"Fine, you win." In all these years, Taehyung had never met a woman like this.
She nearly crippled him last night, so how could she shamelessly ask who he was today?
To him, Jennie was at a completely different level from Lisa...
Lisa was still fairly rational; she knew she was married, so she wouldn't take the initiative to talk to Jimin. But at least she didn't pretend to not know who he was.
However, Jennie was someone who would eat someone up, bones and everything...
Taehyung kept thinking that this woman looked so sweet, but the way she behaved was truly barbaric.
Even if he slept with her, she would never ask him to take responsibility, because she would straight-up deny that it ever happened.
Being a physiatrist was sure a waste of her talents, she should be the top star of BigHit instead since she could definitely handle tens of thousands of media outlets with ease.
Taehyung was depressed, so he stopped trying to add Jennie...
Jennie had also forgotten about him...
Her parents had been pestering her to try out some dresses for the engagement party, but she kept stalling and was unwilling to go downstairs.
The truth was, her parents knew that she was very unwilling to get engaged.
However, to ensure that their daughter had a happy marriage, they thought forcing her would be doing her a favor.
Jungkook rarely got off work this early, so he drove straight to South Side to pick up Lisa.
"Why are you here?" Lisa immediately turned into a shy little girl as soon as she saw Jungkook.
"I've come to pick you up from work. We'll head over to your old house for dinner, so we can visit your mom."
"Ha, sure, Haruto just happens to be home as well today." Lisa felt very happy when she heard that they were going to her mother's.
After getting ready up, she got into Jungkook's car and left her Audi in South Side's parking lot.
As they passed by a grocery store, the two bought quite a lot of vegetables and fruits.
It was already 7 PM when they arrived at Lisa's mother' house.
Luckily, they had called her mother beforehand, so her mom and Haruto waited for them to eat.
"Noona... you're finally here, I'm about to starve to death," Haruto clamored.
To their surprise, Wonyoung was there as well...
Evidently, they've already become inseparable.
Wonyoung was still a bit reserved in front of Lisa and Jungkook...
"Unnie... you're back."
Wonyoung wore a pink dress, and since she was fairly young, her attire was very pink and youthful.
Haruto was a super caring man; he had always been very sweet to his sister, not to mention his girlfriend.
He barely argued with Wonyoung and spent everyday sweetly and lovingly.
They also showed off their relationship in every way possible in their WeChat friend circles...
Lisa didn't quite understand this sort of showing off, but she wouldn't stop them, because each person had their own and different ways of expressing joy.
Since time was limited, Lisa bought some food for hotpot at the grocery store.
The five of them sat underneath a big tree in the yard to enjoy a delicious meal of hotpot.
Lisa's mother was no longer visibly hostile towards Jungkook...
She would even occasionally say, "Have some more."
"Thanks, Auntie." Jungkook was not used to this kind of treatment.
Never mind how Lisa's mother was as a woman, but she at least raised and cared for Lisa for the last twenty or so years.
Plus, even though Lisa was a girl, she wasn't biased at all and never treated her son better than her daughter.
Despite her sharp tongue, deep down, she was a very kind person.
Or else, she would never have been tricked by Mr. Oh, again and again...
Simply put, Lisa's mother was actually a ditzy woman...
She wasn't much of a schemer when she was young and didn't have any tricks up her sleeves, so she ended up losing to that calculating, double-sided trickster, Sooyoung.
"Noona... you looked so cool that day on the red carpet... Haha, Wonyoung noticed that it was you first, I didn't even dare to recognize you."
Haruto giggled as he teased his sister...
"You little brat, has your butt been itchy lately? How dare you tease your big sister?"
"I wasn't teasing, noona, you're truly a weirdo. I'm surprised at how well you pulled off that smokey-eye look? You didn't lose to those stars at all. The media who didn't know what was going on even thought you were a new star JC just signed, and they were all madly taking photos of you at the time. Haha, it was hilarious."
Wonyoung also laughed, "Unnie, you really looked stunning in that gown and makeup and your grace is undeniable, and you were able to hold down the stage. Anyways, you're totally my type. If you didn't study medicine, you'll definitely succeed in the entertainment industry."
"You two... we're all friends here, there's no need for so much ass-kissing. Thanks, but stop making fun of me."
Lisa put her chopsticks in her mouth and smiled as she watched the two of them giggle and tease her at the same time...
"Haruto, you need to treat your older sister with respect. You're young, but she's a married woman. Don't be silly, your brother-in-law is here too," Lisa's mother looked at Haruto and lectured him.
"It's fine, Auntie. I've gotten used to it. Haruto loves his sister very much," Jungkook rarely got to witness such a heart-warming scene.
Over the meal, the green vegetables were running out, so Lisa stood up to bring some more from the kitchen l...
Haruto also quietly followed behind her...
"Noona... I want to ask you something."
"Yes?"
"Are you pregnant yet?"
Lisa, "-_-"
She wasn't even worried about this, yet Haruto seemed to be in more of a rush than she was...
"Why do you keep asking me that?" Puzzled, Lisa looked at Haruto.
"Ha... I'm asking for Mom. She keeps asking me, but how would I know? Only the people involved knows."
"Don't worry, I will definitely tell you guys if there's something."
"Ok, haha, I've been hoping to become a young uncle." Haruto stuck out his tongue.
"A young uncle? You're already 19..."
"But I'm still a child..."
"Ahem... come here, let me ask you something." Now it was Lisa's turn to ask the questions.
"What?"
"Have you and Won... done it yet?" Lisa asked, a little embarrassed.
However Haruto immediately understood what his sister was talking about...
He immediately responded, "noona, which era do you think we're living in? Do you really think everyone is as innocent and pure as you are? Love isn't as simple as just holding hands. Of course we've been together, and we're planning to move in together once I start my internship in my senior year."
"Then you have to be careful, don't get her pregnant. You guys are still young, there's going to be a lot of pressure if you guys decide to have a baby. If you don't want the baby, abortions are really harmful to the woman's body."
"I know noona, we're using protection, don't you worry."
Haruto patted his sister's shoulder as he said confidently.
Lisa was speechless... Her brother was only 19, yet he sounded so mature and experienced.
Was she too innocent, or did she think Haruto was too innocent?
After dinner, Wonyoung was cleaning up the yard while Jungkook and Haruto sat in the yard and drank tea.
Lisa went into the kitchen to help her mother wash dishes...
"Mom... just ask me directly next time if you have questions. Don't call Haruto, he's a guy. It's super awkward if you keep asking him whether I'm pregnant yet, haha." Lisa coyly laughed.
"You... shouldn't be as careless as I am. Since you were lucky enough to marry into a wealthy family, you should carefully plan the rest of your life out. Children are a must, it doesn't matter if it's a girl or a boy, but you have to have at least one."
"I know, and it's not that I don't want one, but I'm just not pregnant yet," Lisa said innocently.
"You're too weak. Go see a reliable traditional Korean medicine doctor to give you a checkup. Could it be that your body is lacking something? You should take some traditional Korean medicine to help with that."
Lisa didn't know how to respond, "Mom... I'm a medical practitioner, and I know of these things. Me not being pregnant might not be because I'm sick. The truth is, pregnancy is a very magical thing, and the joining of a sperm and egg isn't as easy as we think. It's a very complicated process... Never mind, you won't understand it anyways."
Lisa originally wanted to carefully explain the process of impregnation to her mother, but after some medical lingo, her mother lost interest, so she decided to stop trying to explain things.
Then she took out a envelope from her bag and handed it to her, "Mom, take this."
"Why are you giving me money again? I don't need it." Her mother wouldn't accept it.
"Don't worry Mom, I didn't get this money from the Jeon Family. It's from my own salary. I don't need anything, so there's no use in having this money. Your store isn't doing so well these days, and you're always holding back on even buying food. You shouldn't be so harsh on yourself. Haruto and I have both grown up now, so it's about time you start enjoying life."
No matter what her mother said, Lisa still stuffed the envelope into her mother's apron pocket.
Lisa didn't dare to give her mother too much, because if she gave her mother too much cash, her mother still wouldn't spend it, and it was unsafe to keep that much money at home.
"Fine, then I will keep this for you, and I'll give it back to you when you need it later."
"I don't need it, just consider them living expenses. Mom... if you want to go back to your hometown, I could take a break from work and come with you."
Lisa faintly remembered that her mother hadn't visited her hometown for several years now...
"I won't go back, what's the point? Your grandmother and grandfather are no longer around anymore. Those gambling uncles of yours only ask me for money, and only money, every time they see me. A while ago, your aunt called me after seeing your interview on TV. She said now that you've married into a wealthy family, she wanted you to find her daughter a nice husband. I've refused. I don't even want to talk to your aunt, she'll cause tons of trouble if we're not careful."
"Fine, but if you decide to go back, then remember to tell me. I'll go with you."
"It's okay, we are not going back. My home will be wherever you and Haruto are in the future," her mother said while she washed dishes.
"Right... Mom, I suddenly thought of something."
"What?'
"I heard that... Mr. Oh wanted to do a DNA test on me not long after I was born, and Uncle Watanabe took me there?"
"Yes, I was still resting postpartum and didn't have the energy to bother with all that."
"Didn't Mr. Oh say anything upon finding out that I was his daughter?" Lisa probed.
"He gave us some money, around two hundred thousand or so, but I didn't care about his filthy money at all... so I told your Uncle Watanabe to send it back and cut all ties with him."
"Oh..." Lisa seemed to be in her own thoughts.
"Why? Why would you ask about this all of a sudden?" Her mother looked at her daughter somewhat curiously.
"Nothing, I just remembered this all of a sudden. My birth caused quite a scene back then, and he even a DNA test on me. Come to think of it, a man as cautious as Mr. Oh would definitely do a DNA test."
"Yes... he's an old fox."
Then, Lisa didn't say anything else and walked out of the kitchen after washing the dishes...
"It's getting late. Kook, let's go home."
"Okay." Jung gracefully stood up.
"Hyung... I'll be over for an internship at the most basic level in your company this holiday break, please don't forget."
"Okay."
Jungkook nodded, and then the two of them said goodbye to Lisa's mother and walked out of the old house.
"What did you say to Haruto?"
"Nothing."
"Don't spoil him all the time," Lisa ordered.
"I know."
"Honey, there's this thing that's very strange. Help me analyze it..."
Inside the car, Lisa thought of what happened recently and decided to share it with Jungkook.
"Okay, go on."
"I'm not Mr. Oh's daughter, that's for sure, but apparently back in the day, Uncle Watanabe took me to find Mr. Oh to do a DNA test, and I was proven to be his daughter. At the time, Mr. Oh gave my mother two hundred thousand or something in child support, but my mom didn't want it, so she told Uncle Watanabe to return it to Mr. Oh."
"What were you wondering?" Jungkook said while he driving.
"I was wondering why Uncle Watanabe kept my identity a secret? He even managed to trick Mr. Oh, why though?"
"Maybe he doesn't want anyone to find out," Jungkook slowly said.
Lisa nodded. "Also, I suspect that Uncle Watanabe didn't give that money back to Mr. Oh."
"Instead, he gave it to the doctor who performed the DNA test?" Jungkook followed.
"You're smart... I was thinking the same thing. This makes sense now; Uncle Watanabe deliberately planned to hide my identity and colluded with the doctor who performed the DNA test to trick Mr. Oh, so the Oh Family doesn't know about this. Oh, that's not right, I can't say that no one in the Oh Family knows. I think... that maybe Sehun knows about my real identity."
"Sehun?" Jungkook felt incredibly uncomfortable upon hearing this name.
Yes."
"Why would he know?"
"I'm not sure, it's only a feeling I have. It's as if he knows about a lot of things..." Lisa slowly said as she held her chin.
"That's not impossible, anyways... It's better to keep your distance from Sehun."
"I know," Lisa nodded.
When they arrived home, Lisa originally wanted to eat some snacks and watch soap operas with Jungkook.
However, he received a call and started working again.
"Doll, I'll be on a video conference in the study."
"Okay."
"Don't wait up for me. Go to sleep if you're tired."
"Okay." Lisa obediently nodded.
Just as Jungkook was about to head upstairs, he suddenly stopped in his tracks and said, "Oh right, JC's thirty-year-anniversary party will be held at the Ritz-Carlton next week. It'll be very grand, with a magnificent banquet. If you want to invite any friends, tell Assistant Lee beforehand and get him to arrange a guest list for you."
"Okay, sure." Lisa nodded...
Then, Jungkook went into the study for work.
Meanwhile, Lisa took a shower, changed into her pajamas, and played around on WeChat in bed.
"Chae, you seem to be very busy lately. Let's go and get food sometime?"
"I have been flying long routes recently. My gosh, maybe it's because I'm too beautiful, so the head stewardess has been stalling on signing off my annual leave... I have to work nonstop; I don't time to hang out and have fun."
"Ha, everyone has their busy days. Now that the weather is getting colder, it's peak season for your airline company."
"That's true... I don't even have time to drink water when I'm at work. I don't want to work anymore. Once I marry into a wealthy family, I will immediately resign, live in a luxurious mansion, drive luxurious cars, and pick up the super rich like you do everyday."
"Pish... don't be silly, when have I ever picked up the super rich?" Lisa almost spat out blood upon hearing Chaeyoung's words.
"Haha, right, you're not picking up Jimin, it's Jimin who wants to pick you up..." Chaeyoung laughed.
"Did you think I was a flower that could be picked up at any time...?" replied Lisa.
"Hahaha..."
"Stop your 'hahaha', what's up with you and Bambam lately?"
"Nothing is up."
"Don't lie to me like a three-year-old, I don't believe you."
"Haha, there's really nothing."
"Hmph, if you don't tell me, then I'll ask Jungkook to interrogate Bambam."
"Don't, don't, don't... The truth is, the two of us ate together a few days ago. It was his treat, and we went because he said that a new grilled pork hock restaurant opened in the west side of the city," Chaeyoung said guiltily.
"What happened after the grilled pork hock?" Lisa continued her interrogation.
"Of course we went our separate ways after the grilled pork hock."
"I don't believe you."
"Haha, it's true, don't overthink it. We're as pure as ethanol."
"Hmph, I think you guys are more like alcohol..."
Chaeyoung, "-_-"
"Please lady, please stop asking, I promise to tell you if anything does happen."
"It's fine if you don't want to tell me. I plan to invite Yumi, the one Bambam dated for few day, get her to have a meal with Bambam and help them get back together," Lisa said on purpose...
"Holy shit... Don't you dare!" Chaeyoung immediately lost her cool.
"See, I knew something was up with you..."
"Don't torture me anymore, I'll admit that I like him a little, okay? But don't tell him. If he doesn't confess to me, then I definitely won't confess to him. We'll both keep it in, let's see who goes crazy first..." Chaeyoung said arrogantly.
"Fine, no one else could think of this other than you." Lisa's face was filled with helplessness.
After her conversation with Chaeyoung ended, Lisa made a cup of coffee and took it upstairs for Jungkook...
Jungkook was in the middle of a video conference, as he faced a dozen or so executives...
Lisa immediately saw that Yerim was there as well, so she purposefully placed the coffee on the side, and then wrapped her arms around Jungkook's neck and flirted, "Kook, I'm afraid of sleeping alone, can you end your conference and keep me company?"
The executives on the other side of the video were all dumbfounded when they saw their Young Madam flirt with their boss...
Yerim felt terrible...
Jungkook turned around with spoiling adoration, and looked into Lisa's sad eyes...
He was immediately heartbroken...
So he turned around, and said, "Let's end things here today, thanks everyone for your hard work."
The executives went into an uproar once again... the meeting with their boss just reached a crucial point, but because of the Young Madam, the president immediately ended it.?How capricious were they...?
"Boss, we were talking about something important just now, and you still haven't clearly issued your orders on the specific sections of the party raffle yet. Are we to use our own jewelry, or should we use the Italian brand, OW?" Yerim refused to give up and tried to trap Jungkook with work.
Jungkook coldly looked at those in his screen and said, "If you need me to finalize all the details, why would JC need executives like you?"
Everyone immediately fell silent...
No one dared to say anything else...
Jungkook raised his hand and closed his laptop... without any hesitation.
"Sorry, I'll try to get these things done during the day and not work at night." Jungkook looked at Lisa apologetically.
Truth be told, Lisa was incredibly moved...
She only wanted to play a few tricks to show the scheming Yerim who was the boss.
However, she never expected that Jungkook would spoil her this much and that he would even end such an important meeting.
She felt a bit guilty, did she just take things too far...?
"Kook... maybe you should continue on with the meeting, I don't mind sitting here with you," Lisa tried to convince him.
"No, it's getting too late. You still have to work tomorrow. We should go to bed, let's go." Jungkook wrapped his arm around Lisa's shoulder.
The two of them walked out of the study...
"Doll, are you hungry?" Jungkook suddenly asked.
Lisa shook her head...
She was actually fairly tired, if she didn't see Yerim in the video conference just now, then she was planning to go to bed after giving Jungkook his cup of coffee. However, since that woman was around, she had to put on a flirtatious show. Who knew that Jungkook would be so supportive? He immediately turned off the video conference without another word, as if he wanted to spoil her to the moon and back.
After their president shut off his laptop, the executives still sat there...
"Director Yerim, you knew that... President Jeon is known for spoiling his wife, why would you rush towards that gunpoint?" Someone sighed.
Yerim coldly said, "If the young madam really loved President Jeon, then she shouldn't have intervened with our company business. What is this? The boy who cried wolf? If she keeps doing this, one day, she'll ruin JC. She is nothing but bad luck."
"Ahem... you better not let the president hear this, or else he'll fire you on the spot. Okay, it's late now, let's all go to bed."
The executives all consecutively went offline...
Yerim turned off her computer, overwhelmed with anger...
She prepared tons of materials and details, which she originally planned to show off in front of the president.
However, before she even had the chance to, Lisa came in and ruined everything...
"Lisa... just you wait. They might be all scared of you, but I, Kim Yerim, am not."
Yerim squeezed the prepared materials into a ball, and threw them into the garbage can...
– On the wide bed –
The two of them fell asleep in each other's embrace, and Jungkook held Lisa gently.
"Kook... will you always be this good to me?" lisa asked as she wrapped her arms around Jungkook's neck.
"Of course."
"Forever and always?"
"Yes." Jungkook didn't hesitate at all.
"Then what about our next life, what if we lose our memories? Will you still remember me?"
"Doll... why are you so sentimental today?" Jungkook smiled as he gently caressed Lisa's long black hair.
"I don't know, it came from a spur of my emotions," Lisa softly murmured.
His wife was usually very rational and never asked childish questions about her past or present life like a little girl.
However, he cooperated and willingly answered, "No matter what happens, I'll never forget you."
Lisa tightened her grasp around Jungkook's waist...
Suddenly, she was very afraid to lose Jungkook.
She wished that they could continue to live out their days like this...
They could fight, have misunderstandings, or even give each other the silent treatment, but she didn't want to live without him.
Although on the outside, she pretended to not care about those years when Jungkook was absent, only she knew that for her, it was never over.
Including her years with Kai...
Her heart was so peaceful because it never fluttered for him...
She agreed to marry Kai because she knew that she had no hope with Jungkook.
Until he returned...
He used such cruel ways to bring her back to him because he was deeply in love with her.
The seven years that he spent in the United States were filled with crushing loneliness and longing.
Just so he could make her his wife when he got back to South Korea...
Marrying Lisa was a dream that he had planned out since his youth...
It was also a dream that he never gave up on... he cherished every moment that he spent with Lisa.
It was because time was passing by, and they were growing old... He didn't want to waste another second.
Lisa fell asleep peacefully in Jungkook's embrace...
Jungkook kissed her forehead. "Don't worry, doll, I'll do all I can to help you find your parents."
– The next morning –
After the two finished breakfast, Jungkook drove Lisa to South Side before heading to JC.
As soon as Lisa got to South Side, she was overwhelmed by work...
After the hospital reinvented itself, it became much more popular.
Some patients didn't even want to leave after their illness was cured, even if they had to burn their money.
It made Lisa a little speechless...
At that moment, Lisa's phone rang...
"Noona, I'm waiting for you at the VIP hypnosis room." It was Soobin's voice.
"Okay, I'll be there right away."
After giving out a few instructions, Lisa went to the top floor.
Soobin was still wearing sunglasses and a mask. Sitting there, his complexion looked much better than before.
He no longer had dark circles under his eyes or yellowish skin...
" Noona"
"How has it been these past few days?"
"Good, I've been sleeping much better than before. I used to sleep less than four hours per night, but now I can sleep for six and a half hours."
"That's still not enough, normal people sleep for eight hours. You have to try harder."
Soobin nodded. "Mhm, I know. Also... I finished watching Naruto, it was super good, it made me cry."
"It's good that you liked it."
"Any other anime recommendations?"
"Uh... Slam Dunk. Although it's pretty old, their spirit is admirable and worth learning from."
"Okay, I'll download it today."
"Don't just play, did JC start your promotions yet?"
"Yea...president Jeon is really hard working. Other than customizing an anniversary celebration film for me and Irene, he also gave me the leading role in a science fiction movie, co-starring a few Hollywood stars. It's just that my schedule is too full lately, so my agent had to push it back three months.
"That's good, don't tire yourself out... it's not necessarily a good thing if stars take on too many roles. Only take quality ones and not crappy ones."
"I know, I know."
"Have you seen that person lately?" Lisa abruptly asked.
Soobin's once sky-high mood was now at the bottom of the ocean...
"No, and I don't want to see her for the rest of my life."
"About your conflict... I'll sort it out with you when we have the time. Oh right, take these vitamins when you have the chance, it'll help bolster your immune system." Lisa took out a bottle of vitamins from her lab coat.
"Thanks, Noona."
"Alright, don't be polite with me. If you need anything, just call."
"Mhm."
After sending out Soobin, Lisa was just about to go on rounds when Jennie came.
"Lisa, come here for a second."
Jennie waved her hand and mysteriously called Lisa off to the side...