Where Every Story Blooms

    “What is this scar here?”

    After our intimate moment, I was lying in bed, pressed close to Cheong-un.

    Cheong-un examined my body, noticing scars that weren’t there when I was Namgung Eun-hyeon, and asked about them.

    “These are from a car accident. Ah, a car accident is…”

    “I know what it is. You’ve told me before. Such common knowledge just enters my mind now.”

    “…That’s fascinating. Well, then I guess I don’t need to explain. These are scars from a car accident.”

    Cheong-un traced each scar on my arms, legs, and stomach with his fingers.

    “Was the accident severe? The scars are quite large and deep. It must have been very… painful.”

    “…That’s all in the past.”

    “It’s regrettable that I wasn’t there for Master when you were in pain.”

    I chuckled a little at Cheong-un’s words.

    “But, Un-ah, it’s thanks to that that I met you.”

    Come to think of it, I hadn’t explained this in detail before.

    “The truth is, I lived as Seo Eun-hyeon after the car accident, when I was unconscious. I was in a coma for several years there. Then, after dying there, I opened my eyes here again. While I was unconscious, Noona never gave up on me.”

    Cheong-un gently stroked my hair.

    I nestled into Cheong-un’s chest, leaning my face against him.

    “You have a very special relationship with your Noona.”

    “After our parents passed away, we were each other’s only blood relatives. I just feel sorry for her. I became too much of a burden on her life.”

    “Noona relied on Master, or rather, Eun-hyeon. While her sacrifice cannot be denied, don’t think of it as a burden.”

    “Yeah… But this time, I ended up in Namgung Eun-hyeon’s body again. I tried not to think about it, but I was very worried about what Noona would think.”

    “I see.”

    “I got scolded by Noona, but I’m glad I could pass it off as a trip. If I keep wanting to come and go as I please, that would be selfish of me.”

    “…But perhaps you will encounter such miracles again in life.”

    Listening to his heartbeat in Cheong-un’s arms, I started to feel sleepy.

    * * *

    “Un-ah, are you sure you don’t want to go anywhere else and just go to Noona’s house?”

    “Yes, that’s where I want to go most.”

    I chuckled at Un’s words.

    After spending the night at the hotel, I asked Un where he wanted to go, and all he could say was Noona’s house.

    “Then let’s have lunch and go to a café during the day, and then go to her place when Haneul gets out of daycare. I promised to play with Haneul.”

    I texted Noona, telling her that I would pick up Haneul from daycare today and asking if it was okay to have dinner at home with a friend.

    As soon as I sent the text, I received a call from Noona.

    “What is it? You should be at work right now… Hello? Noona?”

    [You’re coming with a friend for dinner tonight?]

    “Yeah, I’m going to pick up Haneul from daycare, so please let them know.”

    [Is it the friend who came the other night? The one named Cheong-un?]

    “Huh? Yeah. Why? Is today not a good day? Should we come another time?”

    I sensed something strange in Noona’s voice.

    “I’ll pay for dinner. Let’s order delivery. Should I order jokbal, which Noona likes?”

    [Haa, no, it’s okay. I’ll just prepare dinner tonight. You just bring Haneul.]

    “No, then I’ll feel too bad…”

    [I’m busy, so I’ll hang up now.]

    I tilted my head, puzzled, after hanging up the phone, and Cheong-un approached me.

    “Did something not go well?”

    “No, Noona told me to come… I don’t know. I’ll find out when I go today. Let’s go get something to eat!”

    Since we woke up late and the mealtime was ambiguous, I decided to go to a nearby brunch café.

    I laughed in disbelief.

    I knew Cheong-un was handsome, but I didn’t realize he would attract this much attention.

    I took Cheong-un to a famous brunch café nearby, and as soon as we entered, all eyes were on us.

    Even that was somewhat understandable, but then we were served drinks and bread that we didn’t even order as a service.

    The people sitting next to us were subtly glancing at us, and while I was in the restroom, someone even handed him a business card. I looked at the card and saw that it was from an entertainment agency.

    “Wow, Un is popular.”

    “…Is that so?”

    “I knew you were handsome, but I didn’t realize you were this popular. Look, everyone is still staring at you.”

    “…I don’t know. I’ve never really lived paying attention to other people’s gazes. I even thought about slightly altering my face, but the manipulation of Inner energy is a bit different here.”

    “Well, I guess I have to think of it as the fate of having a handsome lover.”

    Cheong-un smiled at me at my response.

    His appearance was so striking that even the people who were stealing glances at Cheong-un were whispering.

    “Senior is truly broad-minded. I used to want to gouge out the eyes of those who looked at Senior.”

    “…Just kidding.”

    I pretended it was a joke, just in case someone was listening to our conversation.

    But I knew better than anyone that Cheong-un wasn’t joking.

    After that, we strolled around various places in Seoul.

    The weather was hot and humid, and people’s attention was focused on us wherever we went, but it didn’t matter.

    Thinking that this time might not come again, I didn’t have time to care about other people’s gazes.

    Everything I did with Cheong-un felt new, and even the smallest things felt meaningful.

    And in the afternoon, I headed to Haneul’s daycare.

    “I will finally get to see Haneul.”

    “…Are you going to give Haneul a cleansing of marrow and tendons?”

    I chuckled as I waited for Haneul in front of the daycare.

    “Looking around here, there are hardly any people with Inner energy, and no one who has learned Martial Arts, so there is no need for a cleansing of marrow and tendons. However, I plan to give Haneul a small gift before I leave.”

    “A gift?”

    “I plan to open up some major Blood Points and give him a little boost of energy. Even that much will ensure that he grows up without ever getting sick. His stamina will also improve.”

    “…If Haneul’s stamina gets any better, Noona and Brother-in-law will get nosebleeds.”

    I was briefly worried about Noona and Brother-in-law, but that was their problem.

    It was more important that Haneul grow up healthy without getting sick.

    “Uuuncleeeeee!”

    Then I saw Haneul waving his small hands and running towards me.

    “Haneul!”

    “Uuuncleeeeee!”

    He ran so well on his short legs, and Haneul ran to me and hugged me.

    As soon as I caught Haneul, I spun him around in an airplane game about six times. By the time I put Haneul down, my back was soaked with sweat.

    “Uncle! Who is this hyung?”

    “Ah, this hyung is Uncle’s friend, Un hyung.”

    Haneul called all my friends “uncle,” but he called Un “hyung.”

    As expected, Un seemed special even in the eyes of children.

    “You must be Haneul? You look very brave and strong.”

    When Un spoke to Haneul, Haneul blinked and looked at Cheong-un.

    I laughed at Haneul’s reaction, which I had never seen before.

    “Does, does hyung know Haneul?”

    Cheong-un smiled at Haneul.

    “Of course. Your uncle told me so much about you.”

    “D-Did Uncle say that? W-Wow…”

    Haneul looked at me and Cheong-un, constantly exclaiming in admiration.

    “But, Haneul wants to play at the playground a little longer…”

    “Okay, then let’s play together.”

    I picked up Haneul and headed to the apartment playground.

    I sat on the swing and watched Un play in the sand with Haneul.

    While Un was playing with Haneul, I could see him subtly checking his pulse and releasing his blood points.

    Haneul, who didn’t know anything, just seemed to be having fun digging in the sand, but in reality, he was receiving a simplified cleansing of marrow and tendons from a martial world expert.

    “Haneul, shall we go home now?”

    “Noooo! Haneul wants to play more!”

    “But you need to go home and wash up, and have a snack.”

    “Th-, then just one more slide! No, two times! No, ten times!”

    As I was struggling to take Haneul home, I saw a familiar figure.

    “Hey, Oh Haneul!”

    Haneul, who was sliding down the slide, ran over with a big smile.

    “Mom!”

    I waved my hand as I saw Noona, who had left work much earlier than I expected.

    Brother-in-law was also next to Noona.

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