Mask Singer's 5 Crowns? (4)
A few days later, Blessing and Jua noona were safely discharged from the hospital and came home.
"Ooh, who's my wittle baby?"
"Heh."
Blessing, who still couldn't speak properly, recognized his daddy and gave me a gummy smile every time he saw my face. He was so adorable, it made me want to blow up the planet just to keep him safe—no exaggeration.
"You don't think someone's gonna kidnap him, do you?"
"We're raising him ourselves! We can't trust him with just anyone."
It wasn't even at a level where we could entrust him to others. It'd be like handing fish to a cat.
"She's so pretty... too pretty..."
Being a baby boy was already a huge concern in this world, but with a face that took after me and Jua noona, Blessing had been born with insane potential. We already had to think about the dangers lurking around him. This world exposed males to risks just for existing.
"Should we hire bodyguards?"
"I don't trust bodyguards either, Mom."
"Then what? Keep him locked away from the world until he grows up?"
"We can't do that, but..."
Truth be told, they didn't know the half of it—my son held far greater value than they realized. My purpose here was to spread my seed. In a world skewed heavily toward females, the children I fathered would carry genes to normalize it all. That made his safety even more critical.
"I know someone. I'll ask her to help."
"Ask her?"
"We'll move somewhere suitable for raising kids. A secure place."
Didn't I have the perfect woman for this? A chaebol who could easily secure a fortified house ideal for child-rearing.
"Move?"
"I should've prepared before Blessing was even born. Sorry."
"That kind of place won't be cheap. You sure you can swing it?"
"Yeah. I can."
"If such a spot exists, it'd be great, but... it won't be a burden on you?"
Finding a safe home for my child was my responsibility, obviously. Thank God I had the means.
Who'd have thought turning Bianca into my puppet would pay off like this.
Better to have it than not.
"If it's okay, I'll look into bodyguards too."
The kind a regular person could hire versus what a chaebol could? Night and day.
"How's your body feeling, noona?"
"Fit as a fiddle. Mom's insisting I stay warm and wrapped up, but it's driving me nuts. So boring. I'd have lost my mind without you."
Lying in bed, savoring gourmet meals and getting pampered, but noona's body was itching for action, it seemed. No wonder—pregnancy had sidelined her from so much. Now that the baby's out, she was eager to snap back to her old figure ASAP.
"Postpartum recovery is crucial!"
Of course, those attempts ended with Jeonghwa's stern scolding. She laid out horror stories from her own experience about how skipping proper care wrecked a woman's body, leaving Jua noona no choice but to submit.
I stuck by my bored noona's side, soothing her as best I could. Jeonghwa was busy overseeing the recovery and watching Blessing, so she left Jua in my hands.
But this domestic bliss ended tomorrow.
"You have to head back tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah. I don't wanna go."
"You took tons of photos."
"Photos don't cut it."
My phone's gallery was plastered with Blessing pics, yet I craved more. Dangerous as hell to even possess them, but quitting? Impossible.
"I'll send videos all the time."
"Haa~"
"Quit sighing or you'll scare off the fortune. Let's pick a name for Blessing instead. We need to register the birth."
Depression hit thinking I wouldn't see Blessing and Jua tomorrow, but anything Blessing-related flipped the switch to joy.
"Family name Nam, right?"
"Nah, he's going under mine."
"Noona!"
Everyone assumed he'd go under Jeonghwa's household registry—it was a done deal. But Jua noona had changed her mind.
"Can't have my son calling me noona."
"He should call you Mom, obviously. Registry's just paper. It doesn't make you any less his mom."
"I know it's just paper, but I hate it. I want to be his mom openly. Besides, single moms aren't such a big deal anymore. Policies are shifting to support them too."
"You wanna be an actress. The world's better, sure, but a kid this young? Too soon."
"I don't want to hide Blessing to chase acting."
"......"
"Sorry. For backing out on a done deal. But holding him after birth... dreams stopped mattering."
I got it completely. Wasn't like I didn't feel the same. But I couldn't put Blessing on my registry. No open marriage with Jua. Her words stabbed right at my insecurities.
"I'm not quitting acting entirely. Just vowing to be the best actress with Blessing in my life."
"...I can't oppose your decision. Especially when I'm the one who can't do shit for him."
Hearing that, I half-wanted to go public—screw it, announce I had a kid. With cheats, we'd thrive. But noona wouldn't applaud recklessness, so I swallowed it.
"Whoa! That's not what I meant!"
"Can't even put him on my registry, can't watch him grow up by his side—what kind of dad is that? I'm unqualified."
"You're a guy! It's fine for guys!"
What kind of nonsense consolation was that? Self-loathing crashed in. Hated leaving a gorgeous baby for work already, and her words made me feel pathetic.
My sudden gloom panicked noona.
"What's wrong? Talk to me."
Jeonghwa slipped in, sensing something off. Blessing was snoring softly in her arms—probably here to tuck him in.
"I messed up. Haesol, I'm sorry. It was thoughtless."
"Not thoughtless. Just facts."
This was fact-checking at its finest. My chest ached, mind foggy.
Jeonghwa tsked after hearing the rundown from flustered Jua.
"Still so immature. Think you can mom Blessing like that? It's not just about you. How crushed do you think Haesol feels?!"
"I'm really sorry. My bad."
"No. Don't apologize. I'm fine. Really."
For a moment, I wanted to chuck everything—but reality nixed that quick. Couldn't quit idol life.
Who'd feed Blessing if I quit?
Jeonghwa quit her job to care for Jua. I was the sole breadwinner here. We weren't broke yet, but ditching for "honesty" with the kid? Irresponsible as hell.
Silvia's cash is an option, but...
Spending Bianca's fortune freely felt off-limits still. I earned plenty—didn't need to lean on her.
"Don't quit being an idol. Absolutely not! I wanna keep watching you shine!"
Noona fretted I'd impulsively bail.
"Why would I? Who's buying Blessing's formula then? Gotta feed my own family."
"R-right! So you won't quit?"
"Hell no. Won't mope over impossibles. I'll grind hard, stack wealth for Blessing—as payback for shitty dad duties."
Jua finally relaxed.
"And I'm cool with him on your registry. Can't do much myself—won't block you stepping up."
"Jua, putting Blessing on your registry?"
Jeonghwa gaped—I'd heard it first, apparently.
"Yeah. I want to."
Blessing mattered, but to Jeonghwa, daughter Jua was precious too.
"Why such a foolish idea? It's settled. I won't allow it."
"He's my child."
"What about acting? Your dream?"
"Mom and actress both."
"Was your dream achievable juggling two roles?"
"...Tough, but I'm ready."
"Sure now. But later? Can you stay confident?"
First time seeing Jeonghwa dead serious.
"What if you resent Blessing later? He'll hold you back from your dream. Still love him then?"
"I'm his mom—impossible!"
"Moms aren't saints! People get annoyed—even at kids—if they derail life!"
"......"
Her words hit Jua like a truck.
"You say you can now. Maybe you will—my daughter and all. But I can't allow it. Bad for Blessing, bad for you."
"What if he resents us growing up? Why call me noona outside? How long hide? He did nothing wrong—why deny him what others get?"
Jua hated Blessing sacrificing already.
"Maybe you're right—he might become a regret. Can't predict the future. But if hating him's the risk? Screw acting. Never valued the dream over him."
"......"
"......"
"Haesol."
"Yeah."
"Say it. If you had to pick one—be Blessing's dad or idol?"
"Dad, obviously."
"!!"
Grab a fortune from Silvia, live happily with Blessing. Done.
"Don't assume our youth means rash thinking. Clumsy, sure—but I'm his mom, you're his dad."
Jeonghwa's face twisted—speechless at ditching the dream. Jua's priorities had flipped.
"Whaa~."
Blessing fussed at our voices. Forgot he was sleeping.
"Aigoo, sorry, sweetie. You'll wake him. Let's think more and talk later."
Jeonghwa scooped up the fussy baby and left.
I hugged Jua's slumped shoulders.
"She's your mom, like you're Blessing's. Different perspectives."
"!!"
"Stands to reason views clash."
"...Yeah."
Tears finally spilled from noona.