His welcoming party was more than overwhelming. Their expressions gave him the impression that they were sadder and even shock rather than happy to see him. Especially Hwayeon. Seeing her round face gave Youngjae a source of strength until she ran up to him. He squatted down to meet her eye level, thinking he was in for a tight hug. But the girl stopped, placed her hands over his covered shoulders and gripped onto his shirt. With wet eyes, her voice was shaky and small, “Where did you go mister? Did you leave because I call you father?” Youngjae smiled at the girl but she avoided eye contact.

Gently, he ruffled her long, wavy hair before exhaling, “Don’t be silly. No matter what happens, I’m only Hwayeon’s father,”

The child’s gaze shifted as she proposed another question, “Then will you marry my mother?” Youngjae froze up almost instantly. Uncertain of what to say, Jangjun quickly in by bending over so he could meet them face to face.

“Hwayeon, if your mother marry Youngjae than what about your father? Won’t he be sad from heaven?”

Embarrassed, Hwayeon retracted her hands and kept them close to her tiny body. She shook her head briefly before answering, “Before father went to bed, he told mother he wanted to see her happy. Ever since we put father to sleep under the ground, mother is always sad. But when mister...," trailing off briefly, they knew she was trying to find the right words in case Youngjae changed his mind about being one of her parent, "He made her happy because he said I could call him father,”

This time Himcha stepped in with both hands clasped behind his back; his sharp gesture was leaking the aura a high general. “That’s enough. Young master Jangjun, please gather everyone back in. Young master Youngjae, I will take those baggages from you. Also, I won’t ask what happened or where you went but Lady Shinhye is in the yard so you should go see her,”

“I,”

“She has a lot to tell you,”

Himcha's tone left a bad feeling in his stomach. He couldn't have missed a lot, could he?

Soon, he found himself wandering toward the back. Of course, the ranch's land ran for at least a mile or two. Hence, Youngjae would have easily missed Shinhye if he hadn’t spotted Yonggon’s structure from the far distance.

Youngjae paused in his tracks momentarily to study the surrounding. Unlike the Church, it was a breath of fresh air. Majority of the plain was coated with dull haylike long grasses, yet, the land shines brightly under the sun’s umbrella. Soundlessly, Himcha snuck up on Youngjae and commented, “Don’t let what Hwayeon said bother you. Anyone would want happiness for their mothers,” Youngjae smiled to hide and shake off the discomfort.

“I appreciate your words of encouragement. For a moment there I thought I had to take responsibility,”

Himcha sighed as he placed a hand on Youngjae’s shoulder, where he patted the lad softly, “I’m just saying Mira is a strong woman. She's been suffering from widowhood for four years and even more when her husband first fell sick. The poor little Seunghun. He grew up helping his mother care for his father and younger sister. Sometimes seeing him study so hard and not complain at all breaks my heart. It reminds me of my younger days before the late Master took me in,”

While Youngjae thought about carrying the conversation on, an approaching Shinhye and Yonggon interrupted them.

“You again. Where did you come from after running off like that?” Yonggon asked bluntly. Youngjae saw that Himcha gave the younger the stink eye but said nothing. And before he could answer the male himself, he noticed two shovels in Yonggon’s hands. He watched as dirt crumbles from the sharp points and onto the grass beneath them.

“Were you guys digging?” Though Youngjae was the one to let it slip, he was also the only one surprised. Yonggon, however, did not wait to enlighten him as he walked past the two men. Just as he departed, Himcha co