Although Song Min-soo was burning with curiosity about what Teacher Park had said, the doorbell was insistent. He awkwardly rose to answer it.
"Son," Mi-kyung whispered the moment her husband was out of earshot, barely able to contain her excitement, "is what your homeroom teacher said true? Did you really get a perfect score on that test? Right in the principal's office?"
It was rare for 'Empress' Mi-kyung to speak to him in such a gentle tone. Eun-woo immediately felt the danger had passed. He cleared his throat theatrically. "Ahem, well…"
Seeing his posture, Mi-kyung's hand instinctively strayed towards the rolling pin on the table. Eun-woo flinched, his bravado vanishing instantly. "It's true! It's absolutely true! Eomma, you're being unfair! You wronged me first, and now that the truth is out, you're still resorting to violence?!"
She raised her hand, intending to swat the back of his head, but the image of her son as a future top-scoring genius gave her pause. What if a slap damaged his precious brain? Her hand fell awkwardly to her side.
"Oh! Dae-sik-ssi! What brings you two here? Please, come in, come in! Have you eaten? We're just about to have dinner. Please, join us."
Song Min-soo's voice at the entrance interrupted them. They both looked over to see Joo Dae-sik and Yoo Mi-kyung standing in the doorway. The sight made Mi-kyung blink in surprise. Why were they here? And why was Joo Dae-sik holding two large, bulging shopping bags?
Though baffled, the rules of adult society demanded civility. Mi-woo quickly stood and walked over with a practiced hostess smile. "Omo, Mi-kyung-ssi. Come in, come in! Eun-woo, quickly set places for Uncle Joo and Aunt Yoo!"
Seeing this, the Joos hastily waved their hands in unison. "No, no! Don't trouble yourself, Sister Song! We just ate, we're full!"
As they spoke, they'd already slipped off their shoes. Dae-sik chatted amiably with Song Min-soo while placing the bags on the living room coffee table. He then pulled out an exquisitely packaged box. "Haha, Brother Song, I know you appreciate good tea. I recently acquired some premium Boseong green tea. I brought it specially for you to sample."
Song Min-soo had spent years in lower-middle management. One look at the couple's demeanor told him they had an ulterior motive. He was a principled man who never accepted unsolicited gifts, especially not one so obviously expensive and from people whose intentions were unclear.
He laughed heartily. "Haha! I've heard you're doing very well for yourself lately, Dae-sik-ssi. It shows! Then today, I'll be imposing and come by your place sometime to sample this famous tea of yours!"
Hearing this, Joo Dae-sik's heart sank. An old fox. Song Min-soo was politely but firmly refusing the gift without even hearing the request. But then another thought struck him: maybe with their son's sudden 500-million-won windfall, a box of expensive tea was simply beneath their notice now.
Meanwhile, Song Mi-kyung had approached. With practiced bluntness, she called out to her son, "Eun-woo! Can't you see we have guests? Go pour some water!"
Hearing this, Joo Dae-sik and Yoo Mi-kyung reacted as if stung, speaking over each other in their haste to stop him.
"No! Please, don't!"
"It's not necessary!"
Their vehement reaction gave both Songs pause. They exchanged a glance, thoroughly confused.
"Eun-woo is eating," Dae-sik said quickly, forcing a smile. "No need to trouble him. We're not thirsty at all. Sister Song, Brother Song, please, don't mind us. Go ahead with your meal. We'll just wait here."
Was this the same overbearing Yoo Mi-kyung? The unnatural deference in her tone set off alarm bells for Mi-kyung.
As for Eun-woo, from the moment the Joos entered, he hadn't left the dining table, continuing his meal at a leisurely pace. Under normal circumstances, even if he disliked them, basic manners dictated he stand and greet guests. But after yesterday's farce and this afternoon's spectacle, he couldn't be bothered. More importantly, their gift-bearing, overly polite visit reeked of an impending favor. Eun-woo chose the simplest response: complete indifference.
"Eomma," he said between bites, his voice carrying clearly, "since Uncle and Aunt have already eaten, let's finish our meal. The food's getting cold. Whatever it is can wait until after dinner."
He had a point. After the earlier 'parental discipline session,' the dishes were indeed lukewarm.
"Yes, yes, you two eat first, please don't worry about us! Really, we can come back later…" Yoo Mi-kyung chimed in, her voice uncharacteristically meek.
The Songs shared another look. Finally, Min-soo nodded with a smile. "Haha, alright then. We'll eat first. Please, make yourselves comfortable. The TV remote is there."
He then turned to the dining table, his tone adopting a rare sternness he reserved for matters of basic decorum. "Eun-woo. Pour two glasses of water for our guests."
Song Min-soo was generally easy-going, but he was a stickler for propriety. One of his core teachings to Eun-woo had been: It's acceptable to be unremarkable, but it is unacceptable to be ill-mannered.
Hearing that familiar, no-nonsense tone, Eun-woo sighed internally but pushed back his chair. He walked to the water dispenser.
Seeing him approach, Joo Dae-sik practically leapt up, rushing over to take the paper cups from Eun-woo's hands. "Let me, let me!"
Song Min-soo watched this but said nothing, simply returning to the table to eat.
The presence of guests made for a swift, silent meal. Afterwards, the elder Songs moved to the sofa to entertain their unexpected visitors. Eun-woo seized the opportunity, mumbling an excuse about homework, and retreated directly to his room.
Joo Dae-sik opened his mouth as if to call him back, but the words died in his throat. He watched the boy's retreating back, a complex mix of anxiety and helplessness churning in his gut.
[To be continued…]