In any case, with Qi Huai as his pillar of support, Yoon Nam-hyuk’s mood was indeed getting better and better.

He thought to himself, Perhaps this is the meaning of family? They could carry each other’s emotions, be a safe harbor for each other’s vulnerabilities. With the other person around, one could be hopeful for the future.

It was precisely because life now was good enough that the past pain and bitterness could become like a slice of bitter melon garnishing a feast. You take a bite, frown, spit it out, and with a casual “I don’t like it,” you can move on to the next dish.

But if life had been like his dreams…

There would be no splendid feast, no next dish to look forward to. One could only huddle in a corner alone, hugging the bitter melon and chewing on it with a crunch, their entire life thereafter filled with a nauseating bitterness.

So I’m very content.

Yoon Nam-hyuk thought to himself, No regrets, no guilt, no sadness. Every day of the future will be spent living well with the person I love most. This is what Mama would have wanted to see, right?

“We’re here. What are you thinking about?”

Qi Huai parked the car and pinched Yoon Nam-hyuk’s cheek.

“Nothing,” Yoon Nam-hyuk smiled. “A little nervous.”

“I’m the one who should be nervous,” Qi Huai sighed.

---

Yesterday, Yoon Nam-hyuk received the news that Eun Chul-woo’s body had been cremated. As his only remaining blood relative, Yoon Nam-hyuk needed to decide what to do with his ashes.

The moment he heard the news, Yoon Nam-hyuk said almost without thinking, “Then let’s bury him with Yoon Tae-min. Since he plotted for the Yoon family for so many years, let them settle their old scores down below, so the innocent are no longer implicated.”

“That’s good,” Qi Huai commented.

“Do you think I’m being malicious?” Yoon Nam-hyuk asked. “They’re already dead, and I still won’t let them rest in peace. Is this a meaningless thing to do?”

“How could it be? The fact that you didn’t mix them together and bake them into a brick already shows your kindness,” Qi Huai said, holding him. “Only kind people reflect on whether they’ve done the right thing. Truly malicious people would have already started acting.”

Yoon Nam-hyuk laughed out loud.

“When we visit the cemetery, come with me to visit Mama,” he said, nestling into Qi Huai’s chest with a contented sigh. “She would really want to meet you.”

“Okay.”

---

So today was the day of Eun Chul-woo and Yoon Tae-min’s joint burial, and also the day of Qi Huai’s first visit to his mother-in-law.

He was indeed a little nervous.

“What do you have to be nervous about?” Yoon Nam-hyuk was utterly speechless. “My mother isn’t going to jump out and hit you.”

Qi Huai: …

The joint burial process was simple. When it was all over, they stood before the shared grave for a while. Yoon Nam-hyuk looked down for a long time, then pursed his lips and pulled a lily from the bouquet, placing it on Eun Chul-woo’s side.

“If it were Mama, she might have been willing to give you one,” Yoon Nam-hyuk said softly.

Qi Huai said nothing.

He thought to himself, If Ms. Hyun knew the original comic’s plot, she probably wouldn’t have done this.

But then he had another thought and decided it was fine. Whatever Nam-hyuk thought, whatever he did, was fine. If he put down a lily today and regretted it tomorrow, it was also fine to come back, take the lily away, and throw it out. As long as his Nam-hyuk was happy, anything was fine.

After placing the lily, Yoon Nam-hyuk stood before the grave for a full five minutes before turning around. “Let’s go. Let’s go see Mama.”

The fatigue finally vanished from his cold and noble face, replaced by a bright and charming smile in the morning sun. Qi Huai couldn’t help but take his hand, their fingers intertwining. “Should I call her Mama too?”

President Yoon turned his head, revealing the faint blush on his ears. “As you wish.”

---

The photo on Ms. Hyun’s gravestone was still from when she was in her twenties. That face, which bore a thirty to forty percent resemblance to Yoon Nam-hyuk’s, was coldly beautiful and moving, elegant and imposing.

Qi Huai bent down to offer the bouquet. Yoon Nam-hyuk brushed the gravestone and said to the photo, “Mama, I’m very happy now.”

Qi Huai paused for a moment, then, unaccustomed to it, followed his lead. “Mama, hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I’m Qi Huai.”

He added in his heart: It’s my first time having a mother.

As a child created by the Main Brain and raised by an AI, he had never known what it felt like to have parents. It was only after meeting Yoon Nam-hyuk that he began to empathize… the bond of blood relatives, whether love or hate, was so strong. It was a strange feeling.

Yoon Nam-hyuk glanced at him, seemingly dissatisfied.

Qi Huai looked innocent. “What’s wrong?”

Yoon Nam-hyuk hummed lightly. “Is that it? You’re done? Is introducing your name the only thing you do when you meet Mama for the first time? You rude fellow, just like always.”

A certain president was complaining, but his face was quite red. Qi Huai drew out a long “Oh~.” “Mama, hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I’m Qi Huai, Nam-hyuk’s boyfriend. The very-in-love kind. Is that okay?”

“Ha!” Yoon Nam-hyuk was thoroughly exasperated.

Qi Huai laughed out loud, then turned Yoon Nam-hyuk’s chin and kissed the corner of his lips. “Just teasing you.”

“Before I formally introduce myself to Mama, there’s one more thing I need to do.” He took out a small, square velvet box from his pocket, held it out to Yoon Nam-hyuk, and opened his palm. “Open it and see.”

“Wh-what is it?”

It was a question devoid of technical skill. Any fool would know what was inside. A deep, small box. It couldn’t possibly contain an iced Americano and a chocolate cake!

Yoon Nam-hyuk’s lips were dry, his mind a blank slate.

He looked at the box, then at Qi Huai. The other person stood there motionless, just looking at him so gently, patiently waiting for him to personally take out the ring-shaped key to the gate of happiness.

His heart began to pound, like it was about to explode, setting off happy fireworks. The fireworks were scalding hot, burning his throat, his sinuses, and his eyes.

“Oh, my…” He gripped the ring box in shock. Two hands came up to wipe away Yoon Nam-hyuk’s tears. “Why are you crying? Don’t cry.”

Qi Huai cupped Yoon Nam-hyuk’s face. Yoon Nam-hyuk snatched the ring box from his hand and asked, sniffling, “When did you prepare this?”

Qi Huai, whose box had been snatched away, chuckled. “From the day I decided to tie you down.”

Nonsense.

Yoon Nam-hyuk hummed.

Inside the box were two silver rings, with sleek and simple lines, each embedded with a small diamond. The inside was engraved with their initials and the date they met. A ring like this wouldn’t be too expensive. The most important thing was the meaning it represented.

“So beautiful,” Yoon Nam-hyuk caressed it lovingly, his fingers lingering especially on the engraved part. “Thank you.”

Actually, he had also been secretly preparing an engagement ring. He had even planned to propose on the top floor on the day they moved into the Twin Towers. But he hadn’t expected Qi Huai to be faster.

Would it be too exaggerated to wear rings on both hands at the wedding? How about turning my ring into a necklace?

As he was thinking, he heard Qi Huai say, “Nam-hyuk, marry me.”

So cunning, that bastard…

Aish, why is there such a good person?

I’m so lucky.

Yoon Nam-hyuk pressed his lips together and immediately nodded.

Qi Huai took out one ring and put it on Yoon Nam-hyuk’s finger. The moment the cool metal band touched the base of his ring finger, Yoon Nam-hyuk couldn’t help but kiss the small diamond on the ring.

He did the same, taking out the other ring and putting it on Qi Huai. After putting on the ring, he hugged his neck and gave him several pecking kisses, making smacking sounds.

Qi Huai laughed out loud. Just as he was about to tease him for being uncharacteristically proactive, he heard him ask, “You haven’t prepared the wedding too, have you? When are we getting married? Tomorrow? Hmm?”

Qi Huai was at a loss for words. “…That’s not decided yet. We need to discuss it.”

How could he just grab someone and get married out of the blue?

“Oh, right.” His tone was laced with disappointment.

“…” Qi Huai patted his butt. “Be careful, or Mama will laugh at you.”

“Shi—!”

Suddenly realizing his mother was present, Yoon Nam-hyuk abruptly pushed Qi Huai away. Unprepared, Qi Huai stumbled back two steps and let out a stifled laugh, inexplicably reminded of that day in the bathroom at Woosan.

That day, Yoon Nam-hyuk, startled by the sound at the door, had also pushed him away in a panic, which had led to the rumor that the two of them had been fighting in the bathroom. In reality… he was just prone to flaring up at any time.

Qi Huai smiled helplessly, cleared his throat, and straightened his clothes. He turned, bowed respectfully to Ms. Hyun’s gravestone, then squatted down and formally introduced himself in a voice Yoon Nam-hyuk couldn’t hear.

“Mama, my name is Qi Huai. I’m 22 years old, with no parents. It might be hard to understand, but I actually come from a very, very far away place. But please don’t worry, I won’t be leaving anymore. I’ll stay by his side… We are each other’s only family. We will rely on each other, love each other, and live happily together. I will take good care of him. I promise, Mama.”

Standing behind, Yoon Nam-hyuk couldn’t hear his words, nor was he in the mood to listen. His entire focus was on the ring. He couldn’t help but touch it with his fingertips, gently turning it.

He glanced at Qi Huai, and taking advantage of the other not noticing, he showed his hand in the direction of the gravestone and mouthed with a smile: Mama, isn’t it beautiful?

Of course, the Ms. Hyun in the photo couldn’t answer him, but Yoon Nam-hyuk knew that with his mother’s personality, she would definitely say: Wow, so beautiful. My children have such good taste. It looks good no matter how you look at it.

---

On the way to the parking lot.

Yoon Nam-hyuk held Qi Huai’s hand, swinging it back and forth. “What about you? When are you taking me to see your parents? I have things I want to say to them too.”

Qi Huai was taken aback.

He had almost forgotten about this. In Yoon Nam-hyuk’s mind, his parents had died early and were buried in America. Since they were getting married, he would definitely have to take him there to see them. That would be the proper thing to do.

But those were just characters created by the Main Brain, not his real parents. And because of this identity, he would even have to take Nam-hyuk back to America to socialize when necessary…

Do I have to pretend to have relatives in front of him every time? Keep up the act for a lifetime?

He didn’t want to deceive Nam-hyuk.

After a long pause, Qi Huai sighed softly. “In a while. It… will contact me.”

Yoon Nam-hyuk was confused, thinking he was talking about other family members living in America. He nodded. “I’ll follow your arrangements.”

However, plans couldn’t keep up with changes.

The two of them suddenly started wearing rings. The matter of the proposal couldn’t be hidden. Assistant Yoo was the first to find out, followed by Dr. Choi, who came to check on Yoon Nam-hyuk’s health, and then the media, who were squatting on them every day.

There were already quite a few media outlets squatting on them, and now there were even more. From the company to their doorstep, they were everywhere. One reporter even pretended to be a cleaner to get information inside Woosan. It was a testament to their dedication.

Qi Huai was fed up. Yoon Nam-hyuk was even more irritable. “Shibal, what does our marriage have to do with them! A bunch of bored people!”

He tugged at Qi Huai’s tie impatiently. “Anyway, there’s not much going on lately. Let’s buy plane tickets tonight and go to America tomorrow. We can stay for a few days, and come back quietly when the media isn’t paying attention. We can also check out the house Mama left.”

Qi Huai tilted his head and looked at him, not speaking.

The silence lasted a little too long. Yoon Nam-hyuk couldn’t help but glance at him. “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you talking?”

“You know, you have a little habit,” Qi Huai said suddenly.

“Hmm?” Yoon Nam-hyuk’s eyes darted around. “What?”

Qi Huai said slowly, “When you’re feeling guilty, you don’t dare to look at me.”

Yoon Nam-hyuk: “…”

Qi Huai raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t arrange for those annoying reporters, did you? Just to force me to go to America?”

What did he arrange?

He couldn’t possibly be ambushed for a wedding the moment the plane lands, could he?

Yoon Nam-hyuk glared. “Of course not!”

“But… but,” he looked away and said in a small voice, “I contacted a wedding planning company in the US a while ago… if you have time, we can meet and chat with them. Their ideas are quite interesting. We can chat first…”

And then get married.

Immediately.

Qi Huai almost laughed out loud.

He rescued his tie from the other’s hand and pulled him onto his lap.

“Alright, let’s go. We’ll leave tomorrow.”

Get married.

Immediately.