慈禧太后的秘密

She sighed softly and looked at the house that she had just cleaned. Whether it was above the fridge, above the closet, underneath the sofa, and even the veranda, she went through all places that she had left behind even during Spring cleaning season with the excuse that she was too small or couldn’t reach.

She muttered to herself that she wouldn’t try this hard even if they were moving houses.

She placed the ceramic dolls she bought in a hurry two days ago into the right angle and checked the time.

It was 1 p.m. — almost time for them to arrive.

“They’re almost here. Where are you?”

-Why are you causing such a fuss? It’s not like we’re expecting very important guests.

“Then why did you go hiking all of a sudden when you never went before?”

-I just wanted to come.

“Who are you trying to fool here? You left because you felt awkward seeing them. Don’t be like that and come back. You need to see his face at least.”

-He’s not her marriage partner; he’s just a friend. Is there really a need for me to be there too? The one who’s coming will feel awkward too.

“Didn’t you hear what Haneul said? She said they’re not seeing each other lightly.”

-That doesn’t mean that they’re going out with the intent of marriage either. Also, Haneul is only twenty-four. Even the ones who get married early these days do it at twenty-nine. Life is unpredictable, so is there really a need for me to be there and be all awkward?

“So what, you aren’t coming?” Haesoo frowned.

Her voice was much higher than before. Her husband stayed silent for a few minutes before speaking,

-I will. I’ll just buy some fruits on the way.

“Come quickly. They’re going to be here soon.”

Before they finished the call, she could hear her husband’s deep sigh.

Their daughter had never brought a friend to their house once. Even during high school graduation, she told them that they didn’t need to come.

It was a rather desolate household. It wasn’t that there was a particular problem, but from some time onwards, they didn’t really talk much as a family.

Her husband and herself were busy with work, while their daughter was busy with school and cram schools.

When they had a weekend meal together, they only shared some formalities before they each went to their respective rooms.

Her friends told her that everyone lived like that and that a family is best when there isn’t any trouble.

She wondered if that was the case, but whenever she saw her daughter leave the house with an indifferent expression, she thought that something had gone terribly wrong.

Would she really be able to see Haneul once she became independent? — whenever she had such thoughts, she became slightly depressed.

The little girl she gave birth to, clothed, and fed became an unfamiliar person. She even felt that the employees at a bank might be more friendly towards her.

However, her daughter changed starting three years ago. Her change was so dramatic that it was hard to get used to. She suddenly declared that she was going to quit college and then started forging her own path.

Honestly, Haesoo almost passed out when she heard about Haneul running a business. She was going to tell her that she was too young and that she would be in big trouble if she failed, but it turned out that Haneul had only reported to her after being successful.

Just when did that immature daughter change so much, it made her wonder.

There was a big change in their family relationship as well. The girl who never talked to her dad went up to him and acted cute.

At first, her husband was taken aback, but he eventually got used to it, and right now, he became someone who would be all smiles in front of his daughter.

As for family trips, they only went a few times when Haneul was young, but last year, they went seven times under the lead of their daughter.

Thanks to that, the neighborhood ladies were all in an uproar, wondering how their daughter was so mindful of her parents.

Haesoo naturally felt proud. Whenever her daughter was praised, she felt like she was being put on a pedestal.

Every single day was enjoyable, and she felt grateful for it.

Haesoo took out a scrapbook from the drawer next to the TV. Inside was the hobby she had started recently. She had compiled Haneul’s photos she took for the aroma advert, as well as the articles about the movie she did.

She wanted to cherish the proud moments of her proud daughter. She was going to tell her grandkids that their mom was such a great person before.

“The movie was decent too.”

Because the movie that was released this year had terrible reviews, the news articles weren’t that good either. Maybe it was because it had her daughter in it, but Haesoo rather enjoyed watching it at the cinema.

Those people were so picky; they could have praised it.

Worried that she might have been hurt or having a hard time, she called her daughter after the movie was released.

Her daughter responded in a bright voice just as always, telling her that that much was nothing and that there was no need to worry. Just when did she turn into such a strong girl?

Haesoo closed the scrapbook and placed it on top of the drawer. She didn’t forget to angle it slightly so that it could be seen better.

“I wonder who she’s bringing.”

Her daughter was unpredictably prone to change. And that girl said she was going to bring not an ordinary friend, but her boyfriend.

When she first heard that, she was more taken aback than curious. Sure, having a boyfriend was not that surprising, but she felt rather strange when Haneul said that she was going to bring him home and introduce him to them.

“I’m meeting him seriously.”

What else could meeting him seriously signify? Her husband said that he shouldn’t be her partner for marriage, and he seemed rather displeased by the fact that the daughter he found so cute was bringing a man.

The guy who would not have even shown an ounce of interest was now waiting for his daughter in unease.

Haesoo checked the broth that she had been cooking. While Haneul said that her boyfriend enjoyed eating anything, it couldn’t be helped that she was nervous.

She turned the stove on for the galbi-tang that she made and made some jeon as well so that they could eat as soon as they arrived.

When she was about done preparing the food, the bell rang. She checked her makeup in front of the mirror and opened the door.

“Mom, I’m here.”

Her daughter came in first with a smile. Haesoo received her daughter’s greeting and looked past her. Behind Haneul was a young man wearing neat clothes.

He had a slightly scary appearance, but his impression was good since he was smiling. He was decently tall and had a good physique as well.

“Mom, what are you staring at?”

“I’m not staring at anything. I’m just looking. Oh, come on in.”

Haesoo received the paper bags that her daughter’s boyfriend brought.

“I really wanted to bring you some good gifts, but I was told you’d be more comfortable with these instead.”

“That’s good. I just needed to go grocery shopping too. It must be cold outside, so come on in.”

She went to the kitchen after letting the guest in. Her daughter followed her.

“Why did you prepare so much?”

“There’s a guest coming, so I should be prepared. I just need to plate them, so wait just a moment.”

“I’m feeling a little sad now. You never do this much for me when I come.”

Her daughter’s boyfriend also came in.

“I’ll help as well.”

Haesoo waved her hand in denial.

“There’s nothing for you to help with. I’ll get it done soon, so sit down on the sofa.”

“It’s better to help you rather than sit down foolishly.”

“It’s really okay though.”

Haesoo glanced at her daughter’s boyfriend as she spoke. He was quite nice. His speech was rather toned down, and he seemed polite as well.

He took a glance at the jeon in the pan and flipped it over with chopsticks, and he even poured the galbitang into bowls.

Just seeing him stand in the kitchen was enough for Haesoo to tell that he was used to working in the kitchen.

“I just like cooking for myself,” he said.

“Oh yeah, I haven’t told you his name. Mom, his name is Han Maru.”

“Your name is Maru? That’s a rather unique name, I like it.”

Maru thanked her and laughed. When the three of them were at the job, the table was set up in no time.

“Where’s dad?” Haneul asked as she sat down at the table.

“He’ll be here soon.”

As soon as she said that, the front door opened. Her husband came to the kitchen with a black plastic bag in hand. Then, he froze after discovering Maru.

“Hello, sir. I’m Han Maru.”

Maru stood up and greeted him first. Her husband made an awkward smile and reached his hand out to Maru.

“I-I see. I heard a lot about you.”

“Dad, I never told you about Maru though,” Haneul said with a chuckle.

When her husband was frozen in place, not knowing what to do, Maru stepped in again.

“Please sit down. Madam here has prepared a lot.”

How was he so good at softening the atmosphere? Haesoo had taken a liking to Maru already.

Her husband hesitantly sat down, and after that, their daughter led the conversation.

She talked about how she came across Maru, and how she had been until now.

While listening, Haesoo discovered another aspect of her daughter. She looked really relaxed when she smiled at Maru. It wasn’t the scalding hot love between a boy and a girl, but a much more cooled off but more intimate relationship.

She realized that Haneul wasn’t lying when she said that she was meeting him seriously. The word marriage didn’t look rushed at all.

“Fishing is good. Sir, I’ll definitely go with you one time.”

“Keep your word.”

Her husband, who was awkward at first, had gotten close enough to Maru to hug him by the end of the meal. Just how did he know what her husband might like? Her husband was all smiles whenever Maru spoke.

Of course, Haesoo was in the same situation. The more she looked at Maru, the more decent she found him to be.

“But dad, mom. Don’t you think you’ve seen him somewhere?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Aren’t you two curious about what he does?”

“Isn’t he in college?” Haesoo asked while looking at Maru. She had gotten used to dropping the formal speech now.

He was the same age as her daughter. It was their daughter that was rather special for running a business at that age, and normally, a boy around that age would just be graduating or coming back from military service.

“I dropped out of college.”

“Really? I guess there’s no real need to graduate college these days. Look at Haneul. She’s doing totally fine even without a degree,” she didn’t say that out of formality. He looked like such a good man, so she felt like she would be okay even if he said that he wasn’t doing anything.

He was in his youth after all. He could just look for something to do in the future.

“Are you preparing to find employment?” her husband asked.

Haneul giggled as soon as that question came out and then jabbed Maru in the arm.

“Looks like you need to become more popular.”

“Right.”

Haneul pulled out her phone and showed it to them.

Haesoo looked at the name on the screen. Han Maru, profession: actor.

Actor?

Her husband saw it as well. Below that was a list of movies. She hadn’t seen any of them, but they were all titles she remembered from the news talking about them.

“Maru’s pretty famous. But I see there’s nothing better than a drama if he wants to make himself known to mom’s generation.”

“Madam, I’ll try harder so that you can recognize me.”

She hadn’t gotten used to her daughter being an actress, but the boyfriend she brought was an actor she had seen a few times on the news.

Haesoo glanced at Maru. So, he was a famous actor?

A smile crept onto her face. He was fine as he is, and he even had a decent profession.

She heard a lot of things until the moment Maru left. After their daughter and Maru left, her husband spoke,

“I think I can give a passing score.”

“Me too.”

“If they decide to get married, what do we do about their housing? Do we have money saved up?”

“I was wondering about that too.”

“I thought marriage was a distant matter, but looking at the two of them, I don’t think it’ll be strange even if they get married right now.”

“I thought you said it was too early?”

Her husband coughed awkwardly and turned around.

* * *

After meeting his parents-in-law yesterday, he was bringing Haneul to his house today.

His wife, who was wearing a one-piece dress that she usually didn’t wear, was so pretty that he didn’t want to show her to anyone else.

“What’s that?”

“A present,” she said as she waved a bag.

“I thought you weren’t preparing.”

“How could I not? It’s the day I make my declaration of war.”

“Declaration of war?”

Maru was puzzled as he opened the door. His mother and Bada were at the entrance. Bada greeted Haneul warmly as soon as she saw her.

As for his father and mother, they observed his wife cautiously at some distance.

However, that wariness didn’t last long. Who was his wife? She was capable of melting the heart of a cold-blooded man. His family soon welcomed her as though they had never been distant.

And ten minutes later, just before they were about to eat, Maru found out what Haneul meant by ‘declaration of war.’

“Madam, sir, please give Maru to me.”

Hearing that, his father stood in a daze before nodding.

“A-alright. Use him well.”

His wife smiled.