Jin-Seo carefully looked after Jeong-o and Ye-Na, both of whom were still shaken by the day’s events.
As it turned out, Jeong-o caught a ride in Jin-Seo’s car to head toward the Guksun Restaurant.
“Thank you for the ride. Since you’ve come all this way, please stay and have dinner with us.”
“Oh, really? Thank you.” Jin-Seo amiably accepted Jeong-o’s invitation.
Ye-Na was the first to push open the restaurant door.
“Grandma!”
“Oh, my little puppy!” Guksun opened her arms wide to welcome her granddaughter as she ran toward her.
Her eyes were moist with unshed tears. Ever since receiving the call from Jeong-o, Guksun had been worried sick.
“My little puppy, you didn’t get hurt anywhere, did you?”
“No!”
“It’s such a huge relief that we found you so quickly. What would I have done if I’d lost this precious little one…” Guksun rubbed her cheek against Ye-Na’s.
“Mom, this is Do-Bin’s mother, a friend from Ye-Na’s Baduk academy. She helped me find Ye-Na today.”
“Hello, Ma’am.” Guksun, who had been hugging Ye-Na, stood up at Jeong-o’s introduction.
“Oh my! Thank you, thank you so much.” As Guksun took Jin-Seo’s hand in both of hers and shook it while bowing repeatedly, Jin-Seo didn’t quite know how to react and bowed back in sync.
“Our Ye-Na kept talking about Do-Bin. It’s so nice to meet you like this.”
“What did you say about Do-Bin?” Do-Bin chimed in at Guksun’s greeting.
“So you’re Do-Bin.” Guksun looked at Do-Bin with an adorable expression and patted his head.
“Ye-Na said you were her friend.” A smile bloomed on Do-Bin’s face. He felt satisfied that the reserved, indifferent Ye-Na—who usually responded with a blank expression no matter what he did—had actually called him a friend.
Before long, a generous dinner table was set. Guksun pushed two tables together and brought out all sorts of side dishes.
“We’ll eat well. Thank you so much.”
“I’m not sure if it’s to the children’s taste.” It was a golden opportunity for Do-Bin to score points with Ye-Na’s grandmother. Do-Bin took a large spoonful of rice and put it in his mouth—something he never did at home.
Jin-Seo watched Do-Bin with a satisfied look and said to Guksun, “My own mother used to run a business in this neighborhood. She did it for a long time.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Do you know ‘Jin-Seo Flower Shop’? It was down by the market intersection six years ago.”
“I know it, I know it! You were that daughter? Now that you mention it, I think I’ve seen you before!”
“Me too. Ever since I walked into the restaurant, you felt like someone I’d known, Ma’am.”
“And how is your mother doing?”
“She’s fine. She finished up her work and moved to the countryside with Dad to farm.”
“I see. So that’s how it was. Even back then, those two were such a lovebird couple. My goodness, what a connection—truly a connection. It’s so nice to meet you. And your son and daughter are both so bright and clever.”
While the two women continued their conversation, Jeong-o was lost in deep thought.
*Should I tell the police? Would they believe me if I did?*
She couldn’t simply dismiss the note found in her child’s daycare bag as a mere coincidence. However, it felt too premature to add her own suspicions and ask the police for help.
To explain the note, she might have to reveal her relationship with Ji-Heon, and that process could put Ye-Na in danger.
Regardless, the police had said they would look into the suspicious woman who had taken Ye-Na, so she had no choice but to trust them and wait for now.
*The note, the Seryeon Group logo… they could all be a prank or a coincidence. They very well could be.*
Besides, the note wasn’t a threat; it was just a simple fact. There was no need to panic prematurely.
*Don’t be nervous, and think about the future calmly.*
Jeong-o secretly reassured herself.
***
Jin-Seo was respectful to Guksun and affectionate toward Jeong-o. She didn’t even ask who the father of Jeong-o’s child was. That alone was enough for Jeong-o to consider Jin-Seo a good person.
“I wanted to practice systematic parenting, but it never goes as planned. I’ve read so many books and watched so many parenting shows. I’ve stuffed so much into my head, but I can’t apply any of it in practice. That’s when I feel so helpless.” Jin-Seo opened up about her current worries while watching the children play.
“You’re working, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“That’s impressive. Truly.”
“…”
“Even Ye-Na’s Baduk teacher praises her so much. Working so impressively and raising your child so well… you’re truly amazing.” Jeong-o felt awkward at Jin-Seo’s praise. *I’m just doing the work I love. I’d think raising two children is much harder.*
“But I don’t know what I’d do if something like today happened again. I ran out of the office the moment I heard she had gone missing.”
“That’s understandable, of course. That’s why, Ye-Na’s mother…” Jin-Seo lowered her voice as if to discuss something important. “How about I pick up Ye-Na after her Baduk lesson? No, actually, it would be even better if I just picked her up when I pick up Do-Bin from daycare. The Kkaekkorri Daycare and the Sonamu Daycare are quite close, right?”
“Oh…”
“And then they could play with Do-Bin and Do-Yun at my place until you finish your work at the restaurant, and then I could drop her off.”
“…”
“I’ll feed them and send you photos throughout the day. Actually, I was a nutritionist. I’m confident I can provide them with a balanced diet.” As Jeong-o hesitated, Jin-Seo’s expression dimmed.
“I’m not asking for anything in return… it’s just that Do-Bin really likes Ye-Na. He becomes so mature whenever he mentions her name. I want them to get along, read books, and play together. I’m sorry if it sounds calculated, but I really think Do-Bin could learn a lot from Ye-Na…” Jin-Seo shared her true feelings openly.
“I understand that after today, it’s hard to trust people right away. Plus, she’s a girl, not a boy…”
“No, that’s not it. Ye-Na mentioned Do-Bin, too. I trust you. It’s not that I don’t trust you; I was just worried it would be a burden on you…”
“Not at all. It wouldn’t be a burden at all.” Jin-Seo waved her hands frantically, concerned for Jeong-o.
“Then how about this? Just try it for one day, based on my request. Just one day.” Her eyes brightened again. Her amiable voice sounded strangely desperate. “I’ll watch them closely so they don’t fight. I’ll make sure Ye-Na doesn’t feel left out.”
Jeong-o’s heart ached. To think there was an angel who would beg for the chance to look after her child. Could there really be someone this grateful in the world?
***
The next morning.
It was a morning Jeong-o couldn’t afford to be careless about. Given the ordeal yesterday, the daycare and Baduk teachers would be more attentive today, but she still couldn’t let her guard down.
While preparing for daycare, Jeong-o implored Ye-Na several times.
“Ye-Na, you mustn’t talk to just anyone. Understand?”
“Yes!” Ye-Na’s response was full of confidence. Even so, her mother couldn’t easily find peace of mind.
“If someone offers to buy you something delicious, you must not follow them. Understand?”
“Yes!”
“If you don’t like something, you have to say you don’t like it. You can do that, right?”
“Yes!”
“You’re just saying yes, but you’re going to ignore me again, aren’t you?”
“Yes! No, no!” *As expected, a mechanical answer.*
“Ye-Na, if a stranger comes up and says their arm hurts and asks you to help carry their bags, what are you going to do?”
“I’ll help!” *As expected, it’s impossible to teach children everything.* If an adult used every trick in the book to lure a child with bad intentions, the child wouldn’t be able to resist.
Even adults aren’t free from all the temptations in the world, so how could such innocent children be? She had no choice but to protect her.
In the midst of her mother’s deep anxiety, Ye-Na, who had pestered her grandmother until she obtained a piece of ice, crunched it near Jeong-o’s ear.
“Lee Ye-Na, what are you doing?”
“ASMR.” It was a sound she only shared with people she liked.
Jeong-o pulled Ye-Na to sit in front of her and lectured her.
“Ye-Na, adults who ask children for help are in the wrong. You don’t have to help strangers. Understand?”
“Yes!”
“Did you even hear what Mommy said?”
“Yes!”
Even after being so terrified yesterday, her daughter was incredibly brave today.
She wanted to protect this reckless brightness. That was truly Jeong-o’s sincere heart.
Since she had left work unexpectedly without notice yesterday, she had to work even harder today.
Jin-Seo arrived at work early, dropped off her belongings, and was on her way to the restroom when she spotted Ji-Heon’s secretary.
The secretary greeted her first.
“Good morning, Assistant Manager.”
“Hello, Ae-Ra.”
“Have you been to see the Director?”
“Pardon?”
“I left you a note. Did you not see it?”
“Oh… I didn’t. I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. Director Ji-Heon Jeong has been looking for you since yesterday. Why don’t you go see him now? He’s in his office.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
It was only after exchanging pleasantries with the secretary that it hit her.
Now that she thought about it, yesterday she had pushed all thoughts of Ji-Heon to the back of her mind, preoccupied as she was with worrying about her daughter.
Though her concerns for Ye-Na were ultimately linked to Ji-Heon, she at least hadn’t been spiraling by overanalyzing his every move.
She had even forgotten that he was waiting for her in his office.
*‘He must be angry if he’s been waiting for a long time.’*
It was a regrettable situation, though she couldn’t exactly put on a look of remorse.
Jin-Seo went straight to Ji-Heon’s office.
She knocked, but there was no sound from within. With no other choice, she let herself in.
“Di—”
She called out quietly, pretending to be cautious, but immediately shut her mouth.
Ji-Heon was asleep. And he was lying stretched out on the sofa, at that.
Jin-Seo hesitated, debating whether to leave immediately, but then she carefully moved closer to him.
*Is he overloaded with work? Was he that exhausted?*
She had thought he was a man who had changed completely, but in sleep, he looked just the same.
The thick eyebrows, the sharp, straight bridge of his nose, the distinct philtrum, and his straight, firm lips.
Most of all, without his harsh, biting words and sharp gaze, he didn’t seem cruel at all. She even felt a sense of pity for him.
A poor man who didn’t even know what he had lost.
Thinking of how beautifully Ye-Na had grown up, she felt even more sorry that he hadn’t been able to watch those years pass.
*‘Would I be able to let you see our Ye-Na?’*
*When you have changed so much?*
*When you are about to start a new life?*
*When you are about to marry your girlfriend?*
If she thought about the one-in-a-million chance of danger, she wanted to close her heart completely, but she couldn’t.
She had to be certain who was threatening her daughter.
*‘Is your mother behind all this?’*
*How much does your mother know? Does she know about Ye-Na?*
*Are the people in your inner circle truly trustworthy?*
This man’s inner circle. She had to dig into them.
And into this man, as well…
Seeing his face, eyes closed so peacefully, her resolve weakened once more. The temptation to reach out and touch him peeked through.
But he was a man she must no longer touch.
She couldn’t shatter his life for her own selfish desires.
Still, she wanted to let him meet Ye-Na.
*‘Ji-Heon Jeong. I don’t know how our lives will unfold, but wait. Just wait a little longer.’*
Until she found out who the culprit was.
Figuring out his surroundings and securing Ye-Na’s safety came first.
Everything else would follow.
*‘Someday, I will make sure you meet our Ye-Na.’*
She made a firm vow, but her already softened heart turned to liquid. A single tear fell onto his face. Jin-Seo started in surprise and hastily wiped the tear away with the back of her hand.
*Don’t cry, Jeong-o Lee.*
*No one can wipe your tears for you.*
*You have to solve this on your own.*
Rising with a sense of grim determination, Jin-Seo turned around with a resolute expression.
But then.
“Where are you going?”
His heavy voice shackled her ankles, pinning her in place.
“Where do you think you’re going, after doing all this?”
He was awake.