It seems Jae-won's replacement's name is Choi Yeon-u.
How did I know? I ran into her a while ago. Though I don't know if I should call it running into her or waiting for her....
*
It was a few days ago.
Instead of Saet-byeol-yi, who was busy from the morning, I ended up taking Seo-hui to the daycare center.
I couldn't leave Seo-a behind, so I took Seo-a with me.
"Go quickly."
Seo-hui urged me on, as if she wanted to get to the daycare center quickly. Even though she wanted to go quickly, Seo-a's slow pace delayed us.
"Seo-a, come quickly!"
"Unni, slowly...."
Even when Seo-a pleaded, Seo-hui didn't stop.
"Seo-hui-ya, you need to take care of your younger sibling."
"Grandma is here."
I had no choice... I carried Seo-a and went to the daycare center at Seo-hui's pace.
After telling the daycare teacher to take good care of Seo-hui, I took Seo-a and headed back home.
"Seo-a-ya, shall we play outside before going in?"
"Yes!"
On the way, I stopped by the convenience store and bought Seo-a her favorite juice and a snack, which she held preciously in her arms.
I slowly followed behind Seo-a and turned towards the park inside the apartment complex.
"It feels cool since it's summer."
The landscaping trees were neatly trimmed, and the flower beds were decorated beautifully.
"Wow, flowers!"
"Yes, flowers."
I followed Seo-a and, upon arriving at the gazebo, sat down to rest. Seo-a munched on the snack she had bought earlier.
"Will you give some to Grandma too?"
Seo-a looked back and forth between the snack and me before offering one.
"Ah."
"Thank you."
I ate the snack from Seo-a's hand. After Seo-a finished the snack and drank her juice, she ran around the area.
While I was quietly watching Seo-a playing alone, someone called out to me.
"Ah, hello!"
When I turned my head to check, she was there.
"Ah, uh, hello?"
Jae-won's replacement....
"Oh? Pretty Unni."
Seo-a also found her and toddled over.
"Hello?"
"Hello?"
Why is she here? Does she live in this apartment complex? If not, it's strange that she's here.
She was doting on Seo-a.
"Are you allowed to be here at this hour?"
"Ah, well...."
"Ah, do you perhaps live here?"
The facilities are good, so many rich people live here.
I looked at her with a smile, but her eyes were shaking wildly, and she couldn't make eye contact.
Her reaction was too suspicious.
"Ah, uh, that...."
Looking at her unable to answer properly, I felt frustrated and wondered how she came to be here.
"Excuse me...."
"I, uh, came to see your mother...."
Me...? What's the reason?
Could it be that she wants to make a good impression on me? Eh... even I think that's too much.
"Me?"
"Th, that...."
Could it be that she was waiting here to see me? That would be a bit scary....
I managed my expression and talked with her. What she asked about was mostly about Jae-won.
She asked me to tell her about his high school days or when he was younger, so I did.
"I, I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable...."
It was uncomfortable, but Seo-a liked her, so I didn't say anything.
Seo-a seemed to like the pretty Unni and didn't want to get off her lap.
"More importantly, may I know your name?"
I haven't even gotten a proper self-introduction yet. I only knew that she was Jae-won's replacement. I didn't know her name until now.
"Ah, that! I'm sorry! I'm Choi Yeon-u!"
"Okay, Yeon-u-yang?"
"Ye, Yeon-u is fine."
I don't know if this is a changed name... or if she's still using it as is.
More than that, her behavior was awkward.
Seeing her today, it seemed like she came with a purpose... I understand wanting to know about Jae-won, but trying to get it from me was a problem.
"Okay? Yeon-u-ya, I understand that you want to know about Jae-won, but coming like this is a bit much."
Yeon-u looked shocked when she heard my words.
"You can just go visit Jae-won directly."
"I'm sorry."
She lowered her head with a gloomy expression.
"It's especially awkward when you come without saying anything like this."
I'm almost always home because of Seo-a, but... there were times when I came out like this.
More than that, how did she know we were here?
"I, I'm sorry."
Moreover, today was a sudden outing because Saet-byeol-yi was busy. But how did she know we were here?
The more I thought about it, the more suspicious it was.
"Of course, I'm not saying don't come at all."
If she really wanted to get close to Jae-won, to make a connection, to make a good impression on me, I could understand that much.
I also tried to make a good impression on Shi-hyun's parents before.
"I, I won't do that next time."
"Okay, instead of doing this, meet Jae-won directly. It seems like he's worried about how you're doing."
"I, is it okay?"
"What?"
"Is it okay for someone like me to get close to Sergeant Sung...?"
Hmm...? Why is she so lacking in self-esteem? The replacement Jae-won talked about wasn't like this? It seems like she's just become a woman and lacks confidence.
Just looking at her appearance, she's pretty enough to make celebrities feel inferior....
"Hmm... didn't you hear from Jae-won?"
"Yes?"
"About the Awakener ability."
"Ah... I heard that there is someone in the family who has awakened the same ability."
It seems like he said that properly.
I smiled.
"Jae-won's sister and I are also Awakeners like you."
"Yes?! Did I hear you wrong?"
I don't want to say it in such an open space... but it seems like there's no one else around, so it should be okay?
"I'm a feminization ability user like you, Yeon-u."
She was so surprised that her mouth was wide open.
"It's hard to believe, right?"
"Y, yes...."
"So, you don't have to worry, there will be no discrimination based on ability."
I could fully understand her feelings. It would be difficult for a typical person to accept a child who became a woman from a man as their daughter-in-law.
I can easily accept it and there is no discrimination because I have the same experience....
"Also, as a senior, I'll give you advice if you have a hard time."
"R, really?"
"Yes, here."
I took out my cell phone and told her to type in her number.
She politely received the cell phone with both hands and quickly entered the number.
"H, here it is!"
She even entered her name properly and saved the number.
"Ah, and just so you know. No matter how much you try to win me over, it's over if Jae-won rejects you."
Yeon-u looked devastated.
"No matter how good your family is, my family is well off enough.... So, I'll prioritize Jae-won's heart over things like money."
If I say this much, she would understand.
"Yes... I understand."
She was deep in thought. Were my words that difficult?
I don't know....
Also, it seemed like I should take Seo-a inside soon.
"Grandma, pee."
"Do you want to go to the bathroom?"
"Yes."
Can she hold it?
"Can you hold it?"
"I don't know...."
I looked at Yeon-u and said quickly.
"Next time you come, be sure to contact me first, and if possible, meet Jae-won directly. It seems like he's worried about how you're doing."
"Yes, I understand."
"Then, goodbye."
"Unni, bye-bye."
I picked up Seo-a and headed home at a fast pace.
Fortunately, Seo-a's bathroom trip wasn't late.
Through that incident, I noticed her name and suspicious behavior.
Especially Shi-hyun, who noticed it first?
He said that he knew someone was following him and investigating him, but he tolerated it.
"Why didn't you tell me that?"
"That much is normal."
Normal...?
"Hyung-nim and Hyung-nim's family also experienced that, right?"
Ah... come to think of it, I also experienced that kind of thing when I was young because of my older brother....
"I thought it was something similar to that."
"You still have to be careful."
"That's true too."
It wasn't like Shi-hyun, who always prioritized safety.
"Yeon-u, that kid, could it be that she investigated all our movements and showed up...."
Not a stalker....
"Well, you gave her a hint, so she'll restrain herself."
"I guess?"
It was a bit creepy, but I thought it was Jae-won's business anyway.
*
I heard that Jae-won met his replacement, Yeon-u.
When I asked how he felt, he said he was glad she seemed to be doing well.
Does he not feel anything even after seeing her?
No, maybe he can't see her as a woman because the period he spent with her as a man was so long?
He has a long way to go....
While Saet-byeol-yi sent Seo-hui to daycare and went to study, I went outside with Shi-hyun and Seo-a.
"The weather is really nice, isn't it?"
"It is."
As I reduced my work, the amount of time I spent at home increased, so the number of times we went out together increased.
Of course, it's not just the two of us because Seo-a is here, but... I enjoyed being with Shi-hyun.
"Grandfather! Make me go high."
"High?"
"Yes!"
Considering Shi-hyun's strength, he had to control it well.
"Shi-hyun-a, moderately, okay?"
"Okay."
Shi-hyun lifted Seo-a with both hands and threw her up in the air in one go.
Did he control his strength? Seo-a floated more than 2m in the air.
"Wow!"
Seo-a wasn't even scared and enjoyed it. Shi-hyun caught Seo-a very skillfully.
"Is it fun?"
"Yes! Do it more!"
"Okay."
I was happily watching Shi-hyun playing with Seo-a when I felt a gaze from somewhere.
It felt like someone was blatantly observing us.
"Wow!"
Didn't Shi-hyun notice?
"Shi-hyun-a."
"I know, I noticed."
Shi-hyun grabbed Seo-a and put her on his shoulders.
"Hold on tight."
"Yes!"
Seo-a grabbed Shi-hyun's hair tightly.
"There!"
I pointed in the direction of the bushes where I felt the gaze, and Shi-hyun moved towards that direction in one go.
Seo-a enjoyed the speed and made a fuss.
"Who is it!"
"Kyaa!"
When Shi-hyun turned around abruptly and stood behind her, she screamed in surprise. I also headed in that direction.
"Oh, really?"
In front of us was a beautiful woman.
And someone I knew well.
"Yeon-u...?"
"Ahaha..., uh, I'm sorry!!"
She jumped up and started running away at a fast pace.
We watched it blankly.
"Ah, pretty Unni went away."
......Was she perhaps observing us?
For what reason?
I told her to get along with Jae-won, so why?
I suddenly felt chills.
Why did she observe us?
Shi-hyun also had an expression that he didn't know what was going on.
"I, I don't think she's a bad kid...."
Does she want to make a good impression on us, Jae-won's parents?
Shi-hyun also looked dumbfounded.
I didn't know the reason either, so I felt a bit frustrated and scared.