IDMPYU 28

28. I Hate Cheap Things
“The madam is here.”

“I see.”

Seeing Secretary Kim’s uneasy expression, Seungho immediately sensed that his mother, who had returned home after a long time, was in a bad mood. But it didn’t matter to him.

She had always been a parent who pretended to be a good mother but remained indifferent.

As he went up to the second floor, a familiar figure came into view.

The madam, who had been gazing out through the large living room window, turned at the sound of Seungho’s footsteps.

“Welcome home, my son.”

She spread her arms wide with a smile full of affection and delight—it still felt alien to him.

“Yes. It’s been a while, Mother.”

Seungho politely hugged her and stepped back. From afar, they looked like the perfect picture of a loving mother and son.

Now towering over his mother, Seungho looked down at her. She still looked young and beautiful, with a face strikingly similar to his. Her sharp eyes scanned him thoroughly.

“How have you been, my son?”

“As you can see, I’ve been well.”

“Why didn’t you come to the States? Your father was really disappointed to hear you went to Europe instead.”

Disappointed?
Would Father even know which school I applied to? Probably not.

In Seungho’s memory, his father had always been busy, indifferent, and distant. Still, instead of responding, he smiled faintly like a good son. That was the fastest way to end a conversation with his mother.

But today, she didn’t let him go so easily. Looking around at the neatly displayed butterflies, she chuckled.

“My son still loves butterflies, I see.”

“……”

“Is your study abroad preparation going well?”

At Surin’s question, Seungho’s lips curved into a subtle, ambiguous smile. She had only been gone for less than a month, yet she was speaking as if she had returned from years abroad.

Then again, this behavior was typical of her. His mother had always cared only about her own well-being. Unless someone directly challenged her authority, she never cared about the frequently replaced house staff or even Seungho’s and Myeongho’s futures.

As Seungho once again measured the emotional distance between them, her question resurfaced.

Studying abroad…

In his life, studying abroad was as natural as taking an escalator. The only question was when. He had already prepared everything perfectly.

So why did he keep hesitating?

Lately, he’d found himself looking into domestic universities, even imagining what campus life might be like. Sometimes, when picturing someone who might spend their twenties with him, he even regretted that it was all just fantasy.

Staring off for a moment, Seungho finally said,

“I’m still considering it.”

“……Really?”

Surin’s smile froze instantly. She had been watching her son since he arrived at the front gate from her window on the second floor.

He was taller and more handsome than she remembered.

She looked at him with pride. Unlike her older son, who lacked both ability and sense, Seungho had inherited the best from both parents. He stood out in the family.

Her husband’s decision to choose her, Do Surin, over the many prestigious women vying for him had been proven right through Seungho.

Feeling satisfied, Surin shifted her gaze to the girl standing beside him.

At first, she thought the girl was just one of Minwoo’s friends, but judging by her plain appearance, she must be the part-timer Secretary Kim had mentioned.

A sarcastic smile formed on her otherwise expressionless lips.

“I knew she wouldn’t be much, but this is way too plain.”

Surin had approved the part-timer because Seungho needed someone to assist with errands while he studied. But the girl wasn’t even worth noticing.

Despite having told Secretary Kim to keep an eye on her, Surin was certain her son wouldn’t pay someone like that any attention.

Relieved, she turned her gaze back to Seungho—only for her heart to sink.

Though he had come from her own womb, Seungho had always seemed like a child devoid of emotions. Yet here he was, smiling softly—clearly—at this unimpressive girl.

Her mood soured even more after hearing he was unsure about studying abroad.

When Surin descended to the first floor, she found Secretary Kim with the girl beside him.

It was the same girl who had arrived with Seungho.

Up close, her simple features turned out to be rather pretty. Her pale skin was luminous, and her light-colored eyes had an almost mystical quality.

Surin realized it immediately.

‘She’s the reason he’s hesitating about studying abroad.’

The thought sparked a sudden rage in her chest.

To Surin, Seungho was her gold medal, her trophy. A prodigy even more promising than the previous chairman.

And this girl dared…

“Madam, this is the girl I mentioned—Jihyun.”

At Secretary Kim’s polite introduction, Jihyun bowed her head shyly.

“I’m Choi Jihyun.”

“……”

Surin stared blankly at Jihyun, her face like a wax doll. She folded her arms arrogantly and nodded to Secretary Kim.

“I need to speak to her alone. You may leave.”

“Excuse me? Ah, yes. Understood.”

Though taken aback, Secretary Kim quickly complied. He shot a cautionary glance at Jihyun before heading out.

The atmosphere around them turned heavy. Jihyun swallowed dryly, nervous. Secretary Kim’s warning—“Dodge if she throws anything”—echoed in her mind.

All she’d heard about Madam Shin was terrifying. And now, facing her in person, she was indeed stunning—and shockingly resembled Seungho.

“Do you know something?”

“……”

“I hate cheap things.”

“……Pardon?”

Her words were laced with contempt. Startled, Jihyun looked up—only to freeze under Surin’s cold glare.

“Everything you’re wearing is cheap.”

It was appalling. Even if Jihyun was in a lower position, this was way too much for a first meeting.

But Surin continued without hesitation.

“One of those butterflies on the second floor costs more than your entire outfit combined.”

Jihyun could now fully understand the rumors.

‘So Seungho inherited that nasty way of speaking from his mom.’

She now knew what the house staff meant when they said the madam’s treatment was unbearable.

Less valuable than Italian furniture.

Furniture would’ve been better—right now, she was being treated worse than a mounted butterfly.

“So don’t even think about reaching.”

Jihyun, who had been watching Surin’s hands in case something was thrown, finally looked her in the eye.

“Excuse me?”

Those dark, glaring eyes reminded her of Seungho. Surin’s lips, painted in red, moved slowly.

“You’re not even worth the price of one butterfly. Don’t dare reach for my son.”

“Jihyun!”

Hyunsook came running to meet Jihyun, who had just left the mansion. She had been furious ever since Secretary Kim mentioned Jihyun was with the madam.

She anxiously inspected her from head to toe.

“Are you hurt? Did she throw anything at you?”

“Thankfully, no.”

Jihyun smiled faintly to reassure her. Seeing her unharmed, Hyunsook finally relaxed and gently led her back to the annex.

“Did the madam say anything to you?”

Jihyun’s eyes wavered for a moment, but she quickly composed herself.

“Nothing in particular.”

“Then why did she call you?”

Jihyun gave an awkward smile.

“She said she was just curious about the part-timer.”

Hyunsook bit her lip. She knew that wasn’t the truth.

‘No way that woman said “nothing.”’

She was sure the warning from Secretary Kim was related to the madam. Gently patting Jihyun’s shoulder, she said,

“Whatever she said, don’t take it to heart. She might look beautiful, but her tongue is venomous.”

Jihyun gave a faint, weary smile.

Seungho frowned as he looked at the empty seat beside him.

Jihyun hadn’t come to his room for several days now. He figured it was because of the argument they had after he’d intentionally disrupted her plans to meet her friends.

It made sense she needed time to recover.

But this felt different.

Jihyun hadn’t been seen around the mansion at all.

Her absence was bothering him. He couldn’t concentrate on books or studies anymore.

He called Secretary Kim to ask about her, but got nothing helpful—just a mechanical “personal matters” excuse.

Frustrated, Seungho threw on a thick wool cardigan and stepped outside into the garden.

The wind was piercingly cold, but the winter sunlight still warmed the mansion. The stones beneath the evergreens sparkled.

He grimaced at the sight.

Jihyun had picked out those white pebbles herself. With his hands in his pockets, he gently nudged one with his foot.

“You put so much care into this…”

His gaze drifted naturally toward the annex. It was quiet—most of the mansion was busy at this hour.

After standing still for a while, chasing the memory of her presence, Seungho finally stepped toward the annex.

“Fine. If you won’t come to me… I’ll just have to go to you.”