“I should have let you sleep in, sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

Suppressing a yawn, Sihyun asked, “But why are you going to see your aunt from the morning?”

“I have an appointment with a lawyer in the morning. Since my mother runs a lunch business, it’s better to meet before that.”

“Why a lawyer?”

“Mother is still legally considered deceased. I can’t leave her like that forever. I need to find her name and help her live more comfortably in the future.”

Feeling Taeha’s concern for Sooyeon, Sihyun was very pleased.

“Oh, our Taeha is so admirable!”

When Sihyun spread her arms, the large man obediently embraced her. Resting her face on Sihyun’s shoulder, he hesitated and asked.

“Do you really not want to marry me?”

It was the question he had been asking her all night on the bed. Tired of the torment, she almost blurted out ‘Fine, I’ll do it!’ But Sihyun endured it to the end.

She understood that Taeha genuinely wanted to marry her. Of course, she was happy and grateful.

But he was only twenty-six now. It was still too early to decide on marriage, the most significant event in life.

Moreover, despite liking her for a long time, in reality, they hadn’t been dating for long.

If they continued to date a bit longer, or if Taeha got a few years older, thoughts could change. But if they hastily got married, wouldn’t there be regrets later? It felt too rash to decide on such a significant life event with a young heart.

So Sihyun couldn’t easily say, “Let’s get married right away.” Also, because Taeha’s parents were both so precious to her.

“…Sorry. Let’s give more time and think slowly about marriage.”

Sihyun released her arms that were embracing Taeha and looked away.

Fortunately, Taeha didn’t push Sihyun anymore. Instead, he firmly held her hand and whispered.

“I’ll do better from now on. So that you can trust me more.”

Feeling sorry that Taeha, who had done nothing wrong, was turning things on herself, Sihyun said.

“That’s not the issue.”

“It is an issue. You might think later that my feelings could change, and you might regret that I decided too hastily. Isn’t that what you’re thinking?”

Sihyun remained silent. Taeha could see through her.

“So, I’ll do better.”

Kissing Sihyun’s precious hand, taking it to his cheek, Taeha whispered.

“So that you can be one hundred percent sure about me.”

It felt like she had slept deeply after a very long time.

In the hazy state, when she opened her eyes, a man was bending his arm and lying next to her, looking at her sideways. Sunlight shattered over the man’s hair, making the brown hair look like strands of golden thread.
The laughter in Suyeon’s youthful eyes was so affectionate that Sooyeon couldn’t help but smile brightly. She thought of it as a rare, happy dream she occasionally had.

“Wow.”

Leon mumbled in astonishment.

“Are you smiling at me right now?”

With a joyful expression, Leon gently kissed Sooyeon’s forehead. The moment Sooyeon felt the soft touch on her forehead, she was abruptly pulled back to reality.

“…!”

Startled, she sat up, and Leon made a disappointed face. It was an expression that seemed to say, “As expected.”

Checking the clock, it was already ten in the morning.

“It’s late. We need to quickly get up and prepare to open the store.”

Trying to hide her flushed face, Sooyeon turned around quickly while pulling the blanket. However, someone embraced her from behind.

“Last night felt like a dream.”

Hugging Sooyeon tightly, Leon whispered in her ear.

“I was so happy that you were sleeping beside me.”

To avoid being engulfed in the overwhelming sweetness that surged like rough waves, Sooyeon tried her best. She needed to push him away, shake off these thoughts. But it was just in her mind; her body wouldn’t comply.

While they were in each other’s arms, suddenly a voice came from outside the door.

“Mom, are you still sleeping?”

Sooyeon was startled, slipping out of Leon’s embrace. Leon also looked at the door with a bewildered expression.

“Taeha?”

Then, lively voices from Sihyun followed.

“Auntie, we’re here!”

Sooyeon felt her surroundings darken. If those two saw them in the same room since the morning…!

“Quick, hide!”

Leon protested.

“Why should I hide?”

“If the kids see us together, they might misunderstand.”

“No, what if they do…?”

“Quick!”

Forcing Leon into the closet, Sooyeon threatened.

“If you get caught, I won’t see your face again. Don’t even breathe.”

Leon quickly made a motion of covering his mouth with both hands.

After firmly closing the closet door, Sooyeon opened the door. Taeha and Sihyun stood side by side, smiling and greeting good morning.

“Good morning, Mom.”

“It’s unusual for Auntie to be so energetic. Did you oversleep?”

Sooyeon forced a forced smile and welcomed the two into the room.

“Hello, did you sleep well, Mom?”

“What’s the occasion for you to be so diligent in the morning like an aunt? Are you not still sleeping off your hangover?”

Sooyeon forced a fake smile and ushered the two into the room.

“But what’s the matter so early in the morning?”

Sihyun cheerfully answered.

“Today, open the store a bit later and come with us somewhere.”

“Where?”

“Taeha made an appointment with a lawyer. Now there’s no reason to hide. So, we need to correct the death report.”

“But why bother with such a busy thing. I could handle it myself…”

Feeling sorry and not knowing what to do, Sooyeon was quietly spoken to by Taeha.

“I want to become your legal son as soon as possible.”

Sooyeon’s heart swelled. Our Taeha thinks of me like this. She smiled broadly for a moment.

“What about you, sir? Did you work late again last night?”

Sihyun brought up Leon’s story, and Sooyeon immediately felt uneasy again.

“Uh? Yeah.”

“Did you find your way home alright? You didn’t answer your phone.”

“Home?”

Sooyeon looked at Taeha because she didn’t understand.

“Last night, my father had to sleep outside. Since the one-room I used to live in is still empty, I told him to sleep there.”

Only then did Sooyeon realize that she had been fooled by Leon. Complaining about not having a place to go!

Glancing at the direction of the closet, the moment she heard a suppressed cough-like sound from inside, Sooyeon felt her entire body freeze.

“Did you hear a sound just now?”

“I heard it too. What was that?”

Sihyun and Taeha both looked around with puzzled expressions.

“Well, I didn’t hear anything.”

Sooyeon said with cold sweat pouring down.
“Anyway, go out and wait for a moment. I’ll quickly wash up, change clothes, and come out.”

“Yes, Mom.”

Taeha and Sihyun got up. The moment Sooyeon sighed with relief inwardly, Taeha suddenly reached out and opened the closet door.

“…!”

As their eyes met with Leon, who was crouching inside the closet, surprised voices escaped from both of them.

“Father?”

“Mr. Leon?”

Leon smiled broadly towards his son.

“Our good son is here, huh?”