“Uncle!” Sesha’s footsteps were loud as she ran into Yeon-woo’s arms. She seemed to have grown taller since the last time he saw her. Was it because time seemed to fly past at her age? Yeon-woo felt a surge of affection and also apology. The pocket watch didn’t react—it had been a long time since it had.

He was going to pat her on the back when she suddenly pinched Yeon-woo’s cheeks and stretched them out. “Sesha?”

“You mean uncle. Why didn’t you show up for such a long time? I hate you!”

“Things happened.”

“You said you would visit soon! But it still took you a long time! I heard that you returned to the Tower so quickly, too!” Sesha stretched his cheeks out even further.

Yeon-woo ruefully smiled. She hadn’t only grown physically. She was so clever that she probably guessed what Yeon-woo had been up to. He had to face the music and not make any excuses.

“So how did it go?”

“What?”

“What you were doing. How did it go?”

“It went well.”

“Then I forgive you.” Sesha removed her hands from his cheeks and placed them on her hips with an air of importance. She looked so...