Misuk flinched at Ha-young’s words. It felt as if she had touched a raw nerve. She warily watched Ha-young’s reaction before speaking.
“No, I just meant it as a figure of speech.”
“Then why would you say that? I told you not to go around saying ‘my kid’ this or ‘her kid’ that when I don’t even have a child!”
As Ha-young snapped, Misuk raised her voice in defense.
“Oh, you cruel thing. You’re my daughter, yet you’re so heartless.”
“What’s heartless about that? You’re the one telling Na-eun, who’s already struggling to raise kids, to send over 400,000 won—and all on a kindergarten teacher’s salary?”
“She didn’t take it. And then she had the nerve to ask me for 3 million won. The audacity, honestly.”
At Misuk’s indignant tone, Ha-young paused.
“Is she in a rush for money? I don’t think Na-eun has ever asked for money before.”
Misuk nodded.
“Right? She’s always been sensible. Even after her father passed away, she never asked for an allowance. She kept things together by earning her own keep.”
Listening to this, Ha-young let out a deep sigh. She pressed her fingertips against her temples and muttered, “Ugh, I don’t know. I told you not to talk about this. I get a headache just thinking about those kids. I’m trying hard to move on, so why do you keep bringing them up? Do you want me to sabotage my celebrity career after I’ve worked so hard for so long?”
Misuk flinched at Ha-young’s harsh tone and shook her head, waving her hands in the air.
“No, no, that’s not it.”
The gesture felt hollow, its sincerity impossible to gauge. Ha-young continued, her voice sharp with annoyance.
“Rumors start from the mouths of people who know everything. If I hear you say anything about ‘my kid’ ever again, just see what happens.”
Ha-young glared, her gaze so fierce that Misuk instinctively shut her mouth. Misuk forced an awkward laugh and shifted gears.
“Right, they’re my kids. You, her—you’re all my kids…”
Ha-young shook her head, her tone firm and dismissive.
“That’s enough. Stop it. Na-eun isn’t even your biological daughter. So how is she ‘your kid’?”
Her voice held a cold, mocking sneer. Misuk’s eyes widened in confusion, and she waved her hands frantically.
“No, no, why would Na-eun be my kid? Jiho, it’s Jiho.”
Ha-young clicked her tongue and turned away.
“But Jiho is Na-eun’s kid. So he’s still your kid?”
Misuk wore an awkward smile for a moment, then added, as if speaking to herself:
“No, why would Na-eun’s kid be my kid?”
Ha-young couldn’t hide her irritation; she scrunched her face and pressed her lips together.
“Just stop giving me a headache and mind your own business. I’m exhausted. I need to take a bath.”
She untied her hair, which she had pinned up in fatigue, and ordered, “Draw my bath.”
Misuk raised an eyebrow and stood up immediately.
“Alright, alright, I heard you. You need to bathe properly to keep your skin nice.”
As Misuk headed toward the bathroom, she turned on the water with a loud splash, as if to emphasize her own labor. Ha-young smiled briefly at her mother’s performative effort, but as she glanced at the mirror, her expression crumbled.
A fleeting memory surfaced—a newborn baby, crying and squirming. Ha-young sighed, staring into her own reflection.
“I shouldn’t think about it.”
She whispered the words to herself, shaking her head weakly.
* * *
During the few days the children had been sick with a cold, the Main Building had sent over everything to aid their recovery, from braised short ribs to honey. Thanks to this, Na-eun was able to care for them with much greater ease. Finally, it was Saturday. As the children, now feeling much better, played in the garden, Na-eun set the lunch table while watching them through the glass window.
That was when it happened.
“Hello.”
“Hello.”
The greetings drifted through the glass. Bundled up for the early winter chill, the children were nonetheless running around with their front zippers wide open, clearly feeling the heat of their play. Na-eun looked to see who they were addressing and saw Choi Kyung-hye.
Choi Kyung-hye had been smiling and nodding at Jiho, but when she saw Minho follow Jiho’s lead, greet her, and immediately run off, she was startled. Minho had clearly spoken while looking directly at her. Seeing the boy who usually avoided her gaze interact so naturally caused her heart to skip a beat.
“The child… he spoke.”
Choi Kang-woo had been right. Having Na-eun and Jiho move into the house had significantly improved his condition. Choi Kyung-hye stopped just as she was about to enter the house, lingering to watch Minho sliding down the new garden slide alongside Jiho.
This slide was a recent purchase of Choi Kang-woo’s. She never imagined such a thing would be in their garden. It had been two years since Minho started living here, yet the thought of buying a simple slide had never crossed her mind. The entire household had been too fixated on his silence to think of his joy.
“Are you here, Chairperson?”
At the calm voice, Choi Kyung-hye turned. Na-eun had approached quietly and was bowing in greeting. Choi Kyung-hye smiled, her voice slightly exhilarated.
“Oh, Ms. Han. Do you know what I just heard? I just heard Minho say ‘hello’ to me.”
Choi Kyung-hye’s voice carried an irrepressible emotion. She instinctively clasped her hands to her chest, her expression filled with joy and surprise. Na-eun beamed at the news.
“Right? Minho has been talking much more lately. He even follows along and mimics what Jiho does.”
Recalling the moments when Minho slowly tried to bridge the gap with the world, Na-eun added, “How do you feel?”
Choi Kyung-hye felt a tingling warmth spread through her chest.
“It’s wonderful. I’m just so happy he’s improving.”
Pride and relief settled in her eyes. She had feared that her eldest grandson might never be able to live like a normal child. Sensing the shift in Choi Kyung-hye’s mood, Na-eun spoke softly.
“Chairperson, would you like to come in and have a cup of tea?”
“Tea?”
Choi Kyung-hye asked, puzzled. Na-eun replied with a bright smile.
“Yes, I made some honey burdock tea recently.”
Choi Kyung-hye looked at her with an intrigued expression.
“You make burdock tea at home?”
Na-eun nodded. “Yes. Do you like it?”
Choi Kyung-hye pondered for a moment, then laughed awkwardly.
“I haven’t really had it much… but alright, let’s go inside.”
Curiosity flickered on her face. She wanted to know how Na-eun spent her days and what secret had allowed Minho to change so drastically. Suddenly, she looked toward the children, worried.
“But will the children be okay if we leave them?”
Na-eun laughed and gestured lightly.
“Ms. Kim is watching them. She’s over there.”
Choi Kyung-hye turned to see the nanny standing watch by the children and nodded. Since there were two of them, it was impossible for Na-eun to manage alone, but Ms. Kim was always present, hovering nearby.
As they entered the house, two pots of yellow chrysanthemums greeted them, casting a deep, autumnal mood over the entrance.
Looking at the flowers, Choi Kyung-hye remarked, “I like chrysanthemums, too, but I never thought to buy pots for the house.”
She had paid her staff lavishly, yet none had ever thought to bring in seasonal flowers. She realized this young woman was truly sensible, with a keen eye for beauty.
“I went to the flower market the other day. The chrysanthemums were so pretty, so I brought them back. They’re lovely, aren’t they? I was thinking of taking Jiho and Minho to the flower market next time I go, if that’s alright?”
“Taking Minho to the flower market? Yes. The child will enjoy that.”
She was a woman who thought in ways entirely different from anyone else they knew. *Do other people live like this?* As the thought crossed her mind, a savory, earthy scent drifted through the air.
“Is this the scent of burdock tea?”
Just then, Choi Kang-woo came down from the second floor in comfortable clothing.
“The scent is wonderful,” he said, nodding to Choi Kyung-hye. “Mother, what brings you here? Has the rumor about the burdock tea reached the Main Building?”
Choi Kyung-hye looked at him, surprised. “Do you like this tea?”
“It’s quite good. There’s no bitterness from the first sip. Please, give me a cup as well.”
“Yes.”
As Na-eun brought out another cup of warm honey burdock tea, Choi Kang-woo took a seat next to them.