Before the movie started, the actors and Jinwook gave stage greetings. The lead actors in this film were newcomers rather than established names. It was shot on a low budget but achieved great success. After the actors gave their greetings and it was Jinwook’s turn, cheers erupted in the theater. The sound was so loud that a surprised Jinwook blinked before quickly brightening with a smile and bowing his head. When the actors’ comments ended and it was Jinwook’s turn again, another round of cheers broke out. With an awkward smile, Jinwook picked up the microphone.

“This is a bit embarrassing.”

Just then, a loud voice came from the audience.

“Kim Jinwook is handsome!”

Everyone burst into laughter at that. Jinwook laughed and playfully replied:

“I am pretty good-looking, aren’t I?”

Laughter erupted again, and another loud voice called out:

“Become an actor! An actor! You’re handsome!”

Jinwook laughed and began speaking comfortably.

“The work that our actors and staff worked so hard to create is about to begin. A film doesn’t succeed just because the actors do well, or just because the director does well. It’s a genre completed when everyone’s passion and determination come together as one. As you’ll see when you watch the movie, the synergy in this work is truly excellent. The actors, the staff, everyone without exception poured their very souls into it. You’ll especially feel it when you watch. I truly love our actors and staff. I sincerely hope that you will feel and share this sentiment with me.”

Listening to his father’s remarks, Yeoul quietly said to his mother in the next seat:

“Mom, why is Dad so different at home and outside?”

“Dad has always been like that. He acts comfortable at home on purpose to make us feel at ease.”

“But at home, he does b*tt dances.”

“If he did that dance outside, people would think he’s mentally ill, right? He does all that because he loves you kids. On purpose.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

Yeoul kept tilting his head in confusion, seemingly still unable to adapt to his father’s dual personality.

As the ending credits rolled on the screen, applause poured out. When the lights came on, Soyu looked around at the audience’s faces. Everyone had moist eyes and happy smiles. Some viewers couldn’t even get up from their seats, as if they hadn’t yet awakened from the lingering emotions. She could understand that feeling. Even though this was her second viewing, her heart felt heavy and deeply moved, just like the first time. Soyu hugged her daughter, who hadn’t cried or thrown tantrums for a long time, and said:

“Noeul, wasn’t it hard for you?”

Noeul shook her head and nestled into her mother’s arms. Soyu then checked on her son.

“How was it for you, Yeoul?”

“It was good. It was fun and funny, but my heart feels heavy.”

Soyu looked at her son with curious eyes. Though he was still too young to fully understand, the child seemed to be feeling it with his heart. Only after most of the audience had left did Soyu gather both mothers and the children to leave the theater. Jeongeun asked:

“Where’s Jinwook?”

“He’s making rounds to other screening rooms. He’ll have a company dinner afterward. We can go ahead without him, Mom.”

“It must be tough. He hasn’t been back that long.”

“He’s doing what he loves, so he’ll be fine.”

The family moved together without Jinwook.

After arriving home and changing Noeul’s clothes, Soyu asked:

“Noeul, aren’t you sleepy?”

The child took her mother’s hand and went to the living room. Standing in front of a board, Noeul stared intently at the magnetic Korean consonants and vowels, then waved her hands around searching for something. The child began selecting consonants and vowels and attaching them to the board. Since this was happening for the first time, Soyu’s eyes widened. Could she possibly…?

When Noeul completed the word “Dad,” Soyu shouted in surprise:

“Mom! Mother-in-law! Yeoul!”

At her loud voice, Jeongeun, Soyoung, and Yeoul came out of their respective rooms.

“What’s going on?”

“Mom! Look at this! Noeul is… Noeul is!”

The adults rushed over, but regardless of whether they were watching or not, Noeul attached more vowels and consonants next to the word “Dad.”

‘Dad, aren’t you coming? Are you busy?’

Jeongeun and Soyoung sat down right where they were.

“Oh my goodness.”

“Oh my. What is happening?”

With a trembling voice, Soyu asked her daughter:

“Noeul, do you know Korean?”

The child nodded and pointed again at the sentence she had made. Tears streamed down Soyu’s face. She pulled her daughter into her arms and began to cry. No one knew how much she had worried. Worried that her child might never speak. But that wasn’t the case. The child had been holding so much inside her heart. That’s when Yeoul spoke up:

“What’s this, Kim Noeul? You told me not to tell anyone, but now you’re doing this?”

Soyu looked at her son with tear-filled eyes and asked:

“You knew about this?”

“Noeul is good at it. Since last year, she’s been writing sentences and communicating with me that way.”

Soyu’s eyes widened.

“Then why has she been like this all this time? Noeul?”

“She just said it wasn’t time yet. She asked me to keep it a secret, saying she would speak when the time was right.”

Soyu cupped her daughter’s face and stared at her intently.

“When did you learn Korean?”

Noeul created another sentence:

‘I know how to do everything. Mom. Don’t worry anymore. I’m sorry.’

That wasn’t the language of a typical 30-month-old. The particles were accurate, and it sounded like an adult’s speech. Soyu hugged her daughter and sobbed. Jeongeun and Soyoung also cried while smiling brightly. Jeongeun said through her tears:

“I knew it. Our Noeul is amazing. So amazing.”

“Indeed. To know Korean like that at this age. She can’t deny her mother’s blood, can she, in-law?”

Soyu quickly pulled out her phone and called her husband.

[Yes, Soyu.]

The other end of the line was very noisy, likely from the dinner gathering.

“Jinwook! Noeul knows Korean!”

[What?]

After hearing the situation, Jinwook exclaimed:

[What! Really? I’m coming. I’m coming right now!]

After hanging up, Jinwook became flustered. The lead actors sitting next to him asked:

“Is something wrong, Director?”

“Uh, well, um…”

Seeing him uncharacteristically flustered, Hyunwoo asked:

“Director, is there a problem at home?”

“I need to go home. Please wrap things up here, Division Director Ahn.”

“Is it urgent?”

“Yes. More important than receiving the Golden Bear. I’m going.”

Jinwook stood up abruptly and stumbled while putting on his shoes. After barely regaining his balance, he rushed out of the restaurant and hailed a taxi.

“Driver! It’s urgent. I’ll pay you triple if you can get me to Gwacheondong quickly, as fast as possible!”

The driver looked in the rearview mirror and showed a pleased expression.

“Aren’t you Director Kim Jinwook?”

“Yes, I am Kim Jinwook, and yes, I did win the Golden Bear. But please, just drive quickly. My life depends on it right now.”

“I don’t know what’s happening, but let’s fly there. Fasten your seatbelt.”

As the taxi departed, Jinwook clasped his hands together with an urgent, desperate expression, his eyes growing moist.

After hanging up the phone, Soyu received a message alert. As she checked the message, she paused. After contemplating for a moment, she took her phone and quietly slipped into the master bedroom.

When Jinwook arrived home, he cried even more than Soyu had and even hoisted his daughter up in celebration. He too had been worried, though he hadn’t expressed it. Hugging his daughter and kissing her, he kept trying to converse with her until Soyu gently intervened:

“Noeul looks sleepy.”

“Oh? Are you sleepy? Noeul, are you sleepy? Write ‘I’m sleepy’ here.”

With sleep approaching and Dad being annoying, tears eventually fell from Noeul’s eyes, and only then did Jinwook stop with an embarrassed expression. Shaking her head, Soyu carried her daughter to the bedroom.

A little later, after putting the child to bed, Soyu entered the master bedroom and sat on the bed, waiting for her husband to come out of the bathroom. Shortly after, Jinwook emerged and smiled brightly when he saw Soyu.

“Did I cry on my way here?”

“Feels good, doesn’t it?”

“Yes.”

Jinwook sat next to Soyu, gently embraced her, and patted her back.

“You’ve been through a lot, Soyu.”

“You too.”

“She’s still not speaking?”

“She said not to worry. She said it’s not time yet.”

“Who? Noeul said that?”

“Yes. Her sentence structure is like an adult’s. Yeoul wasn’t like that at her age.”

“Wow. It seems the kids take after your intelligence. That’s a relief.”

“That’s not always entirely a good thing. Raising intelligent children comes with its own difficulties.”

“Your mother said the same thing before. That she made mistakes because you were too exceptional.”

“Mom said that?”

“Yes. She thought sending you to a gifted school would solve everything. She said not to make the same mistake with Yeoul.”

“I want to raise our children normally. The things children play with and experience at that age all help in the long run of life.”

“You really hated it, didn’t you?”

“Don’t I know from experience? Until I gave birth to Yeoul, I thought everything would be fine as long as I excelled.”

Soyu took her husband’s hand and spoke gently:

“It must have been harder for Mom than for me. Now that I’m a parent, I understand what parents feel.”

At that moment, the perceptive Jinwook narrowed his eyes.

“What is it?”

“What do you mean?”

“You have something else to say? Is my mother giving you a hard time? Making your married life difficult?”

Soyu opened her eyes wide and chuckled.

“Would your mother be that kind of person?”

“Then what is it? This strange development?”

After thinking for a moment, Soyu spoke:

“Your father contacted me.”

Jinwook’s face stiffened.

“Why?”

“He said he wants to see the children.”

Jinwook pouted.

“After not contacting us since the wedding?”

“He says he was abroad. He’s returned now and is retiring.”