THE FAMILY WE CHOSE

THE FAMILY WE CHOSE (part 2)

CHAPTER 2

The morning rush at BITTERSWEET MEMORIES had finally ended.

Only a few customers remained inside the café.

Soft music played through the speakers while sunlight streamed through the windows.

Behind the counter, Taehyung was cleaning coffee cups when he heard familiar giggling from outside.

His lips curved into a smile immediately.

There was only one person in Seoul capable of making that sound.

Yeontan.

The little boy came running through the café door carrying a colorful drawing.

"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!"

Taehyung laughed.

"I'm right here, baby."

Yeontan proudly held up the paper.

"I made this at kindergarten!"

Taehyung took the drawing carefully.

His eyes softened.

The picture showed three stick figures holding hands.

One figure had curly hair.

Another had a big smile.

The third was drawn much taller than the others.

And above them was a huge yellow sun.



"Wow."

Yeontan bounced excitedly.

"Do you like it?"

"I love it."

The child's eyes sparkled.

"Really?"

"Really."

Taehyung knelt beside him.

"Who's this?"

Yeontan pointed.

"Me."

"And this one?"

"You."

Taehyung smiled.

"What about the sun?"

The little boy thought for a moment.

"The sun is plotetind (protecting) us."

For a second, Taehyung couldn't speak.

Yeontan always had a beautiful way of looking at the world.

A world filled with sunshine instead of darkness.

Love instead of fear.

Hope instead of worry.

Sometimes Taehyung wished he could see life through his son's eyes.

Maybe everything would feel easier.

"Can we put it on the wall?"

Yeontan asked hopefully.

"Of course."

Together they taped the drawing beside dozens of photographs left behind by customers.

The colorful picture instantly became Taehyung's favorite decoration.

---

Later that afternoon, the café became unusually quiet.

Only two tables were occupied.

Taehyung stood behind the register staring at the nearly empty room.

His chest tightened.

Three years ago, every seat would have been filled.

Now business was getting worse every month.

The large chain cafés nearby offered discounts and expensive advertising.

BITTERSWEET MEMORIES couldn't compete.

The small café survived mostly because of loyal customers.

But loyalty alone didn't pay rent.

Taehyung opened his financial records again.

The numbers looked even worse than yesterday.

His savings account was shrinking rapidly.

The rent payment was due soon.

And suppliers were already asking about delayed invoices.

A headache formed behind his eyes.

He quickly closed the screen before Yeontan noticed.

The last thing he wanted was for his son to worry.

---

Meanwhile, across the city, luxury cars lined the entrance of Golden Star Mall.

The massive shopping complex dominated several city blocks.

Inside, employees hurried through polished hallways.

Everyone looked nervous.

Because Jeon Jungkook was conducting inspections today.

The young CEO walked through the mall wearing a black suit.

His expression remained unreadable.

Managers followed behind him like nervous shadows.

"Why is this display unfinished?"

Jungkook asked calmly.

A manager froze.

"W-we planned to finish tomorrow, sir."

"Tomorrow wasn't the deadline."

The man's face turned pale.

"No, sir."

Jungkook continued walking.

His voice remained calm.

Yet somehow that made him even scarier.

"I expect it completed by tonight."

"Yes, sir."

No shouting.

No anger.

Just absolute authority.

That was what made him such a successful CEO.

He demanded excellence.

Nothing less.

After several inspections, Jungkook stopped near a small charity booth inside the mall.

A volunteer smiled nervously.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Jeon."

Jungkook nodded.

"What are you raising funds for?"

"Children's education programs."

Without hesitation, Jungkook pulled out his card and donated 90 million won.

The volunteer's eyes widened after seeing the donation amount.

"Sir... this is-"

"Use it well."

Then he simply walked away.

No publicity.

No photographs.

No reporters.

Just kindness.

The volunteer stared after him in disbelief.

People only knew the ruthless CEO.

Very few knew the man underneath.

---

That evening, rain began falling across Seoul.

Taehyung closed the café an hour early.

There simply weren't enough customers.

Yeontan sat at a table coloring while Taehyung counted the day's earnings.

The total made his heart sink.

It wasn't enough.

Not even close.

He quietly placed the money inside the register.

"Daddy?"

Taehyung looked up.

Yeontan was watching him again.

The child always noticed everything.

"Are you making your wollied (worried) face?"

Taehyung laughed softly.

"There it is again."

"You are wollied."

"No."

"Liar."

Taehyung gasped dramatically.

"Did you just call your father a liar?"

Yeontan covered his mouth.

Then both of them burst into laughter.

The heavy atmosphere disappeared instantly.

Sometimes Taehyung wondered if Yeontan realized how much happiness he brought into his life.

Without him, the loneliness would have been unbearable.

Without him, Taehyung might have given up years ago.

Instead, every morning he found a reason to keep moving forward.

His son.

His sunshine.

His entire world.

As they prepared to leave, Yeontan suddenly grabbed Taehyung's hand.

"Daddy?"

"Yes?"

"When I grow up, I'll help you."

Taehyung blinked.

"Help me with what?"

"The café."

The little boy smiled brightly.

"I'll make lots and lots of pancakes."

Taehyung laughed so hard that tears appeared in his eyes.

"That sounds perfect."

Yeontan nodded proudly.

"I'll save BITTELSWEE MEMOLIE."

Taehyung's smile faltered for just a second.

Save it.

If only it were that easy.

Outside, the rain continued falling.

Neither father nor son knew that change was coming.

A chance encounter.

A powerful CEO.

And a decision that would alter all their lives forever.

Somewhere in Seoul, fate was already setting the stage.

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(UPChapter 3: The CEO of Iron and Gold will focus entirely on Jungkook's life, his lonely mansion, his ruthless business side, and the secret kindness that nobody knows about.