Myung Hoon gathered his things, pulling himself together despite his fatigue. Jung, who had just returned to the security office after finishing his apartment patrol, snapped his fingers twice and said:

“Kim, are you off tomorrow? How about a drink in the evening?”

“What drink, forget it. You should stop drinking too.”

“Tsk, nagging like a wife. By the way, I heard a bachelor is moving into the vacant 304. Young guy with lots of money. Living in this fancy place.”

“Why are you so interested in other people’s business?”

Myung Hoon was preparing to leave, ignoring his colleague Jung. Undeterred by Myung Hoon’s lukewarm response, Jung continued:

“I heard he’s some kind of CEO. I should have started a business too.”

“Just do your security job well. I’m heading out now.”

Myung Hoon waved as he turned to leave. Just then, Tae Kyung passed by the security office and ran into Myung Hoon.

Tae Kyung recognized Myung Hoon and greeted him first.

“Oh? Hello, sir.”

“Hello.”

As Myung Hoon returned Tae Kyung’s greeting, he felt their encounter was not insignificant. Tae Kyung, Min Joon’s birth father.

He wondered if Tae Kyung knew about Min Joon. Myung Hoon kept thinking about him, suspecting Tae Kyung still had feelings for Seo Ha.

“Do you live here, Mr. Han?”

“Yes. I’ll be moving soon.”

“What brings you here, sir?”

“Ah, I work here.”

“I see. We’ll be seeing each other often then. Please take care of me.”

Tae Kyung bowed politely again.

Myung Hoon didn’t dislike Tae Kyung’s demeanor.

Perhaps, if things weren’t completely over between them, if Tae Kyung still had feelings for Seo Ha, he hoped they would reconcile.

When he first heard Seo Ha’s story, he despised Tae Kyung for leaving her to raise the child alone, for making his daughter struggle.

But thinking of Min Joon growing up without a father, he couldn’t completely push Tae Kyung away.

How keenly he had felt Seung Ae’s absence while raising Seo Ha.

He hoped that even now, Tae Kyung would return to Seo Ha’s side for Min Joon’s sake, as his birth father.

After all, it wasn’t Tae Kyung who rejected Min Joon, but Tae Kyung’s mother.

In a way, Tae Kyung, who was separated from his son without knowing anything, was also a victim.

As if sensing Myung Hoon’s feelings, Tae Kyung cautiously spoke up.

“Sir, if you have time, would you be able to have a meal with me?”

“A meal?”

“Yes. I wanted to meet you and treat you to a meal. I also have something to say.”

For a moment, Myung Hoon thought Tae Kyung might know that he was Min Joon’s birth father.

Feeling he needed to know for sure, Myung Hoon couldn’t refuse Tae Kyung’s request.

“Alright. Do you know how to eat pork soup?”

“I eat anything well.”

“There’s a pork soup place nearby, let’s go there.”

Myung Hoon led the way to the soup restaurant. Tae Kyung followed silently.

The restaurant was close by, so they arrived quickly.

Myung Hoon entered the familiar soup shop and found a spot in the corner.

“What would you like to eat, Mr. Han?”

“I’ll have the blood sausage soup.”

“Owner! One pork soup and one blood sausage soup please.”

Tae Kyung quickly brought side dishes and water to the table.

“Sir, please let me know if you need anything else.”

“No, thank you.”

“Please speak comfortably.”

“For now, this is comfortable.”

Myung Hoon thought it best to keep some distance from Tae Kyung. Not knowing much about him yet, he was cautious about getting too close.

The conversation between the two lapsed again. Fortunately, two bowls of soup were placed in front of them just then.

“Let’s eat. We can talk while eating.”

“Yes, sir.”

Myung Hoon found it harder to speak than he had expected.

He needed to ask about Seo Ha and Min Joon, needed to learn about Tae Kyung, but didn’t know where or how to start. And what was it that Tae Kyung wanted to say?

With his mind in turmoil, Myung Hoon gulped down a shot of soju to ease his tension.

“Ahh. Would you like a drink too, Mr. Han?”

“Yes, sir.”

After exchanging a few drinks, Myung Hoon’s stiff body began to relax a bit.

“Mr. Han. What was it you wanted to say?”

“Yes. I thought Seo Ha wouldn’t answer if I asked her, so I’m shamelessly seeking your help, sir.”

“Yes.”

“Do you perhaps know anything about Min Joon’s birth father?”

“Min Joon’s birth father? Ah…”

Myung Hoon let out a small sigh at the unexpected question.

In Myung Hoon’s view, Tae Kyung didn’t know he was Min Joon’s birth father.

While wondering how he couldn’t recognize his own child, Myung Hoon’s feelings grew complicated as he remembered how Tae Kyung had treated Min Joon during his recent accident, even though the boy wasn’t his.

What if he found out Min Joon was his child?

Seeing how well he treated Min Joon when he wasn’t even his child, wouldn’t he treat the boy even better if he knew he was Min Joon’s birth father? Wouldn’t he be an even better father figure than anyone else?

Couldn’t he protect Min Joon and Seo Ha from Tae Kyung’s mother who didn’t want Min Joon?

He couldn’t carelessly reveal what Seo Ha hadn’t told him.

“I do know, but wouldn’t it be better to hear it from Seo Ha? If Seo Ha hasn’t told you, there must be a reason.”

“I understand. Do you perhaps know how the two of them broke up?”

Myung Hoon felt a wave of sadness. From Tae Kyung’s question, it seemed he had no idea why Seo Ha had to hide the child’s existence.

After a moment’s thought, Myung Hoon spoke.

“I heard Min Joon’s father’s family opposed Min Joon.”

“Ah… I see. Did the birth father never come looking after that?”

“He never came to see Seo Ha. I only heard a brief story about Min Joon’s birth father recently.”

Feeling frustrated, Myung Hoon poured soju into his glass. Tae Kyung quickly grabbed the soju bottle with him.

As he watched Tae Kyung, Myung Hoon felt drawn to him for some reason.

He liked that Tae Kyung was more polite and courteous than he had expected.

The more he looked, the more he resembled Min Joon.

“Mr. Han.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What do you think of our Seo Ha?”

Despite the sudden question, Tae Kyung answered calmly and seriously without any hesitation.

“I have good feelings for her. I can accept everything about Seo Ha. Min Joon too, and you as well, sir.”

“Even if Min Joon isn’t your child?”

“Yes. If he’s Seo Ha’s child, I’ll consider him my own.”

Myung Hoon’s heart stirred at the unexpected answer.

Tae Kyung took a deep breath and continued.

“I should have spoken to you and greeted you earlier, I’m sorry it’s so late. Seo Ha and I were in a serious relationship 5 years ago. We had to part ways without knowing why, and I’ve been searching for Seo Ha all this time. And now I’ve finally found her again. Now, for whatever reason, I can’t let Seo Ha go.”

Tae Kyung downed the soju in front of him in one gulp and looked straight at Myung Hoon again.

“Sir. I need Seo Ha. Please help me win back Seo Ha’s heart.”

“Hm. Mr. Han.”

“Sir.”

Myung Hoon said nothing and opened a new bottle of soju, drinking a couple of shots in succession.

Yes, if he still has such feelings for my daughter Seo Ha, if he’s Min Joon’s birth father, wouldn’t that be alright?

From what he could see, Tae Kyung must have been unable to do anything, not knowing what was going on.

For his daughter Seo Ha’s sake, for Min Joon’s sake.

Because he didn’t want Seo Ha to face the same difficulties he had raising a child alone. Because he felt sorry for Min Joon growing up without a father.

He wanted to give Tae Kyung one more chance.

“I won’t oppose it, but I can’t readily give my approval either. Winning Seo Ha’s heart back is up to you, Mr. Han. If it’s meant to be, things will work out.”

“I’ll do my best.”

The two men continued drinking for a long while after that. With each glass they shared, they grew a little closer to each other.

United by their common ground of cherishing and loving the same woman.

“I must have sold my country several times in my past life. Not just sold, but ruined it completely. To have a friend like you!”

Kyu Won grumbled as he moved Tae Kyung’s belongings. He was annoyed that Tae Kyung had found a place in Yangpyeong, leaving his perfectly good house in Hannam-dong.

In fact, there wasn’t much to move, but he was just irked at having to see Tae Kyung’s face even on a holiday.

“Then get married quickly.”

“I, I can’t get married because of you! Do you even know? At least give me time to meet someone before telling me to get married!”

“You and I are the only ones who can’t leave work on time in our company. It’s not my fault.”

Despite Kyu Won’s outcry, Tae Kyung didn’t even blink. Instead, he deflected smoothly and brought up his own agenda.

“What about the rice cakes? You brought housewarming rice cakes, right?”

“Did you time-slip from the 70s or something? Who gives housewarming rice cakes these days?”

“So did you bring them or not?”

“Ah, I did! I said they’re coming soon!”

Kyu Won let out all his frustration, real or imagined.

Tae Kyung leisurely unpacked his things. Kyu Won could only sigh at the sight.

“Who could stop this willful guy?”

Tae Kyung merely shrugged at Kyu Won’s reproach.

By the time the modest moving boxes had found their places in the house, Kyu Won’s stomach growled.

“Ah, I’m hungry. If you’re going to use people, at least feed them first.”

“I ordered jajangmyeon.”

“What about tangsuyuk? I gave up my weekend to come all the way to Yangpyeong, you should at least order tangsuyuk and ganpungi.”

“Shut up. Do you move things with your mouth? You might as well use your strength here since you have no other use for it.”

“Why do I have no use for my strength! And how much did I move? That heaviest box of books over there and the precious game console! Those, I moved all of those.”

As Kyu Won and Tae Kyung bickered, the jajangmyeon and tangsuyuk arrived.

Just as Kyu Won was humming and opening the packaging as if nothing had happened, the intercom rang.

“Who could it be?”

“Must be the rice cakes?”

Tae Kyung left the jajangmyeon bowl he was unwrapping and headed for the front door.

When he opened the door, a delivery person was standing there with a box of housewarming rice cakes.

“Thank you.”

Tae Kyung snatched the rice cake box and put on his shoes.

Kyu Won, his mouth full of jajangmyeon noodles, tried to stop Tae Kyung.

“Where are you going? The jajangmyeon will get soggy.”

“I’ll be back. Eat first.”

“I might eat it all.”

“Go ahead.”

Tae Kyung left with the rice cake box, showing no interest in the jajangmyeon. Kyu Won shook his head and popped a piece of tangsuyuk into his mouth.

The place Tae Kyung arrived at was none other than Somang Villa where Seo Ha lived.

Tae Kyung looked over his appearance and sighed.

He was wearing a wrinkled T-shirt and jeans. After roughly patting down his T-shirt, he cleared his throat and stood in front of Seo Ha’s front door.

Tae Kyung, seemingly unable to calm down, muttered to himself trying to regain composure.

“Why is my heart pounding over this? I’m just here to deliver housewarming rice cakes. That’s all it is. Whew.”