Chapter 197 – Everything I Want to Do – Part 8

Chapter 197 – Everything I Want to Do – Part 8

“Get him in quickly! Quickly!”

As Lee Hyerim opened the car’s back door, Lee Jeongcheol put Woojin, whom he was carrying, into the car.

Lee Hyerim immediately got into the back seat and closed the door.

“To the hospital, quickly.”

The car started immediately, and Lee Jeongcheol’s hand, which had reached for the passenger door, looked embarrassed.

Jo Woochan said from the side,

“You should have given him less alcohol then. What kind of era is this to drink so much?”

Lee Jeongcheol closed his eyes.

Actually, Elder Brother Jo Woochan was the one who encouraged him to drink more.

But Lee Jeongcheol didn’t say it out loud.

He was just worried about Woojin.

And his worried daughter’s expression kept lingering in his mind.

Meanwhile, inside the car, Lee Hyerim, who had offered her thigh as a pillow for Woojin, was extremely worried.

She had somewhat expected her dad to bring Woojin here, so she came just in case.

But…

Woojin, who had laughed playfully and said he was going to do his last mission, was now unconscious like this.

“Woojin? Woojin. Try to wake up? Huh? Woojin.”

No matter how much she called and shook him, Woojin’s eyelids wouldn’t open.

Could it be acute alcohol poisoning?

I had heard about it from Woojin.

Acute alcohol poisoning due to drinking can lead to impaired consciousness and, in severe cases, even death.

Could Woojin also be suffering from such acute alcohol poisoning?

This had never happened before…

As her thoughts reached that point, Lee Hyerim’s voice became more urgent.

“Please go faster. Faster.”

“Understood.”

It was then.

Woojin’s hand gently touched Lee Hyerim’s hand, which was caressing his head.

He took her hand.

Lee Hyerim’s eyes widened, and Woojin simply said,

“It’s warm.”

“Woojin? Are you feeling a little better?”

Woojin replied again with his eyes closed.

“Yes, driver, please go slowly.”

“Oh? Are you alright?”

Woojin responded again to the driver’s surprised look in the rearview mirror of the private room.

“Yes. I’m fine. Please go slowly.”

Woojin continued, holding Lee Hyerim’s hand as if caressing it.

“I’m feeling really good right now.”

Lee Hyerim couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

Then she brushed her hair back and said,

“You’re really okay, right?”

“Yes. There was a scene like this in the drama that ended recently. The father was very sorry to his daughter in that one.”

There was another intention.

If he kept accumulating such regrettable actions, it would build up, causing CEO Lee Jeongcheol to be more receptive to Lee Hyerim’s words and more willing to accept her opinions.

Unless he’s a psychopath or a sociopath.

From Woojin’s perspective, CEO Lee Jeongcheol doesn’t fit either of those descriptions.

He only appears that way on the surface to protect himself from his surrounding environment.

Just looking at how he came to Hyerim’s uncle’s store proves it.

You almost gave me a heart attack. You’re driving me crazy. Are you really okay?

Yeah.

Lee Hyerim leaned back in the backseat as if relieved.

Now, the sound of rain could be heard, and a gentle warmth emanated from Woojin’s hand.

As Woojin said, this situation right now…

A smile played on her lips.

This is so good right now.

No, it felt like it would only get better from now on.

***

Two days later,

Lee Hyerim, neatly dressed and with simple makeup, asked Woojin in front of the elevator.

Do I really look okay?

Very good.

Whew~.

Lee Hyerim let out a big breath and checked herself in the elevator’s reflection once more.

And so, she was able to reach Woojin’s house using the elevator.

As Woojin’s finger moved towards the Candle intercom, Lee Hyerim stopped him with her hand.

Woojin, am I shaking right now?

Lee Hyerim’s hand, holding Woojin’s, was trembling slightly.

She was shaking so much that even after taking Uhwangcheongsimhwan, she couldn’t calm down easily.

Woojin gently patted her back in encouragement.

Hyerim then took a few deep breaths, and Woojin’s hand touched the Candle intercom.

Ding-dong-

The sound of the doorbell, initiated by Woojin’s finger, made her heart pound.

Click-.

The door opened, and Mother greeted Woojin and Lee Hyerim with a bright smile.

Mother’s smile was truly radiant.

She couldn’t have been happier that her son had brought a girlfriend home.

Her son, who had gone through terrible hardships in his childhood, was now a respectable adult and had even made a girlfriend.

“Come on in. Oh, you’re so pretty! You look like a doll.”

Lee Hyerim quickly bowed her head, forcing a smile on her tense, stiff face.

“Hello. Mother, my name is Lee Hyerim.”

Lee Hyerim had seen Woojin’s mother from a distance before, but this was her first time meeting her face-to-face.

This was because Woojin had built an iron wall around his family.

But now, the door had opened.

As if to say, ‘Come on in, Hyerim.’

“Don’t just stand there, come in.”

Lee Hyerim carefully handed over a fruit basket.

She was always cautious about everything.

“Yes. Mother, this…”

“Oh, you shouldn’t have bought anything like this. Thank you.”

What Lee Hyerim handed over was a fruit basket.

She wanted to choose something else, but Woojin objected.

As they entered the living room, Woojin’s father and younger sister, who had been sitting on the sofa, stood up.

Shin Bomi smiled at her.

“Sister, you’re here?”

Shin Bomi had seen Lee Hyerim many times and had even forcibly received pocket money from her a few times.

It wasn’t just once or twice that she had quickly slipped money into Shin Bomi’s pocket and then boarded the car as if fleeing.

Shin Bomi couldn’t help but smile, watching Lee Hyerim disappear as if hammered away.

“Yes, have you been well?”

“Yes. Welcome.”

Even as Shin Bomi said that, she wondered if this person would get along well with her older brother.

It was the same for Woojin’s father, who was receiving greetings from Lee Hyerim.

When Woojin said he was bringing a girlfriend, and when he heard the name Lee Hyerim, the Shinhwa Group naturally came to mind.

It was impossible not to know, as articles were pouring out about Chairman Lee of the Shinhwa Group being reclusive, and news channels were mentioning that share transfers had begun.

But it really was Lee Hyerim of the Shinhwa Group.

He couldn’t help but be surprised at what situation this was.

After the awkward greetings between Lee Hyerim and Woojin’s father were over, everyone sat down.

Lee Hyerim, who was kneeling, kept fiddling with her fingers.

Her father spoke up.

“Please sit comfortably. Comfortably. That… Ms. Lee Hyerim, the youngest daughter of Shinhwa Group CEO Lee Jeongcheol… that’s correct, isn’t it?”

Lee Hyerim replied with an awkward smile.

Her father’s expression seemed burdensome, and Lee Hyerim felt uneasy at the sight.

“Yes, father, please speak comfortably.”

Next to them, Woojin’s mother tilted her head and asked.

“Honey? Shinhwa Group? Youngest daughter? What are you talking about?”

“Mother, that is…”

Shin Bomi explained.

“Mom, you know Shinhwa Group. She’s Chairman Lee’s granddaughter.”

Her mother’s eyes widened, and her gaze fixed on Lee Hyerim.

“What did you say?”

Lee Hyerim, who had been kneeling, stood up.

“If you approve of my marriage to Woojin, I will diligently support him!”

And she bowed down as if performing a deep obeisance.

Silence fell.

At the sight, everyone, without exception, swallowed hard, wondering what was happening, and even Woojin, who usually didn’t know what it meant to be flustered, stared blankly at Lee Hyerim.

He had not expected to see her like this at all.

“……”

“……”

“……”

Lee Hyerim spoke in that state.

“I will diligently support Woojin so he can do everything he wants!”

Father hesitated and stood up, as if to help her, and Shin Bomi raised her hand as if to salute.

“I agree.”

At those words, Lee Hyerim’s head lifted.

“R-really?”

As Lee Hyerim’s expression began to brighten, Father approached her.

“Please don’t do this, get up. Quickly, quickly.”

Lee Hyerim, still kneeling, said, not knowing what to do.

“No. I’d be grateful if you’d speak comfortably and not think that way. I’m sorry I couldn’t visit sooner. If you approve of my marriage to Woojin…”

Just then, Woojin spoke up.

“Father, Mother, I want to marry Hyerim. Please approve.”

Father’s eyes blinked once more.

When his son said he was bringing his girlfriend, he wanted to throw a feast.

He thought as long as she was kind…

But the person was Lee Hyerim, the granddaughter of Shinhwa Group.

He couldn’t help but feel burdened.

His concern for his son, Woojin, came first.

The descendants of Shinhwa Group are not ordinary people. They are giants.

Even if they were to marry, his son could be tossed around by those giants.

Father’s lifelong wish was for Woojin, who had experienced the accident, to overcome his trauma well and live an ordinary and happy family life like others.

Lee Hyerim, still on her knees, turned her body towards Woojin’s Father.

“Father, if you allow it, I will live diligently so as not to cause any worry.”

Father let out a silent sigh.

Even if he agreed, the other family would not even consider it.

On the contrary, a situation like one seen in a drama might unfold, where they would throw an envelope at him and tell him to manage his son better.

How much would his son be hurt then?

Father soon opened his mouth.

“Lee Hyerim, I fully understand your feelings for Woojin. But will your father really approve?”

Lee Hyerim’s eyes sparkled, and her voice became slightly louder.

“Yes! He approved! My Grandfather did too!”

“……So… Chairman Lee Jeongmun of Shinhwa Group approved of our Woojin getting married?”

“Yes!”

“Lee Hyerim’s father too?”

“Yes!”

Father’s gaze moved to Woojin.

“What on earth… is going on, Woojin?”

It was illogical.

Then Lee Hyerim quickly spoke up.

“My Grandfather said he’d never seen anyone like Woojin before. He told me not to let go of Woojin’s hand. I may be lacking in comparison, but if you approve, I will try my best to be someone Woojin can be proud of. Most importantly, my family is completely captivated by Woojin.”

“Captivated by Woojin?”

Father ran a hand through his hair.

Captivated by my son? What does that even mean?

And this situation felt as if the man and woman had swapped roles and come to ask for approval.

Only the gender was changed.

As if saying, ‘I want to marry your daughter! I will live diligently! Please give us your permission!’

“Are you serious?”

When Woojin’s father asked again, as if to confirm,

“Yes! It’s true. Please speak comfortably to me.”

The father, who had been nodding slowly, looked at his wife.

And he smiled.

“Then we should.”

Lee Hyerim’s eyes widened, and Shin Bomi smiled subtly.

“See? I’ve never met anyone who dislikes my older brother.”

To Shin Bomi, her older brother was a bundle of charm.

His eccentricity, and his intelligence that surpassed others.

At that moment, Woojin looked at Lee Hyerim and whispered.

“Hyerim, we have their approval, so I think I can show you now.”

Lee Hyerim nodded solemnly.