Why don’t you stop worrying about your daughter-in-law? While thinking that the grip strength of an old man approaching 80 was truly remarkable, Jae Kyung nodded halfheartedly.

“What is it, are you worried about our Kang?”

Jung Soon, who had finished her work and approached, stood before the two men.

Her face, which had swept over Chairman Kang and settled tightly on Jae Kyung, raised an eyebrow as if to say, “Go ahead and speak.”

Whatever it was, if it was a concern of her grandson-in-law, she would put everything aside and take the lead in resolving it.

Jae Kyung, who had lowered his waist considerably so that Jung Soon could see comfortably, smiled gently.

Watching the impatient Jung Soon, he was somehow reminded of that woman.

Did she eat well? Not a single text saying she’s coming or going. He immediately dismissed the thought that she might still be sleeping.

Because the diligent Kye Da Hae wouldn’t do such a thing.

It was just as Jae Kyung twisted his wrist to check his watch, intending to change locations.

Bang! Roll roll.

“Big brother! Please throw the ball!”

Along with the ball that flew from afar came a chorus of young voices.

The little heads couldn’t come close, all just staring at the soccer ball caught at Jae Kyung’s feet.

The faces of the two old people, suddenly surrounded by children, lit up.

Their shining eyes urged Jae Kyung on, as if to say, “Hurry up and do something.”

“Woohoo!”

“That’s right!”

Soon, thunderous cheers erupted.

The ball, lightly lifted by his shoe, bounced a few times before quickly rising to his knee.

Applause poured from the little ones as they watched the skilled footwork of the tall adult.

After bouncing a couple more times on his knee, the ball came back down to his instep, and then arced back to the children in a nice parabola.

Jae Kyung, having received the highest praise for that age group – “totally cool” – responded by waving his arms above his head.

Then, feeling the intense gaze from behind, he turned his head.

The chairmen of both families stood side by side, wearing similar smiles. It was truly a burdensome expression.

When Jae Kyung asked what they needed, the two chairmen exchanged glances before Chairman Bae spoke up first.

“Well, you see.”

Just when it seemed she was uncharacteristically holding back her words, she licked her lips while glancing sideways at the children who had drawn near.

What could be the reason for feeling thirsty while looking at children, when she wasn’t the witch from Hansel and Gretel?

“In-law. How long do you think we’ll live?”

Cha Dol chimed in, as if trying to help Jung Soon.

“That’s up to heaven, but it wouldn’t be strange if we went right away, you know.”

Jae Kyung’s head tilted. He wondered why they were suddenly doing a comedy routine. The riddle that seemed impossible to solve,

“Kang, son.”

Well, what is it.

“You don’t have to be too careful, you know.”

“……?”

Was solved with an even more puzzling statement.

Chairman Bae Jung Soon smiled subtly.

She had no doubt that her meaning had been properly conveyed to the clever fellow.

“It’d be nice to go on a trip somewhere. It’s spring, after all.”

Chairman Kang Cha Dol, who stood majestically with his hands on his hips, smiled meaningfully.

So did Kang Jae Kyung, who understood the meaning.

“Let’s go by car.”

He smiled.

Ah, what to do about this. It’s the elders’ words, so he couldn’t go against them. Finding it funny even to himself, a bland smile followed.

He imagined for a moment. A child resembling that woman. Even in his imagination, his own figure standing beside them was faintly blurred.

The form of a complete family that couldn’t be drawn.

For Jae Kyung, family was like that. Something abstract that had never been mixed because it wasn’t real. It had been his position until now.

* * *

Kang Jae Kyung, who said he’d be back, didn’t come.

“I’m home.”

Suddenly,

“Sister-in-law.”

The young master appeared.

It had been about 3 months since she last saw him, after the wedding. Da Hae awkwardly welcomed the guest.

The sudden visit of the young master, who should have been in England, was disconcerting not just because he was a member of her in-laws’ family.

She was used to dealing with unexpected situations from her extensive social life.

However, having to act as the host in a space that didn’t feel like her own was a somewhat different realm.

She had never even acted as the host of a newlywed home, and she was also conscious of her appearance that clearly showed she had spent the night out.

A wrinkled shirt and uncombed hair. Her haggard face strongly exuded the smell of a worker who had pulled an all-nighter.

A perceptive person might have had questions, but the naive young master showed no signs of suspicion. Thankfully.

“Were you about to go somewhere?”

Pil Seung asked in a regretful tone. His wandering gaze flicked between the handbag on her shoulder and the shoe hastily slipped on only one foot.

Since the circumstances had conveniently presented themselves, she was about to use going out as an excuse to send him away.

Just as Da Hae, her face full of an apologetic expression, was choosing her words.

As if reading her thoughts, a dejected voice preemptively interjected.

“I came straight from the airport. Without even stopping by the main house. Directly.”

“……Ahaha. I see.”

He says he’s sorry for not greeting her properly because he was in a hurry, and ‘Well, if it’s urgent, what can you do.’

It should be unavoidable. Somehow, the young man’s slumped shoulders caught her eye. In the midst of this, a new defense came to mind.

“Ah, Jae Kyung isn’t here right now.”

“That’s okay. I came to see you today, sister-in-law.”

“……Haha.”

Kang Pil Seung smiled broadly, revealing even teeth.

Da Hae finally opened the door wide. After he had gone so far as to say that, it would be unreasonable to just send him away.

“Come in. It’s not particularly urgent.”

“As expected, sister-in-law is the best.”

The young master, his regretful air cleared away cleanly, boldly took the lead as if passing through a highway toll.

The quick change in attitude made her wonder if his previous pitifulness had been an act.

Do the people in that family learn to have dual personalities through early education? Da Hae, momentarily dazed while holding onto the heavy front door, decided to first notify the homeowner.

As Da Hae, who had set her handbag down on the dining table, was about to reach for her phone.

“Don’t tell my brother. He’ll just worry unnecessarily.”

Pil Seung, who had been watching her from the sofa, actively dissuaded her.

“I heard he has an important meeting. We shouldn’t disturb him, right?”

“But still……”

“I’ll stay quietly and leave soon. Okay?”

It seemed that coming to greet her was the entirety of his purpose. Seeing as he came knowing he wouldn’t be able to meet his brother.

Agreeing, Da Hae stood in the kitchen and split a thoroughly washed lemon in two. She was following what Kang Jae Kyung had done the night before.

She put ice in a tall glass, filled it with carbonated water, and finally added the lemon pieces.

She wasn’t sure what was wrong, but it looked quite different from what she had eaten.

Da Hae placed the glass on the table in front of Pil Seung and sat on the stool across from him instead of on the sofa.

Then, Pil Seung’s eyes, which had been leisurely scanning the house, shifted to her.

“Let’s be close, noona.”

“Pft-.”

The carbonated water that couldn’t quite go down sprayed out past her lips. Her throat stung.

The fizz in her nose was so strong it made her ear canals ache, bringing tears to her eyes.

As he handed her a tissue with a refreshing laugh, Da Hae took it and looked at Pil Seung with the intention of correcting his inappropriate form of address.

Nevertheless, he continued speaking nonchalantly.

“The title ‘sister-in-law’ feels a bit awkward. When it’s just the two of us, can’t I just call you noona?”

Waiting for permission, Pil Seung smiled brightly. It was a good example of utilizing a puppy-like face that would work well anywhere.

The half-brothers exuded an aura that was similar yet completely different. Even considering their age difference of about 12 years, their approaches were different from the start.

If Kang Jae Kyung was definitely in the cold handsome man category, then Kang Pil Seung was certainly in the pretty boy category.

From his beaming smile without a trace of shadow, it was quite different from Kang Jae Kyung’s smile.

His appearance, having shed the air of a soldier as his hair grew out, looked like a pure university student.

His sharp eyes created a gentle impression when hidden behind glasses.

Though shorter than Kang Jae Kyung, who was close to 190cm at a glance, he was still quite tall.

In any case, she didn’t dislike the friendly approach of her brother-in-law. She also wondered how many more moments like this, just the two of them, there would be in the future.

“Do as you please.”

So she didn’t put much thought into it.

“I’d like it if you called me comfortably too. Like, ‘Pil Seung-ah.'”

“Yeah… well.”

“Try it.”

Just do it moderately.

“Maybe later.”

Her lips, pressed into a straight line, smiled artificially.

Through the windows with all the blinds raised, the glow of the sunset crept in stealthily.

They had spent quite a long time in a house without its owner. Just as she was looking for an opportunity to subtly hint at when he might leave.

A cheerful voice asked for another permission.

“Can I take a look around the house?”

It was an awkward request either way.

It was odd to say it was inconvenient when he wanted to look around his brother’s house, but it also felt strange to give permission freely when it wasn’t her own home.

Above all, she hadn’t thoroughly explored the house herself as the lady of the house, so she didn’t know where everything was.

While she was contemplating, his gentle gaze pierced her cheek, urging for permission. Da Hae hid her discomfort and eventually had no choice but to agree.

After all, he was family, so a house tour should be fine, right?

Worried he might ask her about things she didn’t know, she watched him from a distance as he moved between rooms, but the tour ended quickly.

Returning with mugs in both hands, he said the house was very neat.

“There was milk, so. Is it okay if I drink it?”

Shouldn’t you ask that beforehand? Thinking words she couldn’t bring herself to say out loud, Da Hae accepted the cup.

A sweet chocolate scent wafted from the mug handed to her. Undissolved powder swirled in the white milk, floating.

How would Kang Jae Kyung melt these powders? Would he stir mercilessly with his strong forearms? Somehow able to imagine that scene, she was just beginning to smile slightly.

Splash.

“Oh! I’m sorry!”

“……Ah, ha, ha.”

Milk suddenly poured from above ran down her skin.

Her shirt, stained with chocolate powder, gradually became soaked in a darker color.

Roughly wiping off the liquid that had splashed on her face, Da Hae waved the back of her hand as if to say not to worry about it.

He said he accidentally dropped the cup, but the angle at which it spilled was incredible to believe at face value. Yet there was neither reason nor evidence to suspect it was intentional.

So she had no choice but to conclude that Kang Pil Seung’s hands must have been very slippery.

“You must feel uncomfortable. Hurry and change your clothes.”

“It’s okay……”

“Come on, hurry.”

Smiling eyes and amusedly raised corners of his mouth. No matter how you looked at it, it wasn’t the face of someone who was sorry.

Now she seemed to understand a little. The real reason he came when Kang Jae Kyung wasn’t around.