The World’s Strongest Daughter.

I was greatly perplexed by Min So-yeon’s gaze filled with a strange anticipation.

Wife or daughter.
Daughter or wife.

I was thrown into a cruel crossroads where I had to choose only one of the two.

No matter which one I chose, it seemed like a future in which I would get hit, like asking, “Who would you save if they fell in the water?”

Long ago, when So-yeon was still in elementary school.

My wife, who was watching TV, once asked me who I would save if So-yeon and she fell into the water.

I naturally chose my young daughter.

The reason is, how could my wife realistically fall in the water when she’s not the type to do so?

As a result, I was thoroughly scolded, with her saying, “You should say you’ll save both of us. Are you abandoning me?”

…Of course, the situation is different now.

First, what needs to be considered is that the appointment with my wife was made first.

And I have to think about the fact that my wife’s condition is not good.

My wife needs thorough care right now.

How deeply must she have been grieving to even cling to my corpse to live?

… It’s a bit creepy, but it means she’s in that much pain.

But So-yeon is…

“…Why aren’t you answering?”

Ugh…

As if she had noticed that I was contemplating, I came to my senses at Min So-yeon’s words, urging for an answer.

“…Well…uh…”

I quickly averted my gaze and racked my brain while dragging out my words.

C-calm down…!

What is Min So-yeon’s condition?

Thanks to my diligent care, her heart has opened up quite a bit, and she has started to gradually move towards a normal life.

It’s just that she’s feeling a bit anxious because I’ve been acting complacently, but…

It’s at a level that can be sufficiently made up for.

My wife, who has passed the golden time and is dying, and my daughter, who has gotten on the right track.

The options I had to choose from were already set.

“… I’m sorry.”

The moment I uttered a short apology.

Min So-yeon’s expression completely sank.

The moment I faced her expressionless face, I suddenly recalled my wife’s memory and ended up gulping.

“…I have an important part-time job tomorrow, so I can’t study with you.”

“…Part-time job?”

I had briefly explained it before, so she probably remembers.

“… It’s the one I mentioned last time. The lady there only eats the food I make, so I have no choice but to go.”

“…What?”

She furrowed her brows as if she couldn’t understand.

I thought it was a plausible reason, but it still seemed lacking to Min So-yeon.

“…And I needed some money, so I received an advance on my salary… I should have told you earlier… I’m really sorry. I also want to study with you, but I can’t skip out on work after receiving an advance.”

When money was mentioned, she seemed to recall that I was poor, and her expression slightly softened.

Thinking this was my chance, I quickly slipped in my plan for next week.

“Instead, let’s go out and have fun after the test.”

“…Huh?”

Seizing the chance when Min So-yeon made a dumbfounded sound, I spoke with a slight smile.

“This is me asking you out on a date.”

“…D-date…”

Her gaze looking at me trembled.

…Is it not funny?

I had said it playfully, but the response wasn’t very satisfactory.

“…Anyway, I should have told you first, and I’m really sorry for saying it like this. I’ll definitely make it up to you next week! Can’t you forgive me just a little…?”

Min So-yeon, who had been blankly staring at me like that,

“…I don’t know, do whatever you want.”

I left those words behind and disappeared, saying she was going to the restroom.

‘I don’t know’ usually means a positive meaning.

…This means it’s okay, right?

***

Min So-yeon’s POV

—-

Chyo1ko: Wow f*ck wait a minute… A lady?

RareNick: What the…

Midori: My_boyfriend_is_with_an_ahjumma.avi

Nalchang: How can a young b*stard’s taste be…

SwordEmperor: You crazy b*tches, it’s not like that!!!

—-

Feeling slightly annoyed, I roughly typed on the keyboard and explained that the lady was a patient who couldn’t even eat.

Then…

—-

Midori: If a man has the strength to lift a spoon, then a woman… Oh no

Chyo1ko: Crazyㅋㅋㅋㅋ So vulgar, seriouslyㅋㅋㅋㅋ But it’s true. Oh no

Nalchang: You think it’ll end with just eating? ㅋㅋ Will they not have dessert? Oh no

—-

These unhelpful things…!

To pour a bucket of curses on them, I placed my hands on the keyboard.

—-

RareNick: Everyone, shut up for a bit. SwordEmperor, keep explaining.

Chyo1ko: I want a respectful, kind boyfriend too…

RareNick: Shut up.

Chyo1ko: sorry

—-

‘RareNick’ made the others realize how serious the situation is.

I told the story exactly as I heard it from Yoo Ji-hwan, and at the end, I even added that I received a date invitation.

The moment I mentioned the date, the chat window that had been quiet nearly exploded, but ‘RareNick’ took control of the chat and quieted it down.

—-

RareNick: Hmm…

—-

Why is she acting like that…?

—-

RareNick: When you go on a date next time, we need to observe how he acts.

SwordEmperor: ??? What are you talking about?

RareNick: Just listen for now.

RareNick: He ambiguously threw out whether it was a confession or not, still flirting with the fox girl. When you said to meet on the weekend, he ran away, saying he had a prior appointment with an ahjumma. After that, he said, “Let’s go on a date next week.”

—-

Wh-why is that…

I still didn’t understand what she meant, but

—-

Midori: Ah…

Chyo1ko: OMG

Nalchang: wtf

—-

The others caught on quickly.

—-

RareNick: It can be taken as he is keeping multiple girls on the hook. If he doesn’t give you assurance next week, it’s over.

—-

…K-keeping multiple girls?

Keeping multiple girls. It was a very disrespectful term that even an outsider like me knew.

Is Yoo Ji-hwan… playing with me?

While I was shocked and confused by ‘RareNick’s’ remark,

—-

Chyo1ko: You b*tch, why are you driving a stake into the kid’s heart? If he’s not playing around, are you going to take responsibility?

Nalchang: No, he could really be kind and have that personality. Why are you jumping to conclusions so quickly?

Midori: Can’t be helped… SwordEmperor, close the net with your own hands… Let’s prepare with a hole.

—-

The other friends started to take my side, but not Yoo Ji-hwan’s side.

…Y-yeah, there’s no way…

I chimed in with the other friends’ opinions one by one, defending Yoo Ji-hwan, and ‘RareNick,’ who had been silently listening to everything, threw out a remark.

—-

RareNick: Of course, I hope it’s not the case… But if there’s no assurance next time, you’ll have to make a decision then.

—-

A decision, what kind of decision is she telling me to make…

—-

RareNick: Whether you’ll let him be snatched away right in front of your eyes or trap him with a sincere pregnancy…

Midori: Sigh… She finally said something right for once…

—-

In the end, it was sexual harassment.

—-

SwordEmperor: Get lost, you perverted b*tches.

RareNick: ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Anyway, be careful. He really could be playing you.

SwordEmperor: Won’t you get lost?

—-

After cursing at them to my heart’s content, I angrily turned off the game.

“Haa…”

I felt like my energy had been completely drained.

It was time to be very hungry, but I had no appetite.

…Is it because Yoo Ji-hwan isn’t here?

“…So annoying.”

Feeling like everything had become a hassle, I threw myself onto the bed.

Burying my head in the pillow, I thought it would be nice to fall asleep like this.

…Seriously… is he keeping multiple girls?

But my mind didn’t seem to want to sleep.

If ‘RareNick’s suspicion is true, it means everything he has done for me so far is fake.

Then what on earth is he putting in so much effort for…

“… Let’s stop…”

I let out a deep sigh and shook off the negative thoughts.

So what if what he’s done so far is fake?

It might be a little sad, but isn’t the important thing that he showed sincerity for me to that extent?

It’s not good to suspect Yoo Ji-hwan in a situation where nothing has been revealed.

Because I trust Yoo Ji-hwan.

“…”

Thinking like that, my heart felt a little lighter.

Indeed, it seems the saying that love is trust is true.

***

Yoo Ji-hwan’s POV

“Leave right away? Uh… now?”

[The lady kept making a fuss about when student Ji-hwan was coming… Ah, anyway! I told you, so come right away!]

“…I haven’t even changed my clothes yet…”

[Oh, I bought all the clothes, so it’s fine! I have to prepare dinner, so I’ll hang up now!]

“What? H-hello?”

I tried to say something, but the call had already ended.

What is this…

I was slightly taken aback by the sudden turn of events.

Before going home, while I was grocery shopping, I received a call from an unknown number. When I answered, it was from the housekeeper working at my wife’s house.

I thought maybe she needed something…

But no. She told me to come to work right away, and it was okay if I didn’t bring anything.

Although it was a bit surprising, wouldn’t it be good if I could see my wife quickly anyway?

…I have no choice, I’ll have to go and change clothes first.

As I was putting back the items I had placed in the cart one by one, someone tapped me.

Huh?

When I slightly turned around, it was the driver who had taken me to Gangwon-do before.

H-he even came here?

Startled, I told him I would go home, change clothes, and then come.

But…

“The lady has prepared clothes for you to change into. You can change in the car.”

Since my wife had prepared clothes for me, he said we should leave immediately.

It seemed my wife was very curious about our daughter.

Indeed, is a daughter’s love a mother’s love?

I quickly returned the items and followed the driver to the parking lot.

And so, after getting in the car in my school uniform, when I was about to change clothes…

This… I’ve seen this design a lot somewhere, haven’t I?

The clothes my wife had prepared for me were similar in design to the clothes I often wore when I was alive.

…It must be a coincidence, right?

I changed clothes, not thinking much of it.