-Are you really going?
In the past, Jo Sung-hyun was indifferent to his daughter, Chae-yoon.
He was so indifferent that his mother, Lee Soo-hyun, was surprised when he said he would go to the fall sports day.
"Yes, I'll go. I'm talking to the teacher right now, so I'll call you back later."
-Okay, let's talk later.
Jo Sung-hyun finished the call and turned his head to look at Min Eun-jung, the teacher.
"I'm sorry, teacher. Chae-yoon's grandmother must have received the newsletter."
"Ah...yes. It would be better if you also checked it."
Min Eun-jung said carefully, but firmly.
"I'll make sure to check it regularly from now on."
She felt that she was worried about Chae-yoon, and since he was the one who did wrong, Jo Sung-hyun nodded his head without saying anything.
"I was worried because only the grandmother always came after that incident... But I'm so glad that you're coming to the fall sports day. Chae-yoon will be happy."
"I was stupid."
At Jo Sung-hyun's words, Min Eun-jung shook her hand and said no, but her face was smiling awkwardly.
She couldn't completely deny it in her mind.
Jo Sung-hyun wanted to ask Min Eun-jung more about Chae-yoon, but he held back.
He wanted to see Chae-yoon more than asking her a few words.
It was enough that he confirmed that Chae-yoon was not being ostracized.
"Thank you, teacher."
The consultation ended like that.
Jo Sung-hyun, who came out of the principal's office, stopped.
"...?"
When Min Eun-jung looked at him with a puzzled face.
Jo Sung-hyun opened his mouth to Min Eun-jung.
"Teacher, I..."
"Yes, sir."
"Do I have to pack a lunch box?"
"Well...it would be better to bring one for you and Chae-yoon."
Jo Sung-hyun's face changed strangely.
He had never packed a lunch box before.
* * *
On the way home.
Jo Sung-hyun glanced at the paper bag containing Chae-yoon's diary.
He was curious about Chae-yoon's diary, and he was also worried about what to pack for the lunch box next Saturday.
His mind was complicated, and Chae-yoon was smiling all the time.
When their eyes met, she giggled and smiled again.
"What are you so happy about?"
"I'm just happy!"
Chae-yoon answers without hesitation.
He was so grateful and happy that she liked him, Jo Sung-hyun gently held her hand.
"Chae-yoon."
"Yes?"
"What would you like me to pack for the lunch box when we go to the sports day?"
"Uh... um...."
She hesitated, glanced at Jo Sung-hyun, and then fell into thought again.
She frowned and thought hard, but eventually looked at Jo Sung-hyun as if she didn't know.
"What about you, dad...?"
"Huh? I just like whatever Chae-yoon likes?"
Jo Sung-hyun didn't care what he ate, so he thought it would be enough to pack what his daughter wanted.
But at his answer, Chae-yoon's eyebrows narrowed even more.
She looked so worried.
In the end, Jo Sung-hyun chuckled.
"Chae-yoon, then what did you usually pack when you went on picnics or sports days?"
"Kim-bap."
"Kim-bap?"
"Yes. Kim-bap. Chae-yoon eats kim-bap well."
Chae-yoon nodded her head with force.
She seemed to like kim-bap fortunately.
It wasn't very difficult, and Jo Sung-hyun could certainly make kim-bap.
"Then I'll have to buy some ingredients for kim-bap before the sports day. I have some seaweed for kim-bap at home, so I just need to buy some ham and pickled radish."
As Jo Sung-hyun muttered that, Chae-yoon nodded her head again as if she agreed.
In the meantime, they arrived home.
Jo Sung-hyun secretly put the paper bag containing Chae-yoon's diary in his bedroom.
He remembered the newsletter when he saw Chae-yoon put her bag in her room.
"Chae-yoon, did the teacher give you anything today? Something to give to your parents."
"Note?"
"Is there a note?"
"The one grandma always looks at?"
"Oh, can you give me that?"
He didn't know what she was talking about, so Jo Sung-hyun said he wanted to check it out because his mother always looked at it.
Chae-yoon blinked her eyes and looked at Jo Sung-hyun for a moment, then rummaged through her bag and took out a notebook.
A notebook with the name Cho Chae-yoon written on it.
It was a class journal written by Min Eun-jung, the teacher.
Jo Sung-hyun checked the journal for today's date.
[She ate the pork cutlet that came out for lunch well, and she looked happy overall.
Today, she talked about working with her father and also mentioned that a certain sister gave him some jelly.
Her father said he likes green jelly and told her to remember that.
It was nice to see Chaeyoon talking more than usual since yesterday.]
Looking at the note left by Teacher Min Eun-jeong, Sung-hyun Jo glanced at Chaeyoon.
Chaeyoon, holding onto her bag, glanced at Sung-hyun and quickly averted her gaze when he looked at her.
In response to Chaeyoon's behavior, as if checking on herself, Sung-hyun just smiled, took out a pen, and left a small note under the memo left by Teacher Min Eun-jeong.
There wasn't anything remarkable in the content.
The content expressed gratitude for caring.
After writing it, he handed it back to Chaeyoon, who giggled and put the note in her bag.
He should start having dinner soon, but all of his attention was focused on Chaeyoon's diary.
"But I still need to eat first."
Sung-hyun thought to himself and opened his mouth.
"Chaeyoon, what do you want to eat for dinner?"
She seemed to be lost in thought again.
Seeing her scrunching her eyebrows, Sung-hyun smiled and resolved her dilemma.
"Chaeyoon."
"Yes?"
"Shall we practice making kimbap for the sports festival like today?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, with Dad."
"I like that!"
As if she was thrilled, Chaeyoon raised both arms and shouted.
Sung-hyun got up from his seat and took out the seaweed for kimbap, asking Chaeyoon a question.
"Do you want to make kim-bap?"
"Yes!"
She seemed to be excited right away, Chae-yoon raised her arms and shouted.
Jo Sung-hyun got up from his seat and took out some seaweed for kim-bap and asked Chae-yoon a question.
"Chae-yoon, do you know how to make kim-bap?"
Pause.
At that question, Chae-yoon looked at Jo Sung-hyun with a confused face.
She looked like she didn't know what to do, and she stuttered.
"Chae-yoon doesn't know how to make kim-bap... Grandma knows how to..."
Jo Sung-hyun couldn't help but smile at the sight of Chae-yoon looking at him nervously.
He could have just made kim-bap himself, but he opened his mouth as he looked at Chae-yoon who had a clueless expression on her face.
"Do you know how grandma makes kim-bap?"
"I know!"
Was she trying to emphasize that her grandmother knows?
Chae-yoon affirmed strongly.
Jo Sung-hyun searched his pocket and took out his smartphone.
"Then, do you want to call grandma and ask her to tell you?"
"I can do it!"
"Okay. Let's ask."
Jo Sung-hyun said that and handed his smartphone to Chae-yoon.
He saw Chae-yoon calling her grandmother, Lee Soo-hyun, and quietly went to his bedroom.
He wasn't just letting Chae-yoon make the call herself.
-"Hello?"
"Grandma. It's me, Chae-yoon."
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Thanks for the chapter aRaion! What a wholesome family activity.
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