Choi San, a revered and feared mafia boss, reigns over Seoul's underworld with an iron fist, his influence extending seamlessly across both legal and illegal domains. But his empire is shaken to its core when his beloved daughter, Eun-ji, is kidnapp...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The morning sun poured through the tall windows, bathing the living room in a gentle warmth that contrasted sharply with the scene of lively chaos before me. Eun-ji, our bundle of energy, was in the midst of a spirited chase with our new puppy, both darting around the furniture with boundless enthusiasm. The air was filled with her joyful laughter and the playful yapping of the dog, while a soft melody played in the background, barely audible over the commotion.
At the center of this whirlwind of activity sat San, an oasis of calm amidst the storm. He was dressed sharply in his usual suit, the very picture of composed elegance as he sifted through a stack of documents. His glasses perched thoughtfully on his nose, lending him an air of scholarly focus that seemed remarkably out of place in the chaotic surroundings.
Smiling at the domestic scene, I stepped confidently into the living room, ready to join the fun. My foot, however, had other plans. It landed squarely on a slick spot on the floor—the unfortunate reminder of our puppy's still-imperfect house training. My feet slipped out from under me, and I flailed wildly, trying to regain my balance, but gravity won the battle. I hit the floor with a loud thud, the impact resonating through the room and cutting abruptly through the noise.
Silence descended. The music seemed to pause, Eun-ji froze mid-giggle, and even the puppy halted, his small paw suspended in the air. All eyes turned to me, lying sprawled and slightly stunned on the floor.
San was the first to react, his documents forgotten as he set them aside and hurried over to me. "Wooyoung, are you okay?" His voice was laced with concern, his brows furrowed as he extended a hand to help me up.
I winced, feeling the dampness soaking through my shirt where I had landed in the unnoticed puddle. "I'm fine," I assured him, more embarrassed than hurt, as I accepted his hand and pulled myself to a sitting position. "Just didn't see that one coming."
Eun-ji approached slowly, her previous exuberance replaced by worry. "I'm sorry, Daddy Wooyoung," she murmured guiltily. "I was supposed to clean it up..."
"It's okay, love," I reassured her with a forced smile, my tone gentle despite the throbbing in my back. "Accidents happen." It was important to me that she didn't feel too bad about the mishap.
San helped me to my feet, his hands lingering on my arms as he scrutinized me for any sign of injury. "Are you sure you're all right?" he asked, his eyes searching mine for the truth.
"Yes, I'm sure," I replied, managing a more genuine smile this time. I dusted myself off and glanced down at the puppy, who now seemed to sense the seriousness of the situation and sat looking up at us with those big, soulful eyes. "But we really need to step up the house training, huh?"
San chuckled, the tension easing from his expression. "Definitely," he agreed. "Starting today, we're on it."
I nodded, feeling steadier on my feet. "Good plan," I said, feeling the warmth of the family scene reassert itself despite the rough start to the morning.
