Chapter 266: Unplanned Meeting (1)
They had come to discover a big problem after the move. Kang Ra-Eun and the Seo siblings had gathered to have a meal when Seo Yi-Jun brought up the problem first.
“Noona. Don’t we have way too little stuff compared to the house space?”
Each floor was over 2,000 square feet wide and was even wider if they included the garden. It certainly was far too big for only three people. However, Ra-Eun thought otherwise.
“The bigger the house, the better.”
“How are we supposed to keep the place clean?” Yi-Jun asked.
“We can just hire a few housekeepers.”
It was a very simple solution. Ra-Eun had not even thought of keeping this place clean by themselves. Not only was it far too spacious, they were also too busy. Kim Han-Gyo, the previous owner, had also hired housekeepers, so there was no reason why Ra-Eun couldn’t as well.
“If you think the place is too empty, you can invite a few of your friends to come hang out,” Ra-Eun remarked.
Yi-Jun laughed awkwardly and stated, “They said it’s too much pressure to come here.”
This was a rich neighborhood, so there seemed to be a high invisible entry barrier. However, Ra-Eun could feel no such thing.
“We’re gonna be holding housewarming visits anyway. Oh, right. Yi-Seo, you sent our new address to Ro-Mi and Gyu-Rin, right?”
Seo Yi-Seo answered, “Yup. They’ll be here tomorrow.”
“That guy and Dad will be coming the day after, just letting you know.”
“Ra-Hyuk oppa, right? Got it.”
Yi-Seo had reached a point where she immediately understood who Ra-Eun was referring to by ‘that guy’. Ra-Eun had more people besides high school friends and her family who wanted to come visit.
‘I guess I’ll be bragging about my house for a while.’
She didn’t mind it at all; after all, she had taken her mortal enemy’s house for herself. There was nothing better to brag about than that.
***
Choi Ro-Mi and Na Gyu-Rin couldn’t close their gaping mouths after having come to visit Ra-Eun’s new home.
“Wow... So there really are houses like this in Korea.”
“Yeah. I’ve never seen a house like this.”
Ra-Eun replied as if it was nothing much, “You see them all the time in dramas, don’t you?”
“I thought that was just a studio set.”
Their misunderstandings were not unwarranted since this sort of lifestyle was far too unrealistic for common people. Neither Gyu-Rin nor Ro-Mi were able to adapt to the reality before them. Ra-Eun was a successful celebrity, businesswoman and investor. They saw her in a completely different light today.
“I can’t believe we used to go to the same high school.”
“That wasn’t a dream, was it?”
Ra-Eun laughed bitterly at Gyu-Rin’s question.
“No, it wasn’t a dream. I’ll show you the second floor too, so let’s go upstairs.”
The house was so big that it took a while just to show people around. People that came after Gyu-Rin and Ro-Mi reacted the same way, but not everyone.
On the evening of the day that her friends had come to visit, Ji Han-Seok and Je-Woon had come as Ra-Eun’s acquaintances and handed her gifts.
“Congratulations on the move, Ra-Eun.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you very much, sunbaes. Please, come in.”
The air around the house turned pleasant, thanks to the appearance of two handsome men. They were not as shocked to see the place as her high school friends that had come earlier in the day, since they also lived in homes as large as this. One was a third-generation chaebol, and the other was the leader of a globally famous boy group. They were living in completely different worlds that they could simply just be impressed by how nice the house was.
While they were looking around, Ra-Eun’s smartphone rang. It was from her older brother, Kang Ra-Hyuk.
“Hello?”
- Hey, it’s me, lil’ sis. Dad and I were supposed to come visit tomorrow, right?
“Yeah. Why?”
- Something important came up for Dad tomorrow, so we’re thinking about coming right now. Is that fine?
“Now?”
Ra-Eun’s expression carried a tinge of perplexity. Han-Seok and Je-Woon reacted as soon as her expression changed.
“What is it, Ra-Eun?”
“Is there a problem?”
“N-No. I wouldn’t call it a problem...”
Having heard the conversation through the phone, Ra-Hyuk asked his little sister.
- Do you have guests with you?
“Yeah. My sunbaes.”
- Really? That’s not good. We’re already on our way there.
Ra-Hyuk and their father had been planning on coming for a short visit in the evening since there was no time, but they had not thought that Ra-Eun would already have guests.
Just then, Han-Seok asked, “Is someone coming?”
“Ah, yes. My oppa and my father. You don’t have to worry about it. I can just get them to spend some time around the area and then come a bit later.”
As soon as Ra-Eun mentioned her oppa and father, Han-Seok and Je-Woon’s faces changed instantly. They had been comfortably looking around Ra-Eun’s home until now, but they were suddenly filled with anxiety. As Ra-Eun was about to tell her family to come a bit later...
“Ra-Eun. We’re fine, so just tell them to come now.”
“What? Are you sure?” Ra-Eun asked.
“Yeah. We can’t let your father stay outside in such cold weather because of us. Right, Han-Seok?”
Han-Seok immediately agreed. “Je-Woon is right. And I might as well take this chance to... No, never mind. Forget I said anything.”
He had almost said that he wanted to meet her family and appeal to them about his value as Ra-Eun’s potential partner. Je-Woon naturally felt the same way, which was why they had said such things to Ra-Eun. Meanwhile, the person herself told Ra-Hyuk that they could just come now while having no idea of their hidden intentions.
Je-Woon and Han-Seok exchanged glances.
“Was there a supermarket in the area?”
“I think there was one near the complex entrance.”
“We can’t be empty-handed when Ra-Eun’s father is coming. We should probably have something to give him as a gift, right?”
.
“That’s probably a good idea.”
The two top stars’ opinions matched.
***
“Wow... Nice place!”
Ra-Hyuk was impressed as soon as he saw the house that his little sister had moved into. Their father also reacted the same way.
“Did Ra-Eun really buy this house?”
“Yes. What do you think, Dad? It’s huge, isn’t it?”
“I’ve only seen places like this on TV.”
He had seen all kinds of houses during his career as a delivery man, but he had never been to such an imposing mansion like this. Hence, he found it unreal that his daughter was living here. The front door opened before they even rang the doorbell.
Ra-Eun came out in slippers to greet them, “Thanks for coming, Dad.”
Ra-Hyuk asked in sorrow as his little sister only greeted their father.
“What about me? I’m the one who drove here.”
Ra-Hyuk had done all the work, but Ra-Eun did not even pay him any mind.
“Shut up and come in. People are waiting.”
“Come to think of it, who are the guests that were here before us?”
Ra-Hyuk had heard from Ra-Eun that she already had guests over during their call, but had not heard who the guests were.
Ra-Eun answered simply, “Come see for yourself.”
“Full of secrets as always, my lil’ sis.”
Yi-Seo greeted the two of them first as soon as they entered through the front door. Since she had feelings for Ra-Hyuk, she couldn’t help her face from reddening even from speaking a single word to him.
“I think you’ve gotten even prettier than before, Yi-Seo,” Ra-Hyuk mentioned.
Ra-Eun elbow jabbed him on his side.
“Don’t trouble Yi-Seo.”
“I’m not troubling her. I’m only saying what I see.”
Ra-Eun considered her brother to have a flippant personality, so she often thought that he said such things as a joke. But of course, Yi-Seo did not feel the same way.
“Thank you very much, oppa.”
Ra-Eun softly sighed as Yi-Seo replied in embarrassment.
“Where’s Yi-Jun?” Ra-Hyuk asked.
Yi-Seo answered in Ra-Eun’s place, “He went to meet his friends.”
“Really? Damn punk isn’t here when his hyung-nim has arrived?”
Ra-Hyuk instead decided to direct his expectations at Ra-Eun’s sunbaes that were supposedly waiting for them.
“Good evening!”
As soon as Ra-Hyuk entered, he doubted his eyes at the sight of the two men who energetically greeted him. He had never expected to see Ji Han-Seok and Je-Woon, two of the top stars that represented Korea, here.
“G-Good evening. I am Ra-Eun’s oppa.”
“It’s very nice to meet you! My name is Ji Han-Seok!”
“And my name is Je-Woon! As expected of Ra-Eun’s older brother, you are very handsome!”
Ra-Hyuk shook his head furiously at the mention of him being handsome.
“No, no, I’m nothing when compared to you two.”
Even if Ra-Hyuk was fairly handsome, he was nothing compared to a famous actor and singer. Meanwhile, Ra-Eun’s father tilted his head in confusion as he looked at the two of them.
“Ra-Eun. Are those two also celebrities?”
Her father did not seem to be aware of who Han-Seok and Je-Woon were.
“Yes. This is—”
Ra-Eun was about to personally introduce them to her father, but they introduced themselves first.
“My name is Ji Han-Seok, and I am an actor. I starred in the same drama as Ra-Eun before, sir. Perhaps you remember? It’s called Waitress...”
“Ohhh...! You’re the actor who played the manager!”
“Yes, that’s right!”
Ra-Eun’s father finally managed to recognize Han-Seok, whose face brightened with delight. Je-Woon also did his best to show who he was.
“And I worked with Ra-Eun in the drama Reaper, sir.”
“Oh, you’re the one who played the man that could see those ghosts.”
The father did not know young celebrities’ faces and names, but he recognized them immediately as soon as they mentioned which production they had worked with Ra-Eun on. That was how well he kept up with Ra-Eun’s works out of love and affection.
“Ra-Eun always talked about how her capable sunbaes helped make her work easier... Thank you both so much for taking such good care of my daughter.”
“Not at all, sir.”
“We should be the thankful ones.”
They were thankful to him for giving birth to such a beautiful daughter like Ra-Eun.
“You must have come a long way. Please take a seat, sir.”
“We’ve saved you a spot.”
The two of them were accommodating the guests far more actively than the house owner herself. Ra-Eun wondered what was wrong with them as they were more diligent than usual.
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