Chapter 21
“Uncle!”
“What are you, a ghost? At least make some noise when you walk in!”
“Please don’t make suggestions like that to the kid when I’m not here.”
Doha spat the words out coldly. Then he shoved the grocery basket into Wooyeon’s arms and lifted Yewon up in one swift motion.
Yewon accepted his embrace without resistance.
Because in Doha’s arms, she could feel his affection.
…It’s been so long since I’ve felt protected.
He was the complete opposite of the “uncle” from her past life.
That man wouldn’t have worried about her like this—he would’ve just pressured her to accept quickly.
Doha looked down at Yewon with concern.
“What did CEO Park say while I was gone?”
“Um… well—”
“Forget it. No matter what he said.”
…That’s a bit…
It wasn’t something she could just forget. It was a good opportunity, after all.
“Lee Doha. Don’t get worked up for no reason. I was just asking Yewon what she thought. I wasn’t going to finalize anything until after you came back.”
“CEO Park.”
Doha stared at him with a look of pure exhaustion.
“You crossed the line. I’m her guardian. You can’t propose something like that without her guardian present.”
“……!”
At the word guardian, everyone’s eyes widened.
Doha had decided to raise Yewon, but the fact that he truly recognized himself as her “guardian” was surprising.
“I know. I know. But you’re impossible to talk to, so what am I supposed to do?”
Under Doha’s icy gaze, CEO Park raised both hands in surrender.
“But Yewon here is easy to talk to. Please, just try to be half as reasonable as her. Seriously.”
“Don’t ever talk business with her without me again.”
“Fine, fine.”
CEO Park let out a sigh.
What could you even say to a rock like him?
“…Han Wooyeon. Is the food ready?”
“Ah, yes! It’s all done. Rolled the eggs perfectly!”
At Doha’s words, Wooyeon hurriedly began bringing out the dishes.
The tofu stew Wooyeon made, the rolled omelet, and the kimchi and side dishes Doha bought…
A perfect homemade meal filled the table.
“…Let’s just have Yewon eat first.”
Doha said that, then fixed CEO Park with a sharp stare.
“Don’t bring it up again.”
“…I said I got it, you punk. I got it.”
CEO Park shook his head.
Before Yewon even lifted her spoon, Doha took a bite of the tofu stew first.
“…Not spicy. You did well.”
“You were the one making a huge fuss about keeping it mild so Yewon could eat it! How would I make it spicy?!”
Wooyeon snapped back in disbelief.
Yewon quietly looked up at Doha.
He pays attention to details like that?
Doha muttered awkwardly.
“You always make food too spicy. Babies… aren’t supposed to eat stuff like that. And also… they said she should use these chopsticks.”
Only then did Yewon notice.
Everyone else had normal chopsticks.
But hers were different.
These are… training chopsticks for toddlers?
He must’ve bought them while grocery shopping.
“Oh? Who told you that?”
“…O-Tube.”
“What channel?”
At CEO Park’s suspicious question, Doha’s face turned red.
“…Jia Papa’s Solution TV.”
“…….”
“…….”
Silence filled the kitchen.
“…Are you sure you’re Lee Doha? Did someone possess you or something? You actually watch stuff like that?”
Exactly.
When did he even watch that?
All three of them stared at Doha at once.
“I can’t believe you’d take care of things like this. Wow. I mean… I knew you were meticulous, but still.”
Wooyeon and CEO Park both looked at him in amazement.
Doha ignored their stares and carefully cut the rolled omelet into small pieces, placing them on Yewon’s spoon.
And so, an awkward breakfast continued.
“…Yewon, chew properly. You’ll get indigestion.”
“I’m not a baby.”
“You are a baby.”
“…….”
Doha looked as though he was constantly afraid she might break.
“Hey, Yewon! It’s good, right?! Amazing, right?! How’s your uncle’s cooking? Forget Lee Doha and come live with—”
“Nope.”
“…….”
Wooyeon was wounded.
“Ahem. Doha. About the variety show—”
“No.”
“You cold-hearted brat.”
CEO Park was clearly still looking for another chance to bring it up.
And in the middle of it all…
Yewon truly felt like she might get indigestion.
…How do I bring it up again?
She glanced at Doha.
“You have to eat a balanced diet. Here. You ate braised beef earlier, so now let’s have spinach.”
Doha looked so busy taking care of her, he barely seemed to know whether he was eating through his mouth or nose.
Honestly, that seemed excessive…
Okay. First, let’s calm Uncle Wooyeon down.
“Uncle. Ah.”
“!!”
Yewon lifted her spoon, scooping up rice and spinach, and held it to Doha’s mouth.
Doha froze in shock.
Yewon said firmly again,
“Open up. You haven’t eaten either!”
“…Ah.”
Reluctantly, Doha opened his mouth.
Yewon quickly pushed the bite in before he could close it and smiled brightly.
Spinach removed successfully.
Even fourteen-year-olds still hated spinach.
“…You two are having fun. Huh? The one who cooked gets no credit—”
“Uncle, you too. Ah.”
“!!!”
To shut Wooyeon up, Yewon grabbed a big clump of spinach with chopsticks and offered it to him.
“R-right now? You’re feeding me? If it were omelet instead—”
Wooyeon looked touched… until he saw the spinach.
“Ah.”
But Yewon said firmly again.
“…Ah!”
In the end, under the glares of the other adults, Wooyeon opened his mouth.
Good. Spinach cleared.
Mission success.
Yewon smiled wickedly as she finished off the other side dishes.
Now then…
Time for the next step.
“Uncle.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you… not like the idea of me being on TV?”
“…….”
Doha hesitated.
He knew Yewon dreamed of acting, and he didn’t want to stop her.
But her dream was one thing.
Getting involved with Glit was another.
Especially at a time like this.
Even when the world adored Glit, it was risky to create a connection between Yewon and the group.
So in a bad time like now…
Would it really benefit her?
“That’s not it. I like that you want to act. I support you. But…”
Doha chose his words carefully.
How could he explain Glit’s situation without hurting her feelings?
It felt impossible.
“Then… are you embarrassed that I’m your family?”
“!!!”
Not only Doha, but everyone at the table gasped.
“No!!!! Absolutely not!!! Hey!! Lee Doha!! Say no properly right now!!”
Wooyeon was the first to snap out of it.
“Of course not, Yewon. That’s not what he meant. Doha just has terrible vocabulary. Lee Doha. Speak clearly.”
CEO Park also barely held onto his composure.
No matter how smart she was, a child was still a child.
Planting thoughts like that in her mind was unacceptable.
“Of course not, Yewon.”
Finally, Doha answered firmly.
“Then why don’t you want to be on TV with me?”
“That’s…”
“I think it would be fun if Uncle Wooyeon and you and I all played together! I can do well on TV too!”
“…….”
Seeing how excited she already was, Doha couldn’t continue.
How could he possibly explain to such an innocent child that it wasn’t just “playing house”?
Just as he was feeling stuck—
“And… I want to brag to the whole world that you’re my family!”
Yewon beamed.
At that moment, Doha felt like his heart dropped.
“I want to tell everyone I have the coolest uncle in the world. That I have family… that I’m not alone. Next year I’ll have to go to school.”
“……!”
Everyone froze, forgetting even how to breathe.
How had he forgotten?
Next year, Yewon would go to school.
Whether she wanted to or not, she would see the lives of other children.
“Other kids all have moms and dads… but I’m not jealous at all. Because I already have two amazing uncles. I want to brag…”
“…….”
Doha forgot to answer.
He simply lifted Yewon up and placed her on his lap.
But something still weighed on his heart.
…Could he really be an uncle she could brag about?
In the past, he would’ve been more confident.
But now, public opinion of Glit was at its worst because of Taeyoung leaving.
In that situation…
“…You want to brag about me?”
Could I really be something you’re proud of?
Doha hesitated.
But—
“Yes!”
Yewon answered without a second of doubt.
“…!”
“Because you’re the kindest uncle in the world.”
She threw her arms around his neck.
“So you’re the uncle I’m most proud of.”
Those words…
And the warmth of her small arms around him…
Were slowly melting Doha away.
