Chapter 15
15. For the Child, a Mother Grows Stronger 2021.06.19.
Jin-seo meticulously took care of Jeong-o and Yena, who were shocked by today's events. By chance, Jeong-o got a ride in Jin-seo's car and they headed to Guksun Baekban.
“Thank you for the ride. You came all the way here, please have dinner with us.”
“Oh, should I? Thank you.”
Jin-seo accepted Jeong-o's invitation affably. Yena opened the restaurant door first.
“Grandma!”
“Oh, my puppy!”
Guk-soon greeted her running granddaughter with open arms. Along with the welcoming expression, her eyes were teary. After receiving Jeong-o's call, Guk-soon had been endlessly worried.
“My puppy, are you hurt anywhere?”
“Nope!”
“Thank goodness we found you so quickly. What would I have done if I had lost this pretty thing…….”
Guk-soon rubbed her cheek against Yena's cheek.
“Mom, this is Do-bin's mother, a friend from Yena's baduk academy. She helped us find Yena today.”
“Hello, Madam.”
Guk-soon, who had been hugging Yena, straightened up at Jeong-o's introduction.
“Oh, thank you. Thank you.”
Guk-soon held Jin-seo's hands in her own and shook them, bowing repeatedly, causing Jin-seo to bow her head as well, unsure of what to do.
“Yena talks about Do-bin. It's so nice to see you like this.”
“What does she say about Do-bin?”
Do-bin chimed in at Guk-soon's greeting.
“So, you're Do-bin.”
Guk-soon looked at Do-bin fondly and stroked his hair.
“Do-bin said you were friends.”
A smile bloomed on Do-bin's face. He was pleased that the aloof Yena, who always reacted indifferently no matter how he expressed himself, had said that he was her friend. Soon, a generous dinner table was set. Guk-soon put two tables together and brought out all sorts of side dishes.
“We will enjoy the meal. Thank you.”
“I don't know if it will suit the children's tastes.”
A good opportunity to score points with Yena's grandmother. Do-bin took a large spoonful of rice and brought it to his mouth. It was something he would never do at home. Jin-seo watched Do-bin with a pleased expression and said to Guk-soon.
“My parents also ran a business nearby. They did it for a long time.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Do you know Jinseo Flower Shop? It was there six years ago, if you went straight into the market intersection.”
“I know it, I know it! You were the daughter of that house? Now that you mention it, I think I've seen you before!”
“Me too. From the moment I stepped into the restaurant, I felt like I knew you well.”
“How is your mother?”
“Yes. She's wrapped up her business and gone to the countryside to farm with my father.”
“I see. I see. The two of them were so lovey-dovey back then. Oh, what a connection, what a connection. Nice to meet you. Your son and daughter both look so bright.”
While the two were talking, Jeong-o was deep in thought. Should she talk to the police? Would they believe her if she did? She couldn't dismiss the note in her child's kindergarten bag as a simple coincidence. But it seemed too hasty to add substance to her suspicions and ask the police for help. Explaining the note might reveal her relationship with Jeong Ji-heon, and Yena could be in danger in the process. In any case, the police said they would track down the suspicious woman who took Yena, so she had no choice but to trust them and wait.
‘That note, the Saehan Group logo, it could all be a joke or a coincidence. It's possible.’
Also, the note wasn't a threat, just a simple fact, so there was no need to be afraid. Don't be nervous, and think calmly about the future. Jeong-o secretly comforted herself. Jin-seo was polite to Guk-soon and kind to Jeong-o. She didn't even ask Jeong-o what the father of her child did. That alone was enough for Jeong-o to think of Jin-seo as a good person.
“I wanted to do systematic childcare, but it's not working out the way I thought it would. I read a lot of books and watched a lot of childcare shows. I've got a lot of stuff in my head, but I can't actually apply it. That's when I feel so powerless.”
Jin-seo confided her current worries while watching the children play.
“You're working now, right?”
“Yes.”
“That's amazing. Really.”
“…….”
“The academy teacher praises Yena so much. You work so wonderfully and raise your child so smartly. You're really amazing.”
I'm just doing what I like to do. Raising two children must be harder. Jeong-o felt awkward at Jin-seo's praise.
“But I don't know what to do if something like today happens again. I ran out of the company today when I heard my child was missing.”
“I guess so. That's why, Yena's mother.”
Jin-seo lowered her voice for a moment, as if she had something important to say.
“How about I pick her up after baduk academy? No, I think it would be better if I picked up Yena while picking up Do-bin after kindergarten. Kkwaekkori Kindergarten and Sonamu Kindergarten are close by.”
“Ah…….”
“And then they can play with our Do-bin and Do-yoon at our house, and I can take her to you when you're done with your restaurant work.”
“…….”
“I'll feed them and send you pictures from time to time. Actually, I'm a nutritionist. I'm confident I can take care of the kids' nutrition.”
Jin-seo's eyes darkened as Jeong-o hesitated again.
“I'm not asking for anything in return. ……Actually, Do-bin likes Yena. He becomes more mature whenever he talks about Yena. So, I want them to get along well, read books, and play together. I'm sorry for being so transparent, but I think Do-bin can learn a lot from Yena…….”
Jin-seo spoke her mind frankly.
“I understand that it's hard to trust someone right away after what happened today. Besides, it's not a son, but a daughter…….”
“No. No, it's not that. Yena also talked about Do-bin. I trust you. It's not that I don't trust you. I'm just worried it might be too much for you…….”
“No, it's not hard at all.”
Jin-seo waved her hands wildly as Jeong-o worried about her.
“Then how about this? Let's just try it for one day, just the way I asked. Just one day.”
And then her eyes lit up again. Her affable voice sounded somehow earnest.
“I'll keep a close eye on them so they don't fight. I'll try not to make Yena feel left out.”
Jeong-o's heart ached. An angel asking to take care of her child. Could there be anyone more grateful than this? * The next morning. It was a morning that Jeong-o couldn't take lightly. After such a big incident yesterday, the kindergarten teacher and the baduk academy teacher would be a little more attentive today, but she still couldn't let her guard down. While preparing Yena for kindergarten, Jeong-o told her several times.
“Yena, don't talk to just anyone. Got it?”
“Yes!”
Yena's answer was confident. But her mother couldn't relax easily.
“Don't follow anyone even if they say they'll buy you something delicious. Got it?”
“Yes!”
“You have to say no to things you don't like. Can you do that?”
“Yes!”
“You'll say you understand and then not listen, right?”
“Yes! No, no!”
I knew it was a mechanical answer.
“Yena, what if a stranger comes up to you and says their arm hurts and asks you to carry their luggage, to help them?”
“I'll help them!”
It's impossible to ask children to do this. If an adult with malicious intentions uses all sorts of tricks to lure a child, the child will not be able to resist. Even adults are not free from all the temptations of the world, so how much more so these innocent children? The only thing to do is to protect them well. While her mother was so worried, Yena, who had pestered her grandmother to get a piece of ice, crunched the ice against Jeong-o's ear.
“Lee Yena, what are you doing?”
“ASMR.”
It was a sound that Yena only made for people she liked. Jeong-o pulled Yena in front of her, sat her down, and scolded her.
“Yena. It's wrong for an adult to ask a child for help. You don't have to help strangers. Got it?”
“Yes!”
“Did you even understand what I said?”
“Okay!”
Even after being so surprised yesterday, my daughter is so brave today. I want to protect this carefree innocence. That was Jeong-o’s true feeling. * Yesterday, I left work early without notice, so I had to work even harder today. Jeong-o, who came to work early, put down her things and found Ji-heon's secretary on her way to the bathroom. The secretary greeted Jeong-o first.
“Assistant Manager, hello.”
“Yes. Aera-ssi, hello.”
“Have you been to see the Director?”
“Pardon?”
“I left a note. Didn’t you see it?”
“Ah… I didn’t see it. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Jeong Ji-heon Director has been looking for you since yesterday. Go see him now. He’s in his office.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
It was only after greeting the secretary that she realized. Come to think of it, yesterday, she put aside her thoughts about Ji-heon. Because she was worried about her daughter. Worrying about Yena is ultimately connected to Ji-heon, but at least she wasn't assigning meaning to his every move and getting confused. She had even forgotten that he was waiting for her in his office.
‘He must be angry if he’s been waiting long.’
It was something to be sorry about. Although she couldn't make a guilty face. Jeong-o went straight to Ji-heon's office. Knock, knock, she knocked, but there was no response from inside. Jeong-o had no choice but to just go inside.
“Jee…”
She tried to call out quietly, pretending to be cautious, but immediately closed her mouth. Ji-heon was sleeping. Lying stretched out on the sofa, no less. Jeong-o hesitated, wondering if she should just go back out, then cautiously moved her feet and went to him. Does he have a lot of work? Was he very tired? She thought he was a completely changed person, but his sleeping face was the same. Dark eyebrows, a sharp nose without a bend, a clear philtrum, and a neat mouth. Above all, without the harsh words and sharp eyes, he didn't seem so cold-hearted. She even felt sorry for him.
A pitiful person who doesn't even know what he's lost. Thinking of Yena, who has grown up so beautifully, she felt even more sorry for him that he hadn't been able to watch those years.
‘Will I be able to show our Yena to you?’
You've changed so much? You're about to start a new life? You're getting married to your girlfriend? Considering the slightest risk, she wanted to close her heart completely, but she couldn't. She had to know for sure who was threatening her daughter.
‘Is your mother behind you?’
How much does your mother know? Does she know about Yena too? Are your close associates really trustworthy people? This man's close associates. She has to dig into them. About this man too... Seeing his face with his eyes closed peacefully, her heart softened again. The temptation to touch him here and there also peeked out. But, he's someone she shouldn't touch now. She can't ruin your life for her own greed. Still, she wants him to meet Yena.
‘Jeong Ji-heon-ssi. I don't know how our lives will go, but wait. Just wait a little.’
Until I find out who the culprit is. Figuring out his surroundings and securing Yena's safety comes first. Everything else is after that.
‘Someday, I’ll definitely let you meet our Yena.’
She made a firm resolution, but her already softened heart turned to liquid. A drop of tear fell on his face. Jeong-o was startled and belatedly wiped away the tears with the back of her hand. Don't cry. Lee Jung-oh. No one can wipe away your tears. You have to solve it yourself. Jeong-o, who got up with a determined look, turned around with a firm expression. But.
“Where are you going.”
A heavy voice grabbed Jeong-o's ankle like shackles.
“Where are you going, after doing this.”
He was awake.
