Chapter 2
Chapter 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Dream-Like Days Reunited
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Jihoon, having reclaimed his son, explained the situation at the company and managed to squeeze out nine whole days off—including the weekends before and after—by using up all his monthly and annual leave.
He began spending that time he had dreamed of, a truly dream-like stretch of days.
“Yeonwoo, this is the place where you lived when you were little. You might not remember it.”
Jihoon first introduced Yeonwoo to the one-room apartment where he had been born and raised.
The one-room where the family had lived together hadn’t changed much from back then.
Even the baby items Yeonwoo had used were still neatly kept in one spot.
The only changes were the kitchen and bed, the only parts of the house Jihoon actually used.
On the first night after bringing Yeonwoo home, Jihoon had held his precious son close on that bed and fallen into a deep sleep for the first time in ages.
Even after grueling days at work, thoughts of his family had kept him from sleep, forcing him to rely on alcohol—but now he could finally rest peacefully.
Of course, learning that his wife, whom he’d believed to be alive, had passed away hit him with immense grief, but he couldn’t show it.
Not when his son had forgotten even how to speak from the sorrow of losing his mother.
On the second day, he took Yeonwoo to the hospital.
“It’s elective mutism.”
“Elective… mutism?”
“Yes, it’s the condition often called aphasia in dramas, but aphasia strictly refers to issues caused by brain damage. Elective mutism is the term for symptoms triggered by psychological trauma, as people commonly understand it. It looks like your son experienced a major shock. We’ll transfer you to psychiatry instead—head over there.”
He’d suspected as much, and it turned out he was right.
His son still hadn’t recovered from the shock of losing his mother.
Then again, with his mother—who had been his entire world—gone, and forced to grow up in that hellish environment, it’d be stranger if he were completely fine.
If only he’d been there back then… maybe things would be better now. Self-recrimination flooded in.
“Yeonwoo, it’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay.”
*Nod nod.*
Yeonwoo nodded as if he understood his dad’s words.
“Come on, Yeonwoo. Is there anywhere you want to go? Dad’ll take you. Where to? Amusement park? Zoo? Kids’ cafe?”
Yeonwoo’s eyes widened round, as if asking what those were, staring at his dad before starting to glance around cautiously.
“It’s okay, Yeonwoo. You can ask Dad for anything. Where do you want to go?”
At those words, Yeonwoo opened his mouth.
He couldn’t speak, but Jihoon could tell what he was mouthing.
Mom.
“…You want to see Mom?”
*Nod.*
The child was fully aware of his mother’s death.
And through the police, Jihoon knew that his wife’s ashes had been arbitrarily cremated and scattered by that monster of an uncle.
Jihoon agonized over how to explain it, how to break the news without shattering the boy mentally.
Then Yeonwoo patted his leg.
Jihoon looked down curiously, and Yeonwoo mouthed the words.
“…It’s okay? You’re saying it’s okay?”
*Nod.*
What’s okay… Oh.
“You’re saying it’s okay not to go to Mom…?”
*Nod.*
My god.
This kid, barely six, not even in elementary school yet, showing such consideration.
Recalling his own life at six, Jihoon felt his heart ache as he gripped his son’s hand tightly.
“Alright, let’s go. To Mom.”
With that, Jihoon took Yeonwoo to the place where his wife’s ashes had been scattered.
Their bond wasn’t even linked by blood, but that inhuman creature called an uncle must have had a shred of conscience after all.
A trash heap of a man who could’ve been dumped in a garbage bag without raising eyebrows had at least come all the way to the Paldang Dam area to scatter his wife’s remains.
‘…At least it’s not too far. That’s some small mercy.’
That way, he could still visit when he thought of her.
Though near Seoul, the area with its dam and preserved nature offered decent scenery.
Yeonwoo stared blankly at the view, utterly entranced.
“It’s not the exact spot, but… Mom’s here. That river, the sky, the trees—they’re all embracing her.”
*Nod.*
Yeonwoo didn’t cry.
He just seemed lost in deep thought, reminiscing about the past in a way no child should.
And so the father and son lingered there in silence for a long while.
After that day.
Jihoon wanted nothing more than to whisk Yeonwoo away on a trip right then, or at least to an amusement park or zoo, but he realized there were priorities to handle first.
He needed to update Yeonwoo’s address and sort out the administrative paperwork, plus buy proper clothes and daily necessities since the boy didn’t even have a decent outfit.
Online shopping with same-day delivery helped, but it still ate up several precious days off.
Only now, after tying up those loose ends, could he finally take Yeonwoo to the zoo or amusement park.
Amid snapping photos of Yeonwoo marveling at the elephants or looking bewildered on the carousel, other worries nagged at him.
As a classic J-type, he wasn’t the sort to shove tomorrow’s problems onto tomorrow’s self.
His biggest concern was what would happen after his vacation ended and he returned to work.
Should he send Yeonwoo to kindergarten or daycare?
Was there a daycare around here that stayed open late?
The reason he and his wife had chosen this one-room originally was its proximity to the company.
They’d planned to move when the kid was old enough for kindergarten.
This whole area was nothing but officetels and one-rooms—pricey spots where company slaves shelled out big just to sleep 30 minutes longer.
Finding a kindergarten, let alone an elementary school, was near impossible.
‘I’ll have to move first.’
But that brought up another issue.
Was it right to thrust his son—who’d never had proper social experience—straight into kindergarten?
A kid who couldn’t even speak… what if something unfair happened there?
It might be overthinking, but cautious Jihoon always planned for the worst-case scenario.
Sending him now, rather than later, felt like the wrong move.
So, should he hire a nanny who could handle housework too?
Looking online, finding a Korean nanny these days seemed like a pipe dream.
He knew people weren’t divided by class, and discrimination by nationality or race was wrong, but entrusting Yeonwoo to a foreigner just didn’t sit right.
No other options, though.
Family? His father was gone, and his one sister was in the US temporarily for studies.
Oh, right—his mother was around.
But his relationship with her wasn’t great.
She’d chosen work over her kids and husband, leading to divorce; Jihoon and his sister had grown up under their father’s care.
She’d retired abroad and returned to Korea five years ago, but while his sister kept in touch and met her sporadically as “Mom,” Jihoon had seen her maybe three or four times total.
And those were only because his sister dragged him along.
So he’d never even considered family help—until, surprisingly, she called.
—It’s me.
“Yes, Mother.”
—Heard you found Yeonwoo?
“From Jiyeong?”
—Yeah. You’re taking care of him?
“Yes, I took leave to spend time with him.”
—And after the leave ends? Heard you’re worried about that?
“…Looking into a nanny or something.”
—……
She fell silent for a long stretch.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll just—”
The awkwardness building, he started to hang up.
—I’ll watch him.
“…Pardon?”
—Yes. So bring my son and grandson to my place. It’s not far from your company. I’ll look after the boy while you’re at work.
Stunned and puzzled, Jihoon blurted it out without thinking.
“Mother… you’ll watch the child?”
His words carried a hint of resentment, a thread of distrust.
Directed at the mother who’d only given birth but never raised her young children.
—At least… I’d be better than a stranger. I’m not saying move in forever. Just until he adjusts, that’s all.
“……”
—If you’re willing, bring him over. Goodbye.
The long-overdue call with his mother ended like that.
Jihoon glanced at Yeonwoo beside him, his poor son just starting to peek at the world with eyes full of wonder.
Yeah… blood is blood, family is family—better than a stranger, right?
At least his mother wasn’t the type for violence or irrational outbursts.
The hang-ups were their unresolved grudges and that stifling awkwardness.
But he didn’t dwell on it long.
Human nature being what it is, even estranged kin felt more reliable.
“Yeonwoo, we’re going to stay at Grandma’s for a while.”
At “Grandma,” Yeonwoo’s face paled.
Jihoon instantly realized he was thinking of his wife’s stepmother.
“Don’t worry. The grandma you’ll meet today is Dad’s mom. You know the grandma you knew isn’t in this world anymore, right?”
*Nod nod.*
“Dad’s mom—your real grandma—she’s… a good person.”
Was she, really?
He wasn’t sure.
After telling his mother they’d move in and setting a date, Jihoon packed.
His clothes, Yeonwoo’s clothes, toys he’d bought for the boy.
The rest were mementos shared with his wife—practically relics.
Jihoon decided to preserve them as-is.
“I’m off.”
On departure day.
Jihoon said those words to the house left with only traces of his wife, took Yeonwoo’s hand, and headed to his mother’s.
His mother, who’d abandoned family for her career and gone abroad, had lived a successful life—one he hated to admit.
Wealth, fame—she’d seized it all.
But for such a person, her home made no sense given her status.
Not a ritzy Gangnam neighborhood, but Bucheon: an apartment complex over 30 years old.
The complex itself wasn’t bad, though.
Even if aged, there was a playground right in front of her building, good landscaping, and it felt serene.
Hard to believe it was an urban complex with high population density.
All that remained was whether she could actually care for her grandson.
Was it begrudging compliance from his sister’s nagging, or belated interest in family now that she was older? He didn’t know.
But having accepted her unexpected offer, all he could do now was face it head-on.
*Ding-dong.*
With the classic chime of the doorbell.
“Come in.”
Jihoon’s mother, Heo Ok, welcomed them.
Her cold gaze, unreadable behind gold-rimmed glasses, carried the charisma she’d built alongside her wealth and fame.
She looked at her grandson.