The hall manager responded with a bright smile.
“Yes, we can adjust the menu as you wish. Would you like us to do that?”
“Yes, please.”
“Alright, then we’ll include matsutake mushrooms in every course starting from the appetizer. Is there anything else you need?”
“No, that’s fine.”
The hall manager stepped back, and Makimiya took out his smartphone to check his notifications.
A moment later, he heard someone approaching from behind.
Turning around, he saw a young woman being guided to the table by a hall staff member.
She was a striking beauty in her early twenties, with a tall, slender figure and clear, refined features that exuded an elegant aura.
“Have you been waiting long?”
“No, I just got here too.”
As the hall staff pulled out a chair for her, she sat down naturally and looked back at him.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Have a pleasant time.”
“He’s a friend of my father’s. He was almost my father-in-law, but unfortunately, he had his son too late, so the engagement fell through.”
“…?”
The sudden explanation left the hall staff momentarily flustered, and Makimiya let out a small chuckle.
“I’m just preemptively explaining so the staff doesn’t get the wrong idea and gossip about us. I don’t like being the subject of chatter behind the scenes. That’s just how I am.”
“I see. I didn’t have any strange misunderstandings.”
“For those working in the kitchen, one of the few joys is imagining what kind of relationship the guests have. I find it amusing to take that joy away.”
The hall staff was taken aback but maintained his composure and withdrew politely.
The woman, Jeong Seohee, looked at Makimiya with a playful gaze.
“Your personality hasn’t changed.”
“I don’t like people whispering behind my back.”
“People are less interested in others than you think.”
“People are more interested in others than you think. I mean, look at me. And you’re quite the looker too, ajeossi.”
“I’m old now, so I don’t have the looks I used to. But it’s nice to hear, even if it’s just flattery.”
“I meant you look like you have a lot of money. Of course, I’m talking about looks.”
“Let’s eat. I’ve already ordered for you.”
Jeong Seohee was the daughter of Makimiya’s long-time Korean friend.
The story about the engagement wasn’t entirely false.
It was true that Makimiya’s son was too young, so it didn’t work out.
“Why did you come to Baekdu Hotel instead of the West Sea Hotel this time?”
“You’ll see.”
Jeong Seohee was puzzled but soon understood as she let out a light exclamation upon seeing the appetizer.
“Our matsutake-loving ajeossi, you came here for this, didn’t you? But isn’t it out of season for matsutake mushrooms?”
“I find it curious too. I’m tempted to meet whoever’s producing them.”
The two began their meal, engaging in light conversation.
Mostly, however, it was Jeong Seohee chatting away while Makimiya listened.
“Ajeossi, I have a favor to ask.”
At her voice, tinged with a bit of aegyo, Makimiya immediately composed his expression.
“No.”
“Oh, come on, you haven’t even heard it yet.”
“I don’t need to hear it to know. No.”
“Please, pretty please?”
“Listen, how Jaemin runs the company is his prerogative. I can’t just interfere.”
“But you’re old friends.”
“Because we are old friends, that’s exactly why I can’t.”
Jeong Jaemin.
He was Jeong Seohee’s father and Makimiya’s long-time friend.
“So, am I destined to lose everything to oppa and live a life of poverty as the unfortunate daughter of a chaebol family?”
“Hey, Jaemin isn’t a chaebol. He just owns a few restaurants. If Jaemin’s a chaebol, then half of Korea would be chaebols.”
“That’s harsh. Dad would be upset if he heard that.”
“If you’re upset, why not become my daughter-in-law now? I’ll have Jinseok come to Korea right away.”
“Ajeossi! Jinseok is a high school student!”
“He’s much taller than you. And he looks much older too.”
“No way. It’s still gross.”
“He still likes you a lot and keeps asking to marry you.”
“I said I don’t like younger guys… No, that’s not what I wanted to talk about. Ajeossi, can’t you please persuade my dad? I can do well too.”
“No. It’s not my place to step in.”
“Am I really going to lose everything to oppa and live a life of poverty?”
“You’re not losing everything. You’re getting a building in Cheongdam-dong, aren’t you? Just take good care of that and marry Jinseok later.”
“I want to inherit my father’s business too. I’m confident I can do better than oppa.”
“You should tell that to Jaemin, not me. No matter how much you whine, I only have one thing to say. Our Jinseok…”
“You’re really too much.”
Even after several more pleas, Makimiya remained firm.
“The building Jaemin’s giving you, while not as good as JM Foods, is still a clean asset without any liabilities. It’s perfect as a dowry.”
“It’s not just not as good; it’s much worse.”
Although Jeong Seohee failed to persuade him, she didn’t seem too downcast.
“Just wait and see. I’ll start a business from scratch and make it bigger than JM Foods.”
“Starting from scratch, my foot… If you sell that Cheongdam-dong building, you’ll get at least 50 billion won. And how is Jaemin a chaebol? He barely scrapes by with a few small restaurants.”
“Stop calling them restaurants. It’s a top-three company.”
“Yeah, maybe not in the Korean business rankings, but in the food industry, it’s always stuck at third.”
After finishing their meal, they got up from their seats.
As Makimiya paid the bill, he asked,
“Shall I give you a ride?”
“That would be great, thank you.”
“I should have a drink with Jaemin since it’s been a while.”
“While you’re at it, could you persuade my dad…?”
“Find your bundle elsewhere, kid.”
They left the hotel lobby, where a secretary had already prepared a car at the entrance.
“To Seohee’s house.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
The car left Baekdu Hotel and soon merged onto the main road.
It took about 30 minutes to reach Jeong Jaemin’s house.
***
Long-time friend Jeong Jaemin greeted them warmly in comfortable attire.
“What brings you two together?”
“I treated my future daughter-in-law to dinner.”
“Ah, then I should start preparing the dowry quickly.”
“I told you, I’m not marrying Jinseok.”
“Seohee, if you marry Jinseok, you’ll eventually own a building worth billions. Is that so bad?”
“Even though you’re my dad, you’re such a materialist. Right, ajeossi?”
“That’s why I’m still friends with him.”
Jeong Jaemin chuckled and led Makimiya to the living room, while Jeong Seohee went up to her room on the first floor.
Makimiya took off his jacket and casually draped it over a chair before sitting on the sofa.
“Where’s Seojin?”
“At the company. He hasn’t left work yet.”
“He’s dedicated to his successor training.”
“He’s trying, but he doesn’t seem very motivated.”
JM Foods was a food manufacturing company.
They produced and sold dried foods, seasoning sauces, oils, noodles, and processed agricultural and marine products.
It was a fairly large company, ranking among the top three in the domestic food industry.
To put it nicely, it was in the top three.
To put it bluntly, it was perpetually third.
Makimiya spoke nonchalantly.
“Well, the food industry isn’t really Seojin’s thing. Is he still obsessed with semiconductors?”
“That fool still doesn’t know his place at his age. Semiconductors in this country? He should’ve been born as a son of the West Sea Group.”
Jeong Jaemin opened a can of beer and asked,
“How’s your illness these days?”
“It’s gotten better.”
“That’s surprising. A disease even Johns Hopkins couldn’t cure suddenly got better? Any clues?”
“I have a hunch, but it sounds crazy even to me. Can you hear it without laughing?”
“I’m ready to laugh, so go ahead.”
“There’s a matsutake mushroom I’ve been enjoying lately, and it seems to be helping with my illness.”
“Matsutake mushrooms?”
“Yeah, there’s a top-quality mushroom I’ve been getting. It was briefly available at West Sea Hotel, but now it seems only Baekdu Hotel gets the supply…”
“Wait, Baekdu Hotel?”
Jeong Jaemin furrowed his brow as if something had come to mind, then said,
“Come to think of it, I received a strange report today.”
“What report?”
“Apparently, some distribution company in our country is exporting a ton of matsutake mushrooms to Japan. I thought it was nonsense since it’s not the season.”
