Chapter 13 — The Jeong Twins

​◽Later That Day◽

◽ At the Jeong Estate◽

​JJ pulled his car up to the front gate.

​「Sorry I’m late. Tch… that snake was slipperier than I thought,」 he muttered.

​Shizuko, standing by the gate, dramatically puffed out her cheeks. 「Hmph… you’re not forgiven.」

​JJ blinked in genuine surprise. 「Marshmallow?!」

​Hana let out a small, nervous chuckle. 「Sorry… when she heard we weren’t going home, she practically forced Ms. Haruka and me to come here.」

​JJ shook his head, a wry smile forming. 「Don’t worry, it’s not your fault. But mellow… what did I say about throwing tantrums like that at home?」

​Shizuko’s pout deepened, turning her face into a perfect mask of aggrieved indignation. 「See, Ms. Hana? He doesn’t even know why I’m here.」

​Hana smiled gently, her hand resting reassuringly on Shizuko’s shoulder. 「You can just tell him.」

​Shizuko’s eyes welled up with dramatic, unshed tears. 「No… I won’t.」

​JJ’s expression softened. 【Ah, it’s because of Hana’s gift…】 He sighed internally. A child’s logic. 「A young lady like you is too young for a gift worth millions. But I’ll give you something even more valuable: next weekend, all of my undivided time. How about that?」

​Shizuko’s pout softened just a fraction. 「So… we’ll go to the amusement park and the aquarium?」

​JJ grinned, the relaxed side of his eyes glinting. 「Yeah! Heck, we can hit the beach or even a hot spring resort if you want.」

​Shizuko let out a small, satisfied sound, running up to wrap him in a tight hug. 「Don’t think this means I’m happy, but… thank you, Papa.」

​JJ gently patted her small head, his fingers running through her hair. 「Don’t worry.」

​Clank.

​The heavy metallic gates opened just then, signaling their entry. 「Looks like they’re letting us in.」

​◽Inside the Jeong Estate ◽

​「Oppa!」 Jiyeon called out immediately as JJ and the others walked to the front door.

​JJ raised a hand, waving her off with a mild firmness. 「Don’t call me that. It’s still too early.」

​Jiyeon stammered, her cheeks slightly flushed. 「Y-yeah… you’re right.」 She then noticed the small girl clinging to his side. 「Wow… she’s adorable. Who’s this little one?」

​「Shizuko Samuels,」 JJ replied easily. As JD and the others approached, he added, 「I recently had to change her name and remove the Adams surname.」

​Mr. Jeong cleared his throat, his posture formal. 「I don’t mean to butt in, but… could you explain?」

​JJ gave a nonchalant smirk, his brown eyes cool. 「Simple. I was cut off from that family, so it’s natural I take my mother’s maiden name. Hi, I’m JJ Samuels—JJ for Jerry Jr.」

​Mr. Jeong arched an eyebrow, a flicker of appreciation in his gaze. 「Interesting. Well, you can just call me Mr. Jeong.」

​「Alright.」 JJ’s gaze then fell on a familiar figure. 「Youngmi?」

​Youngmi blinked once, twice, recognizing the features that were an almost perfect copy of her old friend. 「Wait… JJ? As in Mary’s son?」

​「Yeah… that’s me.」

​Youngmi smiled, a sudden warmth replacing her surprise. 「Wow… you’ve grown into a handsome young man.」

​JJ offered a shrug that held a touch of inherited confidence. 「I know. Comes with being Mary’s child.」

​Youngmi’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a softer, more tentative expression. 「By the way… how’s Mary?」

​JJ’s expression darkened, the shift immediate and chilling, though he glanced only briefly at JD before looking back at Youngmi. 「Well… my mother passed away when I was seven.」

​Youngmi’s eyes widened, her composure momentarily shattered. 「No way… Mary dying? That shouldn’t even be possible!」

​「Yeah… but she gave up her gifts and was murdered after that.」

​Youngmi sighed sadly, a memory flitting across her face. 「I see… so that’s what happened.」

​JJ reached into his pocket and handed her a small, inconspicuous chip. 「If it makes you feel better, mother hated you, Yui, and the others until her dying breath. She said to give this to you when I got the chance to meet you.」

​Youngmi wiped her eyes, a sad, humorless chuckle escaping her lips. 「Thanks… that’s something Mary would do. Let me guess… you’re dating our daughters?」

​JJ sighed, running a hand through his hair. 「Yeah. Last thing I need is my mother’s ghost haunting me for not following her dying wish. Tch… I hate it when they do that.」

​Youngmi actually laughed then, a genuine, bittersweet sound. 「Considering who Mary was… I’d feel bad for the inhabitants of hell if she ended up there.」

​JJ smirked, his own humor returning. 「Well… she did throw people across the country, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s ruling hell right now.」

​They both shared a laugh, a sudden, shared intimacy that left everyone else confused.

​「What?」 Jiyeon muttered to her sister.

​JJ merely shrugged, turning back to the group. 「We gained respect through battle… it’s normal.」

​Hana’s smile faded slightly as the implications of his conversation settled in. 「So… our relation—」

​JJ gently pulled her into a warm, one-armed hug, cutting her off. 「Don’t worry about it,」 he murmured. 「What I feel for you is real. Besides, Mom said her biggest opponents’ daughters would be my type, and she wasn’t lying.」

​Youngmi laughed, shaking her head. 「That’s true… now I know why Mary said we’d regret having daughters.」

​Jiyeon tilted her head, trying to parse the cryptic statements. 「And what does that mean?」

​Youngmi chuckled, glancing affectionately at JJ. 「After JJ’s mother, the women with the highest kill counts were us. JJ over there… like his mother, they’re attracted to strong people.」

​Miyeon frowned, crossing her arms. 「But Mother… why speak as if we’re going to date him?」

​Youngmi giggled conspiratorially. 「Trust me, Miyeon… he’s not here because Jimmy asked him to be. And it’s not a bad deal.」

​Miyeon glanced at Hana, who was still nestled in JJ’s side. 「But he’s already dating someone.」

​Hana shrugged, the corner of her mouth twitching up mischievously. 「I don’t mind. Besides… his appetite can’t be satisfied by one person.」

​Shizuko, who had been listening intently, tilted her head in confusion. 「Wait… Papa’s a glutton?」

​Hana giggled, tapping her gently on the nose. 「Yes, Shizu… he’s a big glutton.」

​Hyun-seok cleared his throat, interrupting the banter. 「Sorry to interrupt, but we should get going.」

​JJ eyed the young man carefully, a sudden seriousness entering his voice. 「How old are you, kid?」

​「I’m fifteen, big bro—」

​JJ cut him off sharply, his voice snapping like a whip. 「Don’t call me that.」

​Hyun-seok blinked, taken aback and confused by the abrupt shift in atmosphere. 「Err… why?」

​「You have to earn that right,」 JJ said, his gaze intense. 「One, don’t fail your big sisters and mother. Two… don’t be useless like JD when push comes to shove. If you can do that, then call me big brother. Until then… call me Jerry.」

​Hyun-seok swallowed, taking the words to heart. Better not break the rules. 「Okay… Jerry.」

​JD, who had been standing silently, huffed indignantly. 「That’s no way to talk to your little brother.」

​JJ gave a slow, cold smirk, his pupils narrowed in disdain. 「JD, you can leave. The oxygen in this room is already decreasing with your presence… no need to pollute it further with your voice.」

​JD snapped, his own temper flaring. 「JJ… you have to get rid of this attitude of yours. That’s why people say you’re not human.」

​Shizuko, standing protectively near JJ, muttered under her breath, annoyed. 「Papa’s more human than you.」

​JD turned, his eyes piercing the little girl. 「What did you say?」

​Shizuko repeated the statement, her own eyes challenging him. 「Papa’s more human than you.」

​JD scowled, realizing the futility of engaging. 「Arguing with you is pointless. Mr. Jeong, I’ll be in the car if you need me.」 He spun on his heel and left in a huff.

​JJ shook his head, a muscle twitching in his jaw. 「The nerve of him… acting all high and mighty.」

​Mr. Jeong nodded understandingly, a shadow of regret crossing his face. 「I get your frustrations… but JD is still your father, in the end.」

​JJ’s eyes hardened, becoming sharp and unforgiving. 「Wrong, Mr. Jeong. My father’s name is Dimitri Kuznetsov. He did something JD never could—see me as a lost child, not a problem. That’s the difference.」

​Mr. Jeong bowed slightly, conceding the point. 「If that’s how you see it… I can’t force you to change your mind.」 He ushered Youngmi and Hyun soek, to follow him outside.

​Shizuko looked up at JJ, her small hand clutching his.

「So… that’s the snake you say you can’t kill no matter what?」

​JJ patted her head, his expression softening only for her. 「Yeah. But it’s grown folk business… don’t worry your pretty little head about it, Mellow.」

​◽In the Living Room ◽

​Shizuko turned to Miyeon, the taller girl’s presence comforting. 「Miyeon oneesan?」

​「Yes, Shizuko,」 Miyeon said warmly, kneeling down slightly.

​Shizuko tilted her head, her curiosity piqued by the grand, old house. 「Why’s the floor cold?」

​Miyeon giggled, glancing around the enormous room. 「The mansion’s really old. Heated floors would cost too much and take forever to install. We’d need a team of over ten people to do it properly.」

​Shizuko’s eyes widened at the scale of the task. She looked back at JJ, an expectant question in her gaze. 「Papa?」

​JJ chuckled, reading her mind perfectly. 「No, Mellow… I don’t have superpowers. But doing all that alone was tough.」

​Jiyeon’s eyes widened, catching the significance of his offhand comment. 「You did it alone?」

​JJ nodded simply. 「Yeah… the house I live in now, I built it alone back in high school. Took three years.」

​Everyone gasped simultaneously. A silent, dramatic beat fell over the room.

​Riyuka, however, scoffed immediately, her eyes narrowed in disbelief. 「You really expect us to believe that?」

​JJ smirked, the arrogance of a seasoned combatant in his posture. 「I’m not going to convince you. But if I do something your brain can’t fathom… I expect the same attitude.」

​Riyuka scowled, her dislike palpable. 「Tch… arrogant prick.」

​JJ’s grin widened, finding amusement in her antagonism. 「Self-serving kitchen wench.」

​Riyuka glared, ready to explode. 「I really hate you, you know that?」

​JJ chuckled, as if enjoying a private joke. 「I love this friendship of ours.」

​Riyuka tilted her head, completely weirded out by his response. 「Are you okay?」

​「Perfectly fine,」 JJ said, his brown pupils glinting as he smiled, clearly enjoying the chaos he’d created.