Chapter 10

Part-time Worker Raising a Half-Elf - Chapter 10 (10/245)

10

"So... you're just colleagues with Mr. Busnam and Unnie Hwayeon, and that kid isn't your biological child... Is that right?"

After a long explanation, Hae-young summarized what Lee Han-sung had told her and sought confirmation.

"You summarized it well. Yes, that's correct."

Lee Han-sung nodded quietly, a bit surprised by Hae-young's quick grasp, which was quite different from her usual air-headed appearance.

"Oh, I see. So that's what it was~ Wait, did I misunderstand something really big just now?!"

Did you just realize that now?

Realizing the misunderstanding late, Hae-young recalled her earlier questions about Hwayeon being Lee Han-sung's wife and felt very embarrassed, bowing her head deeply.

'You're kind of cute, aren't you?'

Seeing Hae-young bow her head, looking flustered and apologetic, Lee Han-sung thought she looked like a golden retriever that had done something wrong, and he smiled faintly, muttering to himself.

"Oh... I'm sorry. Please keep it a secret from Unnie Hwayeon."

"Sure, no problem."

After all, they weren't close enough to share such stories.

Looking at Hae-young's unnecessary worry, Lee Han-sung readily accepted her request. Then, a sudden question came to mind, and he voiced it.

"By the way, you believe what I said so easily?"

Most people would think it was an excuse and just nod. Of course, everything Lee Han-sung had explained, except for the system and the baby's true identity, was true, but it was precisely because it was true that it was harder to believe.

"Of course I believe it. No one would lie about something like this for no reason, right?"

...For no reason?

Lee Han-sung slightly frowned at Hae-young's choice of words, which he felt were unnecessary. However, Hae-young didn't notice and continued.

"Besides, I'm the type who believes people first."

"..."

What a gullible personality.

In a modern society filled with lies and scams, this personality is far too unsuitable. Even among close friends, there's an unspoken rule never to lend money, and people like Hae-young, who easily trust others, are almost perfect prey for those who take advantage of others.

"Well... because of that, Unnie Hwayeon and the people around me are always worried that I might get into big trouble someday."

Hae-young smiled sheepishly, trailing off. It was clear from her reaction that she often heard complaints about her personality from those around her.

"Indeed, you do seem a bit too trusting."

"Ahaha... So you think so too?"

"Still, there's no need to change it just because of that."

While Hae-young's personality might be unsuitable for society, at least people like her don't cause harm to others, even if they might get hurt themselves.

Lee Han-sung affirmed Hae-young's personality with this thought. She smiled awkwardly, perhaps a bit embarrassed by his positive response, but Lee Han-sung, ignoring her reaction, asked her quietly.

"By the way, Hae-young, is it okay for you to be so relaxed right now?"

"…Ah!!"

In the midst of their conversation, Hae-young had momentarily forgotten that it was her working hours. If she were caught slacking off by other employees or her superiors, she would surely get a stern reprimand.

"Look at me... I'll go first!!"

"Sure, be careful."

Seeing Hae-young hurriedly get up and rush off, Lee Han-sung worried that she might bump into something again. However, his words didn't reach her, as she was in a hurry.

"She's gone..."

As soon as Hae-young left, the surroundings fell into silence. The baby, who had fallen asleep during the conversation, was still asleep, and Lee Han-sung, who had been dealing with a headache since the morning, tried to shake off the urge to close his eyes and sleep. He picked up the basket and stood up.

"What should I do now..."

The admission process takes two weeks. For Lee Han-sung, who had to work a night shift tonight, taking care of the baby for two weeks was impossible.

'Maybe I should just put the baby in the baby box? It feels a bit like abandoning the baby, but sending the baby to an orphanage or a baby box is the same thing, right?'

The more he thought about it, the more his head ached. Already suffering from a headache since the morning, Lee Han-sung, after a struggle between his conscience and reality, had no choice but to choose reality.

"..."

Lee Han-sung didn't make any excuses, either outwardly or inwardly. He feared that even a small excuse might erase the last bit of conscience he had left.

So, he quietly stood up, feeling tired, and decided to take the baby and go to a nearby church.

"Dong-wook, what happened? Why are you so hurt?!"

"?"

Just as he was about to leave, a familiar voice from the entrance made him pause.

Sure enough, at the entrance, Hwayeon was looking at a 10-year-old boy with a worried expression, a rare sight for her.

'...I can tell this will be troublesome if I get involved. I should just pass by quietly.'

Without needing to use his [Suspicious Eye], Lee Han-sung, who had a keen sense, tried to pass by Hwayeon as naturally as possible, muffling his footsteps.

"Did you fight with the neighborhood kids again? I told you not to fight because you might get hurt!"

Hwayeon shouted at the boy, who was bruised and scratched, with a worried voice.

'Why is she so upset about a fight at that age?'

Lee Han-sung, who had grown up fighting with other kids since he was 5, thought Hwayeon was being overly protective and passed by her naturally.

Or rather, he tried to pass by.

"They started the fight first!!"

The boy, called Dong-wook, shouted back at Hwayeon. At that moment, the baby in the basket, who had been sleeping peacefully, suddenly opened his eyes and looked calm, like the sea before a storm.

"Uuuh..."

"Oh, please."

"Uuuuah!!"

...Yes. I knew this would happen.

The storm began. Lee Han-sung muttered to himself and, with a forced smile, said to Hwayeon and the boy, who had turned to look at him due to the baby's crying.

"Please continue your conversation. Don't mind me."

"Uuuuah!!"

Despite his words, the baby's crying had already interrupted their conversation.

"Here, I'll give you some formula. Please stop crying."

"Uuuuah!! Mmm..."

Lee Han-sung took out a cheap baby bottle filled with formula and put it in the baby's mouth. The baby immediately stopped crying and started sucking on the bottle, and Lee Han-sung sighed softly, inadvertently eavesdropping on the conversation between Hwayeon and the boy, which resumed.

"Anyway, Dong-wook. Even if the other kids start a fight, you should run away to avoid getting hurt."

"But I'm stronger than them, so why should I run?"

"Just because you're stronger doesn't mean you won't get hurt."

"But I don't want to run!"

The boy suddenly pushed Hwayeon's arm and ran out of the orphanage. Watching this, Lee Han-sung asked Hwayeon, who didn't follow him, with a hint of curiosity.

"Aren't you going to follow him?"

"…Weren't you about to leave, Han-sung?"

Hwayeon answered his question with another question, lowering her head with a tired voice. Lee Han-sung, looking down at the baby who was still drinking the formula, replied softly.

"If I move now, he'll start crying again."

"Ahaha... It must be tough for you."

Hwayeon, sweeping her long blonde hair, which almost touched the ground, smiled tiredly and agreed with Lee Han-sung. Then, she continued, answering a question no one had asked.

"…Dong-wook came to the orphanage last year. He was a victim of child abuse at home. His parents are now serving time in prison."

It was a story that wasn't particularly surprising, at least to Lee Han-sung.

"That's why the neighborhood kids often bully him, calling him an abandoned child."

"…Why are you telling me this?"

Lee Han-sung asked Hwayeon, who was continuing the conversation, with a sharp tone.

"I just wanted you to know how the children in the orphanage are doing."

"…"

Lee Han-sung remained silent, understanding the hidden meaning in Hwayeon's words.

Knowing what it's like to grow up in an orphanage and the pain it brings, she was indirectly asking if he really intended to send the baby to an orphanage.

"I'll go look for Dong-wook now."

Hwayeon didn't wait for Lee Han-sung's response. She knew that the choice was his, and her advice wouldn't change anything.

"…What do you want me to do?"

Watching Hwayeon's retreating back, Lee Han-sung muttered to himself.

'Who doesn't know that?'

He was well aware of the difficulties faced by children who grow up in orphanages, having been raised in a similar environment himself.

From his own experiences, Lee Han-sung had realized that sometimes not having parents was better than having them.

- The kid takes after his father...

"…"

That's why, since he was young, Lee Han-sung had made a firm resolution.

No matter what, he would never become a parent.