The Price of a Perfect Smile

“Eating voraciously looks uncouth, but picking at your food makes you look like you have no luck.”

“Yes, Father.”

Tae-rin set down her chopsticks and took a spoonful of rice. She chewed the sticky grains thoroughly before swallowing, took a sip of the eel soup, and offered Won Kyung-pil a smile. When she reached for her chopsticks again—

“You have to eat meat to have strength.”

“Yes.”

At the repeated critique, her chopsticks, which had been heading for the seasoned radish, diverted to pick up a piece of eel. Only after she chewed and swallowed the oily flesh did Won Kyung-pil finally relax the tension in his brow, looking satisfied.

“The food is quite delicious today.”

“A fresh batch of eel came in. I grilled the fillets with salt and simmered the bones and scraps for the broth. I know you love eel soup, Assemblyman, and Miss Tae-rin loves it too,” Mrs. Han, the head of the kitchen, chimed in.

“Our Tae-rin’s palate is exactly like mine. It’s been that way since she was a child.”

“Oh my, even their tastes and the fact that they’re both left-handed are identical! There truly is no such thing as a stolen seed, as the old saying goes,” Mrs. Han joked.

Won Kyung-pil laughed and nodded. He wiped his mouth with a napkin and picked up his water glass.

“Hmm…”

As he sipped the lukewarm water, his eyes remained fixed on Tae-rin, who was putting her last spoonful of rice into her mouth.

“It was made with care. Don’t leave anything behind.”

“Of course, Father.”

Tae-rin lifted the bowl and drank every last drop of the eel soup. As she smiled, Mrs. Han approached with a bright face and set down a bowl containing a dark herbal tonic.

“What is this?”

“The Assemblyman went personally to get this medicine for you, Miss Tae-rin. He said it has everything good in it—deer antler, wild ginseng, you name it.”

“Father did?”

“You mustn’t neglect your health just because you’re busy with work. I specially requested this from Director Kang. It’s meant to protect your gi, so even if it’s bitter, make sure you take it every morning and evening.”

“I will. Thank you, Father.”

Tae-rin’s eyes sparkled as she smiled. She tilted the bowl and gulped down the medicine without a moment’s hesitation.

“Oh, honestly. Even as busy as he is, when it comes to Miss Tae-rin… the Assemblyman’s love for his daughter is really something else.”

“Is loving one’s daughter a flaw?”

“Oh, no! If I had a daughter like our Miss Tae-rin, I’d be bragging about her to my third cousins. I heard people use the term ‘daughter-fool’ (doting father) these days, and that’s exactly what the Assemblyman is.”

“Ho-ho… a daughter-fool. Usually, being called a fool would make me feel bad, but this feels like a compliment. I like it.”

As Won Kyung-pil stood up with a hearty laugh, Tae-rin hurriedly set down the empty tonic bowl and rose as well.

“I was told you shouldn’t drink tea or coffee while taking the medicine. Stay away from alcohol, instant foods, and flour, too.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Mrs. Han, I’ll have green tea. Just warm water for Tae-rin.”

It was their routine to have tea time in Won Kyung-pil’s study after dinner. Mrs. Han nodded and turned to prepare the tray.

“Father, I’m going to go up to my room for a moment first.”

“Hmm?”

“I have some work emails to check and reply to.”

“Fine. I’ll be waiting.”

Only after seeing the benevolently smiling Kyung-pil disappear into the study did Tae-rin leave the dining room. She tried to act normal, but her pace quickened as she climbed the stairs. Finally, when she reached her room on the second floor—

“Ugh…”

She dashed to the bathroom and vomited everything she had just eaten into the toilet. Her eyes turned bloodshot with the strain. Only after her body contorted several times to empty her stomach completely could she finally stand up straight.

“Whew…”

The bitter, astringent, and fishy aftertaste lingered. Even though there was nothing left to bring up, waves of nausea continued to hit her. After rinsing her mouth with cold water, Tae-rin looked into the mirror. A weary woman stared back at her.

“…”

Closing her eyes tightly and then opening them, her hands became busy. She opened the cabinet behind the mirror, took a digestive aid, and patted her flushed face. She wiped the moisture from her eyes and applied lip balm to her dry lips. Fatigue was etched into her features.

But by the time she finished her repairs and turned around…

She wore a beautiful, picture-perfect smile once again.

“Se-hyun is handling the cleanup. I told him he had to deal with it himself this time because I couldn’t overlook it. There was a gathering with his brother’s friends today, but he intentionally stayed away.”

“I see.”

Won Kyung-pil nodded as he set down his teacup.

“Yes. It’s about time you pulled on his reins.”

“Yes, Father.”

“I don’t intend to look into it separately. I trust you’ll handle it well on your own.”

“I won’t disappoint you.”

“Tae-rin.”

“Yes, Father.”

Tae-rin took a small sip of warm water and looked at him while holding the glass.

“I expect you to keep doing well, just as you always have. I told you, didn’t I? I have an eye for people.”

“Yes.”

“That fellow Jung Se-hyun will tuck his tail this time. The nerve of a guy like him… anyway, coax him well. Since he’s the one who messed up, he’ll try harder from now on.”

“Yes.”

“But don’t be too accepting. Remember, if you grant everything easily, people will look down on you. It’s not even certain yet if you’ll ever actually share a bed with that man.”

“Of course.”

“Yes. I trust my Tae-rin. Who else would I trust? Who is Won Tae-rin? She’s the one and only daughter of Won Kyung-pil.”

Tae-rin pulled the corners of her mouth up into a smile for the man nodding at her.

“Alright. You may go.”

“Father, I was thinking of heading to Yeon-o-dong.”

One of Kyung-pil’s eyebrows quirked as he looked at her.

“Now?”

“Yes. I’m picking up some yanggaeng (sweet jelly) I ordered today.”

“Hmm… fine. Since your mother is away on a trip, it would be good if you went. I’ll call Driver Hwang for you. Don’t drive yourself at night.”

“Yes, Father.”

Tae-rin tidied the tea table and stood up. A short while later, the car carrying her and the neatly wrapped jellies sped toward Yeon-o-dong.

“Pretty lady, come again!”

“Oh, how many times do I have to tell you? It’s Tae-rin.”

“Tae-rin?”

“Yes, Tae-rin. Your youngest daughter Won-young’s girl. The granddaughter you can’t live without.”

Nan-young, who had been waving at Tae-rin, tilted her head. She narrowed her eyes, studying Tae-rin with a persistent, searching gaze. Beside her, Tae-rin’s aunt-in-law, Kyung-jin, gave a helpless laugh.

“Don’t take it to heart.”

“I’m fine.”

“But you know, right? Mother really loves it when you visit. She asks several times a day when the ‘pretty lady’ is coming back.”

“Yes…”

“Gosh, she doesn’t even recognize her own son. Yesterday, when Lee-kyung’s dad was helping her eat, she asked him, ‘Who are you, mister?’”

“My uncle must have been upset.”

“You think? When he said, ‘I’m your son,’ she said, ‘My son isn’t this wrinkly.’ He actually went to sleep wearing a face mask last night.”

Tae-rin smiled bitterly at Kyung-jin’s joke and turned her gaze back to Nan-young. She reached out and took the elderly woman’s wrinkled hand, stroking it with deep affection.

“Grandmother.”

“Yes, pretty lady.”

“You should only eat two pieces of jelly a day. Understand?”

“Three.”

“Okay, three at most then. You have to manage your sugar, so no more than that. If you keep your promise, I’ll bring more tasty things next time.”

“Okay. Thank you. Such a pretty heart to match a pretty face.”

The hand that had been patting Tae-rin’s reached up slowly toward her face.

“So lovely. But you’ve lost weight since last time.”

“…”

Tae-rin froze, bent over, at the warmth of the hand fondling her cheek.

“Poor thing…”

The elder’s rough fingertips clicked in pity as they carefully stroked Tae-rin’s cheek. Tae-rin couldn’t say a word; she had stopped breathing.

All she could do was force herself not to cry, staring at Nan-young as the woman looked at her with such sorrowful eyes.

“Oh, look at Mother. She must be upset because her only granddaughter keeps getting thinner.”

At Kyung-jin’s words, Tae-rin straightened her posture and blinked rapidly. She wiped her eyes as if brushing away dust and offered Kyung-jin a crinkled smile.

“You’re not sick, are you?”

“I’ve just been a bit busy with Mom being away on her trip. I guess I’m still showing my lack of experience.”

“Oh, don’t say that. If our Lee-kyung was even half like you, I’d have no more wishes.”

Tae-rin laughed and knelt down again so she was at eye level with Nan-young in her wheelchair.

“Grandmother, I’ll come again. You have to eat well and stay healthy, okay?”

Nan-young gave a gentle nod, and Kyung-jin winked as if telling her not to worry. Finally, Tae-rin forced herself to leave. The moment she stepped into the courtyard, she let out a long sigh that scattered into a white mist in the cold air.

No matter how often she tried to visit, Nan-young seemed to be shrinking every time. What if she passed away like this? A sudden wave of fear hit her, and she bit her lip to hold back tears.

Tae-rin looked up at the sky for a moment before pulling out her phone to call the driver waiting in the alley.

“I think I’ll walk for a bit. You go on ahead. And don’t tell my father, he’ll only worry.”

Having dismissed the driver, Tae-rin stepped out of the main gate with a slightly lighter heart. Just then, a sleek, high-end car turned into the narrow alley of Yeon-o-dong.