Chapter 10: "Burnt Pages & Broken Vases"

After the discussion with Li Na they all decided to go back to Han estate to introduce Li Na to her Uncle(Grandfather). Li Na stared out the car window as the Han family's main house came into view—a sprawling estate with trimmed gardens, historical fountains, and what looked like an actual servant holding a tray of fresh pastries near the entrance.

Li Na: "You people live like this? And yet you still found time to be miserable?

So-young kicked her feet in the backseat, grinning. "Wait till you see the kitchen. There's a drawer just for golden spoons."

Li Na's eyes twitched. "A whole drawer? For spoons?"

Dae-ho, mouth full of snacks, added: "Yeah, and if you steal one, Grandfather's ghost ancestors haunt you for three generations."

Li Na slowly turned to So-young. "I take back every nice thing I ever said about your family."

As the car rolled up the driveway, Li Na's expression shifted between awe and sheer outrage the entire way.

Li Na's polished shoes squeaked against the Han estate's marble floors as she glared at the oil paintings of stern ancestors lining the walls. "Ugh. Even the portraits look judgmental."

Grandfather emerged from his study, his cane tapping like a metronome of doom. When their eyes met, his stern expression wavered.

"Li Na," he said, voice rough. "You have my brother's stubborn chin."

She crossed her arms. "And yet, somehow, I'm the only one in this family who isn't emotionally constipated."

A beat of silence. Then—

Grandfather snorted.

With shaky hands, he opened a leather-bound album. "Seong-ho… your father. This was him at the bakery, before—" His voice cracked.

The photo showed a young Seong-ho grinning, covered in flour, flipping off the camera behind Grandfather's back.

Li Na's breath hitched. Then, with dramatic flair, she slammed Seong-ho's burned recipe book in his arms. "Here. Proof that my father was ten times the baker you'll ever be."

Grandfather's missing pinky twitched as he touched the charred pages—where Seong-ho's notes were still visible:

"Joon-ho hates cinnamon. Add extra.

"Moon & Son's flour tastes like lies and regret."

"If I die, tell my daughter I loved her before I even knew her."

A single tear plopped onto the page.

Li Na (deadpan): "If you start monologuing, I'm setting this place on fire."

From the doorway, So-young and Dae-ho clutched their chests in sync, fake-sobbing.

Dae-ho: "Family… is like bread… sometimes it's crusty… but soft inside…"

So-young: "Or moldy. Sometimes it's just moldy."

Grandfather laughed—really laughed—for the first time in decades. "You're definitely Seong-ho's child."

Li Na smirked. "And don't you forget it, Uncle."

The moment was ruined when Dae-ho tripped over a priceless vase.

As the shattered vase echoed through the hall, a servant gasped. "That was from the Joseon Dynasty!"

Li Na arched her brow. "Wow. Even your vases are judgmental."

Grandfather sighed, rubbing his temples. "Just... put it with the others."

"Others?" Li Na asked.

So-young grinned. "Oh yeah. Dae-ho has his own shelf in the 'Broken Heirlooms' storage room."

Dae-ho, still sprawled on the floor, gave a weak thumbs-up. "I'm an artist."

The Awkward Family Dinner

Later, at the dinner table, the air was thick with tension—and the scent of gamjatang.

Li Na poked at her soup. "So. Who poisoned who first? I need to know who to thank for my trust issues."

Grandfather choked on his rice.

Uncle Min-woo, who had been silently sweating since Li Na arrived, finally spoke: "It was...complicated."

"Ah." Li Na nodded. "So everyone poisoned everyone. Got it."

So-young kicked Dae-ho under the table. "Remember that time you accidentally ate my experimental dough and hallucinated for six hours?"

Dae-ho pointed his chopsticks at her. "You said it was matcha!"

"It was matcha!" So-young protested. "…Mixed with questionable mushrooms."

Li Na leaned toward Grandfather. "Are they always like this?"

Grandfather sighed. "Worse."

The Late-Night Kitchen Confession

That night, Li Na found So-young sitting on the counter, sneaking tteokbokki straight from the pan.

"Couldn't sleep?" Li Na asked, stealing a bite.

So-young shrugged. "Still getting used to… all this." She gestured vaguely at the mansion. "And the ghosts."

Li Na hesitated. "Do you… think he's still here? My father?"

A warm breeze rustled through the kitchen, though the windows were closed. The scent of cinnamon and burnt sugar filled the air.

On the counter, a single apricot twist appeared—perfectly golden, still warm.

Li Na's breath caught.

So-young smirked. "I told you this family was haunted."

Li Na took a shaky bite—and burst into tears. "Damn it. This is really good."

So-young patted her back. "Welcome to the family, noona."

Somewhere, faint as a whisper, Seong-ho's laughter echoed through the kitchen.