Unrequited Love Thresher-Chapter 94: Great-Uncle (1)

To be perfectly honest, saying she had something to discuss was just an excuse. Secretary Kim had already told Ha Giyeon about the party, so there was really no need to summon him to breakfast.

Unlike weekday mornings when he left early for school, on weekends Giyeon tended to sleep in unusually late. Lee Mihyun seized the opportunity and called him down for breakfast. He looked tired, so she’d said he didn’t have to come if he wasn’t feeling well, but Giyeon came downstairs anyway, saying he was fine. That small “yes” gave Mihyun a sense of relief—proof that perhaps he hadn’t shut them out completely.

It was the first family breakfast since Giyeon had been discharged from the hospital, so she’d asked the housekeeper to prepare a meal with no seafood at all. Watching him eat his food with apparent ease, Mihyun felt good. It was the first time in a long while the breakfast table had felt peaceful, like a real family again.

Until the moment Giyeon said something completely unexpected.

“Uh... Am I going too?”

His large eyes blinked up at her as if genuinely unsure. Mihyun was caught off guard by the question. Why would he say something like that? It was a family gathering—of course Giyeon should attend. Why was he acting like he’d never been before?

“......”

Mihyun searched her memories of past parties and gatherings and suddenly felt a jolt of discomfort.

Had... Giyeon actually attended them regularly?

She could clearly remember going with Ha Dohoon, riding in the car together, but Giyeon... she couldn’t even recall whether he had been there or not. When had he stopped going to family events? She couldn’t remember because she’d never bothered to pay attention.

After all, those gatherings were spaces to show off—places to display one’s status, one's possessions. A successful career, a perfect husband, a son who took after them both.

Giyeon had never been someone they were proud of, so she had simply... forgotten.

How did it end up like this again...

Giyeon pressed his lips together tightly to hide his discomfort. Just like he’d resolved after his regression, he had no intention of growing closer to them—and certainly not attending their events. After all, even when he’d shown up before, he’d always ended up hiding in a corner or out on the terrace.

He had never once stood out at those parties. While Dohoon basked in praise and attention, Giyeon watched quietly from afar. If any relatives did notice him, it was only to mock or dismiss him—and afterward, he'd sometimes get scolded by his parents for reasons he never understood.

So, naturally, he thought there was no reason for him to attend. His parents didn’t want him there, and he didn’t even own a suit. The last time he’d worn one was back in middle school—it didn’t fit anymore.

Well, there’s no point cramming myself into something too small just to go.

He wasn’t someone worth bragging about like Dohoon. He wasn’t even their real son.

“......”

Ilwoo and Mihyun, realizing all over again just how little attention they had paid him, were at a loss for words. In that silence, it was Ha Dohoon who spoke up.

“It’s also Great-Uncle’s birthday. If you don’t go, it’ll be more of a hassle.”

His birthday. That made it even harder to skip. It was both an anniversary party and a family gathering—if he didn’t show up, someone would probably drag him there to make him appear.

Despite how much the man disliked him.

Great-Uncle was the type who went out of his way to criticize Giyeon. Unlike his own parents who simply ignored him, Great-Uncle paid attention—and always to scold. Even when they were alone, the man would bark at him, saying he lacked confidence, or that he couldn’t even answer a question properly. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

It had always made Giyeon stumble over his words in his presence.

That was before the regression.

Now, after everything he'd endured—the insults, the abuse—Great-Uncle's words barely scratched the surface. He no longer cared about gaining the man’s approval, and he wasn’t afraid of him anymore.

Still, he hadn’t expected to run into him this directly. He hadn’t anticipated their paths to cross so precisely.

But once their eyes met, there was no avoiding it. He bowed politely.

“Good afternoon.”

Great-Uncle, dressed in traditional Korean hanbok rather than a suit, was physically larger than most elderly men. His stern gaze fixed on Giyeon.

“Where are your parents? Why are you here alone?”

“They arrived earlier with my brother and already went up. I had something to do, so I came later.”

“Even so, you should come with your family. There are people watching, you know... tsk.”

He scanned Giyeon from head to toe with clear disdain, then turned to walk into the hotel. Giyeon exhaled a long sigh and followed slowly, maintaining some distance. He planned to head up separately.

“What are you waiting for, get moving!”

Startled, Giyeon looked around—but there was no one else the old man could be addressing. Only him. Standing still, glaring directly at him.

He hurried to catch up, and once he drew close enough, Great-Uncle clicked his tongue and turned toward the elevators.

When the elevator doors opened, Giyeon silently followed him inside, forcing down his discomfort. The ride up to the top floor was quiet and suffocating.

Why did time only slow down at moments like this?

He focused on the ascending floor numbers.

“That shabby suit—what is that? Your parents couldn’t even buy you a proper one?”

“...The one I had was too small, so I bought this one in a rush.”

“Not like you only own one suit. You bring disrespect on yourself.”

Finally, the elevator arrived at the top. Giyeon trailed behind as Great-Uncle stepped out. As they turned a corner, something barreled into Giyeon’s legs.

“...?!”

A girl—around five years old—fell on her bottom. She stared down at her ice cream now smeared on Giyeon’s pants... and promptly burst into tears.

“Waaah!”

Giyeon knelt down quickly and reached between her arms to help her up.

“Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?”

“H-huu... m-my ice cream...”

Looking down at the sticky, melted mess staining his pants, Giyeon awkwardly rummaged through his pockets and pulled out some candy and chocolate.

He’d brought snacks to eat in place of dinner—turns out that had been a good idea.

“Do you like candy or chocolate?”

“Sniff... yes... but my mom said I shouldn’t take food from strangers.”

“Haha, then let’s say I’m not giving it—I’m trading. You give me your ice cream, and I give you candy instead.”

The girl looked hesitant but eventually took the sweets with both hands. As soon as she had them, her tears stopped like magic.

Giyeon smiled gently and patted her head before standing up.

“Where are your parents?”

“They’re in the party hall. Thank you, oppa!”

Beaming, she turned the corner and skipped off. Giyeon watched her go, then turned—

And met eyes with Great-Uncle, who was still standing there.

He had expected the old man to go on ahead... but he hadn’t moved.

His expression was °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° strange.

He looked... stunned. Completely dazed.