The Textbook of a Lover - Chapter 28

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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28.
There stood two women: one with a full, lustrous silver bob cut, the other with long, glossy black hair cascading down her back.
Both of them stared intensely at the intertwined hands of Cha-gyeong and Do-ah.
Do-ah felt cold sweat trickling down her spine.
An elderly woman who had sublimated even the traces of time into elegance, and a middle-aged woman who bore Cha-gyeong’s cool, piercing gaze as if it had been stamped directly onto her face.
There was no way of not knowing who they were.
‘So these are the ones. But what do I do about the hand—’
To show such shameless behavior, holding hands at their very first meeting. Do-ah felt her vision swim with embarrassment.
She half-expected a sharp rebuke—”How dare you hold hands before me!”—to come raining down any moment, and her shoulders instinctively hunched.
“Ah, hello. I’m Do-ah Seong.”
Do-ah greeted them in a trembling voice and tried discreetly to pull her hand away. But Cha-gyeong only gripped it tighter, refusing to let go.
‘What is this guy doing right now?’
Cha-gyeong paid no mind to Do-ah’s withering glare. In fact, he deliberately swung their clasped hands up in front of the two women, as if to show them off.
At that blatant gesture, the gazes of the two women—bound by blood and marriage—locked onto their joined hands as if on cue.
‘I understand I have to pretend to be his girlfriend, but this is just too rude in front of adults!’
The moment Do-ah finally wrenched her hand free from Cha-gyeong’s grip through sheer force of will—
The elderly woman, radiating an air of sharp authority, stepped toward Do-ah.
Just as Do-ah was squeezing her eyes shut, bracing for impact, a warmth as gentle as Cha-gyeong’s hand settled softly over the back of her hand.
“Oh my, how lovely and sweet! I’m Cha-gyeong’s grandmother. It’s wonderful to meet you, Do-ah dear.”
“And I’m Cha-gyeong’s mother. We must have surprised you by asking to meet all of a sudden. He mentioned he was seeing someone, and I just had to lay eyes on you myself—forgive me for being so eager, if we’ve made you uncomfortable.”
Faced with such an unexpected response, Do-ah shook her head vigorously.
“Not at all! Not one bit. I’m not uncomfortable in the slightest!”
A smirk flickered across Cha-gyeong’s lips at her words, but Do-ah deliberately ignored it and pressed on.
“And you can, um…… speak more casually with me, if you’d like.”
“Really? Are you sure, Do-ah dear?”
“Of course.”
“You know, we’ve become so eager to get close to you. We even went to great lengths to find out which restaurants the young ladies like these days and made a reservation here. Does it suit your taste?”
“Oh, did you choose this place yourself? I love it so much. Thank you so much.”
Do-ah had braced herself for cold indifference or dismissal, but instead felt an unexpected warmth blossoming softly in her chest.
Glancing sideways, she caught Cha-gyeong looking at her with an expression that seemed to say, “See? I told you so.”
“How does she speak so prettily? After looking at nothing but that taciturn grandson of mine, seeing bright and adorable Do-ah just lights up my whole heart.”
“That’s true. Do-ah has such a clear presence about her. There’s something refined and classical about her, so unlike people nowadays. Don’t you think so, Cha-gyeong?”
Assailed by such excessive praise, Do-ah wanted to bury her face in the ground.
She could only imagine how much that sharp-tongued man would mock her about this. The back of her neck burned at the thought. And yet—
“Yes. She really is pure. I was drawn to that composed and luminous air about her myself.”
That’s a lie!
Instead of a sneer, Do-ah heard words of earnest agreement flowing from Cha-gyeong’s lips—something so embarrassing to hear that even knowing it was false, her heart lurched painfully.
“Her skin is like pearls. However does she keep it so fair and translucent?”
“It feels like looking at fine porcelain, Mother. Wouldn’t you say, Cha-gyeong?”
“Yes. She has that refined, porcelain quality, yet somehow an unexpectedly charming cuteness to her, our Do-ah does.”
As Do-ah stood bewildered, offering an awkward smile, Jeong-hye seized the moment to continue.
“How is it that even her smile is so endearing? Don’t you think so, Cha-gyeong?”
Cha-gyeong’s gaze turned slowly toward Do-ah’s face. After studying her for a long moment, he let out a soft chuckle before answering.
“Yes. Those dimples that appear in her cheeks when she smiles are quite adorable.”
Thump.
Do-ah’s heart hammered against her ribs.
Even though she knew it was a lie he was telling for appearances’ sake, she found herself thrilled by it like a fool.
‘Get a grip, Do-ah Seong. Why are you getting butterflies over words spoken without a shred of sincerity?’
She tried to comfort herself by telling herself that such direct praise was simply unfamiliar, having never received it before in her life.
As she tried to lower her gaze, a sharp pain suddenly shot through the top of her foot.
Do-ah involuntarily furrowed her brow slightly.
“Oh, Do-ah dear. Is something wrong? Your expression looks troubled.”
Startled by the concerned inquiry, Do-ah shook her head hastily.
“Oh, no. It’s just that…… I wore rather high-heeled shoes today and my feet seem to have gotten a bit chafed.”
Cha-gyeong beside her clicked his tongue and looked down at Do-ah’s feet.
“Why did you put yourself through the trouble of wearing something like that?”
When Cha-gyeong spoke with a note of reproach in his voice, Jeong-hye struck his back with her palm and scolded him.
“You! Your feet hurt and you can’t even show concern—later, take Do-ah and buy her some comfortable shoes.”
At that moment, Gyu-seon interjected sharply, her eyes widening.
“Absolutely not shoes! You know the saying—if you buy someone shoes, they’ll run away.”
“Oh, that’s right! Mother, I didn’t think of that. We can’t give shoes as a gift, Cha-gyeong.”
Running away?
She had no reason to, and even if they actually were dating, she wouldn’t be the sort of girlfriend worth keeping with such superstitions.
As Do-ah puzzled over this, Cha-gyeong casually let a remark drop.
“It’s already too late, Grandmother. I gave her a pair before.”
Do-ah’s mind flashed back to the day of the shoot at Hyunsin Department Store, when Cha-gyeong had put new loafers on her feet.
Though they looked expensive at first glance and she’d tried to return them, Cha-gyeong had refused outright.
“What? You already bought her shoes? Good grief, you reckless boy! What if she runs away?”
Gyu-seon let out a cry before her eyes met Do-ah’s, who had frozen at the sudden outburst. Realizing her misstep, she cleared her throat awkwardly and changed her expression.
“Do-ah dear, I’m sorry. I suppose it’s because I’m getting older, but I do believe in such superstitions.”
“Oh, yes! It’s fine, Grandmother. Don’t worry about it.”
“Then how about I buy Do-ah a gift instead? As a token of our first meeting?”
“I? No, please, that’s not necessary.”
“That’s a great idea! If we buy it instead of Cha-gyeong, that should be fine, right?”
“Exactly, Mother. I was hoping to get her something anyway.”
But I’m really not comfortable with this at all.
“I truly appreciate the thought, but please, I’ll just be grateful for your kindness.”
“How can she have so little desire for material things?”
“The more I see of her, the more I find to love.”
It’s not that I lack material desire—wouldn’t anyone feel awkward when a stranger you’ve just met suddenly insists on buying you shoes?
As Do-ah continued to politely refuse her discomfort, Gyu-seon pulled out a different card.
“Do-ah dear, if gifts make you uncomfortable, would you do me a favor instead?”
“Oh, yes. Please, go ahead.”
“My daughter-in-law and I are planning to have dinner and go shopping at the department store. Would you help us out? I have a feeling a young person’s eye would be sharper than ours.”
“Oh, what a wonderful idea, Mother! I’ve been worried about what the current trends are these days. Having Do-ah pick things out with us would be such a relief.”
Though in truth my taste is far worse than either of yours.
Still, helping the adults with their shopping felt far lighter on her heart than receiving a gift.
Do-ah eventually nodded without thinking it through.
“I, um……don’t actually have great taste, but if it would help at all, I’d be happy to assist.”
Do-ah had no idea that this was the opening salvo of Gyu-seon and Jeong-hye’s “luxury offensive campaign.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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