Eun Soo stood at the kindergarten gate for a long moment. She watched as Jin Woo's car disappeared into the evening traffic.
She looked down at the beautifully wrapped cheesecake in her hands and felt a strange warmth in her heart.
She couldn't help but think about how dedicated Jin Woo was. He came every single day to pick up Hajun despite his busy life. He could have sent someone from his staff, but he always came himself.
He was also such a gentleman. He always spoke with a polite, calm voice even when he was clearly exhausted from work.
"Why does it seem like the good people carry the heaviest burdens?" she murmured, staring into the distance.
Her heart ached thinking about a sweet boy like Hajun losing his mother, and a kind man like Jin Woo doing everything by himself.
"I think life is just like that. It's just that I have never been in this kind of situation before," Eun Soo murmured to herself.
"Whatever. I will help as much as I can in kindergarten to make sure Hajun feels comfortable here."
After saying this, Eun Soo felt somewhat lighter. She called for her car from her phone.
The car arrived in a minute and Eun Soo got into it.
"Ma'am, where do we need to go?" the driver asked.
"Take me back to Gleam Tower," Eun Soo replied.
"Okay, ma'am."
Eun Soo arrived at Gleam Tower's basement in half an hour. From there, she took a private elevator up to her penthouse on the 80th floor.
After arriving at her apartment, Eun Soo first entered her minimalist kitchen. She carefully placed the cake in the fridge to keep it fresh and cool.
"Let's take a shower before eating something," she said.
Then Eun Soo entered the washroom and began to brush her teeth while thinking about Hajun and Jin Woo.
"Mr. Jin Woo is always so polite. Ahmm… Ahmm… I think that is why Hajun is such a nice kid. His wife must have been very beautiful too. Ahmm… Ahmm…"
After brushing her teeth, she removed her elegant work clothes and put them into the washing machine. Then she stepped into a steaming hot shower.
Sssssh… Ssssh… Ssssh…
"Aaah, nothing is better than a good shower."
The water washed away all the stress Eun Soo had been feeling. Her work at the kindergarten that week had included checking all the children's assignments.
After some time, she stepped out feeling refreshed. She wrapped herself in a soft white towel.
Finally, as her mind relaxed after the shower, her stomach began to growl.
Eun Soo's face turned pink.
"I think I should eat something," she whispered. She returned to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and took a small, indulgent bite of the cheesecake.
"Mmmmh, it is really a good cheesecake. It is light, airy, and not too sweet. Exactly my type of sweet."
Eun Soo munched three pieces in a row.
"I should not eat more. Enough for now."
Then she put the rest back in the refrigerator.
"Let's first change into pajamas. Then I will cook for myself."
So Eun Soo retreated to her bedroom and changed into her favorite pair of cute pink pajamas.
Even in simple sleepwear, her tall, slender frame and long legs made her look effortlessly graceful.
"Let's cook something."
She returned to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. The cool light fell on her face as she looked over the shelves.
There were eggs, a jar of mature kimchi, leftover cooked rice, garlic, and fresh scallions. It was simple, but perfect for a comforting late-night meal.
She decided to make kimchi fried rice. Moving with practiced ease, she chopped the kimchi into bite-sized pieces and sliced the scallions.
She heated oil in a pan, added the white parts of the scallions and minced garlic, and soon the kitchen filled with a warm, savory aroma. The kimchi went in next, sizzling loudly until it turned a deep, glossy red.
She added the cold rice, breaking up the clumps, then drizzled in sesame oil and a touch of soy sauce. In minutes, the rice absorbed all the rich, spicy flavors and turned a vibrant orange.
To finish, she quickly fried two eggs in another pan until the edges were crispy and the yolks were still runny.
She scooped the steaming rice into two bowls, placed an egg on top of each, and sprinkled the green scallions over everything.
Carrying the bowls to the table, her smooth movements made the simple task look elegant. She set one bowl down, picked up a pair of chopsticks, and smiled.
"It's simple, but it tastes best when it's hot. Let's eat."
After eating, she cleaned her utensils and decided to watch something.
She curled up on her sofa and turned on the television. She flipped through fashion shows and soul-stirring piano concerts.
As the night went on, she felt her eyes growing heavy. But since it was finally the weekend, she decided to stay up a little longer.
"This dress is pretty. I will ask my brother to buy one for me."
"Woah, this piano tune is really good."
In the end, she put on a lighthearted romantic comedy.
"Oh my god, what is the male lead doing? He should not go near the second female lead."
While watching the drama, Eun Soo began to think about her time with Jin Woo in the car when they first met. Her face turned red. "No, no, no, Eun Soo. He was married before. Your dad will never agree."
She shook her head to remove these thoughts from her mind.
She began to focus again on the drama. She laughed softly at the screen until she eventually drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.
The next morning, the bright sun spilled into her penthouse. It made her realize she had slept much later than usual.
She sat up slowly, feeling a bit groggy but happy to have a quiet Saturday ahead of her with no lessons to teach.