## Chapter 73 – Mother-Daughter Talk
The relationship between Jung Se-in and Do Hye-jung wasn’t a simple mother-daughter one.
A stepmother, created by her father’s remarriage after her biological mother’s death.
A woman suspected of having been involved with her father even before her mother passed away.
For a young daughter, accepting such a stepmother would have been difficult.
Do Hye-jung thought so too, which was why she kept her distance from her stepdaughter and treated her cautiously.
But there was someone who said that was wrong.
It was Joo Ji-wan, her daughter’s friend.
‘You don’t think of Se-in as your daughter, do you?’
She had been trying to be recognized as a mother. She had been constantly trying to treat her like a biological daughter.
To Hye-jung, Ji-wan’s words were shocking. They denied everything she had been doing.
The reason those words hurt even more was because there was truth to them.
A real mother would never have stood by and watched her child act like that.
In the end, Se-in didn’t acknowledge her as a mother.
That fact became the basis for saying she hadn’t treated her like a real daughter.
‘Was I… wrong?’
If someone else had said that, she wouldn’t have paid any attention.
But the person who said it was Joo Ji-wan. Her daughter’s only friend and confidant. And for Hye-jung… he was now a special man.
‘If I were her real mother, what would I have done?’
Do Hye-jung decided to change the way she treated her daughter.
Just like a real mother would, she decided to actively interfere.
Forcing herself to talk to Jung Se-in, who had come home with a senior from school today, was part of that effort.
“Se-in-ah. Can we talk for a minute?”
Jung Se-in openly showed her displeasure.
Normally, Do Hye-jung would have backed down at that point. No, she wouldn’t have even spoken to her in the first place. Her daughter hated it when she acted like she knew her in front of guests.
But today, Do Hye-jung was different. She had decided to change.
She resolved not to be led around anymore. Not by her daughter, and not by her husband.
“What is it?”
After taking her senior to her room on the second floor, Jung Se-in came back down to the living room.
Do Hye-jung was sitting on the living room sofa, waiting. And she suggested that her daughter take the seat across from her.
“Sit down.”
Jung Se-in also sensed that her stepmother’s attitude was different from usual.
But she didn’t seem to care much, and casually sat down on the sofa.
“Can you make it quick? I have a guest waiting.”
She roughly guessed the reason her stepmother had called her. It was probably because of the separate conversation she had with Ji-wan this time.
She hadn’t heard the details, but Se-in knew that the two of them had met and talked.
Maybe it was because of the photos she had given to Ji-wan as blackmail material. Or maybe it was because of the previous orgy party.
Either way, Se-in had no intention of listening to her stepmother. She didn’t even have the right to say such things in the first place. More than that, she wanted her to get out of this house because she was starting to be a nuisance.
But there was something Se-in didn’t know.
That her stepmother had already ‘done it’ with Ji-wan.
“Are you going to do it again today? Something like last time.”
Do Hye-jung started the conversation.
Something like last time probably meant the orgy that Ji-wan had come and done before.
“Maybe?”
Jung Se-in feigned ignorance.
In fact, she had been texting and calling Ji-wan since earlier, but he hadn’t answered.
Whether he was sulking because of what she had said so loudly before, or whether he was simply asleep.
Either way, she thought a day or so wouldn’t matter. If Ji-wan came, he came, and if he didn’t, he didn’t.
However, she didn’t like Do Hye-jung interfering.
“What does it matter what I do? I’ll do it in my own house.”
“It’s not your house. It’s our house.”
“Then should I go out and do it?”
Doing such things outside was also a problem. This house was the safest in terms of privacy.
If she did it outside, even by some chance, and rumors spread, it would be fatal to the whole family.
“The place isn’t the problem. The problem is that you’re doing such things.”
“Such things?”
Jung Se-in smirked at Do Hye-jung’s fundamental words.
“What are such things? Doing it with a man? Or doing it with women? Or mixing it all together?”
“You know that kind of thing isn’t normal.”
“Normal? What’s normal? Is it normal for Mom to do it with Dad, then?”
“Se-in-ah.”
“Oh, are you not doing it now? It seems like Dad has another woman.”
The words Jung Se-in said with a smile were barbed.
Do Hye-jung realized. That those words were purely meant to scratch at her.
“I’m not talking about your mom and dad. I’m talking about you right now.”
The story that her dad had another woman was also groundless.
More than anything, Jung Se-in shouldn’t have any interest in her parents. She was purely trying to change the subject.
“Ah, so you’re saying I shouldn’t do it at all? I don’t like that. I’m going to keep doing it.”
Jung Se-in stared intently at Do Hye-jung and said.
“Don’t even think about stopping me. If you’re going to stop me, do it with the intention of killing me.”
Hye-jung felt a chill run down her spine at that look.
There was no room for compromise. She felt like this child would only become more twisted if she said any more.
But if she were her real mother, she wouldn’t back down here.
Do Hye-jung decided to stick close boldly.
“You guys don’t even use condoms, do you? What if you get pregnant? “
“I’ll give birth and raise it?”
“Don’t say things you can’t take responsibility for.”
“Why do you think I can’t take responsibility?”
“How can a student give birth and raise a child?”
“There’s no law that says students can’t have children. If someone has a child, we’ll all help each other raise it. Everyone has the ability to raise one or two of their own children. You don’t have to worry about begging Mom for help.”
It is realistically difficult for a student to have a child and raise it. But it’s not entirely impossible.
Above all, they are all children from good families attending prestigious universities. There would be no financial difficulties. If it really doesn’t work out, there’s also the option of getting an abortion.
The pregnancy issue may not be as decisive as she thought. At least as long as Jung Se-in herself is aware of pregnancy and childbirth.
“What about STDs? If one person has a disease, everyone will get it. Maybe that disease is incurable. Is that okay?”
She didn’t want to think about it, but in the worst case, that could happen.
So at least she wanted to stop the promiscuous behavior. A real mother would definitely do that.
“We’ll think about the disease when we get it. And there’s no such thing as an incurable disease in the world. You can manage it by taking medicine.”
“You….”
Do Hye-jung was speechless at her daughter’s attitude, which took even the disease too lightly.
It was no use saying anything to this child. Through her conversation with her daughter, Do Hye-jung only realized that fact once again.
She felt like a huge wall was blocking her from her daughter. How could she possibly tear down this wall?
The face of one person flashed through Hye-jung’s mind, who was feeling helpless.
The only common denominator with her daughter, who she couldn’t communicate with.
It was none other than Joo Ji-wan.
“Hoo….”
Do Hye-jung reflected. She was too focused on pushing her own words.
Wasn’t the basis of conversation the formation of a consensus?
Instead of being frustrated that she couldn’t communicate with her daughter, she should have created a consensus first. A good material for that was already prepared.
“…Ji-wan, after talking to him, he’s a really nice kid. I saw him in a new light.”
“What?”
The atmosphere of the conversation changed when that name came up.
Jung Se-in, who had been laughing leisurely and sneering, began to be wary of Do Hye-jung.
“I could understand why Se-in is obsessed with Ji-wan. He seemed like a good kid with good thoughts, unlike kids these days. A little… perverted, though.”
“…What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“But Se-in-ah, you shouldn’t misunderstand the method. That doesn’t mean Ji-wan will be your friend forever.”
“Shut up.”
Do Hye-jung stopped talking at the cold words.
That was an area where she shouldn’t step any further.
Do Hye-jung decided to take a step back.
“Ji-wan was worried too. He said you seemed unstable.”
Jung Se-in lowered her head and remained silent. Do Hye-jung continued, watching her daughter’s reaction.
“Men may seem simple, but they’re surprisingly delicate. Ji-wan is like that too. You could say he has an eye for people, or that he’s thoughtful-“
“-Did you do it?”
Jung Se-in interrupted Do Hye-jung and asked.
The hostility contained in those words was stronger than ever before.
Do Hye-jung swallowed hard at the chilling feeling that felt like her chest was being cut out.
Maybe she had chosen the wrong approach. She had a simple thought that it would be nice to talk about her favorite friend, but her daughter’s darkness was deeper than she thought. And Do Hye-jung didn’t know that no woman says good things about him until after they ‘do it’.
“Did you do it with him?”
Jung Se-in asks again.
Do Hye-jung slyly avoided her eyes and answered.
“No.”
At that moment.
-Crash!
The table that had been blocking the two of them was overturned to the side.
With the obstacle gone, Jung Se-in strode towards Do Hye-jung.
“You foxy bitch!”
Do Hye-jung braced herself for the hit and closed her eyes tightly.
But the impact didn’t come even after waiting.
Do Hye-jung trembled and opened her eyes with difficulty.
“Ah….”
It looked like her daughter was crying in Do Hye-jung’s eyes.
Looking again, she wasn’t crying. She was just frowning and glaring at her.
After glaring like that for a while, Jung Se-in turned away without a word.
And she went up the stairs and returned to her room.
“Se, Se-in-ah.”
Do Hye-jung called out, but there was no answer.
