Chapter 128: The Snow That Settled Home

Mother pulled me into a tight hug the second she saw me. She looked thinner—worn from worry. “Why’s your face so gaunt? I told you to eat and sleep properly.”

Her voice cracked. I tried to play it cool, but emotion surged anyway.

“Sorry. You’re not sick anywhere, right?”

“Sick? Me?” She held on longer, gripping my hand. “I thought you might never come back. Thank you for coming.”

I winced. When I left, I had meant forever. I hugged her back, whispering in her ear:

“Thank you. For letting Doyoon find me.”

Silence. Some things don’t need words.

Doyoon stood far off, pretending to study a painting, but his ears were practically twitching. I suddenly felt shy and changed the subject.

“Where’s Noona?”

“Called her—she’s canceling meetings. Said she didn’t know you were coming.”

I grinned, genuinely happy.

“Vice Chairman’s gotta work.”

We sat at the small table and talked for hours—catching up, asking about health, life. When the pleasantries slowed, I hesitated.

“…Grandfather?”

Mother’s voice softened. “He sleeps a lot now.”

My face fell. The doctor said it was more mental than physical.

I had complicated feelings. I’d stormed out yelling ugly things, but I still wanted him well. Losing his eldest son and grandson—anyone would break.

I followed Mother to his room. He lay frail under an oxygen mask, barely recognizable from the man who’d roared and swung his cane. I whispered:

“He just… sleeps?”

“Wakes sometimes.”

“I’ll stay a minute. Then go.”

She nodded and left quietly.

I sat on the small chair beside the huge bed. Resentment, fear—yes. But seeing him like this hurt. Shouldn’t have said those things…

I murmured, “…Get up soon.”

His breathing was thin. I bowed my head. Suddenly remembered him offering to reschedule my Haewon E&M interview. Whatever his reasons, his affection had been real.

A deep sigh escaped me.

Then—

“…Seunghyun?”

A raspy voice. I jerked up. His cloudy eyes were open, fixed on me.

“Grandfather—you’re awake?”

His eyes widened. “Really Seunghyun?”

“Yes.”

He weakly beckoned. Mumbled, “Glasses… give me…”

I grabbed them from the nightstand, slipped them on.

Focus returned. Gray eyes glinted.

Silence.

My chest shrank. What if he gets angry—blood pressure—

Then he reached out and grabbed my hand.

I startled.

He stared… then whispered, voice fading:

“You came.”

No blame. No hate. Just exhaustion. Relief.

“You came…”

A tear slipped down my cheek. I bowed my head.

“…I’m sorry.”

He shook his head faintly. Held my hand until he drifted off again.

Dinner was the four of us: Mother, Seunghee, me, Doyoon. Dish after dish—clearly the chef had gone all out. Maybe because I was back. Everyone was a little giddy. Mother most of all.

Seunghee punched my shoulder the second she walked in. Hard.

“You ignored me begging you to come, but the moment Choi Doyoon flies over, you’re here? Useless.”

Doyoon glared like he got hit. I stepped on his foot to keep him calm, cradling my shoulder with a sheepish grin.

“…Sorry. That’s just how it happened.”

Seunghee sighed, eyeing us. “I thought you two fought again. One minute best friends, next—radio silence. What is this?”

“Haha…”

She leaned in, hopeful. “Canada—no more, right?”

Mother and Doyoon both whipped their heads toward me. Six eyes, intense.

I looked at them, then nodded.

“Yeah.”

Seunghee exhaled, smiling wide. “Staying a while?”

I glanced at Doyoon instinctively. He just gazed back—serene, like a monk with no desires.

After a beat, I shook my head.

“No. Just… living with Doyoon. Like before. Just us.”

Doyoon’s eyes went perfectly round. Like he never dreamed I’d say it.

…You were gonna suggest it anyway.

His over-the-top joy made me blush harder.

Mother flinched briefly, then accepted it. Seunghee looked crushed—but recovered fast.

“Well… I did think it might happen.”

Doyoon beamed. “Thank you for understanding.”

Seunghee shot him a death glare.

The rest of dinner was warm. They grilled me: What did you do? Travel? French classes? Videos? Fun? Keep going! Mother said:

“Do whatever you want. Grandfather said he doesn’t care what you do. Neither do I.”

My heart swelled. The old her—yelling I had to be chairman—felt distant. We’d all changed.

I smiled. “Thank you.”

After dinner, the second Mother and Doyoon stepped into the garden, Seunghee dragged me aside.

“Choi Doyoon’s dangerous. Be careful.”

“…What?”

“He listens to you, so you’re safe. But if anything feels off—tell me.”

“What?”

“I don’t know. Just… working with him this time? Kid’s scary—too calculated, too thorough. Gave me chills.”

I frowned.

People who didn’t know him might think that. But this was the same guy who impulsively flew to Canada, ready to abandon everything to live with me in a cabin. Zero future plans. Pure emotion.

Seunghee was way off.

I defended him.

“He looks cold, but he’s soft. Emotional. Be nice to him.”

She clutched her chest, exasperated. “Hah!”

She’d warned me before—if Doyoon bullied me, tell her. She really had him all wrong.