The intense heat of midsummer had somewhat subsided, but it was still the lingering heat of August. The tropical nights were a bit cooler, but it was still a hot season. Nevertheless, time passed quickly, and suddenly the wedding was just a week away.

A few days ago, we met and had dinner with both sets of parents. We also shared ultrasound photos. The three-dimensional ultrasound was quite intricate, and the adults admired it.

After the wedding, both sets of parents plan to go on a trip abroad together, wanting to maintain a friendship rather than a relationship closer to in-laws.

Interestingly, the couple went on a modest trip to the beach, but the parents were excited.

“You’re still young. After having a child, go on a lot of trips.”

The two illegitimate children didn’t mind suddenly becoming part of a large family.

“Is there still no sign of movement?”

Director Hong asked.

“Yeah, they say first pregnancies are like that.”

The project members who helped the two the most gathered for the first time in a while. It was a gathering that had been canceled twice due to difficulties coordinating schedules. Once they finally met, they chatted endlessly.

Taeseok and Oh Hyunsik, with the help of Mrs. Tongyeong, prepared a variety of foods, from steak to oven-baked barbecue. Since it was mostly a gathering of men, everyone had a good appetite.

The fruit and salad for the summer were abundant.

“How many weeks?”

Lawyer Mun asked.

“18 weeks and 3 days.”

Taeseok mechanically replied. Although he had an app on his phone that told him the date every day, he could sometimes be confused, but Taeseok was always accurate.

Whether he was genuinely waiting for the baby or whether there was a hidden desire, he didn’t know.

“Hey. But shouldn’t I get a suit?”

Out of the blue, K demanded a luxury suit.

“Honestly, Choi Yeoreum, I untangled everything for you. Departure records, 5 billion whereabouts, tax evasion reports. What else? If it weren’t for you, I couldn’t have made a baby now…!”

Director Hong blocked his big mouth with a thick steak.

“Anyway, this guy. He said he was going to faint and grabbed his rice bowl. If you just stayed still, it would have come out naturally without fussing like that.”

“So, that’s why I called you. I’m thinking of giving everyone a gift.”

Taeseok said leisurely while holding a glass of wine. Various glasses, including wine, beer, and soju, were placed in front of them. Yeoreum also poured grape juice into a wine glass to lift the mood.

When the glasses, raised for a toast, touched their lips, it happened.

“Should I buy a car for each of you? Director Hong, you bought one as a promotion gift not long ago, so choose something else.”

“Pfft!”

Spit. Spit.

Members spit out alcohol at Taeseok’s bombshell statement. Oh Reporter, who barely managed not to spit, was dribbling wine down the side of his lips.

“Hyung! Just spit it out if you want. That’s even dirtier!”

“Oh, sorry.”

Laughing while quickly wiping away the flowing alcohol, he smiled.

“It’s not an expensive car. Now that we have a family, we need to save. I’m thinking of around 5 million for a decent domestic car. I roughly selected a suitable car model. Director Hong, the pamphlet.”
Taeseok spoke in a casual tone, like an everyday remark about buying a cup of coffee.

“Yeoreum, did you two discuss this?”

K asked, unable to close his gaping mouth. Yeoreum just shrugged her shoulders once. Taeseok had hinted that he was planning a significant expense.

But even if he didn’t know, what could he oppose when someone said they would spend their own hard-earned money? Besides, Yeoreum was also grateful to these members.

“I’ll make sure to feed the baby, so don’t worry. I’m working hard on the photoshoots.”

“Ha, you understanding this is amazing.”

Even so, K was the first to receive the pamphlet. It was a brand from L Company, for which Taeseok modeled.

“Wow, a sedan. I like it.”

K chose a sedan, while Lawyer Mun and Reporter Oh preferred an SUV. Taeseok added that it was just a recommended car, and they could change it if they wanted.

“But K, do you have to take it just because you have more money than me?”

“Of course! And how do you know if I have more money?”

“You collected a lot through illegal activities.”

At that, K jumped up.

“Hey! Illegal? It’s just something a bit secretive.”

“That’s what it is.”

Taeseok, after a playful joke, sincerely expressed gratitude to everyone, and Yeoreum nodded in agreement. Without these people, they wouldn’t be able to predict the relationship between Taeseok and Yeoreum right now.

Even if he gave more, it wouldn’t be enough to repay the feelings.

“Vehicle registration tax, transfer tax—I’ll take care of everything, so feel free to take it. You can pay me back later with your nephew’s toys.”

“It’s a princess.”

The teacher, who was looking at the ultrasound, smiled and said. Yeoreum was delighted to finally confirm what she had suspected. She smiled brightly, now able to say, “Our daughter.”

Taeseok’s mouth curved but couldn’t reach his ears.