A guileless smile, devoid of a single calculating thought. It was an expression I never saw among the people in my circle. It felt uncomfortable, yet strangely pleasant—unfamiliar and awkward, but warm, radiating a gentle light. Unaware of Kang-woo’s internal shift, Na-eun spoke.
“Jiho, this is the apple pie the gentleman bought for you. Did you remember to say thank you?”
“No.”
The child immediately set down his fork, placed both hands over his navel, bowed his head, and offered his thanks. The precision of his manners was so unexpected that a laugh escaped me.
“That’s right. Eat up, Jiho. Our Jiho has such good manners.”
“Minho greets people like this, too.”
“Excuse me?”
This was the first time Kang-woo had heard such a thing. Minho didn’t even make eye contact; he ignored everyone when leaving for or returning from kindergarten. The nanny had consistently reported the same thing: that Minho wouldn’t engage with anyone at all.
“Minho greets people?”
“Yes. When he arrives at the kindergarten, he places both hands on his navel and says hello, and he says goodbye when he leaves. You didn’t know?”
“No. That never happens at home.”
“Ah…”
Na-eun looked down, feeling awkward for having brought it up.
“You’ve told me something very helpful. Since he is that comfortable with you, we would like to have you as our live-in tutor, even if it means paying more.”
Just then, Jiho, who had skewered a piece of apple pie with his fork, held it toward Na-eun’s mouth.
“Mom. Ah.”
Na-eun smiled brightly and opened her mouth. As she tasted the pie, her eyes crinkled into half-moons.
“Wow. The apple pie Jiho gave me. It’s delicious.”
At those words, Jiho shrugged with the confidence of a king, then popped the remaining piece into his mouth and chewed it thoroughly. It shouldn’t have been a momentous event, so why, caught in this quiet space, did I feel such warmth? What was this atmosphere? Come to think of it, such a feeling had no place in my own memories.
I had always eaten snacks prepared by a nanny, raised under a family code that demanded I act exactly as expected.
But did a life like this truly exist?
“Would you like some, mister?”
Without a second’s hesitation, Jiho skewered the very last piece and held it toward Kang-woo.
“Mister, ah.”
I couldn’t bring myself to open my mouth.
“Ah. I don’t like sweets.”
The reply was cold, devoid of flavor. The words were barely out before the child reacted.
“Why?”
His eyes went wide with genuine surprise.
“Sweets are so delicious. Have you never eaten them?”
Kang-woo struggled to find an answer, eventually settling on a stiff, “Yeah. I haven’t.”
Then, the child fished something out of his pocket.
“This is a candy I really treasure. It’s the most delicious one in the world. Grape flavor. I’ll give it to you, mister. Once you try it, you’ll know how delicious sweets are.”
“Jiho, that’s your treasured candy—are you really giving it to the mister?”
Na-eun whispered from the side, and Jiho nodded vigorously.
“The mister bought me apple pie, so I’m giving him candy. Eat it, mister.”
Caught off guard, Kang-woo accepted the candy.
“I ate it all!”
At the child’s announcement, Na-eun stood up.
“Really? Then let’s get going. Uncle Minho needs to get up, too.”
Mesmerized by the woman and the child, Kang-woo tucked the candy into his pocket and stood as well.
“I’ll drive you.”
“No, thank you. It’s just that apartment right over there.”
Though she called it an apartment, it looked more like a small multi-family house.
“I’ll see you home.”
“No, really. It’s a path I walk every day.”
“Right.”
Kang-woo stayed back, watching them leave, sensing that any further insistence would seem strange.
“Mister. Thank you for the apple pie. Goodbye.”
The child bowed politely with his hands over his navel again, a gesture so earnest it drew an involuntary smile from me.
“Yeah. Right. See you later.”
“Later? Are you going to buy me apple pie again, mister?”
The child’s eyes, wide with expectation, grew as large as the grape candy he’d given him.
“Next time, let’s eat with Minho.”
“Wow! How exciting! Apple pie with Minho!”
As Jiho ran off, Na-eun hurried to keep pace.
“Goodbye. Jiho, stay with Mom. It’s not good to run like that.”
The child, who had been pattering along on short legs, was soon caught by his mother. Kang-woo watched from behind as they entered the house.
It was as if I were bewitched. The two of them felt like people living in a different world—a place I had never occupied. It was starkly different from the world I knew: a life burdened by contracts, corporate strategy, performance reports, and a father who demanded relentless output. So, this was where Minho was finding the warmth he could never feel at home.
* * *
It was Saturday. Na-eun, who had woken up early to apply makeup and style her hair, let out a deep sigh in front of the mirror. After much deliberation, she had decided to accept the position of Minho’s tutor. She had to earn money when she could.
Her kindergarten teacher’s salary barely covered their needs, and Jiho’s future education would require more. Na-young had promised to cover his expenses, but so far, she had sent almost nothing. She was lost in these thoughts when her mother, Misuk, called.
“Yes, Mom.”
-Yes, it’s your mother. Do you have some money saved up?
She was dumbfounded by the shameless question, which came without even a greeting.
“Why do you need money?”
-Why? Because I need money to spend, that’s why. That Ha-young, she doesn’t bring home much money these days. Maybe it’s because she’s getting older? You’re still in your 20s, why don’t you have any work coming in? Do you think supporting a celebrity is easy?
The audacity was beyond belief. She had put Ha-young’s child, Jiho, on her own family register to raise. She had promised to pay child support, but hadn’t sent a cent.
“Mom, Jiho’s child support hasn’t been coming in.”
-Look at you talking back. I’m asking about money because I’m desperate, and you’re complaining about support?
“You said from the beginning that Unni would cover Jiho’s support.”
-She would if she had it. She can’t pay because she’s broke. Do you think she wouldn’t give it if she had it? It’s her own child.
“Don’t say things like that. Jiho is my son. We agreed on that for life, so don’t make such slips of the tongue.”
-Fine. He’s your son for life, then you raise him. You earn money, don’t you? A teacher’s salary isn’t much, but you can manage. Now, can’t you send me 400,000 won?
Na-eun hung up. The phone rang again, but she ignored it. A person needed some decency. She remembered shedding so many tears when Ha-young and Misuk moved to a nice house, leaving her and young Jiho behind.
They had claimed that being seen with their nephew might ruin Ha-young’s celebrity career. They moved out, calling it a proactive measure. Na-eun had been heartbroken when she later discovered they had settled into a high-end villa. But betrayal only hurts the first time; she wouldn’t be fooled again.
In any case, Jiho was her son, and she had to earn for him. Becoming a tutor at Minho’s house was the best option. Kang-woo had suggested a three-year contract, but Na-eun had asked for a longer term. She needed at least four years of stability.
She worried about the potential for sudden disruption, but as she contemplated her plans, Kang-woo called.
-I’ve arrived.
“Oh. Did you come yourself?”
-Yes. It’s the weekend, after all.
In truth, he could have sent the driver. Even after arriving in front of her house, Kang-woo couldn’t quite rationalize why he had come personally. But this was Na-eun’s first day entering the Myeongseong Group main house, and he wanted to be the one to escort her. It was obvious that a small creature would be trembling before a predator. Plus, wasn’t there a puppy involved, too? He remained busy constructing a reason he could accept himself.
A moment later, when Na-eun emerged, she looked polished—her hair styled in soft, natural waves, her lips tinted a faint reddish hue. It made her skin look even clearer, more defined.
“Mister!”
“Hello, Jiho.”
“Where are we going?”
“To Minho’s house.”
At that, Jiho cheered. “Really? I like playing with Minho.”
Jiho was simply excited, but Na-eun was visibly tense. She had to face the fastidious Director again, in his own home. It was a meeting with Minho’s grandmother and this man’s mother—effectively an interview for the Myeongseong Group’s inner circle.