By Zephyria 
He was so shocked that he didn’t have time to think. He couldn’t even consider calling or the possibility that their paths might cross. To deliver the news to Kwon Young-je as quickly as possible, he simply sprinted down the hallway.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, Hui-won stepped out quickly. Just then, his Alpha, who was walking into the lobby, came into view.
For a moment, his legs came to a dead stop. The moment he saw Kwon Young-je’s face, something hot surged up from within, and his eyes grew hot and misty.
“Haa.”
Hui-won clenched his fists tight and breathed heavily. His heart was overflowing, but there was no other way to express this feeling. He felt as if he would burst into tears if he took even one more step.
The lobby was crowded with people passing by and many eyes watching. Although he had always been in the habit of caring about public attention, it didn’t matter now.
“Kwon Young-je!”
His voice rang out loudly across the open lobby.
Kwon Young-je, who had been talking to Secretary Lee, turned his gaze forward. He paused the moment he saw Hui-won’s flushed, panting face. His gaze dropped to the small object clutched tightly in a white hand.
Dress shoes struck the ground rapidly. In the end, he was practically running. And finally, he pulled Hui-won into a sudden, tight embrace.
“Look at this, I…”
“No, I can tell without looking.”
Kwon Young-je tightened his grip, pulling the person in his arms even closer. He could feel the heartbeat thumping against his chest. The violent, rapid pounding was so intertwined that it was hard to tell whose was whose.
Kwon Young-je lowered his head over Hui-won’s shoulder, pressing the tip of his nose against the hot nape of his neck. The scent of sweat lightly mixed with the fragrant olive scent revealed how hurriedly Hui-won had run. Overwhelmed with affection, he held him tight and wouldn’t let go.
“It’s okay, don’t worry. This time, I will definitely protect you.”
He now had two people he had to protect, staking everything he possessed. In this moment, he engraved the resolve never to repeat the same mistake deep into his bones.
4. Kwon Ji-wan
After going to the hospital to check, it was confirmed that he was pregnant.
Since it was quite early, it was roughly confirmed via a blood test on the same day. As soon as he hit six weeks, he received a pregnancy confirmation certificate, and Hui-won, led by Kwon Young-je’s hand, visited the HR department. He submitted a leave of absence for a year and a half. Since he reported directly to the Vice President, the leave was approved that very day, and the General Manager’s desk was cleared clean.
The rumors spread so quickly that both families called first without him having to contact them separately. Madam Im, trying her best to calm her excitement, told him he must absolutely get plenty of rest, and Hui-won’s mother continued a tearful phone call for thirty minutes.
For ten whole months, Hui-won lived a life akin to being an emperor in confinement. He only went between home and the hospital, and while resting at home, he devoted himself entirely to studying childcare.
If he had to go out on a weekday, he was accompanied by Chief Choi, Madam Im’s attendant, and a dedicated driver always followed them. On weekends, he would go on short trips to the outskirts with Kwon Young-je or go shopping for baby supplies.
To be honest, there was no time to be bored. Every day was filled with anticipation, and every time he saw the desolate empty room being filled with cute items, he felt his heart becoming full as well.
The painting he received as a gift was hung in the baby’s room. This time, instead of a prenatal nickname, they decided on a name in advance.
Reach and complete. Kwon Ji-wan.
The two of them felt that Yeoro had come back to them. It signified that they had reached a complete destination after a long journey.
From the surgery to the recovery period, Kwon Young-je stayed by his side at all times. He even followed him into the operating room to hold his hand, which said it all.
The baby they finally met was a tiny, lovely daughter. To be honest, her wrinkled skin and bright red face from just being born couldn’t be called “pretty,” but she was that much more precious and dear.
“Hello, Ji-wan.”
Hui-won gave his first greeting to the baby brought close to his face. The child scrunched up her red face with all her might and wailed at the top of her lungs. The sign of life expressed with all her strength was simply poignant and overwhelming.
He gave a short kiss to the back of the baby’s hand. Kwon Young-je pressed his lips to Hui-won’s forehead. Though he didn’t believe in God, a prayer of gratitude naturally came out that everyone was safe.
Many things changed after the baby was born.
Although they had a housekeeper proficient in childcare, newborn care was not something to be taken lightly.
Kwon Ji-wan was a fussy baby. Whenever she was held by the helper, she would cry hysterically, so Hui-won always had to keep her close.
‘I’m going crazy, the day never ends.’
One day, Hui-won said in a voice that sounded like he was dying.
Normally, a day concludes by falling asleep. However, the reality was that he had to wake up every two to three hours even in the middle of the night to tend to the baby.
He wondered if the UDT Hell Week was like this. But that only required enduring it for six days and five nights, whereas the newborn period lasted a whole month. It was only after passing the 50-day mark that the picky Ms. Kwon Ji-wan began to sleep through the night.
Still, it was a relief that Kwon Young-je helped a lot. Since the baby was born, he had been leaving work exactly on time. Given his usual workload, Hui-won knew best how difficult that was. Thanks to Kwon Young-je devoting himself to childcare after work, Kwon Ji-wan evolved into a “velcro baby” to her fathers.
It was a great happiness just for her to grow up healthy without any issues. Even though she was a girl, Kwon Ji-wan’s growth rate was unparalleled. It was too early to tell for sure, but there was a very high possibility she was an Alpha.
“Daddy, welcome home.”
The father and daughter came out to greet him at the inner door to match the time Kwon Young-je returned from work. Hui-won waved the baby’s chubby hand on her behalf.
Kwon Young-je, who had just stepped through the entrance, let out a drained laugh at the sight. He came straight inside and pressed his lips firmly against Hui-won’s left cheek.
“Sorry I’m late.”
He had returned home late because of an unavoidable event he couldn’t miss. It was already well past 10 PM, and Hui-won had already finished bathing the baby.
“Give Ji-wan some love too.”
“After I wash my hands.”
He was still a man with clear priorities. Even blood relations couldn’t challenge the number one spot.
Kwon Young-je took off his jacket as he entered the bathroom and rolled up his shirt sleeves neatly as soon as he stood before the sink. After washing every nook and cranny between his fingers and under his nails, he also applied hand sanitizer. Only after completing all preparations did he pick up Ji-wan.
Hui-won stood leaning against the back of the sofa, watching the scene blankly. When she entered Kwon Young-je’s broad embrace, even a chubby, healthy baby became nothing more than a tiny creature.
“Did anything happen today?”
“Are you curious?”
“No.”
Hui-won shook his head with a smile. To be honest, he was on the verge of collapsing, so he didn’t even have the courage to be interested in other things.
“How about ‘mamma’?”
The low bass voice asked casually. The listener’s lips twitched.
“I actually need to eat.”
“I mean Hui-won’s ‘mamma’.”
Hui-won couldn’t hold it back and laughed loudly. Even after half a year since the baby was born, he couldn’t get used to the word ‘mamma’ coming out of Kwon Young-je’s mouth.
“Haa, more than food, I just want one glass of beer.”
“Want me to get it for you?”
“No, I’ll get it.”
Today was a day when a sip of beer was truly desperate. Hui-won went toward the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Naturally, he chose a non-alcoholic beer. Meanwhile, Kwon Young-je began preparing the formula while holding the baby.
Though it looked like he was doing it haphazardly, the formula was measured as accurately as if using a scale, and the water didn’t deviate from the line by a single millimeter. Closing the lid with one hand, Kwon Young-je mixed the formula well and checked the temperature by pressing the bottle against his cheek. He was truly a man who excelled at everything he did.
The two of them sat down together on the living room sofa. Hui-won tilted the beer can in a relaxed posture, and Kwon Young-je held the baby steadily while tilting the bottle.
The sound of sucking—slurp, slurp—was vigorous. Perhaps she was very hungry after her bath, as Ji-wan was polishing off 200ml of formula in an instant. Kwon Young-je looked down at her quietly and tossed out a comment.
“Piggy.”
“We need to earn a lot of money. The rate at which formula is consumed is no joke.”
As soon as those words were spoken, Ji-wan finished the formula and let out a satisfied sigh—paaa.
Hui-won smiled and took a sip of beer. Suddenly, a blatant gaze flew his way. Kwon Young-je was looking at Hui-won while laying the baby on his left shoulder.
“Is it tasty?”
So-oo tasty.
Hui-won answered by simply mouthing the words. Beer drunk after “parenting retirement” for the day tasted like honey. However, not mentioning the taste of alcohol in front of the baby was a matter of minimal conscience.
They chatted softly in that state. Since they used to be glued to each other all day but now could barely face each other in the evening, they had much to say and needed to see each other’s faces as much as possible.
“I’ll have to go back to the company soon… I wonder if it’ll be possible to be apart from Ji-wan.”
“Madam Im told you to just trust her.”
“Will she be okay? I wonder if she’ll give up in a month.”
“How can you say that when you know how tenacious she is? Besides, Madam Im is anxious right now. She says she wants to see her as soon as possible.”
Kwon Young-je gave a scathing assessment of his mother. That was essentially her true nature. It was more appropriate to see the act of tenderly patting the baby’s back—which was the size of her own palm—as something alien.
Ji-wan, who had been resting the side of her head on his shoulder, let out a small burp—keu. Then, the bodysuit became heavy. Eating and pooping; there was truly no time to rest.
Kwon Young-je took the baby and went into the room for a moment. When he came back after changing the diaper, Hui-won had fallen asleep exactly as he was sitting.