Chapter 62: The Mother’s Promise
The atmosphere in the VIP room shifted from a cold war to a feast. A high-end, built-in charcoal grill was activated in the center of the table, its gentle hiss and the rising scent of searing meat filling the room. The restaurant manager and a few servers arrived in a flurry of activity, bringing out platters of the finest A5-grade Korean beef and thick, marbled slices of black pig pork belly.
As the manager approached, her face lit up with a genuine, warm smile. She wasn’t just an employee; she was one of Jun’s mother’s most trusted assistants, a woman who had known Jun since he was a boy.
“Jun-ah!” she exclaimed, her voice full of affection. “It’s been too long. I was wondering when you’d finally decide to bring your lovely ladies to see us.”
“Aunty,” Jun replied, his voice softening. He didn’t use a formal title, and the way he addressed her showed a deep, familial closeness. “I hope you’re not working too hard.”
The manager laughed, a hearty sound that seemed to break the last of the tension between the girls. She began to skillfully grill the meat, the fat popping and sizzling on the hot grate. “Me? I’m just the messenger! I’ve already told your mother about the beautiful women you’ve chosen. She’s practically bursting with curiosity. She told me to make sure you’re all well-fed, as she knows how much you enjoy a good meal.”
Sora and Mei looked at each other, a flicker of nervousness crossing their faces. The prospect of meeting Jun’s mother—a legendary figure in the culinary and business world—was intimidating. They were used to being judged by their status, their assets, or their family name, and the thought of facing the matriarch of Jun’s family felt like an upcoming exam they hadn’t studied for.
She then turned to Mei and Sora, giving them both a wink and a playful nudge.
“And you two, don’t let your titles fool you into thinking you have to be stiff around her,” she said, her voice brimming with a warm, maternal energy. “Sora-chan, I know the weight of the corporate world is heavy, and Mei-chan, I know the Triads demand a certain… rigidity. But our family thrives on passion and good food. We don’t care for the masks you have to wear for the world. In our house, the only title that matters is ‘family.’”
She paused, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she looked at the two women. “Once you’ve had a few of her home-cooked dishes, you’ll realize that the only thing more terrifying than a Triad boss or a corporate board is a mother who thinks her children aren’t eating enough! She’ll feed you until you can’t move, and she won’t take ‘I’m full’ for an answer.”
The warmth in her voice was infectious. For Sora and Mei, the tension began to ebb away, replaced by a feeling of being welcomed into a circle that existed outside of the Academy’s rigid social hierarchies. They didn’t feel like “candidates” or “guides” in that moment; they felt like guests.
Sora let out a small, relieved sigh, her shoulders relaxing. “Thank you, Aunty. That… actually makes me feel much better.”
Mei nodded softly, a genuine, small smile touching her lips. “I think… I could get used to that kind of terror,” she murmured.
“Good!” the manager beamed, flipping a piece of marbled beef with a flourish. “Now, enough with the worrying. Eat up! If you’re not full by the time we’re done, I’ll have to report back to the boss that you’re not taking care of yourselves!”
“Speaking of your mother,” the manager continued, flipping a piece of pork belly with a practiced flick of the tongs, “she sent a message. She says that as soon as her schedule clears up, she’ll be visiting the Academy island personally.”
Jun let out a soft, amused sigh. “I doubt that’ll happen anytime soon. Mom’s probably drowning in new brand launches and opening schedules. She’s a workaholic.”
The manager chuckled, her eyes twinkling with a mix of affection and exhaustion. “Oh, don’t you worry about that. The other assistants are already planning a ‘coup.’ You should have seen her last Tuesday; she tried to sneak out of the office through the service elevator to avoid a board meeting, but the head assistant caught her by the collar of her blazer just as she reached the parking lot!”
Jun burst out laughing, the image of his formidable mother being apprehended like a naughty child bringing a genuine smile to his face.
“She’s a nightmare when she gets into ‘work mode,’” the manager continued, shaking her head. “She’ll spend ten hours straight complaining that the paperwork never ends, that the bureaucracy is a plague, and that she’d rather be anywhere else—and then she’ll stay another five hours just to make sure every comma is in the right place. She’s a contradiction in a designer suit.”
The manager leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “But the assistants have had enough. They’ve promised to lock her to her chair and force her to deal with all her documents in one go—basically a ‘paperwork prison’—just so she can carve out a few days to visit you. They’re treating it like a military operation. I heard they’ve already mapped out her escape routes.”
The conversation shifted as the manager turned her gaze toward Hana. Hana, sensing a shift in the wind, tried to avoid eye contact, busying herself by frantically serving pieces of grilled beef and pork belly to the others.
“And Hana-ya,” the manager said, her voice trailing off with a playful, knowing edge. “I heard about the ‘gift’ you gave Jun before he left for the Academy. Your mother’s own tales are legendary, but your boldness is something else. I can already tell that when your mother-in-law arrives, she’s going to give you lots of love.”
Hana froze, a piece of beef halfway to Sora’s plate. Her face turned a vivid, burning crimson. The “gift” she had provided—the intimate photos and the bold gestures—were now being discussed by the woman who held the keys to his mother’s favor.
Hana looked at Jun, her eyes wide and pleading, practically crying for help. “Jun-oppa! Save me!” she whimpered, her voice a mix of embarrassment and panic.
Jun didn’t move. He simply picked up a piece of perfectly grilled beef, chewed it slowly, and swallowed. “I told you,” he said, his voice deadpan, “that your own actions would come back to haunt you. This is just the beginning of the interest you’ve sparked.”
Hana let out a dramatic, exaggerated groan, slumping in her chair. “You’re heartless! I was being romantic, and now I’m being judged by the entire family!” she complained, her voice rising in a theatrical display of panic. “If you had just brought me a ‘gift’ to appease her, it wouldn’t have come to this!”
Jun just smiled and gestured to the food. “Eat your dinner, Hana. You’ll need your strength if you’re going to survive the ‘love’ of my mother.”
The rest of the meal passed in a more peaceful manner, the shared food and the warmth of the grill creating a rare moment of domestic harmony.
Hours later, the atmosphere shifted. The lights of the Academy island were dim, and the dorm was silent. Jun was in his study, the soft glow of his desk lamp illuminating the documents he was reviewing. He was focused, his mind analyzing the data, until the door opened with a soft, rhythmic click.
Sora entered.
She wasn’t wearing her uniform or her corporate attire. Instead, she wore a set of sheer, black lace lingerie that left very little to the imagination, topped with a translucent, flowing nightgown kimono that clung to her voluptuous curves. The fabric was so thin it was almost invisible, revealing the pale, luminous skin of her thighs and the heavy swell of her breasts.
She didn’t say a word. She simply walked over to him, her movements slow and deliberate, and sat on the edge of the desk next to his documents. She leaned in, her chest brushing against his arm, her scent—a mix of vanilla and expensive perfume—filling his senses.
As Sora opened her mouth to comment on the paperwork, Jun didn’t let her speak. He reached out, his hand gripping the back of her neck, and pulled her into a deep, commanding kiss.
Sora let out a soft, muffled moan, her body vibrating against his. She melted into the kiss, her hands finding their way to his chest, clutching the fabric of his shirt.
Jun pulled back just a fraction, his eyes dark with desire. “No more talking,” he whispered, his voice a low, husky growl. “Tonight, I’m giving you all the ‘care’ you’ve been craving.”
Sora’s eyes shimmered with anticipation, her breath coming in shallow, jagged hitches. She had waited all day for this moment, and as Jun pulled her closer, she knew that the night was about to become very, very intense.