Hyunwook flared up.

“You! Your manners! What do you mean by funeral notice?”

“There you go getting worked up again. You need to fix that hot temper of yours before you can get married. This is sincere advice from a family member.”

Hyunwook, holding the tongs, pounded his chest with his fist repeatedly. Soyu changed the subject.

“I started my own company. A computer security firm.”

Hyuna exclaimed “Wow!” and gave a thumbs up.

“As expected. I knew you would excel at anything you did. If only you had good judgment in people too. Unnie, why Jinwook hyung of all people? Didn’t you hate him when we were in school?”

Jinwook glared fiercely at Hyuna sitting several seats away. That little… Soyu smiled and said, 

“Jinwook was my first love.”

Hyuna jumped up from her chair with an “Ehhh?”

“Really? No way.”

After glancing at the blushing Jinwook once, Hyuna asked with a suspicious expression, “Were you blackmailed?”

Jinwook snapped.

“Hey! Do Hyuna!”

“I mean, come on. Why would someone as perfect as unnie choose Kim Jinwook of all people? Anyone would find this strange.”

As Jinwook’s face turned red and blue, Soyu calmly said, 

“I didn’t know either. I only realized after Jinwook had his accident recently. Jinwook had been my first love all along.”

The table fell silent at her composed words. Soyu continued.

“He might be a bit frivolous and playful, but he has depth. And he loves me sincerely. So, Hyuna, could you not be too harsh on Jinwook?”

Hyuna flinched at Soyu’s gentle words. She immediately acknowledged her thoughtlessness.

“I didn’t think it would make you uncomfortable, unnie. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

“Yes. I’d appreciate that. Especially with Yeoul here.”

Hyuna smiled brightly and apologized.

“I’m sorry. I must have gotten excited seeing my hyungs after so long.”

“I’m happy to see you too. Make sure to come to the wedding. Hyein, please join us for a meal if you have time. Don’t worry about the gift money.”

Hyein smiled shyly.

“Thank you. I’ll come.”

Just then, a lecherous “hehehe” laugh came from somewhere. Everyone turned to look at Jinwook with his pleased expression. Hyunwook asked, 

“Are you that happy?”

“Yep, I’m happy. I never knew having someone completely on my side would feel like this. You guys don’t know this feeling, do you? If you’re jealous, go find someone too. A lifelong partner. Hahaha!”

Even as Jinwook laughed obnoxiously with his hands on his hips and a smug attitude, Soyu’s smile remained unchanged. Now even this side of him didn’t look bad to her.

As the night deepened, the warm atmosphere continued. Yeoul, who had eaten his fill, ran around the garden with Hyuna, and sometimes listened attentively as she taught him about constellations. Jeongeun said to her daughter, 

“That young lady Hyuna takes very good care of children.”

“Hyuna is kind.”

“She seems to be.”

“Aren’t you glad you came?”

“Yes. It’s nice. This is our first vacation together like this.”

“Let’s go on trips more often from now on. Mom, is your knee okay?”

“Yes. It’s fine now.”

Jeongeun held her daughter’s hand and patted the back of it gently.

“After the wedding ceremony, you should have a second child.”

Soyu chuckled.

“Mom, we haven’t even had our wedding yet.”

“You’ll have it within the year, right? It’s fine to get pregnant first too.”

Soyu’s cheeks turned red.

“Oh, Mom…”

“Jinwook would like that. He already adores Yeoul so much. The more I see him, the more genuine he seems.”

Soyu smiled. Many things had changed since his accident, and more would change in the future. Above all, she felt fulfilled yet secure. Her mindset and composure were different from when she had to handle everything alone. Just then, Taeseop asked Jinwook, 

“When did you say you’re moving?”

“End of this month. We’ll go as soon as the interior work is finished. Thanks for everything until now.”

Hyunwook cut in.

“If you’re grateful, bring out some booze.”

Jinwook flinched and glared at him, but Hyunwook thr*st out his chest and asked rudely, 

“What? Why? After mooching off us for months, you can’t spare a bottle of liquor?”

Jinwook narrowed his eyes.

“Don’t tell me you want the Macallan?”

“Precisely the thirty-year Macallan.”

Jinwook’s face contorted.

“If that’s what you wanted, why didn’t you take the loan I offered? You refused it then, but now you’re like this?”

“On second thought, money shouldn’t change hands between friends. I’ll just take one bottle of liquor, nothing heavy.”

“Acting like you own the place.”

“The owner is too nice, so I have to play the villain. Are you going to give it or not?”

Jinwook sighed so deeply his shoulders heaved. What a waste. It would be better to just give him money. That bottle is hard to find.

“Just take the money instead.”

“No deal. Contract canceled. You’re finished, you bastard.”

When Hyunwook sulked, Jinwook raised his voice.

“Fine! I’ll give it to you!”

Only then did Hyunwook grin. He had beaten that guy for the first time. It felt exhilarating.

As the night grew deeper, Yeoul and Jeongeun went inside the house, while the rest lost track of time drinking beer and talking. The stars in the sky shone more clearly, and the breeze carried the scent of the sea. The time spent with good people added meaning to their lives, filling another page in their life stories.

The next morning, Hyuna and Hyein put on their military uniforms and left the house to return to duty. Yeoul saw Hyuna in uniform and exclaimed, 

“Wow, Sister. You look so cool!”

Hyuna grinned.

“You think so?”

“I want to become a soldier too when I grow up!”

Hyuna laughed.

“Sure. I’ll be waiting.”

Yeoul smiled. Hyuna gave everyone a military salute.

“It’s been fun! Now Do Hyuna is returning to duty. I’ll see you all at the wedding next time!”

Even Hyunwook seemed a bit emotional about his family member leaving, wearing a very awkward expression as he said, 

“Take care of yourself. Don’t get hurt for no reason.”

“What’s with you? Want to have one last fight before I go?”

“Can’t you just say, ‘Yes, oppa‘ when your brother is worried about you?”

Hyuna’s lips twitched.

“Why does everything my brother says sound sarcastic to me?”

Taeseop said with a smile, 

“Have a safe trip back, Hyuna. It was nice meeting you too, Hyein.”

“Yes. Thank you for your kindness. I hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation.”

“Come to Jinwook’s wedding.”

“I will.”

After their car departed, Jinwook asked Yeoul, 

“Yeoul, do you want to go to the beach or the dinosaur museum?”

After thinking for a moment, Yeoul said, 

“The museum!”

“Great. Anyone else want to come?”

Though he was asking Taeseop and Hyunwook, his challenging gaze seemed to say “follow us and you’re dead.” Hyunwook replied indifferently, 

“Enjoy your family outing. I need to sleep.”

Jeongeun also said, 

“I should stay at the house too. Take the child and have a good time.”

Jinwook asked, 

“You’re not coming?”

“It’s hot. And it’s still hard for me to walk that much. Go ahead.”

“Then we’ll go by ourselves. We’ll be back soon since it’s close.”

So Jinwook, Soyu, and Yeoul set off for the museum. They parked the car, bought tickets, and entered. Yeoul got excited as soon as he saw the huge dinosaur model at the entrance.

“It’s a Tyrannosaurus!”

Jinwook couldn’t stop grinning like an idiot as his son correctly named every model in the museum like a true dinosaur expert.

“Yeoul, you know everything about dinosaurs, don’t you?”

“I’m a dinosaur professor. Even the teacher asks me about dinosaurs.”

“That’s my boy!”

Both of them put their hands on their hips and laughed loudly. Soyu, wearing a parasol, smiled at the two. Anyone could tell they were father and son no matter where they went. She couldn’t believe how similar they were becoming. The museum was quite spacious, with many attractions outside as well.

Jinwook was busy taking pictures of Yeoul climbing up a slide made to look like a dinosaur. The child struck adorably cute poses. After finishing the photos, Jinwook played around like a child himself. Soyu handed drinks to the two who were quickly drenched in sweat.

“Drink this and let’s go inside. It’s too hot.”

“Okay!”

“Okay!”

When both answered simultaneously, Soyu chuckled and looked content.

On the way back to the villa, Yeoul fell asleep, tired from the day’s activities, while Jinwook drove holding Soyu’s hand. Jinwook said, 

“You should sleep too.”

“We’ll be there soon anyway.”

“True. Yu-ya, should we register our marriage next week?”

“Register our marriage?”

“Yeah. You said you want to have the ceremony next year, right? I absolutely can’t wait until then. Let’s at least register the marriage first.”

When Soyu didn’t answer, Jinwook glanced at her nervously. She finally spoke.

“We haven’t even greeted your parents yet.”

“Do we really have to? You’ve already met my mom once.”

“We should have a proper meeting of the families. And they still don’t know about Yeoul’s existence.”

Jinwook frowned. Father. Such a difficult barrier to overcome.

“Alright. I’ll set a date.”

“That should come first.”

“Yes.”

Though he agreed, his expression didn’t look pleased. Soyu gazed at him with understanding eyes. After the accident, she had met Jinwook’s mother. She was a cultured and composed woman. Before she could even mention Yeoul’s existence, his father came up in conversation, and Jinwook got angry. In the end, they had to end the meeting without revealing Yeoul’s existence.

The rift between Jinwook and his father seemed deeper than she had thought. She wanted to have a wedding blessed by both families. But if Jinwook truly couldn’t reconcile with his father, she would have to accept it. What mattered most was Jinwook’s feelings. Perhaps they would reconcile when they were a bit older.

She squeezed Jinwook’s hand. When he looked at her, Soyu smiled gently.

“Let’s live well together.”

Jinwook grinned.

“Yes. We’re going to live well.”

Perhaps she and Yeoul could fill the void in his family life? Their car sped down the open road.