Chapter Text
Sa Eon was having a bad day. It all started when he found out that his daughter's tutor was planning to quit. Now, on top of all the work he had as a spokesperson, the endless meetings and the paperwork, he also had to worry about finding a new teacher for Ji Yeon.
He sighed and ran his hand over his face. Sa Eon loved his daughter with all his heart, but raising a child oh his own was the hardest thing in his life. Most of the time, he felt lost and thought he was doing a terrible job as a dad, so he just would do anything to see Ji Yeon happy and safe.
Sa Eon was snapped out of his thoughts by a knock on the door. He looked up to see Park Do Jae entering the office, holding a few papers, which he placed on his desk.
"These are the profiles you asked for, sir," Do Jae said, sounding a little out of breath, and Sa Eon felt guilty. "These are the best I could find in such a short time."
"Thank you, Mr. Park," Sa Eon replied with a half-smile. "And sorry for asking you to do this."
"No problem, sir," Do Jae said, always willing and helpful. "I also scheduled meetings for this afternoon since that’s the only time you’ll have free. I asked for discretion since this is your personal office."
Sa Eon nodded, picking up the papers and starting to flip through them. "Alright. Thanks again, you can go," he said. Do Jae bowed slightly and left the room.
As Sa Eon looked at the papers, a familiar face caught his eye. Hong Hee Joo, the stepdaughter of the president of the Daily News. He hadn't seen her in a while, since she went off to college, and he had started avoiding elite events because of Ji Yeon and the rumors surrounding his name.
Sa Eon read through Hee Joo’s profile, noting that she had plenty of qualifications. He wasn’t surprised, he knew she was smart ever since he used to tutor Hong In-a.
People used to mock Hee Joo, saying she lived in her sister’s shadow, but Sa Eon always thought different. To him, Hee Joo was a brighter light than In-a. She was sweet and kind, very different from the other girls in high society. He always felt bad for her when he saw her mother or sister treating her badly.
"Hong Hee Joo," Sa Eon whispered to himself in the silence of the office. He shook his head, trying to get back to work, but now his mind kept going to another place.
⋆.˚
When Sa Eon realized it, it was already time for the interviews. Park Do Jae had already told him the candidates had arrived, and now he was about to interview the first one: Hong Hee Joo.
This is going to be a little awkward, Sa Eon thought as he heard footsteps approaching and the door opening slowly. He watched as Hee Joo opened her mouth to say something, but stopped halfway.
"Baek Sa Eon?" Hee Joo asked, looking at him, her eyes wide in surprise. It seemed like Do Jae hadn’t told her who the interviewer was.
Sa Eon’s eyes scanned her face. Hee Joo hadn’t changed much since the last time he saw her; she still had the same carefree beauty, as if she didn’t realize how beautiful she was. She was wearing a navy blue suit that didn’t look expensive but fit her perfectly. She looked elegant and serious.
Sa Eon felt his heart race a little. He didn’t understand why, since he was known for being calm and composed, but something about Hee Joo made him feel like a teenager again, watching her through her bedroom window. He rarely interacted with her, but something in him always told him to watch over her, like he needed to protect her.
Clearing his throat, he pointed to the chair in front of his desk. "Please, have a seat."
Hee Joo blinked but nodded and took her seat across from him. "Sorry. I didn’t know the interview was with you. Your assistant asked for discretion."
"No need to apologize," Sa Eon said, dismissing her apology with a wave of his hand. "I requested it because this is my personal office."
Hee Joo nodded slowly, glancing around. "I understand," she said, sounding a little more nervous now.
"So, you have experience with homeschooling from your resume," he started, adopting a calm and professional tone.
Hee Joo looked at him and nodded with more confidence this time, sitting up straighter. "I’ve taught a few kids and worked at a school for a while," she cleared her throat and looked away. "But my mom isn’t a big fan of me working at a school, so homeschooling is a better option for me."
Sa Eon set his jaw and nodded slowly. Of course, Hee Joo’s mom wouldn’t want her working. She probably preferred her daughter to be a wife locked up at home.
"Miss Hong, I’m sure you’ve heard all the gossip surrounding my family," he said, intertwining his fingers and leaning his elbows on the desk. "I want to protect my daughter from all of that. That’s why I chose homeschooling and why I need you to maintain discretion. Can you do that?"
Hee Joo took a deep breath and assumed a firmer tone. "I’d be lying if I said I didn’t know about the rumors, but I can assure you, Mr. Baek, that I’m here as a professional. I would never risk a child’s privacy just for gossip. That’s not who I am."
Sa Eon watched her, genuinely impressed. He liked how strong she had become, and he appreciated someone confident in their profession. "No, it’s not," he simply said, asking a few more questions, all of which she answered perfectly and with professionalism.
He glanced at the clock and realized time was running out; the other candidates were probably waiting. He told her he’d be in touch and shook her hand.
"Miss Hong," he called as she was walking to the door. Hee Joo turned to him. "It’s been a long time since I've seen you. I’m glad you’re doing well."
Sa Eon watched as her cheeks turned the same shade of pink as a sunset, just like when they were kids. "I’m glad you’re well too," she smiled and gave a small bow before leaving.
For the rest of the afternoon, he interviewed other candidates, even though he already knew who he’d chosen.
Still, he didn’t like the idea of having any stranger around his daughter, but Hee Joo wasn’t a stranger. They might not be close, but he knew her, and he knew she was a good person, plus her resume was way better than the others, even if she had less experience.
By the end of the day, Sa Eon asked Do Jae to call Hee Joo and confirm a trial lesson, also rescheduling his next day's appointments so he could sit in. He just hoped the little flutter in his chest when he thought about Hee Joo wasn’t a bad sign.
⋆.˚
Sa Eon opens the door to the apartment, immediately greeted by a little human, all dressed in pink, who jumps into his arms. "Appa!"
"Hey, sweetheart," he laughs, picking her up with one arm and pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Did you have fun today?"
"Yes," Ji Yeon answers, wrapping her tiny arms around his neck. "But I missed you, appa."
Sa Eon raises his eyebrows, pretending to be surprised. "Really?"
She nods and rests her head against his shoulder, which is enough to melt his heart.
"How about helping appa with dinner tonight?" he asks, and she lift her head immediately, looking at him with excitement in her eyes.
"Yes!" she yells, all excited, making him smile as he sets her back on floor.
"Alright, then," Sa Eon says, taking off his tie and rolling up his shirt sleeves. "Go wash your hands."
Ji Yeon runs to the kitchen, while Sa Eon walks the babysitter to the door. When he gets to Ji Yeon, she's struggling to put on her little pink apron, a pout on her face.
"Jiyeon-ah," Sa Eon laughs, getting closer to her to tie the apron. "Let me help you."
"Thanks, appa," she looks up at him, a smile reaching her tiny eyes. He smiles back and kisses her temple.
For the next half hour, Sa Eon cooks while Ji Yeon helps, or at least tries. The kitchen becomes a total mess after she knocks almost all the ingredients off the counter and onto the floor, but he doesn't get mad or scold her, he just helps her clean it up.
He loves these moments with her, when he can stop being the always serious and competent Baek Sa Eon, the presidential spokesperson, and just be Ji Yeon’s dad.
Then, Sa Eon suddenly remembers something important and turns to her, sitting on the counter.
"Jiyeon-ah," she looks up at him, her little cheek dirty with what he imagines is some kind of spice. "Your new teacher is coming tomorrow for your first lesson."
Ji Yeon blinks, seeming a bit hesitant. "What’s she like?"
"Hmm," Sa Eon thinks for a moment before answering, not quite sure how to describe Hee Joo. "She's kind and nice. I think you'll like her."
Ji Yeon twists her little hands, looking down. "I’m scared she won’t like me," she says quietly, almost so soft he can barely hear her.
Sa Eon’s heart tightens. "Sweetheart, why would you say that? Of course she’ll like you."
Ji Yeon shrugs, her gaze returning to him. "I think the other teacher didn’t like me, that’s why she left," she says simply, but Sa Eon knows it’s more than that.
No matter how hard he tried to be there for her and be the best dad he could, Sa Eon knew it wasn’t enough to cover the scars from abandonment. Ji Yeon was almost always a happy, cheerful child. She’d stopped asking about her mother a while ago, but there were moments when he noticed. Like how she’d watch other kids with their moms at the playground or how she always seemed a little shy around young women, or how nervous she’d get when he was late coming home.
Sa Eon hugged her, resting her head on his chest like he used to when she was a baby. "Your teacher had to go because she needed to move to another city. It has nothing to do with you, my love."
He looks at her, smiling despite himself. "There’s no way anyone can not like my Jiyeonie," Sa Eon says, lowering his voice like he’s telling a secret. "And I’ll punch anyone who says otherwise."
Ji Yeon’s laughter fills his chest with happiness, and Sa Eon feels relieved and happy for choosing Hee Joo to be her teacher. His little girl is too young to have been hurt already; she deserves kind people like Hong Hee Joo around her, he thinks.