Chapter 420 - Happy Family
Bomi Choi, the director of Angel Daycare, always wondered:
“What do this child’s parents do? Are they in the education sector?”
Where Bomi Choi was looking, stood Ryu Seung-ho, a three-year-old child.
It was an age where kids usually enjoyed playing and were very curious.
Thus, it was also an age when they could cause trouble, but Ryu Seung-ho was clearly different from other kids his age.
“Don’t put that there. Other kids might get hurt.”
“Huh, brother.”
“I’m not your brother. I’m three years old, just like you.”
“You’re my brother, brother.”
“Ugh. You don’t even understand when I tell you.”
Ryu Seung-ho sighed, showing such mature behavior that it was hard to believe he was the same age.
He was taller and heavier than the other kids his age.
“But how can he speak so perfectly?”
At three years old, kids usually have immature pronunciation.
They also can’t read the Korean alphabet.
But Ryu Seung-ho was different.
He could read and write, and he spoke clearly enough for anyone to understand.
He even knew English and could do addition and subtraction, demonstrating an extremely fast learning ability.
“He already mastered the Korean alphabet, which is usually learned at age seven, and also knows how to add, subtract, and speak English…”
In her ten years as a director, Bomi Choi had never seen a child prodigy like Seung-ho.
That’s why she was very curious about Seung-ho’s parents.
Especially his father, who came to pick him up every day.
“Most people who come to pick up the kids are mothers, but he’s the only father who comes…”
Perhaps she should take the chance to talk to him.
She also wanted to ask about how they had educated Seung-ho.
It would be time for dismissal soon.
“Today, Seung-ho’s father will come as usual…”
As expected, at exactly 4 o’clock, he arrived on time.
Ryu Seung-ho’s father, Ryu Min.
“Dad!”
“Ha ha, did you have fun? Hello, teacher.”
“Oh, yes, hello, sir.”
“Thank you for your efforts today as well. He didn’t cause any trouble, did he?”
Bomi Choi quickly waved her hand.
“Oh, no! Seung-ho is so mature and smart.”
Ryu Min patted Seung-ho’s head and, once he put on his shoes, held his hand and said goodbye again.
“We’re leaving. Don’t be late, Seung-ho.”
“Goodbye, teacher…”
“Ah, wait a minute!”
“…?”
Ryu Min was puzzled when the director stopped him today.
“Is there a problem?”
“No, it’s just that I have a personal question.”
“What question?”
“Seung-ho is noticeably more intelligent than other kids. You know that, right?”
“Ah… is that so?”
Ryu Min feigned surprise.
Bomi Choi exclaimed, unable to believe he didn’t know.
“Didn’t you know? Seung-ho is a genius!”
“A genius…?”
“Yes! At this age, no child knows how to read and write Korean, English, and do math. He could go to elementary school right now!”
“I knew Seung-ho was advanced, but I didn’t know it was that much…”
“So, haven’t you had his intelligence tested?”
“No.”
“You should, sir. Seung-ho is probably in the top 1%. You should consider gifted education.”
Ryu Min immediately shook his head.
“No. We’ll raise Seung-ho normally.”
“What?”
“In those places, kids have to compete intensely with each other. I’m against that kind of education. I believe it’s better for kids to play like kids.”
“Oh…”
Bomi Choi was momentarily embarrassed.
She recalled when she started as a director and aimed to create an environment where kids could play freely.
“I lost my initial focus… Kids should grow up as kids, just like Seung-ho’s father says…”
Reflecting briefly, Bomi Choi bowed her head to Seung-ho’s father.
“I’m sorry. I was too nosy. I completely agree with you.”
“Ha ha, it’s fine.”
“And I have a personal curiosity… How did you educate him? Is there a special method…?”
“No, we don’t do special study at home, nor did I teach him anything.”
“Then, how is he so smart…?”
“He takes after his mother.”
“Oh…”
Now Bomi Choi was curious about the mother.
----------------------
The sound of pencils writing was the only thing heard in the silent library.
Min Juri was fully immersed in her studies at the university library.
Then.
[Ryu Min: I’m home with Seung-ho.]
Seeing the notification pop up, Min Juri’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Oh! It’s already past 4?”
After classes at the university, Min Juri had been studying in the library, losing track of time.
“Time flies.”
Four years ago, Min Juri confessed her feelings to Ryu Min.
Attracted to each other, they got married without dating.
And shortly after, she became pregnant at the age of 21.
At twenty-one, she had already become a mother.
She could have raised her child conventionally like other mothers, but Ryu Min opposed it.
-Min Juri, you have the dream of becoming a doctor. I’ll take care of the child, so focus on your studies.
Knowing that her dream was to be a doctor, Ryu Min supported her to fully commit to her studies.
‘If it weren’t for Ryu Min taking care of the child back then, I wouldn’t have been able to get into Korea Medical School.’
Thanks to her husband Ryu Min’s care, she managed to get into medical school and has fully dedicated herself to her studies ever since.
Usually, women handle child-rearing, but in Min Juri’s case, it was the opposite.
Because of that, she never experienced the postpartum depression that many other mothers mention.
‘I need to go see our Seung-ho quickly.’
In a hurry, she packed her notebooks and pens into her backpack and stood up from her seat, feeling someone following her.
“Excuse me…”
Turning around, she saw a nervous young student holding out his phone.
“Sorry, can I get your number? You’re as beautiful as an angel.”
“Pardon?”
The young man lowered his head in embarrassment, but only for a moment.
“I’m married. And I have a child.”
Min Juri rejected him without hesitation and walked away, leaving the young man dumbfounded.
“What…? She has a child? Wow. If she didn’t want to give me her number, she could’ve been honest. How ridiculous.”
Min Juri, who didn’t look like a mother at all, walked away fresh and radiant.
-----------------
‘A sudden confession? How perplexing.’
Although she was attractive enough to receive confessions, Min Juri could only think about her child.
Beep-
After swiping her card on the bus and looking out the window on her way home, Min Juri couldn’t stop thinking about her child.
Of course, she also thought about her husband, Ryu Min, occasionally.
After all, her first love had been Ryu Min.
‘Who would have thought I’d marry my first love…’
Even now, it felt unbelievable.
It felt like she was still living in a dream.
The bus stopped, and from the window, she saw a fried chicken shop and an ice cream parlor next to each other.
‘I’d like to eat fried chicken and ice cream…’
During her pregnancy, she couldn’t eat them for fear of gestational diabetes, and afterward, to maintain her figure, she had been doing intermittent fasting.
‘How long has it been since I last had my favorite ice cream? More than three years…?’
She didn’t even remember well anymore.
Even though she would have loved to get off and buy something, she decided to resist.
She had to get home first.
Soon, she arrived near her home, got off the bus, and headed down a street lined with individual houses.
There were many luxurious houses valued at over 8 billion won, but one of them was the largest and most imposing.
It was the home of Ryu Min and Min Juri’s family.
They had bought it so that their child could run and play freely while he was young.
Of course, Min Juri wouldn’t have been able to buy that house as a student.
‘This is all thanks to Ryu Min.’
He had told her he won the lottery and then invested in cryptocurrencies to grow their funds.
Thanks to that, Ryu Min had been able to fully dedicate himself to taking care of the child until now.
That was also the reason why Min Juri could focus on her studies instead of working.
‘Are we a well-off family?’
More than well-off, they were more than comfortable.
As she opened the door, Min Juri felt she had made the right choice in marrying Ryu Min.
Beep beep beep- Beep!
“I’m home.”
“Oh! It’s mom! Mommmyyy!”
Her son, Ryu Seung-ho, running towards her, was so adorable that it wouldn’t hurt if she put him in her eye.
As she hugged him tightly, a wave of happiness washed over her, dispelling all the fatigue from her studies.
“You’re back already? It must have been tough with all that studying.”
Ryu Min, her husband, greeted her with a smile.
Seeing her handsome husband’s face, she felt the urge to hug him.
And soon, her lips moved towards his cheek.
Muah-
“You’ve also worked hard taking care of Seung-ho, Min.”
“I told you not to call me Min. And why a kiss? Seung-ho is watching.”
“So what? Seung-ho already knows everything he needs to know.”
“Don’t worry about me. You can kiss all you want.”
“Are you acting too mature?”
Embarrassed, Ryu Min turned his attention to Seung-ho.
“Didn’t you say kids should act like kids?”
“Aaah! Hahaha!”
Ryu Min lifted Seung-ho in the air and sat him on his shoulders.
The boy, laughing heartily, used his father’s head as if it were a steering wheel, while they ran around the spacious living room.
Seeing her husband and son so happy, Min Juri couldn’t help but smile.
Is this happiness?
‘It is.’
Min Juri affirmed it.
Her family was truly happy.
And she was grateful.
Grateful to have met Ryu Min and formed this family.
As she watched her husband and son with satisfaction, she suddenly smelled something.
“Huh? What’s that smell?”
Following the aroma, her eyes automatically turned toward the dining table.
“Fried chicken?”
“There’s also ice cream in the fridge.”
Ryu Min answered nonchalantly, and Min Juri looked at him in surprise.
How did he know she wanted to eat fried chicken and ice cream?
“Thanks, Min~”
Ryu Min had to endure a shower of thankful kisses from Min Juri for quite a while.