Chapter 43: Little Fox

As the warm morning sun filtered through the windows, Seo-woo gathered Eun-ha and Ji-woo in the spacious kitchen. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he laid out his plan.

"We're having a barbecue party by the pool," Seo-woo announced with a grin. "You two should join!"

Ji-woo crossed her arms. "A pool party, huh? Sounds like something you'd come up with."

Eun-ha laughed softly. "It does sound fun. Plus, the kids would love it."

Seo-woo nodded. "Speaking of which, your kids seem really excited."

Just as he said that a status window suddenly flashed before his eyes.

━━ [Status Window: Ryu Eun-soo] ━━

🔹 Age: 9 years old

🔹 Talent Skills: Ballet Dancing (potential to be a professional ballerina), Medical Knowledge (will become a great doctor if activated), Problem-Solving, Emotional Intelligence

🔹 Weaknesses: Lacks confidence in her skills, Hesitates to express her dreams, Struggles with stage fright

━━ [Status Window: Ryu Eun-woo] ━━

🔹 Age: 5 years old

🔹 Talent Skills: Musical Genius (piano prodigy potential), Photographic Memory, Logical Thinking, Patience

🔹 Weaknesses: Extremely shy, Struggles with public interactions, Finds it difficult to express his thoughts verbally

━━ [End of Status Window] ━━

Seo-woo froze, staring at the floating words in front of him.

They're both talented! His nephew and niece had so much hidden potential, yet no one had noticed it yet.

He turned to Eun-ha, curiosity flickering in his gaze. "Eun-ha, have your kids ever attended any workshops? Like dancing or piano lessons?"

Eun-ha tilted her head, confused by the sudden question. "Not really. I mean, they've never asked me before."

Seo-woo hesitated for a moment. He didn't want to sound pushy—after all, it wasn't his place to tell someone else how to raise their kids. But at the same time, he wanted to help.

He chose his words carefully. "I was thinking of enrolling my triplets in some extracurricular activities—to help with their social skills and teach them important life skills."

Eun-ha's eyes narrowed in thought. "Social skills, huh...?"

Seo-woo nodded. "Yeah. Things like confidence, teamwork, discipline—these are all things kids can develop outside of school. Music, dance, and other arts help them express themselves better."

Eun-ha looked down at her two children, who had been listening quietly.

"Eun-soo, Eun-woo," she called, kneeling down to their height. "Would you like to try something new? Maybe join a class and learn something fun?"

Eun-soo bit her lip, looking uncertain. "I... I want to try ballet."

Seo-woo's eyes brightened. Just as I thought!

"I saw my classmates perform on stage last time," Eun-soo continued, playing with the hem of her dress. "They looked so beautiful and graceful... I want to try it too, but I don't know if I can."

Before Eun-ha could say anything, Seo-woo smiled warmly. "You'll never know unless you try, right?"

Eun-soo's eyes widened.

Meanwhile, Eun-woo was fidgeting nervously, his tiny hands gripping his mother's sleeve.

"What about you, Eun-woo?" Eun-ha asked gently. "Is there anything you'd like to try?"

The little boy hesitated, then spoke so softly it was almost a whisper.

"P-Piano..."

Seo-woo's heart skipped a beat. Incredible! He already has an ear for music at such a young age.

"I like... how it sounds," Eun-woo continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "It makes me feel... calm."

Eun-ha gasped softly, looking at her son with surprise and admiration.

She reached out and cupped their faces, smiling warmly. "If that's what you two want, then I'll enroll you both."

The siblings' eyes lit up, sparkling with excitement.

"Really?!" Eun-soo asked, bouncing on her toes.

Eun-woo's shy face bloomed into a smile. "T-Thank you, Mom."

The two kids threw their arms around their mother, hugging her tightly.

Seo-woo watched the heartwarming scene, feeling a sense of fulfillment. It was the first step in helping his niece and nephew unlock their full potential.

Just as he was about to make a joke, his triplets suddenly barged in, their faces full of determination.

"Daddy! We want to take classes too!" Seo-min declared, crossing his arms.

Seo-woo blinked, caught off guard. "Huh? What kind of classes?"

Seo-jun stepped forward, eyes full of ambition. "I want to attend business classes! I need to understand stocks, investments, and company management if I'm going to be successful!"

Seo-woo almost choked. "B-Business?! You're five!"

Seo-min smirked. "I want to go to art and music school! I want to be the best at painting and playing all kinds of instruments!"

Seo-woo's jaw dropped.

Seo-jin adjusted his imaginary glasses. "And I want to attend IT seminars and workshops! Coding, hacking, AI—these are the future, Dad!"

Seo-woo stared at his sons, completely speechless.

Then, he burst into laughter. "You kids... Are you trying to graduate college before elementary school?"

The triplets puffed up their cheeks.

"We're serious!" Seo-jun huffed.

Seo-woo wiped a tear from laughing. "Listen, kids. Those things will come sooner when you grow up. You don't have to rush into them now. For now, just enjoy your childhood with other kids."

Seo-min pouted. "But I want to be the best..."

Seo-woo knelt and patted their heads. "You will be, in time. But first, have fun. Play. Make friends. Learn in a way that makes you happy. That's more important than anything."

The triplets looked at each other before finally nodding.

"Fine..." Seo-jin mumbled.

Seo-woo smiled warmly. "That's my boys."

As soon as the triplets confidently announced their plans for business, IT, and the arts, the room fell into a stunned silence.

Eun-ha, Ji-woo, and even Eun-soo and Eun-woo blinked in shock, their expressions frozen in disbelief.

Ji-woo was the first to snap back to reality. She turned to Eun-ha with an incredulous look. "You think that's wild? Just wait."

Without hesitation, she pulled out her phone and began typing furiously.

"What are you doing?" Eun-ha asked, leaning closer.

"I'm looking up their online business," Ji-woo replied. "You won't believe it, but Seo-woo's kids already have one."

Eun-ha's eyes widened. "What?!"

After a few moments of scrolling, Ji-woo found the page and turned her phone toward Eun-ha.

"Look at this."

Eun-ha gasped loudly, nearly dropping the phone. "No way! They're selling handmade keychains, mini figurines, and DIY craft kits?"

Seo-woo cleared his throat awkwardly. "Uh, yeah... they started small, but apparently, they've been earning a decent amount."

Ji-woo smirked. "You mean they're making more money than the average part-timer?"

Eun-soo and Eun-woo, who had been listening quietly, leaned closer in curiosity.

Eun-woo, still shy but full of admiration, spoke up. "Cousins... you're incredible." His soft voice was filled with genuine awe. "I... I want to buy one of your crafts and give it to my best friend, Haneul."

Seo-woo, who had been watching this unfold with amusement, suddenly froze.

"Wait... Haneul... Moon Haneul?" he repeated, looking at Eun-woo. "As in Woo-seok's nephew?"

Eun-woo tilted his head. "Uncle knows Haneul?"

Seo-woo chuckled. "Of course! His uncle, Woo-seok, is a good... acquiantance of mine."

Eun-woo's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really?! That's amazing!"

Seo-woo suddenly had an idea. "Then, why don't we invite Haneul to the pool party? Their house is close by."

Eun-woo lit up like a Christmas tree. "Can we?! That would be so fun!"

Seeing his nephew's genuine excitement, Seo-woo couldn't help but smile warmly. "Of course. But since his uncle had a recent accident, I'll have to personally go to their house and invite Haneul. I hope he will be happy. But of course, if Haneul is in school, we can't invite him."

Eun-woo, without hesitation, raised his hand. "Can I come with you?"

Seo-woo grinned. "Of course, buddy. Let's go together."

Eun-woo immediately turned to his mother. "Mom, can I go with Uncle Seo-woo?"

Eun-ha laughed softly, seeing how eager her son was. "Of course, sweetheart. Just be careful, okay?"

Eun-woo nodded enthusiastically.

However, the triplets, who had been listening this entire time, suddenly tensed up.

Their eyes darted toward Seo-woo holding Eun-woo's hand.

Seo-min puffed up his cheeks. "Hmph."

Seo-jin crossed his arms. "That's not fair."

Seo-jun pouted. "We want to go too!"

Seo-woo turned to his sons, seeing their adorable, jealous expressions. He chuckled and patted their heads.

"You guys can't come," he said teasingly. "You're already in your swimwear."

The triplets' faces fell in disappointment.

"But—" Seo-jun tried to argue.

"No buts," Seo-woo said, holding back a laugh. "By the time you change and come with us, the food won't be ready when we get back. Plus, I need you to protect the barbecue. Can I trust you guys to make sure Aunt Ji-woo and Aunt Eun-ha don't burn the meat?"

Seo-min and Seo-jin immediately turned their heads toward the two women.

Ji-woo raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me? Who do you think is going to burn the meat?"

Seo-jin narrowed his eyes at her. "Hmm... I don't know..."

Eun-ha laughed nervously. "I'll admit, I'm not the best cook..."

Ji-woo rolled her eyes. "Fine. Fine. I'll do my best. Happy now?"

Seo-woo chuckled. "See? That's an important job. You three handle that while I take Eun-woo with me."

The triplets still felt a little jealous, but they understood.

Seo-jun sighed dramatically. "Fine. But you better be careful, Dad!"

Seo-woo smiled and ruffled their hair. "Of course. I'll take care of myself and Eun-woo."

With that, Seo-woo gently took Eun-woo's hand, and the two of them headed out.

Meanwhile, the triplets watched their father leave, feeling a mix of curiosity and jealousy.

Seo-min pouted again. "I know it's not Eun-woo's fault, but... I don't like sharing Daddy."

Seo-jin nodded solemnly. "Me neither."

Seo-jun sighed. "But Daddy's right. We can't be greedy."

The three brothers exchanged silent looks before nodding in agreement.

Then, Seo-min turned to Ji-woo and Eun-ha. "Alright, Aunties. Let's cook. But if you burn anything..."

Ji-woo snorted. "What? You'll fire me?"

Seo-jin smirked. "No, we'll rate your cooking out of ten."

Ji-woo narrowed her eyes. "Oh, you little punks..."

Laughter filled the backyard as the barbecue preparations began, while Seo-woo and Eun-woo set off on their little mission to bring Haneul to the party.

---

The steady beeping of a heart monitor and the faint scent of antiseptic filled the private hospital room where Moon Woo-seok sat comfortably in his bed, a newspaper in hand and a pair of sleek eyeglasses resting on his nose. The atmosphere was peaceful—until the door swung open.

Jin Yu-jin stepped inside, his usual confident smile in place.

Woo-seok glanced up, unimpressed. "You really didn't have to come."

Yu-jin ignored him and strode forward, plopping down beside the bed. "Nonsense! I'm your lover. Of course, I came to take care of my man."

Woo-seok lowered his newspaper, his sharp eyes studying Yu-jin's mischievous expression. His lips pressed into a thin line as he slowly removed his eyeglasses, setting them aside on the table next to him.

Then, in a calm but firm voice, he asked, "What are your real intentions, Yu-jin? Why are you so desperate to be with me?"

For the briefest second, Yu-jin flinched—but quickly masked it with a playful chuckle.

"I already told you," he replied, his tone sickeningly sweet. "I love you, Woo-seok. That won't change, no matter how many times you push me away." His eyes gleamed with sincerity—or at least, the illusion of it. "I just wish you'd look at me the way I look at you."

Woo-seok was about to respond, but before he could say a word—

BANG!

The hospital door suddenly flew open, and a man came crashing inside, landing with a painful grunt on the polished floor.

Woo-seok's brows furrowed. "What the—"

Standing in the doorway, looking slightly ruffled and out of breath, was Choi Min-ho.

"Caught this rat sneaking around," Min-ho announced, dusting off his dirtied suit jacket. "This paparazzi was trying to take photos of you two."

Woo-seok's gaze darkened as he turned to the man groaning on the floor. His sharp eyes then shifted to Yu-jin, his expression unreadable.

Yu-jin's face twisted in shock, but he quickly composed himself and raised his hands in defense. "I—I swear, I had no idea a paparazzi would be here!"

Woo-seok didn't react immediately. Instead, he pressed a button on his hospital bed's remote, activating the intercom.

"Bodyguards. Room 1035. Now."

Less than three minutes later, two large, suited men stormed into the room, grabbed the paparazzi by his arms, and dragged him away.

Once the intruder was gone, Woo-seok turned back to Min-ho and finally took a good look at him.

Min-ho's previously neat suit was now slightly disheveled—his jacket had a few specks of dust, and there was even a faint smudge of dirt near his collar. His usually styled hair was slightly messy, as if he had been in a scuffle.

Before asking something to Min-ho, he turned to Yu-jin, exhaled softly, and then spoke in a calm, measured tone.

"Thank you for visiting me, Yu-jin."

Yu-jin froze, his confident facade momentarily cracking.

A subtle flash of confusion crossed his face before he forced a tender smile as if trying to hold onto the moment.

"...I'll see you soon, Woo-seok."

With that, he stood up, his steps slow and almost reluctant as he walked toward the door.

Then, after Yu-jin's departure, Woo-seok raised an eyebrow. "You look like you got into a fight."

Min-ho exhaled sharply and rolled his shoulders. "Let's just say I ran into a rude little fox on the street who somehow dragged me into their mess." His expression darkened. "That annoying brat owes me a dry cleaning bill."

Woo-seok, tilted his head. "A rude little fox?"

Min-ho sighed heavily. "Yeah. Small, annoying, and completely reckless."

Meanwhile, at that very moment—

Outside Dawn Entertainment's headquarters...

A certain "rude little fox" was standing confidently in front of the building's grand entrance, completely unaware that he had just been cursed by Choi Min-ho.