A Madman in Love-Chapter 64

The red poppies were in full bloom.

Walking leisurely along the carefully cultivated path that carved a crimson stream through the green garden, Suin found herself enchanted by the dreamlike atmosphere. Beyond that, there was an undeniable sense of happiness.

Because she wasn’t alone.

With Seo Jaehee.

"I’ve only ever seen fields of blooming poppies in pictures. This is my first time seeing them in person."

Suin gazed intently at the red flowers, their stamens radiating outwards beneath the slightly misaligned petals.

"It’s fascinating."

How could something hold such an alluring shade?

No wonder Claude Monet painted poppies his entire life.

It must have been an intoxicating experience, capturing the brilliance of nature’s colors on canvas.

"How did you even find a place like this? I’ve lived in Korea my whole life, and I never knew about it."

"I know how to use a search engine."

Jaehee himself was part of the beautiful scenery.

His lips, slightly curled, had yet to relax as he followed Suin with his gaze—his attention entirely fixed on her as she moved through the crimson field, her childlike wonder evident in every step.

"If I had known you’d like it this much, I would’ve brought you sooner. Good thing we stopped by on the way."

"On the way? This isn’t our destination?"

"Of course not. There’s a real destination."

"……."

"Aren’t you going to ask what it is?"

"I’m rejecting the answer with every fiber of my being."

"Your body won’t be able to reject it."

"Disgusting."

As they walked along the flower-lined path, the two shared idle conversation, teasing and playing with each other, spending a peaceful afternoon together.

The quiet, simple happiness growing between them felt good.

"Have you always liked flowers?"

"Hmm? I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it."

"You really seem to like them."

"It’s not the flowers—I just haven’t had many chances to see beautiful scenery like this."

"Why not?"

"Aside from school field trips, I mean. Back then, I was too busy running around with the others to really look at anything."

"So, why not?"

Jaehee stopped walking.

Suin fell silent for a moment, retracing her thoughts.

Time had a way of diluting memories.

Once, those thoughts had been too heavy to even put into words. But now, they had faded into something like a dream.

Still, they ached.

But she spoke casually, as if it didn’t matter.

"I guess I never had the luxury of time. When my family left Hyesung Group, I wasn’t allowed to fail."

"Fail at what?"

"It wasn’t anything grand. Just... survival."

"……."

"Get into the university I wanted, but only if I could get a scholarship. Cover the rest of my expenses with part-time jobs. Graduate and pay off my debts as soon as possible. That kind of thing."

"You had debts?"

"Things like student loans."

She couldn’t tell him about her financial ties to Chairwoman Woo Ilhwa, so she offered a vague explanation with a small, wry smile.

"Suin."

Jaehee, in contrast, wasn’t smiling.

His gaze carried no trace of idle curiosity—only a heavy sincerity, the kind of concern that made her heart clench.

"No one ever told me, so I never dared to ask… but was it hard for you? A lot harder than I imagined?"

He was serious. Steady.

"Tell me what happened after I left for the U.S. Why did your family leave Hyesung Group? Where is Mr. Injae now?"

"My father passed away."

"When?"

"Ten years ago… in an accident. Something like that."

Their lives had diverged. They had no shared past to bind them, yet Jaehee still wanted to understand her, to share in her burdens.

His concern landed like a moth against her heart.

Memories of those years felt even more distant.

The aching wound—somehow—seemed to be healing.

"What about you?" Suin asked, feeling unexpectedly light. "How was life in the U.S.? Living alone for so long?"

Jaehee studied her expression for a moment, then furrowed his brows slightly. Then, suddenly, he grinned—like a boy up to mischief.

"It was awful. Because I couldn’t see you."

"Pfft."

Suin laughed.

Seo Jaehee would always have this uncanny ability to bring joy.

No matter how exhausting or difficult things became, he would find a way to make her laugh—even in the face of past hardships.

It wasn’t arrogance. It was a certainty.

"I was the same," Suin murmured. "Some days were hard, some days weren’t."

"But the hard days weren’t because you couldn’t see me, were they?"

"Of course not. There wasn’t a single day like that."

She deliberately answered in the most unkind way possible, and the sharp curve of Jaehee’s eyes narrowed.

His smirk, playful and full of mischief, deepened before he suddenly grabbed her hand.

"Let’s go."

"Where?"

"I’m going to make it so that even one day without me feels unbearable."

"Ah!"

She twisted in resistance, but he pulled her along effortlessly.

To the true final destination of their trip.

***

"Mother-in-law! Where are you?"

Seo Seongyeok called out, sweeping his phone camera around the flower field as he raised his voice.

"I can’t see you anywhere."

Kim Myung-rye, who had been posing at the same height as the poppies, furrowed her brows at the sudden outburst.

"What nonsense are you spouting? I’m right in front of you."

"Ah! There you are, Mother-in-law? It’s hard to tell if I’m looking at the flowers or at you."

This content is taken from freёnovelkiss.com.

"You and your silver tongue. It hasn’t changed in thirty years."

"A man mustn’t change, especially not in his love for his mother-in-law."

"Hahaha."

His smooth-talking charm had always been to Kim Myung-rye’s taste.

She burst into laughter, her mood lifted.

Despite the arrival of spring, she had been feeling empty and listless for days.

"It’s just my age catching up with me."

"It’d be nice to have grandchildren at times like this…"

Her wistful sigh hinted at unspoken disappointment—toward her busy daughter and indifferent grandson.

"Oh, what a hassle."

"You just want me to carry you on my back, don’t you?"

Seo Seongyeok had dragged her out today despite her reluctance, treating her to a nice lunch before taking her to a nearby park to enjoy the flowers.

"Mother-in-law, this is a masterpiece. I captured it perfectly."

"Let me see your skills, then."

"Careful as you step out."

He held her hand as she emerged from the poppy field, making sure she didn’t trip.

Then he held out the phone, showing her the picture he had taken.

"You could be a senior model, Mother-in-law."

For once, his flattery wasn’t entirely an exaggeration.

Her laughter had been captured naturally, radiating the kind of beauty that came with twilight years.

Even the deep wrinkles she had come to despise lent her a dignified air.

"Do you like it?"

"It’s not bad. You’ve got some skill."

"Not nearly enough to do justice to your beauty. Do you know what first made me fall for Ilhwa?"

"Our family’s wealth, wasn’t it?"

"You’re still saying that? I’m a man who only looks at faces."

"Looks only last three months. How did you even endure her personality enough to marry her? She’s so cold and sharp."

Once, she had fiercely opposed his marriage, believing he had deliberately approached her daughter despite coming from an ordinary family.

Now, she trusted and relied on him more than anyone.

And she never missed a chance to complain about her daughter.

"Cold? That’s an understatement. If she ever decided she was done with me, she’d discard me like ice. Even as her mother, there were times when I lost all affection for her."

"She’s the head of a conglomerate. She has to be ruthless."

"And that’s why you two ended up together. Honestly, even Ilhwa, who rarely gives her heart to anyone, never wanted to let go of you…"

"Ilhwa only knows one thing. For her, work is Hyesung Group, love is me, and people—only those she considers hers. Jaehee takes after her in that regard."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"I just hope Jaehee gets married soon and gives me some grandchildren…"

At the mention of Jaehee, Kim Myung-rye sighed, revealing her long-standing wish.

"He’s far from marriage. He doesn’t even have a girlfriend."

"And if he does, that’s a problem too. What daughter-in-law could handle a mother-in-law like that?"

Seo Seongyeok laughed along, but when he imagined what kind of mother-in-law Woo Ilhwa would be, a chill ran down his spine.

'Could I even mediate that…?'

The future suddenly felt worrisome, and he found himself unable to answer, his gaze drifting off into the distance.

Just then—

"Hm?"

A familiar silhouette caught his eye near the entrance of the park.

A man who stood at least a head taller than those around him, with broad shoulders and a confident stride.

There was no doubt.

It was Jaehee.

But…

'A woman?'

He wasn’t alone.

He was holding a woman’s hand.

Seo Seongyeok instinctively craned his neck, rising onto his toes in an attempt to get a clearer look.

Just as he did, Jaehee pulled the woman close, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

And then, just like that, they disappeared from view.

'That bastard… he has a woman?'

***

"Seo Jaehee has a woman,"

Choi Gwangseon’s words made Woo Ilhwa pause.