Old Madam Kim’s face immediately brightened when she saw the familiar figure approaching.
“Hey-ran!”
Old Madam Kang’s elegant face broke into a warm smile.
“Look at you, still as energetic as ever.”
“Of course I am.”
Old Madam Kim laughed.
“I have no intention of letting you become the only lively old woman in our group.”
The two elderly women laughed together.
They had known each other for many years.
Their friendship had begun long before their grandchildren were born, and although they didn’t see each other as often as they used to, their friendship had never faded.
Walking beside Old Madam Kang was a tall man dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit.
Kang Tae-jin.
His expression remained as cold and unreadable as ever.
The moment Old Madam Kim noticed him, her smile widened.
“And you brought your grandson.”
Old Madam Kang glanced at Tae-jin.
“Of course.”
Then she suddenly smiled mischievously.
“Tae-jin, come here.”
Tae-jin stopped.
“Grandma.”
“Come.”
“I’m already here.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Old Madam Kang patted the empty seat beside her.
“Sit down.”
Tae-jin’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“I have somewhere to be.”
“Somewhere to be?”
Old Madam Kang’s eyes narrowed.
“Where?”
“I—”
“Little Tae.”
Tae-jin immediately stopped talking.
Several people nearby turned their heads.
Tae-jin’s expression darkened.
“Grandma.”
Old Madam Kang smiled innocently.
“What?”
“Don’t call me that here.”
“Why not?”
“Because we’re in public.”
“What’s wrong with Little Tae?”
Tae-jin’s jaw tightened.
Old Madam Kang pointed toward the chair.
“Sit.”
Tae-jin stared at her.
She stared back.
A silent battle began.
Finally—
Tae-jin sighed.
He walked over and sat beside his grandmother.
Old Madam Kang smiled victoriously.
“Good boy.”
Tae-jin’s expression became even colder.
The people nearby tried their best not to stare.
But it was difficult.
The man who was known throughout Seoul as the cold and untouchable CEO of Golden Horizon Jewelry…
Had just been defeated by his grandmother.
And she had done it with one word.
Little Tae.
The whispers around the banquet hall immediately began.
“He’s even more handsome up close.”
“Look at his face.”
“That’s Kang Tae-jin, right?”
“The CEO of Golden Horizon Jewelry.”
“I heard he’s only twenty-three.”
“He’s incredibly young.”
“I wonder if he’s dating anyone.”
A few young women couldn’t help sneaking glances in his direction.
Tae-jin completely ignored them.
Meanwhile…
Kim Hana was far more interested in something else.
Food.
She and Seo-ma had found a tray of freshly prepared hotteok.
Hana took another bite.
Her eyes brightened slightly.
“This is good.”
Seo-ma nodded enthusiastically.
“I told you.”
Hana took another bite.
The warm, sweet filling melted in her mouth.
For the first time that evening, she looked genuinely happy.
Seo-ma watched her.
“You know…”
Hana looked at her.
“What?”
“I think I know what your real weakness is.”
Hana narrowed her eyes.
“What?”
“Food.”
Hana calmly took another bite.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Seo-ma laughed.
“You’ve eaten more than everyone here.”
“That’s because everyone here is wasting their time talking.”
Hana wiped her fingers and lips carefully with a tissue.
“At least I’m doing something productive.”
Seo-ma nearly choked on her food.
“Productive?”
“Yes.”
Hana nodded seriously.
“I’m eating.”
Seo-ma burst out laughing.
Before Hana could respond—
A man’s voice suddenly interrupted them.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
Hana slowly turned around.
A young man in his twenties stood beside them.
He wore an expensive suit and had the confident expression of someone who was used to getting attention.
He smiled at Hana.
“Why don’t you have a drink with me?”
Hana stared at him.
Her expression remained completely blank.
The young man seemed to take her silence as encouragement.
“Come on.”
He leaned slightly closer.
“Just one drink.”
Hana glanced at the glass in his hand.
Then she looked at him.
“No, thank you.”
The young man chuckled.
“Why not?”
Hana calmly picked up another hotteok.
“Because I already have something better.”
The man blinked.
“What?”
Hana took a bite.
“Food.”
Seo-ma immediately turned her face away.
Her shoulders began shaking.
The man’s smile disappeared.
“Besides…”
She glanced at his drink.
“You’re holding that glass like you’re afraid someone will steal it.”
A few people nearby overheard.
They immediately started laughing.
The young man’s face turned red.
Hana continued eating as if nothing had happened.
“Don’t worry.”
She waved him off.
“Your drink is safe.”
The young man stood there for another second.
Completely embarrassed.
Then he quickly walked away.
Seo-ma finally lost it.
She burst into laughter.
“Hana!”
“What?”
“You just destroyed him.”
“I only answered his question.”
“You didn’t even look at him!”
Hana shrugged.
“He wasn’t interesting.”
Seo-ma wiped the corner of her eye.
“You’re terrible.”
“No.”
Hana took another bite.
“I’m hungry.”
Seo-ma shook her head.
“You’re impossible.”
Suddenly—
A familiar voice came from behind them.
“Excuse me.”
Hana turned.
One of the Kang family’s attendants was standing nearby.
“Miss Kim.”
Hana raised an eyebrow.
“Yes?”
“Old Madam Kang would like to speak with you.”
Hana paused.
“Me?”
The attendant nodded.
“Yes, Miss.”
Hana looked at Seo-ma.
Seo-ma looked just as confused.
“Why does Old Madam Kang want to talk to me?”
“I don’t know.”
Hana glanced toward the elderly woman.
Old Madam Kang was already looking in her direction.
Hana sighed.
“Okay.”
She looked down at the hotteok in her hand.
Then back at Seo-ma.
“I was going to get another one.”
Seo-ma immediately grinned.
“Go.”
Hana stared at her.
“You’re coming with me.”
“Of course.”
The two girls began walking toward the older women.
Hana was just about to reach for another warm hotteok when—
Old Madam Kang suddenly smiled.
“Hannie!”
Hana froze.
Her hand stopped halfway toward the tray.
She slowly turned.
“…Hannie?”
Old Madam Kang smiled brightly.
“Yes.”
Hana looked confused.
“Do I know you?”
Old Madam Kim immediately laughed.
“Hana!”
“What?”
Hana looked at her grandmother.
“Why does she know my nickname?”
Old Madam Kang laughed.
“Because I knew you when you were a little girl.”
Hana’s eyes widened.
“You did?”
“Of course.”
Old Madam Kang looked at her carefully.
“You used to follow your grandmother everywhere.”
Hana blinked.
A vague memory suddenly surfaced.
An elegant woman.
A warm smile.
A gentle hand patting her head.
But it was blurry.
Very blurry.
Hana frowned slightly.
“I…”
Then Old Madam Kang said something that immediately made Hana’s face turn red.
“You were such a cute little girl, Hannie.”
Hana covered her face slightly.
“Grandma…”
Old Madam Kim laughed.
“Don’t be embarrassed.”
“How can I not be?”
Hana muttered.
“She remembers me as a child.”
Old Madam Kang smiled.
“You used to call me Auntie Eun-joo.”
Hana’s eyes widened.
“I did?”
“Yes.”
Old Madam Kang laughed.
“And you once told me you were going to marry a prince.”
Hana froze.
Seo-ma’s eyes immediately widened.
Then—
She burst out laughing.
Hana slowly turned toward her.
“Don’t.”
Seo-ma tried to control herself.
“I’m sorry.”
She wasn’t sorry at all.
Hana’s face was becoming red.
“I was a child.”
“Of course you were,” Old Madam Kang said affectionately.
Then she looked toward Tae-jin.
“Little Tae was around too.”
Tae-jin’s expression immediately changed.
“Grandma.”
Hana’s eyes shifted toward him.
Then back to Old Madam Kang.
Little Tae?
She glanced at the tall, intimidating man.
Then imagined him as a little boy.
Hana suddenly had to bite the inside of her cheek.
So this giant, scary man is Little Tae?
She nearly laughed.
Unfortunately—
Tae-jin noticed.
His cold gaze immediately landed on her.
Hana’s smile disappeared.
Oh.
Right.
Seo-ma’s warning.
He’s cranky.
Cold.
And not someone you want to annoy.
Hana immediately moved closer to her grandmother.
Tae-jin continued staring at her.
Hana looked away.
Definitely cranky.
Old Madam Kang didn’t notice the silent exchange between them.
Instead, she smiled warmly at Hana.
“My goodness.”
“Look how beautiful you’ve become.”
Old Madam Kim smiled proudly.
“Isn’t she?”
“She’s even more beautiful than I remember.”
Hana lowered her head slightly.
“Thank you.”
Old Madam Kang gently held her hand.
“You’re all grown up now.”
Hana smiled awkwardly.
“Yes.”
Then Old Madam Kang looked at Tae-jin.
“Don’t you think Hannie is beautiful?”
Tae-jin’s expression immediately became colder.
“Grandma.”
“What?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“Because you have eyes.”
Hana’s eyes widened slightly.
Seo-ma immediately looked away.
She was trying very hard not to laugh.
Tae-jin stared at his grandmother.
Old Madam Kang simply smiled.
Tae-jin finally glanced toward Hana.
Their eyes met.
Hana immediately felt a strange chill.
His gaze was sharp.
Cold.
Unreadable.
She remembered Seo-ma’s words.
He’s not someone you want to annoy.
Hana quickly looked away.
Tae-jin turned his attention back to his grandmother.
“She’s beautiful.”
Hana blinked.
That was unexpected.
Old Madam Kang smiled triumphantly.
“See?”
Tae-jin frowned.
“I only answered your question.”
“Of course.”
Old Madam Kang looked pleased.
Hana glanced at him.
So he can actually compliment people.
She looked back at her grandmother.
Interesting.
Old Madam Kim gently pulled Hana closer.
“My Hannie has always been beautiful.”
Old Madam Kang nodded.
“Yes.”
Then she smiled mischievously.
“And my Little Tae is handsome too.”
Tae-jin closed his eyes briefly.
“Grandma.”
Hana couldn’t hold it anymore.
A small laugh escaped her lips.
Tae-jin’s eyes immediately opened.
His gaze landed directly on her.
Hana froze.
Their eyes met again.
This time—
She could almost feel his irritation.
Hana immediately straightened.
“Sorry.”
Tae-jin’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re laughing.”
“No.”
“You were.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You were.”
Hana stared at him.
Then calmly said,
“Maybe you’re imagining things.”
Seo-ma’s eyes widened.
Oh no.
Tae-jin stared at Hana.
Hana stared back.
For a moment—
Neither moved.
Then Old Madam Kang suddenly laughed.
“Ah!”
She looked between them.
“Little Tae finally met someone who isn’t afraid of him.”
Tae-jin’s expression darkened.
“Grandma.”
Hana’s lips twitched.
Seo-ma leaned toward her.
“You’re enjoying this.”
Hana whispered back.
“Maybe a little.”
Unfortunately—
Tae-jin heard her.
His eyes immediately shifted toward her.
Hana froze.
Oops.
She quickly moved closer to her grandmother.
Old Madam Kim smiled warmly as she continued talking with Old Madam Kang.
Neither woman seemed to notice the quiet battle happening between their grandchildren.
But Seo-ma noticed.
And she was enjoying every second of it.
Meanwhile, Hana couldn’t help thinking—
So this is Kang Tae-jin.
Seo-ma’s brother’s childhood friend.
The cold and cranky man from the mall.
And apparently…
Little Tae.
Hana pressed her lips together.
She absolutely could not laugh.
Not again.
Not if she wanted to survive the evening.
Because the way Kang Tae-jin was looking at her…
She had a feeling that Little Tae wasn’t nearly as harmless as the name suggested.