Geon Hak roughly tousled Ye Na’s hair as she nestled against his chest. Well, everyone in the family has brown eyes, so they might look even more alike.

“You really look very similar, Executive Director.”

“It’s strange to hear that my niece resembles me.”

“What? Your niece?”

Geon Hak nodded and looked down at Ye Na. Seemingly tired, she yawned big and rubbed her eyes.

If you’re sleepy, just go to bed early. This is why you wake up crying at dawn every day.

Ye Na, snugly fit in Geon Hak’s large embrace, kept glancing at Jae Yi. Jae Yi spoke with a gentle smile on her face.

“Hello? My name is Han Jae Yi.”

When Ye Na still didn’t respond, Jae Yi smiled brightly.

“Oh, the ‘Jae’ in my name is written with the character for ‘child’.”

As Jae Yi drew the character (ㅏ) with her finger while speaking, Geon Hak’s brows furrowed at her gesture. What is it? It seems familiar somehow. It felt like an old memory was about to surface.

“Oh my. It seems Ye Na is most comfortable in the Executive Director’s arms.”

As Lady Kim came out of the dining room, both of their gazes shifted. Sung Kyung briefly exchanged greetings with Jae Yi, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Lady Kim burst into laughter at the sight of Ye Na nestled in Geon Hak’s arms like a baby bird.

“No matter how much we coaxed her, she wouldn’t fall asleep. Today, please take Ye Na to her room yourself, Executive Director.”

Geon Hak nodded and looked at Jae Yi.

“Han Jae Yi must be tired too, so please rest now. Lady Kim, please guide Han Jae Yi.”

As Geon Hak carried Ye Na up the stairs to the second floor, Jae Yi stared intently at the sight. It was a side she had never seen before.

The Executive Director, who didn’t seem at all close to children, was taking good care of the child. Above all, his posture while holding the child looked very comfortable.

“It’s a complete reversal of charm, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“I never expected our Executive Director Cha to be so good with children, but he takes care of them very well. He might act annoyed in front, but he takes care of everything behind the scenes.”

“Is that so?”

“Because Ye Na wakes up crying every dawn, the Executive Director hasn’t been able to sleep deeply lately, and his condition hasn’t been good. But as soon as Jae Yi came, our Executive Director’s expression brightened up immediately.”

So that’s why the Executive Director was tired.

“Um, Lady Kim.”

“Yes, Jae Yi?”

“The child looks very young, but is she staying here? I heard the Executive Director say earlier that she’s his niece.”

“She’ll be staying here for a while.”

“She’s so young, I think she’ll miss her mother a lot. How old is she?”

Sung Kyung sighed deeply and said,

“She’s five years old this year. Maybe because she was born in December, the child is small in stature. Maybe it’s because she has many wounds.”

Even before hearing the reason, I felt inexplicably heavy-hearted.

Jae Yi, who had never fully experienced parental love, naturally felt a ache in her heart whenever she saw a child in a similar situation, reminded of her own childhood.

Hearing that such a beautiful child had wounds, Jae Yi carefully asked,

“If it’s not too intrusive, may I ask what kind of wounds?”

* * *

Jae Yi sat on the bed, pressing her wet hair with a towel.

‘Have you heard the news that the youngest daughter of the Cha Group disappeared 8 years ago?’

‘Yes, I’ve seen it in the news articles.’

‘Right. That youngest daughter died in a car accident 7 months ago. That’s why we’re taking care of Ye Na now.’

‘Then, what about Ye Na’s father?’

‘It seems he was in shock after suddenly losing his wife in an accident and couldn’t take care of Ye Na. So the Chairman brought Ye Na here. Don’t go around talking about this story anywhere. I’m telling you this specially because it’s you, Jae Yi.’

Recalling the recent conversation, Jae Yi naturally let out a sigh.

She never thought such a small, precious child would have such a big wound. Above all, she kept remembering Ye Na’s glances at her.

“It just makes my heart ache.”

Jae Yi lay down on the bed and pressed the switch button on the antique stand on the bedside table.

With her eyes closed tightly, the image of Park Tae In, who had come to her house today, flashed before her eyes.

‘I’ll go soon, I’m going!’

Suddenly, as he came to mind, Jae Yi abruptly sat up and turned the switch back on. The room immediately brightened.

Her heart started pounding loudly. Frightening thoughts kept invading her mind.

Jae Yi closed her eyes again, but sleep that had fled didn’t come easily.

Tossing and turning continuously, Jae Yi got up from the bed, put on the slippers on the floor, and carefully came out.

Everyone must have fallen asleep as there was no sound.

Before she knew it, Jae Yi’s footsteps stopped right in front of Geon Hak’s room, and she looked at his room.

“Executive Director. Sweet dreams.”

As Jae Yi was about to move on, she turned her head and heard a child’s crying from the end room.

“Sniff, sniff…”

Jae Yi hurriedly opened the door to find Ye Na, who had woken up, bursting into tears pitifully.

“Waaah!”

Startled, Jae Yi rushed over.

“Ye Na. Ye Na.”

Jae Yi called the child’s name in a soft voice, but Ye Na’s crying didn’t stop.

Jae Yi climbed onto the bed and carefully pulled Ye Na into her arms. She gently patted the back of Ye Na, who was small enough to fit in her embrace.

“Our Ye Na, it’s okay. Everything’s okay, Ye Na.”

“Waaah.”

The child’s wailing cry sounded so sad it was heartbreaking.

‘When I saw her earlier, it seemed Ye Na couldn’t speak. Could that be related too?’

‘After losing her mother, Ye Na seemed to be in shock and couldn’t speak.’

Jae Yi stroked the child’s forehead, which was drenched in sweat. Ye Na’s appearance overlapped with her own, suffering from nightmares every night.

If only this child could be happy.

A prayer naturally flowed out, hoping that Ye Na’s life would always be full of laughter from now on.

A smile slowly spread across Jae Yi’s face at the sight of Ye Na, who had fallen asleep, breathing softly.

* * *

Geon Hak’s eyes flew open. Then he looked around.

He thought he had slept too comfortably for the first time in a long time, but he realized he had fallen asleep without putting Ye Na to bed last night.

“What’s this. Didn’t she cry yesterday?”

Worried that he might have been too tired to hear Ye Na’s crying, he hurriedly left the room.

“Executive Director.”

He found Lady Kim just coming out of Ye Na’s room.

“Our Executive Director, you must have come out in a hurry worried about Ye Na.”

Sung Kyung chuckled at the sight of Geon Hak with even a cowlick at the back of his head.

“You must have slept comfortably last night.”

“How’s Ye Na?”

At Geon Hak’s question, Sung Kyung shrugged.

“Go in and see. She’s sleeping very well.”

Geon Hak gently opened the doorknob and entered.

He saw Ye Na sleeping soundly in Jae Yi’s arms, breathing softly. Anyone would think they had known each other for a long time, not just met yesterday.

Above all, Geon Hak silently watched the two who looked so comfortable.

He approached the two and pulled the blanket up to their shoulders. Feeling the presence, Jae Yi’s eyelids slowly lifted.

Seeing Geon Hak right in front of her, Jae Yi tried to get up from the bed but lay back down because of Ye Na in her arms.

“Did I wake you?”

“No. Did you sleep well, Executive Director?”

“Thanks to you, I slept peacefully for the first time in a long time. Thank you.”

“I should be the one thanking you, Executive Director.”

Geon Hak’s thick eyebrows moved.

“For what?”

“For bringing me to this house. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to sleep a wink all night. Thanks to you, I also slept comfortably.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Come to think of it, it was the first time facing him early in the morning.

Above all, the Executive Director must have just woken up as there was a cowlick at the back of his head. It looked so cute. It was refreshing to see him disheveled after always seeing him so neat.

“You must be tired, sleep more. I’ll come wake you up later.”

“Yes, Executive Director.”

As Geon Hak closed the door and left, Jae Yi’s cheeks turned slightly red. As their exchange felt like a conversation between a married couple, Jae Yi hugged Ye Na tightly in her arms.

Oh, I’m embarrassed.

* * *

As Geon Hak, ready to go to work, entered the dining room, he found Ye Na stuck right next to Jae Yi, eating.

“Ha, now I’m not even in her thoughts.”

Ye Na looked at Geon Hak with a sulky expression, then tugged on Jae Yi’s clothes and pointed at the egg rolls.

“Ye Na, do you want some egg rolls?”

Ye Na nodded.

Lady Kim also burst into laughter at the sight of the two.

“Ye Na is completely smitten with Jae Yi, not leaving her side for a moment. Who would believe they just met yesterday, right? Executive Director.”

Geon Hak nodded and looked at the middle seat.

“Where’s Grandfather?”

“Oh my, haven’t you heard? He went overseas again.”

“Ah, I thought so.”

“He said he’d be gone for quite a while this time.”

He remembered his grandfather who had been asking him for troublesome favors these past few days.

‘After all, Ye Na is our bloodline. You need to pay more attention.’

As Geon Hak took a spoonful of beef soup, Sung Kyung said,

“He was really happy when he heard a female guest had come to the house.”

“Grandfather, really. He should have at least given a hint before leaving.”

“He said he left secretly because if he had told you in advance, you would have absolutely prevented him from going. But deep down, I think he felt sorry for leaving Ye Na in your care.”

Geon Hak sighed. Seeing Jae Yi unable to eat properly while taking care of Ye Na, Geon Hak said,

“Han Jae Yi, you should eat too. You came as a guest to our house, but it seems like you’re just having a hard time.”

“It’s not hard at all. I’m really enjoying it because Ye Na is so pretty and well-behaved.”

At Jae Yi’s words, Ye Na’s face brightened.

Geon Hak took a sip of soup and said,

“If Han Jae Yi doesn’t mind, would you like to stay at our house for the time being?”

As Jae Yi looked at Geon Hak with a surprised face, he put down the spoon he was holding on the table and said,

“Since Han Jae Yi is also in a difficult situation in many ways right now, I thought it might be good for you to stay at our house for a while and commute to work.”

Contrary to Geon Hak’s expectation that she would immediately agree, Jae Yi was taking her time to respond. Seeing this, Lady Kim chimed in,

“Jae Yi, I completely agree. You’re welcome anytime.”

As Jae Yi just smiled gently without answering, Geon Hak picked up the water glass in front of him. Still, no answer came from her lips.

Is she uncomfortable? Well, it must be too sudden. But why do I feel disappointed?

“Take your time to think about it.”

“Yes.”

No matter what, how could I stay at the Executive Director’s house?

Jae Yi couldn’t readily answer, worried that the Executive Director might suffer any harm because of her.

* * *

Ye Na was tightly clutching Jae Yi’s collar and not letting go.

“Ye Na needs to let go of my clothes so I can go to work.”

Ye Na shook her head vigorously.

As Ye Na’s face quickly turned gloomy, Geon Hak, who was buttoning his jacket, bent down to meet Ye Na’s eyes.

“You have to let go. Choi Ye Na.”

As Ye Na shook her head vigorously, the chicken-dropping-like tears hanging from her eyes fell too.

Geon Hak, without blinking an eye, forcibly made Ye Na let go of her tight grip on Jae Yi’s collar, and finally, Ye Na burst into tears.

As Ye Na, who usually cried out loud, burst into tears without making any sound, Jae Yi’s heart ached.

Lady Kim tried to comfort the sobbing Ye Na by hugging her, but Ye Na’s tears didn’t stop. It would have been better if she had cried out loud.

Jae Yi approached Ye Na, wiped her tears, and said,

“Ye Na, stop. If Ye Na stops crying, I’ll come again later.”

Ye Na’s tears stopped as if by magic, and as a long string of snot came out, Lady Kim wiped Ye Na’s nose with her hand and rubbed it on her apron.

Jae Yi gently stroked Ye Na’s flushed cheeks.

“Oh my, how pretty. Our Ye Na is so good, I’ll have to come again later.”

“Sniff…”

“Here, promise.”

As Jae Yi showed her pinky finger, Ye Na’s tiny pinky finger gently hooked onto it.

“Co… me.”

A faint, unclear voice flowed from Ye Na’s small lips.

Jae Yi’s eyes wavered.

“…Huh? What did you say, Ye Na?”

It wasn’t just Jae Yi who was surprised. Cha Geon Hak standing behind, and Sung Kyung holding Ye Na, also looked at Ye Na with surprised faces.

Ye Na’s lips parted again and a strained voice flowed out.

“Pro… mise… co… me.”

Jae Yi smiled, her eyes crinkling.

“Yes, I promise I’ll come. Ye Na.”

At Jae Yi’s words, Ye Na nodded vigorously.

“Um!”