Translator: Nox

Chapter 10

10. What Kind of Woman Is She?

Soon Jiho would start getting his permanent teeth, right?

Children grow so fast day by day. Would he grow up to be as handsome as that man someday? Imagining something so far off, Naeun continued speaking.

"Yes. So tomorrow we're moving. Jiho has to stick right by Mommy's side then. No touching dangerous things."

"Okay. I'm friends with Minho. But Minho's the king of stacking blocks."

"Better than Jiho?"

"Yeah. I can't stack as well as Minho."

"That's okay. Our Jiho is still the son Mommy loves so much. And you like blocks, right? The more you practice—"

Jiho nodded vigorously.

"Yeah. I like blocks too. That's what matters."

"It's time for Jiho's milk. Want some milk?"

"I can drink it myself."

He pulled out a milk carton, stuck in a straw, and sucked it down eagerly. He was so cute and capable it made her heart swell.

This was the last day in this house. She and Jiho had lived here busily but happily as a duo.

It wasn't a grand move; they only needed to pack clothes. Everything else was provided there, so their luggage was minimal.

Moving day brought a drizzly autumn rain. It would have been nice if the weather had been clear, but it was still fortunate.

They'd planned not to hire movers, but since they couldn't leave things scattered for days, they did. The move wrapped up in half a day. Naeun sighed, looking at the neatly packed boxes ready to go.

"Wow! Mommy, is this really our house?"

Jiho ran excitedly around the wide living room. Seeing him so thrilled, Minho, who had been standing blankly nearby, started running too. Lee Yeosa watched in surprise.

"Minho runs around like that too?"

Minho often played actively with Jiho at kindergarten, though he never started first.

"Yes. He runs around well with Jiho at kindergarten too."

"That's something."

"Does he talk with Jiho too?"

Lee Yeosa appeared and joined the conversation, but Minho had already shut his mouth tight, his expression blank. Seeing this, Naeun realized.

"Yes. And he talks with me too."

"Really. You're amazing, Teacher. Please take good care of him. Even when I was always by his side, he wouldn't say a word—it's been so hard. Tell me if you need anything. I've been handling Minho's meals and such until now."

"Thank you. I'll take care of it from now on."

"Yes. In return, I'll handle the housework. I've always managed Minho's meals anyway."

"Is that okay?"

"Of course. Madam told me herself—not to worry about other things anymore, just help the teacher."

"Thank you. I'll rely on you."

After Lee Yeosa left, Naeun flopped onto the carpet in the middle of the living room.

"Ah, I'm exhausted."

Jiho sprawled out beside her like a starfish.

"Ah! Moving's done."

Minho followed suit, lying down next to them.

"Wow, this is great. Teacher's here."

Jiho and Minho's cute voices rang out beside her. Jiho said to Minho,

"Now we can play together every day."

"Yeah."

Just then, the door opened and Kangwoo entered. His arrival was unexpected. She'd heard he came home late, but it was only 8 p.m. Before Naeun could get up, Kangwoo, stepping into the living room, looked down at the three sprawled out in a row. She stared blankly for a moment before jumping up.

"CEO, you're back?"

"Yes. Looks like the move went well. Don't mind me."

Kangwoo headed straight up to the second floor. Though she'd known he lived in a separate space, it hit her that they were under one roof. It was embarrassing to be seen like this—hair a mess from moving, wearing comfy training clothes top and bottom while sorting boxes with the kids. Sprawled out panting like this as her first impression right after moving was deflating.

"Time for us to wash up. Minho, Jiho, let's go bathe together."

Naeun lathered them up in the shower. Both listened well. Jiho could foam his own hair and rinse under the shower, so she just wiped him down carefully. But Minho stood blankly, as if waiting to be washed.

"Minho, can't you wash yourself?"

Jiho asked, and Minho shook his head silently with his dark eyes on Naeun and Jiho. Naeun smiled, lathered a sponge, and said,

"Here, hold this and scrub like this. That's right. Shoulders and neck too, and tummy."

As she showed him carefully, tickling to ease his tension, Minho giggled. He then took the sponge, feeling its slippery texture, and started foaming his legs.

"When washing hair, close your eyes like this and rub the foam Teacher gives you all over your head. Can you do it alone starting tomorrow?"

Minho shook his head.

"Should Teacher help until you can do it like Jiho?"

Minho nodded. After drying them with towels, the two naked kids ran around the living room.

Naeun chased them with clothes, trying to dress them, but felt awkward as Kangwoo came down. Chasing naked kids to dress them wasn't a sight for others. Kangwoo looked at Minho and said,

"Minho, you need to put on clothes."

Minho stopped and clamped his mouth shut. Naeun glanced at them and said,

"Then, Uncle, would you help?"

She naturally asked Kangwoo, thinking family bonds would help Minho. Minho cautiously shook his head. Naeun continued right away,

"Then Teacher will dress Minho, and Uncle dresses our Jiho?"

The naked 5-year-olds were innocently angelic. Kangwoo had never dressed a child before, but he nodded and took the clothes Naeun handed him—tiny panties, T-shirt, and pants like doll clothes.

"Jiho, come here. Panties first."

"I can do it myself."

Jiho snatched the panties from Kangwoo's hand and put them on neatly. Seeing this, Minho imitated him. Once dressed in T-shirts and pajamas top and bottom, Naeun clapped.

"All dressed!"

The kids cheered loudly with huge smiles. Could putting on clothes be such a performance? Kangwoo stood blankly, entranced by this new world, then clapped along loudly so as not to be left out.

"Need anything?"

"Tea on the second floor ran out."

Naeun raised her eyebrows and smiled at Kangwoo's words.

"We have some here—want a cup?"

"What kinds?"

Kangwoo replied coolly. Naeun opened a drawer and said,

"Nighttime, so coffee's no good, right? I brought my favorites—burdock tea, jujube ginger tea. Lemon syrup too, but anyway."

None were what Kangwoo usually drank.

"Anything else?"

"Peppermint, rooibos, barley tea."

Kangwoo chuckled in exasperation.

"All so harmless."

"Right? How about rooibos? Kids can have it too."

"Sounds good."

Naeun brewed light, lukewarm rooibos for the kids and steaming, strong rooibos for Kangwoo. She started sipping a tea with a different, nutty aroma.

"What's that smell?"

"Oh, this is my burdock tea. I made it at home."

"You made it yourself?"

Surprised that such things were homemade, Naeun shrugged lightly.

"Yes. Burdock tea isn't that hard to make."

What kind of woman is she?