Seo Ha and Min Joon were nervous as they entered the kindergarten.
In contrast, Tae Kyung had a relaxed expression.
As they entered the principal’s office, Roa’s mother with a displeased face, Joo Ri, and an anxious-looking Roa were seated.
The principal bowed 90 degrees to greet Tae Kyung and Seo Ha.
“You’ve arrived? Was the journey here difficult?”
“It’s fine. We’re causing you trouble so late.”
As Seo Ha greeted politely, Tae Kyung made a rather displeased expression.
Tae Kyung took a firm stance in front of Roa’s mother and daughter and the principal.
This all started from the mistake of Roa’s mother and daughter, and it was also the principal’s role to mediate and take responsibility, so Tae Kyung didn’t particularly want to be considerate of them.
“Let’s get straight to the point since we’re busy. Where should we sit?”
“Ah, goodness, please sit over here. Please have some drinks and talk leisurely.”
The principal pointed to premium freshly squeezed fruit juices placed on the table.
Madeleines and macarons were also placed in front of the children.
“Well then, let’s start with introductions. This is Min Joon’s father and mother, and this is Roa’s mother. Roa’s father said he couldn’t come because he’s busy.”
“Hello?”
Seo Ha greeted demurely. Tae Kyung greeted stiffly without a word. Roa’s mother, seemingly irritated even by that, held her head high and lowered her eyes as she explained why only she and her daughter came.
“Roa’s father is such a busy person. I came alone. You can’t tell someone who does important work to come or not come to a mere children’s kindergarten, can you?”
“Busy and couldn’t come, I see. I understand.”
Tae Kyung nodded roughly. From what he had already investigated, Roa’s father was known to have a fiery temper, to wander outside, and to have no interest in his family.
Joo Ri couldn’t manage her expression, seemingly displeased even with the casual nod.
Tae Kyung looked directly at Roa’s mother and raised an eyebrow.
“I won’t expect an apology from Roa’s father. But Roa and Roa’s mother should apologize properly.”
“Hmm. Well, I’m sorry. I guess the child heard me looking at gossip and spoke thoughtlessly.”
“Is that your answer?”
“I said I’m sorry, isn’t that enough? Come on, it’s just kids making a little mistake with words.”
“Roa’s mother.”
Tae Kyung simply called Joo Ri without saying much. Joo Ri flinched at that ominous aura.
Joo Ri, seemingly realizing there was nothing to gain by maintaining her pride, lowered her head and assumed a humble posture. She spoke softly in a voice that sounded guilty and ashamed.
“Min Joon’s mother, I deeply apologize for judging you based only on gossip I heard and speaking carelessly in front of my child. I also apologize for my child thoughtlessly saying hurtful things to Min Joon. I will be more careful in the future and firmly guide my daughter to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
“……”
Seo Ha said nothing. Joo Ri spoke hesitantly to Min Joon.
“Min Joon. Auntie is really sorry for doing something that might have upset you. I’ll make sure to talk to Roa unnie so that this never happens again. Auntie didn’t know you had such wonderful parents. I’m truly sorry.”
Min Joon looked Joo Ri straight in the eye. And from his small mouth came a firm statement.
“Auntie. If Roa unnie’s dad is also too busy to come, does that mean Roa unnie’s dad abandoned Roa unnie and auntie too?”
“What did you say?”
Roa’s mother was taken aback, but Min Joon paid no attention to it.
“Auntie. The teacher at kindergarten said we shouldn’t say bad things about other friends. Why don’t you know that?”
At Min Joon’s words, Seo Ha’s eyes widened, and Tae Kyung struggled to hold back a laugh.
‘Well done! My son!’
“The teacher taught us that saying bad things that make other friends upset is ‘uh-nuh pong-lyeok’. Come on, repeat after me. Uh! Nuh! Pong! Lyeok! No!”
“Uh, uh-nuh-pong-lyeok?”
“Yes! Uh! Nuh! Pong! Lyeok! No!”
The word ‘verbal violence’ seemed difficult for Min Joon, so he emphasized it with a muffled pronunciation.
Tae Kyung clutched his heart, finding it too adorable.
He used all his strength to hold back the laughter that was about to escape in front of the serious Min Joon.
“Roa’s mother, it’s ‘verbal violence’.”
“Ah… Right. Verbal violence is not okay.”
“And Roa unnie. Unnie, the teacher said we shouldn’t do it, so why are you doing it? You should listen well to the teacher.”
“Tch.”
Roa pouted, seemingly not at all pleased with Min Joon.
Joo Ri bowed deeply as Roa showed no signs of apologizing. Roa felt wronged and upset about the whole situation.
“I’m sorry. I’ll apologize on Roa’s behalf. Min Joon, auntie will apologize instead.”
“It’s okay. Unnie doesn’t listen well to the kindergarten teacher, so it must be hard for you too, auntie. My mom said she has a hard time when I don’t listen to the teacher too.”
Seo Ha and Tae Kyung bit their lips and held back laughter at Min Joon’s words, which didn’t seem like those of a five-year-old.
Joo Ri’s face turned red. She felt more embarrassed by each word Min Joon threw than by anything Tae Kyung might say.
“Auntie. You have to endure because you’re the mom. Our grandfather said that too when our mom was upset.”
Joo Ri was shocked, her eyes wide at Min Joon’s words, which made him sound like a little old man.
“Min Joon. Can mom talk to auntie for a bit?”
“Okay, mom.”
Min Joon nodded with clear eyes at Seo Ha’s gentle request.
Seo Ha opened her mouth with a calm and elegant demeanor.
Tae Kyung, ridiculously, thought Seo Ha looked noble at that moment and admired her appearance.
Seo Ha would have been astounded if she knew this about him.
“I thought that if I was truthful, public rumors wouldn’t matter. But today I realized that thought was wrong. I realized that if I remain silent, my child gets hurt. That’s why I came to this meeting.”
“Yes.”
“As much as I’d like to receive an apology letter and have it publicly announced to everyone, I’ll refrain from that. Instead, if something like this happens again, I won’t let it slide so easily next time.”
Seo Ha spoke calmly but firmly, without any emotional wavering. Joo Ri was too embarrassed to know what to do.
Tae Kyung felt a lump in his throat at the sight of Seo Ha’s strong appearance, which he had thought he needed to protect.
He realized that Mom Kim Seo Ha was this much stronger than the Kim Seo Ha he knew.
And his heart ached thinking about how many wounds she must have received and how much she must have toughened up to become this strong.
He vowed that from now on, he would be the one to shield Seo Ha and Min Joon from the winds that blow.
[This is the timeline separator]“Min Joon, hello?”
“Teacher, hello?”
Tae Kyung deliberately came out to match the time when Seo Ha and Min Joon were leaving for work.
To be precise, he had finished preparing for work early and was standing by the front door. He waited for the sound of Seo Ha’s front door opening and then opened his door to match it.
However, he casually greeted them as if they had met by chance.
“Are you going to kindergarten now?”
“Yes.”
Min Joon nodded with bright eyes. Tae Kyung patted Min Joon’s head, who had become noticeably friendlier since the Roa incident.
“I’ll give you a ride on the way.”
“Oppa, isn’t your company in the opposite direction? You’ll have to go out of your way if you go to Min Joon’s kindergarten first.”
Seo Ha was troubled by Tae Kyung’s words. However, Tae Kyung shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal.
“It’s okay. I adjusted my work hours to start later with the flexible work system. And it’s not that much of a detour anyway.”
Seo Ha was increasingly concerned about Tae Kyung’s excessive attention to her and Min Joon lately.
“We can go by ourselves.”
Seo Ha firmly refused. She pulled Min Joon’s shoulder closer as she replied.
“No way. It’s getting very cold. What if our Min Joon catches a cold? Or should I buy you a car? You do have a driver’s license, right?”
“I can’t say anything to you.”
“Just tell me if you need anything. I can do anything for you. I’m a capable man, you know.”
As Tae Kyung puffed out his chest while speaking, Min Joon, who was standing next to him, shook Tae Kyung’s clothes with sparkling eyes.
“Then teacher! I want to go to an amusement park!”
“Huh? Amusement park?”
“Yes! I’ve never been to an amusement park… All my friends say they’ve been, but I haven’t been able to go yet because mom and grandfather are busy.”
Tae Kyung’s eyebrows furrowed for a moment, remembering how Min Joon was teased for not having been to an amusement park even in Yangpyeong. Tae Kyung lowered his head to match Min Joon’s eye level and kindly promised.
“Alright. This teacher can fulfill Min Joon’s request anytime.”
“Wow! Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Oppa! Stop getting the child’s hopes up. I’ll take him to the amusement park myself.”
Seo Ha was worried that Tae Kyung might be overexerting himself.
Moreover, Seo Ha herself could have taken Min Joon to the amusement park anytime, and she felt regret and guilt for not having done so until now.
“You and I can take him together. Let’s not be like this between us. Why are you drawing a line?”
Tae Kyung retorted with a face that seemed to ask what the problem was. Then, when he made a hurt expression, Seo Ha turned her head to avoid his face.
“…We’ll be late for kindergarten. Min Joon, let’s go quickly.”
“Ah, our Min Joon shouldn’t be late. Come on, hold the teacher’s hand and let’s go!”
Tae Kyung snatched Min Joon’s hand and caught the elevator. Inside the elevator, the two males stood side by side waiting for Seo Ha.
Seo Ha sighed and got on the elevator.
This moment, which feels like a dream, is too happy to feel real.
She doesn’t have the courage to tell Tae Kyung the truth, but she also doesn’t have the courage to reject this happiness.
It’s very cowardly, but can she enjoy this moment just a little longer?
Seo Ha smiled faintly as she looked at Tae Kyung and Min Joon.
Tae Kyung drove Seo Ha and Min Joon to Prime Kindergarten.
After seeing Min Joon off in front of Prime Kindergarten, the two affectionately got back in the car.
“I’ll give you a ride every day, so don’t refuse. If you don’t want to ride in my car, then accept a car from me.”
“It’s too much for me.”
“It’s not too much. I want to do everything I couldn’t do during the 5 years we were apart.”
“……”
Seo Ha felt as if Tae Kyung knew about what happened 5 years ago.
How much did Tae Kyung know?
“You’ve been through a lot raising Min Joon alone. Now be with me.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
Seo Ha hedged appropriately. She was suddenly moved by Tae Kyung’s words.
It seemed like Tae Kyung understood that the past 5 years had not been easy for Seo Ha.
“I’m not just saying it. A few days ago, being Min Joon’s dad felt really good.”
“That day, thank you so much. If I had been alone, I couldn’t have done that much. Because you were there, I felt stronger and said what I wanted to say.”
Tae Kyung suddenly spoke calmly.
“Then, Kim Seo Ha. How about becoming my real wife?”
“What?”
“Actually, I was planning to propose after you got a job, but I couldn’t.”
“Ah……”
Seo Ha had no idea about Tae Kyung’s proposal plan.
If she had known, would we have married then? Would we not have had to come back like this?
As Seo Ha was lost in thought, Tae Kyung watched her reaction.
“Well. I’m not saying this is an official proposal right now. So don’t reject it outright.”
“But marriage isn’t something we can decide just between ourselves, is it?”
“We’re grown adults, what can’t we decide between ourselves? What’s going on in that small head of yours?”
Tae Kyung grumbled unnecessarily, but Seo Ha answered seriously.
“Min Joon will be confused.”
“Then does that mean I need to get approval for your marriage from your father and Min Joon?”
“What’s the rush?”
“I’m in a rush. I have an impatient personality. Very impatient. Life is too short to just love, we need to love as much as possible every day.”
Tae Kyung held Seo Ha’s small, soft hand with his right hand that wasn’t holding the steering wheel.
“You, your father, Min Joon, you’re all people I love. I want to be closer to you all.”
“They say the more you hurry, the longer it takes. Just a little slower, please. It’s a sudden thing for Min Joon.”
“Alright. I’ll wait. But don’t forget that I’m your lover.”
Tae Kyung smoothly parked the car in front of Seo Ha’s kindergarten and personally unbuckled her seatbelt. He cupped Seo Ha’s cheeks and kissed her lips.
“I love you. I hope your day is filled with thoughts of me, as mine is of you.”
Tae Kyung’s confession, delivered like a greeting, was sweeter than ever.
______
In This Life, I Won’t Be Foolish To Lose You Again (Female-dominant)
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]