Tears poured from Soyu’s eyes.

“You forgive me?”

“Yes. But don’t lie anymore from now on. Mom, you said lying is bad. Lies told to children are the worst.”

Soyu nodded.

“Thank you…. Thank you…. I’ll never lie again….”

Yeoul smiled brightly, crossed his arms, and spoke with a furrowed brow.

“So now I can tell others that Dad is my biological father? Can I tell my friends?”

She nodded.

“Yes. You can tell them.”

Yeoul turned around and approached Jinwook, who had been watching, and extended his hand in a mature manner.

“Dad. Please grow up a little now. If Mom says she hates you again, we’ll be in big trouble.”

Everyone was surprised—Jeongeun who had come out of the room, Soyu, and even Jinwook himself. Jinwook asked in confusion.

“What?”

“You said it yourself, Dad. That Mom didn’t want to marry you because you were immature. Now that you’re getting married, please grow up a little.”

For a moment, everyone was dumbfounded. Then Jinwook took his son’s hand and shook it vigorously up and down.

“Got it! Dad will grow up now! Thank you, Kim Yeoul!”

Soyu and Jeongeun ended up laughing through their tears.

※※※

Moving day to Jinwook’s house arrived. All they needed to move from Soyu’s house were the appliances Jinwook had bought, clothes, and Yeoul’s books and toys. Jeongeun felt hurt when Jinwook told her to get rid of even her old dishes, but she agreed when he suggested donating them. Instead, she brought all the potted plants she had been nurturing.

The family’s eyes widened as they entered the new house. Even Soyu, who had expected a resort-like atmosphere similar to Taeseop’s house, was surprised. She stood in the living room, looking around. The interior emphasized warmth over sophistication. All the furniture was solid wood, and even that was minimally arranged. Jinwook noticed Soyu’s surprised face and asked,

“Is it worse than you expected?”

“No. I was imagining Taeseop’s house.”

“We have Yeoul, you know. And someday we’ll have more children. I’m tired of houses that look like model homes.”

Soyu smiled brightly.

“It’s beautiful. And warm.”

Jinwook grinned and stood beside the stairs leading up to the second floor with Jeongeun. He pointed to a wooden-patterned wall.

“Mother, please don’t climb the stairs anymore.”

When he pressed a button, elevator doors opened. Yeoul cheered.

“An elevator!”

“Yes. The stairs are still dangerous, so use the elevator. With Grandma.”

Soyu was surprised too.

“You installed an elevator?”

“Yes. That’s why it took a bit longer.”

“Because of Mom?”

“Yes. What if Mother’s knees get worse from climbing stairs?”

Soyu’s eyes grew misty. She was touched that he cared more about her mother than about her. Seeing Soyu’s face, Jinwook laughed smugly.

“You’ve fallen for me again, haven’t you? Mother, aren’t I impressive? Enough to make your daughter fall for me?”

Jeongeun laughed at his words.

“Yes. How could our daughter not fall for you? I’ll gratefully accept this gift.”

“We’ll use the second floor, and Mother, you’ll use the first floor. I’ve hired a helper. She’ll start tomorrow, and I’ve asked a few more people to come. Let them handle the unpacking.”

Jeongeun looked apologetic.

“Why did you do that? I have plenty of time.”

“No, Mother. We’re not living together so you can work. If you really want to do something, tend to the flowers.”

“Flowers?”

“I built a small greenhouse in the garden too. I couldn’t make a swimming pool for Yeoul, but a greenhouse was possible.”

Yeoul grabbed his grandmother’s hand.

“Grandma, let’s go see it.”

The whole family went to the garden instead of the second floor. At the back of the garden stood a fairly large glass greenhouse. Jeongeun’s eyes widened.

“Jinwook.”

“You can plant flowers here and tend to whatever you like. I also planted many fruit trees in the yard. Mother, you mentioned before that your old house had persimmon, apple, and pear trees. I planted all of them.”

Tears flowed from Jeongeun’s glistening eyes. Jinwook lightly embraced Jeongeun and gently patted her back.

“You’ve been through a lot. Live comfortably now.”

Tears welled up in Soyu’s eyes as she watched her mother crying in her son-in-law’s arms. Just then, Yeoul shouted,

“Dad! What about my swimming pool?”

Jinwook turned to his son, bent down to meet his eyes, and said kindly,

“A swimming pool is difficult. But I can make you a small pool instead.”

Yeoul’s eyes rounded.

“You can?”

“Yes. They sell them. If we put one in the yard just for summer, you can play plenty.”

Yeoul placed his hands on his hips, laughed heartily, and gave his dad two thumbs up.

“Dad! Awesome!”

Jinwook struck the same pose as his son and threw his head back, laughing loudly.

“Dad is the best, right?”

“Yes! Dad is the best! I love you!”

His expression brightened as he tightly hugged his son who jumped into his arms.

The family went inside and took the elevator to the second floor. Jeongeun noticed the button for the third floor and asked,

“There’s a third floor too?”

“Yes. When you want to rest, go up to the rooftop.”

“You have such a beautiful heart, Jinwook. Thank you.”

“Hehe. I’m quite a good man, aren’t I?”

“Yes. You’re truly a good man.”

Jinwook went up to the second floor and opened the master bedroom door. The large room was filled with sunlight and well-ventilated. Yeoul stamped his feet impatiently and asked,

“Dad, what about my room?”

“Let’s go see Yeoul’s room too.”

Coming out of the elevator, the master bedroom was on the left, and Yeoul’s room was on the right. Yeoul opened his room and shouted “Wow!” while jumping up and down.

“It’s so spacious! It’s so nice!”

The room had a car-shaped bunk bed, a wardrobe, and a desk. An easel stood by the window with art supplies displayed beside it. Yeoul stood in front of the easel, then ran to his dad and hugged him tightly.

“Thank you, Father! I love you! Father!”

Jinwook was surprised to hear “Father” for the first time, and Soyu explained,

“It’s Yeoul’s specialty. He talks like that when he’s moved.”

Jinwook grinned.

“Really? Then Dad needs to do well so I can hear more words of love, don’t I?”

“I’ll keep saying I love you from now on. Don’t worry.”

Jinwook ruffled the mature Yeoul’s hair and asked,

“Yu-ya. Are you going to invite Mom?”

“Yes. She’s coming this week.”

“You want to see her at home?”

“Yes. I’m just going to buy food. Neither Mom nor I are good at cooking.”

“Right. Showing her where we live is what matters.”

The four family members stood by the second-floor living room window. The view overlooking Gwacheondong was close to the sky. Jinwook lifted Yeoul to show him the view.

“Wow. It’s beautiful.”

“It’ll be even more beautiful when the sun sets. Draw lots of pictures here.”

“Yes!”

Both Jeongeun and Soyu looked relaxed. The feeling of becoming a complete family brought more fulfillment than awkwardness. Jeongeun said,

“Now I have no more wishes. Just hurry and give Yeoul a sibling. That would make everything perfect.”

“Mom.”

Unlike Soyu who recoiled, Jinwook wore a sly smile.

“Right? If Yeoul just gets a little sister, everything would be perfect, right?”

Yeoul asked,

“Mom! Am I getting a little sister?”

Soyu’s face turned red. She glared at Jinwook reproachfully, but it was useless. Jinwook spoke seriously to Yeoul.

“Yeoul.”

“Yes.”

“Do you want a little sister?”

“Yes! A little sister! Not a little brother!”

“Dad thinks the same. For that, we need your cooperation.”

“What is it?”

“Sometimes when you couldn’t sleep, you went to Mom’s room, right?”

Yeoul’s cheeks flushed.

“Um…. Not often. Very rarely?”

“From now on, if something scary appears in your dreams, fight it off.”

“How do I fight it off?”

“Fight. Dad will teach you taekwondo.”

“If I learn taekwondo, can I defeat ghosts and Tyrannosaurus too?”

“Of course. Now you need to learn to sleep alone. That’s how you become a man. Can you do it?”

Yeoul raised his fist and shouted,

“Yes! I can do it! I’m all grown up now!”

“Great! My son is awesome! Fighting!”

“Fighting!”

Soyu’s face turned red at the father-son conversation, while Jeongeun smiled contentedly.

“They’re exactly the same, exactly alike. How can he be so identical to his father?”

Soyu sighed quietly where no one could see. She felt anxious as Yeoul grew more and more like his father. Foreseeing a second Kim Jinwook, she shook her head, already getting a headache.

When the weekend came, Jinwook’s mother Soyoung arrived at the house. Soyu personally went through the yard to the front gate. She opened the door and greeted her politely.

“Welcome, Mother.”

“Yes.”

Soyoung entered the gate wearing an elegant formal two-piece suit. Her eyes softened as she climbed the stone steps and looked at the yard.

“It’s bigger than I heard.”

Soyoung seemed to have no intention of hiding that she had investigated, and Soyu didn’t say anything about it either.

“Please come in.”

Following Soyu’s guidance, Soyoung entered the foyer and saw Yeoul and Jeongeun. She smiled and greeted them elegantly.

“Hello, Mrs. Sa.”

Jeongeun was also wearing a two-piece suit with her hair elegantly styled. She bowed her head in greeting as well.

“Welcome, Mrs. Sa.”

Soyoung went up to the living room, and Yeoul greeted her with his hands folded at his navel.

“Hello. I am Kim Yeoul. Grandmother.”

Soyoung smiled kindly and said,

“So you’re Yeoul. Nice to meet you.”

Soyoung flinched as she looked at Yeoul who had raised his head.