“What do you mean by burden? What nonsense is that?”

“…. If only Yeo Reum wasn’t here, Mom wouldn’t have such a hard time.”

“Who on earth said that?”

“…..”

Yeo Reum clamped his mouth shut like a clam.

‘I heard Bo Mi came by? Does she look gaunt every time you see her?’

‘If only that child hadn’t been born, Bo Mi could have married into a rich family and our situation would have improved…. How will she handle that burden alone without the child’s father? Yeo Reum is a burden to his mother.’

Yeo Reum hadn’t forgotten the conversation his great-aunt had with the neighborhood women.

“Yeo Reum. No. How could Yeo Reum possibly be a burden?”

Bo Mi tried to hold back but her eyes were moist. With Jae Kyung watching…. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Mom isn’t struggling at all as long as she has Yeo Reum. Without Yeo Reum, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything. Yeo Reum is absolutely not a burden to Mom.”

She sobbed as she hugged Yeo Reum’s small body.

“I was upset that I didn’t know Yeo Reum was having such a hard time.”

“Mom….”

“Make sure to tell Mom, okay?”

“Okay. I will.”

Yeo Reum’s small shoulders became wet with tears. Yeo Reum nodded quietly and wrapped his arms around Bo Mi’s head.

“Mom, don’t cry.”

Now that there’s a father, Mom won’t think of Yeo Reum as a burden anymore.

Yeo Reum looked at Jae Kyung while stroking Bo Mi’s soft hair.

“Dad. Mom is crying like a baby.”

“Bo Mi. Wipe your tears.”

Jae Kyung handed a handkerchief to Bo Mi. While Bo Mi wiped her tears with the handkerchief, Yeo Reum clung to Jae Kyung.

“Dad. I’m sorry I couldn’t get first place because of me.”

“Hmm…. It’s okay. Don’t apologize for something like that.”

I had forgotten about getting first place.

Jae Kyung didn’t mind at all that he had lost to Ga Jin and Su Young.

“Thank you, Dad.”

Jae Kyung felt Yeo Reum’s words were more precious than a medal.

My child. My wife. Those sweet words lingered on the tip of his tongue. Jae Kyung didn’t even care that Yeo Reum was a child from Nakwon.

He quite liked that a child resembling Han Bo Mi followed him like a real father.

Even the dimples that appeared when smiling felt lovable.

“Yeo Reum. Are you okay?”

“Ah. Should I take care of that fatty for you?”

“Is our Yeo Reum in a lot of pain?”

When they returned to their seats, Su Young, Ga Jin and Mi Rae surrounded Yeo Reum with worried faces and spoke to him.

“Yes. Yeo Reum is fine. The teacher put medicine on it here.”

“Yeo Reum…. It looks like you won’t be able to participate in the afternoon event….”

Mi Rae looked worriedly at the bandage wrapped around his leg.

“No. It doesn’t hurt that much. Mom! Yeo Reum is hungry.”

Yeo Reum rubbed his belly with his small hand stretched out.

“Okay. Let’s eat the kimbap I packed for our Yeo Reum.”

“Yay! I’m excited.”

Yeo Reum cheered and hugged her. Seeing the scene of everyone sitting in a circle around the leisure sheet, Yeo Reum’s heart swelled. It was the first time so many people had come to cheer for him.

When invited to school events or performances, Yeo Reum’s only guests were either his mom or Aunt Mi Rae.

Yeo Reum smiled, imagining how nice it would be if Jae Kyung, Su Young, and Ga Jin were really his family.

“Yeo Reum seems to be in a good mood. Ta-da.”

Mi Rae opened the lunchbox containing kimbap. The kimbap Bo Mi had prepared since early morning was neatly arranged inside. The glistening sheen and savory aroma stimulated the appetite.

“As expected of Han Bo Mi. We have to give credit to her kimbap-making skills. Bo Mi’s kimbap has always been the most delicious.”

Su Young praised the kimbap while emphasizing their long relationship.

“I made some too.”

Mi Rae pouted her lips and handed over chopsticks.

“Ha….. To think I’d live to eat kimbap made by Han Bo Mi. The appearance looks decent.”

Ga Jin picked up a piece of kimbap with sparkling eyes.

“Wow….. It’s delicious. Han Bo Mi, I’m impressed. So you are good at something besides studying.”

Ga Jin’s eyes widened as if it was unexpected. Although he had seen Bo Mi helping in the kitchen on Madam Hwang’s orders when they were young, he had no memory of eating food she had prepared.

To bully Bo Mi, he had even deliberately flipped over a bowl of peeled potatoes she had prepared….

And it was always Bo Mi who got scolded. He had enjoyed seeing her frustrated face…. It was now just a distant memory of the past, sitting here eating kimbap together with Han Bo Mi who used to avoid him.

It would have been even more delicious without Ha Su Young or Do Jae Kyung.

“What are you saying. I’ve always been good at making kimbap.”

“Right. Our Bo Mi is good at everything except the things she’s not good at.”

“Our Bo Mi?”

When Jae Kyung looked at Ga Jin with an unpleasant expression, Ga Jin started to tease.

“Do Jae Kyung. Did you see me get first place? Hey, Do Jae Kyung always brags about being good at everything, but you lost to me. Ha….. Shouldn’t this be recorded on video and played at Do Group’s regular assembly?”

“Ha. If there hadn’t been an accident.”

“Making excuses. Director Do Jae Kyung. Cleanly defeated by Director Yeon Ga Jin!”

Ga Jin threw his head back, taking a deep breath with arms spread wide.

“Yeon Ga Jin. That’s enough.”

“Do Jae Kyung. In life, you have to drink from the cup of defeat to grow. And why are you discriminating against the kimbap? Why aren’t you eating this? This is really delicious too.”

Ga Jin picked up his chopsticks and held out a piece of kimbap with burdock root to Jae Kyung.

“I’m fine.”

“Oh…. This guy is a picky eater.”

“Ga Jin. Stop it. Jae Kyung. You’re making him uncomfortable.”

Bo Mi thought the kimbap didn’t suit Jae Kyung’s taste. Swallowing her disappointment, she tried to act like it was okay.

“Well…. If you don’t eat it, I’ll eat it.”

“Jae Kyung. Don’t force yourself to eat it.”

“….”

Burdock root was a side dish that Chairman Do Jun Seok liked. It wasn’t a flavor he originally enjoyed, but he came to dislike it after seeing it on the table every day.

Jun Seok was upset that Jae Kyung was being a picky eater, and Won Il, who wanted to impress Jun Seok, piled it high on Jae Kyung’s plate and forced him to eat it.

In the end, Jae Kyung got severely sick and had to be rushed to the emergency room. Perhaps because of that unpleasant memory, he still didn’t want to eat burdock root now.

He was already disappointed that he couldn’t show his best performance in today’s event, and now he was worried about how Bo Mi would see him as a picky eater.

Jae Kyung glared at the kimbap as if looking at an enemy.

That’s when Yeo Reum whispered to Jae Kyung.

“Dad. You still can’t eat burdock root?”

Jae Kyung looked at Yeo Reum with a surprised expression. Yeo Reum smiled and leaned in to whisper in Jae Kyung’s ear again.

“Yeo Reum doesn’t like it either because it tastes like bitter paper.”

Then, cupping his hand, he whispered in an even smaller voice.

“But…. Dad.”

Jae Kyung felt somehow embarrassed that Yeo Reum had caught on to his picky eating. How should he respond? This is trauma…. No, how can I explain that to a child?

“Mom said she would give Dad a kiss as a reward if he ate kimbap with burdock root. Don’t you remember?”

Yeo Reum tapped his lips with his finger.

“Mom gives Yeo Reum a reward too. Just like she did for Dad.”

Jae Kyung looked at Yeo Reum with a slightly surprised expression. Is his eating habit similar to that guy Won Il?

“That’s why Yeo Reum eats it well.”

“Jae Kyung. Do you dislike burdock root?”

As Bo Mi made a bewildered expression, Jae Kyung hesitated on how to answer. For a moment, he noticed a mocking look in Su Young and Ga Jin’s eyes.

Ha. These guys.

“Yes. I can’t eat it.”

“Ah…. Then you don’t need to force yourself. Please eat the tuna kimbap.”

Bo Mi pushed the container with tuna kimbap towards Jae Kyung.

“I’ll eat it.”

Jae Kyung picked up a piece of kimbap with his chopsticks.

“But give me a reward too.”

Bo Mi’s cheeks turned slightly red. She could guess what Yeo Reum had whispered earlier.

Han Yeo Reum…. You.

“Jae Kyung. You don’t have to force yourself.”

“The kimbap with burdock root is delicious too.”

Jae Kyung smiled as he swallowed the kimbap. It felt strange as the image of Nakwon overlapped.

He is Do Jae Kyung…. Bo Mi had decided to acknowledge her feelings for Jae Kyung, believing that her Nakwon no longer exists in this world….

Is he really not Won Il?

The same face, the same voice, the same body scent…. And even the same eating preferences. Could such a person exist?

Bo Mi began to have doubts again.

After the daycare event ended, Ga Jin had to go clean up the mess Ga Young, who had been stood up, made at some restaurant. Madam Hwang was calling him repeatedly.

“Han Bo Mi. Make sure to treat me to a meal next time. Got it?”

Ga Jin frowned as he pressed the reject call button with one hand.

“I’ll treat Director Yeon Ga Jin to a meal, so Bo Mi, don’t ever meet him alone.”

Jae Kyung whispered as he stood next to Bo Mi. Bo Mi laughed, shrinking her shoulders as if ticklish.

“Oppa. Thank you for today.”

“Ha. Don’t bring Do Jae Kyung next time.”

“Uncle! Have a safe trip!”

Ga Jin frowned at the irritating scene and took heavy steps. Yeo Reum waved goodbye to Ga Jin.

Su Young also had to go to a family dinner gathering.

“Ah…. I wanted to spend more time with Yeo Reum. I wanted to go to the hospital together too.”

“CEO Ha Su Young. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of taking him to the hospital since I’m his father.”

Su Young found Jae Kyung annoying, but he sighed at the calls from his mother and sisters.

Su Young left with a dejected face, disappointed that he hadn’t been able to do much.

Yeo Reum went to the hospital to check if there was any risk of infection. Though they thought it would be difficult to find a hospital open on Saturday afternoon, there wasn’t even a waiting time at the hospital Jae Kyung introduced.

“Thank you.”

Bo Mi was finally relieved when she heard that the first aid was done well and it would heal nicely.

Yeo Reum had insisted on participating in the afternoon event despite his injured leg. It was a game where the father and child followed instructions written on paper to bring items to the judge teacher.

As soon as they unfolded the paper, Jae Kyung and Yeo Reum ran towards Bo Mi without hesitation. She felt her heart flutter as she grasped the large hand and the small hand like a delicate flower, both extended towards her while catching their breath.

Even though they were a fake family, in this moment it felt like they had become a real family.

Jae Kyung and Yeo Reum won the first place medal in this event.

The two with proud expressions looked just like a father and son to anyone who saw them.

‘Ah… shit. The note said to bring the cutest thing, and Seo Rim says the cutest thing in the world is a little kid. How could I ethically bring a child participating in the event!’

Ga Jin grumbled as he explained why he couldn’t get first place.

‘Yeo Reum. What did the note say?’

Yeo Reum stood on his tiptoes and gestured for Bo Mi to come closer. Bo Mi bent down to listen to Yeo Reum.

‘Dad told me not to tell Mom… It said “Someone who makes your heart flutter just by looking at them.”‘

Ah…. So this is how happy it feels to know that the emotion I feel when I see you is the same as what you feel when you see me. It felt like forgotten sensations were coming back to life one by one in Bo Mi’s heart.

Exhausted, Yeo Reum fell asleep within 3 seconds of lying down on the bed. Bo Mi stroked his round forehead, recalling the events of the afternoon.

He still looks like a baby when sleeping, but he’s become a child who worries about being a burden to his mother.

She felt so sorry, and pathetic as an inadequate mother. Yeo Reum’s mature behavior seemed to be Bo Mi’s fault, which pained her heart.

Seeing Yeo Reum act spoiled with Jae Kyung today made her think of various things. Does Yeo Reum really need a father after all?

Bo Mi got up and tidied her clothes while looking in the mirror. She thought about reapplying her makeup but not wanting to look like she was trying too hard, she just lightly applied some powder.

“Mi Rae. I’m going out for a bit. I won’t be long.”

“Unni. I’ll understand even if you stay out all night on a date at this hour.”

“No. It’s not like that.”

Bo Mi blushed as she denied it. The nighttime date that Jae Kyung had set as a condition for participating in Yeo Reum’s daycare event. Though Bo Mi pretended otherwise, she was excited for a date after such a long time.

As she walked to the apartment entrance, a black sedan was waiting.

“I’m here to pick you up.”

As the chauffeur in a suit politely guided her, Bo Mi carefully got into the car, feeling like Cinderella invited to a night ball.