episode_0025

Fortunately, Dayoung, who had scolded me once before, seemed to remember that incident and greeted me first.

“Oh, hello.”

“Yeah, hi.”

An extremely awkward atmosphere. Although harsh words weren’t spoken, Dayoung was glaring at author Lee Yeong-woo.

“Ahem, Dayoung? Shall we go home now? Author, see you next time?”

Quickly offering farewell greetings to smooth things over, I approached Dayoung, pushed his back, and entered the apartment building.

As soon as the elevator arrived, I boarded it. A probing silence followed as no one else was inside.

“What? What just happened? Why are you exposing your chest like that again?”

“Heh! It’s not about exposing anything, just a button popped open. Just stretching. That’s all. The author… I mean, that gentleman lent me his jacket to cover it up and even escorted me.”

Dayoung scanned me suspiciously from head to toe despite my explanation. Eventually, he averted his gaze.

“Sigh… Dad. Seriously, be careful. I know you didn’t mean it, but still, the other person might not see it that way.”

“Alright, I got it. I got it. By the way, you and your mother…”

“Dad!”

“Sorry.”

I unintentionally thought of my ex-wife and cut myself off mid-sentence.

After a brief awkward moment, Dayoung undid the last button on my blouse and said, “This looks more natural. If there’s a gap, it might attract even weirder looks.”

Looking in the mirror, I agreed with Dayoung. Earlier, it felt awkward, but now I appeared confident and open-minded, like a career woman.

“Anyway, your chest is outrageous. No, looking closely, your skirt is high-waisted, emphasizing your hips. Your figure is really… Well, even thinking about your aunt, it seems like it runs in our family.”

I almost said, “Are you the one growing up to a C cup at just 17?” but stopped myself.

“By the way, did you deliver the kimchi properly?”

“Yes. They said they’ll enjoy it.”

“Good. When someone receives something, they should also give back. Even if it’s done with good intentions, without reciprocation, it becomes tiring.”

“Yeah.”

“Oh, right. We were planning to go shopping for clothes at the outlet.”

“Yes. We should go by next week before the vacation.”

“When do you want to go? How about tomorrow?”

It was Sunday, so it might be a bit crowded, but weekends were the most convenient since weekdays were busy with evening workouts, children’s studies, and their schedules.

“Tomorrow? Sounds good to me. I’ll ask Davin, and if it’s okay, we can go tomorrow.”

“Sure.”

-Ding. 15th floor.

The elevator arrived, and I led the way, opened the front door, and went inside.

“Davin, Mom’s here.”

I said that as I entered the house, but no one was in sight.

I headed towards Davin’s room. Opening the door and peeking in, I saw Davin and Seungyoon sitting in front of the computer, engrossed in something.

“Davin, Mom’s here. What are you so focused on?”

As I asked while opening the door wide, Davin quickly turned off the screen.

“Oh, you’re back, Mom?”

Davin promptly removed his earphones and greeted me, and Seungyoon also greeted me.

“You’re back. Madam…?”

Seungyoon stood up abruptly to greet me, then hesitated and sat back down.

“Oh, Mom. Uh, the clothes.”

Ah, right. I forgot about the popped button and came in to greet them first. Well, actually, I thought only Davin was here, not Seungyoon.

“Mom, get a hold of yourself.”

He quickly stood up to welcome me.

“I accidentally popped a button while stretching earlier. Hehe. It’s nothing. Oh, right. Have the other kids all left?”

Even so, Da Bin barely met my eyes as I opened my clothes.

“The other friends left about an hour ago. Oh, right. I forgot to ask when I called earlier. Can Seung Yoon sleep over tonight?”

Seung Yoon hesitated, but Da Bin nudged him.

“Oh, just stay over. Let’s hang out. Okay?”

I had never seen Da Bin trying to be so friendly like that before. Seeing how eager he was made me happy as a parent, so I just nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, since you rarely come, play a bit more with Da Bin before leaving. I’ll make something delicious.”

When I urged Seung Yoon, he reluctantly nodded.

“Alright. Then I’ll excuse myself today.”

“Haha, no need for excuses. Oh, Mom will change and be out soon, so please wait a bit. Oh, right. We might have to skip exercise today. I should call Jin Hee.”

On days without classes recently, Choi Jin Hee used to exercise with our family. Originally, we planned to eat dinner and exercise together today, but if Seung Yoon is sleeping over at our place, then neither I nor Da Bin can go exercise. Actually, it would be fine to just feed them and let them come back with Da Young, but…

I felt a bit uneasy about what the two boys might do at home suddenly turning off the screen or something, so I thought I should send Da Young even if it didn’t work out.

Before changing clothes, I knocked on Da Young’s door before opening it.

-Knock knock!

“Da Young, can I come in?”

“Come in~”

As I opened the door, she was changing her top. When I tried to turn around quickly, Da Young said,

“Why are you so startled when Mom has even worse things and still can’t get used to it after two months?”

Of course, although I had become very accustomed to my body by now, the relationship between women over the past few years had not been smooth, so I still felt awkward as the distance between us narrowed unexpectedly.

“Maybe you’re adapting too quickly?”

Saying that, I entered the room.

The fresh scent of the diffuser was distinctly different from Da Bin’s room. It exuded a feeling of a girl’s room. From the arrangement of furniture to the clothes hanging on the hanger, the tidy environment on the desk, and even the taste of stationery. Everything, from big to small, showed such a distinctive style that I found it fascinating and realized that I hadn’t been interested in these things before.

Of course, prior to this, when I was a man, Da Young hardly ever invited me into her room.

“Well, how is it? By the way, what’s up?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. One of Da Bin’s friends is staying over tonight. Are you okay with that? Mom said it’s fine.”

At that, Da Young frowned.

“Oh, geez. Did he already make it a fact without even getting permission? Well, there’s nothing we can do. Mom said it’s okay.”

Although she always nagged and scolded, seeing her uphold the authority of parents at times like this made her a really good kid. She was my daughter, but I was truly grateful for that.

“Hehe, aside from that. It seems like Da Bin and Mom won’t be able to go exercise today. Do you want to go alone and come back? Or should we all just rest together? What do you think? You decide, and I’ll pass it on to Jin Hee.”

“Well… I’ll take a day off, too. While resting, I should turn on the broadcast a bit earlier.”

When Da Young also decided to skip exercise, I called Choi Jin Hee to convey the decision.

“Oh, really? Ah~ Today will be a bit boring. Alright. Then you rest well too.”

“Okay. Sorry. See you on Monday.”

“Yes, see you on Monday.”

After hanging up the phone, I went into the room, changed my clothes, and came out. Then I went to the kitchen, prepared dinner right away, and Dayoung came out in the middle to help set the table.

“Dayoung, can you go call the kids?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Soon, Dayoung brought Davin and Seungyoon to the table.

“Well, it’s the same menu we had for lunch, but the kimchi is newly made, so try it once. It should be cooked just right by now.”

Then, they all sat down together to start the meal. Dayoung and I sat side by side, with Seungyoon sitting across from me.

“Are you going to work out today, sis?”

“No, I’m planning to take a break today.”

“Oh, I see. How about doing some Ring Fit later?”

“All of a sudden? Why?”

“Well, just because. Since we can’t go to the gym, let’s just hang out at home together. I agreed to do it with Seungyoon. Oh, right. This is my friend Seungyoon. Kang Seungyoon. Seungyoon, this is my sister. Her name is Jung Dayoung, a freshman in high school.”

“Oh, hello.”

Seungyoon greeted Dayoung. But for some reason, his face seemed red… suspicious. Well, our daughter wouldn’t fall for someone easily outside, but as a father, it’s not a pleasant situation.

“Hello. Nice to meet you. Um… how did you become friends with Davin?”

Fortunately, if you say they’re your sibling’s friends, it can be awkward, but Dayoung was sociable and easily struck up conversations.

“Oh, we’re in the same club. We were in the same class and got to know each other a bit, and then when my mom came to school one day, I guided her. After that, I started talking to Davin…”

At that, Dayoung smiled slightly.

“Oh, your mom guided her? How nice of you?”

Seungyoon smiled broadly at Dayoung’s praise.

“Hehe, it’s nothing. It’s only natural.”

The conversation continued naturally as they enjoyed their meal.

“So, are you joining us for Ring Fit, sis?”

“Oh, okay. I was planning to turn in early today.”

Seungyoon chuckled at that. Davin noticed.

“Oh, my sister does broadcasts. Internet broadcasts. Twitch… you know?”

Seungyoon glanced at Dayoung with sparkling eyes.

“Oh, of course. I watch a lot of broadcasts.”

Dayoung’s expression stiffened. She muttered with a very embarrassed look.

“No way… It can’t be.”

Then Davin asked Seungyoon.

“Do you know Jorangi?”

Jorangi was Dayoung’s broadcasting nickname, named after her love for rice cakes. Unfortunately for Dayoung…

“What?! I’m Jjollangdan… huh?!”

Seungyoon looked extremely surprised, alternating between Davin and Dayoung.

And Dayoung sighed deeply.

“Ha… of all things.”

I watched this situation with great interest.

What is this? A meeting with a star or something?