Chapter 13:

Ha-neul adjusted the strap of his leather bag over his shoulder as he led his mother, Mrs. Kang, toward the boarding gate. The bustling Venice airport was alive with travelers, announcements echoing through the terminals in multiple languages. His mother, Mrs. Kang, dressed in an elegant yet traditional coat, had insisted on her attire. She said it was important to carry a piece of their heritage wherever they went.

"이 비행기는 맞지?" She asked in a high-pitched voice, clutching her purse tightly. (This is the right plane, right?)

"예, 어머니, 이거 맞는 거예요." Ha-neul replied patiently in Korean, his voice calm as he handed their boarding passes to the attendant. (Yes, mother, it's the right one.)

She turned to the young Italian air hostess, who had greeted them with a warm smile. "안녕하세요. 물 좀 있나요?" she asked loudly in Korean, expecting her words to be universally understood. (Hello. Do you have water?)

The hostess blinked, her smile faltering as she clearly didn't understand. Ha-neul quickly stepped in, switching to fluent English. "She's asking if you could bring her some water later. And thank you."

"Of course, sir. We'll serve refreshments shortly after takeoff," the hostess replied, her smile returning as she guided them to their seats.

Ha-neul nodded, then helped his mother settle into her window seat. She adjusted her scarf, looking out at the runway. "영어는 정말 귀찮다," she muttered, her voice carrying despite the surrounding hum of passengers. (English is such a bother.)

"어머니, 조용히 말씀하세요. 사람들이 다 쳐다봐요," Ha-neul murmured, glancing around as a few passengers turned their heads at her volume. (Mother, please speak quietly. Everyone is staring.)

His mother waved her hand dismissively. "신경 쓰지 마. 한국어를 배우는 게 그들의 잘못이야." (Don't worry about it. It's their fault for not learning Korean.)

Ha-neul sighed, sinking into his seat. The flight attendants began preparing for takeoff, demonstrating the safety protocols. His mother watched the demonstration intently, then turned to Ha-neul with a loud whisper. "제가 비행기를 타는 건 처음은 아니지만, 아직도 이상하다고 느껴지죠?" (Even though, it's not my first time flying, but I still find it weird.)

"어머니, 그냥 안전 수칙 설명하는 거예요. 비행기 탈 때마다 보잖아요," Ha-neul replied, stifling a smile. (Mother, they're just explaining the safety rules. You see it every time you fly.)

As the plane took off, she clutched his arm. She wasn't afraid of flying, ha-neul felt too bad about the thought that his mother came all this way from korean to venice to meet him only, and now she was accompanying paris, but she always made a fuss about the initial ascent. "속도가 너무 빨라. 하늘, 너 괜찮아?" (It's so fast. Ha-neul, are you okay?)

"잘 지내요, 어머니. 그냥 긴장을 푸세요," he assured her, patting her hand. (I'm fine, mother, just relax.)

Once the plane leveled out, Mrs. Kang began rummaging through her bag, pulling out a neatly folded handkerchief and some candy she'd brought along. She handed one to Ha-neul. "이거 먹어. 네가 너무 말랐어." (Eat this. You're too skinny.)

Ha-neul took the candy without argument. Experience had taught him it was easier to comply than to refuse.

"하늘," she began, her tone shifting to the one she used when she was about to share an opinion he'd rather not hear. "너 요즘 결혼 생각은 없어?" (Ha-neul, have you thought about marriage lately?)

"어머니, 또 시작이네요," he groaned, leaning back in his seat. (Mother, not this again.)

"왜 안 들어줘? 네 나이가 몇인데!" she scolded, narrowing her eyes at him. (Why won't you listen? You're not getting any younger!)

Before he could respond, she continued, "나는 에스메가 네 신부가 되었으면 했는데. 봐라, 이제 정승일 아내가 됐잖아. 그녀가 얼마나 완벽했는데!" (I always thought Esme would make the perfect bride for you. Look at her now, she's married to Jung Seung-il. She was so perfect!)

Ha-neul rolled his eyes, exasperated. "어머니, 제발요. 저는 에스메를 한 번도 좋아한 적 없어요. 그리고 그녀는 승일 형이랑 잘 어울려요." (Mother, please. I never liked Esme. And she suits Seung-il hyung much better.)

"그건 네가 그녀를 제대로 보지 않아서 그래," she insisted. "그녀는 얼마나 우아하고 똑똑한지 몰라." (That's because you never really saw her properly. You have no idea how elegant and intelligent she is.)

"어머니, 이제 그만 얘기해요. 저한테 관심 있는 사람이 있어요, 오히려 그쪽 얘기나 들어 보세요," he said with a hint of frustration. (Mother, please stop. I'm already interested in someone else. Why don't you focus on that instead?)

Mrs. Kang looked at him sharply, her eyes narrowing. "뭐라고? 누군데? 왜 나한테 말 안 했어?" (What? Who is it? Why haven't you told me?)

"아직 정식으로 얘기할 단계가 아니에요. 그리고 어머니는 내가 누구를 좋아하든 항상 반대하시잖아요," Ha-neul replied, shaking his head. (It's not at a stage where I can formally talk about it. Besides, you always disapprove of whoever I like.)

His mother huffed, crossing her arms. "내가 왜 반대하겠니? 내가 원하는 건 네 행복뿐이야." (Why would I disapprove? All I want is your happiness.)

Ha-neul gave her a skeptical look but decided not to argue further. The air hostess returned with their meals, and Mrs. Kang launched into another round of loud Korean, asking Ha-neul to request extra sauce, warm water instead of cold, and a blanket. Despite his embarrassment, Ha-neul dutifully translated her requests, his tone apologetic as he addressed the hostess.

As they ate, Mrs. Kang continued chatting, mostly about family affairs and her opinions on everyone. "승일이랑 에스메는 벌써 애 낳을 계획이 있대. 너는 언제쯤 나한테 손주를 줄 거야?" she asked pointedly. (Seung-il and Esme are already planning to have a child. When are you going to give me grandchildren?)

Ha-neul choked on his food, coughing as he reached for his water. "어머니, 진짜 그만 좀 하세요," he said, exasperated. (Mother, please stop this.)

But his mother wasn't one to let a topic drop. "결혼은 인생의 중요한 부분이야. 네가 너무 까다로워서 문제야. 에스메 같은 여자를 다시 못 만나면 어쩔 거야?" (Marriage is an important part of life. Your problem is that you're too picky. What if you never meet someone like Esme again?)

"그럴 일 없어요. 에스메 같은 여자를 다시 만날 필요도 없고요," Ha-neul replied firmly. (That won't happen. And I don't need to meet someone like Esme again.)

Mrs. Kang sighed dramatically, shaking her head as if lamenting her son's hopelessness. As the flight continued, Ha-neul managed to steer the conversation toward safer topics, his work, his travels, and upcoming plans. Despite her persistent opinions and loud commentary, he couldn't help but feel a fondness for his mother.

She was exasperating but also endearing in her way. When the plane finally began its descent into Paris, Mrs. Kang clutched his arm again. "여긴 날씨가 어떨까? 난 너무 추운 건 싫어," she said. (What's the weather like here? I hate it when it's too cold.)

Ha-neul smiled. "비가 올 것이다. 어머니, 걱정 마세요," he assured her. (It'll be rainy. Don't worry, Mother.)

As they touched down, Mrs. Kang looked out the window, her eyes bright with excitement. "하늘, 파리에 다시 오니까 참 좋다. 이번엔 네가 나랑 같이 있어서 더 좋아." (Ha-neul, it's so nice to be back in Paris. It's even better because you're here with me.)

Ha-neul smiled, despite himself. "저도 좋아요. 정말요." (I like it too. Really.)

And for the first time during the entire flight, Mrs. Kang was momentarily speechless. The crisp Parisian air was a stark contrast to the controlled environment of the airplane.

Ha-neul stepped onto the bustling street, taking a moment to adjust his coat against the cool breeze. His mother stood beside him, tightening her scarf as she observed the passing Parisians with mild interest.

"어머니, 여기 잠깐만 서 계세요. 형한테 전화할게요," Ha-neul said, pulling out his phone. (Mother, just wait here for a moment. I'll call hyung.)

His mother nodded, but her expression soured at the mention of that jerk. "그놈은 항상 너를 무시하잖아. 내가 왜 그한테 네가 가는지 모르겠어." (That boy always looks down on you. I don't understand why you have to go to him.)

"어머니, 지금 또 시작하지 마세요," Ha-neul replied, rolling his eyes as he dialed. (Mother, please don't start again.)

***

Meanwhile, at the towering headquarters of Silken Crimson Threads, Ha-joon was seated in his sleek, minimalist office. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of Paris, but his focus was on the stack of paperwork before him. His phone buzzed, and he glanced at the caller ID.

"하늘," he muttered, partly rolling his eyes before answering. "뭐야?" (Ha-neul. What is it?)

"형, 우리 도착했는데 어디로 가면 돼?" Ha-neul asked in a casual tone. (Hyung, we've arrived. Where should we go?)

Ha-joon sighed internally, leaning back in his chair. His tone remained composed. "우리 회사로 와. 나는 기다리고 있어요." (Come to my company. I'm waiting.)

"알겠어요," Ha-neul replied before hanging up. He turned to his mother, who was already frowning.

"하준이 그 자식이 회사로 오라고 했다고?" Mrs. Kang asked, her voice laced with disdain. (That brat Ha-joon asked you to go to his company?)

"네, 어머니. 그리고 제발 그 형한테 그렇게 말씀하지 마세요," Ha-neul said with a sigh. (Yes, Mother. And please don't talk about him like that.)

Mrs. Kang rolled her eyes dramatically. "그는 당신을 회사로만 불렀어요. 당신을 집으로 데려가고 싶어하지 않았거든요. 네가 잘되는 걸 절대 보고 싶어하지 않아." (He only called you at the company, because he doesn't want to take you at his home. He never wants to see you succeed.)

Ignoring her, Ha-neul flagged down a cab, helping her inside before giving the driver the address. The ride to Silken Crimson Threads was quiet, though Mrs. Kang occasionally muttered under her breath, clearly unimpressed by the mere thought of Ha-joon.

When they arrived, Mrs. Kang stepped out and looked up at the building. Her jaw dropped, her expression instantly shifting to one of disgust. The company's building was a towering black structure shaped like a mannequin, sleek and modern but strikingly avant-garde.

"이게 회사야? 저런 걸 누가 좋아하겠어?" she scoffed, glaring at the building as if it had personally offended her. (This is supposed to be a company? Who would like something like that?)

"어머니, 조용히 좀 하세요," Ha-neul whispered, embarrassed by her volume. (Mother, please lower your voice.)

"조용히 못해! 저 건물이 흉물 같잖아," she snapped, refusing to hide her disgust. (I can't stay quiet! That building is hideous!)

Ha-neul sighed, taking her arm and guiding her inside. The interior was just as modern as the exterior, with marble floors, sleek furniture, and a color scheme of black, red, and gold. The reception desk was manned by a well-dressed woman with a professional smile.

"Good afternoon. How may I help you?" the receptionist asked in polished English.

"My cousin, Mr. Wi Ha-joon, asked us to come here. I believe he's expecting us," Ha-neul replied smoothly, switching to English.

The receptionist typed something into her computer before looking up with the same polite expression. "Mr. Wi is currently in a meeting. Please have a seat, and he will be down shortly."

"Thank you," Ha-neul said, nodding. He turned to his mother and switched back to Korean. "형이 회의 중이라 조금 기다려야 할 것 같아요." (Hyung is in a meeting, so we'll have to wait for a bit.)

Mrs. Kang sniffed, unimpressed. "역시. 하준이는 항상 바쁜 척만 해. 네가 얼마나 중요한데 이렇게 무시하냐?" (Of course. Ha-joon always pretends to be busy. How dare he ignore someone as important as you?)

"어머니, 제발요. 그냥 앉으세요," Ha-neul urged, pulling out a chair for her. (Mother, please. Just sit down.)

Mrs. Kang sat reluctantly, her eyes scanning the room with thinly veiled disdain. "여긴 너무 차갑고 딱딱해. 사람이 살고 일하는 곳 같지가 않아," she muttered. (This place is so cold and stiff. It doesn't feel like a place where people live or work.)

Ha-neul leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a moment. He could already feel a headache forming, and they hadn't even seen Ha-joon yet.

***

Ha-joon stepped out of the elevator, his sharp black suit impeccably tailored, and his presence commanding. His gaze immediately landed on Mrs. Kang and Ha-neul are seated in the waiting area. Despite his busy schedule, he adjusted his demeanor, walking toward them with a polite smile.

"안녕하세요 이모." he greeted in Korean, bowing slightly. ( Hello, Auntie.)

Mrs. Kang gave him a curt nod, her expression unreadable as she subtly rolled her eyes. "하준아," she said flatly, clutching her handbag. (Ha-joon.)

"어서 오세요," Ha-joon said warmly, choosing to ignore her coldness. (Welcome.)

Ha-joon smiled as he bowed again. "여기서 당신을 만나서 정말 기쁘네요." (It's really nice to see you here.)

"제 생각에는...저도 같은 생각입니다." Mrs. Kang added, her tone clipped. (I think... same here.)

Ha-neul gave his cousin a helpless look as if to apologize for his mother's abrupt demeanor. Ha-joon only smiled politely and gestured toward the elevator, even though he was burning inside. "위층 제 사무실로 가시죠," he said. (Let's head up to my office.)

The elevator ride was quiet except for Mrs. Kang's occasional mutterings about how slow the lift was. When they reached the top floor, the doors slid open to reveal an elegant corridor lined with glass panels and framed artwork.

Ha-joon glanced briefly at the office opposite his own, a sleek cabin with "Scarlet Rogers" inscribed on the door in minimalist gold letters. He knew she was probably in the designing room, as she often spent her mornings fine-tuning their latest collections.

Ha-joon opened the door to his spacious cabin, decorated with contemporary furniture and a breathtaking view of the Paris skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows. "여기 앉으세요, 이모님," he said, pulling out a chair for Mrs. Kang. (Please, have a seat, Auntie.)

She sat down, scanning the room critically. "네 사무실은 너무 차가워 보여. 정감이 없어," she remarked, placing her handbag on the table. (Your office looks so cold. It lacks warmth.)

Ha-joon chuckled lightly, masking his discomfort. "어머니, 제 사무실은 일하는 곳이잖아요. 그렇게 편안할 필요는 없어요," Ha-neul interjected, trying to ease the tension. (Mother, this is a workplace. It doesn't need to be cozy.)

Ha-joon sat across from them and folded his hands on the desk. "어떻게 파리까지 오셨나요, 이모님?" he asked with genuine politeness. (What brings you to Paris, Auntie?)

Mrs. Kang raised an eyebrow. "내 아들 혼자 보내는 건 믿을 수 없었어. 너도 알다시피, 하늘은 너무 착해서 남들한테 이용당하기 쉬워," she said curtly. (I couldn't trust my son to travel alone. As you know, Ha-neul is too kind and easily taken advantage of by others.)

Ha-joon's smile stiffened, but he maintained his composure. "물론이죠, 이모님. 항상 하늘이 잘 챙기겠습니다," he replied diplomatically. (Of course, Auntie. I'll always make sure Ha-neul is taken care of.)

Switching to English, he pressed a button on his desk phone. "Thomas, could you bring refreshments to my office? Some snacks, cookies, chips, biscuits, maybe a pizza or burger, and make sure there's Korean tea for our guests. Thank you."

"Yes, sir. Right away," Thomas replied promptly.

Once the refreshments were on their way, Ha-joon leaned back in his chair and looked at Ha-neul. "So, let's discuss the pending collaboration," he began in English, steering the conversation to a professional tone.

"Of course," Ha-neul responded, sitting up straighter. "As you know, I'm planning to open a new luxury hotel in Paris, targeting a high-end clientele. I've already secured a prime location near the Seine. However, I'm looking for investors who understand the luxury market and can bring additional value beyond just capital."

Ha-joon nodded thoughtfully. "That's why you came to me. Our brand, Silken Crimson Threads, has always catered to the luxury market. We understand the clientele you're targeting, and we already have an established presence in Paris. A collaboration could be mutually beneficial."

"Exactly," Ha-neul said, his tone earnest. "I want the hotel to stand out, not just as a place to stay, but as an experience. Partnering with a luxury fashion brand like yours could help us achieve that. We could incorporate exclusive design elements into the hotel's interiors, perhaps even co-branding certain suites or facilities."

Ha-joon tapped his pen against the desk, considering. "I like the idea. But I'd need more details about your vision. How exactly do you see us contributing to the design? And what's the projected return on investment?"

Ha-neul reached into his bag and pulled out a folder. "Here's a detailed proposal. We're projecting a 20% ROI within the first two years, based on our market analysis. As for the design, I was thinking of collaborating with your team to create bespoke interiors for the presidential suites and the lobby. We could also host exclusive fashion events at the hotel to draw in high-profile guests."

Ha-joon skimmed through the document, nodding occasionally. "This looks promising. I have to see if she agrees to take on the design aspect, I believe we can move forward. However, I'd like to propose an additional element, perhaps a private boutique within the hotel, offering limited-edition pieces from our collections."

"That's a brilliant idea," Ha-neul agreed. "It would add an extra layer of exclusivity. Guests staying in the luxury suites could get early access to your collections, which would also help in building brand loyalty."

Before Ha-joon could respond, Thomas entered with a tray laden with snacks and a pot of steaming Korean tea. He placed everything on the coffee table and left quietly.

Mrs. Kang immediately reached for a cup of tea, her expression softening slightly. "차 맛은 괜찮네," she muttered. (The tea is decent.)

Ha-joon smiled politely before turning back to Ha-neul. "Let's finalize the terms in the next meeting. For now, I'll have my legal team review the proposal, and I'll speak with her about the design collaboration."

"That sounds perfect," Ha-neul said. "I appreciate your support, Ha-joon."

"Anything for family," Ha-joon replied, though his tone was more professional than sentimental. Even though, maybe somewhere he didn't mean it.

As the conversation wrapped up, Mrs. Kang looked between the two men. "둘 다 바쁜 척은 하지 마. 나중에 저녁은 같이 먹자," she declared. (Don't pretend to be busy. Let's have dinner together later.)

Both cousins exchanged a glance, knowing neither of them had much choice in the matter. As the conversation about their collaboration started to wrap up, Ha-joon leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the polished desk. His gaze shifted to Ha-neul and his mother, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.

"So, where are you both planning to stay while you're in Paris?" he asked casually.

Ha-neul and Mrs. Kang exchanged glances, momentarily caught off guard by the question. "We'll look for a hotel nearby," Ha-neul replied. "It's convenient since it's close to the site we're working on."

Ha-joon frowned, clearly disapproving. "A hotel? No, that won't do," he said firmly. "You're family. You can stay at my mansion. Besides, it's far too massive for just two people."

Mrs. Kang's eyebrows rose slightly at his tone, but she said nothing. Ha-neul hesitated, knowing his mother's tendency to judge everything and everyone, including accommodations. "It's okay, hyung. We don't want to impose."

Ha-joon waved a hand dismissively, cutting him off. "Nonsense. It's no trouble at all. But..." He trailed off, pulling out his phone and glancing at the screen. "I need to confirm something first."

He dialed quickly, placing the phone to his ear. As it rang, he leaned back in his chair. "Excuse me for a moment."

Ha-neul watched curiously as Ha-joon waited for the call to connect. "Red?" Ha-joon said, his tone softening slightly. "I need to ask you something."

On the other end of the line, Scarlet's voice came through clearly, warm and cheerful. "What is it?"

"My cousin and my aunt are in Paris. I suggested they stay at the mansion, but I wanted to make sure you're okay with it. Would you mind?" he asked.

There was a brief pause before Scarlet replied, "Of course, I don't mind. I'd love that! It's always nice to have guests. Besides, it'll liven up the place."

Ha-joon smiled. "I thought you'd say that. Thank you, Red."

Mrs. Kang, who had been sitting quietly until then, leaned over to Ha-neul and whispered in Korean, her voice filled with curiosity. "그 사람 여자친구니? 아니면 아내일까? 데이트하는 거 같지 않니?" (Is that his girlfriend? Or maybe his wife? Don't you think he's dating?)

Ha-neul sighed, shaking his head slightly. "어머니, 제발 그만하세요." (Mother, please stop it.)

Ha-joon ended the call and turned his attention back to them. "Very well. She agreed. You'll stay at the mansion." His tone was decisive, leaving no room for argument.

Mrs. Kang opened her mouth, undoubtedly to ask about "her," but Ha-neul quickly stepped in. "Thank you, hyung. We'll be glad to stay," he said, cutting off any further questions his mother might have had.

Ha-joon nodded, satisfied. "Good. I'll have the staff prepare your rooms." He glanced at the clock on the wall before addressing Ha-neul directly. "I'll also arrange for a car to take you to the mansion. It's about a 20-minute drive from here."

"That's very generous of you, hyung," Ha-neul replied, genuinely grateful despite the awkwardness his mother was causing.

As they stood to leave, Mrs. Kang couldn't resist one last whispered comment to Ha-neul. "그 여자에 대해 알아봐야겠어. 네 형이 결혼했다면 왜 아무도 말 안 했는지 궁금하네." (I need to find out about that woman. If your brother is married, why hasn't anyone said anything?)

Ha-neul sighed, shaking his head. "어머니, 제발요," he muttered under his breath, steering her toward the door. (Mom, please.)

Ha-joon walked them to the elevator, his usual composed demeanor intact. "I'll see you both at the mansion tonight," he said as the elevator doors slid open.

"Thank you again, hyung," Ha-neul said with a slight bow. Mrs. Kang nodded in acknowledgment but remained silent, her curiosity about "Red" clearly still burning.

As the elevator descended, Ha-neul glanced at his mother. "어머니, 그만하세요. 형이 알아차리면 곤란해요," he warned. (Mother, stop it. If hyung notices, it'll be awkward.)

Mrs. Kang simply sniffed, her expression unreadable. "난 아무 말도 안 했어," she said defensively. (I didn't say anything.)

Ha-neul shook his head, already bracing himself for whatever chaos might unfold at the mansion later.