Ding… dong…
Hearing the doorbell, Hansu Seong reached over and opened the door. Baki stood outside holding a bag.
"Hey, old man. How are you doing?" Baki greeted him.
Hansu replied through a forced smile, "I'm doing well, kid. After all, I'm still young."
Baki grinned as he entered the house. "Yeah, yeah. I know."
Hansu Seong motioned for Baki to sit on the sofa. As Baki settled in, he asked, "So? Where's your friend, old man? The one you wanted me to meet?"
Hansu Seong nodded. "Yeah, he's in the kitchen. Wait here—I'll call him."
A few moments later, a man emerged from the kitchen carrying a hotpot. Baki stared at him in shock. "Y-You're the new employee!" His shock wasn't because Manager Kim was Hansu Seong's friend, but because just a few days ago, this man had killed at least two dozen mercenaries—and now he was happily cooking food.
Manager Kim nodded at Baki. "I didn't expect you to be Hansu's student."
Baki immediately waved his hands dismissively. "Hmph! Who's that old man's student? He forced me to train with him."
Hansu Seong emerged from the kitchen and teased, "Young man, weren't you the one who visited to check on me when I wasn't coming to the dojo? Now you're denying being my student? Isn't that what young people call hypocrisy nowadays?"
Baki replied, "Old man, I only came to check on your health. Besides, you caused my mission to be delayed—"
Suddenly, a young girl opened the door and kicked off her shoes. "Ahjuss—" Her words caught in her throat as she spotted her father.
Manager Kim smiled at her. "Minji, you're back?"
Minji's face lit up with excitement. "Dad?! Did you finish your work? Didn't you say you'd be dispatched for a long time?" She rushed in for a hug.
Manager Kim smiled. "Now, now. We have guests."
Minji glanced at Baki before refocusing on her father. "What happened? How did you return so soon?"
Manager Kim replied, "The mission ended sooner than I expected."
Minji began checking her father from head to toe. "How was work? Was it alright? Are you hurt anywhere?"
Nearby, Hansu Seong's face clearly displayed his jealousy over Manager Kim having such a sweet daughter. Seeing this, Baki teased, "Hey, old man, where's your son? I'm guessing he must be worried about you too."
Hansu Seong knew his son well enough to understand Baki was mocking him. He replied through gritted teeth, "Brat, don't be so cheeky. Is it because I've been going easy on you these past few days?"
Baki laughed. "Old man, it's not that you're going easy—your old bones just can't take it anymore."
Just as Hansu Seong was about to retort, Manager Kim called them to eat. At the table, he introduced Baki to Minji. "Minji, this is Baki Hanma, my coworker and a student of your Uncle Hansu."
Minji looked at Baki thoughtfully. "Hmm... I thought Dad always worked with old men."
Since Baki rarely engaged in social interactions, the table remained quiet. After a while, dinner concluded. Manager Kim moved to wash the dishes, but Minji insisted on doing it herself.
"You went through a hard time at work, so please rest. I'm always grateful, Dad."
A rare smile appeared on Manager Kim's face. He spoke smugly in a loud voice, "Really? Should I rest then? I should, if my daughter says so!"
Nearby, Hansu, who was cleaning the table, felt a single tear fall as he listened to Manager Kim. "I'm jealous..."
He called out to Manager Kim, "Oi! Mr. Kim! Do you like rubbing it in? Huh? You'll rip your mouth grinning like that!"
Nearby, Baki laughed at the scene. Hansu asked again, "I heard the matters at work wrapped up well too, huh?"
Hearing this, Baki also asked Manager Kim, "Old man, how did you get the Major General to keep you after all the losses he suffered?"
Manager Kim smirked. "You could say I'm highly sought after because of my efficiency. The Major General couldn't bear to dismiss me."
Suddenly, Minji interrupted their conversation. "Dad~ I'll be out for a bit~"
Manager Kim stood up and asked, "Where are you going?"
"I joined a new club, so I stopped by home to get my wallet."
Manager Kim pressed further. "What kind of club needs your wallet?"
Minji slipped on her shoes and replied, "Ah, a movie club. A famous director in the musical field made a commercial film this time. I promised Sunbae we'd see what kind of production it is."
Manager Kim deflated upon hearing his daughter was going to a movie with a boy. "Yeah... Okay... Take care... You must be really close to that Sunbae..."
"Yeah, he's a very lovely and kind Sunbae," Minji said with a smile.
Hearing Minji call an unknown boy "lovely and kind," veins bulged on both Manager Kim's and Hansu Seong's foreheads.
Minji continued with a blush, "Not only that, our tastes matched a lot when we talked. He knows a lot about movies. Ah, I'm saying this in case you misunderstand—he's not a strange person. We're simply going because we like the same director. In case you misunderstand—"
Suddenly, someone interrupted her. "Minji!" A young man called out. "I came up since you weren't answering my messages or calls."
"Calls? Ah, it was on silent mode, so I didn't know," Minji replied.
"Ah, really? I was waiting on the first floor. I came up because I was worried. But I guess I shouldn't have been. Who's behind you? Your dad?"
"Ah, yeah. This is my dad, and this is my dad's friend." Minji gestured to Manager Kim and Hansu Seong.
"Ah~ Hello. I'm Jung Taeyang, Minji's senior at school."
"Oh... um, what should I call you? Ahjussi? Is that not right? Uhm... Father?"
Baki, who had been drinking water while watching the scene, nearly spit everything out. "Such a bold kid. I wonder if he'd say the same thing after watching his supposed 'Father' kill dozens of people."
Meanwhile, Manager Kim was seething with rage. Hansu Seong tried to salvage the situation. "O-oho! This guy! How could a young guy like you call him father already?! Father?! H-hurry and apologize! Hurry!"
Then he turned to Manager Kim, whose face had darkened with anger. "Th-That guy must have no idea. You should understand—he's young, isn't he? Oi! Are you listening to me? Hey! Get it together!"
Manager Kim barely nodded. "Minji, you go out with your Sunbae, or else it'll be too late."
Minji said goodbye and dragged Jung Taeyang away with her.