dining table that night. Joon Pyo's family had some dining tables. Six-seats, twelve-seats, and even twenty-seats dining table. But, because that night it was only five of them who dined, the maids had prepared the six-seats dining table. Mr. Goo sat at the head of the dining table with Kang Hee Soo sat on his right and Joon Hee sat beside Kang Hee Soo. Joon Pyo took the seat which was positioned on Mr. Goo's left. And Jan Di sat beside him.
They didn't talk much when they ate, but when the dessert was finally served, Mr. Goo start to ask Jan Di some questions. "I heard that you study at the Medical Faculty at Shinhwa?" he asked Jan Di.
Jan Di smiled politely. "Yes, Sir," she answered.
"That's pretty good. And I even heard that you got scholarship to study there," he added.
"Hmm.. yes, Sir."
"What is your plan for the future?" Mr. Goo asked again.
"I will start my residency at the end of the term," Jan Di replied.
"I see. And have you got any idea where you want to go?" Mr. Goo asked. He honestly looked interested with Jan Di's study. He didn't look like he wanted to look down at her when he asked those questions.
"I got some offers from hospitals. Hmm.. I want to be pediatrician, that's why I'm planning to study pediatrics. From the hospitals that give me offers, Yoonbyong Memorial Hospital has the best pediatrics section. I'm thinking to do my residency there, but I haven't really decided yet," Jan Di explained.
"Yoonbyong Memorial Hospital? That's Yoon Ji Hoo's family's hospital, right?" Kang Hee Soo for the first time asked the question.
Jan Di was a little shocked when she heard Kang Hee Soo's voice, especially the one that didn't sound mean. "Hmm.. yes, Ma'am," she answered quietly.
Kang Hee Soo didn't comment any further. She turned her head to her husband and found him looked a little lost in thought. "Dear, are you alright?" she asked her husband gently.
Mr. Goo came out of his thought when he heard his wife called. He looked to his wife and smiled. "Yeah, I'm fine," he answered before he turned his eyes back to Jan Di. "It's just Geum Jan Di's voice sound little familiar," he explained.
Jan Di gasped softly. Her grip on the spoon tightened. She really didn't know what to do, so she didn't say anything. Mr. Goo, Kang Hee Soo, and Joon Hee didn't notice her actions, but Joon Pyo who sat beside her noticed her reactions to his father's words. He was planning to get to the bottom of this problem in the end of the night.
After the dinner, Mr. Goo asked Joon Pyo and Kang Hee Soo to come to his office. He wanted to talk about some business with them. That gave Joon Hee and Jan Di time to catch up. Joon Hee offered Jan Di to drink coffee at the back porch together. So that was why Jan Di found herself sipping a cup of coffee in front of Joon Hee that night.
"Congratulation about the engagement," Joon Hee finally opened the conversation. "I forgot to congratulate you earlier," she added.
Jan Di smiled. "Thank you, unni," she replied simply.
"We have to plan the engagement party," Joon Hee said enthusiastically.
"What? No, that's not necessary, unni," Jan Di protested instantly.
"That's nonsense. We have to celebrate the engagement, that's why we need to organize a party. Besides, this way we can announce about your relationship to public," Joon Hee advised.
"Unni, I don't think that is necessary," Jan Di repeated her words.
"Of course that's necessary. Do you know how much marriage proposal Joon Pyo received along with business proposals from other families?"
"What?" Jan Di asked with mouth opened. She looked pretty shocked hearing Joon Hee's confession. "What do you mean marriage proposal?" she asked warily.
Joon Hee sighed. "You see, Jan Di. The families from our circle are usually using marriage as the insurance for business deals. You had seen how it was between Shinhwa and JK Group. So when the news about the power transfer from our mother to Joon Pyo, some families targeted Joon Pyo to be their son in law. When they planned to offer business deals, they also tried to offer marriage proposal. From public eyes, Joon Pyo is one of the most eligible bachelors. He is rich, powerful, and good looking. Rich and Powerful are the most wanted qualities that the parents are usually looking for. And the good looking part is something that the daughters are looking for. That's why they tried to offer the marriage proposals. Of course, Joon Pyo rejected all of those proposals. But you see, when we announce your upcoming nuptial, they will stop altogether. That will really help Joon Pyo," Joon Hee explained.
Jan Di sighed. She knew that Joon Pyo must have been one of the most wanted bachelors. She was not naive to think that no one was targeting him. She just never thought that not only the girls who wanted him, but also the parents.
Joon Hee reached out her hand to hold Jan Di's hand. "I'm not telling you this to make you worry or something. I just want to make you understand how the families in this circle work," she added.
Jan Di sighed again. "I know that Joon Pyo is really protective about me. I just never realized how much he protected me from," Jan Di muttered.
Joon Hee sighed and stared at Jan Di with sympathetic eyes. Suddenly, there was a sound of door opening from inside the house. Joon Hee and Jan Di turned their eyes and they saw Kang Hee Soo was coming out from the office. Joon Hee could see that Jan Di looked tense. However, Kang Hee Soo didn't walk to their direction. She walked toward the stairs. Jan Di looked visibly relieved. That made Joon Hee smiled understandingly.
"You don't have to worry about mother, you know?" Joon Hee said before sipping her coffee.
Jan Di looked over to Joon Hee quickly after she heard those words. She looked embarrassed when she realized that she was caught being nervous. "I can't help it. I'm just afraid about what she can do to us," Jan Di admitted.
"She won't do that again," Joon Hee responded with certainty. "You see, you showed her that no matter what happen being a mother should come first before everything. She really regretted that Joon Pyo had to get into an accident because of her," Joon Hee tried to explain. "Besides, by going to America, Joon Pyo had proven to her that being with you won't make him abandon his family and the company. He has proven that he can take responsibilities well even though he doesn't marry another rich business partner's daughter. He has proven to her that he can be professional. So those things open her eyes and make her see that there's nothing bad about him being with you. There is even one good thing coming out of your relationship, Joon Pyo become happier every day," Joon Hee said, smiling at Jan Di warmly. "So you don't have to worry about her. Even though there's no love lost from mother for you, at least she can act civil to you."
Jan Di couldn't help but smiled when she heard Joon Hee's statement. "Thank you, unni," she said gratefully.
"There's nothing you have to thank for," Joon Hee responded kindly. "There's just one thing that I want to remind you. You have to be strong. My mother won't do anything that will hurt Joon Pyo anymore, but that doesn't mean that no one will do that. Enemies are everywhere. And I'm not just talking about kidnapping, robbery, or things like that. I'm also talking about gossips, lies, and things like that. Because when you come into our family, those things will hurt more than robbery. You have to be strong, not physically but emotionally. Both of you need to trust each other and support each other for everything. Because like people say, the taller a tree is, the stronger wind will strike," Joon Hee advised.
Jan Di was silent and absorbed what Joon Hee was saying. She smiled and nodded her head. "Thank you for the advice, unni. I'll try to do what you told me."
A few minutes later, Joon Pyo and Mr. Goo came out from the office. Joon Pyo was looking around and saw Jan Di was sitting at the back porch with Joon Hee. He walked toward them and put his hand on Jan Di's shoulder.
"It's late. I'll better take you home," he said to Jan Di.
Jan Di nodded her head and stood up. "Please tell me you won't use the limousine," she said practically whining to him.
Joon Pyo sighed. "Fine," he said. Then he grabbed Jan Di's hand and started to walk away.
"Wait! I haven't said goodbye to Joon Hee-unni," Jan Di protested and tried to ease her hand from Joon Pyo's grip. She walked toward Joon Hee.
Joon Hee chuckled seeing the exchange between her brother and his fiancée. When she saw Jan Di walked toward her, Joon Hee opened her arms. She pulled Jan Di into her hug. "It's really good to see you again, Jan Di. It's too bad I have to go back to Japan soon," she said pouting.
Jan Di chuckled. "It's good to see you too, unni. Thank you for the advice. And please call me often when you're away," she said back.
"Of course," Joon Hee promised. "Oh, wait a minute. Are you busy tomorrow? Because I'm free. Well, except for the business dinner of course," Joon Hee asked.
"I have classes," Jan Di said regretfully. "Oh, but I'm free after eleven until one. What about having lunch together?" she suggested.
"Great idea!" Joon Hee exclaimed.
"Now that you have planned a meeting, we can go, right?" Joon Pyo interrupted and grabbed Jan Di's hand again.
"Joon Pyo! You never change! Always reluctant to share," Joon Hee exclaimed in annoyance.
"Spoil brat," Jan Di muttered, but Joon Pyo and Joon Hee heard that nonetheless.
"Yah! Now you're ganging up on me?" Joon Pyo demanded while Joon Hee chuckled hearing Jan Di's words.
"Yes!" Jan Di and Joon Hee answered simultaneously. They glanced at each other before giggling.
Joon Pyo sighed. "Whatever! Can we go now?" he demanded again.
"Fine.. fine. We're going!" Jan Di finally said.
After saying goodbye to Joon Hee, they walked out of the house. Joon Pyo's red lotus had waited for them at the drop off.
Joon Pyo drove the car in silent. Jan Di glanced at him every once in a while. She was confused why Joon Pyo was silent like that. "Why are you so silent?" Jan Di finally cracked up and asked him.
Joon Pyo sighed. He looked to rearview mirror before move to the side of the road. He parked the car carefully before turning to Jan Di. "We need to talk," he said seriously.
Suddenly Jan Di felt uneasy. It was really rare for Joon Pyo to be serious. And when he did, it was usually not good times. "What do you want to talk about?" she asked cautiously.
"A couple of things," Joon Pyo started. "First, why did you call my father ajuhssi?" he demanded explanation for his previous question.
Jan Di sighed. She cursed herself for forgetting to look for Secretary Jung and asked him for explanation. "Fine, but I need to ask you to do something before I explain. First, don't judge anything before you know the truth. And second, please hear my story first before you interrupted, okay?" Jan Di asked. Joon Pyo nodded his head as a sign of agreement. "The truth is I have seen your father before," she finally confessed.
"What? Where?" Despite of his promise, Joon Pyo couldn't help but asked.
Jan Di sighed. "Four years ago, a few months before I moved to the village, Secretary Jung brought me to a house. He brought me to one room and there was a man who was in comma. That man was your father."
"Secretary Jung brought you to see my father?" Joon Pyo asked in disbelief.
"Yes," Jan Di replied. "I didn't know what his intentions are. I didn't even know who the man was. That's why I just called him ajuhssi," she tried to explain. "Secretary Jung just asked me to come and visit your father. He just asked me to sit and talk to your father when I had free time. I didn't know why, but I just did what he told me to. I thought that that was harmless."
Joon Pyo was silent for a few minutes. He looked like he was deep in thought. "Why did he do that?" he asked to no one in particular.
"I don't know," Jan Di shrugged. "That's why, I think, your father found my voice sounded familiar."
"I think that's true," Joon Pyo agreed, but his thought was still on Secretary Jung.
"Maybe you should ask Secretary Jung tomorrow about his reason for asking me to do that," Jan Di said as if she knew what Joon Pyo was thinking.
Joon Pyo stared at her for a moment before nodded his head. "Maybe I should," he agreed.
"So is there anything else you want to talk about?"
"Yes," Joon Pyo answered quickly. His demeanor changed drastically from gloomy to enthusiastic. "What were you and Joon Hee-noona talking about?" he demanded.
Jan Di chuckled. She didn't want to tell Joon Pyo what exactly Joon Hee had told her, but she knew that Joon Pyo wouldn't give up until she answered. "Unni just told me that we should be stronger. We should trust and support each other," Jan Di finally told him what was important.
Joon Pyo looked at her with narrowed eyes. "That's it?" he asked curiously. "She just told you that?" he asked in disbelief. "She didn't say anything else?"
Jan Di sighed. "Nothing important, really," she said half lying. But, deep down, she felt that despite the grateful feeling she had about other things that Joon Hee had told her, to her, the most important thing was what she had told Joon Pyo.
A/N: So what do you think? Hope you like it :)
Thank you to the people who wrote review for the last chapter. Iamsunshine18, CamyMD, missshay16, ladyofthedragons1, Mikaelv, lorafairy, and Laura. Thank you so much guys. You're the best.. To answer the questions, the unfinished problems will be solved in the later chapters. Please wait for them to come up again.
Thank you for your time. Please don't forget to write comment in the box bellow to let me know what you thing about this story/chapter. Next is The Girl Talk. See ya..