“Nggh......”
Chloe twisted in bed, rolling over.
She wanted to stay wrapped in sweet sleep, but noisy sounds kept intruding, dragging her foggy mind awake.
Crash!
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Yeeeh.”
Clatter!
“Uncwe, you said you couwd cook but dat was a wie.”
“It’s not a lie, I just don’t have enough ingredients!”
“A twue mastuh doesn’t bweak wid toows.”
“That’d be a master!”
“Dat, dat.”
Why was it so noisy? It shouldn’t be noisy.
Clang-clang!
Frowning, Chloe shot up from bed.
Throwing on her gown haphazardly, she stepped out of her room—only to find a small child and a man both wearing aprons.
“C.C., you’re up?”
“Unnieeeeee—”
Guru bounced over and clung to Chloe’s leg.
“What is all this......”
“Why don’t we eat breakfast first and talk slowly after?”
Chloe exhaled slowly.
She was just about to order him to leave immediately when—
“Da egg toast is yummy!”
Guru smiled brightly, looking up at her.
Her face was covered with food scraps and bits of eggshell.
So he actually let her end up like this.
Wiping Guru’s face with her sleeve, Chloe shot a sharp glare at On Ijo.
Looking sheepish, he raised both hands like someone putting himself in the corner.
Since he was wearing the exact same clothes as yesterday, it seemed he really had spent the night outside.
It had taken an entire month just to clear the 98th floor, and now, right afterward, he came straight here and spent the night at her door?
Chloe ruffled her hair in irritation. Was he doing this on purpose, just to weaken her resolve?
“There was nothing in the fridge except frozen pizza and pasta. Kids should eat something better than that, don’t you think?”
“Awso, gwown-ups gotta eat weww.”
“That’s right, exactly. Adults need to eat well too.”
Whether Chloe’s heart died inside or not, the two of them laughed together in perfect sync.
Pulled along by Guru’s hand, Chloe found herself sitting at the table.
Egg toast.
Considering the state of the fridge, it was actually a decent effort.
Only after eating the hearty toast, yolk bursting warmly, did she finally manage to drive him away.
“Drive safe. I’ll see you later at the lab.”
On Ijo rode the elevator down with them and escorted them to the parking lot.
He added that he had a meeting with some important people first, but after that he’d head to the lab.
Chloe arched an eyebrow.
After being dumped yesterday, how could he smile so cheerfully?
“Byeee!”
“Bye-bye!”
Guru bounced, waving both hands. On Ijo waved back.
Since she had been expecting an extremely awkward situation after rejecting him so harshly, Chloe was startled but also relieved at his unexpected behavior.
No—more than that.
‘......Am I getting dragged into this?’
Her brow creased tightly.
No, it’s fine. From tomorrow, this won’t happen again.
Arriving at the lab with Chloe, Guru was told she had to undergo some tests and was led into a room with a table.
Separated from Chloe.
A researcher explained that since Chloe was assigned to On Ijo, she wouldn’t see her until all the tests were finished.
At present, the only people Guru could trust—who had no disqualifying flaws as caregivers—were Chloe and On Ijo.
To meet Chloe, Guru solved word puzzles and math problems.
They weren’t difficult, so she finished them quickly and rested her pen against her upper lip.
“Reawwy, if I finish aww of dis, I get to see Cwoe Unnie?”
“Of course. Naturally.”
“......Aww done.”
The researcher, surprised by her paper, whispered to Bill while showing him the results.
Bill listened with a serious face, nodding.
Bored, Guru slumped on the table until Bill came over. Then she sat up straight.
He bent down to meet her eyes.
“Want to go see Chloe now?”
“Yeeeh!”
Guru’s face lit up.
Inside the lab examination room.
After finishing his check-up, On Ijo sat on the edge of the bed, quietly watching Chloe review his results.
No matter how he tried, she never met his eyes.
As if saying that night had been nothing but a fleeting dream.
He clenched his fist lightly.
He’d been drunk, but the atmosphere hadn’t seemed bad.
Was the problem that right after, he had disappeared for a month to raid the 98th floor?
Because time passed differently inside the Tower, he hadn’t even realized a month had gone by.
While he doggedly tried to catch her gaze—
“Today’s test is enough. Since you just came down from the Tower, it’s better not to push yourself for a while.”
Chloe finished speaking in a strictly professional tone as she peeled electrode pads from his torso.
When he noticed her eyes roaming his bare chest, he teased,
“Did it bother you while you were checking me? No. I’m just confirming how good my body looks.”
He grinned, eyes crinkling.
“Since someone keeps staring, you’re making my heart flutter.”
Even with his light, flirty tone, Chloe kept her lips tightly pressed as she continued removing pads.
“C.C., if we make eye contact one more time, you’ll owe me dinner.”
Leaning close to her ear, On Ijo whispered softly.
“Look at me. I want to take you out to eat.”
Chloe furrowed her brow, about to snap back when—
“Can we eat togetheh again?!”
Big coral-colored eyes sparkled.
“How did you get in.......”
Before Chloe could finish her words, she saw Bill hurrying out of the exam room.
‘That damned bald eagle Bill!’
Chloe ground her teeth.
Didn’t he care how On Ijo might react if a child was here? If he started to suspect her identity......
But—
“Of course. Let’s eat together. Should we stop by the market and buy groceries today? Is there something you want?”
By now, On Ijo was sitting cross-legged on the floor, his arm draped naturally over Guru’s shoulder.
Idiot. Seems he’s not sharp enough to suspect anything.
It was a relief not to have to make up excuses about Guru.
Chloe let out a quiet sigh.
“Then wet’s buy Yooplait!”
“Alright. Uncle will buy you ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) ten packs of yogurt.”
“Wow! Ten~”
Guru spread her arms wide, spinning around to show her joy.
Chloe bit her lip, troubled in another way.
She knew On Ijo had feelings for her.
But that night had only been because of alcohol......
She thought again of the pregnancy test and pressed her forehead.
They weren’t in a relationship where they could take responsibility for each other. She had more than one secret she was hiding from him.
And besides—
On Ijo’s child?
A researcher at the lab pregnant with On Ijo’s child? She could imagine exactly what would happen to her.
......Which was why she had been trying to distance herself from him.
“Yoopwaaaait!”
Sitting on top of the cart, Guru raised both arms high.
On Ijo pushed the cart, while Chloe walked beside it, sighing up at the ceiling.
‘Why does it feel like I’m getting closer to him than before I rejected him?’

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