Love Contract | haobin

Twenty-Five

"Adopt my brother?" Hanbin asks her. Of course he wants Gunwook to live a better life and he'd be happy to take care of him as his own child, but would Gunwook's father even allow him to? Plus, he's not sure if Zhang Hao would agree to this. They just officially got together. "Since his father has the custody, wouldn't I need his permission to adopt Gunwook? He hates my mother, I don't think he'd ever give it to me."

"Don't tell him who you really are." She tells him. "And maybe if you give him money-"

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but no." Hanbin shakes his head. "I would have no problem giving the money so Gunwook can have a better life, but not like this. If I give his father money in exchange for him to let me adopt Gunwook, it'd feel like I'm buying him. He's a human being, not an object."

"Yeah, you're right." The old lady nods. "I just really don't want to leave him with his father... But I don't think he'd give you permission to adopt him. The only way would be if he actually kicks him out of the house, but by then, the damage to our Gunwook would already be done." She sighs. "My son is a bad person. I don't know what I did wrong when I was raising him. He has never cared for Gunwook. He only fought for the custody because he hates your mother."

Hanbin tries to think of another way. With everything that Gunwook's grandma has just told him, he can see Gunwook has been living a very sad life. "Ma'am, we'll think of a way, okay? But please stay strong. It looks like Gunwook loves you very much and you're one of the only people who's always been there for him."

"I will try my best, but it's hard these days. So please think of a way."

"Please protect Gunwook from him." Hanbin tells her. "And please call me if you need anything." He tells her after they exchange numbers.

"I will, thank you."

Hanbin sees Zhang Hao walking back towards him with Yujin and Gunwook. They all have an ice cream cone in their hand. "Oh, look at you." Hanbin pulls Yujin towards him and sees he has ice cream all over his face. Since he and Zhang Hao carry a bag for him, which contains snacks, a first aid kit, wipes, and other things he'd need, Hanbin takes a wipe out to wipe his face. 

"Papa, this ice cream is so delicious. Do you want some?" Yujin holds the ice cream cone in front of his face.

"No, it's okay. You can have all of it." Hanbin smiles at him and pats his head.

"Oh, no! Papa, I got some ice cream on Binnie!" Yujin pouts as his eyes start to water.

Zhang Hao quickly takes the plushie from him and tries to wipe the ice cream off, but it just gets worse, which makes Yujin start to cry.

"Yujin, it's okay." Hanbin picks him up. "We can wash Binnie later and he'll be as good as new."

"Wash Binnie?" He asks through the tears.

"Yeah, plushies need a bath every once in a while, too."

"Really?" He asks, surprised. "I didn't know that, papa. I want to bathe him. Can I? Can I?"

"Of course. We can do that as soon as we get home."

"Yay!" Yujin jumps up and down once Hanbin puts him down.

"Gunwook, whenever you want to come play with Yujin, just tell your grandma. She can call me and I'll even go pick you up." Hanbin tells him.

"Really?" He smiles. "Yujin has told me he has a room full of toys in his house. Can I go see it someday?"

"Yeah, of course, Gunwook." Hanbin nods.

"We'll get going then." Gunwook's grandmother tries standing up and Hanbin immediately helps her.