* * *
When we reached the living room, a stranger was there.
“Oh my!”
I felt the housekeeper flinch through her hand.
‘I get why she’s startled.’
I blinked at the stranger.
‘He’s huge.’
He was wearing a black suit and sunglasses.
‘So dark.’
How should I call him?
‘Even with his face partially hidden, he looks scary.’
He even had a scar on his cheek. I tilted my head.
‘He seems like someone important in some organization.’
Why would someone like him be at our house?
‘It’s not like the Sungjin Group went bankrupt and we’re in debt to loan sharks.’
There’s no way Mom has debt.
And gangsters don’t just walk into people’s homes.
The housekeeper hid me behind her and spoke.
“Wh-who are you?”
The man in the black suit replied,
“I’m here for the interview.”
“What? I-interview?”
The housekeeper stammered.
“A nanny interview?”
What?
‘He’s here to take care of me?’
I blinked.
‘Is this for real?’
Judging by his looks, he seemed more likely to be waving weapons around somewhere.
The housekeeper was at a loss.
But the man, used to such reactions, stood still.
I scrutinized him. Then, I noticed something.
‘Aha!’
I let go of the housekeeper’s hand and approached the man.
“Kongja, stay with me”
“Don’t worry!”
Just as I reached him, my legs gave out again, and the man swiftly caught me.
‘I knew it.’
I raised my arms and greeted him.
“Hi there! Who are you?”
The man seemed momentarily stiffened. Ignoring that, I introduced myself.
“I’m Kongja! Who are you?”
His expression didn’t change, but I could tell.
‘His lips are trembling.’
And his cheeks were twitching, hinting at a smile.
“I’m Kim Deok-soo.”
“Deok-soo hyung?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Suddenly, Kim Deok-soo started trembling. I tilted my head and asked,
“Hyung, why are you shaking? Are you cold?”
“No, it’s just…”
Kim Deok-soo spoke calmly.
“It’s just that you’re the first baby who hasn’t cried at the sight of me.”
Oh.
‘Well, that’s understandable.’
Most kids would be scared stiff by him.
“I know a lot about you, Kongja.”
Wow.
‘He must have heard of me since I’m kind of famous.’
But the way he said it,
‘Could easily be misunderstood.’
Sure enough, the housekeeper looked even more worried, not knowing what to do.
‘I get it.’
I understand, housekeeper.
“You’ve seen me?”
“Yes, I have.”
Kim Deok-soo’s cheek twitched again, making his already scary face even more intimidating.
“I’ve seen everything about you.”
The housekeeper couldn’t hold back a scream.
“Ahhh!”
Oh dear.
She rushed over to take me away.
“I don’t know who you are, but let go!”
“No, wait, I—”
“Just let go! Kongja, run!”
She was desperate.
I shook my head.
“It’s okay!”
“No, it’s not okay!”
“Really, it is! Look!”
I pulled out an antibacterial wipe and hand cream from his suit pocket.
“Huh?”
“And there’s this too!”
There was a cute patterned handkerchief. The housekeeper blinked.
“Baby items?”
I quickly tried to clear up the misunderstanding.
“Why are you here?”
“I’m here for the nanny interview.”
So he really is here for that.
Just as I was putting the baby handkerchief and wipes back in his suit pocket, a familiar voice called out.
“Oh, you’re already here?”
It was Mom.
“Mom!”
“Yes, Kongja. Oh?”
Mom blinked at the man’s face.
‘She didn’t know either?’
But Mom quickly smiled.
“You look just like your resume photo.”
“Yes.”
“You’re here for the interview?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
The man bowed politely.
“I’m Kim Deok-soo. As mentioned in my resume.”
Mom nodded and sat across from him, picking up the papers.
The housekeeper asked,
“Miss, is he really the nanny applicant?”
“Huh? Yes, he is.”
“How could someone like him…”
“A trustworthy person recommended him. How do you know President Seo?”
Kim Deok-soo bowed slightly.
“I met him while working at a snack shop. His wife and child are regular customers.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, my brother runs the place.”
The housekeeper quickly asked,
“Miss, that snack shop isn’t run by a retired gangster, is it?”
Seeing the housekeeper’s doubtful look, the man quickly explained.
“No, no! It’s been in the family for three generations. It’s a well-known place, very popular.”
Wow.
A snack shop that’s been around for three generations.
‘It seems to have its own history and tradition.’
It must be delicious.
Oh, now I suddenly want to eat tteokbokki.
“Oh, I see. Well, let me take another look at your resume.”
“Yes.”
Mom carefully read through the resume.
“You graduated with a degree in early childhood education?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Wow.
‘I see.’
Kim Deok-soo answered slowly.
“I dreamed of becoming a kindergarten teacher.”
I blinked.
‘A kindergarten teacher. It’s a tough job, but it shouldn’t be too hard to become one.’
Mom seemed to have a similar thought.
“Oh, so why didn’t you pursue becoming a kindergarten teacher?”
“Oh, no one hired me.”
I understood immediately.
“Because of my face, it was difficult.”
Wow. What a sad story.
“I see.”
“But I couldn’t give up on my dream. So, I saved money.”
Wow. This is refreshing.
‘What are you planning to do with the money?’
Kim Deok-soo answered right away.
“If I can’t be a teacher, I at least want to be a kindergarten director.”
Wow.
I clenched my fist. I almost laughed.
“Re-really?”
Mom’s lips trembled slightly.
“Yes. I worked without discriminating.”
He must really want to become a kindergarten teacher.
‘But doesn’t a kindergarten director also need qualifications?’
Is it something anyone can do if they have money?
Kim Deok-soo confessed calmly.
“I love children.”
Hmm, he doesn’t mean that in a weird way, right?
“I see.”
Suddenly, Kim Deok-soo’s face turned red.
He took a deep breath and said,
“I’ll be honest. I’m a bit of a weakling.”
What?
Excuse me.
Is ‘weakling’ the word I know?
“My body and mind are both frail. But for the sake of children, I don’t care if this body breaks.”
Mom blinked.
“You look strong though.”
“No, I’m a weakling.”
Wow.
‘He doesn’t seem like someone who would lie……’
He must really be weak.
‘He’s an interesting person.’
His face and body look like a gangster, but he’s a weakling with a degree in early childhood education.
* * *
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