It was because of the french marigolds.

What was with those flowers? Seung Jun couldn’t focus well on his work.

Seung Jun had always thought that he was the one who was betrayed. It was her who left without a word upon hearing the news of his marriage, and he was the one who had to helplessly suffer.

The one-of-a-kind diamond necklace that he had painstakingly made for her amidst his busy schedule was also discarded.

However, the memories associated with the french marigolds were different from the memories that Seung Jun originally had.

The indifferent Seung Jun, and Seol Ah who endlessly waited for him and served him.

It wasn’t just that day. In the midst of being busy and tired, Seol Ah always put Seung Jun first and took care of him. To the extent that he didn’t have to worry about anything.

Seung Jun took all of her sincerity for granted and didn’t consider it special. Because she was his secretary, and even after becoming his lover, she was still his secretary. And because he had lived in a position where it was natural for him to receive such treatment.

When Seung Jun was busy, of course Seol Ah was busy too. When Seung Jun couldn’t eat, Seol Ah was so busy that she couldn’t even drink a glass of water, let alone eat. But Seol Ah never showed any sign of it.

‘What happened to those french marigolds?’

The flower that was said to be a symbol of undying love must have eventually withered. In a place where he couldn’t see.

Come to think of it, today was the day before the JK Foods evaluation. According to the schedule report he received from Seung Heon a few days ago. If that was the case, she must have been extremely busy today without a moment to spare.

Just like Seung Jun in the past.

He didn’t intend to buy back the french marigolds for her. He didn’t particularly feel like taking care of her the way she did for him. However, Seung Jun found himself near Seol Ah’s house.

He just wanted to see her.

When I was always the priority, when I only thought about how busy and tired I was. How were you at that time, and how are you now?

Because now it seemed like he could see what he couldn’t see in the past.

But Seol Ah didn’t come even after 10 o’clock.

‘Crazy bastard.’

Seung Jun laughed bitterly. What am I doing? Telling the woman I’m going to marry that I’m busy and that I’ll see her at the wedding hall. Why am I here at the wrong place?

Let’s go back.

Just as Seung Jun turned around, the gate of a nearby house opened with a loud noise. Seung Jun looked in that direction with indifferent eyes. Someone was running out while carrying a child.

‘Yu Min?’

Seung Jun’s eyes widened as he recognized the child being carried.

Who is that guy? Where is he trying to take my child?

“Wait.”

Seung Jun blocked the man’s path. Only then did he notice the man’s face. It was that fool who was hanging around Seol Ah.

Jin Cheol’s face was completely drenched in sweat.

“Please save him, Yu Min’s condition is really bad right now.”

Seung Jun quickly examined Yu Min. Yu Min was also covered in sweat from head to toe. But his condition seemed different from Jin Cheol’s. When Seung Jun touched Yu Min’s forehead, it was hot.

There was no time to waste.

“I’ll bring the car, so put him in.”

Seung Jun brought the car he had parked nearby and returned to Jin Cheol. Jin Cheol opened the car door and carefully laid Yu Min down on the back seat.

Seung Jun, who was in the driver’s seat, quickly started the car and contacted the Korea University Hospital, which had business dealings with the group, through the hands-free device.

“Yes, Professor Kim. This is Han Seung Jun. We have a patient coming to the emergency room. The fever is severe and the condition looks very bad. This is a patient who needs special attention.”

Jin Cheol looked at Seung Jun, who was speaking without hesitation, with a surprised gaze. Who on earth is this person to make a call to the emergency room in advance and speak like that?

As if he were the hospital director or something.

At that moment, Yu Min coughed and lifted his head.

“Are you conscious?”

When Jin Cheol shook Yu Min, Yu Min supported his dizzy head with one hand and asked,

“Where are we, Uncle?”

“You’re very sick, so we’re on our way to the hospital. Just hold on a little longer. You’ll get better soon.”

Jin Cheol held Yu Min’s hand, but Yu Min shook his head anxiously.

“No, what if they find out we ate instant noodles and patbingsu?”

At that moment, Seung Jun, who was driving, felt something boiling up inside him.

“What?”

Yu Min covered his mouth with one hand and looked at the back of Seung Jun’s head. Then his face turned pale. Why on earth is that person here?

“Why are you there, Mister!”

“You must have gotten into my car.”

Seung Jun bit his lip once and exhaled deeply through his nose. He wanted to say something, but the person in question was a sick child.

And he had boasted to Seol Ah about being a father.

“Why am I here, you ask?”

“Yu Min, you had collapsed. We’re on our way to the hospital now.”

Seung Jun drove with his mouth tightly closed, and Jin Cheol explained instead. However, Yu Min didn’t back down.

“I just felt dizzy in the bathroom for a moment earlier. Please take me back home.”

However, such words had no effect on Seung Jun. Far from going home, he increased the speed even more. Yu Min’s face turned red as he shouted,

“I said take me home!”

“Enough.”

When Seung Jun lowered his voice and spoke, Yu Min closed his mouth. It was incomparably scarier than Mom.

‘I want to run away.’

However, despite Yu Min’s wish, the car safely arrived in front of the hospital.

Jin Cheol carried Yu Min, and Seung Jun led the way as they entered the emergency room.

“What seems to be the problem?”

When the doctor asked, Jin Cheol was about to answer, but Seung Jun quickly spoke,

“He ate something bad. It seems like enteritis, so please check his condition first.”

The doctor helped move Yu Min onto a bed and gently pressed his stomach with his hand.

Yu Min screamed.

“Yes, it seems to be enteritis. We’ll run a few more tests, and if enteritis is confirmed, we’ll admit him for treatment. Usually, you should expect about 3 days. Depending on the results, it may be shorter or longer.”

“Give us a private room. And assign a caregiver.”

“Understood.”

Yu Min had to wait in the emergency room for a while for the tests. He lay there with a tired look, receiving an IV drip with vacant eyes.

How did he know it was enteritis? He didn’t even explain the symptoms. Jin Cheol glanced at Seung Jun with surprised eyes and lowered his gaze.

At that moment, Jin Cheol’s phone rang.

Seung Jun quickly followed him as he went out.

“Is it Seol Ah?”

Seung Jun, who had sensed the situation just by looking at Jin Cheol’s expression, snatched his phone away.

[Hello? Where are you now? You’re not at home?]

Seol Ah seemed surprised to have come to Jin Cheol’s house and found no one there.

“We’re at the hospital.”

At Seung Jun’s answer, Seol Ah was silent for a few seconds and then raised her voice.

[Wh- Why are you answering the phone? What do you mean hospital? Is Yu Min hurt somewhere?]

“It seems to be enteritis. He’s getting tested and needs to be hospitalized for about 3 days.”

[What? Enteritis? Yu Min does have a bit of a weak stomach. Did he eat something wrong?]

“Instant noodles and patbingsu.”

Seung Jun answered without hesitation, and Jin Cheol lowered his head deeply. But then,

[Did Jin Cheol feed him that? I should have told him. It’s my fault. Yesterday, Yu Min’s stomach didn’t seem well, so I fed him some porridge. I forgot to mention it in advance.]

When he mentioned instant noodles and patbingsu, he thought she would immediately criticize Jin Cheol. But she said it was her fault. Seung Jun felt his breathing quicken again and even his head was ringing.

“It’s the fault of the person who fed him. How far are you going to take the blame?”

[Which hospital is it? I’ll come.]

She’s out of her mind. She must be exhausted from preparing for the evaluation, yet she’s coming?

“No need. He’s in a private room with a caregiver, and he’ll receive good care for 3 days and then leave. Don’t worry and just focus on your work.”

[How can I focus on work when Yu Min is hospitalized?]

Seol Ah’s voice rose.

Why is she forgiving the person who fed him instant noodles and patbingsu so generously, but getting angry at me? Seung Jun closed his eyes tightly and opened them.

She’s raising my blood pressure in many ways.

“Then what are you going to do by coming here? The caregiver will take care of the child, and even if you come, there’s nothing for you to do.”

[He’s only seven years old. Not only is his body sick, but his heart must be struggling too. I need to be there. Where is it?]

He had to take the phone away from his ear because she was screaming too loudly. And the screaming continued.

[Tell me quickly. Where is it?]

“Korea University Hospital.”

Seung Jun barely managed to tell her, fearing that his eardrums would fall out if he didn’t.

[I’m coming.]

With those words, the call ended.

Every time he experienced it, he was surprised. How she changed when it came to Yu Min. Did she ever imagine that the always kind and smiling Yu Seol Ah would yell at Han Seung Jun like this?

“She says she’s coming, so you can go now. Don’t stay here and get scolded.”

Seung Jun handed the phone back to Jin Cheol and spoke.

However, Jin Cheol shook his head and replied,

“It’s my fault, so if I’m going to be scolded, I deserve it. The child was entrusted to me, so I’ll stay here. You can go now… Hyungnim.”

“Hyungnim?”

That’s a form of address I’m hearing for the first time. Seung Jun thought, furrowing his brows. At that moment, the doctor walked over to them.

“The test results are out, and it is indeed enteritis. The inflammation is severe, but as I mentioned earlier, with 3 to 5 days of inpatient treatment, he will recover.”

When they returned to where Yu Min was, he had fallen asleep in the meantime. Seung Jun’s eyes deepened as he saw the beads of sweat still clinging to Yu Min’s forehead.

The nurses came and moved Yu Min’s bed to a private room.

Seung Jun and Jin Cheol also followed the nurses and entered the private room.

Yu Min was in a deep sleep, unaware that the bed was being moved.

Seung Jun also frequently suffered from enteritis as a child. They said he had a slightly weak stomach by nature. He remained healthy as if it had never happened, thanks to a consistent diet and exercise regimen, but…

When he was bedridden with enteritis, none of his family members were by his side. Only unfamiliar caregivers took turns watching over him. Hyo Young was also busy with various schedules, so she would just peek in for a moment and ask about his symptoms.

– He’s only seven years old. Not only is his body sick, but his heart must be struggling too. I need to be there. Where is it?

Seol Ah’s voice, screaming as if she had lost her mind, was still vivid in his ears. Is that how it is? When a child is sick, a mother is like that…

Seung Jun touched Yu Min’s forehead with his fingertips. He felt a slippery and unpleasant sensation. It was sweat.

Seung Jun clenched his hand. Why am I using my hand for this? I should wipe it with a towel.

Seung Jun was about to take his hand away but stopped and looked at Yu Min, who was sleeping silently.

He reached out his hand again. This time, he covered Yu Min’s forehead with his entire hand. He could feel Yu Min’s damp sweat on his palm. It was warm. Surprisingly, it didn’t feel that unpleasant.

The feeling of flesh touching flesh. The warm and moist skin of my son.

Seung Jun blinked. Strangely, it seemed like hot tears were welling up in his eyes.