Chapter 497: Childbirth Preparation
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 497: Childbirth Preparation
"It’s time for you to move back to the main house."
The call from my father was completely out of the blue.
"Huh? So suddenly?"
I was already staying at the villa; I didn't see much reason to move to the main house. I had already adjusted to life here.
Besides, my father wasn't even at the main house right now. He was staying at a separate villa himself, yet he was suddenly telling me to head back to the family estate.
"Isn't this a bit random? Why all of a sudden?"
— I heard the snow is piling up over there.
"That’s true. It’s still coming down."
I’d already built a snowman and even an igloo. Naturally, I was the one who built them, though not because I particularly wanted to. The girls said they wanted to try going inside one, so I made it for them.
For the record, they couldn't actually get in. Since they were pregnant and their bellies were so big, they couldn't fit into something like a cramped igloo.
— If you stay there, you might be late getting to the hospital. It’s time to start preparing.
"Hmm."
There were hospitals nearby. Naturally, having a hospital in the vicinity was our top priority.
But my father had a point. If it snowed too much here, the roads would be blocked for a while. If one of the girls went into labor then, it could turn into a real disaster.
"You're right. I'll do that."
Still, it felt a bit strange. My father didn't usually call me personally for things like this; he usually just notified the staff and had them handle it.
"But Father, why did you call me yourself? Usually, you just give the order and tell me to clear out."
— I was asked to.
"Asked?"
I wondered who could have asked him, but my father hung up without answering.
"What was that about?"
Anyway, even though winter was already in full swing, I decided to leave the villa with the mindset of preparing for the long haul. Since the expected due dates were all set for March, it was only right to start getting ready now.
'It’s already January.'
Time really flies.
I smiled softly as I watched the white snow fall.
...
......
.........Wait, did he say it was going to snow more?
"Everyone, winter prep! Pack your bags! We’re leaving right now! It’s going to snow again!"
I had no desire to go back outside with a shovel to clear snow, so I made a huge fuss as I ran down to the first-floor living room. To my surprise, everyone had already packed their bags.
"What? How are you guys so fast?"
As I stood there blinking in confusion, Choi I-seo replied while pulling on a knit hat.
"Your father contacted us. He told us to go stay at the main house. He said it’s empty right now."
"I want to soak in the bathhouse there. The tub here was a bit too cramped, so it was a struggle."
Yoo Ah-rin giggled as she wheeled her suitcase toward the door. Perhaps because of her natural athletic ability, she was terrifyingly good at walking fast even while waddling.
"So Father contacted you guys first and then just notified me."
If I hadn't agreed, he probably would have just told me the girls were already on board to force my hand. My father’s thoroughness could be strangely annoying at times.
Since the housekeepers were already there, we only packed our personal essentials. Naturally, pregnant women shouldn't be lifting heavy things, so the girls got into the car ahead of time.
Before the snow could pile up, we set off in a large van.
"Woo-jin, look at this."
While we were driving, Seo Ye-rin, who was sitting next to me, held out her phone.
On the screen were several men playing golf with great enthusiasm despite it being winter. They were all familiar middle-aged faces.
"My father?"
"My dad is there too, along with I-seo’s and Ah-rin’s fathers."
"..."
Now I knew who had asked him.
The fathers had formed a golf club?
It seemed everyone except me already knew about this. Choi I-seo let out a sigh and began to complain.
"Ugh, you know what? After my dad went to one of those golf outings, he called me and made such a huge fuss. He kept saying I married into the right family."
"...Well, I'm glad he sees it that way."
"Is that even normal? He said he’d never been to a golf course like that in his life. How can he judge his daughter’s marriage based on a golf course?"
Yoo Ah-rin chuckled at Choi I-seo’s disbelief.
"You want to know what my parents said? They said since there are six parents-in-law in total, they don't even need to be around."
Yoo Ah-rin’s parents were incredibly free-spirited. They were the ones who had visited the least while we were at the villa. Well, Ah-rin seemed more comfortable that way, anyway.
It was almost a point of pride how well all the parents got along.
"Hehehe, I heard our house has a ton of liquor now. My mom usually never throws away expensive liquor bottles, right? But she actually threw some out this time."
Ye-rin’s mother would occasionally call me after she’d had a few drinks. She would always ask me to take good care of her Ye-rin, and I always stayed on the line and answered her until she hung up.
I didn't find it annoying or unpleasant. It just made me realize how much she cherished Ye-rin.
Vibrate!
My phone buzzed. I took a quick look.
Hmm.
My sister-in-law, who had been a high school senior, was now a college student. She had been accepted to Gahyeon University, which meant we’d be attending the same school starting next year.
'I-hyun is going to end up going to school with her sister and the others for about a year.'
The girls had taken a leave of absence during the first semester of their fourth year. Since I’d be entering my first semester of junior year when I returned, we decided they would stay on leave for a year so we could all graduate together. They needed that year to be with the babies, anyway.
Persuading Choi I-seo was simple. You just had to be logical and rational. But bringing Choi I-hyun into the house was neither logical nor rational, no matter how you looked at it.
So the fathers' golf group had even made use of the bathhouse.
"Ahem. Hey, I-seo?"
"Yeah? What?"
Choi I-seo, who had been looking at baby cribs on her phone, glanced back at me. Recently, she’d found a new hobby in shopping for baby supplies. Even though I told her to just buy the expensive stuff, she insisted on being as frugal as possible, saying it wasn't our money but our parents'.
"So, about your sister..."
I-seo didn't say a word. She simply brought her phone to her ear immediately.
"Hey, Choi I-hyun."
She went straight for the direct call.
'Sorry, I-hyun.'
I immediately turned my head away and decided to pretend I knew nothing.
"Wow, Ye-rin. You look really pretty today."
"Woo-jin, I have a concern lately."
"Hmm? All of a sudden?"
Seo Ye-rin pouted and muttered as she cupped the underside of her breasts.
"I'm producing too much breast milk."
"..."
"I'm serious. It’s a lot. There were times I had to change my bra three times."
"...I don't know exactly how much is 'a lot,' so let's check together in the bathhouse when we get home."
When I made the lewd suggestion, Seo Ye-rin immediately shook her head.
"They said I shouldn't do that. Apparently, stimulating it can be dangerous."
"Oh, really?"
Well, then we definitely shouldn't.
I wondered if the others were having the same trouble, so I turned my head. My eyes met Yoo Ah-rin’s for a moment. Without saying anything, I turned my gaze back toward Choi I-seo.
Whack!
"Aaargh!"
"Why didn't you ask me, you bastard!"
"Hey, don't swear! There are three babies in here!"
"I said ask me!"
"Chomp!"
Suddenly, Seo Ye-rin bit my arm. It seemed she was reacting to the "ask me" part, but responding to this kind of thing only makes it worse. Ignoring it is usually the best policy.
While still being bitten by Seo Ye-rin, I answered Yoo Ah-rin.
"No, I mean! It’s just that you looked fine at a glance!"
"What, you son of a— I mean... you jerk?"
Look at her trying her best to hold back the swearing. Though it didn't really look like she was succeeding.
"Explain exactly why I looked 'fine' at a glance."
"Mmph-mmph!"
"..."
I had nothing to say. How on earth was I supposed to explain why she looked "fine" at a glance?
"Sigh. Woo-jin, I took care of it."
It was Choi I-seo who rescued me from Yoo Ah-rin’s piercing glare. Thanks to her intervention, I smiled and immediately turned my head toward her.
"Really? Thanks. Your sister asked me, so I wanted to help if possible, but I knew you wouldn't like it."
I clung to her affectionately, and I-seo gave a satisfied smile. Meanwhile, Yoo Ah-rin kept nudging me with her toes, and Seo Ye-rin had moved on from biting to licking my arm.
But regardless, wasn't this peaceful?
'Once the babies are born...'
Life would probably be much busier, but also much more vibrant. I felt like that moment would be a major turning point in my life—a sort of milestone. Becoming a father in my twenties might be a bit early, but that didn't mean the realization would come any slower.
"Whew."
I felt nervous, yet my heart was racing with excitement.
"Ooh? I think I just felt a little kick."
Seo Ye-rin let go of my arm and began stroking her belly. I quickly pressed my ear against her stomach and smiled gently.
"Ye-jin, come out soon."
At that, Seo Ye-rin pouted.
"I told you we’re not naming her that."
She resisted the name 'Kim Ye-jin.'
"Why? Kim Ye-jin is a good name."
For the record, Seo Ye-rin and Yoo Ah-rin were having girls. Choi I-seo was having a boy.
"It’s just a combination of the 'Jin' from Kim Woo-jin and the 'Ye' from Seo Ye-rin. I don't want to name our baby something so simple!"
Rarely, Seo Ye-rin got genuinely upset.
"Yu-na! I told you I want to name her Kim Yu-na!"
"No, Yu-na is so random—!"
It seemed the debate over the babies' names was going to be a long one.