The Substitute Wife

CHAPTER 161

What kind of show was that? Her singing was more exciting than the Peking opera that performed earlier today but, now that the show has ended without achieving its goal, Yoon Jane is trying to leave early?

How can that be? Like Yoon Jane and Wang Momo, I've also prepared a show for today, one that had not even started...

At this thought, Park Jimin calmly spoke before Yoon Jane could say her goodbyes. He announced, "Grandpa hasn't even cut his birthday cake, and right now everyone here is part of our inner group. There's a small drawing room upstairs so, if everyone is agreeable, how about we go up there and have the cake-cutting ceremony for Grandpa?"

After a pause, Park Jimin added, "Nobody has anything urgent to attend to now, right?"

Jeon Jungkook responded first. "What urgent matters could we possibly have, as we all specially came here today to celebrate Old Master Park's 80th birthday. The cake-cutting ceremony is so important. How can we leave before doing that?"

Because Jeon Jungkook had put it that way, Yoon Jane had to suppress her anxious desire to go look for Wang Momo and stay for the sake of leaving a good impression with Old Master Park.

Upon entering the elevator, Park Jimin instructed Yoongi, "When we get upstairs, go to the lounge and invite my grandfather over to the drawing room."

"Yes, Master Park," Yoongi replied, and then he pressed the button for the second floor.

......

At Old Master Parks birthday party, the commotion that Wang Momo had caused resulted in a complete disgrace for the Yoon family, as well. Although everyone wore smiles, chatted amicably, and avoided all mention of what had happened downstairs, the drawing room's atmosphere was persistently awkward. No one felt more uncomfortable than Yoon Jane, who sat beside her mother and barely talked while wearing a stiff smile.

Before the attendant could serve the cake, Mother Yoon was afraid that Old Master Park's impression of her daughter had dramatically decreased, and she wanted to smooth it over. She had thought extensively about this before she finally said, "Jane, that manager of yours is really too much! You need to hurry up and replace her before she further casts a negative light on you!" She tried to sound like she was lecturing Yoon Jane when, in reality, she was pushing the blame on Wang Momo.

As Mother Yoon continued talking, she gave Yoon Jane's waist a subtle jab. Yoon Jane understood and then dropped her head and planted a look of remorse and guilt on her face. "Yes, Mom. I am completely at fault for what that woman has done. I could never have dreamed that something like that could happen..."

Yoon Jane raised her head as she continued speaking, her eyes brimming with tears. "I'm so sorry to everyone, especially to you, Grandpa Park."

The resolve of the guests to not discuss what had happened in the grand hall, to avoid creating more stress, suddenly became empathy as Mother Yoon lectured Yoon Jane, who in turn continued apologizing. Whatever feelings the guests had about Yoon Jane's wrongdoing dissipated and, eventually, they started comforting her.

"You can't blame Jane for this. After all, Jane isn't her manager..."

"Exactly. Let bygones be bygones, and nobody should bring this up again. Even you, Mrs. Yoon—there's no need to scold Yoon Jane when things are fine..."

Despite all the kind words said to help smooth things over, Yoon Jane remained teary-eyed and continued to look guilty, lost, and pitiful. "No matter what, this is my fault. If I hadn't gone on stage to sing, perhaps Grandpa Park's birthday party wouldn't have been ruined."

Park Jimin was sitting by the side and watching everything unfold with a calm face. The corner of his lips unknowingly curled into a light smile. He lowered his head and, as if the people around him didn't exist, grabbed Rosè Jang's hand and started playing around by pinching it.