CHAPTER 61: CHICAGO BLUE ORPHANAGE.

Cho Rin was asleep beside the bed, cheek resting on her folded arms. A few strands of hair clung to her face.

"...Why is she here?" Suho muttered. Memories of last night’s hot pot hit him. Two bottles of fruit beer? That’s not alcohol; that’s juice. Damn it... I really am weak.

Cho Rin stirred at the sound of his voice, blinking awake. "You’re up?"

"Mm." Suho gave a half-nod. "Thanks for looking after me."

Cho Rin shook her head. "It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have let you drink."

"Jo Hee didn’t mean it."

They were interrupted by a knock at the door.

"I’ll get it." Cho Rin hurried out.

On the landing, a little girl stood holding a bag. "Are you Sister Cho? Mom made breakfast for Elder Brother Chen."

"Who’s your mom?"

"Su Bin, downstairs." The girl pointed with her free hand.

Cho Rin melted instantly, cringing to rub her head. "Thank you, sweetheart. What’s your name?"

"Son Nahee! Bye-bye!" The girl shoved the bag into her arms and scampered off.

"Nahee dropped breakfast off again?" Suho shuffled into the room, eyeing the bag.

"Mm." Cho Rin nodded.

"Put it on the table. We’ll eat together."

He unpacked the meal, laying it out carefully. The portions were generous—too generous for one man.

"You didn’t rest at all last night. Go lie down after eating," Suho said offhandedly.

"No need. I have something today."

"Oh? What’s so important?"

Cho Rin hesitated, then spoke softly. "I’m going to the orphanage. I want to bring gifts for the children. Carrying them might be hard." She hurried to add, "But if you’re busy, it’s fine."

Suho leaned back. "I’ll come with you. Nothing else to do today anyway."

"You—really?" Cho Rin’s eyes widened. "It won’t bother you?"

"Not at all," Suho smirked. Might even find a way to waste some money while I’m at it.

Cho Rin relaxed, a smile tugging at her lips. "Alright."

Chicago Blue Orphanage.

A taxi rolled to a stop outside. Together they unloaded pile after pile of bags until a small mountain of gifts stacked at the entrance.

"Whew," Suho dusted his hands. "This place..."

The orphanage plaque was faded, its letters barely visible. The playground was cracked dirt, the swings were rusted, and the three-story building showed peeling paint and crumbling walls. It looked less like a home and more like a relic waiting to collapse.

"You grew up here?" Suho asked.

"Yes." Cho Rin gazed at the place, her expression softening. "Every time I come back, it feels like home."

Before Suho could reply, the sound of pounding footsteps rang out.

A group of children burst from the building, faces lighting up at the sight of Cho Rin. They screamed her name, racing forward with open arms.

"Sister Rin! Sister Rin!"

A swarm of children burst through the orphanage gate, their voices overlapping like a chorus. They flung themselves at Cho Rin, clinging to her arms and tugging at her sleeves.

"Sister Rin, you haven’t visited us in so long!"

"We missed you!"

Cho Rin cringed, hugging them close. "I’ve been busy, but look—" she pointed at the mountain of gifts Suho had helped unload, "I brought you something today."

Gasps filled the yard.

"Wow! So many gifts!"

"Sister Rin, you bought all this for us?"

Their little eyes sparkled, but not one child touched the gifts without permission.

"Little Girl Rin," a stern voice interrupted, "why buy so many things? It must’ve cost a fortune."

Grandma Wu shuffled over, her wrinkled face stern but eyes kind. She gave Cho Rin a scolding look.

Cho Rin smiled sheepishly, looping her arm through the old woman’s. "Grandma Wu, I haven’t seen them in so long. And these are just small things—it didn’t cost much."

"You girl..." Grandma Wu sighed. "Alright, you little rascals, stop staring and help carry things inside!"

"Yes, Grandma!"

The children scrambled to lift boxes, arguing over who could carry more. Kim Suho stepped forward instinctively but paused. Better to let them have their fun.

Grandma Wu’s eyes shifted to Suho.. She looked him up and down with suspicion. "Little Girl Rin, who is this young man?"

"Grandma Wu, this is Kim Suho—my boss." Cho Rin quickly made the introductions. "And this is Grandma Wu, the one I told you about in the car."

"So you’re Little Girl Rin’s boss. Thank you for looking after her." Grandma Wu’s voice softened with gratitude.

Suho shook his head modestly. "Not at all. Cho Rin is capable and important to the company. We rely on her."

Cho Rin’s cheeks burned. Capable? Important? She still saw herself as barely managing the basics.

Grandma Wu, unaware, beamed with pride. "She’s always been smart—the first college student to come out of this orphanage."

"Come in, come in. Don’t stand at the door."

Grandma Wu led them to a classroom. "Stay with the children; I’ll prepare lunch."

"I’ll help you—" Cho Rin began, but Grandma Wu waved her off.

"What, leave that young man alone with the children? No. Go back."

Flustered, Cho Rin returned to the classroom. Suho raised an eyebrow. "Not helping?"

"She said she didn’t need me," Cho Rin murmured, cheeks warm.

A little girl, no more than six, toddled up to me. "Sister Rin, who’s this big brother?"

"This is Brother Suho, my boss."

The girl tilted her head. "What’s a boss?"

"The boss is the one who pays your sister’s salary."

"Oh..." The girl chewed her finger, then brightened. "Then can Brother Suho be my boss too?"

Suho chuckled, squatting down. "What’s your name?"

"Park Yuqi’er! If you’re my boss, you can pay me a salary, and I’ll buy gifts for my younger siblings!"

Suho laughed. "Yue’er, you’re still small. You need to study hard. After college, come to my company, and then I’ll be your boss. Deal?"

Yue’er stuck out her pinky. "Hook pinkies! You can’t go back on it!"

Suho hooked his finger with hers. "Whoever breaks it is a puppy."

"Stamp!" Their thumbs pressed together.

Cho Rin watched from the side, smiling despite herself. Seeing Suho like this—gentle, patient—it was a new side of him.