Prayer is sincerity.
It was a saying she'd heard until it was engraved in her ears. Park Jisoon always told visitors seeking answers that. That the more desperate you are, the more you should pray with pure sincerity.
Then the visitors would immediately bring bundles of money and place them before Park Jisoon. They cried that they didn't mind how much it cost if only things would change.
Recalling hundreds of desperate eyes, Sahee watched Min Yeojin praying.
What would this person's desperate wish be? Probably for her only son to inherit the Jeongmun Group.
Sahee glanced sideways at Taeon, who was leaning against the wall behind. Director Jeong Taeon, who had arrived precisely on time for prayer, had been checking his tablet PC continuously.
The man, wearing a gray V-neck knit and slacks, looked more comfortable than yesterday, but his sharp atmosphere made it difficult to relax.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of him tapping the tablet's screen fell like rain.
It was then that one of the madam's eyes, who had been standing and praying, slowly opened. Perhaps annoyed by the noise from behind, she suddenly glared to the side.
"Hey, Taeon, you come here and show some sincerity too! Should only mom be doing this! People will think I'm the construction company CEO!"
Taeon giggled without even raising his head.
The madam sighed and dropped her clasped hands. As she was about to bend her knees, declaring surrender that she couldn't continue, she suddenly stumbled, and Sahee quickly moved to support her.
"Are you alright?"
"Oh my, my head. Thank you. I shouldn't receive help."
"It's nothing."
"I need to rest for a moment."
"Would you like some cold tea?"
"Water is fine. Thank you."
The madam sat down gracefully on the cushion. Sahee moved at the sound of her deep sigh. Walking to the cabinet in the corner of the room, she poured water from the kettle. The spring water that Uncle Bang brought every dawn quickly filled the clear glass.
As she turned back to the madam with the cup on a tray, she felt a gaze. Taeon was watching her. His gaze seemed almost like surveillance, and during their brief eye contact, her limping gait slowed slightly.
"Whew..."
"Madam, please drink."
"Mmm. The water here always tastes good."
"Would you like more?"
"I'm fine."
Min Yeojin smiled and wiped her sweaty forehead. Sahee stood quietly beside her with the tray. The madam, seemingly unable to stay still, handed over her empty cup and struck up a conversation.
"Your name was Yeon Sahee? How old are you, Sahee?"
"...Twenty-nine."
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
"No, I don't."
"Why not, at your prime age?"
"I haven't given it much thought yet."
"Well, you're still young and pretty, what's there to worry about? You can do what you want and marry when you meet the right person. No need to force it. I used to be old-fashioned and thought marriage was a must, but these days, I wonder if there's any reason to bother with dating and marriage. Don't you think?"
Her tone was friendly, as if she'd forgotten her sharp glares from yesterday. Sahee smiled faintly and replied briefly, "Yes, that's right." Simultaneously, she heard a snicker from behind.
Min Yeojin shot a disapproving look at Taeon behind her.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Your words are pleasant to hear, mother."
"I wasn't saying it for you to hear, Director Jeong. You're different. You need a strong partner by your side to inherit and manage the group."
Taeon lowered his head again, ignoring her words.
The madam shook her head and drooped her shoulders. Looking up at Sahee, she complained about Taeon.
"He's always like this. Cold as ice inside but only charming when he feels like it. Others might not know, but I who bore him in pain do. I wish I had had a daughter."
"..."
"Sahee's mother must be satisfied even without eating, having two such pretty daughters. Besides your younger sister, do you have other siblings?"
"No."
Sahee smiled slightly and lowered her eyes. The incense had already burned halfway.
I'll continue translating the rest:
During prayer time, Sahee's role was essentially just agreeing with the madam's chatter.
If it had been the sociable Mrs. Cheon, she would have sat in front of Min Yeojin and chatted for hours, but Sahee only responded occasionally, just enough not to offend her mood.
"Sahee."
"Yes?"
"Here."
The madam took out a white envelope from her bag and handed it to Sahee. When Sahee raised her head with questioning eyes, the corners of the madam's mouth curved smoothly upward.
"Could you deliver this to the Shaman? I was supposed to see her after prayers, but maybe because I woke up too early, I'm not feeling well. I should just go back and sleep more. Don't bother cleaning the room. Just tidy up a little before lunch later."
"Yes. Should I just deliver the envelope as is?"
"These are Director Jeong's potential marriage partners - ask her to check their compatibility. See who matches best with our Director."
Marriage partners.
For a moment, her gaze shifted to the man who was the subject of these countless arrangements. Sahee and Taeon's eyes met in mid-air.
He immediately turned his back on his mother as if it weren't his business. The sequence of him putting on his shoes flowed naturally.
While it was natural given that he was thirty-five this year, he seemed less accustomed to it and more indifferent.
Marriage and such. Potential partners and whatnot.
"I know I'm being meddlesome, but since the Chairman asked me to take care of it, I thought I'd look into it while I'm down here. He's so fussy about it."
"Yes, I'll deliver it. Then I'll see you at lunch."
"Yes, see you then."
Min Yeojin waved her hand at Sahee while slipping her feet into navy flats with small bows on the toes. The man who had turned away as if about to leave first now stood beside his mother as she put on her shoes, kindly offering his arm.
Sahee carefully sat down on the side porch nearby. The madam waited for Sahee to put on her shoes without rushing her, received her deep bow, and then left the prayer hall.
* * *
Taeon watched his mother walking with her arm linked through his.
Though tired, her dewy skin and straight eyes showed no trace of sleepiness. He could well guess the true intention behind her asking the girl to deliver the envelope while claiming poor condition.
How must a son feel watching his mother practically shouting to a woman who seemed completely uninterested in him that her son had truckloads of potential marriage partners?
His mother was someone who believed all men were beasts crazy with sexual desire.
Since the girl was surprisingly pretty, she must have worried that her marriage-aged son might cause trouble before his arranged marriages. So instead of controlling her son's lower half, she was going after the innocent woman.
Taeon smirked, remembering how his mother had directly and explicitly encouraged him to have relationships with many women in his early to mid-twenties.
Had she said it was better to get it out of the way while it could be dismissed as youthful indiscretion, rather than making a disgraceful scene lusting after women when old?
"Hey, why do you keep laughing? So frivolously."
"It's nice walking with you like this after so long, mother."
"...Stop sweet-talking. Can I proceed with the arranged marriages? I'm thinking of having them come here. It's perfect, right? Quiet, away from prying eyes. Beautiful scenery too."
"Yes, go ahead."
What could he do even if it was annoying? The consequences of continuing to delay marriage would be more annoying. For someone like Taeon, marriage was merely a strategic tool for business anyway. There was no reason to delay further. It was also time to relieve his mother's neurosis about scolding innocent women because of her unmarried son.
"Good. In Seoul, you'd just brush me off saying you were busy no matter what I said. Stuck in this countryside for a month with nothing to do, we might as well look at your marriage prospects. Since we don't have much time, let's not drag it out - if you like someone after meeting them, we'll proceed right away. Even when you were young, and even now, watching the Chairman always favoring Taejun has been so upsetting. What a surprise that he's finally doing something good for me."
"Were you upset?"
Taeon looked at his mother blankly as if he'd never known. Min Yeojin laughed as if dumbfounded.
"Isn't it obvious? What are you lacking that you have to go around cleaning up after that fool? Let's not talk about it. It makes me sick."
Taeon nodded and carelessly turned his head toward the scenery.
Just then, Yeon Sahee was there. Not far away, the woman was walking quite diligently. Her high ponytail swayed behind her round head as she limped along.
He recalled the woman's silhouette from the prayer room. Following the bright candlelight, the nape of her neck was white and clean. It looked so soft and delicate that it seemed a light bite would leave marks.
"Pretty, isn't she?"
His mother had apparently caught even that momentary glance. Taeon neither confirmed nor denied, just curved his lips up as he looked down at Min Yeojin.
"Are you interested?"
Her tone was probing his feelings.
"I was surprised too when I saw her. I've seen plenty of supposedly good-looking actresses and models, but she has something about her. She catches the eye. I don't know why she's doing menial work in this backwater. Well, if her leg was normal, she could have been an actress..."
Min Yeojin continued sharing her detailed impressions of Yeon Sahee. She soon added, as if not disparaging her, that with acting skills she could have been a successful actress, or better yet, one of those trendy idols.
Is that so?
For a moment, the woman danced lightly in his mind with glitter on her eyelids. Rather than that, she seemed more suited to crying in some weekend drama. It might be quite watchable to see her crumble under cheap misfortune and melodrama.
"Tell me if you want to play with her for a while. I'll speak to the Shaman separately."
Finally, the main point came after the long speech. Taeon frowned and laughed at the absurdity of having his mother meddle in his private life at his age.
What if he was interested? What if he said something? What then?
If he liked a woman, he could just make a move. Sure, she was remarkably pretty, but neither of them wanted to waste time on fooling around.
"Soon you'll be providing condoms too."
"Hey!"
"Not necessary."
"Was I being oversensitive?"
"You said you were tired. Go rest, mother."
Taeon shrugged briefly and turned around with a smooth smile. Just then, a shout of "Sahee!" came from afar.
Still only made it that far?
Taeon stared in the direction her name was called.
Bang Cheoljun, was it? The man who had handled the house introduction when he first arrived was rushing toward her. According to him, they had met before, but it was long ago and he didn't remember well.
The woman stopped at the call. Whatever she heard made her glare coldly at Bang Cheoljun, and they had a brief argument.
He had thought she was like an emotionless wax doll when still, but seeing her twist her body in irritation, she finally looked more human. And then their eyes met.
How many times had they locked eyes now?
At their first meeting. This morning. After leaving prayers.
First she was wary, second uncomfortable, third seemed cautious. And now... she fled in absolute horror.
Taeon continued walking, recalling her sparrow-like movements as she flew away startled by his presence.
Whether it was her lifelong survival strategy or innate temperament, being quite sensitive, she couldn't have missed his mother's intentions. She might have already been scolded once.
So while it was natural for her to flee with such awareness, that somehow irritated him.
In many ways, she was quite an annoying woman.