Ha Yeon was impressed by his features observed up close. A walking David statue. She could understand why he was described that way.

From his delicately sculpted forehead and drawn-like eyebrows to his high nose bridge and sensual lips, each feature was handsome on its own, but combined together, his face was simply breathtaking.

Moreover, people have their own preferences. Kang Min Je’s face seemed to perfectly reflect Ha Yeon’s ideal type, as if the Creator had made it with her preferences in mind.

Perhaps that’s why. Seeing his strong arm supporting her waist and his face that naturally elicited admiration, her whole body froze. She felt like her judgment was paralyzed, not knowing what to do.

As she blinked while held in his arms, Min Je chuckled and tapped Ha Yeon’s nose bridge with his finger.

“Just like a cat.”

A very mischievous cat. Min Je laughed without saying the last part out loud.

Finally coming to her senses, Ha Yeon flailed and escaped from his arms.

“W-what, what did you just do?”

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously at his action.

“Oh, elder sister, your nose has turned black!”

Ji Hoo giggled seeing Ha Yeon’s appearance.

“Eh? What did you say?”

Ha Yeon went to the mirror to look at herself. Her nose was pitch black, like an animal in a children’s musical.

“Hmm, so this is how you want to play, huh?”

At Ha Yeon’s chilling words, Min Je’s smiling expression froze.

“Ah, sorry. It was just a joke.”

Min Je slowly backed away, sensing a terrifying aura from Ha Yeon. Then he put Ji Hoo in front of him like a shield. A flustered Ji Hoo waved his hands at the approaching Ha Yeon.

“I-I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Sorry, but that won’t work on me. Father and son are a package deal, you know?”

Ha Yeon triumphantly held up a paint container. Ji Hoo’s shoulders flinched at the sight.

“Dad, do something!”

Ji Hoo turned his head and said to Min Je, but he didn’t know how to stop Ha Yeon either.

“The best option is… run!”

At Min Je’s signal, the two quickly scattered.

“You two aren’t going to stop?”

Ha Yeon charged at them with the paint container.

Aaagh, crash bang, the art room was in chaos. When they came to their senses later, both Min Je and Ji Hoo were each holding a paint container.

“What on earth… happened here?”

Mi Ran, who had finished preparing lunch, was shocked to see the state of the three people. They had ended up covered in paint all over after playing so wildly.

The three of them couldn’t say a word, like children being scolded by their mother.

“You can’t eat like this. Go wash up quickly. I’ll have to reheat the soup too…”

Hearing Mi Ran’s words mixed with a sigh, they quietly slipped out of the kitchen. Then, as soon as their eyes met, they burst out laughing.

They couldn’t remember the last time they had laughed so brightly without a care in the world.

“I’ll wash up and be right back.”

Min Je stood watching until Ha Yeon and Ji Hoo disappeared up the stairs, getting along well.

Having never received affection, he didn’t know how to give it. So he set strict principles in every aspect and lived by them. He was such a staunch principled person that he had only broken his own rules once, three years ago.

He clearly kept the lines he had drawn for himself, and didn’t let anyone who crossed those lines off easy. That was how Kang Min Je lived.

He knew well that no matter how generous he tried to be to the world, it was of no use. Regardless of his feelings, the world was always harsh.

Having learned how to live at too young an age, he liked being called a “tough guy”. It felt like people understood how he had lived.

But he felt it again this time. The feeling of his principles breaking, just like three years ago.

Well, it might have been an inevitable result, since letting Ha Yeon into the house at Ji Hoo’s request was already an exception.

He entered the bathroom to wash up and chuckled again when he saw himself in the mirror. Hadn’t she said they might have to throw away their clothes? Had that woman predicted this would happen?

His whole body was stained with paint marks. Seeing that, Min Je could only laugh. It was the first time in his life he had stood in front of a mirror looking like this.

But one thing was clear – he didn’t dislike it.

It was a lazy afternoon with a gentle spring breeze blowing. Ji Hoo put down the colored pencil he was holding, seeming bored after reading a book and doodling.

Ha Yeon, who was reading an art magazine next to him, chuckled and asked.

“Are you bored? Want to go play outside?”

“What would we do outside?”

Ha Yeon made a bitter expression at the child’s face, which didn’t seem to trust her much. If her guess was right, Ji Hoo probably spent most of his time indoors.

“Ji Hoo, you haven’t played outside much, have you?”

“I’ve been to a lot of art museums and galleries with Dad.”

To call that ‘playing’… She didn’t know where to start interfering with this father and son, but children Ji Hoo’s age should be drenched in sweat to say they’ve ‘played’.

“When we have such a spacious yard…”

Ha Yeon mumbled to herself, then looked Ji Hoo straight in the eye and said.

“I’ll make sure you’re not bored, so don’t worry.”

Though he hadn’t particularly worried, Ji Hoo nodded as if mesmerized by Ha Yeon’s charisma.

Knock knock knock, at the sound of knocking, Min Je put down the file in his hand.

“Come in.”

In this house, only Mi Ran or Ha Yeon would knock on his door. And Min Je highly suspected it would be Ha Yeon.

Sure enough. As the door opened, Ha Yeon poked her head in.

“Are you busy?”

“If I say I’m busy, then I’m busy, and if I say I’m not, then I’m not.”

“What kind of answer is that?”

Min Je chuckled seeing Ha Yeon wrinkle her nose bridge.

“It means I’ll decide whether to make time or not depending on what it’s about.”

Ha Yeon’s eyes rolled around, trying to gauge which side her business fell on.

“Nevermind, just speak comfortably.”

As Min Je waved his hand, Ha Yeon slightly pouted her lips.

Hmph, giving the disease then the medicine. But Ha Yeon soon composed her expression. She could have plenty of fun with Ji Hoo on her own, but right now this house desperately needed improvement in the relationship between father and son.

“Um, would you like to play badminton together?”

Her meddlesome personality that took after her mother would clearly never be fixed.

‘It’s just, kind of sad, you know.’

Ha Yeon rationalized her behavior and grinned.

“Badminton?”

Min Je asked back with a dumbfounded expression, as if it was completely unexpected.

“Yes, badminton. Surely you’ve played before, right?”

Most men fall for this kind of questioning.

“Of course I know how to play.”

Just like that.

“Great then. We’re going to play badminton with Ji Hoo in the yard. Join us, and make some memories with Ji Hoo while you’re at it.”

Min Je thought for a moment about what to do, but since he had made a request, he couldn’t refuse.

“I’ll be right out.”

“Okay, I’ll go out first then.”

As Ha Yeon left with a happy face, Min Je groaned and rubbed his dry face. Suddenly, he was reminded of the paint incident from a few days ago.

“Well, it should be… fine.”

He shook off his thoughts, thinking it must be his imagination that he was slightly afraid of this gathering that seemed to drain both physical and mental energy.

*

Standing on the fresh green grass, Ha Yeon smiled at the dazzlingly blue sky and the garden beginning to form dense foliage.

“The weather is greaaat.”

Somehow on days like this, her mood seemed to improve along with it. Hearing Ha Yeon’s excited muttering, Ji Hoo said with an expression that didn’t seem to sympathize much.

“It feels hot though.”

Ha Yeon’s body, which had been stretching, creaked for a moment.

Let it go, there’s no need to react to every word of an innocent child. Muttering inwardly, Ha Yeon took out the badminton rackets and swung them around as if to show off.

“Have you ever played badminton before?”

“No, I haven’t.”

As Ji Hoo fiddled with the racket like it was a strange object, Ha Yeon raised the corners of her mouth. Hah, I thought so. Ji Hoo is a smart kid, so he’ll learn quickly if taught.

“You know, this elder sister used to be called the Flying Squirrel of Sillim-dong. So I’ll take responsibility and teach you well.”

“Huh? What did you say you were called? Flying… squirrel…?”

Just then, Min Je, who had just come outside, deflated at hearing Ha Yeon’s boast.

With her back to the front door, Ha Yeon hadn’t seen Min Je coming out and gasped.

The timing is really impeccable. Why did he have to come out right at this moment? But instead of feeling embarrassed, Ha Yeon put strength in her eyes.

Flying Squirrel of Sillim-dong wasn’t her only nickname. There was also Dancing Wildcat and Crazy Fighting Cock. Now that she thought about it, they were all an animal parade, but anyway, she hadn’t made them up, so there was nothing to be ashamed of.

“What’s wrong with Flying Squirrel? It means I have good athletic skills.”

Ha Yeon said proudly with her hands on her hips, but far from being intimidated, Min Je bit his lip trying to hold back laughter.

Whoever came up with that nickname had excellent insight. Min Je tried not to imagine the scene of a tiny, cute creature scurrying around and struggling.

“Ahem, I didn’t say anything.”

He barely held back his laughter and raised both hands as if surrendering.

“Your expression doesn’t seem that way… but let’s move on for now.”

She glared at Min Je once, then approached Ji Hoo to explain how to play badminton.

“…You just have to hit this shuttlecock well so it doesn’t fall to the ground. Got it?”

“I’ll give it a try.”

As Ji Hoo nodded, Ha Yeon looked at Min Je and said.

“Let’s do 2 vs 1. You and Ji Hoo on one team.”

“Huh? Shouldn’t it be the opposite?”

Min Je tilted his head. Even though Ji Hoo was playing badminton for the first time, two people would have an advantage over one. There was no need to deliberately play at a disadvantage.

“Come on, didn’t you hear earlier?”

She waved her hands as if embarrassed.

Ah, Flying Squirrel? Min Je exhaled in disbelief, then slowly rubbed his chin. Well, he was curious to see the badminton played by a flying squirrel.

His feelings were not much different from watching a bear doing tricks at a circus performance, but he soon nodded that he understood.

“Alright, let’s do that. But you serve first.”

“Okay, got it. Then let’s practice rallying a few times first.”

Soon Ha Yeon, standing far away from Min Je and Ji Hoo, waved with a smile.

“Okay, now let’s start!”

Her smile shone as brightly as the sunlight sparkling in the high sky.

What could make her so happy? Min Je’s eyebrows twitched as he momentarily zoned out, looking at Ha Yeon’s smile that he couldn’t understand.

Meanwhile, the shuttlecock Ha Yeon had hit flew in a parabolic arc and landed with a thud right on top of Min Je’s head.

“Aiming at me…”

A gutsy flying squirrel. Min Je raised the corners of his mouth and grinned.