Chapter 1209: Soaring (9)

“You’re leaving already?!”

“Yes.”

Cold saw us off with a disappointed expression as we put on our coats and prepared to leave the party.

I pointed toward a mansion some distance away.

“We promised to visit Ri Hyuk’s mother today. It wouldn’t be polite to arrive too late, and judging by the atmosphere here…….”

The party had begun with cocktails, but it was steadily growing rowdier as the laughter of drunken guests rose in volume.

“It doesn’t seem like the right place for people who aren’t drinking.”

“Especially considering your image.”

Cold nodded in understanding.

Since he took reputation management more seriously than anyone, he seemed to understand why we were leaving early.

Whenever you stayed among a crowd of drunken people, minor incidents were bound to happen.

Someone who had gotten drunk and overly excited might kiss one of us on the cheek, and a photo could be taken that would delight the tabloids.

“It’s a shame, but I suppose it can’t be helped. Hey! Everyone, say goodbye! NewBlack is leaving!”

“What????”

The rappers sipping cocktails approached us, exclaiming, “What?” in exaggerated voices.

“The party’s only starting now. Why are you leaving already?”

“These guys are the same type as Cold. They’re getting out of here before anything troublesome happens.”

“That’s too bad. You should stay and have more fun.”

We flinched slightly as the intimidating-looking rappers approached.

Clinking gold necklaces.

Dreadlocks and closely shaved heads.

Arms covered in tattoos.

We couldn’t help instinctively recoiling, but we relaxed when we saw the broad smiles filling their faces.

“Yo.”

A rapper with dreadlocks rubbed his nose with a sniff and held out his hand.

“Thanks for helping Cold. We all felt fucking terrible about the Grammys last year. I’m really glad he finally won this time.”

I smiled as I clasped his hand.

The rappers seemed awkward, as though they were embarrassed and unused to expressing gratitude.

“So…….”

They offered us the highest expression of thanks they knew.

“Tell us if there’s anyone you want destroyed.”

“We might not be good at everything, but diss tracks are our specialty. We’ve forced several people into retirement.”

“I’ve even been shot while dissing someone. Heh heh. See the scar on my arm? Getting hit hard with the grip of a pistol hurts quite a bit, you know. Heh.”

We laughed and nodded at the rappers who promised to become our reliable allies.

Was it because we had helped fulfill the lifelong ambition of the man known as the king of hip-hop?

Their goodwill made me feel reassured.

No matter what industry you worked in, having people who supported you was a tremendous advantage.

“Thank you, everyone.”

“See you again!”

The rappers raised their fists in a cool farewell and lumbered away.

We said goodbye to Cold as well.

“Congratulations on the Grammy, Cold.”

“Thank you.”

Then Cold suddenly said,

“Oh, right. Can you come back here tomorrow?”

“Why?”

“I said I’d give you something else instead of the Bugatti, remember? I wanted to give it to you when I saw you again tomorrow.”

Cold Brown grinned.

“I’ve figured out exactly what gift I should give you.”

“It really is close. It’s only three minutes by car.”

Cold’s house and Ri Hyuk’s mother’s house were extremely close to each other.

It was almost embarrassing to take a car, so we offered to walk, but everyone strongly objected.

The driver explained,

“This neighborhood has many famous residents, so the security is both good and bad.”

“Both good and bad?”

“A lot of wealthy people and celebrities live here, so the police respond quickly, and plainclothes security guards are stationed everywhere. Unless a criminal is unusually insane, they stay away. Whatever they do, they’ll be caught immediately.”

“Then what do you mean when you say the security is bad?”

“The moderately insane ones don’t come here. The only people who do are the extremely insane ones.”

As we blinked, the driver continued,

“Stalkers who violate restraining orders are arrested here quite often. So many famous actors and singers live in this area.”

In other words, the neighborhood was safe, but it still wasn’t a good idea to walk around late at night.

The driver, who seemed very familiar with the area, whistled when we arrived in front of Ri Hyuk’s mother’s house.

“Your mother must be extremely successful.”

“Yes.”

“Most of the famous people in the area have homes around here. Larry Gordon, Alec West, Cold Brown…….”

I hadn’t fully realized it before, but now I could grasp, at least a little, just how successful Ri Hyuk’s mother’s clothing business was.

We thanked the driver and got out.

Just as when we had visited before, a huge mansion greeted us after we passed through the tall walls and heavily secured gate.

“Oppa!!”

Someone wearing a cardigan came running toward us.

It was Ri Hyuk’s younger sister, Yein.

We laughed as she raced over and threw her arms around Ri Hyuk, who looked embarrassed.

Jiho said,

“Let’s turn around so Ri Hyuk can hug her.”

“Good idea.”

“Ri Hyuk! We won’t look, so show her some affection!”

Remembering the Seo family’s tendency to stiffen whenever anyone watched them express affection, we turned our backs.

Yein burst out laughing, while I felt a piercing glare on the back of my head.

Before long, Ri Hyuk’s gentle voice came from behind us.

“Have you been well?”

“Pfft.”

Jiho whispered to us,

“Did you hear that? I want Ri Hyuk to greet me that gently too.”

“Me too.”

The sound of grinding teeth came from behind us.

Unable to scold us in front of his sister, Ri Hyuk asked awkwardly,

“…Is she inside?”

“Mom is here. Oh, and Wooju’s grandmother is here too.”

I whipped my head around.

“My grandmother is here?”

“Yep. The two of them are having tea right now.”

As Yein took the lead, she seemed to remember something and turned to me.

“Oh! And congratulations on the Grammy, oppa!”

“Thank you.”

“It’s seriously incredible… All my friends are going crazy because an Asian singer won a Grammy for the first time. Could I take a picture with you later? I want to brag to my friends.”

According to Yein, students at American universities tended to form social groups largely along racial lines.

Apparently, my Grammy win had become a huge topic of conversation within her mostly Asian friend group.

“Everyone went crazy after Sound of the Sun came out. So when Seon Myeongju received the Lifetime Achievement Award this time, they really…….”

Following Ri Hyuk’s sister into the house, we immediately saw a lavishly decorated dining room.

And there……

“Grandma!!!”

“You’re here?”

I ran toward my grandmother, who had set down her teacup, and threw my arms around her.

“Oh, goodness! Settle down.”

“Wooju, you’re here?”

I greeted Ri Hyuk’s mother, then hurriedly pulled the trophies from my bag.

Her eyes and Yein’s widened.

“This is…….”

“Yes. They’re Grammy trophies.”

“…….”

Among the Americans staring at them with reverence, Grandma picked up the trophies.

“There are two.”

“Yeah. One is the award I won tonight, and the other is… the Lifetime Achievement Award Dad received.”

Grandma smiled quietly at my trophy, then lifted the one engraved with Dad’s name.

It had been awarded under his name, but it did not contain only his sweat and tears.

Her wrinkled fingers traced the trophy’s surface as though searching for someone’s lingering presence.

Mrs. Kim Deoksun asked in a slightly hoarse voice,

“So this… is a very important award?”

“Yeah. Even in America, only people considered legends receive it. In Korea, it would be like Mr. Noh Jaehyun receiving a medal… Well, not quite a medal, but a lifetime achievement award from an incredibly prestigious institution.”

“I see.”

Grandma held the trophy to her chest and slowly closed her eyes.

Her breath trembled faintly.

“My goodness…….”

Everyone remained silent so as not to disturb the moment.

Jiho, who was uncomfortable with emotional situations like this, merely wiggled his toes and glanced around, while Ri Hyuk stared into the distance as though he might burst into tears at any moment.

His mother was much the same.

She dabbed at her face with a handkerchief, then composed her expression until it was as cold as ice once again.

Junghyun smiled quietly, while Biju stared into the air with reddened eyes, his lips trembling.

“Whew…….”

Grandma set the trophy down and spoke to me.

“Come here.”

“Okay.”

Grandma remained seated while I stood, and we pulled each other into an embrace.

Her voice reached my ears.

“You’ve been through so much.”

At those words, all the exhaustion that had accumulated inside me seemed to melt away.

And it didn’t appear to affect only me.

The corners of Grandma’s mouth, which were usually stubbornly raised, had softened.

Perhaps it was only my imagination, but I wondered whether a small part of the knot that had remained in her heart had finally come undone.

Then—

Grab.

Someone threw himself against Grandma and me.

Looking down at the face beneath the curly hair, I said,

“What are you doing? Why are you hugging us?”

“I don’t know. I want to be hugged too!”

“Get out from between Mrs. Kim Deoksun and me. We’re sharing a special emotional moment between a grandmother and her grandson.”

Smack!

“Ow!”

“Why are you so narrow-minded?”

Grandma pulled Jiho into the embrace as well.

I pouted, but still patted him on the back.

I knew why our youngest was acting this way.

It had been the same in Antarctica, but the members had gone a long time without seeing their families.

From Jiho’s perspective, Ri Hyuk was meeting his mother and I was meeting my grandmother, so it was understandable that he might suddenly feel lonely.

“Then we’ll join too…….”

“Me too.”

Junghyun and Biju slipped into the embrace, while Ri Hyuk’s family shyly reached out and held one another’s hands.

Grandma patted the minions as though they were her own grandchildren.

“You boys have worked very hard too.”

“Not at all, ma’am.”

“Working with this boy isn’t easy. I know because I’ve done it myself. He nags like a mother-in-law…….”

“That’s true, ma’am.”

I glared at them, but they only giggled.

Still… it felt good.

Ever since I was young, I had often imagined how nice it would be to have a younger sibling or an older brother or sister.

Gathered like this, we truly felt like a large family.

“This is nice.”

Ri Hyuk’s mother elegantly set down her teacup.

“It has been rather lonely since Yein left for university. With the house this crowded, it finally feels like people live here.”

She looked at Ri Hyuk.

“Come and visit often.”

“Yes.”

“This house is too large for one person.”

“…….”

Ri Hyuk hesitated, unsure how to answer, so we spoke in his place.

“Fortunately, we’ll be staying in Los Angeles for a while. There’s the Academy Awards, and we also have filming.”

“That’s wonderful.”

She tried her best not to show it, but I noticed her eyebrows twitching with joy.

It was exactly the same habit as her son’s.

Biju asked,

“By the way, have you decided what you’ll wear to the Academy Awards, ma’am?”

“Ah, about that…….”

As Grandma began talking excitedly about what she would wear to the ceremony, laughter quickly filled the room.

It was a family gathering around a candlelit table.

Ri Hyuk’s mother was naturally a woman of few words and quietly sipped her tea, but warmth filled the way she looked at everyone.

There was even a faint smile on her lips.

I whispered to Ri Hyuk,

“Your mother looks happy.”

“I think so too.”

Of all the members’ families, she seemed the most likely to feel lonely.

Her son was incredibly busy, and her daughter was away at university, making it difficult to see her except during school breaks.

She lived here alone.

Ri Hyuk said to me,

“Whenever we come to Los Angeles from now on, I should visit whenever I have the time.”

“Yeah.”

I smiled and nodded.

“Let’s make sure we do.”

The following morning.

After sleeping soundly at Ri Hyuk’s house, we finished breakfast and prepared to leave the mansion.

“What about you, Grandma?”

“I think I’ll stay here. Being alone in a foreign country can get lonely.”

That was what she said, but it sounded as though she intended to stay because Ri Hyuk’s mother seemed lonely.

As I told Grandma I would see her again and gave her a light hug—

“…….”

“…….”

Ri Hyuk and his mother were glaring at each other.

I whispered to Yein,

“Why are they glaring?”

“Hm? They’re looking at each other warmly.”

“…….”

So that counted as a warm gaze for them?

I laughed inwardly as they stared at each other like knights about to duel.

“But oppa.”

“Yeah?”

“Is your grandmother in a bad mood today?”

“No. Grandma’s in an amazing mood.”

When Yein blinked, I finally realized it.

Ah. People outside the family couldn’t tell.

In any case, while Ri Hyuk and his mother continued staring at each other like knights preparing for combat—

Swiftly.

They both reached inside their clothes.

Then, moving as though drawing pistols, they quickly pulled out their hands and presented something to each other.

“It’s a letter.”

“I wrote you one by hand.”

Their faces and ears turned as red as tomatoes.

Ri Hyuk suggested,

“Should we agree to open the envelopes thirty minutes from now?”

“Good. We will open them precisely thirty minutes from now, Pacific Time.”

“On second thought, one hour might be better. An unavoidable situation could arise where one of us realizes we left something behind and has to return. It would be embarrassing if we saw each other again.”

“That is reasonable. I approve.”

The adult tomato and the younger tomato awkwardly hugged, then quickly stepped apart.

While Jiho shook his head as though the very sight frustrated him, we waved.

“We’ll see you again!”

“See you next time!”

After waving goodbye, we climbed into the vehicle waiting in front of the mansion.

Until we disappeared from view, they continued to—

“Look at that Kim Deoksun. She went straight back inside.”

Grandma had immediately returned to the mansion as though she couldn’t be bothered to stand outside any longer.

I clicked my tongue and headed toward Cold Brown’s mansion.

“Oh.”

The dazzling lights had hidden much of it the night before, but the house was still beautiful in the morning.

Water trickled from the fountain.

Gardeners busily tended the grounds, while other employees cleaned up after the party.

Cold stood among them in a white short-sleeved shirt and sunglasses, speaking with someone beside him.

“Hey!”

Cold waved to us.

“We’re here, Cold.”

“Perfect timing. I was just discussing your gift with my financial manager.”

Our faces filled with anticipation.

What kind of gift was he planning to give us?

“The weather’s nice. Let’s walk for a while.”

We quietly followed Cold as he called each gardener by name and asked how they were doing.

“I gave a lot of thought to what I should give you. When I considered it properly, a car wasn’t appropriate.”

The open garage was lined with sports cars, SUVs, and luxury sedans in every imaginable color.

Junghyun, who was interested in cars, kept exclaiming in amazement, so they clearly weren’t ordinary vehicles.

“There’s no point giving a car to someone who rarely has the chance to drive. And it isn’t as though you have room in Korea to put one on display. You don’t have a hobby of collecting cars without a license like one of my friends does either.”

He nodded to himself.

“If I was going to give you a gift, I decided it should be whatever you needed most. So I asked myself: what do you need most right now?”

“Hmm…….”

“You probably don’t know either. Most people don’t really understand what they truly need.”

Cold removed his sunglasses, revealing eyes that gleamed like black jewels.

“In my opinion, what you need is a place to stay.”

“Ah…….”

“Knowing your personality, Sunny, there’s no way you’ll be satisfied with winning a Grammy alone. You’ll do everything you can until NewBlack wins one too.”

“That’s right.”

“That means you’ll be working in America more often, but there’s a limit to how long you can keep staying in hotels. You can’t properly recover from fatigue there. So I’m planning to transfer one of my properties to you. It’ll be somewhere you can rest comfortably and practice whenever you’re in America.”

“……!”

As we stared at him in shock, Cold continued,

“There’s no need to feel burdened. In terms of price, it isn’t much different from the Bugatti. The maintenance costs are simply higher.”

We looked at one another.

It was surprising, but as Cold had said, it was something we genuinely needed.

Every time we came to America, we had to pack our clothes, find practice rooms, and stay in a different hotel.

Having a permanent residence would be ideal.

We swallowed and asked,

“So where is this place?”

“What do you mean, where?”

Holding his sunglasses, Cold gestured toward the enormous garden and mansion.

“It’s right here.”

“What?”

As we froze in shock, the king of hip-hop grinned.

“This house is my gift to you.”