But just as the cries of the girl wearing a pink ribbon echoed through the kindergarten, a sharp-faced woman came running toward us from afar.
"What are you doing! Why are you making my child cry!?"
Her voice was high and piercing.
'Wait…I know that woman.'
The girl wearing a pink ribbon immediately ran to her mother.
"Mommy~~!! Waaaaah!"
"My Gong-Ju! Who did this to you!"
The mother of that girl was dressed in a black suit and sported a waxed short haircut, exuding an aura of intelligence. However, contrary to her appearance, she was a selfish and dogmatic woman.
Her name was Jin So-Mi.
In my past life, she used to work as an entertainment lawyer who handled the legal aspects of Kim Dong-Soo's dirty work. She was a person who actively participated in Kim Dong-Soo's misdeeds.
I couldn't believe I met this woman here in Cheonho-dong.
'Wait, did she say 'Gong-Ju'? So, this pink ribbon girl is that Gong-Ju?'
The girl in Jin So-Mi's arms would later become a member of the multinational idol group VIVA4 and the biggest troublemaker.
'Jin Gong-Ju.'
Just like her mother, she was arrogant and had a nasty personality. I recalled her being notoriously backed by her mother even in my past life.
However, that was a story for later. Right now, it was more important to resolve the situation. I secretly turned on the pen-shaped recorder I had bought for emergencies.
In the meantime, Jin So-Mi approached me after thoroughly checking her daughter for any injuries.
"Hey, you! Who do you think you are!? Why are you shouting at my daughter!?"
Jin So-Mi shot me a sharp, venomous look.
I looked at the mother and daughter in front of me, I knew that the upcoming conversation wouldn't be a wholesome and edifying one. Hence, I turned to Miso, who was still in my arms, and said, "Miso, cover your ears."
"Okay, Uncle Yoon-Ho!"
"And hold onto me."
"Okay! Uncle Yoon-Ho!"
"Miso, you can still hear everything I say, can't you?"
"I can't hear! I can't hear anything!"
Perhaps because she was curious about what was to be said, Miso still had one ear uncovered. Yet she had no choice but to cover both ears and clung to me upon my insistence.
Only after confirming that Miso had also tightly closed her eyes did I respond to Jin So-Mi. "That girl pushed Miso first. I only scolded her for that. I didn't hit her or use any bad language. She cried out of shock, that's all."
"My Gong-Ju pushed that girl? No way. You have no idea how fragile my girl is! Don't you dare lie, or you'll be sorry!"
'Fragile my foot!'
Jin Gong-Ju looked sturdy enough to win a healthy baby contest.
"Hmph! And even if she did push her, that girl must have said something nasty to my Gong-Ju first! Just look at her—she seems completely spoiled!"
I was glad I had Miso cover her ears so she did not have to listen to such unjust words.
Just as I was about to respond to Jin So-Mi's words, the kindergarten principal came running over hurriedly.
"Miso's uncle! Gong-Ju's mother! Please calm down. The children are watching."
The principal's face was pale and a never-ending stream of tissues was hanging from her waist. I figured she must have been in the bathroom and couldn't come out earlier.
The usually kind-hearted principal apologized repeatedly.
However, Jin So-Mi was not someone to accept such apologies.
"Ma'am. What kind of atmosphere is this for a kindergarten?"
"Mrs. Jin. It's not like that..."
"Seriously, I shouldn't have come to such a poor neighborhood. I'm withdrawing my child from this kindergarten effective from today. Please process a refund!"
"M-Mrs. Jin. Please don't...why don't we talk this out…"
The principal bowed apologetically, but I couldn't hold back any longer and confronted Jin So-Mi.
"Listening to your remarks is just unbelievable. A poor neighborhood, you say? Don't you understand that children are watching us right now? You better watch what you say."
The principal, fearing the argument might escalate, quickly grabbed my sleeve. "Mr. Jung, please calm down."
"Mr. Jung? Oh~ I know! The talent agent of that stripper celebrity, right? Was it Jung Yoo-Jin?"
'How dare she speak about Yoo-Jin like that?'
I felt a vein on my forehead bulge, pulsating with anger. I wished I had never met this woman in my second life, but it was too late.
I looked at Jin So-Mi and slowly opened my mouth. "Watch your language, Mrs. Jin So-Mi. Or should I say, Mrs. Jin Chu-Ja?"
Jin So-Mi had long had a complex about her tacky name. I recalled hearing in my last life that changing her name was the first thing she did after becoming a lawyer. Of course, that would happen five years from now.
"H-how do you... know my r-real name... W-who are you? How do you…how do you know my name!"
Jin So-Mi stepped back in a flustered manner.
It was only natural for her to feel frightened and unsettled when a stranger knew the secret she wanted to hide so badly.
I opened my mouth again and grabbed my recorder at the same time. "I've recorded everything you just said. Why should Yoo-Jin, who works hard and diligently every day, be judged by you that way? Huh?"
Jin So-Mi took a step back as I took a step forward. She probably understood her words could be grounds for a lawsuit.
At that moment, the principal intervened again. "Mr. Jung, please. The children are watching."
I saw the children huddled together, looking scared. Only then did I manage to regain some of my composure.
"Sigh. I'm sorry, ma'am. But I still demand an apology."
Jin So-Mi's eyes darted around in anger. But, as expected, she chose to step back. "This isn't over! I'll remember your face!"
Jin So-Mi pointed her finger at me before turning sharply to the principal. "This is ridiculous. Just refund the fees to my account!"
With that, Jin So-Mi led her daughter, Jin Gong-Ju, out of the kindergarten. Even as she did, she kept glancing back at me—the stranger who somehow knew her real name.
"Let's go, Gong-Ju!"
"Uh, M-Mom. Are we really leaving like this?"
"Hurry up, won't you!?"
Jin Gong-Ju was pulled out of the kindergarten by her mother.
I was glad that I had come to pick Miso up. I shuddered to think how much Miso might have suffered if I hadn't come today. Although Jin So-Mi remained a concern, at least the immediate conflict was over for now.
Once Jin So-Mi and Jin Gong-Ju left the kindergarten, I put Miso down. Then, I called the children who had been standing behind Jin Gong-Ju over. "You two kids."
The children looked slightly scared.
"Ah, s-sir, we're sorry."
'Sigh. Fine. After all, what do they know at their age? They must have been influenced by a bully like Jin Gong-Ju.'
"It's all right. Miso's auntie is a very kind person, so don't believe what Gong-Ju's mother said. Understand?"
When I spoke gently, the principal and children sighed in relief.
"Okay!"
The two children, Yeon-Woo and Ji-Eun, cautiously approached Miso and extended their hands in apology.
"M-Miso, I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, too, for only taking Gong-Ju's side."
Children were bound to quickly make up no matter how much they fought.
Miso, with her hands on her waist, issued a warning. "Fine. But if you talk bad about my auntie again, I'll really get mad!"
"Okay! We won't do it again."
The girls made a pinky promise, stamped it with an imaginary seal with their thumbs, and then quickly hugged and made up with Miso.
Seeing the children make up in peace, the principal's face brightened.
"I'm sorry for causing a commotion," I apologized.
"No, it's okay. It turned out rather well. Gong-Ju was often troubling the other kids, so it's probably for the best that she left. And I'm the one who should apologize. It's my fault for not educating the children properly."
The principal kept apologizing to me and expressed relief that Jin Gong-Ju had left.
"Oh my. Those kids..."
Following the principal's gaze, I saw that Miso was already playing and holding hands with the two girls from before.
'She's too kind. I don't know if that's a good thing or not…'
Just then, Yoo-Jin's call came through.
[Caller: Lovely Yoo-Jin]
'Yikes. My bad.'
Recalling that I had told Yoo-Jin that I would take Miso home quickly, I scooped Miso up in my arms and hurried to the car.
Once in the car, I immediately started the engine and answered Yoo-Jin's call.
"Hey. I'm on my way. There's a lot of traffic."
-Oh, is that so? I'm sorry, oppa. Take your time.
"Okay."
The moment I hung up the phone, I felt like I could finally breathe.
"Huff."