Chapter 158:

Chapter 158:

Chapter 158

You can’t please everyone.

“Grandma, are you cold?”

“I’m fine.”

Park Seodam stuck close to Shin Soonja and took care of her. Ian and Jo Taewoong followed behind them.

“The air is nice. It’s good for healing.”

“Right?”

Ian looked around as if searching for something.

“What are you looking for?”

“No, is the market nearby?”

“Yeah, right ahead.”

Jo Taewoong pointed ahead with his hand. Not far away, a market was open. Because of the holiday, many villagers were shopping for food.

“But, didn’t you go to visit your relatives? The group chat was on fire, I thought Juyeong and Jinyeok hyung were having a recruitment war.”

“They all got excited when I said I was coming here.”

“That’s right, we can see our relatives on Chuseok.”

Park Seodam, who was walking ahead with grandma, turned her head and said. Shin Soonja also stopped and looked back. She had good ears.

“Oh my, where did you go?”

“No, it’s not that. The handsome guy behind me lives in America. So I invited everyone to his house.”

“America? Oh my, that’s far. You must miss it.”

“It’s okay.”

Ian made a wistful expression for some reason. Jo Taewoong, who saw his expression, felt curious but thought it was because it was his first time in the Korean countryside and didn’t make a big deal out of it.

“I also wanted to come here and see...”

Would that shabby wooden deck stage where he saw the diamond still be there?

Ian looked around. Being on the scene, he felt like his memories from that time were getting clearer.

“Grandma, is there anything you want to eat?”

“I’m fine.”

When the three handsome men who were not seen in this village entered the market with grandma as if guarding her, all the villagers’ eyes focused on them. Jo Taewoong reflexively lowered his head.

“...Are you okay? You’re not okay but you say you’re okay, you’ll get sick.”

“What are you talking about? I’m better than before.”

“Hey, wear this.”

Ian put the bucket hat he was wearing on Jo Taewoong’s head. Jo Taewoong frowned.

“You didn’t wash your hair.”

“Then when do you wear a hat if not when you don’t wash your hair?”

“Ew, gross.”

Jo Taewoong grumbled but didn’t take off the hat.

Ian snickered. He complains even when I care for him. But it was better than him being silent and spitting blood.

“Liar. You bought that yesterday.”

“Yeah? Then it’s fine.”

Jo Taewoong’s mouth stopped. Ian fixed his hair that was pressed by the hat.

After buying ingredients like eggs and noodles for the holiday food, they stopped by the vegetable store.

“Mrs. Shin! Welcome!”

“Do you have anything good?”

“I do, what should I give you?”

While Shin Soonja picked out vegetables, Park Seodam, Ian and Jo Taewoong stood a step behind and looked around.

“I’ll pay for it.”

“Oh no, why? Grandma will do it.”

“I brought a lot of people with me.”

Ian took out his wallet and handed over cash, and Mrs. Shin grabbed his hand and stopped him.

“Please pay with this.”

“Oh wow... he’s handsome...”

Ian smiled brightly at the store owner and handed him the money. At that moment, the store owner felt like his surroundings became bright and blankly took the money.

“Can you give me that? But we came from Seoul, can’t you give us more?”

“Oh my goodness, you came from far away. I’ll give you more~”

Park Seodam’s bargaining skill shone. The store owner laughed and gave them more things. The three of them happily carried their bags.

“But who is that behind?”

“They’re my grandchildren.”

Ian tried to ease Shin Soonja’s worry by saying,

“He must be recovering well because he’s with grandma.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s right. He seems much better.”

“That’s good then.”

Ian and Park Seodam cheered up Shin Soonja. Jotaewoong’s face also brightened up a bit as they got away from the crowded place.

As they were heading to Shin Soon-ja’s house, an old lady with a cane came from the opposite direction and called out to Shin Soon-ja.

“Are you on your way back from the market?”

“Long time no see.”

“Why don’t you come to the senior center?”

The old lady sounded prickly, as if her words had sharp thorns.

“Who is...”

“She’s the granny who lives over there.”

Over there? Where is that... No, don’t ask. Ian closed his mouth. Shin Soon-ja didn’t seem to greet her warmly either. They must have a distant relationship.

Ian and Park Seo-dam stepped back and stood next to Jo Tae-woong.

“Do you know that old lady?”

“Hmm... She looks familiar...”

Jo Tae-woong furrowed his brows. He felt like he had met her somewhere before. The old lady turned her head and spoke to the trio behind her.

“Are you the grandson who’s a celebrity?”

“Hello.”

Jo Tae-woong bowed politely as a greeting.

The old lady started to ask him questions, one after another. What do you do, an idol? Isn’t that just a waste of time? Ian answered her courteously, but she didn’t show much friendly reaction.

“Oh? I guess you’re not that famous if I don’t know you?”

[You see how she talks?]

‘She must be jealous.’

Honestly, he didn’t care much if someone in this rural area didn’t know him. Ian decided to let it go for Shin Soon-ja’s sake.

“Maybe you haven’t watched TV lately? Everyone knows him except you.”

“Where?”

“The market was in chaos when our grandkids came. Go and ask around.”

Shin Soon-ja’s counterattack began. The three behind her watched their verbal battle with interest.

“By the way, what about your grandson? Didn’t you say he was doing some business or something?”

“Ahem... He gave up his business and decided to prepare for the civil service exam.”

“Really? Isn’t that a long process? We have a grandson who bought us a refrigerator, you know?”

Second row, Ian and Park Seo-dam raised their fists and brought their thumbs near their mouths. Jo Tae-woong had never done that, but his face was half-hidden by his hat, so he didn’t stand out.

‘I didn’t know that. Mom must have taken care of it.’

Jo Tae-woong smiled softly.

“Oh, really? Good for you. I’m going to the market.”

“Yeah.”

The old lady passed them by and headed toward the market. Suddenly, Jo Tae-woong turned his head sharply. Her face showed signs of age, but it was similar to the person he remembered.

The person he met when he came to this neighborhood as a child, who badmouthed his grandmother behind her back. When she found out that Jo Tae-woong was Shin Soon-ja’s grandson, she shut her mouth and told him not to tell his grandmother... Jo Tae-woong stood next to Shin Soon-ja.

“...Grandma, isn’t she the one who insulted you?”

“She was.”

“But why are you friendly with her?”

“Friendly? I’m not friendly with her.”

You looked friendly though? Jo Tae-woong looked at Ian and Park Seo-dam. They didn’t know the details and asked silently, ‘What’s going on?’

“I’m just being nice to her.”

“But...”

“Not everyone has to like me.”

“...Still.”

“I don’t have to hate her just because she hates me. In the end, I’ll only burn myself with hatred.”

Jo Tae-woong tried to say something but closed his mouth.

“I don’t need to ruin my life because of someone who dislikes me.”

“...”

“I just need to do well. I have a good family and a good farm, so even that grumpy old lady can’t say anything.”

I’m enjoying my life these days. Thanks to my grandkids. Shin Soon-ja added with a warm smile.

“It all depends on how you think.”