Lisa smiled faintly. "Thanks for your approval".
"Oh, don't say that, Sister-in-law". Jeon Junghyun moved his wheelchair closer to her, his smile widening. "We are a family after all, and I quite like you".
Lisa's brow promptly tightened in inward disgust. "Like?"
Did she blow up a galaxy in her last life to be liked by such a person?
"What are you talking about Sister-in-law?" Jeon Junghyun laughed out loud, revealing several sharp teeth. "I don't mean the love kind of like. Don't think too much about it, or my brother is going to beat me up...."
He then paused abruptly. In that moment, it was as if he was a completely different person: his eye circles reddened, and he was pouting in grief. "Since we were children, my brother would beat me if I misbehaved. I'm a cripple, so I couldn't fight back".
Lisa realized then that there was not a single normal human being amongst the men of the Jeon family.
Especially Jeon Junghyun, the epitome of being sick itself.
She rose from the sofa, wanting to check on Jungkook and Junghyun suddenly reached out and caught her.
"What are you doing?" Lisa could not help from shrieking.
That hand was ice-cold and without a shred of human warmth, and she swung it off.
Meanwhile, Jeon Nomin simply looked on before rising to leave, as if it could not be more normal.
Jungkook hurried toward them then pulling Lisa behind him and glaring coldly at Junghuyn.
"Brother, I've done nothing...." Junghyun shook his head in denial fervently as he stared back in panic. "I was just....I was just trying to get to know Sister-in-law, so that she won't feel disgusted with my crippled self....I really had no intention to scaring her...."
Even so, every line on Jungkook's face was tightening. His thin lips were tightly pursed, and his eyes were cold and dark.
He was angry.
Lisa touched his arm, shook her head and calmly said, "I'm fine".
Nonetheless, Jungkook's voice was cold and emotionless. "Scare her again and I'll have you go full cripple!"
Junghyun promptly shrank in fear, and continued shaking his head as if he was about to cry. "I-I got it, Brother...."
Once again, he looked like a completely different person from the one who looked dangerous when Lisa first saw him.
Could he be an imbecile?
Still, Lisa simply couldn't bear to be in the same as he was, and followed Jungkook to the kitchen.
"Where's the ginger water you cooked?"
"In the pot".
She opened the lid, and a wave of hot air washed over her face.
The water inside was already boiling, with an entire soaked inside....
It wasn't even cut.
Once again, Lisa refreshed his knowledge. "Jungkook, you have to cut the ginger".
"Really?" Jungkook nodded, "Okay".
His fished out the ginger, soaked it in cold water for a moment before putting it on a chopping to cut it unaccustomedly.
Lisa was afraid that he would cut off his own fingers.
She suddenly asked interestedly, "Jungkook....Your brother...."
"He is like that after he broke his legs. You can just consider him a nutjob".
That being said, it was likely that Junghyun's personality had simply became warped after his legs were disabled given who he was, that he was not really a nutjob.
In fact, he might be more lucid than anyone else.
"Why would your father have him assist you in the company then?"
What were they thinking? It was not like she was belittling him for being confined to a wheelchair, but his impeded mobility might trouble others as well.
Moreover, Lisa believed from her very first impression that Junghyun would definitely start something.
She really wanted to ask why Jungkook would agree to it, but she also thought that it was a private matter for the Jeon family and refrained from asking.
"It's just a pretext", Jungkook said then, his gaze staying unaffected. "That's not their intention".
Lisa promptly understood and was sweating for Jungkook.
It must have been hard growing up in such a family, with his own father and brother combining to fight him.
In fact, it must be chilling....and yet Jungkook appeared used to it from his reaction.
"He said....that you always beat him up when you were children? Is that true?"
Jungkook's paused his ginger-cutting and looked up unhappily. "You believe the nutjob?"
And did he look like a person who was prone to violence?
"...."
So, Junghyun was lying?
It sounded about right, however. He was a little retarded and should not be viewed as a normal person.
Soon, the ginger water was cooked. Jungkook poured out a bowl full, letting it cool in cold water and then testing its heat before passing it to her.
That was ridiculously thoughtful.
Lisa drank the ginger water, feeling much better was warmth spread through her stomach.
"What else did he tell you when I wasn't there?" Jungkook asked.
Lisa told him everything as it was.
Jungkook stayed silent for a moment, while Lisa said between sips, "Your brother is quite miserable....he can't walk, and he is also not right in the head. Treat him better from now on".
"Silly you". Jungkook pinched the tip of her nose with two fingers. "The Jeon family is not as simple as you think. You can't trust anyone other than me, got it?"
"Okay". Lisa nodded tamely. "Got it".
****
The servants had prepared lunch at noon.
Lisa was leaning miserably in Jungkook's embrace, muttering quietly, "I don't want to stay here".
Jungkook put his thin lips on her forehead. "Okay. we'll leave after lunch".
Nearby, Jeon Nomin put down the documents he was reading and coldly said, "You don't want to stay here? Our family doesn't want you here either!"
"Only what I say matters". Jungkook looked up icily.
Jeon Nomin was not surprised, however, and simply sneered. "You never were simple since you were a child, and now that you're all grown up, no one can push you around. It's fine if you want to marry her, just don't regret it".
Jungkook smiled. "The only thing I regret is being born your son".
"You!" Jeon Nomin was about to burst out, but had to stop short and snort coolly with Lisa there. "Take care of Junghyun when he joins the company. He is in bad health".
"Why send him to me if you're afraid he would die?" Jungkook mocked.
Being a bastard if the Jeon family, it was already unprecedented that Jungkook could take control of the family.
Jeon Junghyun would have been the President of KBS if he was not crippled, not to mention that he was absolutely treasured by old Madam Jeon and Jeon Nomin because he was born to Jeon Nomin and his legal wife.
But although Jeon Nomin despised Jungkook, he had to acknowledge and respect his ability.
"I merely hope that you don't tire yourself!" Jeon Nomin said self-righteously. "Moreover, Junghyun is much better now, and I can return to headquarters in relief with you brothers at helm".
"Jeon Nomin, your lying technique is becoming poor". Jungkook did not give face at all. "You are just afraid that I would pack up and leave the company, so you a piece of trash to keep an eye on me".
His intentions exposed, Jeon Nomin's face went red and his neck thickened. "Watch your manner! Did you think you can call by name?"
"Did your memory go bad if your age?" Jungkook retorted nonchalantly. "I never called you anything else since Mother died".
"I'm fine with having Junghyun here. Just hurt back to headquarters and don't be an eyesore".
Jeon Nomin always wanted to save face in every situation, and yet Jungkook kept slapping him in front of the servants and Lisa.
As such, he rose to his feet in rage and roared, "Jungkook! Listen carefully you'll only fall harder if you get too conceited!"