episode_0117

Happy.

I’ve been happy ever since I met Eunhye, but ever since Seonga was born, I’ve been so happy that words can’t fully express it.

Kang Seonga.

The child who resembles both of us, born from the woman I love the most in this world.

Even if she only resembles me in terms of hair color and eye color, it’s probably greedy to wish for her to resemble me more, considering she’s only three years old.

And I have a wish for her to resemble her mother, Eunhye, more than me.

I reluctantly gave in to her stubbornness about growing her hair out because of that wish.

People who know me still can’t believe it.

The guy who declared he would build walls against women suddenly getting married, and even more unexpectedly, having a child…

It’s truly unbelievable, even when I think about it.

But even those thoughts disappear without a trace in front of Eunhye and Seonga.

Eunhye, with her confident declaration of love when I say I love her, and Seonga, who may find it hard to express herself but clearly loves me.

I feel sorry for Eunhye, but it seems like Seonga loves me more than her mother.

Seonga’s first word when she was born. Dad.

“Dad.” She said it with clear pronunciation, looking at me with honest eyes.

Everyone was worried that Seonga would become more of a daddy’s girl as she grew up.

Every time, Eunhye looked awkward, probably because she was worried.

“I’m back.”

“Dad!”

Look at this. My daughter who runs to me before anyone else, scared to come home.

“Dad! Bang~!”

Seonga, standing in front of me, points her toy gun at me.

Haha. Has she already reached the age where she plays with such toys?

Parents often feel that their child’s growth is fast, and Seonga seems to be growing even faster.

“Dad! I said bang~!”

As I silently smile, Seonga pouts and points the toy gun at me again.

“Bang~! Bang~!”

When I don’t react, Seonga starts jumping around like a rabbit, making gun sounds with her mouth.

I think she would look good in a rabbit costume in that state… Oh no, she’s too cute and lovely, it’s bad for my heart.

“Oh no… I’ve been hit by Seonga~”

“Haha! I got rid of Dad!”

Holding my heart with one hand and pretending to fall with exaggerated gestures, Seonga starts laughing happily.

Her confident declaration is a bit exaggerated, but she’s only three years old, so I think her expression is lacking.

And right now, I’m not pretending to be hit by Seonga’s toy gun, I’m actually shocked by my daughter’s cuteness.

“Miss Seonga, you’re amazing. You’ve finally defeated the evil Kang Sunwoo monster.”

Suddenly, Soojin appears in a black suit, clapping her hands.

Even though she’s playing along with Seonga, calling me a monster, she has always shown a harsh attitude towards me, unlike her gentle demeanor towards Seonga and Eunhye.

“Don’t you think your words are a bit harsh, Soojin? After all, I am your employer.”

“I am well aware of that. However, my true masters are Miss Seonga and Miss Eunhye, so Mr. Sunwoo is of a lower rank in terms of who I should serve.”

With a calm gaze, Su Jin stood by Seong Ah’s side and spoke softly.

I’ve always felt it, but I just can’t get used to her dry expression and attitude.

And it’s even stranger when she says such things with a face that doesn’t change a single expression.

Her skills are undeniable, but I’ve always kept my distance from that kind of attitude… But now, Su Jin seems to be assigning some kind of ranking, which piques my curiosity.

“Who’s in first place?”

“Of course, it’s Miss Eun Hye.”

Alright. Pass.

“And who’s in second place?”

“It’s the chairman.”

“What? Then what about Seong Ah, what rank is she?”

When I express my dissatisfaction with the unexpected answer, Su Jin opens her chest wide, widens her eyes, and deceives me with a smile.

“My master, Miss Seong Ah, has been the unwavering 0th rank since the day I swore allegiance to her until the day I die.”

I don’t know when she made that oath, but anyway, it’s a pass. 100 out of 100.

“Oh! Honey!”

Handing over the luggage to the servants around us, I try to take Seong Ah inside, when suddenly a familiar and heart-fluttering voice is heard.

Just hearing her clear and refreshing voice makes my heart flutter, and an overwhelming sense of happiness fills me up.

“Welcome!”

Without warning, she leaps into my arms with all her might.

Her long, slender arms wrapped around my neck are warmer than anyone else’s, and the comforting touch that reaches my chest erases any traces of fatigue, as if my playful jokes had never existed.

“I’m back. Honey.”

As I carefully embrace my clinging wife, I look into her deep eyes filled with me.

I smile softly and cautiously press my lips against hers, returning the affection.

Even though she became a mother and gave Seong Ah so much love, her love for me remains unchanged.

Although I was worried that she might be reluctant to have a wedding when she avoided eye contact and forced a stiff smile when the topic was brought up, seeing her return to her usual self so quickly reassures me.

In that sense, holding my wife and Seong Ah’s hand tightly, I follow Su Jin into our room. No, now it’s our family’s room.

Since Eun Hye became pregnant, I’ve been considering leaving. Not because I’m worried about my grandparents or parents.

Although I’m staying here now for Eun Hye’s care and Seong Ah’s upbringing, I can’t stand the feeling of being separated from my wife and daughter.

After embracing the granddaughter I longed for, my affection became too overwhelming.

Once the wedding is over, we’ll move out and live as a family of three in that house filled with memories.

Seong Ah will become a student, then a university student, and when she’s old enough to be independent, Eun Hye and I will live alone in that house for the rest of our lives.

Seong Ah may choose to live with her dad, but then… we’ll just live as a family of three forever, right?

“Thank you for your hard work today.”

Thanks to Eun Hye starting a conversation, I was able to escape from my own thoughts. …I was really lost in a foolish fantasy.

Lately, I’ve been indulging in such unrealistic daydreams, and I’ve been hearing a lot of criticism from those around me.

I need to be more careful.

And now is the time to talk about what needs to be done after the wedding we’ve been planning.

“Eun Hye.”

“Yes?”

“After our wedding, I was thinking of going to the Maldives for our honeymoon. What do you think?”

There are plenty of other travel destinations I’ve considered, but if I think about a quiet and leisurely trip for just the two of us, there doesn’t seem to be anywhere else.

In a quiet space, walking alone on the transparent surface of the water, or diving, there are so many things I want to experience with Eunhye.

I’m sorry, Seongah… but I have to rely on my parents again.

This trip is our honeymoon with Eunhye. But, it will be the last one.

“Maldives? I have no idea what it is even after hearing about it…”

Eunhye tilts her head, raising a question mark above her head.

It’s okay, just trust me. I’ll make sure you have an unforgettable and precious experience.

“Daddy. Where are Mom and Dad going?”

Caught up in the excitement of our honeymoon trip with Eunhye, I forgot about Seongah clinging to Ms. Soojin.

I hope it doesn’t happen, but Seongah is only three years old. As a time when he needs a lot of his parents’ love, he will surely try not to be separated from us even for a moment.

It’s my fault for not paying attention to many things.

“I want to go too!”

Seongah jumps up and down in place, forcing himself. His small hands spread wide open, shouting “Hooray” as if reaching up to the sky, looking so cute that I can’t help but smile unknowingly.

But cuteness and forcing oneself are two different issues.

…What should I do?

“Seongah, how about staying with Grandpa while Mom and Dad are gone?”

“Grandpa is boring! I want to go with Mom and Dad!”

If Father heard this, he must have been greatly shocked. I’m sorry, Father.

“Then, how about King Grandpa? He can grant anything Seongah wants.”

“King Grandpa is even more boring~! What I want is to travel with Mom and Dad!”

“Seongah…”

Even though it’s a child’s tantrum, Eunhye looks embarrassed at the thought of words that could hurt someone.

“I want to go~ I want to go on a trip~! I want to go!”

In a rare act of rebellion from Seongah, an awkward atmosphere fills the air.

There’s no reason why Seongah shouldn’t go on the trip. But since this trip is a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon, I wanted to create special memories just for the two of us.

It seems that Seongah won’t be persuaded to go on the trip no matter how many times we ask him.

If that’s the case, we have no choice but to go as three…

“Miss Seongah.”

At that moment, when I was at my wits’ end, Ms. Soojin, who had been silently observing the situation, spoke up.

“Just because you throw a tantrum like that doesn’t mean the situation that can’t be resolved will be resolved.”

With a calm and firm voice, Soojin uttered a sharp word. But how can she say such difficult words? Without trying to explain it in a way that Seongah can understand easily?

“…Then what should we do?”

Could it be that she understood?

“When the solution to the problem is not visible, it is also a good idea to introduce other conditions. It may not be the answer in the direction Seongah wants, but it is presenting something that could not be demanded before. That’s called a deal.”

…Is this woman crazy? What is she trying to teach our child?

“Umm… Okay. Then, I don’t want to go on the honeymoon.”

With a defeated look, Seongah stands up and Ms. Soojin helps him up.

“Then grant me one wish!”

“…Y-Yes! If it’s Seongah’s wish, we’ll grant anything!”

There are so many things I want to say to Seongah and Soojin, but right now, I just want to get out of this situation without saying anything. And since Seongah has a wish for his dad, I have to grant it no matter what.

“I want a little brother!”

The gaze of the three of us, including Soojin, is focused on Seongah, who is laughing heartily.

It’s my daughter who says such absurd things with an endlessly innocent face.

She wouldn’t say it on purpose… right?

“…Haha~ Is that so~?”

With grace in my clumsy hands, Eunhye whispered softly as she repeatedly placed her palm on top.

Slightly shivering, I turned my head towards the direction of that voice—

“It seems like our Seonga wanted a little sibling~♡”

With a hand on her blushing cheek, Eunhye chuckled softly, wearing a peculiar smile.

…I’m doomed.