After some time, Jin-woo emerged from the Cha estate in his car, descending the hills in complete silence.
He felt much lighter now; he simply had to work hard and fulfill the promises he had made, and then he could finally live peacefully with his family.
He reached for his phone and called his mother, Young-sook, who answered almost immediately.
"Hello, Jin-woo? How was your meeting with Eun-soo's parents? Is everything alright?" Young-sook asked, her voice tinged with maternal concern.
"Do not worry, Mom, everything is fine," Jin-woo replied, a small smile playing on his lips. "They have given their permission for me to marry Eun-soo."
"That's such a relief! We were worried they wouldn't let you marry her so easily," Young-sook sighed over the line.
"Well, it wasn't exactly easy," Jin-woo admitted. "They have some conditions, but I'm confident I can meet them."
Jin-ho, who had been listening intently from his wife's side, furrowed his brows at the mention of conditions. He spoke up, his voice firm: "Jin-woo, truth be told, even if Eun-soo is a wonderful girl, if their conditions are too demanding, you don't need to satisfy them. There are always other girls and parents who will accept you for exactly who you are."
Hearing this, Jin-woo felt a wave of warmth in his heart. "Dad, don't worry. I know what I'm doing. Their conditions aren't unreasonable. I wanted to achieve something great anyway, and they agreed that if I can pull off what I've planned, they will gladly welcome me into the family. Plus, overall, they really are good people."
Hearing the conviction in his son's voice, Jin-ho didn't say anything more and simply nodded, though Jin-woo couldn't see it.
"Okay, Jin-woo," Young-sook said. "When will you be home?"
"I'll arrive in a little while, Mom. You don't need to worry."
"Alright then. Take care and drive safely. See you soon."
"Okay, bye Mom."
The winding road down from the Cha estate felt markedly different than the ascent.
As Jin-woo navigated the steep, tree-lined curves of the exclusive hilltop district, the oppressive weight that usually sat behind his ribs had dissolved.
The city lights of Seoul stretched out below like a vast, shimmering neural network, but for the first time, Jin-woo was looking at them without any rush.
He merged onto the highway, the rhythmic hum of the tires against the asphalt providing a meditative backdrop to his thoughts.
The neon signs of the Han River bridges flickered past in a blur of cobalt and violet.
As the dense skyline of central Seoul began to thin, replaced by the wider, more orderly layout of the northern suburbs, the air seemed to grow crisper.
He bypassed the towering glass monoliths of the business district, steering the car toward Ilsan, a city known for its greenery and quiet academic atmosphere.
Here, the pace of life slowed; the frantic energy of the capital was replaced by the soft glow of streetlamps illuminating wide sidewalks and rows of ginkgo trees.
When Jin-woo finally pulled into the familiar driveway in Ilsan, he was greeted by the sight of the book-filled suburban residence that had shaped his entire worldview.
Unlike the cold, obsidian surfaces of the Cha estate, his parents' home was built of warm, weathered red brick, partially softened by climbing ivy that turned a deep copper in the autumn.
The house stood as a physical manifestation of a lifetime dedicated to knowledge.
Through the wide front windows, one could see floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that groaned under the weight of leather-bound physics journals, classic literature, and stacks of research papers.
There was no "intimidating opulence" here; instead, the home breathed a sense of intellectual comfort.
The foyer was perpetually scented with a mixture of aged parchment, jasmine tea, and the faint, clean smell of blackboard chalk that seemed to cling to his father's jackets.
It was a space where every corner held a memory—a cluttered desk where a younger Jin-woo had first learned to code, and the sturdy dining table where logic was debated as fiercely as politics.
It was a house that didn't demand respect through gold or crystal, but through the quiet, unshakable dignity of the people within its walls.
After parking his car, Jin-woo walked to the front door and rang the bell.
A few moments later, footsteps echoed from the other side, and Young-sook opened the door with a welcoming smile.
Stepping inside, the layout was familiar and comforting: large bookshelves and a plush sofa occupied one side, while an open kitchen and dining area sat on the other.
The home was a perfect blend of modern convenience and old-world charm, giving it an incredibly cozy feel.
"You're home! Come in," Young-sook said. "I wasn't sure if you ate properly at Eun-soo's house. I saved some rice, some spicy dakgalbi, and fresh banchan for you. Go refresh yourself first, and then I'll heat it up."
"Thank you, Mom. I'll be down after I wash up," Jin-woo replied.
He headed to the first-floor washroom and returned a few minutes later, having changed into comfortable black pajamas.
His parents were already seated at the dining table, with a steaming plate of food set out at his usual chair.
Jin-woo sat down and began to eat, the home-cooked flavors grounding him as he talked to his parents.
"You guys really don't have to worry," Jin-woo said between bites. "Her parents just want me to become successful in my field before we marry, which isn't a problem for me."
His parents exchanged a knowing look before Jin-ho asked, "So, what is your next plan?"
"I mentioned a while ago that I wanted to further my research on AGI and deepen my mathematical knowledge for it, right?" Jin-woo reminded them.
They both nodded.
"I recently received an acceptance letter from Oxford for the PhD program I applied to. So, I'm thinking of going to England to complete my doctorate while simultaneously finishing my AGI research."
Young-sook nodded slowly, processing the news. "So you'll finish your PhD, create this AGI you've been working on, and then come back to marry Eun-soo?"
Jin-woo smiled wryly. "Mom, it's not quite that simple. I'll need to implement the AGI in different fields and expand my company, A2, into the UK market. If I can successfully scale the business there, Eun-soo's parents will be fully convinced."
Jin-ho looked at his son seriously. "How sure are you that you can pull this off?"
"I'm confident I can do it if I stay focused," Jin-woo said firmly. "I'm already deep into the research. Joining Oxford is about collaborating with different minds to expand my horizons. I'm not starting from zero this time; I have the capital now. Before, I was hesitant to expand too quickly, but now I realize it's necessary."
A silence fell over the table as his parents contemplated the magnitude of his ambition.
Jin-woo finished his dinner and quietly began cleaning the bowls.
Finally, Young-sook spoke up, her voice a bit soft. "So... you will be away from us for several years."
Jin-woo laughed warmly. "Who said I was going alone?"
Startled, Young-sook looked up. "Then who is going with you?"
Jin-woo looked at both of them, his expression sincere. "All of you. Ha-jun, you, Dad—I want all of you to come with me."
"What would we do in London?" Jin-ho asked, surprised. "We are perfectly fine here at home."
"It won't be forever," Jin-woo insisted. "It would be a great experience for all of us to see something new. We'll come back once my work is complete."
His parents fell silent once more, weighing the idea of an overseas adventure as Jin-woo watched them, waiting for their answer.