Seoul's Insadong district was alive with movement—tourists taking pictures, artists selling paintings, musicians playing soft melodies in the street.
For a woman who had lived in a dim hallway of a poor neighborhood for years, this place felt like another world.
His mother held the stroller tightly as they approached the boutique's entrance.
Inside, warm lights illuminated shelves of handcrafted goods.Elegant customers wandered through the aisles, admiring displays.Friendly staff welcomed people as they entered.
But today—the attention wasn't on the boutique itself.
It was on the local artisans featured for the event.
And for the first time in her life…
His mother was one of them.
Mirin rushed over the moment she saw them.
"Mrs. Seo! You made it!"
His mother bowed deeply. "T-Thank you for inviting us…"
Mirin crouched to look at the toddler.
"And here's our little mascot again."She smiled warmly."He always looks so calm."
The toddler blinked.Innocently.
But his eyes quietly scanned the room—recognizing faces, counting exits, observing who watched them and who didn't.
Mirin led them to a display table filled with his mother's wallets.
But the sign above it made his mother gasp:
Handcrafted by: Seo HanaLimited Edition Artisan Collection
She covered her mouth with both hands.
"H-How… how did you…"
Mirin winked."We believe in you. That's all."
His mother's eyes filled with tears.
Slowly, people approached.
"Wow, these are beautiful!""You made all of these by hand?""The stitching is so clean!""Your designs are unique!""Where did you learn to sew?"
Compliments she never thought she'd hear in her entire life.
His mother bowed over and over."N-No, I'm not special… I'm still learning… thank you so much…"
Her voice was shaky, timid, overwhelmed.
But the toddler watched proudly.
For the first time…people were looking at her with admiration,not pity.
This moment was worth everything.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
A ripple went through the boutique as the businessman stepped inside—tall, composed, and out of place among the playful decorations.
People whispered:
"Isn't that Kang Dojin?""From DK Holdings?""Why is he here?""Is he buying the boutique?"
But he didn't look at the crowd.
He looked at her.
Seo Hana.
And the toddler sitting calmly at the corner of the display.
He approached with slow, deliberate steps.
Her hands trembled.
"G-Good afternoon, sir…"
He smiled smoothly.
"You have a lovely display."
"T-thank you…"
"And a lovely child."
Her eyes widened. "Ah—y-yes…"
He knelt slightly to look at the toddler.
Not touching him.Not crowding him.Just studying him.
"You remember me, don't you?" he asked softly.
The toddler looked up.
Then nodded.
A tiny, controlled nod.
The businessman's eyebrow rose.
Most toddlers waved.Smiled.Or stared blankly.
Not this one.
This child acknowledged him like an equal.
Interesting.
The businessman picked up one of the wallets—a forest green one.
"This color… what do you think of it?" he asked suddenly.
His mother froze.
Was he… talking to the child?
She panicked, whispering:
"H-He's too young to answer—"
But the toddler calmly looked at the wallet.
Stared at the stitching, the texture, the zipper.
Then…
He pointed at the brown one next to it.
Everyone watched.
The businessman chuckled softly.
"Why that one?"
The toddler said one word:
"Sell."
Gasps.
Mirin covered her mouth.
His mother grabbed the stroller handle so tightly her knuckles turned white.
The businessman's eyes widened in subtle surprise.
"You think this one will sell better?"
The toddler nodded.
Again, calm.
Not playful.Not random.Not cute.
Meaningful.
Purposeful.
The businessman slowly stood up.
His expression changed.
More respectful.More intrigued.More dangerous.
"You have an interesting son," he said quietly to his mother.
She swallowed hard."He's just… expressive…"
"Expressive?" he repeated, amused.
He glanced at the toddler again.
"No… not expressive. He's thinking."
Her breath caught.
She whispered shakily, "Please don't misjudge him… he's just a baby…"
The businessman smiled.
"Oh, I'm not misjudging him.I'm simply recognizing potential."
Her heart stopped.
Potential?
The toddler's eyes sharpened.
This man was seeing too much.
Too soon.
The gossip woman suddenly entered the boutique.
She had followed them.
She pushed through the crowd, voice loud:
"There she is! Pretending to be a fancy artisan!"
His mother froze in horror.
The gossip woman pointed at the toddler angrily.
"And look at that baby! He acts like a grown man! It's unnatural!"
Gasps echoed across the room.The boutique staff tensed.
Mirin stepped forward, whispering sharply:
"Ma'am, please lower your voice—this is a professional event—"
But the gossip woman was spiraling.
"She is manipulating everyone! Her child is cursed or something—look at how he stares—!"
His mother dropped to her knees beside the stroller, tears filling her eyes.
"Please… please stop…"
But the toddler didn't cry.
He didn't hide.
He looked straight at the gossip woman—
Then pointed at her.
Small finger.Small hand.Big meaning.
Everyone turned.
The toddler said, clearly:
"Go."
Some people gasped.Some stared at him in awe.Others stiffened.
The gossip woman stepped back.
"W-What…?"
"Go," he repeated.
This time sharper.
Stronger.
Everyone was silent.
Even the businessman.
Even Mirin.
Even the boutique staff.
The gossip woman turned pale.
She stumbled backward—tripping slightly over a carpet—and hurried out of the store.
Nobody tried to stop her.
In fact…
People glared at her instead of at the toddler.
Murmurs spread:
"She was so rude!""She embarrassed herself.""Poor mother…""That child was protecting her.""He's amazing…"
His mother covered her mouth, shaking.
He had just taken control of the room.
Not by crying.Not by being cute.
By using presence.
Authority.
Instinct.
A skill he learned in his first life—when negotiating with adults, bosses, investors, and clients.
Now distilled into a toddler's body.
The businessman stepped closer.
And in a low voice only the toddler could hear, he whispered:
"You're not normal."
The toddler stared back coldly.
The businessman smiled.
"Good.Normal children don't change the world."
He straightened and told the mother:
"I'd like a private meeting with you soon.About future opportunities."
Her face flooded with panic.
"M-Me? But I'm not—"
"Think about it," he said simply. "You have talent. And talent deserves a proper stage."
Then he walked toward the door, turning only once more.
To the toddler.
"See you soon."
The bell above the boutique door chimed as he left.
As the boutique buzzed again with compliments and buying customers, his mother wiped her tears.
But the toddler knew—
A larger game had begun.
He had drawn the attention of someone powerful.
Someone ambitious.Someone unpredictable.
This wasn't a neighbor.Or a jealous sewer.Or a gossip woman.
This was a man who controlled businesses, connections, markets.
And now he wanted to control them too.
The toddler tightened his small fists.
Not in this life.
This time…he would grow faster.He would learn faster.He would rise faster.
And when the time came—he would dominate this world.
One step at a time.