Kiss the Scumbag-Chapter 27

A soft ringing echoed in the air.

The wind chime hanging beneath the owl carving swayed gently in the breeze, letting out a clear and delicate sound.

The occasional chime stirred up faint, distant memories.

"You're right."

Yujin cleared his throat hastily, his voice sunken low.

As he cautiously reached out, his hand soon touched the long wind plate hanging down.

The wind plate, which had been swaying slowly, stopped moving the moment Yujin's hand made contact.

The sound of the bell also faded, leaving only its lingering echo.

Silence fell quickly over the surroundings.

When Yujin quietly pulled his hand back, the wind plate swayed again, and the chime rang out once more.

"It's so pretty. Really, really pretty."

Angela said blankly from below.

Seeing his daughter so mesmerized by the wind chime, Yujin let out a bitter smile.

Though the ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) wind chime seemed to have completely captured Angela’s heart, it was like an unreachable dream.

After all, there was nothing here that Yujin could call his own.

He bent down on one knee to meet his daughter’s gaze and spoke softly.

"I’ll buy you an even prettier one next time, Angie."

All Yujin could offer were empty promises.

He truly wanted to give Angela everything, but reality was harsh.

His daughter, who had already faced many disappointments at a young age, did not resent him even for his hollow words.

She just nodded and said "Mm," without complaint.

"When we get our house, hang it on my door, okay?"

"Alright."

A wind chime does not ring unless there is wind.

But Yujin nodded willingly anyway.

What did it matter if there was no sound?

As long as Angela was happy, that was enough.

"When will you get the inheritance, Daddy?"

Angela asked suddenly.

Yujin only then remembered the lie he had told her.

Oh, right...

Feeling awkward inside, he hurriedly forced a smile.

"Buying a house will take some time. We’ll have to stay here a little longer."

"Why?"

Angela tilted her head with a frown.

How should he explain this?

Yujin felt troubled.

But it was something he couldn’t avoid forever.

He had to tell his daughter about their situation eventually.

"Well, it's like... uh..."

He hesitated, searching for the right words.

"It takes time to execute a will. That’s why."

In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to mention the marriage.

As he glossed over the explanation, Angela asked again.

"Then how long do we have to wait?"

Again, no easy answer came to mind.

Yujin hesitated, his words trailing off.

"Well... at least a few months..."

Angela visibly drooped.

Though more mature than other kids her age, she was still just a child after all.

Feeling sorry for her, Yujin tried to comfort her, but Angela quickly perked up again.

"Okay! So all we have to do is wait, right?"

"Yeah."

As Yujin answered, Angela hugged him tightly, as if reassured.

He smiled and was about to hug her back when Angela suddenly pulled away and asked another question, stealing his timing again.

"What is this place, Daddy?"

As she let go and asked curiously, Yujin awkwardly lowered his raised hands and smiled bitterly.

"This is where Daddy used to live."

"Daddy? You lived here?"

Angela's eyes grew wide with amazement.

As she looked around the place curiously, Yujin added to his explanation.

"I stayed here for a short while. Before you were born."

"Really?"

Angela’s voice rose with excitement.

Unable to contain her curiosity, she started running around.

She tiptoed to peek through the dusty window but soon gave up and circled around the mansion.

"Don’t go too far, Angie!"

Worried, Yujin called out.

Angela looked back and nodded, saying "Mm," but then asked another question.

"Did you meet Papa here too?"

"...Yeah."

Yujin couldn’t hide his discomfort but answered honestly.

"This is also where I conceived you."

"Reeeally?"

Angela asked again, her voice practically leaping with surprise.

Yujin let out a bitter laugh and nodded.

"Yeah. I met Papa here, and that’s how you came to be."

"That’s amazing!"

Angela shrieked and suddenly ran toward the door.

She grabbed the handle and tried to open it, but of course, it was locked.

Only an unpleasant creaking sound came out as the door didn’t budge.

Though disappointed, Angela quickly regained her spirit and darted off in the opposite direction.

This time, Yujin didn’t bother trying to stop her.

After all, there wasn’t anywhere she could go.

There was nothing here except this outbuilding where Yujin had once stayed.

Sigh...

A bitter sigh escaped his lips.

After coming down the few remaining steps, he slowly looked around.

He never thought he would come back here.

It had been years, yet his body remembered.

His feet had brought him here instinctively.

Yujin looked around slowly.

The memories he had forgotten came rushing back, vivid as if it were only yesterday.

"Yujin."

The face of a young boy calling his name cheerfully resurfaced clearly.

Soft grass brushed against his feet.

Looking down, he saw countless clover leaves.

As if drawn by something, he crouched and picked one up.

It was a three-leaf clover.

Yujin sat there, quietly examining them one by one.

Back then, all he could do was sit on the ground and gaze at clovers aimlessly.

To pass the time, he searched desperately for a four-leaf clover, but they were never easy to find.

Maybe this time...

If he found one, he wanted to give it to Angela.

With that thought, he gently pushed aside the clover leaves with his fingers, hoping to find a rare one hidden beneath.

Suddenly, he felt like he had gone back to that distant day.

On a day when he felt so pathetic and lonely, digging through clovers like this, tears welled up in his eyes.

Sensing someone’s presence, Yujin instinctively looked up.

Just like back then, the boy was there, sitting atop a horse, gazing down at him.

Exactly as it had been.

That’s a prince, isn’t he...

When Yujin first saw the boy, the thought crossed his mind blankly.

It couldn’t have been anything else.

The handsome boy on the magnificent black horse wore a gleaming shirt and fine pants.

His amber eyes, like delicately crafted gemstones, stared down at Yujin, making his heart flutter even more.

While Yujin gazed blankly, the boy spoke first.

"Are you looking for a four-leaf clover?"

At that moment, tears that had been brimming in Yujin's eyes began to fall.

The boy, surprised, widened his eyes.

Embarrassed, Yujin hastily wiped his face and turned away.

An awkward silence fell between them.

As Yujin stubbornly kept his back turned, the boy mustered his courage first.

"I'm Winston Campbell."

His voice trembled slightly, still unbroken.

"What's your name?"

Yujin hesitantly turned his head to look at the boy.

Winston stared directly at him.

Faced with that unwavering gaze, Yujin tensed up, but his heart pounded with excitement.

His lips, trembling with hesitation, barely parted as he spoke in a voice that quivered more than Winston's.

"I’m... Yujin."

Winston silently repeated his name in his mouth.

The sweet sound of the name lingered on his tongue as if it would melt if he said it aloud.

He said nothing, only looked at Yujin.

In that familiar yet different silence, Yujin also hesitated to speak.

A cool breeze blew, making the wind chime ring out between them, as if cutting through reality.

Only then did Yujin come back to his senses.

Where’s Angie? She shouldn’t be wandering alone.

Worry and unease rushed in.

Yujin never imagined he’d run into Winston here.

He had been so careful to avoid just this situation, but now here they were.

His heart raced at the thought Angela might come back at any moment.

"Why are you here...?"

This time, Yujin spoke first, unlike before.

His voice didn’t tremble.

As he asked, trying to compose himself, Winston, still sitting on his horse, answered calmly as he looked down at him.

"That’s my question. Why are you here?

Didn’t I tell you this place isn’t used anymore?"