As soon as they arrived home and set foot in the yard after climbing the stairs, the wooden door connecting to the neighbor’s house opened, and Hyunwook, Taeseop, Hyuna, and Hyein entered. With both hands in his pockets, Hyunwook sauntered over and shouted loudly.

“Hey! Golden Bear winner Kim Jinwook!”

Jinwook turned his head and grinned. Taeseop also approached to congratulate him.

“Congratulations, Jinwook.”

“Thanks. Hello, Hyein.”

“Congratulations, Director.”

Hyuna chimed in as well.

“Brother-in-law. Congratulations from me too.”

Jinwook’s lips, which had maintained composure during the reporters’ congratulations, now curved up to his cheekbones.

“Did you see it?”

“Of course. We all watched it together. Brother-in-law, you seemed quite dignified.”

“Hahaha. That’s my true self.”

The man who had been mindful of his children’s reactions just moments ago returned to his familiar self as his shoulders rose endlessly at his friends’ congratulations. Taeseop said:

“Your acceptance speech was amazing.”

“Right. They’re saying that speech is legendary or whatever. It’s become a meme and caused quite a stir.”

Hyunwook asked:

“The bear. Did you bring it?”

“Of course I did.”

“Let’s see it.”

“No.”

Hyunwook flinched and asked:

“Why not?”

“Only I get to look at it. If too many hands touch it and it breaks, that would be terrible.”

Hyunwook’s eyes narrowed to slits.

“Shouldn’t you have matured a bit after winning a world-class award?”

“What’s with you? Since when have I ever been mature?”

“Then why are you still the same?”

“Hey. Why would I need to keep up appearances in front of you guys? I even know about the mole next to your d*ck.”

Suddenly everyone fell silent. Hyunwook’s face turned bright red in an instant, and he jumped around, reaching out to grab Jinwook.

“This bastard! Come here! Today, it’s either you or me. Come here! You bastard!”

At that moment, Taeseop grabbed Hyunwook’s waist at the speed of light and shouted:

“Wook! Run away!”

Jinwook flinched at Hyunwook’s fierce energy and flicked his tongue.

“Hmph. I’ll tease you about your mole even when we’re seventy, you bastard.”

Then he cackled as he ran into the house carrying Noeul. Hyunwook continued to rage and jump around while Taeseop tried to restrain him, Hyuna roared with laughter, and Hyein hung her head low. Soyu, watching this entire spectacle, let out an empty laugh. Thinking Kim Jinwook had matured was her misjudgment. Kim Jinwook would never change until the day he died. As she turned around, she noticed her son sighing and asked:

“What’s wrong?”

Dropping his shoulders even more, Yeoul said:

“When will Dad ever grow up?”

Soyu flinched. She hadn’t considered her son’s perspective. She defended her husband to smooth things over.

“Well, your dad and uncles grew up together since they were young, so…”

“Dami and I have been friends since we were little, but I don’t act like that. Dad is wrong. Plus, he’s making fun of someone’s physical weakness. That would be grounds for a school violence committee meeting if it happened at school, Mom.”

Soyu fell silent at her son’s logical argument. They say children are mirrors of their parents, but now she couldn’t even have a moment’s peace in front of the kids. She definitely needed to have a serious talk with her husband.

When they entered the house, Jinwook had displayed the Golden Bear trophy in the living room cabinet and was grinning widely while doing a joyful shoulder dance. And quite enthusiastically at that. Then he took his daughter’s hand as she stared up at him, stuck out his bottom and wiggled it.

“Noeul, did Dad win an award? This is an extremely difficult and amazing award, you know?”

Noeul, looking back and forth between her dad and the Golden Bear, reached out both hands toward the bear. Jinwook suddenly looked flustered.

“You want this?”

When the child nodded, his face became awkward and troubled. His daughter or the trophy. This moment was truly difficult for him. Yeoul and Soyu stood side by side with their arms crossed, watching the scene. Yeoul quietly asked:

“Will Dad give it to her?”

Soyu answered:

“He will.”

“I don’t think so. He wouldn’t even show it to Uncle Hyunwook earlier.”

“But this is Noeul.”

“Then Mom, want to make a bet?”

“Sure. What are you betting?”

“Two hours of gaming.”

Soyu looked down at her son and tried to hide her expression that said “got you, kid” as she smiled slightly. Feigning innocence, she asked again:

“And if I win?”

“My usual gaming time is one hour, right?”

“That’s right.”

“That’s gone. But just for one day.”

“Deal.”

The mother and son watched the father and daughter with round eyes and intense focus. When Dad just kept looking back and forth between the trophy and his daughter in agony, Noeul’s eyes narrowed and her cheeks puffed up. The child pointed at the trophy with determination in her fingertips. Jinwook’s eyes wavered.

What if she drops it and it breaks? Would I need to file a warranty claim in Germany? Does it even break? Or is it real gold so it won’t break? Ah, d*mn. I should have asked if it was gold. When her father wouldn’t give it to her, Noeul changed tactics. She grabbed her dad’s pants and made her eyes glisten with tears. Seeing his daughter’s tears, Jinwook squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them.

“Fine! If my Noeul is asking, what does this trophy matter!”

Yeoul gasped when he saw his father reach for the trophy. Soyu looked down at her son. His big eyes were trembling, and his outstretched hand, trying to stop his father, was shaking. You’ve misjudged your father, she thought. To your dad, you kids are more important than any trophy. As Jinwook grabbed the trophy, Yeoul shouted:

“Dad! Think carefully! If it breaks, you can’t fix it!”

Only then did Jinwook look at his son and wife, and solemnly said while holding the trophy:

“Yeoul. If you had asked for it, Dad would have given it to you too. I’m not giving it just because it’s Noeul.”

“But still…”

Jinwook placed the trophy in his daughter’s hands and said kindly but desperately:

“Noeul. Just please don’t break it. Okay?”

As Noeul received the Golden Bear trophy and lifted it high above her head with a bright smile, Jinwook swallowed hard. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and tears welled up in Yeoul’s desolate eyes. Soyu smiled and said:

“Do you want to do it today or tomorrow?”

Her son didn’t even hear his mother’s teasing words. My lost hour of gaming… The boy made an expression like the world was collapsing and began to sob.

That night, charcoal was lit in Jinwook’s yard, tables were brought out, and everyone noisily prepared dinner. Both mothers sat quietly while three men and three women moved about. The season wasn’t too hot yet, and the smell of grilling meat rose to the sky with white smoke. Two barbecue grills were in operation, with Taeseop and Hyunwook standing at attention and grilling the meat. Hyunwook, with his shoulders tensed, said:

“Auntie, this meat is on Taeseop and me. It’s to celebrate Jinwook. This meat was difficult to get, so please eat a lot.”

At those words, Jinwook quickly stood up, craned his neck, and looked at the meat. The marbling resembled snow.

“That’s good meat, huh?”

“Yeah. I spent a fortune. Today I won’t say anything, so eat a lot.”

“Really?”

Jinwook’s eyes sparkled abnormally. Then, while the two men were busy placing the grilled meat on plates, he secretly swiped a few packs of raw meat and turned to sneak into the house. That’s when Hyuna asked:

“Brother-in-law, why are you taking that?”

Suddenly, everyone’s gaze fixed on Jinwook’s back as he flinched. After checking the amount of meat, Hyunwook spat as he yelled:

“This guy hasn’t changed his bad habits! Hey! You could just take it openly! Why do you always have to steal? Do you have kleptomania?”

Jinwook turned around, puffed out his chest, and declared proudly:

“It doesn’t taste as good that way. Are you being stingy? I’m going to feed Noeul and Yeoul. We can’t eat all of this today anyway, right?”

Hyunwook’s hand holding the tongs trembled violently.

“I’m going to cure your kleptomania today. Come here! Are you coming or not? Hey, you thief!”

Still harboring resentment from the mole incident earlier, Hyunwook started running, and Jinwook, clutching the meat to his chest, ran too.

“You’re getting pettier with age! I just want to share!”

“Just ask before taking it! You bastard! Get over here!”

Everyone watched with exasperated eyes as the two men frantically ran around the yard. It was quite a boisterous celebration party.

Even after returning to Korea, Jinwook’s work didn’t end. He was busy preparing for the release of “Sumbisori,” the film he had produced and directed. Then came the movie’s release day. Soyu drove the car with both mothers and the children. When they arrived at the theater, Division Director Ahn Hyunwoo, a founding member of Mirae Production Company and Jinwook’s right-hand man, greeted Soyu and her family. Hyunwoo bowed to Soyu and said:

“Welcome, ma’am.”

“You must be busy with work.”

“This kind of busy is good. Haha. Opening day reservations are sold out.”

Soyu’s eyes widened.

“Really?”

“Yes. If it continues like this, I think it will be a huge hit. Word of mouth is spreading. The preview screening reactions were intense.”

A smile spread across Soyu’s face at the good signs for the film her husband had worked so hard on for years. Hyunwoo also greeted both mothers and then Yeoul and Noeul.

“Hello Yeoul, Noeul.”

“Hello, Division Director.”

Hyunwoo watched as Yeoul bowed in greeting and said to Soyu:

“Yeoul seems to become more mature every time I see him.”

Yeoul in his formal suit did look dignified.

“Would you like me to carry Noeul?”

“No, I can take her. Noeul, you’ll walk, right?”

After thinking for a moment, Noeul looked up at her brother with eyes that clearly wanted something. Yeoul firmly said:

“No. We made a promise. Today we agreed you’d walk.”

Though Noeul’s expression turned gloomy and her lips quivered, she soon took her brother’s hand. The first floor of the building housing the theater was crowded with audience members, actors invited to the screening, and reporters covering the event. Soyu followed Hyunwoo, bypassing the photo line, and walked toward where Jinwook was, placing the children in front of her. Jeongeun said:

“How can there be so many people?”

Soyoung agreed:

“I know. This movie must be doing well.”

“Division Director Ahn just said it looks like it will be a huge hit.”

“It should be. After all the hard work that went into it.”

Jeongeun took Soyoung’s hand and smiled contentedly.

“You can relax now, Mrs. Sa.”

“This is all thanks to Soyu and Mrs. Sa’s support. How could Jinwook have done well on his own? When the home is stable, the mind is at ease, and that’s why the work goes well too.”

“Then let’s say we all did well, and that’s why Jinwook is succeeding.”

Soyoung laughed at Jeongeun’s words. Jeongeun stared at the smiling Soyoung and asked:

“You’re looking for your in-law, aren’t you?”

Soyoung flinched and hedged:

“He’s probably too busy to even know his son received an award. I don’t expect anything.”

“No parent is indifferent to their child’s affairs. I’m sure he knows everything and will come to see, even if alone.”

Soyoung waved her hand dismissively.

“Oh my. If he were that kind of person, things wouldn’t have gotten to this point. He’s not that kind of person.”

There was a hint of loneliness in Soyoung’s dismissive words. Jeongeun firmly held the hand of her in-law.