딸 기일에 묘지찾은 백만장자 “고모가 할아버지랑 결혼하래”합격증을 들고 울고 있는 가난한 고아 소녀의 한마디에 삶이 뒤집히는데ㅣ노후사연ㅣ사연라디오ㅣ오디오북

딸 기일에 묘지찾은 백만장자 “고모가 할아버지랑 결혼하래”합격증을 들고 울고 있는 가난한 고아 소녀의 한마디에 삶이 뒤집히는데ㅣ노후사연ㅣ사연라디오ㅣ오디오북

“Mom, I got into Seoul National University. But I can’t go… I have to marry Grandpa.” The old man’s steps suddenly stopped as he heard the girl’s cries coming from the cemetery. The child was crying in front of the weed-covered grave at Sansang Station, where his daughter had found him, inspired by his daughter’s spirit. The old man couldn’t believe his eyes . The face was eerily similar to that of his daughter, Jisoo, who died 20 years ago . What on earth could be their story ? Before I begin, please subscribe, like, and leave a comment telling me where you’re watching from. I’d like to say hello. Here’s the story. It was a particularly chilly morning, as if the air was biting. A black luxury sedan was silently ascending the mountain road, shrouded in a thick, thick fog. The scenery outside the window was as unique as if he hadn’t yet woken from sleep . Chairman Kang Jin-tae, sitting in the backseat, gazed out the window with his lips tightly shut . He was already the head of the Jinseong Group, but today, his gaze wasn’t that of a ferocious businessman . It was simply the gaze of a sinful father burying his child in his heart . The car stopped at the entrance to the park cemetery halfway up the mountain. The driver hurriedly got out and opened the back door . Kang Hae-jang slowly stepped out, leaning on his cane. The cold mountain wind ruffled the hem of his coat, but he seemed oblivious to the cold . The Black Justice entourage that followed behind him began to swarm out, but Kang Hae-jang raised a hand to stop them. “Don’t come. I want to be alone today,” the chief secretary said hesitantly, looking embarrassed. “But Mr. Chairman, the mountain path is slippery. We need to help you.” Kang Hae-jang tapped his cane on the ground and said softly, “I’m on my way to see my daughter. It’s been twenty years since I’ve come from Yonggi. Who dares to intrude ?” The entourage, their voices as sharp as frost, had no choice but to bow their heads and retreat . Kang Hae-jang began to climb the stairs to the cemetery alone . With each step, the resentment buried deep within his heart weighed down like a boulder. It was 20 years ago today. The day his only daughter, Jisoo, whom he cherished even as the bud of his eye, passed away. The memory of his cruelly rejecting his daughter, who had cried and pleaded with him to marry a poor man, still haunted him like a nightmare . “Father, please allow me. I’ll die without him.” If he had listened to his daughter’s plea then, would she still be alive and by his side? A burning sensation welled up in Kang Hae-jang’s eyes . Breathing heavily, he finally arrived at his daughter’s grave. On the tombstone, the sad inscription read, “My beloved daughter, Jisoo, rests here .” With trembling hands, Kang Hae-jang took a chrysanthemum from his bosom. He placed it before the tombstone and, as if expelling a breath he had been holding, opened his mouth. ” Jisoo, the poor shrimp has come,” his voice cracked like metal. ” It took 20 years. I missed you so much that I shamelessly came like this.” He touched the cold tombstone and sobbed. He was no longer the chairman of a conglomerate commanding the Republic of Korea, but simply an old father who had lost his daughter, crumbling. How much time had passed? It was just as the fog was beginning to clear. A rustling sound was heard from somewhere. Kang Hae-jang turned his head in surprise. There was no way anyone could be here this early in the morning, especially in this deserted place. He instinctively hid behind a large pine tree near the cemetery. A moment later, a figure loomed faintly through the fog. It was a young girl, a lonely, shabby girl. Kang Hae-jang watched her, holding his breath . The girl was struggling up the stairs, her appearance utterly shabby. She was wearing a thin, unseasonable spring/fall uniform, and even that was worn, the cuffs frayed . Her shoes were sneakers with worn heels, covered in dirt so thick their original color was unrecognizable. The girl’s red ankles were clearly visible. It was a sight so heartbreaking that it touched anyone who saw it. Just as the child was wondering about the appearance of this place at this hour of the morning, the girl stopped at none other than the grave of Kang Hae-jang’s daughter, Ji-su. It was a nameless grave overgrown with weeds, a place Kang Hae-jang had never paid attention to . The boy plopped down in front of the grave and pulled a crumpled white envelope from his bag . The girl’s shoulders trembled. Then, breaking the silence, the girl’s tearful voice wafted through the air. “Dad, Mom, you’re here.” Kang Hae-jang’s ears perked up. The boy stroked the dirt on the grave with his hand and continued, “I kept my promise. I brought you news that will make Dad happy even in heaven .” With trembling hands, the boy pulled a piece of paper from the envelope . It was a university acceptance letter. At the top of the page, in bold letters, was written “Seoul National University Acceptance Letter.” Beneath it, the words “Senior College Acceptance” were clearly written. Kang Hae-jang couldn’t believe his eyes. How could such a poor and struggling child have been accepted to the best university in Korea as the top student? It was a remarkable feat, but the girl’s expression wasn’t that of someone who had conquered the world . Instead, it was filled with despair, as if the world had collapsed . The girl held up her acceptance letter to the tombstone and cried. “See? I got into Seoul National University ! I was top of the class, too. I even got a full scholarship.” But the girl’s voice was closer to a scream than joy. “But I can’t go.” Kang Hae-jang was breathing and listening intently. The boy lowered his head and hit the floor. “Gomu told me not to even dream of going to college. I told you to earn money right now.” The words coming out of the girl’s mouth were shocking in and of themselves. Gomu lost too much gambling. He wants me to get married to pay off that debt. Kang Hae-jang’s fist clenched involuntarily . “You know that old man Choi Si, the neighborhood swindler? ” He said he’d sell me out to that 49-year-old man. A man who was a god to a 19-year-old girl. This wasn’t marriage; it was blatant favoritism. The boy cried bitterly. “If I marry that man, he’ll reduce my debt by 50 million won.” “We’ll meet tomorrow.” “I’m so scared, Mom.” The girl’s scream echoed through the dawn air. Kang Hae-jang felt his heart sink. An aunt selling her young niece for money—what could be more deserving of such a lowly feat? It was then that the girl suddenly leaped to her feet. Her eyes filled with tears . The boy clutched the Seoul National University acceptance letter he was holding tightly with both hands. What good is this scrap of paper? I have no more dreams . The sharp sound of tearing paper echoed through the silent graveyard. Kang Hae-jang almost cried out, “No!” The boy was relentless. He tore the precious acceptance letter, a mixture of his blood, sweat, and tears, into pieces once, twice, three times, and flung them into the air. The white pieces of paper scattered like snowflakes, falling to the grave . It was like the girl’s dream being shattered. Mom, Dad, take me away. I’m so tired. The boy collapsed to the ground and howled like an animal. The sight of him beating the ground, clutching his chest, and wailing was the desperate state of a person at the edge of hell. Kang Hae-jang, hiding behind a pine tree, trembled like an aspen tree. It felt like something that happened to someone else. A pang of pain prickled his chest, as if a new flower bud had been stabbed . He carefully lifted his foot and poked his head toward the girl. At that moment, the girl, exhausted from crying, turned and looked in the direction where Kang Hae-jang was hiding. The morning sunlight broke through the fog, illuminating her face with an angry glare. His pale, tear-stained face, his large, lidless eyes, his high nose, and his sorrowful connections—all of this— Kang Hae- jang froze, as if struck by lightning. His lips trembled. Ji-soo. It was a face eerily similar to that of his own daughter, Ji-soo, who had left him twenty years earlier . The shock, like a heartbeat, made Kang Hae-jang drop his cane. The sound of it hitting the floor startled the girl, but Kang Hae-jang remained speechless. He simply stared blankly at the girl, lost in the illusion that his daughter had returned to life . The shredded pieces of his certificate rolled in the wind and stopped at Kang Hae-jang’s feet. It was the moment when the wheels of fate began to turn violently again. The boy vanished like the wind. By the time Kang Hae-jang regained his senses and picked up his cane again, the girl’s back had already disappeared beneath the mountain. Kang Hae-jang, the student, shouted at the top of his lungs, but the boy ran down the mountain without a second glance. He ran desperately, as if he were being chased by someone or trying to escape this hellish world . Kang Hae-jang followed a few steps before staggering to a halt. His aged body, unable to bear the weight of time, was barren. His heavy breathing scattered white in the dawn air. His heart pounded and pounded in his chest, but he didn’t even notice the pain. His gaze was fixed solely on the spot where the girl had been . Kang Hae-jang, entranced, approached the grave where the girl had sat. There, shreds of white paper lay scattered across the dark floor, where the girl’s hot tears had not yet dried. It was a sorrowful sight , like cherry blossom petals on a spring day, or like the girl’s shattered dreams . Kang Hae-jang bent his trembling knees and sank to the floor. He carefully picked up a piece of paper, now stained black. The paper felt cold against his fingertips . With trembling hands, he assembled the pieces one by one, placing them on his palm, as if putting together a puzzle . The shattered letters began to connect, one by one. A notice of my school’s cancer screening in Seoul, and beneath it, the number of letters, though clearly legible, sank. Oh my, this child had not just passed, but had achieved top honors. The saying “from rags to riches” was absurd. He had blossomed even in such a harsh environment . At that moment, a memory from 20 years ago flashed through Kang Hae-jang’s mind like a sharp knife. ” Dad, I ranked first in the national exam this time.” She ‘d become a great businesswoman like her father . It was her daughter, Jisoo. Jisoo, too, had always been a top student in her class. Her brilliant mind, her warm heart, and those clear eyes. The girl she’d just seen resembled the dead Jisoo so much. No, it wasn’t just a resemblance. It was as if Jisoo had leaped through time and been reincarnated . Kang Hae-jang clutched the piece of paper in his hand so tightly that it almost crumbled. The tip pricked his palm, but it was nothing compared to the heart-rending pain. The girl’s screams when her aunt married an old man rang in his ears. ” 49 years old, 50 million won, the best in the neighborhood,” each word paralyzed Kang Hae-jang’s reason and fueled his anger. A 19-year-old, valedictorian at Seoul National University, with a bright future ahead of her, was sold to a 50-year-old man for a mere 50 million won in gambling. This was unthinkable in 21st-century South Korea. It was worse than an animal’s. Kang Hae-jang’s eyes flashed like a beast’s. Eyes once filled with sorrow and regret now began to swell with a icy rage. He staggered to his feet and pulled his cell phone from his pocket . Speed ​​dialed 1. Before Shin-woo could even get to him, the caller answered . “Yes, are you at the Chairman’s grave?” It was Director Kim. He had been Kang Hae-jang’s shadow for 30 years, the chief secretary of Jinseong Group and his confidant. Kang Hae-jang gave a low, growling command. “Director Kim, turn the car around right now.” “Yes. There’s still time to run out, so start the engine and wait.” Kang Hae-jang took a moment to catch his breath and looked down at the piece of his diploma . “Release the person immediately.” What do you mean? There was a female student who just got off here. She was wearing a school uniform, about 160 cm tall, and had short hair. Kang Hae-jang’s voice was filled with urgency. “I know exactly where that girl goes, who she meets, and where her home is.” Director Kim sensed an unusual current in the chairman’s voice. The usually cool-headed chairman had never been this agitated since he lost his job 20 years ago. “Understood. I’ll send security right away.” “But, Chairman, who is that student?” Kang bit his lip instead of answering. It was a hope he was too afraid to even utter. ” You’ll know when you come and see.” “No, you might faint when you see.” “Yes. It’s Jisoo. She’s exactly like Jisoo from 20 years ago.” Overcome with math, Director Kim heard him gasp . Kang hung up and looked at the unnamed grave where the girl had sat for a final time. In front of the weed-covered mound lay the crumpled envelope the girl had left behind. Kang picked it up and tucked it deep into his arms , as if it were the most precious treasure in the world. “Honey, just wait a moment. This rain isn’t coming down, I will definitely find you.” Kang picked up his walking stick and began to descend the mountain. If his steps on the ascent had been heavy, like a thousand pounds, his descent was as unstoppable as a raging storm. The morning sun burned crimson behind him, as if foreshadowing the impending storm. Meanwhile, Su-ah, the girl at the bus stop at the foot of the mountain, sat curled up on a bench . Her tears had already dried, leaving a white salty sheen on her face . Passersby glanced at her, but Su-ah couldn’t even raise her head. Where should she go now? Gomu will be waiting for her home. Yesterday, he came home from a gambling night, reeked of alcohol, and pulled Su-hwa aside. ” You bitch, I’ll be out tomorrow, but what’s with your face? President Choi said he liked smooth skin.” Su-ah shuddered. The memory of that man, a nouveau riche who ran a loan shark and a rice shop in the market in Choi’s neighborhood, his shiny face and gold necklace, his sticky eyes glaring at Su-hwa, made her feel sick. What’s the point of studying at Seoul National University ? Just have my son and cook for him. Su-ah bit her lip hard. The bitter taste of blood spread through her mouth. She considered dying, but the injustice left her no choice. Her late father’s only legacy was her brilliant mind, the kind she’d hoped to live a successful and successful life, but that dream, that hope, was shattered by her aunt’s gambling money. “Student, get on the bus.” The bus driver’s clear voice startled Su-ah, and she looked up. An old village bus was parked right before her. Su-ah staggered to her feet and boarded. She searched her pockets, but there was nothing but dust, not even fare. The driver, watching Su-hwa panic, searched for his tongue. ” As if I’d just gotten on since morning and waited for someone else.” Without even apologizing, Su-ah ducked her head and fled to the very back seat . Leaning her head against the window, the rattling vibration resonated through her body. The familiar, yet hellish, landscape of the neighborhood was drawing near. Just then, a black luxury sedan belonging to Su-ah’s Sia pulled in. The car whizzed past the bus. The back window was slightly rolled down, and through the gap, someone’s sharp gaze pierced Su-ah’s bus . An old gentleman with white hair. It was the old man she’d encountered at the cemetery earlier . Su-ah held her breath and lowered her body. For some reason, she felt a strong sense that those eyes were searching for her . But whether this was a lifeline or another trap, Su-ah still couldn’t tell. The bus stopped at the bus stop, and she got out weakly. She trudged toward the hellish house where her aunt was waiting, completely unaware that a black sedan had silently pulled into the alley behind her . It was 11 a.m., and the sun was high in the sky, but the alley where Su-ah lived was still dark. The shacks, built close together, blocked the sunlight, and the ground was covered in black, filthy water. Inside a black sedan parked in an alleyway, Kang Hae-jang stared intently at the stack of documents Director Kim had handed him. The air conditioner was running, but cold sweat beaded on Kang Hae-jang’s forehead. The documents he held contained personal information about a girl named Kim Soo-ah, whom Director Kim had just hastily obtained . With each page, Kang Hae-jang’s fingertips trembled. The contents were more akin to a desperate survival story than a life story . Director Kim spoke heavily. “Chairman, the situation is far more dire than I expected.” Kang Hae-jang swallowed hard and asked. “Tell me. How did that child live?” Director Kim hesitated for a moment, his lips clenched, before beginning his report. “Name: Kim Soo-ah, I’m old.” Ten years ago, after his wife, Kim Sang-hoon, died of stomach cancer, she was entrusted to his aunt, Ginmalja. Kim Sang-hoon’s face darkened. It was the son-in-law who ran away with his daughter Jisoo 20 years ago . Where and how did he live all this time to bring her to this state? Director Kim responded with a somber expression to Kang Hae-jang’s lament. Since his wife’s death, Su and Yang have been living here at Banjia, their aunt’s home. But it was more like a life of slaughter than a life of living. ” Murder ,” he said. Outside of school hours, he’d do all the housework and side jobs his aunt had asked him to do. He’d deliver newspapers in the early mornings, man the grill at a barbecue restaurant on weekends, and work part-time jobs to make ends meet. Kang Hae-jang’s heart sank. The fact that he’d managed to pass the entrance exam for Seoul National University with top honors despite all that hardship was more heartbreaking than admirable . But Director Kim’s subsequent report was even more shocking. The problem is the rubber. He’s hooked on the local gambling house, his debts snowballing, and he’s currently being hunted by loan sharks. Director Bang-jae, clutching the document, asked, ” So you’re going to sell your child for fame?” Yes, that’s right. Longmalja, harassed by the thugs, made a deal with Choi Deok-bae, a local corpse dealer and owner of a rice shop. Choi Deok -bae was clearly the 49-year-old Mr. Choi Si, whom Su-ah had mentioned earlier, weeping at the cemetery . Director Kim , holding back, continued, grimacing as if he had been dragged into the situation. It was said that Hoe Deok-bae had agreed to take Su and Yang in exchange for paying off Longmalja’s 50 million won in gambling debt. A contract? Are you treating people like objects? Yes. It was a marriage registration, but in reality, it was a marriage between a stepmother, a caregiver, and collateral for a debt. A piercing blue spark ignited in Kang Hae-jang’s eyes. The documents he had in his hand were crumpled, almost taut. How dare these damned men use my bloodline, my granddaughter, as collateral for gambling, and my blood pressure shot up, my neck stiffening. I wanted to slam the car door shut and run out, to turn that rotten house upside down. But Director Kim urgently stopped Chairman Kang. Mr. Chairman, calm down. If they barge in right now, they’ll claim it’s a family matter. Legally, Su and Yang are still custodial, according to their aunt. Kang Hae-jang, breathing heavily, leaned against his pants. “So what do you want me to do? Are you telling me to just watch while those poor things are about to be put into a tiger’s jaws?” No. We have to make sure they get away. We have to get hold of crucial evidence of the money involved, the very scene where they’re forcibly dragging Su and Yang away. Only then can we pin them down and bring them back safely.” Kang Hae-jang bit his lip. The reality of not being able to hold his granddaughter, even though she was right in front of him, resonated deeply with the memory of sending his daughter away 20 years ago. Just then, a loud noise came from an alleyway. “Oh my, I’m really trying to get lucky, but everyone else is blocking the way.” The owner of the raspy voice was a woman in her fifties with permed hair. She was wearing flashy, yet outdated, floral-print body-hugging pants, a cigarette hanging crookedly from her mouth . It was Su-ah’s aunt, Gin Mal-ja. She staggered, still half-drunk, and kicked open the front door. Kim Soo-ah, the door still open, a stray woman slipped out, and the rusty iron gate banged, bang bang bang. Kang Hae-jang watched the scene through the car window, his fists clenched. That woman was the devil who had trapped my granddaughter in hell. A moment later, the front door opened with a creak, and Su-ah appeared. She was wearing the same black school uniform I’d seen at the cemetery earlier. Su-ah’s face was pale with fear . “Auntie, are you here?” Instead of answering, Kim Mal-ja roughly shoved Su-ah’s shoulder and went inside. “Look away, you’ve been looking so sad since morning. Have you made dinner?” “Yes, I have. I’ve contacted President Choi. I’m going to buy clothes for the meeting tomorrow.” Su-ah hung her head in silence . Long-haired man clicked his tongue and entered the room. A moment later, a loud clattering sound was heard. ” Come here.” Kang Hae-jang, who was far away, saw Su- ah startle and run into the room. The smell of mold and the strong smell of alcohol filled Banjia’s room. Long-haired man was sitting on the floor, turning Su-ah’s bag upside down. Textbooks and notebooks littered the floor. Aunt . “What are you doing? It’s my bag.” Su-ah tried to stop her, sobbing, but Ginmalja slapped her hand away. “Shut up. Do you think I don’t know? I know you’ve been coming home late every night and filling other pockets.” Ginmalja pulled an old English dictionary from deep inside his bag. He then found a white envelope hidden between the pages and smiled with satisfaction. Su-ah’s face darkened. “No. That’s my tuition. Please, Auntie.” Su-ah desperately grabbed Ginmalja’s arm. The money was the hard-earned money he’d saved over the past year, pouring blood from his nose while everyone else slept, turning off the stove and handing out newspapers. Three million won. It was a lifeline for Su-ah, enough to cover her Seoul National University entrance fee and first semester tuition . But Ginmalja snatched the envelope and scoffed. “Tuition is ridiculous. Who’s going to wear those pants when I go to college next year? Are you telling me to work myself to the bone again?” I’ll earn my way through this. I even got a scholarship. So please, just give me that money. Su-ah knelt on the floor, clutching at Ginmalja’s trouser legs, begged. Tears dripped down, soaking the floor. ” Auntie, I really want to study. I promised Mom and Dad.” Ginmalja shoved Su-ah away with her foot. ” What kind of promise is that? A dead ghost feeding you? I’ll use this money well, so you can go with President Choi tomorrow and live a luxurious life.” That’s filial piety, isn’t it? Ginmalja grabbed the envelope and danced out of the room. “Ah, I’ll make my money back today.” Left alone in the room, Su- ah stared blankly at the empty floor . The scattered books and torn notebooks felt like her own situation. “Ugh!” Su-ah covered her mouth and let out a silent scream . She thought she had no more tears to shed, but something hot welled up deep within her chest . Where hope vanished, only deep, dark despair remained. At that moment, silence filled the car, where Kang Hae-jang, who was listening in on the entire situation through a wiretap, was consumed by silence. Kang Hae-jang’s eyes were closed. But a large tear trickled down the corner of his closed eye. His fists resting on his lap were so white that blood flowed to them was impossible. Director Kim’s voice was low and cold, as if from hell. “Yes, Chairman, did you say that woman was a long-winded talker?” That’s right. Kang Hae-jang slowly opened his eyes. That gaze was no longer that of a compassionate old man. It was the gaze of a ruthless gambler who had commanded reopenings for decades, bringing countless competitors to their knees . Just tonight, reduce that woman’s dirty money to scraps of paper inside. Yes. And investigate every single office in the gambling den Jeonyeon frequents. Find every illegal activity. Kang Hae-jang glared out the window and spoke with a firm grin. ” How dare you make my granddaughter shed tears of blood.” “I’ll make your eyes bleed with pus.” Director Kim felt a chill run down his spine at the chairman’s blunt order . “Understood. I’ll mobilize the entire legal and government affairs teams of the Jinseong Group. No, the legal team alone won’t be enough.” Director Kang pulled out an old notebook from his pocket. He pointed to an old number. “Connect me to the police chief, put my name on it, and invite me to dinner tonight.” He warned, “You’re going to have a very spicy meal.” It was a fierce battle. It was the moment when Chairman Kang Jin-tae, a tycoon in South Korea’s business community, declared war on a mere neighborhood gambler and a body dealer. The car quietly exited the alley, but the lingering rage felt so heavy it threatened to engulf the entire alley. Su-ah, collapsed in the room, didn’t realize how immense the mountain stood behind her, and that it had begun to move. Only a heavy sense of emotion filled the car. Kang Hae-jang stared blankly out the window, the background check report on Su-ah handed to him by Director Kim resting on his lap . The first line of the report read, “Kim Sang-hoon,” the name of his son-in-law. Those three letters forced a memory from that day twenty years ago, sealed deep within his heart . It was the memory of the most regrettable and painful day of his life. It was a night in the fall of 20 years ago, when a drizzle was falling. Kang Hae-jang, then a novice, was working overtime in the company’s administrative office. It had been nearly a year since his daughter Ji-soo had left home to live with the person she loved . The phone on his desk rang loudly. It was an unfamiliar number, with no caller ID. “Hello.” For a moment, no words were heard from beyond the school. Only the pitter-patter of rain and the sound of someone gasping for breath and swallowing back tears . An ominous feeling ran down Kang Hae-jang’s spine . “Who is it? Who are you, and why aren’t you telling me?” Then, a wailing sound, as if the math had overpowered him, erupted. “Father, my father’s son-in-law, Kim Sang-hoon. He was the poor orphan son-in-law that Kang Hae-jang had so strongly opposed and hated. Kang Hae-jang screamed, ” Where the hell am I calling from? Is Ji-soo, my daughter Ji-soo, okay?” But the answer he received was like a dagger that cut through Kang Hae-jang’s heart. ” Father, Ji-soo, Ji-soo has gone to heaven. What the hell are you saying?” Kang Hae-jang couldn’t believe his ears. All his strength drained from him and he collapsed . Overcome by math, his son-in-law’s voice trailed off, ” I, I, am the one who sent Ji-soo to heaven. She suffered because she married a loser, and now she’s suffering from preeclampsia. She can’t afford to go to the hospital, and society howls like an animal. I should never have gone through the marriage you opposed, but Father, you were right. I am a sinner. Where are you now, you crazy bastard? Where is my daughter? She’s currently in the English room at Seodaemun Woo Hospital .” I’m shameless, but please send Jisoo to a good place on her final journey . I’m not qualified. Hello. Kim Sang-hoon, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. The phone clicked and hung up. That was the end. When the chief of the gang rushed to the hospital morgue with his secretaries, only his daughter’s body, now cold, lay there. There wasn’t even a trace of his son-in-law . He had disappeared without a trace, clutching the newborn clump of blood . Jisoo, open your eyes. Your father is here. You wicked woman. Kang Hae-jang held his daughter’s body and cried and cried all night. The guilt that his opposition, his stubbornness, had ultimately driven his precious daughter to death tore through his heart. He wanted to kill his son-in-law, but on the other hand, he was tormented by the thought that he was right. If only he had allowed the marriage then, if only he had sent her money, Jisoo wouldn’t have died so meaninglessly. Three days later, Jisoo’s funeral was held. The funeral hall was filled with the mourners sent by the bigwigs of the resumption, but the husband, who was supposed to be the chief mourner, was absent. The rain continued to pour down for three days straight. On the day of the funeral, Kang Hae-jang boarded the funeral car, carrying his daughter’s portrait in front of him. The world outside the car window was a veil of ashes. It was then. Kang Hae- jang’s eyes caught someone standing behind a bare plane tree in the corner of the funeral home parking lot . A man wearing a black hat pulled down low, drenched in rain, clutching something preciously in his arms. It was his son-in-law, Kim Sang-hoon. He had taken off his old jacket and wrapped the newborn baby in it, worried it wouldn’t get wet. He watched his wife’s procession depart from afar, covering his mouth and sobbing. Kang Hae-jang wanted to stop the car and run. He wanted to grab her by the throat and demand, ” Why did you run away? Save my daughter!” He wanted to scream, “Give me my grandson!” But Kang Hae-jang couldn’t hold back. A familiar object gleamed on the nape of the baby’s neck, peeking out from the swaddle in his son-in-law’s arms. It was a platinum cross pendant. It was the one-of-a-kind pendant that Kang Hae-jang had custom-made and given to Ji-soo as a child . Even as he ran away, the son- in-law had hung the necklace, his wife’s keepsake, around his neck, out of desperation. “Dad, when you get married and have a daughter, I’ll pass this necklace down to you.” Remembering Jisoo’s words, like a guardian angel of our family, Kang Hae-jang clutched his chest and let out a silent scream in the car. He now understood why his son-in-law had run away . He was afraid Kang Hae-jang would take the child away. It would have been better for her to grow up under her grandfather than under a man like him, but he couldn’t bear to lose even his child, so he hid and watched, trembling with fear. Kang Hae-jang swallowed back tears and turned his head. He couldn’t hold back the pitiful division. He felt it was the last atonement he could do as the father who killed his daughter. Twenty years had passed since he sent his son-in-law and granddaughter away. Kang Hae-jang had lived his entire life in regret and longing. When I heard the news that my son-in-law had died of cancer, when I heard rumors that my granddaughter had gone to an orphanage, I searched desperately for my own bloodline, but I could never find it. The air inside the car was heavy and heavy. Kang Hae-jang slowly opened his closed eyes. His eyes were as red and bloodshot as they had been twenty years ago. Sang-hoon, that bastard, a fool to the end. Kang Hae-jang bit his lip . He could picture his son-in-law, who would have fought so desperately to spare his wife and children from suffering, even in death . But the reality was utterly brutal. The daughter he had desperately wanted to protect was now being treated like a slave by his devilish aunt, and was on the verge of being sold. This was an insult to his son-in-law and a disgrace to his dead daughter, Ji-soo. Kang Hae-jang’s eyes gleamed fiercely once again. There was no more time to dwell on regret. Twenty years ago, he had failed to protect his daughter, but this time was different. He had to do whatever it took, risk his life, to rescue his granddaughter, Su-hwa, from this hell. Director Kim. Yes. Mr. Chairman, I must go and see for myself tonight . Where? Su-ah. Where that child works. I must see it with my own eyes. Kang Hae- jang’s fists trembled at the thought of what was happening to his granddaughter . And the moment those bastards touch even a hair on her head, I will crush them with all the might of the Jinseong Group. The car started again and glided into the darkness. The prelude to revenge was rising. The anger and resentment that had been pent up for twenty years was about to erupt into a mighty storm, ready to pounce on the villains. That evening, the Hanmeokja Alley on the outskirts of Seoul was abuzz with activity. The smell of grilling meat and the loud voices of the swindlers mixed together, making the place completely intoxicating. Kang Hae-jang, a shabby charcoal-grilled rib restaurant located at the very back of the alley, sat with his hat pulled low and his back turned to the corner table. He had been eating only the finest hotel cuisine for decades, but today, all he could do was finger the soju glass in front of him. His gaze was fixed on a single part-timer, busily running around the house. It was his granddaughter, Su-ah. “Auntie, please change the grill here.” “Yes, sir, I’ll be right there.” Su-ah answered briskly, expertly changing the heavy grill. She wore an apron stained with grease and rubber gloves, cleaning up leftover food. Sweat poured down her forehead like rain, and her hair was a mess. Kang Hae-jang’s heart ached. “My kid has had a hard life.” It was absurd that the top student accepted to Seoul National University was now holding a tally and scissors instead of a fan, trying to please the guests . Just then, a drunken middle-aged man grabbed Su-ah’s wrist. “Hey, you’re pretty, miss. Sit down here and pour yourself a drink.” Kang Hae-jang’s eyebrows twitched. His fist trembled beneath the table. But Su-ah forced a familiar smile and withdrew her hand. ” I’m sorry, sir.” “We don’t do that kind of thing. If you need anything, just let me know. This is expensive. Hey, boss, come out.” Despite the customer’s shouts, Su-ah repeatedly apologized and bowed. Her bowing figure looked so small and pitiful. Kang Hae-jang wanted to get up and yell at the man, but Director Kim stopped him with a wink. ” Mr. Chairman, you have to hold back. If you leave now, all your plans will go down the drain.” Kang Hae-jang swallowed back tears and turned his head. Just then, the restaurant door slammed open, sending a cold wind blasting through. ” Oh, Kim Su-ah, you were here?” A shrill, piercing voice echoed through the restaurant. It was a rubber band. Two burly men with rough faces followed in, chewing gum . They were the collection agents sent by Mr. Choi. The moment Su-ah saw them, she became lost in thought and almost dropped the tray she was holding . Aunt Ginmalja strode over and slapped Sua’s back with her palm. ” This bitch is due to meet me tomorrow, what the hell is she doing? Did you expect her to run away?” The customers in the restaurant looked on in surprise, but Ginmalja paid no attention. “Boss, I’m quitting this place starting today. Do you pay me daily wages ? ” The boss at the counter came out with a bewildered expression. “What? What if you quit suddenly during this busy time? And daily wages are noisy on payday. I ‘m taking my niece with me, what do you care?” Ginmalja shouted, causing a ruckus. The hired gangster next to her approached the boss with a fierce expression and threatened him. “Ma’am, give me the money before I ruin the store. Don’t you know my older brother is CEO Choi of Ssalgak?” The boss, terrified, took cash out of the safe and handed it to Ginmalja. Kim Malja counted the money and smiled bitterly. “You were going to do this a long time ago. Hey, Kim Sua, follow me. I don’t want to.” “It’s going to be ruined.” Su-ah resisted, stepping back. ” I’m not getting married. I won’t be sold to that man.” At Su-ah’s shout, the restaurant seemed to have been hit with cold water. It became quiet. Ginmalja’s face turned red. “Are you crazy? Who got sold? I’ll treat you well, so I can’t stand it . I roughly grabbed Su-ah’s arm.” “Ah, Auntie, it hurts. This is coming. Don’t sleep, come with me.” “I’m going to have a meeting with President Choi tomorrow.” “I have to go and get it.” Su-ah sank to the floor of the restaurant, struggling. She grabbed the table leg with her aunt’s gloved hand and struggled to keep from being dragged away . But with the arrival of the burly thugs, it was no use. One man grabbed Su-ah’s other arm and began dragging her away. “Let go, save me. Someone call the police.” Su-ah screamed desperately, but the ferocity of the thugs kept anyone from stepping forward . One of Su-ah’s shoes was ripped off and left lying on the restaurant floor. Kang Hae-jang watched, his breath almost catching in his throat. Right before his eyes, my granddaughter, my very bloodline, was being dragged away like an animal. Those thugs, those world-class thugs. Just as Kang Hae-jang was about to jump up, Director Kim grabbed his arm tightly . His hands were trembling. “Chairman, we can’t do this. Now is the time. We need to secure evidence that they’re doing something bordering on kidnapping . Get out of the way. What good is evidence when my granddaughter is being taken away ?” If we save them now, they’ll be taken away again tomorrow. To legally detain them, we have to expose them as sex traffickers disguised as marriage at the wedding tomorrow. Tears welled up in Director Kim’s eyes, too. Please, hold on. Hold on just this once for Soo and the young lady . Kang Hae-jang collapsed to his seat . He clutched his chest and let out an animalistic moan. Ugh! Ji-soo, Dad is a sinner. He’s sinning again. Su-ah’s screams as she was dragged out of the restaurant faded away. ” Please save Grandpa. Please, someone help me. ” Su-ah ‘s cries echoed in Kang Hae-jang’s ears. With trembling hands, Kang Hae-jang downed the soju glass on the table in one gulp. The liquid slid down his throat, but the rage burning within him remained unquenched. He looked out the window. Su-ah had already been loaded into a black van and disappeared like a piece of luggage. A worn-out sneaker , left clumsily on the floor, bore witness to the tragedy just moments before. Kang Hae- jang glared at Director Kim, his voice low and grim. Director Kim, “My Chairman’s Defense Team Meeting .” Kang Hae- jang’s eyes shone fiercely. ” I’ll only choose the most expensive and vicious bastards in Korea, no matter how much it costs.” He turned as he left the restaurant. Jeonyeon, and that bastard named Choi Si. I’ll make you regret seeing the sun rise tomorrow. I’ll make you rot away in prison for the rest of your life. In the chilling night, Kang Hae-jang’s anger was building. Tomorrow, everything would be over. Their evil deeds, and Soo-ah’s suffering. But the night was still long, and the toll on Soo-ah wasn’t over. What kind of suffering awaited her at the house she was taken to? As Kang Hae-jang’s car disappeared into the darkness, heavy raindrops began to fall from the sky, one by one, as if foreshadowing an imminent storm . A torrential downpour began, as if a hole had been ripped through the night sky . Lightning flashed, followed by a thunderous, thunderous roar that seemed to engulf the world. It was as if the heavens themselves were roaring in rage at this absurd situation. Through the rain, a girl was running barefoot. It was Su. Just before she was dragged out of the restaurant and loaded into a black van, she had desperately fled during the momentary letdown of the mercenaries. Where could fate run? The mercenaries’ shouts could be heard behind her, but Su-ah ran without a backward glance. She felt neither the pain tearing through her soles nor the chill of the cold rain soaking her body. If she were caught, it would be over. If she were caught, she would be sold. Only this fear fueled Su-ah’s legs. She hid in a maze of alleyways. A dark, dead-end alley without a single streetlight. Piles of trash and old briquettes were piled high. Su-ah crouched behind a pile of trash and hid. Gasp, gasp. Mom, please save me. Her heavy breathing was drowned out by the sound of the rain. Su-ah’s body trembled like an aspen leaf, gripped by fear. The thought that if she got caught like this, she would truly become that horrible Mr. Choi’s wife was worse than death. Then, someone’s footsteps were heard in the alleyway. The heavy, thumping sound of shoes approaching, splashing rainwater. Su-ah held her breath and covered her mouth. They must have found out. I’m dead now. She squeezed her eyes shut, awaiting the violence to come. But for some reason, instead of shouting or swearing, a soft shadow fell over her . The cold rain stopped, and only a warm, peaceful feeling filled her. Su-ah cautiously opened her eyes. Before her stood an old man holding a black umbrella . His white hair was thick, and his eyes were filled with sadness through deep wrinkles . It was the old man she had seen earlier in the day at the cemetery, and the one who had stared at her from the bus . It was Kang Hae-jang. He had chased Su-ah from the restaurant and gotten out of his car when he saw her fleeing down the alley. Kang Hae-jang silently tilted his umbrella toward Su-hwa , oblivious to the rain soaking through his own shoulders. Su-ah stared blankly up at the old man . “Oh, Grandpa.” Kang Hae-jang asked with a trembling voice. “It’s really cold. Are you okay?” His voice was so warm and caring that Su-ah nearly burst into tears. It was the first time she’d heard such worried words in the ten years since her parents passed away . Su-ah hurriedly lowered her head and wiped away her tears . “Thank you, I know. But I have to see.” He was chasing her, so Su-ah stumbled as she tried to get up. The wind ruffled the collar of her school uniform shirt, wet and clinging thinly to her skin . And through the crack, an old necklace that Su-ah had treasured as dearly as her life itself popped out. The moment the streetlights reflected off the raindrops and sparkled, Kang Hae-jang’s eyes were fixed on the necklace. Time seemed to stand still. It was a cross-shaped pendant made of platinum. Time had worn its luster away, but the small sapphire set in the center of the cross still radiated a blue light. Kang Hae-jang’s heart sank. He reached out a trembling hand, doubting his own eyes. “Oh, that necklace!” Su-ah panicked and tried to cover it with her hand. “Oh, this? It’s from Dad. It’s a keepsake from Mom. Just let me see it for a moment.” Without waiting for Su-ah’s permission, Kang Hae-jang turned the pendant over. There, tiny but clear writing was engraved. JS Myolihoff Jisoo, My Only Hope. It was the very phrase Kang Hae-jang had personally commissioned an Italian craftsman to engrave on his daughter Jisoo’s 20th birthday 20 years ago . “My daughter Jisoo’s one-of-a-kind necklace.” It was now hanging around the neck of this delicate girl before his eyes . Hot tears streamed down Kang Hae-jang’s eyes. It was certain. There was no need for further doubt or investigation. This child was the one my daughter Ji-soo had sacrificed her life for. She was my bloodline, my granddaughter . Sob. Kang Hae-jang covered his mouth and sobbed. Even with his granddaughter right in front of him, he still called himself a grandfather. The unspeakable reality of their bloodline, reunited after 20 years, being in such a miserable state tore at her heart. Su-ah blinked, at a loss for words . “Grandpa, why are you here? Where are you editing?” Su-ah’s tiny hand grabbed Kang Hae-jang’s soaked sleeve. The warmth nearly made him collapse . He wanted to hug the child and scream, “I’m my grandfather.” He wanted to take her out of this hellish place, cover her mouth with silk, feed her delicious food, and tell her he’d raise her like a princess. But then… “There was a curse.” A sharp voice rang out from the entrance to the alley. It was a rubber band. Behind her, a swarm of thugs, huffing and puffing, swarmed the thugs. Su-ah hid behind Kang Hae-jang, lost in thought. “Please save Grandpa. If they catch me, I’ll die.” Su-ah clutched the hem of Kang Hae-jang’s coat tightly. His gaze morphed into a ferocious beast. The hand holding the cane tightened. These guys, now. But Director Kim, who had been watching from the darkness, rushed over and slammed a stone into Kang Hae-jang’s ear. “Chairman, we can’t. If we take them now, they could be considered a prostitute. Legally, they have custody. Tomorrow. We have to publicly show them off at the wedding tomorrow.” Kang Hae-jang bit his lip, shedding tears of blood. He had to endure this hardship to achieve perfect revenge tomorrow. If he provoked them carelessly, they could take Su-hwa and hide in the countryside, or terminate their contract. What are you doing holding onto someone else’s grandfather when work isn’t coming? The long-spoken man rushed in and grabbed Su-ah. “Oh, please save Grandpa.” Su-ah screamed desperately and was dragged away. Her body was thrown into a puddle of rainwater on the floor. The mud splashed and ruined her face and uniform. ” I’m sorry, sir. My nephew is a bit retarded.” Kim Mal-ja bowed to Kang Hae-jang, forced a smile, and then dragged Su-ah away like a piece of luggage. “Let’s go. Let’s go home and see you, you slut.” Su-ah ‘s cries faded away, mixed with the sound of the rain. Kang Hae-jang stood there, pinned to the spot. His umbrella had fallen to the ground, rolling around, and the seventy-year-old man’s body was shielded from the torrential downpour. But colder than the cold rain was the rage within his heart. “Ugh!” Kang Hae-jang roared at the sky like a beast. Lightning flashed, illuminating his distorted face. It wasn’t sadness. It was a murderous intent that could devour even a musical instrument. Director Kim approached to hold the umbrella over him, but Kang Hae-jang shook it off. ” How can I use an umbrella when my own granddaughter is being dragged away in the rain?” Kang Hae-jang wiped his face, drenched in rain and tears, and swore softly. “Jisoo, watch carefully.” His voice was as hot as the fires of hell. “Tomorrow. When the sun rises tomorrow, those bastards will regret being alive.” Kang Hae-jang reached out into the air as if seeing a vision of the fallen pendant, then clenched his fist. ” I will repay you with blood for making my granddaughter cry.” The rain was getting heavier. But even that rain couldn’t extinguish the flames of revenge burning within Kang Hae-jang’s heart . The night before the storm deepened . Su-ah, soaked to a pulp, was thrown back into Banjia’s room. “Am I going to die?” The rubber long-haired man shoved Su-hwa into a corner of the room and slammed the door shut. The musty smell of mold stung his nose, and the cold chill penetrated his wet body. Su-ah shivered and hugged her knees. Escape had failed. All that remained was a pitch-black darkness, invisible even to the eye. A moment later, a voice called out from outside. “Oh, Mr. Choi, are you here?” A raspy voice called out, followed by a deep, masculine voice. “Hey, Mrs. Kim, the weather is gloomy. You brought our sexy girl here.” It was Choi Deok-bae. Su-ah’s heart sank. Just hearing that voice sent goosebumps down her spine, as if bugs were crawling all over her body. The door swung open. Choi Deok-bae, dressed in a shiny suit, walked in slowly behind Ginmalja, who was carrying a table of drinks. He glanced around the room with his thick fingers, playing with his gold necklace. Then, upon spotting Su-hwa huddled in the corner, he grinned bitterly, revealing his yellow teeth. “Hey, our Saeseok is here. You said he got a little wet, but he’s not the one who got wet.” Su-ah couldn’t even raise her head, so she just stared at the floor. Choi Deok-bae sat down and studied her. His gaze was as unpleasant and greedy as someone grading meat at a butcher’s . “Mrs. Kim, isn’t the baby a little too skinny ? How can she possibly have a proper baby?” Ginmalja fussed and poured her a drink. “Oh my, even though the boss looks skinny, he’s no ordinary man. And he’s young, so he gains weight quickly. Just feed him well and he’ll get better in no time.” Soo-ah clenched her fists . The way they talked, criticizing people like livestock, was unbearable. Choi Deok-bae emptied his glass and took a sip . “So, you’re going to let him off because he’s handsome and smart. You’re the top student at Seoul National University, right? That’s right. Your brain is amazing. You don’t have to worry about it anymore. I’m taking him in exchange for a 50 million won deduction, so that’s a bit much.” Choi Deok-bae leaned toward Su-hwa . The smell of alcohol and thick skincare products wafted through the air . “Hey, did you say ‘Soo-ah?’ Lift your head .” Soo-ah didn’t move. “This is expensive. I’m the one who’s going to be my husband. I want to see your face, is that difficult?” The long-spoken man poked Soo-ah in the ribs from the side. ” Can’t you hear what the boss is saying? Why don’t you say hello?” Soo-ah slowly raised her head. She glared at Choi Deok-bae with tearful eyes. Choi Deok-bae seemed startled by the sharp, axe-like gaze in her eyes. “Oh, your eyes are so fierce. You don’t have any gentleness.” Su-ah opened her trembling lips and spoke clearly. “I’m not getting married.” Silence fell over the room. What? I’m going to college. I’m going to study? I won’t be sold to you, old man ? Clap!” Su-ah’s head snapped back with a sharp, piercing groan. The long-spoken man pressed his cheek against hers. “Is this bitch crazy? Where did that come from? Who’s going to pay my debt when I go to college?” Su-ah clutched her cheek and shed tears. But Choi Deok-bae chuckled and waved his hand. “Just do it, Mrs. Kim.” It’s only when Am-tak is a bit fierce that he can keep the household in order. He pulled a thick envelope from his bosom and tossed it on the floor. “Here, is this Mrs. Kim’s loan agreement?” The moment I get married tomorrow and stamp the marriage certificate, I’ll tear the paper. I understand. The long-spoken man’s eyes sparkled with greed. Oh my, thank you, sir. I’ll dress you up nicely and take you to the wedding hall tomorrow. Choi Deok-bae got up from his seat and approached Su-ah. He tried to stroke her hair with his rough hands . When Su-ah flinched and avoided him, he clicked his tongue and said. ” You’ll be sharing a blanket tomorrow night anyway,” he said as he left the room. I laid down the wedding dress. If you mess around at the wedding hall tomorrow, the amount will increase from 50 million won to 100 million won. And my aunt will be sold to an island, so be careful. I’ll stand guard all night. Long-spoken man bowed and saw her off. Left alone in the room again, Su-ah leaned against the wall and sobbed. Ugh! Dad, Grandma, no matter how hard she struggled, she was like a butterfly caught in a spider’s web, unable to escape . Her short 19-year life was being utterly crushed by the monster called money. At the same time, in a black sedan in an alleyway, Kang Hae-jang was listening in on the entire conversation, wearing a headset. His face was twisted beyond anger, into pain. He treated people like objects, buying my granddaughter for 50 million won . The leather seat in Kang Hae-jang’s hand crumpled as if it were about to rip. ” Just go easy on me.” Those words, combined with the harsh words he had hurled 20 years ago when his daughter Ji-soo was pregnant, made them even more horrifying. Those cursed words he’d uttered when he’d ruined his life and left home to raise Anna were now returning to his granddaughter, stabbing her like a dagger. “Ugh!” Kang Hae-jang clutched his chest and let out a pained groan. His heart felt like it was going to burst. Director Kim hurriedly patted Chairman Kang on the back . “Chairman, you need to calm down. You don’t know blood. Director Kim, kill me. I’m a sinner.” Kang Hae-jang felt inferior. My child is being humiliated like this, and there’s nothing I can do. Through the window, Choi Deok- bae hummed as he left the house. Kang Hae-jang’s gaze changed in an instant. He grabbed the handle to open the car door. “That bastard, I’m going to run you over with my car right now .” Director Kim , terrified by Kang Hae-jang’s outrageous actions, clung to him. “No. Chairman, please hold on. If you touch him now, you’ll never be able to completely get Nae-il-su and the young lady out. That bastard tried to touch my granddaughter. With his dirty hands. Tomorrow.” Tomorrow, I can legally bury that bastard. Just endure tonight, just tonight . Kang Hae-jang trembled, clutching the car door handle. The handle creaked as if it were about to break. Choi Deok-bae stumbled out of the alley, climbed onto his bench, and disappeared. Kang Hae-jang’s eyes, glaring at his back, were bloodshot. Yes, just one day. Just one day. Kang Hae-jang bit his lip until it bled and sat back down. Tomorrow, when the sun rises, he won’t be able to walk on his own two feet. I swear it. Kang Hae-jang put his headset back on. Through the earphones, he could hear Su-ah’s suppressed sobs . “Dad, I’m scared. Take me with you.” Listening to that desperate monologue, the seventy-year-old man cried all night in the car. It was a hellish night. For Su-ah, and for Kang Hae-jang. But Dong-i’s special skills are the darkest. At the end of this long, long darkness, a brilliant light and merciless judgment awaited. The storm was already upon us. At 2 a.m., the world was plunged into a murky darkness and the sound of rain . Rainwater seeped through the cracks in Banjia’s room’s window, soaking the cold floor . Su-ah sat huddled in a corner, her knees drawn up to her chest . Outside the door, the harsh, rasping sounds of her aunt’s long hair could be heard intermittently. It felt like the breath of a monster guarding the gates of hell, and Su-ah couldn’t even breathe deeply. Tomorrow would truly be the end. She would be forcibly dragged to the wedding hall at dawn. The fear of becoming the wife of that horrific Choi Deok-bae, living a life of slavery before her death, gripped her whole being. Su-ah bit her lip. She couldn’t bear it any longer. She had to escape, find a way to survive. She carefully got up and crawled to the corner of the room where the floorboards were torn and rattling. That was a secret place known only to Su-ah. It was where she had hidden the small tin box her father had given her just before he died ten years ago . With trembling hands, Su-ah lifted the floorboard and pulled out a dusty can . Opening the lid, she found an old family photo and a crumpled, folded letter . It was the last letter her father had left behind, like a playful memory. The tear-stained paper she’d taken out and read whenever she felt terrified and overwhelmed, but today, the letter felt particularly heavy. Under the dim streetlight, Su-ah opened the letter. ” My dear daughter, Su-ah. ” Tears fell from her eyes as she saw her father’s familiar handwriting . “I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you, Dad. I’m so sorry I’m such a bad dad.” Wiping her tears away with her sleeve, Su-ah read on for the next week. But on the last page, where she’d usually been too sad to read all the way through, was written the shocking truth her father had left behind . “Su-ah, if something unbearable happens in my life, then come see him.” Su-ah’s eyes widened. “My maternal grandfather is Kang Jin-tae, Chairman of Jinseong Group.” Su-ah covered her mouth. She almost screamed. The Jinseong Group’s Kang Jin-tae, the chaebol head she’d only seen on the news, was her maternal grandfather. The letter continued. ” Your father was so sinful that he hid you from me. But the chairman loves you so much. If I show him this letter and your mother’s necklace, he will definitely protect you.” Su-ah’s hands trembled like aspen leaves. She clutched the pendant around her neck tightly. And a memory flashed through her mind like lightning . The old gentleman she’d met at the cemetery that day, holding an umbrella for her in the rain while checking the necklace. The tears he’d shed, the desperate way he’d called her ” baby.” That grandfather, Su-ah’s heart began to pound wildly. He was her maternal grandfather. He’d already recognized her and come to find her. Grandfather. Su-ah felt her heart swell with emotion, almost bursting. She had a family, too . A large, strong family that could protect her . With hope, her will to live burned like a flame. I have to go out. I have to go out and see my grandfather. Su-ah tucked the letter deep into her bosom . Then she carefully pushed open the door. As expected, the door was locked tightly from the outside with a chain. Su-ah turned her gaze to the window. The small window in Banjia’s room had new bars, but one corner was worn and rusty. Su-ah grabbed a thick English dictionary from the desk. Then, pulling the blanket over her, she slammed it against the window with all her might. She prayed desperately that the pitter-patter of rain would drown out her noise. The glass shattered and raindrops poured down. Su-ah reached through the crack in the glass and shook the rusted bars. Squeak. The iron bars, built over the years, began to warp little by little. Her palm tore open, bleeding, but she felt no pain. Barely enough, a gap was created. Su-ah stepped onto the desk with her bare feet and squeezed herself through the broken glass. The sharp glass scraped her limbs, but Su-ah gritted her teeth and climbed up. Just a little more, her head and shoulders came out. The cold air hit her face. It was freedom. Now, if she could just climb over this wall, she could find her grandfather. But fate wasn’t so easy. Where could fate run? Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed her ankle. Su-ah screamed and fell to the ground. A goblin-like figure towered over her, trapped in the mud. It was a rubber glove . The sound of glass breaking woke him, and he ran out with a club in his hand. ” I knew this would happen to me, you rascal. How dare you run away?” Kim Mal-ja roughly grabbed Su-ah’s arm and twisted it. “It hurts. Auntie, I was wrong. Shut up. I’m determined to lose 50 million won of my money.” Kim Mal-ja dragged Su-ah back into the house, dragging her like a piece of luggage. Su-ah’s bare feet scraped against the rough cement floor, sending shivers down her spine. “No. Let me go, Grandpa.” Su-ah desperately resisted, screaming. What, Grandpa, is this fate? Where’s my grandpa? Long-sleeved girl hurled Su-hwa into the corner of the room. She then banged a nail against the broken window. Every time the hammer struck, Su-ah’s heart pounded. ” I thought I wouldn’t have a single drop of water until I got to the wedding hall tomorrow.” She held back, trying to tie her hands and feet so she wouldn’t have any other thoughts . Long-sleeved girl put down the apron and chained the door shut again. A pitch-black darkness fell again in the room. Su-ah huddled in a corner, clutching her torn clothes . Her heart ached more for the hope she’d lost before her eyes than for her wounded body . “Grandpa, I’m here. Please.” Su-ah took the crumpled letter from her bosom and hugged it to her chest. The smell of the worn paper from her father’s letter was her only comfort. It was still raining outside. But Su-ah didn’t know. Kang Hae-jang was listening to all this from inside the car in the alley, tears of blood streaming down his face. The chief of the gang was about to kick open the car door, but Director Kim stopped him . He was banging on the steering wheel and wailing. “Just hold on a little longer.” “When the sun rose, it was the longest, most agonizing dawn, right before the storm. The day of the decisive battle had dawned. But for Su-ah, that morning wasn’t a hopeful dawn, but rather the morning of an animal being dragged to the slaughterhouse. Aunt Ginmalja was up at dawn. ” Do you know what day it is today? It’s the day I change my fate.” Ginmalja threw an old wedding dress , unidentifiable whereabouts, at Su-ah, who was sitting with swollen eyes and bruises . It was a shoddy dress, the color had faded to yellow at the feet and stained here and there . What is this? A wooden sign? It’s a free dress lent by the wedding hall. President Choi said it would be a waste of money and let’s have a hasty ceremony . “Don’t sleep, wear it.” Su-ah bit her lip in humiliation. The reality that her once-in-a-lifetime wedding had become a mere exchange for heartbreak was devastating. Su-ah moved like a robot, putting on her dress . Long-haired women forcibly applied cheap makeup to the ill-fitting, baggy dress . “Oh my, what a figure ! President Choi would be utterly dazzled if he saw her.” Su-ah’s face in the mirror looked not like a bride, but like a waxen bond lost in a soul. Her eyes were lifeless, and her lips trembled. But Su-ah clutched tightly to her father’s letter, hidden in her pocket. “Grandpa, I trust you and wait for you. You’ll definitely come, right?” That belief was the sole support that held Su-hwa together. The 11:00 a.m. wedding was held in the basement of an old commercial building on the outskirts of the city. It was called “Happiness Wedding Hall” in name only, but in reality, it was a bleak, almost deserted place, teeming with flies. The characteristic musty smell of basements permeated the air. There were not a single guest. The empty auditorium was filled with nothing but torn chairs, and there was no congratulatory song or musical accompaniment. Only the groom, Choi Deok-bae, and his aunt, Ginmalja, who was seated as the wedding presiding officer, were grinning. Choi Deok-bae wore an unfashionable bow tie, and his face was flushed, as if he’d already had a drink. ” Mrs. Kim, your nephew is really a flower today, isn’t he?” Choi Deok-bae glared at Su-ah up and down with a sinister gaze. “Now, if you raise 100,000 won, you can pay off the 50 million won debt.” And since he’s on my family register, don’t say anything else. ” Oh, of course. I’m living a comfortable life with a son-in-law like CEO Choi.” Ginmalja repeatedly bowed and gave in to the flattery . Su- ah clenched her fists as she listened to the disgusting conversation. Her fingernails dug into her flesh, drawing blood, but she didn’t even feel the pain. Just a little longer, and the wedding ceremony finally began. The local real estate agent, Choi Deok-bae’s drinking buddy, was also roughly in charge of the wedding ceremony. Yes. As the groom, Choi Deok-bae, and the bride, Kim Su-ah, continued their eulogy, their black hair wavy, tears streamed down Su-ah’s face. Choi Deok-bae forcibly grabbed her hand and whispered, “Don’t cry. I’ll make you laugh tonight, if you’re unlucky enough.” Those horrifying words sent a wave of nausea through Su-ah. Just then, the atmosphere on the road near the wedding hall building shifted ominously. Dozens of black luxury sedans lined up on the normally quiet, out-of-town road . It was a grand and imposing sight, like a presidential procession. The Rolls-Royce at the head of the line suddenly swerved into the entrance. The smell of burning tires wafted through the air. From the cars behind, burly, muscular attendants poured out. Dressed in black suits, they quickly blocked the entrance and formed a line. Passersby stopped in their tracks, dumbfounded, and watched. What’s going on? Are they filming a movie? Look at that car. Isn’t that the Chairman’s car? The back door of the front car opened, and Director Kim got out and politely opened it. Chairman Kang Jin-tae slowly emerged, leaning on a cane . Today, Kang Hae-jang was dressed differently than usual . He wore the most formal and dangerous black double-breasted suit, and a red hanchisin, a gift from his daughter twenty years ago, was pinned to his chest. His expression was not just solemn, but tinged with a chilling murderous intent . “Chairman, we’re ready.” At Director Kim’s report, Kang Hae-jang adjusted his cane and looked up at the entrance to the wedding hall. A worn, shabby sign caught his eye. He quirked an eyebrow, “How dare they put my granddaughter in such a cesspool? ” As they entered , dozens of bodyguards followed Kang Hae-jang as he stepped out to end their banquet . The footsteps were so loud and majestic that they made the old building tremble. Back in the basement wedding hall, the officiant was finally asking the final question. Will the groom, Choi Deok-bae, take the bride, Kim Su-wa, as his wife and love and cherish her for the rest of his life? Yes. Of course. Choi Deok-bae answered loudly, giggling. The bride, Kim Su-ah, kept her mouth shut. Aren’t you going to answer? Hurry up. The long-spoken man pinched Su-ah’s arm from the side. Su-ah shook her head and took a step back. No, no. This b*tch is real. Just as Choi Deok-bae was about to raise his hand, unable to contain his anger, a crack broke out in the closed wedding hall. The old tree split open, as if about to break. A terrifying roar accompanied by a dazzling light poured into the ceremony hall. Choi Deok-bae, Ginmalja, and even Juleja were startled and frozen. “What? Who is it?” shouted Choi Deok -bae. Dozens of men in black suits surged through the dusty entrance, filling both sides of the venue. The awe-inspiring atmosphere instantly froze. The clatter of canes echoed through the space. As if a sea had parted, the guards cleared a path, and Kang Hae-jang slowly walked in. Behind him, the river seemed to be reflected. Kang Hae-jang stopped in the middle of the ceremony hall and glared fiercely at Choi Deok-bae and Ginmalja on the stage . He then bellowed, “I oppose this marriage !” A muffled voice filled the empty ceremony hall. The moment Su-ah heard that voice, her legs gave out and she nearly collapsed. Even in the tears-blurred seeds, he was so vividly visible. The grandfather who held my umbrella last night when I was in debt. My maternal grandfather, the one written in my father’s letter. Ah, grandfather. At the call barely escaped Su-ah’s lips, Kang Hae-jang’s gaze landed on her. At that moment, Kang Hae-jang’s gaze wavered. The image of his granddaughter, trembling in fear in that tattered dress , overlapped with the image of the daughter he had failed to protect 20 years ago, setting Kang Hae-jang’s heart ablaze. Who are you? What kind of old man are you? Choi Deok-bae, unable to read the mood, retorted, “What are you doing here, acting up at someone else’s wedding ?” Hear me. Why aren’t you dragging that old man out? Choi Deok-bae called his men, but they were already subdued by Kang Hae-jang’s bodyguards and cornered . Kang Hae-jang looked at Choi Deok-bae like a bug and sneered coldly. Acting upsetting? “Yes, today I’ll show you what real tyranny is.” At Kang Hae-jang’s beckoning, Director Kim stepped forward and opened his briefcase. “From now on, the transplant center will be closed.” Kang Hae-jang’s gaze then fixed on Ginmalja and Choi Deok-bae. “You two, get on your knees right now.” “Yes, I understand.” With a loud chant, the bodyguards rushed up onto the stage. The wedding hall became a scene of chaos. This wasn’t a wedding. It was the beginning of a brutal judgment against the wicked . Su-ah stared blankly at the scene . The wedding hall, which had been hell , was instantly transformed into a place of salvation. My grandfather, my grandfather, had truly come to save me. The wedding hall instantly became a scene of chaos. A few thugs hired by Choi Deok-bae tried to attack, but they were no match for the Jinseong Group’s Choi Jeong . They were helpless, lying on the floor, groaning, unable to raise a single hand . Choi Deok-bae and Ginmal-ja, dragged onto the stage, groaned, their knees buckling under the heavy hands of the police officers. Choi Deok-bae, still unable to grasp the situation, roared with bloodshot eyes . “Don’t you know who I am ? I’m not even on good terms with the chief of police in this area.” He spat on the floor and lashed out at Kang Hae-jang. ” Old man. What are you? Do you think you can get away with upsetting someone else’s feast?” Kang Hae-jang looked down at them with a cold gaze, as if they weren’t worth bothering with. Ginmal-ja, standing next to him, instinctively cringed at his icy gaze . She quickly read the situation and spoke in a cowardly voice. “Excuse me, sir. There seems to be some misunderstanding. We’re just trying to arrange my nephew’s wedding. It’s a family matter. Why are you interfering?” Kang Hae-jang gasped . Selling a child for money is a family affair. When Kang Hae-jang slammed his cane on the floor, the entire wedding hall seemed to resonate. ” Is next year a person?” He’s not only ripped out my nephew’s spine, but now he’s going to sell him off to an old man’s playground . The roar was so loud that Ginmalja hissed and flinched. Choi Deok-bae laughed bitterly and sneered. ” Oh, old man, I guess I’m an apostle of justice or something. Money is everything. Your name is Mok-il-lae, you’re causing trouble.” Then, Director Kim, who had been standing next to Kang Hae-jang, stepped forward and broke the silence. His voice, soft yet firm , resonated throughout the hall. This was Jinseong Group Chairman Kang Jin-tae. For a moment, a cold, water-soaked silence fell over the hall. Choi Deok-bae’s mouth fell open, and Ginmalja’s eyes widened as if they were going to pop out. The legendary name, once seen only on the news, resonated in this shabby wedding hall. “Ji Jinseong Group,” the long-spoken man asked, shivering. “Then, surely not.” Kang Hae-jang slowly walked toward Su-ah. Su-ah stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the unbelievable sight. The name written in her father’s letter had become reality, appearing before her eyes. Kang Hae-jang stopped in front of Su-ah, who was shivering. He took off his outer garment and wrapped it around Su-ah’s bare shoulders. Warmth enveloped Su-ah’s frozen body. “Baby.” Kang Hae-jang’s voice trembled, damp with moisture. He carefully touched the old pendant around Su-ah’s neck. “Harubi came too late. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” The tears she had been holding back poured out of Su-ah’s eyes . It wasn’t a dream. Grandfather, my family, had truly come to save me . Grandfather, dirt.” Grandfather Su-ah flung himself into Kang Hae-jang’s arms. She sobbed, as if pouring out the sorrow she’d been suppressing. It was scary. Truly, truly scary. Kang Hae-jang patted his gaunt granddaughter’s back and shed hot tears. “It’s okay now. No one can touch you anymore . I’ll protect you with my life.” Choi Deok-bae and Ginmal-ja, who had been watching, turned pale. They realized the situation had completely changed . That child was the granddaughter of the Jinseong Group chairman. They had belatedly realized they hadn’t harassed an orphan girl, but a sleeping lion’s nose hair . Choi Deok-bae screamed. ” This is a scam. Jeon-yeon is the granddaughter of a wealthy family.” This was unbelievable. Ginmal-ja fell flat on her face and began to beg. ” Chairman. Oh, Chairman. I didn’t know. I committed a mortal sin .” Kang Hae-jang, without letting go of Su-hwa, simply turned his head and glared at the villains. There wasn’t even a trace of pretense in those eyes . Did you think I’d forgive you if you didn’t know? Kang Hae-jang’s voice rose like hellfire. Whose bloodline is Gam? Whose granddaughter? How dare you touch her? Even Choi Deok-bae flinched and stepped back at her timid shouting . Kang Hae-jang pointed to Su-ah’s torn dress and bruised arm. Even if I blew out each and every bone in this child’s body, it wouldn’t be enough. Chairman, please just let me live . I’ll do whatever I say. I’ll even pay off all your debts . Choi Deok-bae begged grovelly, but Kang Hae-jang groaned. Fifty million won. Kang Hae-jang gestured to Director Kim. Director Kim took a thick check from his briefcase and slapped it on Choi Deok-bae’s face. He threw it. 100 million won. The check fluttered and landed on Choi Deok-bae’s lap. Choi Deok-bae’s eyes widened as he picked up the check. “Hey, don’t be happy about taking that money from me.” That’s not compensation for the alimony my bastard used to pay for my granddaughter . A cold smile spread across Kang Hae-jang’s lips. “It’s money I used to pay for my bastard’s funeral.” Yes. Yes. Chief Kim, tell the police to come in. As soon as Kang Hae-jang finished speaking, a loud siren blared from outside the wedding hall. Soon, uniformed police officers stormed in. And they weren’t just regular police officers, they were detectives from the regional investigation unit of the local police station. Choi Deok-bae, you long-time friends, you are under emergency arrest on charges of special confinement, child abuse, attempted human trafficking, and illegal loan sharking. The detectives pulled out handcuffs and ran up to the stage. The cold handcuffs clanked around Choi Deok-bae and Long-time friends. Or, “Do you know who I am?” “Chief, come out .” Choi Deok-bae groaned, but the detectives mercilessly subdued him, pinning him to the ground . Kim Mal-ja wailed and crawled toward Kang Hae-jang. “Su-ah, please spare your aunt. I raised you for ten years, after all. You can’t do this to a rubber that’s mixed with your blood.” Su-ah trembled and turned her head away at the sight of Gin Mal-ja clinging to her, bringing up her bloodline to the end. Kang Hae-jang covered Su-ah’s ears and spoke coldly. “Take them away.” The screams of the villains being dragged away by the police echoed throughout the ceremony hall. ” Just wait and see. I think I’ll stay still.” The curses he had offered to Choi Deok-bae’s evil were nothing more than the barking of dogs in the face of Kang Hae-jang’s danger. The situation was resolved, and silence descended upon the ceremony hall. Kang Hae-jang gave Su-hwa another tight hug, still trembling. “I’m sorry. Grandfather came too late and made you suffer like this.” Kang Hae-jang’s tears soaked Su-ah’s hair. Su-ah felt so warm in her grandfather’s embrace, and the relief that she was now truly safe, that her legs gave out and she collapsed. “Grandpa, am I really okay now? Then, yes, I will be your heaven from now on.” Kang Hae-jang quickly picked up Su-hwa, who had fallen. Although he was old, his arms, knowing his granddaughter, held a stronger strength than when he had lost his own daughter twenty years earlier . “Let’s go to our house,” Kang Hae-jang said, holding his granddaughter in his arms and walking proudly out of the wedding hall. He was followed by Director Kim and the police officers, escorting him. It was a moment when a brilliant light poured into Su-ah’s once gloomy and dark life . The interrogation room of the Gangnam Police Station’s criminal investigation division was a scene of absolute chaos. Choi Deok-bae and Gin Mal-ja, who had been brought in handcuffed, were yelling and swearing at each other. ” I told you I would hand over the child first, you little brat. My only crime was lending money .” Choi Deok-bae slammed his desk, his voice aggrieved. He couldn’t even hold back. What the hell are they talking about? The president had promised to make him feel sorry if he brought him to the youth group first, and the two men’s ugly exposé was enough to defile the ears of those listening. Just then, the interrogation room door opened, and five men in sharp suits walked in. As soon as they entered, a cold silence fell over the already noisy interrogation room, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them. They were the ace defense team from Taesan, Korea’s top law firm . The first lawyer, Seon Dae-pyo, placed his briefcase on the table and spoke coldly. “I’m Attorney Park, head of the legal team at Jinseong Group. I’ve transferred Chairman Kang Jin-tae’s mandate .” Choi Deok-bae’s face darkened at the mention of Jinseong Group. Only then did he realize who he had messed with. The detective in charge asked with an embarrassed expression, “Oh, lawyer, are you here?” These people were constantly insisting on their innocence, so Attorney Park snickered and pulled out a stack of documents. “Getting away with it? There’s so much evidence.” He threw bank statement statements and recordings in front of Ginmalja . Suspect Kim Malja’s nephew, Kim Soo, was accused of embezzlement, habitual gambling, child abuse and neglect, and, crucially, the lawyer’s gaze gleamed fiercely. Charges included attempted kidnapping and enticement of a minor and human trafficking . These are felonies punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Human trafficking? I’m just saying that selling someone for money to get your niece married is called human trafficking in the law. The phrase “50 million won deduction upon marriage” written on the loan agreement is proof of this. Ginmalja gaped, speechless . Now it was Choi Deokbae’s turn. Suspect Choi Deokbae, illegal loan sharking, violation of the Debt Collection Act, intimidation, instigation of special confinement… The lawyer struggled to find his tongue. There were so many titles it was hard to read them all. Plus, there would be a tax investigation. Adding to the charges of the eight-year-olds he’d been swindling behind the scenes, he’d likely struggle to get out of prison before he died . Deokbae slumped to the ground. The sour smell of urine on his pants permeated the air. Attorney Byeo, I was wrong. Please reach a settlement. I’ll give you all my assets. Choi Deokbae grabbed the lawyer’s trouser leg and clung to him. Ginmalja, unwilling to be outdone, crawled on the floor. ” I was crazy. Please let me see our Suah. I’ll beg Gomu to admit his mistake.” Attorney Park looked down at them like dirty bugs and pulled away. “There’s no settlement.” The chairman said it was a phone call. The lawyer repeated Kang Haejang’s words without a single word missing. ” For every tear my granddaughter sheds, I’ll get a year in prison. Rot there for the rest of your life and atone for your sins.” “Ugh. No. I don’t want to go to jail.” Ginmalja wailed and rolled on the floor, but it was too late. The detectives approached and dragged the two of them off to the detention center. “Or I’m being treated unfairly. This is all because of that neighbor .” It’s all your fault, you swindler. The sight of the two of them being dragged away, clutching each other’s hair and fighting like animals, was utterly hideous. It was a miserable and pathetic finale befitting the evil they had committed . Meanwhile, Su-ah sat on the police station bench, leaning against Kang Hae-jang’s shoulder. She held a cup of warm cocoa, but her fingertips still trembled. Kang Hae-jang silently wrapped his arm around her granddaughter’s shoulder. “It’s over now. Those bastards will never show up in front of me again.” Su-ah raised her head and looked at her grandfather. “Grandpa, is it really over? Then, with the law in charge and this Harevi watching, who would dare touch you?” Kang Hae-jang took out a handkerchief and wiped Su-ah’s stained face. “You don’t have to go back to that hellish house anymore. You don’t have to pack. I’ll buy you everything you need.” Tears welled up in Su-ah’s eyes again. But this time, they weren’t tears of sadness, but of relief and gratitude. ” Let’s go.” Su-ah woke up, supported by Kang Hae-jang, as we headed home. The door of the waiting black limousine opened. Before getting into the car, Su-ah took one last look back. The nightmarish world that had imprisoned and tormented her seemed to recede behind the police station’s bars. There it was. I won’t look back. Su-ah pressed her lips together tightly and got into the car. As the car gently started, warm air from the heater blew and soft classical music flowed out. Su-ah’s tension eased, and her eyes closed. She had never been able to sleep soundly for the past ten years . Those were days when she had to snooze, never knowing when the rubber would scream or when the debt collectors would show up. But now was different. Beside her, a dependable grandfather held her hand tightly, and outside, reliable security guards stood guard. ” Go to sleep if you’re sleepy. I’ll wake you when we get home. ” Hearing her grandfather’s soft, lullaby-like voice, Su-ah fell into a deep, sweet sleep. It was the first truly peaceful rest she’d ever experienced in her life . A crimson sunset was setting outside the car window. The long, nightmare-like night was over, and now, true morning was coming. The bitter cold had already receded, and the warm spring air was rising like a haze over the pigsty. The March sunlight brightly illuminated the garden of the Jinseong Group’s main house. Beneath that sunlight, Su-ah, staring at herself in the mirror in her second-floor room, looked completely different from a few days ago. Instead of her worn, yellowed clothes, she was wearing a neat and sophisticated ivory two-piece suit. With her shiny, bobbed hair and clear, makeup-free face, she looked like a freshman college student. The door creaked open, and Kang Hae-jang entered. He, too, was wearing a bright, silver-colored suit and pink tie, instead of his usual black suit. “Is my puppy ready?” Kang Hae-jang couldn’t take his eyes off his dazzling granddaughter . His heart swelled as he recalled the day his daughter Ji-soo entered college 20 years ago . “What do you think, Grandpa? Don’t I look strange?” Su-ah smiled shyly and spun around. Kang Hae-jang chuckled and patted Su-ah on the shoulder. “Strange? You’re the prettiest in the world. You’re even prettier than my mom.” ” They say my mom was even more beautiful.” “No.” In my eyes, our Su-ah is the best in the universe. Their laughter filled the spacious mansion. Memories of the hellish past melted away like spring snow, and now only happiness filled their place . The Seoul National University campus was teeming with freshmen and their families attending the entrance ceremony. Kang Hae-jang walked through the campus, holding Su-ah’s hand tightly, as cherry blossoms in full bloom fell like a shower of petals. Passersby glanced at him. It was strange yet beautiful to see Kang Hae-jang, a leading figure in the Korean book industry , carrying his granddaughter’s bag without an attendant . “Grandpa, it’s heavy. Let me carry it.” “No. How long have I waited for this day? It’s a bag I’ve waited for 20 years.” Kang Hae-jang held onto the stubborn bag. Entering the entrance ceremony hall, Su-ah stood out even in the throng of people. As she stood on stage to deliver her freshman address, her voice was clear and resonant, like a nightingale . Kim Soo-ah, a freshman, and Kang Hae-jang sat in the front row of the auditorium, watching the scene, repeatedly wiping their eyes with a handkerchief. A parent sitting next to them asked, seemingly bewildered, “Oh, you must be my granddaughter. She’s so smart and pretty.” Kang Hae-jang’s nose stung, and his throat tightened. ” Yes, she’s my granddaughter. She’s my precious, rediscovered treasure.” This wasn’t just a simple entrance ceremony. It was a celebration, marking the reconnection of a severed bloodline and the resumption of a family time that had stalled. After the ceremony, the two visited a modest Korean restaurant near the school. Kang Hae- jang had personally chosen the restaurant, refusing the chief secretary’s suggestion to go to a fancy hotel . The menu was a bubbling kimchi stew. ” Eat up!” He said. “This was my mother’s favorite dish.” Kang Hae-jang piled a thick slice of pork onto Su-ah’s bowl. Su-ah stopped eating and started to cry. At her aunt’s house, she’d usually just make do with rice or ramen, but being seated at such a warm table felt like a dream. “Grandpa, eat too. I’m really okay now.” Soo-ah scooped up a large spoonful and filled the room. The spicy, hot broth slid down her esophagus, melting even the lump in her chest. “It’s delicious. It’s really delicious, Grandpa.” “Yes. From now on, I’ll let you eat only delicious things and see only good things for the rest of your life . I’ll make sure you never go hungry again.” Kang Hae-jang felt full just watching his granddaughter enjoy the meal . He felt both resentful and grateful that he had returned after 20 years to enjoy this simple happiness . After eating, the two got into the car and headed somewhere. They arrived at the park cemetery where they had first met in Ireu: the resting place of his daughter Ji-soo and son-in-law . But today, the scenery was quite different. Warm sunlight replaced the thick fog, and fresh green buds sprouted from the bare branches. Kang Hae-jang and Soo-ah stood side by side in front of the grave. Soo-ah took something she had treasured from her bosom and placed it before the tombstone. It was her acceptance letter from Seoul National University. The paper, which had been torn and scattered last time, was now neatly framed and intact . Kang Hae-jang placed a bouquet of red roses, his daughter’s favorite, next to it instead of white chrysanthemums. “Jisoo, our son-in-law is here.” Kang Hae-jang’s voice remained unshaken. “Are you watching? Our Su-ah has grown so well and is now a college student.” A gentle breeze tickled the petals around the tombstone. It was as if his daughter and son-in-law were responding, “I’m watching you. Thank you so much, Father.” Su-ah, caressing the tombstone, whispered, “Dad, Mom, I won’t cry anymore. Grandpa is here.” Su-ah took out the pendant around her neck . The pendant, sparkling in the sunlight, seemed like a wink from her parents in heaven. “I’ll keep my promise. I’ll become a great person, filial to Grandpa, and someone who gives back to the world.” Kang Hae-jang smiled contently and put his arm around Su-ah’s shoulder. He looked up at the sky and made a firm vow in his heart. Jisoo, it’s time for you too. I will protect this child as long as I live, even after I die. Let’s go, Su-ah, let’s go home. My grandfather. The two of them came down the mountain path, holding each other’s hands tightly. The grandfather’s big hand and the granddaughter’s small hand were intertwined, and the warm spring sunlight poured down like a blessing. The long winter night had ended, and true spring had begun in their lives. If today’s story touched your heart, please subscribe and like so that I can continue to bring you stories that will bring joy to your daily life. And please leave a warm word for the main character of this story in the comments. A single word from the teacher can become an unforgettable memory for someone.

“엄마. 나 서울대 붙었어. 근데 나 못 가. 고모가 늙은남자한테 시집가래.”
묘지에서 들려오는 소녀의 절규에, 노인의 발걸음이 뚝 멈췄습니다.
딸의 기일을 맞아 찾은 산소옆, 잡초무성한 무덤앞에서 울고 있는 저아이.
노인은 자신의 눈을 의심했습니다.
20년 전, 죽은 딸 지수의 얼굴과 소름 끼치도록 똑같았으니까요.
도대체 이들에게는 무슨 사연이 있는 걸까요?
ㅡ.ㅡ.ㅡ.ㅡ.ㅡ.ㅡ.ㅡ.ㅡ.ㅡ.ㅡ.ㅡ.

📺 “백만사연”은 평범한 일상 속 숨겨진 이야기들을 새롭게 조명하는 이야기 채널입니다.
감동, 놀라움, 그리고 잔잔한 여운이 깃든 인생의 순간들을
새로운 시선으로 해석하고, 깊은 공감과 함께 전달해드립니다.

📝 소개되는 모든 사연은 실제 이야기를 바탕으로 하되,
더 깊은 이해와 몰입을 위해 일부 내용은 각색 되었으며,
인물과 장소는 모두 가명을 사용하여 개인정보를 보호하고 있습니다.

💌 당신만의 이야기를 들려주세요.
직접 겪은 특별한 경험, 잊지 못할 순간들, 또는 주변의 인상 깊은 사연이 있다면 언제든지 알려주세요.

저희 “백만사연” 영상을 무단으로 복사, 배포하거나 재편집 할 경우
유튜브 저작권 신고와 법적 조치 함을 말씀드립니다.