Chapter 281 – Please Give Birth (1)
Dang Young looked at Kang Yoon, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time. Just looking at him made her lips curl up involuntarily, as if nothing had changed from before.
But it wasn’t easy to be happy about that fact, as she felt that she was slightly overshadowed by Nung Hwi-yeon, who was next to her, no matter how much she thought about it.
Kang Yoon stopped for a moment with a surprised expression before opening his mouth with a soft smile.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Dang Soldier. Have you been well?”
“Yes… I’ve been well.”
In fact, she hadn’t been doing very well. Although it was unclear from the outside how the Dangga, which was left vacant by Peng Yeon-hwa, was doing, it was quite chaotic internally.
But she couldn’t appeal to that fact to her colleagues, and she didn’t have the confidence that her relationship with Peng Yeon-hwa and her colleagues was that close.
“Nung Soldier, it’s been a while too…”
“I met him at Namgungse, so it’s not that long.”
Dang Young belatedly remembered that she had told Kang Yoon the story of meeting him there when she went to Namgungse with the newlyweds.
Although it was true that it had only been about two months since the wedding, there was no need to correct it, but Kang Yoon didn’t seem particularly uncomfortable.
“I see. Nice to meet you anyway.”
“Yes, nice to meet you too.”
Only then did Nung Hwi-yeon also raise the corners of her mouth slightly and make a smile-like thing, but her appearance was vastly different from when she had a chubby face.
Dang Young felt impatient. She was still not in a deep relationship with Peng Yeon-hwa, perhaps because she had not yet buttoned the first button properly.
If she just thought about how she had treated him with an oppressive attitude, imitating Peng Seol, her face still burned and she wanted to bury her face in the blanket.
‘We’re not in any kind of relationship… right?’
But it was not enough that Nung Hwi-yeon, who was suddenly appearing as one of the three bongs of Sambong, might have a relationship with Peng Yeon-hwa, and her heart couldn’t help but feel impatient.
But Dang Young forced herself to be brave.
Although she had stayed in Dangga for quite a long time, she had not shown any signs of being plausible with her cousins.
Even if the other person was Nung Hwi-yeon, it would not be easy to pass, and she was proud that she would not be inferior even if she was not very attractive.
‘No, maybe a little… maybe a lot…’
It’s not like she didn’t appear in Paesul. The attractiveness was also important, but the most important thing was the heart.
While burning the grudge like that, Dang Young belatedly realized that she had completely lost interest in the condition of Maeso-hyang, which was a little sorry.
To cut to the chase, neither of them knew that I was the one who impregnated Maeso-hyang.
If they knew, they wouldn’t treat me normally like this.
Dang Young was sure that Kang Yoon didn’t even know that Maeso-hyang was pregnant, judging by the way he asked if she was doing well.
“Well, it’s not like I can let it be known to the public.”
Honestly, she had no idea how to handle the aftermath, but for now, she focused on the conversation with the two of them.
“I heard you came here while I was away. I didn’t hear anything about it…”
“I told them not to say anything.”
Dang Young was temporarily in charge of the hostess position while Peng Yeon-hwa was away. It wasn’t as easy as it sounded to handle the paperwork and approvals, but she managed.
She explained that she had come to show Maeso-hyang and her daughter around while Peng Yeon-hwa was away.
“I was too mean to you. If you felt lonely during that time, please don’t take it to heart.”
“I’ll forget about it.”
Even though she said it without hesitation, Dang Young knew that her words implied that she had felt lonely. But it was okay, it was just her.
Come to think of it, Nung Hwi-yeon was also the type to occasionally say things that would surprise people, so it was no wonder that two similar people ended up here.
“Anyway, if Maeso-hyang stays here for a while… where will Nung Soldier stay?”
“I don’t know…”
Nung Hwi-yeon briefly met eyes with Maeso-hyang, who then looked at me and spoke.
“Well, it shouldn’t be a problem. Kang Soldier, is there a vacant room here?”
Even if there wasn’t, I would have to make one since I was the culprit. Maeso-hyang briefly showed a fierce look, but then asked if she could stay in the Dangga.
“If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to stay in the Dangga. What do you think, Nung Soldier?”
When Dang Young asked Nung Hwi-yeon, she nodded without hesitation.
“I’ve always wanted to see the Dangga.”
“Well, there’s nothing special about it…”
As far as I was concerned, I was more comfortable with Nung Hwi-yeon not being here. When I glanced at Maeso-hyang, she didn’t seem to care much, so I opened my mouth again.
“Unfortunately, it’s not as good as the Dangga, but it should be okay here. I’ll make sure Maeso-hyang is comfortable…”
“If Kang Soldier is disappointed, here is also fine.”
It was just a slip of the tongue, but I was shocked to see Nung Hwi-yeon change her mind so easily.
Fortunately, Dang Young intervened and suggested that they should show them around both places, so they left for the Dangga.
‘Thank you…’
Dang Young seemed to like Nung Hwi-yeon quite a bit. That’s why she’s trying so hard to bring her here.
After barely managing to send the two of them to the Dangga, only Maeso-hyang and I were left.
‘What am I going to do?’
Those eyes that are now staring at me without hiding anything are too scary. Upbo, Upbo…
Maeso-hyang had been anxious until she met the man.
The two of them had intersected several times in secret, but no one knew about it.
On the other hand, if she were to shout out loud that this man was a dirty pervert, it would be useless if he denied it.
Moreover, the man was the chair of Jegal Mi-ryeong and had been taught by Peng Yeon-hwa, so anyone who knew about the relationship between the three women might suspect that he was trying to bury his future prospects by using his sexual misconduct as an excuse.
“First of all, I think I should apologize again…”
“I told you, an apology won’t cut it.”
But the man surprisingly admitted his mistake and bowed his head several times, which made her feel a bit conflicted. She wanted to take a sharp attitude, but she also wanted to understand him.
‘But this can’t happen.’
Her daughter already knew about her affair.
Of course, the relationship started with the man’s intimidation, but the result was that she had a child with a man who wasn’t her husband. Could this really not be considered an affair?
She was sure that her husband, who had a peculiar personality, wouldn’t show it on the surface, but he wouldn’t just let it go either. And when she thought about that, any faint understanding she had disappeared like melting snow.
“…”
Then the man fell silent, as if he had nothing else to say.
In fact, even Maeso-hyang couldn’t think of a way to deal with the child that was already born.
Rumors had it that you could induce a miscarriage by using strong medicine to damage the womb, but it was too risky for an innocent child, and it would also harm the mother.
In the end, both of them sat silently without saying a word, but a voice was heard from outside.
It was a voice she didn’t want to hear, asking if he could come in.
[Did you tell him?]
When he asked in a low voice, the man vehemently shook his head in denial.
Even though she didn’t want to show this kind of scene, the fact that he came to find her despite their mutual dislike meant that he already knew the general situation.
Telling him not to come in would only make them a laughing stock.
“Come… in.”
As soon as Maeso-hyang gave her permission, the door opened, and Jegal Mi-ryeong appeared.
“Long time no see, Jegal Hyeop. What brings you here?”
“You probably already know.”
Jegal Mi-ryeong replied decisively to Maeso-hyang’s question. Her eyes, which were completely exhausted from giving birth, shone like starlight as she pressured Maeso-hyang.
“Oh, I just heard that you were intimidated by the well-respected Adnim and ended up having a child with him.”
Come to think of it, Maeso-hyang had also heard rumors that Jegal Mi-ryeong had a child. It had been a while since she heard the story, but seeing how slim Jegal Mi-ryeong’s stomach was, she seemed to have already given birth.
As she realized this fact, a sense of sorrow overwhelmed her.
The woman in front of her had a child with her husband, whom she loved and respected, but Maeso-hyang had an unwanted child with a young man who had intimidated her.
She felt like tears would well up, but she had no intention of shedding a single tear in front of this woman, no matter what.
“Yes, I know.”
Jegal Mi-ryeong’s calm voice made Maeso-hyang’s anger rise. Just as she was about to say something harsh, Jegal Mi-ryeong spoke again.
“I’m begging you, please have the child.”
“…What did you say?”
Maeso-hyang was momentarily suspicious of how politely Jegal Mi-ryeong was speaking to her.
“I don’t know the exact circumstances, but I know that you didn’t want to have a child either.”
“And you’re asking me to have a child that isn’t even my husband’s?”
“Yes. I’m asking you.”
“This isn’t something that can be solved with a request. Are you telling me to go back to my hometown right now, divorce my husband, and marry Adnim?”
It was an absurd request, but Maeso-hyang was actually feeling more and more discouraged by Jegal Mi-ryeong’s humble attitude.
“We’ll take care of the child and raise it. It won’t cause any harm to you. If you have any conditions, we’ll try to meet them.”
“Why? Why would you want this child?”
It wouldn’t be a good thing for an unmarried man to suddenly take in a child like this. There would surely be people who would criticize him behind his back.
It wouldn’t be appropriate to look for a husband either, so having this child would be like having a stumbling block in his life.
As Maeso-hyang looked at Jegal Mi-ryeong with an incredulous expression, Jegal Mi-ryeong spoke in a firm but gentle voice.
“If this child is harmed, my son will be sad.”
Maeso-hyang turned her head and met the gaze of the woman in front of her. She knew that the man beside her also wanted to say the same thing as Jegal Mi-ryeong.
Although Maeso-hyang was not exactly a saint, she was not so callous as to remain indifferent to the two women’s desperate plea.
The proposal was absurd, but the fact that the other party promised to provide the maximum opposition to it made her think about it.
After a while, Maeso-hyang slowly opened her mouth, and the two women’s eyes immediately focused on her.
“I don’t want to.”
The answer was not what they were hoping for, and their faces darkened. Maeso-hyang, on the other hand, remained calm and collected, as if nothing had happened.
