Squeak squeak.
He looked down at Chaeyoon, who had fallen asleep leaning her head on his arm, and Jo Sung-hyun smiled.
She was so lovely.
How could he have been so obsessed with work, leaving such a child behind?
"...the company?"
"I told the team leader and left work early."
As his mother, Lee Soo-hyun, who was sitting in the driver's seat, asked, Jo Sung-hyun answered right away.
It was obvious that Chaeyoon hadn't come to the columbarium alone.
"She called me and said she missed her mom, so I brought her."
"Thank you."
"Oh, come on... It's fine. I know you're busy with work, but I'm glad you came early today."
"...."
Jo Sung-hyun didn't say anything and turned his head to look at Chaeyoon.
He looked at the child who had fallen asleep from crying for a while, and opened his mouth.
"Chaeyoon, she's pretty, right?"
"You just realized your daughter is pretty?"
"...I've come to my senses now."
"I'm glad you've come to your senses now. You couldn't get your mind straight after your wife died."
"It was my stupidity. Leaving such a pretty daughter behind."
Jo Sung-hyun said.
At his words, Lee Soo-hyun showed a faint smile.
She had always felt sorry for him.
He was focused on his work, and he had to make money at his job, so there was no way she could stop him.
He had to make money to live.
In fact, as a mother, she wanted Jo Sung-hyun to quit his job and take some time off, but the reality was not so.
'He said he can't use the insurance money... and he has to make money...'
He would continue to work in the future, and then Chaeyoon wouldn't be able to spend much time with her father as well as her mother, and that was her worry.
"Try to make some time from now on. I know your job doesn't have weekends, and it's erratic, but Chaeyoon would be so happy if her dad was by her side. She's going to kindergarten, and every time there's an event, she always goes with her grandmother, how sad is that."
Lee Soo-hyun said.
At her words, Jo Sung-hyun licked his lips, wondering what to say.
Various words rolled around in his mouth.
But the only thing he could answer was a short word.
"Yes."
He simply answered and turned his head to look out the window.
The sky was clear.
Like Chaeyoon's eyes.
* * *
The next morning.
Jo Sung-hyun opened his eyes.
Chaeyoon was still asleep next to him.
Chaeyoon, who seemed to never get tired, had chattered non-stop after returning from the columbarium and having dinner, and eventually fell asleep again.
As Jo Sung-hyun looked at the sleeping Chaeyoon, he was lost in thought for a while before finally falling asleep.
He only slept for about two hours.
He didn't feel particularly tired.
Was it because he had been sorting out his thoughts all night?
In fact, his mind felt clear.
"Regression...."
Regression.
Jo Sung-hyun had no choice but to come to that conclusion.
He didn't know how it had happened, but it was true that he had returned to 10 years ago.
He decided to accept it and live his life once again.
He had Jo Chaeyoon.
His daughter.
As long as she was there, Jo Sung-hyun had a reason to live.
"Dad?"
Chaeyoon opened her eyes and groped for his hand.
Jo Sung-hyun immediately reached out and held her hand.
"I'm here."
"Hehe...."
Chaeyoon held Jo Sung-hyun's hand tightly.
Looking at her smiling as she held his hand with both of hers, Jo Sung-hyun smiled gently.
They soon got up and prepared to go out.
Jo Sung-hyun escorted Chaeyoon to kindergarten himself.
Since it had never happened before, Chaeyoon looked very excited.
After waving her hand with a bright smile, Jo Sung-hyun turned around only after confirming that Chaeyoon had taken the teacher's hand and entered the building.
He clenched his fist and then relaxed it, and then he moved his steps.
He thought he was going fast enough, but he couldn't help being late after dropping off Chaeyoon at kindergarten.
As soon as he got to work, he felt the glances of others.
As soon as he sat down and started unpacking, Park Jung-won approached him.
"Jo Sung-hyun."
"Yes, Team Leader."
"Come with me for a moment."
Jo Sung-hyun immediately got up from his seat.
It was only natural for him to listen to what Park Jung-won had to say, as he was at fault for being late.
As soon as the meeting room door closed, Park Jung-won let out a sigh.
"Hey, what's going on with you?"
"I'm sorry."
"I let you leave early yesterday. Huh? I wasn't expecting you to come to work early today, but suddenly you're 30 minutes late."
"...I'm sorry."
There was nothing more to say, and Jo Sung-hyun simply repeated the words "I'm sorry" as he didn't want to make excuses or justify himself.
Seeing his demeanor, Park Jungwon let out a small sigh and shook his head.
"It's fine. You've worked your ass off until now, so it's okay to be late once. But if you think you might be late, at least let me know. It's worrying when someone who always comes early and leaves late suddenly arrives late."
"Thank you, Team Leader."
Park Jung-won was sincerely looking out for Jo Sung-hyun.
Feeling that, Jo Sung-hyun expressed his gratitude to him.
He was the only person at AK Entertainment, where Jo Sung-hyun currently works, who had maintained a good relationship with him until the end.
He gave a lot of advice and always treated Jo Sung-hyun sincerely.
"Is the work not fun?"
Park Jungwon asked.
Not fun?
Honestly, when it came to whether it was fun or not, it was on the fun side.
At this point, he hadn't started with music yet, but when he starts with music, he will feel the work more enjoyable.
But Jo Sung-hyun shook his head.
"It's not fun. I don't even understand the meaning. I have a lot of empty thoughts about what will remain at the end of this road."
If he doesn't change here, for the next 10 years, he will work hard.
And in the end, all that's left is regret.
"Well, lately I've been thinking that I should try doing something else. At first, it was fun, but now I'm just working for the paycheck.", Park Jung-won said.
He smiled at Park Jung-won's words.
"Anyway, I had something to tell you, but since you said you don't enjoy your work, I can say it more comfortably."
"What is it?"
Jo Sung-hyun felt a slight sense of uneasiness as he heard Park Jung-won's words.
Park Jung-won nodded his head and opened his mouth.
"Don't you want to try music?"
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Thanks for the chapter aRaion! I wonder if he'll be able to negotiate payments this time.
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