Evidence. When Jae Kyung asked about the card that Min Hyung’s mother had confidently presented, she seemed at a loss for words and only moved her lips.

“Go to the hospital to check the dental alignment and claim treatment costs and compensation for mental damages. Consult with a lawyer to confirm what else to claim.”

“Mi… Min Hyung.”

“Huh?”

“Yeo Reum hit you and caused your nosebleed, right? Hm? That’s what happened, right?”

Min Hyung, who had stopped crying, started hiccuping. What should I do? Should I lie?

Then what should I do?

Yeo Reum’s father used difficult words and said he’d call a lawyer. On TV, when lawyers appear, it’s scary and people get dragged away…

Min Hyung’s mind became confused.

“Min Hyung?”

Min Hyung’s mother urged, but Min Hyung just rolled his eyes without answering.

Bo Mi was angry at Min Hyung and his mother for saying harsh things and hurting Yeo Reum, but she also worried that Jae Kyung might be making too big a deal of it. It would be troublesome if the children’s fight escalated to make continuing at the daycare awkward.

Yeo Reum, tightly held in Jae Kyung’s arms, had already stopped crying and was wiping his tears on Jae Kyung’s shirt.

“You can lie if you want to. But you’ll have to take responsibility for what you say.”

Jae Kyung looked down at Min Hyung with a relaxed expression. Min Hyung looked back and forth between Jae Kyung and Yeo Reum.

“I don’t give special treatment just because you’re a child.”

Scary. Yeo Reum’s father is scary.

Min Hyung felt goosebumps all over his body for the first time.

“Mi… Min Hyung. Yeo Reum hit you and caused your nosebleed, right?”

Min Hyung lowered his head and spoke in a small voice.

“No…”

“Then how did you get the nosebleed?”

“I bit Yeo Reum’s leg and when he got angry and charged at me, I ran away and hit a pillar.”

Min Hyung felt scared just from Jae Kyung’s gaze. Min Hyung originally had weak nasal membranes and easily got nosebleeds when bumped. Worried that real lawyers might come and take him away if he lied, he told the truth.

“I fell and got a nosebleed.”

“What… How can you say that only now?”

“Waaah. I was scared because there was blood.”

Min Hyung started crying again, causing a commotion.

“Well… Things have turned out this way.”

The faces of Min Hyung’s family, who had been angrily aggressive just moments ago, turned pale.

“It seems adults are being too sensitive about children fighting. We’re causing trouble by taking up time during the event the teachers worked hard to prepare. Ho ho ho.”

Min Hyung’s mother let out an insincere laugh and spoke to Jae Kyung in a suddenly gentle tone.

“We don’t need to go to the hospital… Our Min Hyung admitted his mistake, so let’s end it here.”

The daycare teachers didn’t want the issue to escalate either. They wanted to wrap things up amicably, have lunch, and proceed with preparing for the afternoon games. They looked at Jae Kyung and Bo Mi with eyes desperately hoping this wouldn’t drag on.

“Yeo Reum, what should we do?”

Bo Mi was puzzled, not expecting Jae Kyung to ask Yeo Reum.

Jae Kyung’s large hand stroked Yeo Reum’s small back as if trying to protect him.

“Children fighting.”

Jae Kyung rubbed his chin lightly, mulling over the words.

“Yes, it’s children fighting.”

Min Hyung’s mother nodded vigorously.

“Then we should receive a proper apology. Children need to learn to apologize when they do something wrong.”

“Ah… Yes, of course.”

Min Hyung’s mother became quite polite from the moment she realized Min Hyung was the one who had caused the injury.

“Then please apologize to my son.”

“Yes, I will.”

Min Hyung’s mother pushed Min Hyung’s back, glaring at her son with fierce eyes.

“And one more thing, I’d like an apology for the insulting remarks you made to my wife just now.”

“I didn’t mean it that way…”

“It was very unpleasant. What you said about us not being a normal family.”

“Did I say that?”

Min Hyung’s mother pretended not to remember while glancing at Jae Kyung.

‘What? Did they raise the child to be a thug? This is why I told the daycare not to accept children from abnormal families… Do they think I don’t know they brought some man to pretend to be the father?’

She recalled the words she had shouted at Bo Mi while berating her.

‘Is it normal to have a child without getting married? Korea has become too liberal. What a wonderful bias-free society.’

“The children apologizing should be enough… A slip of the tongue in the confusion…”

Min Hyung’s mother didn’t want to apologize, as she disliked Bo Mi from the start. It seemed so unfair that someone young, pretty, and capable had three men at her side.

Moreover, to have a husband who stands up for his wife like that… Min Hyung’s mother looked at her own husband, who was fidgeting helplessly, with contemptuous eyes.

“Please apologize to my wife.”

Bo Mi’s eyes widened as she looked at Jae Kyung. She hadn’t expected him to care about those words.

“Although we have circumstances that prevent us from living together, I respect my wife’s parenting methods.”

Min Hyung’s mother looked around, then grabbed Min Hyung’s wrist and pulled him to her side. She judged that dragging this out would only be disadvantageous to her. Feeling the gaze of the other mothers around her, Min Hyung’s mother lightly pressed on Min Hyung’s round head, making him apologize to Yeo Reum.

“Yeo Reum’s mother. I’m sorry. I misspoke. Min Hyung, you apologize to Yeo Reum too.”

“Hiing. Mom.”

“Hurry up and do it.”

Min Hyung bowed his head with puffy cheeks. Jae Kyung put the fidgeting Yeo Reum down on the ground.

“Yeo Reum, I’m sorry for taking off your shoes and biting them.”

Min Hyung apologized but felt wronged. He felt completely defeated by, of all people, Han Yeo Reum.

“Min Hyung, don’t play with my shoes anymore.”

Yeo Reum spoke firmly to Min Hyung.

“Okay… I won’t. Sorry.”

Yeo Reum felt proud to receive Min Hyung’s apology for the first time since starting daycare. Min Hyung had always been overbearing, so Yeo Reum thought he was the one at fault. His father had proved that Min Hyung was wrong for deliberately taking off and bullying him with his friend’s shoes.

As expected, fathers are amazing beings. While Mom needs Yeo Reum to protect her, Dad protects Yeo Reum. He sincerely wished that Dad would sell his house in heaven and come live with them.

The incident between Min Hyung and Yeo Reum was settled, and lunchtime began. The daycare teachers also apologized to both sets of parents about the trouble. Yeo Reum went to the makeshift health tent for first aid and disinfection. Bo Mi and Jae Kyung waited for Yeo Reum behind the tent.

Bo Mi secretly glanced at Jae Kyung.

She was grateful that Jae Kyung had stood up for her today. For Bo Mi, understanding programming languages was easier than understanding people’s languages. Always awkward in human relationships, Bo Mi would have been no match against Min Hyung’s mother.

Min Hyung’s mother reminded her of Yeon Ga Young, which made Bo Mi even more intimidated.

If it weren’t for Jae Kyung, she wouldn’t have received an apology from that domineering woman.

As Yeo Reum grew, the absence of Won Il felt greater.

She had thought being just a mother was enough… but it wasn’t easy.

Whenever she faced overwhelming tasks alone, Jae Kyung would reach out his hand. As Jae Kyung’s presence seeped into Bo Mi’s daily life, her heart kept wavering. The emotions rising in her chest became clearer day by day, to the point where she felt sorry towards Won Il.

“Um… Mr. Jae Kyung.”

Bo Mi cautiously parted her lips.

“Yes, Ms. Bo Mi.”

Jae Kyung’s voice was calm, but Bo Mi’s heart kept trembling.

“For taking my side… for believing in our Yeo Reum…”

Bo Mi’s voice trembled too. Calm down, Han Bo Mi.

My wife. Although it was an act, the sound of Jae Kyung saying “my wife” wasn’t bad.

She had thought it would only go as far as dating… No. Don’t be greedy.

I should cherish this feeling now. Bo Mi decided not to think about the future.

The future she had dreamed of with Won Il disappeared in an instant like that.

Fear… Bo Mi’s heart was still filled with fear rather than certainty.

“Thank you.”

“I only did what was natural.”

“… It wasn’t an easy thing to do.”

No matter how much he liked a woman, he wouldn’t have wanted to get involved in such a dispute…

Bo Mi was sincerely grateful to Jae Kyung.

“Today I’m Ms. Bo Mi’s husband. A father should protect his child and wife.”

Jae Kyung dreamed of a future where he and Bo Mi would become a real couple.

Child and wife… Jae Kyung’s existence to protect became clearer.

“… So.”

Bo Mi’s flushed cheeks and plump lips quivering as she tried hard to find the next words looked cute.

Ah. I want to hug her. Jae Kyung’s fingertips twitched. When would he get permission from this lovely woman?

“Thank you.”

Bo Mi felt so good in the shade Jae Kyung had created. Like the guardian willow tree that protected Nakwon Village, he made a place for Bo Mi to hide. Bo Mi looked up at Jae Kyung with narrowed eyes as if dazzled. He smiled prettily and reached out his hand.

“In that spirit, may I hold your hand?”

“What? Why would we suddenly hold hands in this atmosphere?”

Bo Mi slightly parted her lips and looked into Jae Kyung’s eyes.

“If you look at me with eyes that seem so smitten,”

Jae Kyung reached out and gently entangled Bo Mi’s fingertips.

“I feel like I won’t be able to hold back if I don’t at least hold your hand.”

Bo Mi hesitated, pulling her hand back slightly, worried people might see. A warm, large hand gently enveloped Bo Mi’s hand.

This should be okay for just a moment, right? Bo Mi was flustered but didn’t want to let go of Jae Kyung’s hand.

The ticklish sensation rising from her palm seemed to make even her heart hot.

“Mom, Dad!”

At the sound of Yeo Reum’s voice, Bo Mi coldly shook off Jae Kyung’s hand.

Jae Kyung gave a bitter smile at the tingling sensation on the back of his hand. He thought she had become a little more honest, but it seemed there was still a long way to go.

Bo Mi bent down to greet Yeo Reum.

“Yeo Reum, does your leg hurt a lot?”

Yeo Reum shook his head.

“The teacher put medicine on it and cast a spell to make it not hurt, so it’s okay.”

Yeo Reum pointed to where the teacher had given first aid.

“Look.”

As if trying to prove it was all better, he tapped the ground with his leg.

Yeo Reum smiled saying he was fine, but Bo Mi’s heart ached at the bandage covering the wound.

Hong Min Hyung. That bad kid. To our Yeo Reum…

“Han Yeo Reum. Didn’t you tell Mom that Min Hyung was bullying you?”

“…”

At Bo Mi’s questioning, Yeo Reum’s expression darkened and he closed his mouth.

“You shouldn’t keep secrets from Mom.”

Bo Mi took Yeo Reum’s hand with a serious expression. Yeo Reum pulled his hand back with a troubled look.

“Because I knew Mom would be sad…”

“Yeo Reum…”

A hot sensation rose from deep in Bo Mi’s throat.

“… Because Yeo Reum shouldn’t be a burden to Mom.”

Yeo Reum lowered his head, avoiding Bo Mi’s gaze.