* * *

Wow. Actress Ma is really good at guessing.

Sure enough, the nun covered her mouth and let out a gasp.

“Oh my!”

The nun was surprised too? I was also shocked.

‘Honestly, it’s kind of funny.’

Past life? That’s a Buddhist thing. Everyone here were Christian.

‘Anyway, it seems Ma actress likes me.’

Sister Teresa also seemed to notice.

“It seems the child feels special to you.”

Wow. A perfect continuation worth a full score.

“Bba-bba!”

Applause!

Ma Soo-jung nodded slightly.

“Yes…”

Ah, the mood suddenly turned somber.

“Bbu-ya-ung!”

Not good!

I flailed my legs and mumbled as cutely as possible.

“C-Cute.”

She looked at me again, smiling, and gently touched my body. She kneaded my feet for a bit and then suddenly let out a gasp.

“Huh?”

Her gaze fixed on my foot.

“A red mark?”

The nun seemed surprised too.

“Oh? There was a mark like this on the child’s foot? I didn’t know.”

“This… how could this be…”

Ma Soo-jung’s pupils trembled violently.

“Bbu…”

What is it?

I had no idea what was going on. I barely managed to hold my head up, babbling.

“Bba-bba-ung!”

At that moment, tears welled up in Ma Soo-jung’s eyes again.

“Aga-ak? Bba-bba!”

Why are you crying all of a sudden?

“Soo-jung?”

“Why does this child have a mark in the same place as Maru?”

Tears fell from Ma Soo-jung’s face.

I stopped wriggling and stared at her, who was crying again.

“Bbu-ya-ya, pi-bba?”

Maru? Not the Mariewho disliked being held, but Maru?

The nun quickly handed her a tissue. Still, the tears didn’t stop.

Sister Teresa gently consoled her.

“Soo-jung, Maru is happy in the God’s embrace now.”

“Maru was this small too…”

“Soo-jung…”

“Maru had a red mark on his foot like this.”

Ma Soo-jung continued to sob.

“My poor son, Maru.”

Ah, Maru was her son.

‘For some reason, he must have passed away early.’

She hugged me and kept crying.

What must it feel like for a parent to lose a child? I couldn’t even imagine.

“Bbu-a-pyupyu…”

It must be sad.

I can’t fully express it in words, but it must be really sad.

All I can offer is comfort.

I moved my hand to pat her gently. Ma Soo-jung held my hand and said,

“This child is comforting me again?”

“Bbu-a!”

“Most babies frown just by looking at me, but this child is so kind. Comforting me like this…”

I kept moving my hand. Ma Soo-jung counted my fingers one by one and kissed them.

Her lips, wet with tears, felt damp.

“Our Maru was this lovely too…”

“Soo-jung…”

“This child doesn’t feel like a stranger.”

She kissed my cheek.

“I want to raise him…”

The nun’s shoulders flinched.

Honestly, I was more surprised than the nun.

“Bbu-yu-uuu!”

I flailed my arms and legs and thought again.

‘Well, it would be nice if it could happen, but it’s not something to decide so easily.’

You shouldn’t throw around the word ‘adoption’ lightly.

I clenched and unclenched my fist with a bitter expression. Ma Soo-jung kissed my hand.

‘You’re being rash, Ma actress.’

I might let it slide because I’m a baby who doesn’t understand, but if I were an older child like Noah, just hearing those words could fill me with excitement.

If those words weren’t kept, it would leave a big scar.

The nun seemed to share the same concern as she looked at me worriedly.

Then, she seemed to think it couldn’t continue, and reached out her hand.

“Soo-jung, it’s hard, right? Give him to me.”

“No. It’s not hard at all, Sister. Can’t I take this child with me?”

Oh, again?

‘No matter how thoughtless an actress you are, this is too reckless. Why do you keep doing this?’

The nun gulped.

“Soo-jung. Taking a child isn’t easy.”

“I know. I don’t know the exact procedure, but I have a lawyer I can ask…”

“No, Soo-jung. You need to discuss it with your family first.”

That’s right. Even bringing a pet impulsively can cause big trouble, and I’m just a baby.

Ma Soo-jung kept patting my bottom, oblivious to my thoughts.

“I’m divorced. My daughter Marie went to her father. And I don’t have any family. I live alone in an annex of a mansion. Who would I discuss it with?”

She kissed my tiny fist again.

“I have a lot of money. I earn a lot. Just my stock dividends are enough to live on for life. Sister, I can provide the best education for this child. The best house, the best food, the best clothes…”

The nun still tried to dissuade her.

“Soo-jung. Think it over. It’s still a child. You have to be even more careful than when bringing a pet.”

You’re absolutely right, Sister.

“Bba-a, bba-bba!”

So please let me go, actress Ma! I still have things to do!

The nun reached out her arms. But Ma Soo-jung didn’t let me go.

The nun sighed and said,

“Soo-jung. How about we take some time? Return to your daily life and think for a week. If you still think about the child then, it won’t be too late to talk again.”

Ma Soo-jung bit her lip hard, but she had no choice but to agree with those words. Only then did she hand me over. The nun patted Ma Soo-jung’s shoulder.

“Thank you, Ms. Soo-jung.”

“It’s nothing. I was too hasty. But…”

Ma Soo-jung held my hand and said,

“I still don’t want to let go.”

“Ms. Soo-jung.”

“Still, I understand what you’re saying, Sister. I’ll think about it again at home.”

“Make sure to discuss it with your family too.”

Ma Soo-jung shook her head.

“I have no one to discuss with. As I said earlier, I’m divorced. I also live separately from my parents. No one can say anything about my choice. Well, it might be a bit noisy at first.”

She looked at me once more.

“I’ll come back. Bye, little one.”

“Byu byu?”

Will she really come back?

She couldn’t take her eyes off me for a long time, but eventually, she turned around and left.

I sighed in the nun’s arms.

“Byu…”

Sigh.

‘I’ve heard about her fiery personality, but this is really something. Ms. Ma.’

No matter how much she wanted to raise a child, deciding it in less than 20 minutes of meeting is quite something.

‘But still, this must be just a whim, right?’

I shook my legs.

‘With many emotional wounds, she might have wavered for a moment. Surely she won’t actually adopt me.’

The nun placed me in the cradle. Then, she gently rubbed my cheek with her finger.

“God… I’m worried.”

I understand that fully.

“Is this a whim from a granddaughter of a wealthy family?”

The nun sighed and softly prayed.

“Lord, if it’s indeed Ms. Soo-jung’s whim, please make her shake it off quickly.”

I silently said ‘Amen’.

“Byu!”

Perhaps it was the passing storm. I felt my eyes getting heavy.

‘Babies naturally sleep a lot.’

As I closed my eyes while smacking my lips, sleep engulfed me.

‘But Ms. Soo-jung, the coin hasn’t gone up.’

What is this? Why hasn’t it increased? Give me the coin. I want the coin!

I felt a soft cloth cover my body. Without having time to be disappointed, I fell asleep.

* * *