Jun Won, who had been friends with Min Je for 10 years like brothers from the same orphanage and worked together, quietly crossed the garden with muffled footsteps.

With a click, the front door opened and closed as Ji Hoo appeared.

“Uncle, over here.”

Ji Hoo waved his hand, speaking in a low voice. He looked as cautious as if he was shooting some kind of spy movie.

“What’s going on?”

Jun Won lowered his voice as well, examining Ji Hoo’s face as he asked.

“Well, we can’t let my sister find out.”

The child’s round eyes anxiously scanned behind him as he spoke. Jun Won had no idea what Ji Hoo was hiding. So he narrowed his eyes and quietly looked down at Ji Hoo’s face, and the child hastily added, flapping his hands.

“Uncle, I have something I want to ask.”

“Okay, tell me.”

“How do you make a man and woman become close?”

“Huh?”

When Jun Won made a blank face for a moment, Ji Hoo added, gesturing with his hands and feet impatiently.

“I mean, how do adult men and women become close?”

Jun Won opened and closed his mouth, unable to think of what to say. How to make adult men and women close, how could he explain such a thing?

Suddenly, thoughts that came to mind were mostly not beneficial for a child, so Jun Won let out a bitter laugh.

“Hm? I thought you would know, uncle?”

When Ji Hoo made an even more embarrassed expression than himself, Jun Won scratched his cheek. The child probably believed that Jun Won, a 40-year-old divorced man, would naturally know the answer to his question.

‘The hardest thing in the world is the relationship between men and women.’

Jun Won couldn’t bring himself to answer like that, and racked his brain for something to say. Judging by this question, the child’s intentions were obvious.

As someone who knew Min Je and Ji Hoo’s circumstances, Jun Won had no particular objection to the child’s thoughts. No, he was rather in favor. Ji Hoo’s affection for Ha Yeon seemed extraordinary, as if there could be anyone else the child followed so devotedly.

But that was separate from answering the child’s question. What on earth should he say?

Ahem, Jun Won first cleared his throat and tried to refine his expression as much as possible.

“Well, you know. Adult men and women tend to get closer the more they stick together.”

“Stick together?”

Seeing Ji Hoo’s clear eyes, Jun Won broke out in a cold sweat.

“I mean, they need to spend a lot of time together.”

“But what if Dad is too busy and doesn’t have much time?”

Ji Hoo fell into contemplation, unaware that his plan was half exposed. Jun Won found Ji Hoo cute, but was still at a loss, unable to say the words on the tip of his tongue. The best way he thought for men and women to get closer was ‘skinship’.

“Hmm… Isn’t there a sports day at the kindergarten in a few days?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then, there’s a good method you could try at that time.”

“What is it?”

Jun Won wondered for a moment if this was okay, but seeing Ji Hoo’s face, his hesitation disappeared like a bubble. With the child so desperate, isn’t it natural for an adult to help?

Liking or disliking is for the parties involved to decide, so there’s no need to worry that far. Having reached that conclusion, Jun Won whispered something to Ji Hoo.

Just then, suddenly a voice came from behind.

“What are you doing here?”

Ha Yeon, who had come out of the front door at some point, spoke up, startling them both into screaming.

“Aah! Y-you scared me!”

“S-sis, what brings you here?”

Their hearts pounded as if they had jumped out. This is why people can’t live with guilt.

Seeing the clear signs of panic on their faces, Ha Yeon tilted her head but greeted them first.

“Hello, Driver Kim. I came out looking for Ji Hoo since I couldn’t find him.”

“I-I see. I was about to go in when I happened to run into Ji Hoo and we were chatting.”

For some reason, the word ‘happened’ sounded extremely emphasized in his speech. This makes it seem even stranger.

“Ah, I see. Well, now that I’ve confirmed where Ji Hoo is, I’ll head back in. I didn’t mean to interrupt your quality time.”

Ha Yeon spoke politely, hiding her true thoughts.

“N-no, it’s not like that.”

“Mm, it’s not that serious.”

As Jun Won waved his hands, Ji Hoo nodded along.

Ha Yeon couldn’t help but smile as she saw the child’s flushed cheeks. She didn’t understand why both Driver Kim and Ji Hoo wore expressions that revealed everything. With faces like that, they’d never be able to deceive others with lies for their entire lives.

“Alright. Then let’s go in together.”

Ha Yeon smiled brightly and turned around first. At times like this, it was polite to pretend not to notice.

Jun Won and Ji Hoo, thinking their plan hadn’t been discovered by Ha Yeon, let out sighs of relief.

And as their eyes met, the two exchanged meaningful glances as if they had never been flustered.

A few days passed and the day of the sports festival arrived.

“Wow, one, two, three… Just how many layers is this lunch box?”

Ha Yeon raised her voice in surprise at Mi Ran, who had been showcasing her skills since dawn, constructing a multi-layered lunch box.

“Why are you so surprised? This much is needed to make it worth spreading out and eating somewhere.”

Mi Ran chuckled at Ha Yeon, whose eyes had grown round like a rabbit’s. Her face was full of pride, clearly confident that she had prepared a lunch box that would not lose to anyone else’s.

“I think I’ll just be waiting impatiently for lunchtime, what should I do?”

Ha Yeon laughed, hugging the lunch box that was emitting delicious aromas. Two large 4-tier lunch boxes, an ice box filled with cold drinks, and even a fruit basket!

It might have seemed a bit excessive, but having lots of food is a good thing, right? Ha Yeon picked up the lunch box, thinking this rather subjective thought.

“Ah, I’ll take care of that.”

Jun Won, who had just entered the kitchen, took the lunch bag that Ha Yeon was holding.

“It’s okay. Let me help carry it too. And I told you to speak comfortably with me.”

Unlike Mi Ran who treated her casually, Jun Won always spoke with impeccable manners. While it was nice to be treated respectfully, Ha Yeon felt a sense of distance and wished he would address her more casually. But Jun Won thought differently.

‘Once you start speaking casually, it’s hard to go back to formal speech.’

If things went well between Ha Yeon and Min Je, she would be called ‘madam’ publicly. It was already difficult to use honorifics when dealing with Min Je officially, and it would be even more awkward and challenging with Ha Yeon. So it would be better not to lower his speech at all, thinking of the future.

Jun Won nodded, thinking such thoughts. No one knows how things will turn out with people.

Seeing Min Je not even glancing at the women who flocked around him, there was definitely a possibility with Ha Yeon. Especially since he didn’t fall for that woman who was the standing director of the Korea Fine Arts Association, Jun Won believed there was enough potential.

“The director said he has some work to do, but he’ll come straight there as soon as he’s finished.”

Jun Won smiled and told Ha Yeon, clearing the thoughts from his mind.

“Ah, yes. He seems to be busy again these days.”

May being event season, it had been difficult to see Min Je’s face for long. At most, she only saw him for about 30 minutes at night under the pretext of tutoring.

Still, it was fortunate that he was trying to faithfully play the role of a father.

“If you’re all ready, let’s go!”

Ji Hoo urged them with a rather excited face. Ha Yeon was glad to see the child’s face becoming brighter these days.

“Alright, let’s go!”

Ha Yeon firmly grasped Ji Hoo’s hand as if doing a cheer.

“Don’t get hurt, and have fun.”

Mi Ran waved her hand with a smile.

“It would be nice if you could come with us.”

When Ha Yeon spoke with a regretful face, Mi Ran changed her expression as if she had never smiled and said seriously.

“I told you my knee joints are precious, didn’t I?”

“O-of course. Definitely.”

Ha Yeon hurriedly left the kitchen, afraid of what expression Mi Ran might make if she said one more word.

The facility, which usually operates as an experiential learning center, was fluttering with flags of all nations. They had completed all preparations to hold the sports festival by renting the facility from the kindergarten.

The colorful decorations made of air bounce stages caught the eye. Here and there, game equipment that could attract children’s interest was also visible.

“Wow.”

Ji Hoo’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. Seeing the child’s bright, twinkling eyes, Ha Yeon couldn’t resist messing up Ji Hoo’s hair.

“There seems to be more to see than last year, huh?”

Ji Hoo tilted his head and said,

“I’m not sure? I didn’t come last year, so I don’t know.”

“Huh? You didn’t attend last year?”

“No.”

Seeing Ji Hoo looking up at her with an expression that seemed to ask ‘why?’, Ha Yeon felt a surge of emotion. No matter how busy he was with his own work, how could he! What fault did the child have that he wasn’t even allowed to attend a kindergarten event!

Ha Yeon fumed, feeling angry at Min Je for no reason. Watching Ha Yeon’s expression change moment by moment, Jun Won, feeling this wouldn’t do, smoothly intervened.

“Ahem, at that time, Ji Hoo had caught a cold and had a high fever, so he couldn’t attend.”

“Ah… I see.”

Ha Yeon quickly composed her expression, realizing she had misunderstood. If the misunderstanding hadn’t been cleared up, she might have charged at Min Je like an angry bull as soon as he arrived.

In an irrational state, she might have blurted out things like ‘you’re not qualified to be a father’ or ‘you’re irresponsible’. It was a chilling moment just to think about it.

“If you couldn’t attend because you were sick, you should have said so earlier!”

As Ha Yeon was smiling awkwardly at Ji Hoo, Min Je’s car could be seen entering the parking lot.

A man with sculpture-like features that didn’t match at all with the bright blue sky fluttering with flags of all nations got out of the car and strode towards them. It was just walking, but perhaps because his limbs were so long and straight, it looked as splendid as a model’s walk.

Ji Hoo’s class teacher, who had been far away, somehow noticed and rushed over as soon as Min Je arrived.

“Oh my, you’re here. Ji Hoo’s father.”

Huh, I never knew this teacher’s voice could be so coquettish until today. Ha Yeon was shocked that the teacher’s voice tone, which she had conversed with a few times, could change so drastically.

“Hello, teacher.”

Min Je bowed his head politely and courteously. Then the teacher, whose eyes had disappeared from smiling so much, began to praise Ji Hoo.

“Do you know how mature Ji Hoo is? He’s quick to understand, gets along well with friends, he’s such an exemplary student.”

“Ah, is that so?”

When Min Je asked back with a slightly stiffened face rather than being pleased, cracks appeared in the surprised teacher’s expression.

Ha Yeon, watching from the side, clicked her tongue inwardly. Of course his expression would harden when told that a child who is exemplary at home is also exemplary outside. If only the teacher had said Ji Hoo was an unstoppable mischief-maker at kindergarten, Min Je would have been relieved.

But the teacher, completely unaware of this, tried her best to change the atmosphere.

“At the beginning of the semester, I was worried because Ji Hoo’s face looked gloomy, but now I’m so glad he’s brightened up.”

“So, you’re saying Ji Hoo was usually gloomy?”

Now Min Je’s expression had gone beyond stiffened to rigid. Seeing this, the teacher unconsciously muttered.

“No, that’s not, why such a conclusion…”

The smile that had been on the teacher’s face when she first spotted Min Je and rushed over with a bright expression had completely disappeared.

Jun Won, watching this scene from the side, let out a hollow laugh and sighed.

This is why no woman would stick around!