The moment they pulled into the mall parking lot, Seo Jun was already out of the car.
Kyrah watched him from behind as he walked toward the entrance with an excitement that was almost impossible to hide.
She smiled to herself.
He really was excited about this.
She had expected him to lose interest after the antenatal appointment, but somehow, the opposite had happened. He seemed even more determined to make sure she enjoyed every part of her pregnancy.
"Come on, Tripper!" he called.
Kyrah hurried after him. "I'm coming!"
The moment they entered the mall, Seo Jun grabbed her hand and pulled her forward.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
"Seo Jun!"
He turned around, laughing. "Trust me."
Kyrah shook her head but followed him.
Neither of them noticed the elegant woman standing several feet away.
She had been walking through the mall with her maid and two security guards when something caught her attention.
Seo Jun.
Her son.
And he was holding the hand of a beautiful young woman as he practically dragged her into a baby shop.
The woman stopped.
"Madam?" her maid asked.
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she watched.
Then her eyes widened with realization.
"That's Seo Jun."
"Yes, Madam."
"And that girl…"
She watched as Seo Jun picked up a tiny baby outfit and showed it to Kyrah with an expression of genuine excitement.
The woman covered her mouth.
"Could that be his girlfriend?"
Her maid smiled uncertainly.
"I wouldn't know, Madam."
She looked even more excited.
"Did my son finally get himself a girlfriend?"
She glanced toward the baby store again.
"Or…"
Her eyes widened.
"Is that girl pregnant?"
The maid's expression changed.
"Madam—"
"Oh, my goodness."
She grabbed her maid's arm and pulled her farther away from the shop so Seo Jun wouldn't notice them.
"Don't let him see me."
"Why?"
"Because I want to see how this develops."
She peeked around the corner again.
The elegant woman was Mrs. Lin Meiying, wife of Chairman Han Tae-Won and mother of Seo Jun. Unlike the chairman, Meiying had never cared much about corporate power or family politics. Her greatest concern had always been her son's happiness. She was warm, affectionate, and almost endlessly supportive of whatever made Seo Jun happy.
And right now, she looked delighted.
"She is beautiful," Meiying whispered.
Then she smiled.
"I'm going to be a grandmother."
Inside the shop, Seo Jun had no idea his mother was watching him.
He held up another tiny outfit.
"Look at this."
Kyrah turned.
It was a tiny little suit.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh my goodness. That's adorable."
"Right?"
"You're seriously excited about baby clothes."
"Of course."
He looked at the little suit again.
"It's so small."
Kyrah laughed.
"It's for a baby, Seo Jun."
"I know. But look at it."
He turned to the attendant.
"Do you have this in different sizes?"
Kyrah's eyes widened.
"Wait. Different sizes?"
"Obviously."
"Seo Jun, we're not buying the whole store."
He ignored her.
The attendant smiled politely.
Seo Jun picked up another outfit.
Kyrah looked at the price tag.
"Two hundred dollars?"
She nearly dropped it.
"For this?"
"It's cute."
"It's a baby outfit!"
"So?"
"He'll probably wear it twice before he grows out of it."
Seo Jun shrugged.
"Then we'll buy the next size."
Kyrah stared at him.
"You're impossible."
He smiled.
The attendant brought out several outfits from the boys' section.
Tiny shirts.
Little trousers.
Miniature jackets.
Even a small formal suit.
Kyrah's expression softened as she looked at them.
Her son.
She was actually shopping for her son.
The thought warmed something deep inside her.
Seo Jun picked up a tiny coat.
"This one."
"Seo Jun."
"What?"
"That's too much."
"It's a coat."
"He's not even born yet."
"Then he'll wear it later."
Kyrah shook her head.
"I can't accept all this."
Seo Jun looked at her.
"Keep it."
She hesitated.
"For the future."
Something about those words made her pause.
For the future.
Their future.
Her baby's future.
Kyrah swallowed and nodded.
"Okay."
Seo Jun smiled.
They continued shopping until Kyrah finally looked at the growing pile.
"Seo Jun, that's enough."
He looked at the bags.
"Maybe."
"Definitely enough."
He laughed.
Then suddenly, he looked at her.
"Let's feed him."
Kyrah blinked.
"Feed who?"
"The baby."
She stared at him.
"We've already bought enough things to feed a small army."
"I mean food for you."
"Oh."
He smiled.
"Don't you have a prenatal nickname for him?"
Kyrah shook her head.
"No."
Seo Jun thought for a moment.
"Then let's call him Peppa."
Kyrah frowned.
"Why?"
"Because you've been hungry every five minutes."
She stared at him.
"And?"
"Peppa Pig."
For two seconds, Kyrah was completely silent.
Then she burst out laughing.
"Oh my God, Seo Jun!"
He laughed too.
"I'm serious."
"That's the worst nickname I've ever heard."
"You haven't even heard the explanation."
"I don't need one."
"Peppa makes you hungry."
Kyrah laughed harder.
"You're ridiculous."
"Come on, Peppa. Let's eat."
"Don't call me that!"
They eventually settled on a small burger restaurant because Kyrah refused to let him take her somewhere expensive.
She ordered a burger, fries, and a drink.
Seo Jun watched her take the first bite.
Then another.
And another.
Within minutes, half the burger was gone.
He leaned back.
"See?"
Kyrah looked at him suspiciously.
"See what?"
"Peppa."
She burst into laughter.
"Seo Jun!"
She laughed so hard she almost choked.
Seo Jun immediately handed her the water.
"Slow down."
She took several gulps.
"You're going to kill me with that nickname."
"I told you it suited you."
She shook her head, still laughing.
For the first time in a long while, Kyrah wasn't thinking about her past.
She wasn't worrying about whether she would succeed in Hong Kong.
She was simply enjoying herself.
And as she watched Seo Jun laugh across the table, something inside her shifted.
It wasn't his money.
It wasn't his appearance.
It wasn't even the way he treated her like someone worth protecting.
It was the consistency.
The kindness.
The way he remembered the baby even when she forgot to take care of herself.
The way he never made her feel like a burden.
Kyrah lowered her eyes.
She was getting attached.
That scared her more than she wanted to admit.
She couldn't start imagining Seo Jun as her baby's father.
That wouldn't be fair to him.
He wasn't the father.
He was her friend.
Her best friend in Hong Kong.
And yet…
Her heart was beginning to disagree.
Later that evening, Seo Jun drove her back to the company residence.
He carried most of the shopping bags while Kyrah held the smaller ones.
At her doorstep, he handed her the last bag.
"Goodnight, Peppa."
Kyrah laughed.
"Goodnight, Seo Jun."
She opened her door.
Then turned around.
"And don't call my son Peppa when he's old enough to understand you."
Seo Jun smiled.
"No promises."
Kyrah laughed again before stepping inside.
She closed the door and leaned against it.
Her smile slowly faded into something more thoughtful.
She placed a hand over her stomach.
"Your honorary uncle is crazy," she whispered.
Then she smiled.
"And I think I'm starting to like him a little too much."