“Move aside, lady.”

What? Lady? Thinking that even if she was a convenience store part-timer, Ha Yeon didn’t deserve to be called ‘lady’, she whipped her head around.

She was about to snap back, but the moment she saw the person who spoke those words, she immediately lost her fighting spirit.

“Little one, did you just say that?”

An adorable boy with baby fat still on his cheeks was looking up at her with wide eyes.

“I’m not little.”

The child answered grumpily and tottered past her to the counter.

Ah, I can’t fight with a kid.

Ha Yeon suppressed her rising temper and tried to speak sweetly.

“Is that so? Well, I’m not a lady either. So we’re even. Oh, do you not know what ‘even’ means? What I’m trying to say is…”

“I want to pay.”

This little…

Ha Yeon bit her lip hard as she watched the child cut off her words and hold out a card.

Seeing him thrust out the card with his tiny hand, she couldn’t understand why it irritated her so much. Moreover, out of all the things he could have bought to pay for, it was ‘cola’.

“Do you know your teeth will rot if you drink this?”

The child stared at Ha Yeon blankly, as if to say ‘what’s with the nagging?’

Yes, I know it’s nagging. I know I sound like an old fogy!

Ha Yeon felt awkward and forced a big laugh as she rang up the purchase.

“Hahaha, well, just don’t drink too much. And make sure to brush your teeth after drinking it.”

What am I saying now… I don’t know why I’m lecturing this little kid.

Beep, as she finished ringing up the purchase, the child took the cola and scurried out, but not before giving an unexpectedly polite bow.

“Goodbye.”

“Ahaha, yes, take care.”

Unlike his appearance, he has good manners. Ha Yeon laughed helplessly as she watched the retreating back of the child who had drained her energy more than any other customer.

[This is the timeline separator]

The next day, Ha Yeon frowned as she encountered that little customer again.

You again…

“I want to pay.”

And again, it’s cola.

Just what kind of parents would let their child buy carbonated drinks from a convenience store!

Moreover, her part-time shift started at 8 PM. The child curiously always came around 9 PM. It’s the time when children of the new era should be sleeping.

“Hey, how old are you?”

“Why do you ask about my age?”

“Young children shouldn’t be out alone buying things when it’s so dark.”

“I’m not as young as you think.”

Not young? From what perspective…

Ha Yeon couldn’t outright ignore the child’s words, so she asked again. Still, maybe, he could be incredibly young-looking.

“Okay, so how old are you?”

“Six years old.”

“Ah, six years old…”

Seeing the pride in the child’s eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to say what came next. Well, at six years old, he’d be one of the older kids in kindergarten, so from his perspective, he might not think he’s that young.

That’s entirely possible. Nodding her head, Ha Yeon lowered herself a bit to the child’s eye level to try to reason with him.

“Even if you’re six, it’s better to be at home when it’s dark. And try to cut down on the cola. You’re not drinking it before bed, are you?”

“No, I’m not. Goodbye.”

Today too, the child politely said goodbye, contrary to his grumpy and cold impression, and scurried away.

‘Huh? Did my eyes deceive me?’

It seemed like the child left with a smirk.

No way, how could such a tiny kid smirk like an adult? I must have seen wrong. Ha Yeon shook her head, thinking it was impossible even upon reflection.

*

At that time, Ji Hoo, who had bought cola from the convenience store as usual, got into the familiar black sedan parked on the street.

“I’m back.”

Seeing the cola in the child’s hand, the driver Jun Won sighed and asked.

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to go again tomorrow?”

He seemed quite worried about the child’s eccentric behavior.

“You promised to help me give Mom as a gift to Dad.”

That was true. Unable to refuse Ji Hoo’s request, he was not only failing to stop the child’s strange behavior but was actually helping.

‘This is all because of you, Kang Min Je.’

Jun Won rubbed his gaunt face as he thought of Kang Min Je, his boss, a friend of ten years, and Ji Hoo’s father. He lacked nothing in looks, wealth, or reputation. Except for one thing – his humanity.

Due to Min Je’s dry, even desolate personality, he had accepted Ji Hoo’s request, but honestly, he thought the child would give up after a few attempts. However, contrary to his expectations, the child showed no signs of giving up.

“How exactly do you plan to find your mom?”

“I’ve already found her. I just need to test her.”

“Test?”

“Yes. First, I’ll keep doing what everyone says not to do. Anyone who just says it’s okay, like the ladies who used to take care of me at home, is disqualified. Mom is someone who tells you not to do wrong things.”

Jun Won groaned as he listened to Ji Hoo speak fluently, his thoughts and speech more mature than his peers.

“Just a little longer, please? Mister? Please…”

Ji Hoo pleaded earnestly, clasping his hands together.

There was no way Jun Won, who was already soft on Ji Hoo normally, could ignore the child making such a desperate expression.

“One more week. No more than that. Understand?”

“Yes! Thank you!”

Seeing the child smile brightly at that promise, Jun Won felt a corner of his heart grow even heavier.

[This is the timeline separator]

A few days later, Ha Yeon stood with her mouth agape as the little customer entered with the ding of the door.

You again…

Still, it seemed he had paid attention to what she said, as today he came to the convenience store just after 8 o’clock.

Pat pat pat, the child walked straight to the showcase and picked up another cola.

‘Ugh, what are you trying to do with me?’

She had encountered various difficult customers while working all sorts of part-time jobs, but this was her first time meeting such a unique and young troublesome customer.

“I want to pay.”

Ha Yeon couldn’t suppress the competitiveness that had been triggered within her and spoke with a deliberately stern expression.

“No, I can’t sell you carbonated drinks anymore.”

It looked almost like she was telling teenagers, “No alcohol, no cigarettes,” but it couldn’t be helped. She was blinded by a sense of mission to prevent this little one from becoming addicted to carbonated drinks.

“Is that so? Can’t be helped then.”

Strangely, the child complied easily. No, he even seemed pleased?

Ha Yeon tilted her head and examined the child’s face. The child looked satisfied, as if he had been waiting for her to say cola wasn’t allowed.

‘No way, that can’t be possible.’

Thinking it must be just her imagination, Ha Yeon scratched her face. It was already fortunate that the child didn’t throw a tantrum when she refused to sell him cola.

But then, the child suddenly pointed at the notices posted around the convenience store and asked.

“Those, did you write them, lady?”

“Huh? How did you know?”

“I just had a feeling.”

Looking at the child nodding his head, Ha Yeon’s mind became complicated again. What kind of experiences would a six-year-old have to become such an old soul?

Ha Yeon’s nose tingled as she thought of her deceased parents for no reason.

“They’re really pretty, right? Believe it or not, I have an incredible talent for drawing.”

She had decorated various parts of the convenience store with creative drawings and designs alongside phrases like ‘Be careful, it’s hot’ and ‘Please put trash here’.

She raised her voice exaggeratedly at the child’s words, but in the end, it was a waste of talent for an art major student on leave.

Suddenly brought back to reality, Ha Yeon glumly corrected the child’s words.

“I told you, I’m not a lady.”

She hadn’t even had a proper relationship yet, but being called a lady felt somehow unfair.

“Then what should I call you?”

Yeah, what should you call me?

“Elder sister, call me elder sister.”

As those sparkling black eyes looked up at her, Ha Yeon felt her conscience pricking her, but she ignored it. She might be a bit too old to be called elder sister, but so what? It’s not like she was committing a crime.

“I’m Ji Hoo.”

Wow, you’re agreeing to call me elder sister? Now that I look at you, you’re a complete angel!

Ha Yeon was moved and extended her hand towards the child.

Ji Hoo quietly looked at that hand and slowly grasped it.

“Nice to meet you.”

Ha Yeon shook hands vigorously and then released the child’s hand.

“Here, instead of carbonated drinks, take this. It’s a gift from elder sister.”

Ha Yeon stuck a straw into a jar-shaped banana milk and placed it in the child’s hand. The child, with a slightly dazed expression, received the banana milk and bowed politely again today.

“Thank you.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Ha Yeon received a call from her friend Yu Jin.

― Didn’t you say you were going back to school this semester?

How did she know I didn’t apply to return? Ha Yeon bit her lip once and then deliberately raised her voice to answer.

“I thought it might be better to take one more semester off…”

― If it’s because of tuition, Dad said he could lend you the money.

“No, it’s not that. I just want to enjoy life for one more semester.”

Ha Yeon laughed out loud, trying not to reveal her true feelings.

‘How can I borrow tuition again? No more…’

― You might fool a ghost, but you can’t fool this elder sister.

Ha Yeon moved the phone far from her ear due to Yu Jin’s barrage of words.

I appreciate the thought, but I can’t. Ha Yeon steeled her wavering heart. Three years ago, when her parents passed away in an accident, she was thrust into the working world, and Yu Jin’s parents had helped her a lot.

That’s why no more, no longer.

As an art major student not particularly helpful for employment, she was currently on leave and working various part-time jobs.

“Oh, Yu Jin, sorry. A customer came in. I’ll call you back later.”

She could hear noisy sounds from the other end of the line, but she pressed the end call button.

‘Our daughter will surely become a great painter who will bring glory to the Jang family.’

Her father, who used to say that people should be used according to their talents, was very happy when she entered the art department.

‘Dad, I’m thinking about dropping out.’

These days, Ha Yeon was seriously considering dropping out. The world was too harsh for her, a painting major, to stand alone.

Ding, just then the convenience store door opened, and a now familiar and welcome face appeared.

“Ji Hoo, you’re here?”

Ha Yeon waved happily and smiled. After exchanging various stories with the child who came in almost every day, she had grown fond of him to the point where she couldn’t end her day without seeing Ji Hoo’s face.

“Elder sister!”

How lovely when a smile settles on the usually expressionless child’s face! Ha Yeon stroked the child’s chubby cheeks.

“Shall we have a yogurt drink together?”

Where had he seen or heard this, the child’s way of speaking was quite relaxed. Ha Yeon giggled, holding her stomach.

Ah, so cute! Ji Hoo was now her vitamin and source of energy.

“Alright! Today, elder sister will treat you to a large yogurt drink!”

“Wow, really?”

The child, who had been happy, thought for a moment, then shook his head and said with a resolute expression.

“Actually, I have something to say.”

The atmosphere was quite different from usual, but because Ji Hoo’s thoughts were more mature than his peers and his personality was unpredictable, Ha Yeon just found it amusing.

Slurp, the child who was drinking the yogurt through a straw rolled his eyes back and forth. Could something be wrong?

Ha Yeon looked into the child’s eyes and asked.

“You said you had something to say? What is it?”

Then the child put down the yogurt with a thud, with an expression as if he had made a decision.

“I’ve been testing elder sister all this time.”

What? You’ve been testing me? This kid… Ha Yeon’s eyebrows twitched, but Ji Hoo, not noticing, spoke with a slightly excited air.

“And elder sister is the first to pass that test.”

Should I be happy about this or not? Ha Yeon tried hard to keep her expression neutral and let out a forced laugh.

Right, how difficult must the test have been for me to be the first to pass it? Ha Yeon just considered it as the child’s cute prank and smiled brightly.

“I see, I understand. I’m happy. That I’m the first to pass Ji Hoo’s test.”

Her tone was completely like an AI voice robot, but it couldn’t be helped. She just couldn’t ignore those sparkling eyes.

“Hehe, I knew elder sister would think like that.”

Having received the child’s infinite trust, Ha Yeon wanted to know at this point what kind of test it was.

So, not knowing it was a Pandora’s box that shouldn’t be opened, she blurted out a question.

“But Ji Hoo, what test did elder sister pass?”

The child said with a very proud smile.

“The test to become Ji Hoo’s mom.”

Pfft! Ha Yeon ended up spitting out the yogurt she was drinking.