Chapter 51
Choi Deok-gyu looked around and spoke to Kim Ha-sun.
“Shall we talk somewhere quiet for a bit?”
“Shall we?”
Of course. A mother with parental authority couldn’t just be ignored.
Kim Ha-sun got into a van decorated with duck motifs.
With a little ease, Kim Ha-sun spoke.
“Oh, is this the duck van? It’s cute.”
“Yes. You haven’t seen it before, have you?”
It was a loaded question, but Kim Ha-sun didn’t notice.
After a brief conversation, Kim Ha-sun raised her voice.
“What did you say? What are you talking about, really! If you’re going to act like this, why not just send Chae-ri to the after-school care program? How could you refuse when the mother herself wants to take care of her? Does that even make sense?”
Choi Deok-gyu took a crumpled memo out of his pocket.
It was the checklist handed to him by Kim Myung-ja.
“Have you ever gone out with Chae-ri?”
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
She had never gone out. Not even once to a playground.
Choi Deok-gyu was subtly annoyed.
‘Chae-ri loves kids’ cafes so much.’
She could at least have been taken there once. She was four years old and in the prime of running around.
“What is Chae-ri’s favorite number?”
“Her lucky number is 7.”
No, it’s 5.
It sounded similar to “duck” in Korean. Seven was Kim Ha-sun’s favorite number.
“What is Chae-ri’s favorite food?”
“Chae-ri likes cereal the most.”
Kim Ha-sun looked at Choi Deok-gyu in disbelief.
“What is the point of these questions?”
“Chae-ri doesn’t like cereal.”
“Come on. She eats cereal so well.”
“Eating well and liking it are two different things.”
“Do you know how smart Chae-ri is? She expresses herself clearly.”
“Chae-ri likes pork cutlet and tteokbokki.”
Choi Deok-gyu slightly frowned.
‘Breakfast is cereal every day.’
Previously it had been toast and warm milk, but now it was cereal. He said it was a little disappointing.
“What does Chae-ri do when she gets home?”
“She goes into her room and plays by herself.”
“You don’t know what she does inside?”
“She reads storybooks and stays quietly.”
“Is that her choice?”
“What do you mean? Are you saying I locked her in? Really. Last time, Chae-ri locked the door herself. I scolded her a bit. I’m really upset now.”
Kim Ha-sun quickly continued.
“I will take care of Chae-ri myself. Please guide me.”
“No.”
“On what grounds? Fine, then. No need for the after-school program. Bring Chae-ri back.”
“Do you know how smart Chae-ri is?”
“Yes.”
“Chae-ri said she wants to be alone.”
“That’s nonsense!”
Kim Ha-sun flared up, pulled out her phone, and quickly searched through her contacts.
[Ri Chae]
[Ni ch]
[Lee Pae]
Her anger caused her to mistype repeatedly.
“Ugh! Seriously!”
Choi Deok-gyu was deeply disappointed. Even if she didn’t remember the shortcut, a mother not knowing her child’s phone number was more than disappointing—it was pitiable.
Choi Deok-gyu called out the number.
“010-XXX-XXXX. I can remember this much, Chae-ri’s mother.”
Chae-ri didn’t answer Kim Ha-sun’s call.
She was busy playing in the dirt with Pyraion at her newly acquired secret hideout (a standalone house).
‘Ah, this is so fun.’
A child’s body was truly wonderful.
Even such a simple game could bring this much joy.
After playing enthusiastically for a long while, Chae-ri went to the shower.
Kim Myung-ja was waiting in the shower.
She giggled.
“Chae-ri, your face is all dirty!”
Holding Chae-ri’s hand, Kim Myung-ja led her carefully.
“Be careful, it’s slippery.”
“Yes!”
With Kim Myung-ja’s help, Chae-ri washed thoroughly and then sat in a child-sized chair in front of the vanity.
Wooooosh!
The warm air from the hairdryer blew fiercely, making her hair flutter wildly.
It felt like ‘battling the Super Wind on Green Hill.’
For some reason, this was incredibly exciting. Chae-ri had to suppress the urge to run around.
‘Calm down, child. The hairdryer sound is just the motor running, not a battle cry.’
Dinner time.
The secret hideout was large enough to have its own dining room.
“Chae-ri, you must be hungry?”
“Yup. Davis.”
Chae-ri covered her mouth.
Davis was wearing an apron.
Next to him was a dazzlingly beautiful older sister.
A treat for the eyes.
“Eom So-young, unnie?”
“I’m not very skilled at cooking, so I called for backup.”
Eom So-young winked at Chae-ri while holding the pork cutlet sauce.
“Chae-ri, you like pork cutlet, right?”
Chae-ri swallowed hard and nodded without realizing it.
Soon, Pyraion joined Chae-ri.
“What is this ‘pork cutlet’?”
With the dignity of a 230-year-old, he asked, but Kim Myung-ja was firm.
“You must dry off first! You’re dripping wet!”
Kim Myung-ja grabbed Pyraion’s wrist and led him toward the bathroom.
It seemed she was going to show the full power of the hairdryer.
“Hey, young man. Do you know how old I am…?”
“Yes, yes, sir. I’ll sit here.”
Pyraion had to sit in a slightly larger child-sized chair and endure the hairdryer.
“I am continental-class…!”
Initially resisting, Pyraion’s expression gradually softened.
“Oh…”
He became fluffy and warm.
“…Not bad, perhaps?”
Kim Myung-ja’s touch was excellent.
Choi Deok-gyu was also present where Kim Myung-ja was.
No matter how busy he was, he tried to share at least one meal with her.
Thus, during dinner, quite a few people gathered.
‘Myung-ja teacher, Davis, Guild Leader Choi Deok-gyu, Eom So-young unnie, and Pyraion?’
And little Green (Chae-ri) on a chair.
Seven people in total, seated along a long rectangular table.
‘Cozy and nice.’
And pork cutlet, too. A delightful combination.
Chae-ri wore a child-sized bib but didn’t feel embarrassed.
Pyraion marveled.
“Finished eating pork cutlet. Incredible civilization.”
He gave a thumbs-up to Eom So-young.
“I’ll get up now to continue my research.”
Eom So-young, not yet knowing Pyraion’s true identity, firmly said,
“Little one, speak politely to your teacher…”
Eom So-young, having raised a nephew before, was a master at boys’ childcare.
At that moment, Choi Deok-gyu gestured quickly.
“Lord. I’ll explain later.”
“No, discipline should be applied where necessary.”
“There are special circumstances here.”
Pyraion narrowed his eyes at Eom So-young.
“You do not yet know me. If I were to speak…”
Though Eom So-young had permission to enter for Chae-ri, those with ill intentions would be filtered out.
The ‘secret hideout’ system did not allow just anyone in. Only trustworthy people could access it.
Secrets acquired here could not be shared elsewhere.
Hence, Pyraion intended to formally introduce himself and show his continental-class hero bravado.
However, childcare master Kim Myung-ja was faster.
She wiped pork cutlet sauce off Pyraion’s mouth and said,
“I know you’re busy, but it would be nice to wait until your friend finishes eating.”
“…Friend?”
Chae-ri ate at a slightly slower pace than others.
Pyraion sat quietly and waited.
The word ‘friend’ didn’t feel bad.
Showing continental-class heroism could wait.
After the pleasant dinner, Chae-ri had a one-on-one session with Choi Deok-gyu.
“Did your mom call?”
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
“She said to enjoy myself.”
“Huh?”
Choi Deok-gyu tilted his head. That was very different from their conversation in the van.
“Did she say she wanted to come here?”
“Nope.”
Choi Deok-gyu was puzzled.
‘That can’t be…’
He asked again to confirm.
“Chae-ri, do you want both mom and dad to be here?”
“Hmm…”
Chae-ri almost nodded unconsciously.
A child’s heart can open quickly after being tightly closed, even within half a day.
For no other reason than the fact they were mom and dad.
That’s the way a child’s heart works.
‘But…’
Tonight had been too happy.
She wished every day could be like today.
‘I never felt this at that house.’
At that house, besides cereal, she didn’t really eat anything special.
Chae-ri ate slowly and always ended up alone at the end.
‘I feel like I unintentionally became independent quickly.’
She was still far too young to be independent, but it was okay.
This was all part of getting used to things.
Chae-ri thought for a moment and spoke.
“Nope.”
“Alright then.”
Choi Deok-gyu didn’t ask much more. For now, he decided to protect her here.
“My mom said it’s okay for me to stay here for a long time.”
“……Really?”
He hadn’t expected her to agree so easily.
‘I need to check this out.’
Something felt off.
