The apartment remained quiet after lunch.
Noah sat on the floor reading her new school books.
Every few minutes, she would run toward Fang and ask another question.
"Dad."
"What?"
"What's this word?"
Fang looked down.
Then answered.
Noah immediately ran back.
A few minutes later
"Dad."
"What?"
"Why is math so long?"
"...Because the problems have no limits!"
Noah looked amazed.
Then ran toward Seo Yuna.
"Stop saying dumb things to the child."
Meanwhile
Fang checked the time.
Almost eleven thirty.
He needed sleep.
Tomorrow would be annoying.
Warehouse at night.
Bodyguard job in the morning.
His schedule already looked troublesome.
Fang stood up from the sofa.
Then prepared to lie down again.
Before he could
Seo Yuna suddenly spoke.
"The bed is empty during the day."
Fang looked up.
"...And?"
Seo Yuna avoided eye contact.
"You'd probably sleep better there than on that sofa."
Silence.
Fang stared at her.
Genuinely surprised.
Seo Yuna immediately became uncomfortable.
"What?"
"...Nothing."
Fang looked toward the bedroom.
Then toward the sofa.
Then back again.
"No."
Seo Yuna frowned.
"Why?"
"The sofa is fine."
"It clearly isn't."
"Hm."
"You're impossible."
Fang ignored her and lay down anyway.
Within minutes
He fell asleep.
Completely motionless.
Like a corpse.
The apartment slowly became peaceful again.
...
5:02 PM.
Fang's eyes suddenly opened.
No transition.
Years of instinct activated immediately.
Something was on top of him.
His body almost reacted automatically.
Then he stopped.
Warm.
Light.
Breathing softly.
Fang slowly looked downward.
Silence.
Noah was sleeping on his chest.
One arm wrapped around him like a pillow.
The book she had been reading earlier rested beside her.
Apparently, she had climbed onto the sofa while he slept.
Then fell asleep herself.
Fang stared at the child quietly.
The apartment remained silent.
Outside, evening sunlight entered through the window.
For a few moments
Neither moved.
Then footsteps approached.
Seo Yuna walked out of the kitchen carrying a glass of water.
She stopped immediately.
Her eyes landed on the sofa.
Then on Noah.
Then on Fang.
Silence.
A few seconds passed.
Then
She laughed.
A small laugh.
Quick.
Unexpected.
Fang slowly turned his head.
Seo Yuna instantly tried controlling her expression.
But the smile remained.
"...What?"
"Nothing."
"You laughed."
"No, I didn't."
"You did."
"I didn't."
Fang stared at her.
Seo Yuna looked away.
The corners of her mouth still slightly lifted.
For some reason
The scene looked ridiculous.
The scary-looking man everyone feared.
Now trapped under a sleeping seven-year-old.
Fang clicked his tongue softly.
"Troublesome women."
As if hearing that
Noah hugged him tighter while sleeping.
Fang became silent.
Seo Yuna almost laughed again.
This time, she successfully held it in.
Barely.
After a while
Fang carefully placed one hand behind Noah.
Then slowly stood up.
The child remained asleep.
Not even waking once.
Seo Yuna watched quietly.
Fang carried Noah toward the bedroom.
The child unconsciously grabbed part of his shirt while sleeping.
Fang paused briefly.
Then continued walking.
Inside the room
He carefully placed her onto the bed.
Noah turned slightly.
Then immediately hugged her pillow.
Still asleep.
Fang stepped back.
Then quietly left the room.
Outside
Seo Yuna was still standing there.
Watching.
The atmosphere became awkward again.
Fang looked at the clock.
Five ten.
He goes to the bathroom.
As he walked out of the bathroom
Fang grabbed his hoodie.
Then picked up the money from the table.
Seo Yuna looked up.
"Going somewhere?"
"Hm."
Fang put on his shoes.
"I'll be back soon."
Then he left.
The apartment door closed.
Seo Yuna remained sitting quietly.
Without Noah around
Conversations with Fang always became awkward.
...
Twenty minutes later.
A small formal wear shop stood near the market street.
Fang pushed open the glass door.
A bell rang above it.
The shop owner looked up immediately.
Then his eyes widened.
"Yo, Chung Soo!"
The man laughed.
His name was Lee Dae Sung.
One of Chung Soo's occasional drinking companions.
"It has been days since you came drinking."
Then he looked around suspiciously.
"And why are you here?"
His eyes moved across the shop.
"This is a suit store, you know."
Fang ignored the question.
His eyes calmly saw the displayed suits.
Cheap materials.
Cheap stitching.
Cheap designs.
Lee Dae Sung frowned.
"Are you listening?"
Fang pointed toward the racks.
"You have anything better?"
Silence.
The shop owner stared at him.
Then laughed.
"The man buried under debt is asking for expensive suits?"
Several customers nearby chuckled.
Lee Dae Sung crossed his arms.
"Tell me honestly."
"Did you come here thinking I'd give one for free because we drank together a few times?"
Fang continued examining the clothes.
"A black suit."
"What?"
"Good fiber."
"Bring it."
Lee Dae Sung became annoyed.
"I swear, if you can't pay for it, I'm kicking you out."
More laughter came from nearby customers.
Fang ignored everyone.
A few minutes later
Lee Dae Sung returned carrying another suit.
"This is the best one in the store."
"Eighty-five hundred yuan."
Fang touched the fabric.
Checked the stitching.
Checked the lining.
Then calmly spoke.
"Trash."
The entire store became silent.
Lee Dae Sung almost exploded.
"TRASH?!"
"You think you can afford it?"
Fang remained calm.
Honestly
Compared to the custom suits used by politicians, businessmen, and professional security teams in his previous life
This really was trash.
But he looked around again.
No better options.
No time either.
Fang glanced at the owner.
"How long for fitting?"
"Normally?"
"Yes."
"One day."
Fang immediately threw nine thousand yuan onto the counter.
The bills landed with a loud slap.
Everyone became quiet.
Lee Dae Sung stared.
"...You actually have money?"
"One hour."
"What?"
"Take measurements."
"Finish it in one hour."
The shop owner blinked several times.
Then looked at the cash again.
Then at Fang.
Then back at the cash.
For the first time
He realized something felt different about Chung Soo lately.
"...What happened to you?"
Fang looked at him calmly.
"Nothing."
For some reason
That answer felt less believable than any lie.
Fang looked around and pointed to a pair of black formal shoes
"Bring that one."
Lee Dae Sung looks around.
"That one inside the glass showcase."
Fang nodded
"That of 900 Yuan"
Lee Dae Sung looks more surprised.
"Bring it."
Lee Dae Sung brings the pair of shoes.
Fang looks a little and slams another thousand in front of Lee Dae Sung.
Lee Dae looks frightened.
"From where did you get that money?"
"Quickly take measurement - I don't have time."
Lee Dae Sung isn't able to say anything, just obeying what Chung Soo says.
After an hour, he took off his suit and shoes and left the store
7:15
Fang returns home.
Seo Yuna notices the suit and shoes cover on his hand
"Did you buy a suit for tomorrow?"
"hm"
"How much?"
"Whole 10000"
Seo Yuna surprised
"Yeah, it is, but I am also going to work for rich people."
Seo Yuna didn't say anything
"Place it somewhere I'm going."
Fang leaves, and Seo Yuna saw him leave
Time passes
Break time at warehouses
During break time,
Fang sat beside the middle-aged worker.
The man looked surprised.
"Taking a break with us today?"
"Hm."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Fang suddenly asked,
"My daughter goes to Gangbuk Elementary."
The worker smiled immediately.
"Really?"
"Hm."
Then Fang asked casually,
"And your daughter?"
The man's expression softened.
"Sixteen."
"Hm."
"She goes to Seongrim Public High School."
Fang paused briefly.
Seongrim Public High School.
The same school mentioned in Kang Min Woo's file.
Interesting.
The worker continued without noticing.
"Kids grow up too fast."
Fang looked at him.
"What's her name?"
"Han Soo Min."
Then the smile on the man's face slowly weakened.
"Though..."
Fang waited.
The worker scratched his head.
"She's been acting strange lately."
"Hm."
"Coming home late."
"Clothes are dirty."
Fang's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I asked her what happened."
"And?"
"She always says nothing."
The worker sighed.
"I thought maybe she was being bullied."
Fang remained silent.
"So I went to the school."
"What did they say?"
"The teachers acted strangely."
The man frowned.
"They kept saying everything was fine."
Pause
"Today I followed her."
Silence.
"She doesn't enter the school."
Fang looked at him.
The worker forced out a laugh.
"She went to a park instead."
"Sat there alone."
"Cried for almost an hour."
The smile had completely disappeared from his face now.
"I don't know what to do."
For several seconds, Fang remained silent.
Then he stood up.
The break was ending.
The worker looked up.
"What do you think?"
Fang's expression remained calm.
"Kids have strange behavior sometimes."
The worker sighed.
"Yeah... maybe."
Fang turned and walked away.
But a cold smile slowly appeared on his face.
Seongrim Public High School.
Kang Min Woo.
A girl skipping school and crying alone.
Teachers are acting strangely.
Very interesting.