Zero Chance for the Incest Freak

Whoa! You ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even know about Ko Now! That's seriously incredi―― …………… But still. No matter how pissed off I was, I stopped walking, caught my breath, and thought it over. Calm down and analyze the situation coolly. What are that incest freak's odds of winning?

Zero.

Why? Simple. It's incest. Incest. No matter how pretty she is. No matter how young. In the end, Senior Han Kang and that perverted incest freak are blood-related family. Father and daughter. There's no room for romance between them. Senior Han Kang is a normal guy. Not an incest freak.

Wasted effort, you idiot.

I sneered at that blue twintail bitch in my mind. No matter how much she plays the good daughter craving Daddy's attention, that's as far as she'll get. She'll never advance to the next stage. The cards Han Sol holds are useless from the root. Like a restaurant with cheap, tasty rice but no way to even open for business.

Me, on the other hand? Senior-junior work relationship. Adult to adult. As long as there's consent, no problems at all. The match is already decided.

Thinking that way made me feel a bit relieved. But... there's one headache.

What happens to Han Sol later? When Senior Han Kang and I get together. As lovers, fiancée, wife. How do we handle that existence in the process? Our age gap is small, so I can't really become her stepmom. And I have no intention of it. Normally, keeping a distant, neither close nor awkward relationship would be ideal. I'd acknowledge her as my legal daughter, and she'd acknowledge me as her legal mom.

So when I first heard Senior Han Kang's daughter was coming to visit, I planned to act friendly enough.

But then we met face-to-face.

She's a total bitch.

Friendly? Impossible. We're already enemies. No, we became enemies right then. Calling me "auntie" from the start was basically a declaration of war.

I had no intention of forgiving Han Sol either.

"Ah, seriously."

My head hurt. As a romantic rival, she doesn't even qualify, but as the boss's family? That's a different story. Starting our first meeting with this kind of power struggle. Of course, that perverted incest freak will gnash her teeth and oppose my relationship and marriage with Senior Han Kang.

The one consolation is that she'd oppose anyone dating Senior Han Kang anyway.

"Sigh. It's my fate."

In the end, all I could do was sigh. If I'd just liked some guy my age, I wouldn't be stressing over this. I'm not unpopular; I have plenty of admirers. College classmates, newbie coworkers, even a blind date guy a few months ago. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠More than one or two guys want to date me.

But what can I do? I like older guys.

Guys my age just look like babies. Even slightly older ones are the same. Immature, childish, unreliable. No way I'd catch feelings for those lightweights. The odds are lower than finding cookies in Grandma's empty jar.

Senior Han Kang, though? Stoic, quiet, cold, pushing people away. But his occasional words carry weight, his silent diligence is dependable, his solid muscles backed by real skill inspire trust.

Yeah. You can't change your tastes.

I cursed my own preferences even as I embraced them.

"Fine. I'm prepared."

Whether that incest freak interferes or not, it doesn't matter. I'm the predetermined winner anyway.

Of course, the war isn't over just because victory is certain. If anything, it's just beginning. I have to protect Senior Han Kang. From that perverted incest freak's clutches, no matter what.

Next Friday.

Late into the night, just the two of us.

I clenched my fist. No interruptions this time.

……………

After seeing Lee Jin-ah off, on the way to Han Sol's place, she never let go of my hand. From the moment we left the cafe until now. Gripping it tight, like she couldn't bear to let go.

Cute, but...

She's twenty-three, and holding Daddy's hand like this feels a bit embarrassing. Passersby keep glancing at us.

But whatever. If my daughter wants it, I'll hold hands anywhere.

Anyway. Walking the streets hand-in-hand with Han Sol for the first time in over a decade brings a flood of cherished memories bubbling up.

At the amusement park. She clung to my hand like glue, saying she'd never let go until she died. We couldn't ride a single ride, but she grinned, saying it was fun just playing with Daddy. That smile tugged at my heartstrings.

That's why... that's how. At that amusement park, meant to create our last memory. I realized it. For me, abandoning that poor kid—even after her birth mom ditched her—wasn't an option.

Because she's family.

Anyway, who knew that tiny, fern-like hand would grow this big.

"Sol-ah."

"Yes?"

"Reminds me of when you were eight."

"...What about it?"

"You were the same back then. Crying and wailing not to let go of Daddy's hand."

Han's Sol's steps faltered for a moment. She whipped her head away.

"I don't know. I don't remember."

"Come on, liar."

"I really don't remember."

Her voice pitched up a bit. Even in the dark, her ears were bright red.

Heh heh. So shy.

I could see right through her pretending otherwise. Cute kid. But if I teased more, she'd really get upset. No need to hurt feelings when we'd just made up.

We walked in silence for a while. Our shadows stretched long under the streetlights. Father and daughter. Two silhouettes side by side.

Mm, not a bad sight.

"Dad."

Han Sol spoke up suddenly.

"Yeah?"

"You meet up with her often?"

I wondered what she meant, but context pointed to Lee Jin-ah.

"Work colleague, so yeah, every day."

"...Not that."

Her voice dropped cold.

"Privately. Like today."

"Oh, that? First time today."

She nodded silently and gripped my hand tighter. A brief silence passed. I thought it was over, but no.

"You're meeting next week too, right?"

"Yeah. Friday, gym together."

"...Every week?"

"Well, uh. It just kinda happened that way."

"Kinda happened? How does it just kinda happen?"

"Ah, well."

I wasn't sure how to explain.

"Didn't plan it at first. But she really wanted to learn working out."

"………."

"So I agreed to teach once a week. Wasn't gonna be weekly originally, but she asked so nicely, hard to refuse."

Han Sol said nothing. Instead, she pressed closer to my arm. Almost hanging off it.

Hm?

Something bothering her? Maybe she doesn't like Daddy spending time with a female junior.

Could be. I didn't think so before, but her Electra complex is suspicious.

But I'm a working adult too. Can't be helped. Relationships with colleagues are crucial in society.

I'll explain properly later.

……………

We arrived at Han Sol's officetel. Impressive building. Even for monthly rent, it's something else. Probably costs two months' salary for a full-time minimum-wage worker.

Means she's raking it in from streaming. Good for her.

"Alright, we're here."

I tried to gently pull my hand free from her long grip.

But she wouldn't let go.

"Walk me to the door."

"Mm."

Escort to the entrance? Fine, we're already here.

We passed the lobby, took the elevator. Her floor was pretty high up.

Now at the door.

"Here we are."

Time to say goodbye for real.

"Go on in."

I tried pulling my hand again. No dice.

"Come in."

"What?"

"You're already here. Stay a bit."

This kid!

Tricked me, Sol! First "to the front," then "to the door," now "come inside." Cute lie, but pretty sly.

"Mm, Sol-ah. Dad needs to get home――"

"No. You have to come in."

She looked up at me. Expression calm, but her grip was iron.

Then, without releasing my hand, she punched in the door code and opened it.

Well...

Nothing much waiting at home anyway. Might as well spend time with my daughter since I'm here.

"Fine, fine. I'll come in."

I gave in to her. A smile spread across Han Sol's face.

……………

Stepping into Han ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Sol's place, the first thing that hit me was the space. Huge. Three times my one-room, maybe more. Streaming must pay really well.

"Dad, sit."

She pointed to the sofa.

"Mm."

"Watch a movie or whatever. Your pick. I'll change into comfy clothes and be right back."

She handed me the remote and vanished into her room.

Alone in the living room. I sat on the sofa, turned on the TV. OTT apps lined up: Apple TV, Jungle Prime, Netflicks, and more. Accounts for all of them. Not a single one missing.

"......Ugh."

My inner ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠boomer whispered.

Wasteful spending. How much is that monthly combined?

Pick one. Over ten domestic and international services? That's pushing 200,000 won a month. Kids these days have no money sense. Spending like that, it'll leak out no matter how much you earn.

The nagging rose to my throat. But I held it back. Say it, and I'd just be a nagging old fart.

Torture.

I scrolled through movies with the remote. What to watch? My finger moved unconsciously.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms drama. The remake.

Ooh... no, bad idea!

Have I lost it, Han Kang? Watching Three Kingdoms with my twenty-something daughter? Ko Now wailing after an arrow to the arm, woman-collecting Cao Cao, Zhuge Liang Gatling with a crossbow. All gold for me, but pure boomer bait for her.

Better find something girls like. Stuff the female staff chat about.

One title caught my eye.

Based on a novel. High rating. Summary glance:

...Hm.

Honestly, not my taste. But flip it: this must be twenty-something girl bait. Hit play. Screen darkened, movie started. Pale man under moonlight――

"Dad."

Voice from behind.

"Yeah, picked a movie."

I turned, words caught. Han Sol stood there.

In "comfy clothes." Hot pants impossible to stare at directly. Sleeveless shirt clinging like underwear. And mismatched wristbands.

Th, this is...

Comfy for girls these days? Well, home clothes, so comfy fits.

"What? Weird?"

She eyed me with a subtle glare. Vibe said too comfy? would be bad.

"...Nah, nothing."

So I stopped thinking.