A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 15

Jinseo meticulously cared for Jeong-o and Yena, who were shaken by the day’s events.

As it happened, Jeong-o ended up riding in Jinseo’s car to Guksundek Bab [Guksundek Bab is likely the name of the restaurant, possibly meaning ‘Grandma Guksun’s Rice’].

“Thank you for the ride. Since you came all this way, please join us for dinner.”

“Oh, should I? Thank you.”

Jinseo readily accepted Jeong-o’s invitation with a friendly demeanor.

Yena was the first to open the restaurant door.

“Grandma!”

“Oh, my little darling!”

Guksun welcomed her granddaughter with open arms.

Along with the joyful expression, her eyes were moist. After receiving Jeong-o’s call, Guksun had been endlessly worried.

“My little darling, are you hurt anywhere?”

“Nope!”

“I’m so relieved we found you so quickly. What would I have done if I had lost this pretty thing…….”

Guksun rubbed her cheek against Yena’s.

“Mom, this is Yena’s *baduk* [Go, a strategy board game] academy friend, Dobin’s mother. She helped us find Yena today.”

“Hello, Madam.”

Guksun, who had been hugging Yena, straightened up at Jeong-o’s introduction.

“Oh! Thank you. Thank you.”

Guksun took Jinseo’s hands in hers and shook them, bowing repeatedly, causing Jinseo to feel flustered and bow in return.

“Our Yena talks about Dobin a lot. It’s so nice to meet you like this.”

“What does she say about Dobin?”

Dobin chimed in at Guksun’s greeting.

“So, you’re Dobin.”

Guksun looked at Dobin fondly and stroked his hair.

“Dobin said you’re his friend.”

A smile bloomed on Dobin’s face. He was pleased that the aloof Yena, who usually reacted indifferently to whatever he said, had called him her friend.

Soon, a generous dinner table was set.

Guksun put two tables together and brought out all sorts of side dishes.

“We will enjoy the meal. Thank you.”

“I wonder if it will suit the children’s tastes.”

A good opportunity to score points with Yena’s grandmother. Dobin took a large spoonful of rice and brought it to his mouth, something he would never do at home.

Jinseo watched Dobin with a pleased expression and said to Guksun.

“My parents also ran a business nearby. For a long time.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Do you know Jinseo Flower Shop? It was near the market intersection six years ago.”

“I know it, I know it! You were the daughter of that house? Now that you mention it, I think I saw you once!”

“Me too. From the moment I entered the restaurant, I felt like I knew you, Madam.”

“How is your mother?”

“Yes. She’s retired now and is farming with my dad in the countryside.”

“I see. I see. The two of them were so lovey-dovey back then. Oh, what a connection, what a connection. Nice to meet you. Your son and daughter look so bright.”

While the two were talking, Jeong-o was deep in thought.

‘Should I talk to the police? Would they believe me?’

The note in the child’s kindergarten bag couldn’t be dismissed as a simple coincidence. But adding substance to her suspicions and asking the police for help seemed too hasty.

Explaining the note might reveal her relationship with Jeong Jiheon, and Yena could be in danger in the process.

Anyway, the police said they would track down the suspicious woman who took Yena, so she had no choice but to trust and wait.

‘That note, the Serene Group logo, could all be a prank or a coincidence. It’s possible enough.’

Also, the note wasn’t a threat, just a simple statement, so there was no need to be frightened.

‘Don’t be nervous, and think calmly about the future,’ Jeong-o secretly comforted herself.

Jinseo was courteous to Guksun and kind to Jeong-o.

She didn’t even ask Jeong-o what the child’s father did. That alone was enough for Jeong-o to think of Jinseo as a good person.

“I wanted to do systematic childcare, but it’s not working out as I planned. I read a lot of books and watched a lot of childcare shows. I’ve put a lot into my head, but I can’t actually apply it. I feel so helpless at times like that.”

Jinseo confided her current worries while watching the children play.

“You’re working now, right?”

“Yes.”

“That’s amazing. Really.”

“…….”

“The academy teacher praises Yena so much too. You work so wonderfully and raise your child so smartly. You’re really amazing.”

‘I’m just doing what I like to do. Raising two children must be harder.’ Jeong-o felt awkward at Jinseo’s praise.

“But I don’t know what to do if something like today happens. I rushed out of the company today when I heard the child was missing.”

“I suppose so. That’s why, Yena’s mother.”

Jinseo lowered her voice for a moment as if it were an important matter.

“How about I pick her up after *baduk* academy? No, I think it would be better if I picked up Yena while picking up Dobin after kindergarten. Ggoggori Kindergarten and Sonamu Kindergarten are close.”

“Ah…….”

“And then they can play with our Dobin and Doyun at our house, and I can drop her off when your restaurant work is done.”

“…….”

“I’ll feed them and send you pictures from time to time. Actually, I’m a nutritionist. I’m confident I can take care of the children’s nutrition.”

When Jeong-o hesitated again, Jinseo’s eyes darkened.

“I’m not asking for anything in return. ……Actually, Dobin likes Yena. Whenever I mention Yena, he becomes more mature. So, I want them to get along well, read books, and play together. I’m sorry for being so transparent, but I think Dobin can learn a lot from watching Yena…….”

Jinseo candidly revealed her true feelings.

“I understand that it’s hard to trust someone right away after what happened today. Besides, it’s not a son but a daughter…….”

“No. It’s not that I don’t trust you. I’m just worried it might be too much for you…….”

“No. It’s not hard at all.”

Jinseo waved her hands wildly as Jeong-o worried about her.

“Then how about this? Let’s just try doing as I ask for one day. Just one day.”

And then her eyes lit up again. Her friendly voice sounded somehow earnest.

“I’ll watch them carefully so they don’t fight. I’ll try not to make Yena feel left out.”

Jeong-o’s heart ached.

‘An angel asking to take care of a child. Could there be anyone more grateful than this?’

* * * * * *

The next morning.

It was a morning that Jeong-o couldn’t afford to neglect.

After such a big incident yesterday, the kindergarten teacher and the *baduk* academy teacher would pay a little more attention today, but she still couldn’t let her guard down.

While preparing Yena for kindergarten, Jeong-o told her several times.

“Yena, don’t talk to just anyone. Got it?”

“Yep!”

Yena’s answer was confident. Still, her mother couldn’t easily relax.

“Don’t follow anyone even if they say they’ll buy you something delicious. Got it?”

“Yep!”

“You have to say no to things you don’t like. Can you do that?”

“Yep!”

“You say you understand, but you won’t listen, will you?”

“Yep! No, no!”

As expected, it was a mechanical answer.

“Yena, what will you do if a stranger comes and says their arm hurts and asks you to carry their luggage or help them?”

“I’ll help them!”

It’s impossible to instruct children. If an adult with bad intentions uses all sorts of schemes to lure a child, the child won’t be able to cope.

Even adults aren’t free from all the temptations of the world, so how could these innocent children be? The only thing to do is to protect them well.

While her mother was so worried, Yena, who had pestered her grandmother to get a piece of ice, crunched the ice next to Jeong-o’s ear.

“Lee Yena, what are you doing?”

“ASMR [Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, a relaxing sensation triggered by certain sounds].”

It was a sound that Yena only made for people she liked.

Jeong-o pulled Yena in front of her, sat her down, and reasoned with her.

“Yena. It’s wrong for an adult to ask a child for help. You don’t have to help strangers. Got it?”

“Yep!”

“Did you understand what Mommy said?”

“Yep!”

Even though she was so surprised yesterday, today’s daughter is so brave.

‘I want to protect this carefree innocence.’ That was Jeong-o’s true heart.

* * * * * *

Since she had suddenly left work early yesterday, she had to work even harder today.

Jeong-o, who came to work early, put down her things and found Jiheon’s secretary on her way to the bathroom.

The secretary greeted Jeong-o first.

“Assistant Manager, hello.”

“Yes. Aera-ssi [a polite title, like ‘Ms.’], hello.”

“Have you been to the Director’s office?”

“Pardon?”

“I left a note. Didn’t you see it?”

“Ah…… I didn’t see it. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. Director Jeong Jiheon has been looking for you since yesterday. Go see him now. He’s in his office.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Only after greeting the secretary did she realize.

‘Come to think of it, she had put aside her thoughts about Jiheon yesterday. Because she was worried about her daughter.’

Although her concern for Yena was ultimately connected to Jiheon, she at least didn’t assign meaning to his every move and become confused.

She had even forgotten that he was waiting for her in his office.

‘He must be angry if he’s been waiting long.’

It was a regrettable thing. But she couldn’t put on a guilty expression.

Jeong-o went straight to Jiheon’s office.

Knock, knock, she knocked, but there was no response from inside. Jeong-o had no choice but to go inside.

“Dir…….”

She tried to call out quietly, pretending to be cautious, but immediately closed her mouth.

Jiheon was sleeping. Lying stretched out on the sofa.

Jeong-o thought about going right back out, but hesitated, carefully moving her feet toward him.

‘Is he busy? Was he very tired?’

She thought he was a completely changed person, but his sleeping face was the same.

Thick eyebrows, a sharp nose without a bend, a clear philtrum [the vertical groove between the base of the nose and the upper lip], and a neat mouth.

Above all, without the harsh words and sharp eyes, he didn’t seem callous. She even felt sorry for him.

A very pitiful person who didn’t even know what he had lost.

Thinking of the beautifully grown Yena, she felt even more sorry for him for not being able to watch those years.

‘Will I be able to show you our Yena?’

‘You’ve changed so much?’

‘I’m trying to live a new life now?’

‘You’re about to get married to your girlfriend?’

Considering the slightest risk, she wanted to close her heart completely, but she couldn’t.

She had to know for sure who was threatening her daughter.

‘Is your mother behind you?’

‘How much does your mother know? Does she know about Yena?’

‘Are your close aides trustworthy people?’

This man’s close aides. She had to dig into them.

About this man too…….

Seeing his face with his eyes closed peacefully, her heart softened again. The temptation to touch him here and there peeked out.

‘But, he’s someone she shouldn’t touch now.’

‘I can’t ruin your life for my greed.’

‘Still, I want you to meet Yena.’

‘Jeong Jiheon-ssi [a polite title, like ‘Mr.’ or ‘Ms.’]. I don’t know how our lives will go, but wait. Just wait a little longer.’

Until I find out who the culprit is.

Understanding his surroundings and securing Yena’s safety comes first.

Everything is after that.

‘Someday, I’ll definitely let you meet our Yena.’

She made a firm resolution, but her already softened heart turned to liquid. A tear fell on his face. Jeong-o was startled and belatedly wiped away the tears with the back of her hand.

‘Don’t cry. Lee Jeong-o.’

‘No one can wipe away your tears.’

‘You have to solve it yourself.’

Jeong-o, who got up with a determined look, turned around with a firm expression.

But.

“Where are you going?”

A heavy voice grabbed Jeong-o’s ankle like a shackle.

“Where are you going, after doing this?”

He was awake.