Side Story 3

“Hyun and Yul are truly outstanding. I’m amazed every time I see them.”

“What’s there to say? Their mom and dad are so good-looking.”

“Did you see the new home appliances Daesan Electronics released this time? I don’t know why our company doesn’t have designers with that kind of sense.”

“Oh, I heard Daesan landed the order in Dubai. I heard the article will be out soon. Congratulations in advance.”

Everyone offered their congratulations, and Dong-sik gave a forced smile as he picked up his teacup. He wasn’t interested in home appliances or Dubai. He just wanted to end this tedious conversation and go home as soon as possible.

But the conversation didn’t end easily. It started with small talk, but later it spread to the private lives of other families. Like, so-and-so’s father is having an affair and is in the middle of a divorce lawsuit, and two of the country’s largest law firms are fighting over the assets, and it turns out it was actually a mutual affair.

“The kids are the only ones who are pitiful. If you’re going to have an affair, you should do it secretly. It’s all over the news, what a disgrace.”

“I know, right? But do you know who Seung-ji’s mom is having an affair with?”

Everyone’s eyes sparkled.

“You know, the actor Yoon Si-hoon.”

“Oh my god. Isn’t he in his early twenties? Good for her.” While everyone was making a fuss about whether it was true or not, Dong-sik put his teacup down with a thud. With everyone’s attention on him, Dong-sik sighed softly.

“I know people say you can even criticize the king when you’re desperate, but let’s keep it moderate. I find it unpleasant to hear you all meddling in other people’s family affairs like this.”

“I’ll get going first.” As he picked up his coat and stood up, he heard whispers behind him. “Oh my god, how can someone be so full of grace? Isn’t he like a walking flower? Come to think of it, I’ve never heard Lee Hee-soo speak ill of others. He doesn’t talk much either, he just listens intently. That’s how people should be.”

Since everyone was full of praise, Dong-sik maintained his image and went outside. He got into the car that was waiting nearby, and Kim Yoon-ah in the driver’s seat stared at him with wide eyes.

“Oh? Why are you here already?”

“I don’t know, damn it. They were talking non-stop about things they don’t even know, I thought my ears were going to bleed.”

“But… you held back well, right?”

She was worried every time that he had expressed it as holding back, but hadn’t hit anyone in a fit of anger. Dong-sik gave a benevolent smile. “I’ve changed a lot. I don’t go around punching people anymore.”

Kim Yoon-ah grabbed Dong-sik’s hands as if deeply moved.

“I’m so happy. I can’t believe Lee Hee-soo has changed this much.”

“But why are you here? I gave you a day off.”

“The day off is fine…. I have to work.”

“Trying to forget the pain of heartbreak with work?”

Yoon-ah pouted, and Dong-sik clicked his tongue and shook his head. Kim Yoon-ah had gotten a boyfriend, dated him, but they just didn’t click, and she broke up with him. She was so upset that she called Dong-sik and cried for three hours.

“Wait, I’ll see if I can find you a good guy.”

“No, thanks. I want to meet someone who I connect with, rather than someone someone else introduces me to.”

“Like Madam Song?”

Kim Yoon-ah’s ears turned red at the sudden question. Seeing that, Dong-sik frowned slightly.

“Don’t tell me you still have feelings for her?”

“I can’t say I don’t….”

Wow. Should I just accept it at this point? Dong-sik was amazed.

“What do you like about her anyway? I’m genuinely curious.”

It’s true that Madam Song looks young for her age, and it’s true that she’s graceful and beautiful. But could you really love someone who’s old enough to be your mother? Besides, Madam Song recently got a boyfriend.

He was a poet, ten years younger, and had nothing to his name, but he was supposedly passionate about literature. But he looked like a con artist at first glance. Dong-sik was planning to call him out separately soon and give him a good scolding.

“Well, it’s better for me if you date him than that con artist.”

“Is he a con artist?”

“Just by the way he talks, I can tell. He’s trying to scam her.”

Wow…. Kim Yoon-ah looked at him with admiration, and Dong-sik shrugged. It’s nothing. He wasn’t impressed when the mothers in the cafe praised him so much, but when Kim Yoon-ah looked at him with respect, he felt proud for no reason. It was like an older brother showing off in front of his younger sister.

As he was chatting with Kim Yoon-ah, expensive cars lined up in front of the kindergarten. Then the children came out of the kindergarten. Even though there was a kindergarten bus, the parents sent drivers to pick up their children for safety reasons.

Among the children coming out surrounded by the teacher, two particularly tall kids stood out. Kim Hyun and Kim Yul. They looked exactly alike, but Dong-sik could quickly tell who was who. The kid holding the teacher’s hand and looking overjoyed was Kim Hyun, and the aloof kid who didn’t even look at anyone who spoke to him was Kim Yul.

“Mom! Yoon-ah noona!”

Kim Hyun always called Kim Yoon-ah Yoon-ah noona. Dong-sik tried to joke around and told him to call her Yoon-ah ajumma, but he stubbornly stuck to Yoon-ah noona. Then Yul appeared and greeted him politely.

Seeing how much he resembled his father, Dong-sik stroked Yul’s head and pressed down on it with a mischievous heart. It was only for a moment, but he felt Yul smile slightly. As he was about to put them in the car, a girl called out to Kim Yul and ran over.

Then she handed Yul a pink piece of paper and ran away blushing. Yul put the note in his pocket without opening it, and Dong-sik put them both in their car seats and drove off.

And before long, he subtly tested Kim Yul.

“Yul-ah. Who’s that friend?”

Yul kept his mouth shut, and Hyun stepped up to answer. “Kim Seo-ah!”

“Ah, Seo-ah. What did pretty Seo-ah give Yul?”

Kim Yul took the note out of his uniform pants pocket without hesitation. Kim Hyun was also curious and tried to read the letters, craning his neck. Kim Yul opened the note and frowned. He was curious about the contents, but impatient Kim Hyun told him first.

“Mom! The paper says ‘I like Kim Yul’! I saw it!”

Dong-sik, who was drinking coffee, almost spat it out. Kim Hyun was excited and chattering even though he wasn’t the one who received it, and it was impossible to tell whether Kim Yul’s expression was good or bad.

“Yul must be happy. He has a friend who draws hearts for him.”

“Yul-ah. Are you going to marry Seo-ah later?”

Yul frowned with a serious expression at the flood of questions. He’s just like his dad when he does that.

“I’m going to marry Mom….”

Kim Hyun next to him raised his hand.

“Me too, me too! I’m going to marry Mom!”

It was always like this, so Dong-sik shook his head with a pitiful expression.

“No, you can’t. Mom married Dad.”

“Can’t we marry him again?”

“No, you can’t. First, go get permission from Dad.”

He handed over his cell phone, and Kim Hyun quickly took it and made a call. The signal went through, and Kim Jun-han’s friendly voice was heard from the receiver.

[Oh, Hyun-ah.]

“How did you know it was Hyun!!!”

Kim Jun-han laughed with a pleasant sound.

“Dad, Yul and I want to marry Mom, but you have to give us permission.”

[What should I do? Dad can’t give you permission?]

“Why?”

[Because Mom likes Dad more than Hyun and Yul.]

Dong-sik frowned. That guy. He should talk to them at their level. When he turned around, Hyun’s eyes were wide. He was quite shocked, and soon tears welled up in his eyes.

Rather, Kim Yul, who had brought up the story in the first place, was calm. He was just looking at the scenery outside, whether his brother was crying or not. Looking back, Kim Yul was always calm in other matters as well. Kim Jun-han was worried that his second son wasn’t acting like a child and that there might be a psychological problem, but Dong-sik thought he just looked exactly like his father. Only he doesn’t know it.

Kim Hyun finally burst into tears, and Dong-sik soothed him and took the phone to scold Kim Jun-han.

“Why are you making the kid cry?”

[They need to know the truth.]

Dong-sik hurriedly hung up, saying they would talk later with a disgusted expression. When he turned around, Kim Hyun’s face was covered in tears and snot. He cried whenever he had a chance, even when he was Blackey in the womb.

As he was comforting the child, the car arrived at the main house. Dong-sik occasionally visited Madam Song’s house on weekdays, and Madam Song, who had heard the news in advance, was already waiting in front of the door with an excited expression.

Kim Hyun stopped crying as if nothing had happened, and they both ran towards their grandmother as soon as the car stopped. Madam Song looked very happy as she hugged the children who were running up to her, shouting, “Grandma!” Then she was startled to find Kim Hyun’s face was a mess.

“My baby! What happened to our puppy’s face?”

Kim Hyun burst into tears again as if his sadness had resurfaced. He only said “Dad, Dad” three times and then just burst into tears, and Madam Song lifted the child up in her frail arms.

“Don’t cry. Should Grandma scold Dad? Should we punish him when he comes later?”

Oh my god, her precious son. Is this why they say grandchildren are better than children?

Meanwhile, a message arrived for Kim Jun-han. He can’t be a gentleman.

[I can’t give up to my child, no matter what.]

Ha, haha. He laughed in disbelief. It’s not like raising three sons. Ah. As he rubbed his head in exhaustion, Kim Yoon-ah approached and asked if he was okay. Dong-sik nodded and looked at Madam Song.

He didn’t know where the old woman, who said she was tired every day, got her energy from, but she was taking turns lifting her grandchildren up with ease. It was the happiest Dong-sik had ever seen Madam Song as Lee Hee-soo.