The Right Reason
The Right Reason
Chun-Ho was back at the hotel that morning, wanting to think of a better plan to convince Byeol before going to the marketplace again. He meant to speak to Iseul, but he ended up calling his boss instead, looking for Iseul.
Byeol did not agree to return to Korea, saying she no longer wants to be part of the Chais.
Hearing his Anton mention about Byeol, Chun-Ho cleared his throat. Of course, Ha-joon reported to him the same. He said, "Hey boss, yes. I - I found my wife. Apparently, she was hiding here in China and had been for months. Do you know where is Iseul, boss? I can't reach him."
"He is taking rounds, checking security. Why?" Anton asked from the other line. "Do you need help with anything?"
"Ahhh... nothing boss," Chun-Ho denied. He did not want to have to consult with his boss with his wife problems. He said, "It's okay, boss. I'll just call - "
"Is it about your wife? Because you know, you can also tell me about it. Relationships... I am an expert about it," said Anton. He was at his office, swiveling his chair when he received the call from Chun-Ho.
"Remember when I told you about Iseul, asking for advice from me? You can always count on me to give you the same. Tell me, what is it that you really feel about your wife? This just can't possibly be pity?!"
Chun-Ho was silenced for a second before he said, "Yeong, I - I don't know but... I want to take care of her. I want to so badly. I asked her to return to Korea with me."
"What did you tell her?" Anton asked.
Chun-Ho: "I told her she deserves more than what she has now and that she must return to Korea with me, but she refused."
Anton: "Is that all the reason that you gave her?"
Chun-Ho: "Ah, yes. Boss. What other reasons does she have? Other than taking back what is rightfully hers?"
Anton: "What if she doesn't want the wealth of her father? Isn't that the reason why she faked her death?"
Anton: "Chun-Ho, Chun-Ho. You must understand by now that she needs another reason to return to Korea. She already considers her father a lost cost... What about you, Chun-Ho? Why do you want her to return? Is it really because she deserves a better life or you have other reasons?"
Anton: "Chun-Ho, don't waste time and be honest with yourself. I was always the same with the Mrs."
Chun-Ho, "???"
Anton: "I never took my time to make Yanmei mine. You will only regret holding back your feelings!"
Chun-Ho, "..."
Anton: "You are being like Ha-joon, holding back for no reason! Tell me... What if she decides not to go with you? What are you going to do about it? Are you going to regret it?"
Anton: "It's like I said, give her another reason. The right reason."
Anton: "You, Iseul, and Ha-joon. You are all the same. Why can't you be more like me?!"
Chun-Ho: "Ah, boss. Are you sure you are describing yourself correctly - "
Anton: "You dare question me?! You should know better! You were a witness to everything I have gone through with the Misses!"
Chun-Ho thought deeply. He silently said, 'Ah, exactly?' In the end, he kept his opinions to himself.
In addition to Anton's earlier claims, he raised his voice and slammed his hand against the table. He said, "There are many things you don't know about what I tell my wife. Trust me, I am a relationship expert - but this is not about me! It's about you!"
"Listen to me, I am the love guru of both Iseul and Ha-joon. Look at their successful married life now. Chun-Ho Do you understand what you need to do now?" Anton asked as a closing remark before ending their conversation.
Chun-Ho was left to appreciate his words. Regardless if Anton's holds were true about him and the lady boss, he was still enlightened. He recognized he needed to give Byeol a better reason to return to Korea and not just her father.
He scoffed, just referring to the Boss as the love guru and muttered, "The boss will always be the greatest."
However, before he acted with Byeol, he needed to set things right for his wife. She may not want to return to the Chais, but she at least deserves a second chance as a person. He went to his laptop and checked on the progress for the search of his brother.
He meant to take back the money he stole from his wife. Not that he could not provide for Byeol, but Ten Million Dollars was a lot of money. It was more than enough o start-up a new restaurant, one she was truly passionate about.
Before he would ask again, he would be ready, and Byeol could not say no.
In the succeeding days that followed, Chun-Ho persisted to help Byeol with her small business at the marketplace.
When her assistant finally reported for work, he surprised her by cleaning her apartment for her. Her apartment was always a mess, especially in the morning, following a three-hour kimchi-making spree.
Most of the time, she wound up, leaving the apartment before cleaning up, in a hurry to open up her stall.
Each time they walked back to her home, she repeatedly told Chun-Ho, "One day, I would open up a restaurant of my own and I would become very famous! I will open many chains in Korea and my father would see... My father would regret doing what he did to me."
To Chun-Ho's point of view, however, it was pointless. Not unless she would use her own name. If she builds her restaurant as Liu Xing, her father would barely feel her presence.
Her conviction further convinced him that Byeol must return to Korea and make a name for herself. Even if she does not become as rich as her father, but she could at least prove that she could stand on her own two feet.
As they walked on the streets one night, she said the same words again, reminding herself of her goals.
Watching her eyes glistened with hope, Chun-Ho held her hand and said, "I have no doubt that will happen, my wife. You will make me proud and your father will regret looking down on you."
Byeol felt her heart face. Chun-Ho was making it a habit to hold her hand lately, and it always made her nervous... nervous and sweaty. She hated it, but that was how she felt about her husband as of recently.
The bigger problem was, she enjoyed holding his big and firm hands. She clasped on to him like she was a youngster, walking in the streets with her teenage crush, grinning and secretly blushing.
"Byeol, we should spend time together. Just the two of us. How about next week, we prepare for it? Can you please close the stall for two days and let's just enjoy and relax at the resort?" Chun-Ho asked. His ears easily burned before resuming, "You know... like a date."
She stopped for a second, utterly unresponsive. She just looked down at her feet, pursing her lips.
"If you are worried about your day's income, I - "
"No, of course not!" She finally said while slightly giggling. She glanced at his athletic face and said, "Sure. That's fine - I mean. You are my husband, after all."