The taxi slowly stopped in front of the apartment building.
Noah immediately jumped out while hugging her new books tightly.
"Mom! Dad! Hurry!"
Seo Yuna couldn't help smiling slightly.
"Careful. Don't fall."
The three returned upstairs together.
The moment they entered the apartment, Noah rushed toward the table and spread all her books out proudly.
"So many!"
Her eyes sparkled.
For a child who had never attended school before, everything felt exciting.
The uniform.
The notebooks.
The textbooks.
Even the school bag.
Noah suddenly grabbed one of the books and ran toward Fang.
"Dad."
"Hm?"
"Put covers on them."
Fang looked down.
"...Now?"
"Now."
Silence.
Noah stared at him.
Fang stared back.
After three seconds
"...Fine."
Noah immediately cheered.
Seo Yuna watched from the side with disbelief.
The same man who once spent entire days drunk was now sitting at a table applying book covers.
Life truly was strange.
Fang carefully folded the plastic covers around each textbook.
His hands moved steadily.
Precise.
Almost like he was assembling equipment before a mission.
Noah watched every movement with complete concentration.
Meanwhile, Seo Yuna quietly checked the remaining money.
After the school payment, transportation fee, uniforms, books, and today's taxi rides—
Only around 2,400 yuan remained.
She sighed softly.
Fang glanced at her.
"What?"
Seo Yuna hesitated.
"The money is left."
"Hm?"
"We can probably make it to the end of the month."
Fang nodded.
"Good."
"But..."
She looked at the small amount remaining.
"No savings left."
Fang continued covering books.
"Then we'll earn more."
As if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Seo Yuna looked at him for a moment.
Then another concern surfaced.
"What about your debt?"
The room became slightly quieter.
Noah continued reading her books, unaware.
Seo Yuna lowered her voice.
"They only gave you three months, right?"
Fang didn't stop working.
The plastic cover folded neatly around another textbook.
"Seems so."
"...Seems so?"
Seo Yuna looked speechless.
"Aren't you worried?"
Fang finally looked up.
"Why would you worry?"
"What?"
"The debt is mine."
His voice remained calm.
"Not yours."
Seo Yuna froze slightly.
Fang returned to his work.
"Don't carry things that don't belong to you."
For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
Old Chung Soo would have pushed every burden onto her.
This man did the opposite.
It felt strange.
Very strange.
A few seconds later, Fang spoke again.
"I'll find another job."
Seo Yuna blinked.
"Another one?"
"Hm."
"What do you mean, another one?"
"A morning job."
She stared at him.
"You already work nights."
"Hm."
"And now you want a day job too?"
"Hm."
Seo Yuna looked completely stunned.
"When exactly are you planning to sleep?"
Fang thought for a moment.
"Between jobs."
"...That's not enough."
"Enough for now."
Seo Yuna frowned.
"That's impossible."
Fang calmly placed another covered book onto the pile.
"I've survived on worse."
The words slipped out naturally.
Then he realized his mistake.
That wasn't something an ordinary warehouse worker would say.
Fortunately, Seo Yuna didn't notice.
"Mom."
"What?"
"Dad wins."
Silence.
Fang looked slightly satisfied.
Seo Yuna covered her face.
Even Noah had joined his side now.
Noah happily hugged one of her textbooks.
"I'm going to school."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
The excitement in her voice was too obvious.
Too genuine.
Seo Yuna quietly looked away.
Her eyes felt slightly warm.
For years, she couldn't give Noah this simple thing.
A school.
Friends.
A normal childhood.
And now
It was finally happening.
Fang noticed her expression but said nothing.
He simply finished covering the last textbook.
Then pushed the stack toward Noah.
"Done."
Noah gasped dramatically.
"So fast!"
"Hm."
She immediately hugged the books to her chest.
Like they were treasure.
Fang watched silently.
Seo Yuna looked at Fang suspiciously.
"Hmm."
"What?"
"You still haven't told me your monthly salary."
Fang thought for a moment.
"Twenty thousand yuan."
Silence.
Seo Yuna blinked.
"...What?"
"Twenty thousand."
She stared at him.
"That's enough us for now to live normally."
"I heard normal workers there only earn around twelve thousand."
"Hm."
"And yesterday you brought home ten thousand as a bonus."
"Hm."
Seo Yuna looked completely confused.
"Then how are you getting twenty thousand?"
Fang answered casually.
"They liked my work."
"..."
"Bonus."
"..."
"Promotion."
Seo Yuna rubbed her forehead.
"Promotion?"
"Hm."
"On your first day?"
"Hm."
The apartment became quiet.
Seo Yuna did not even know how to react anymore.
Who gets promoted on the first day?
Even Noah looked impressed.
"Dad is amazing."
Fang ignored both of them and checked the time.
10:03 AM.
He stood up.
"I'm going out."
Seo Yuna frowned.
"What about sleeping?"
"I'll sleep after I come back."
"What are you going out for?"
Fang grabbed his hoodie.
I will tell you when I come back.
Then he walked toward the door.
Click.
Fang walked through the streets calmly.
The morning crowd had already filled the sidewalks.
Office workers.
Delivery drivers.
He placed both hands into his hoodie pockets.
A second job.
No.
A better job.
A much better-paying job.
There was only one person he knew who might help.
Soon
The familiar convenience store appeared.
The small bell rang when Fang entered.
Behind the counter, Park Hyun looked up from a newspaper.
The moment he saw Fang
He laughed.
"Yo."
Fang sat down casually.
"Long time no see."
"It's been two days."
"Hm."
Park Hyun laughed again.
"I heard about you."
Fang looked at him.
"The department store manager called me."
"...Why?"
"He said if I find more people like you, he'll hire them immediately."
Fang nodded.
"Reasonable."
Park Hyun almost choked.
This guy's confidence truly had no limits.
Then Fang got straight to the point.
"Recommend another job."
Park Hyun blinked.
"What?"
"High pay."
"..."
"Low hours."
"..."
"Preferably little talking."
Park Hyun stared at him.
"What kind of fantasy job are you looking for?"
Fang frowned slightly.
"You're connected."
The smile on Park Hyun's face weakened.
"Connected?"
"Stop acting innocent."
The store became quiet.
Park Hyun slowly lowered his newspaper.
Fang continued calmly.
"You asked me before if I could fight."
"..."
"You weren't planning to send me to warehouse work originally."
Park Hyun's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You noticed?"
"Hm."
"You only changed your mind after seeing my attitude."
For a few seconds, neither spoke.
Then
Park Hyun suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha!"
Several customers turned around.
Park Hyun wiped tears from his eyes.
"No way."
Fang waited.
"No way you're this interesting."
"What?"
"How did you figure it out?"
Fang answered simply.
"You don't look like a convenience store owner."
Silence.
Then Park Hyun laughed even harder.
"That's your reason?"
"Hm."
"That's ridiculous."
"You asked."
Park Hyun shook his head.
For the first time, he looked at Fang differently.
This guy noticed too much.
Far too much.
Finally, Park Hyun leaned forward slightly.
"Alright."