Home to the Mischief

The scent of simmering broth and fragrant spices wrapped around Jihoon like a quiet embrace as he approached the door of Jung Yongmin's home.

It wasn't just the aroma of food—it was warmth, comfort, and something else, something that stirred deep within him.

A feeling foreign yet strangely soothing. Something he had never experienced before, not in this life, nor the one before.

"You're just in time," said a woman with a kindness so effortless, so natural, that it sent an unfamiliar ripple through him.

A warmth he had never known.

A warmth he had never even imagined missing.

Lee Youngae, Jessica's mother, stood by the dining table with a warm, knowing smile, the kind only a mother could wear.

She had the gentle presence of someone who had spent a lifetime caring for her family, her well-worn apron tied neatly around her waist.

The rich, comforting aroma of home-cooked dishes filled the air, wrapping around them like a familiar embrace.

Just from the scent alone, it was easy to imagine how many meals she had lovingly prepared over the years, each one carrying the warmth of home.

Jihoon had barely begun to take in the warmth radiating through the room before something else caught his eye.

A small figure peeked out from behind Lee Youngae's dress, her tiny frame half-hidden in the folds of the fabric. Only the top of her head and a pair of large, blinking eyes were visible—wide, curious, and utterly unmissable.

A little girl—barely reaching Jihoon's waist—clung to Lee Youngae's apron, her tiny fingers twisting the fabric as if it could hide her completely.

Her wide, round eyes flitted from his shoes to his face, then to his hands, studying him with a sharp curiosity that felt far too keen for someone her age.

She pressed herself closer to her mother, feigning shyness, but Jihoon wasn't fooled. He knew that look all too well—the glint of mischief lurking just beneath the surface, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

He crouched slightly, his gaze meeting hers at eye level. "And who might you be?" he asked, his voice light with curiosity.

The girl did not answer. Instead, she narrowed her eyes as if calculating something, then glanced up at Jessica before fixing her attention back on Jihoon.

Jessica sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes. "That's Krystal, my little sister. And don't let her innocent shy act fool you—she's a menace in disguise."

"Shy?" Jihoon smirked, tilting his head. "I don't think so. She's been scheming something since the moment I walked in."

"So, tell me, little one," he said, resting a hand on his knee, "what do you want from me?"

Krystal gasped—loud, exaggerated, theatrical. She gripped her mother's dress tighter, but Jihoon didn't miss the way the corners of her lips twitched, barely containing a grin.

"She's a pain in the ass," Jessica muttered under her breath. "Last week, she replaced the sugar in my coffee with salt."

"And the week before that, she locked me out of my own room and demanded a bribe to let me back in."

Jihoon chuckled, shaking his head. "That's a brilliant move! With intelligence like that, you'll have no trouble outsmarting your sister in the future."

Jessica shot him a look so sharp it could have cut glass. "YA! You're not helping!"

Finally, Krystal spoke, her small voice carrying an unexpected boldness. "Are you the Director Lee that's been on the news all this time?"

Jihoon raised a brow, his smirk returning as he turned back to her. "Oh? You know about me?" He cast a playful glance at Jessica. "Did your sister tell you?"

"I did not," Jessica shot back, far too quickly. Her hands flew to her hips in reflex, her posture stiffening as if her body reacted before her mind could.

The emotions stirring within her were still unfamiliar, still uncertain, but one thing she did know—getting involved in this conversation was a bad idea. And besides, she hadn't told Krystal anything about Jihoon anyway, so there was nothing to explain… right?

Jihoon's smirk deepened. "Interesting. So, if it wasn't your sister, where did you hear about me?"

Krystal blinked, then grinned mischievously. "TV. Internet. You're everywhere."

Jihoon chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, I suppose I should be honored."

Before he could press further, Lee Youngae clapped her hands together, her voice warm yet firm. "Alright, enough teasing. Come sit, everyone. The food is getting cold."

As they moved toward the table, Jihoon caught one last glance at Krystal, who was now quietly giggling to herself.

Ah. So that was her game.

She wasn't just curious about him—she was thoroughly enjoying every moment of teasing him and Jessica. What a mischievous little troublemaker.

As everyone settled around the dining table, the soft clatter of dishes and the faint hum of conversation filled the air. Jihoon took his first bite, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to slow down.

The warmth of the home-cooked meal wrapped around him in a way he had never experienced before.

Every dish carried the essence of care—the quiet love of a mother who had spent years perfecting the art of making a house feel like home.

It was unfamiliar, yet something deep inside him stirred—a small seed of longing, though he hadn't quite noticed it yet.

The meal flowed smoothly, accompanied by lighthearted chatter. Jessica's mother, Lee Youngae, with her gentle warmth, naturally steered the conversation towards Jihoon's life.

"So, Jihoon-ah," she began, her voice filled with curiosity, "what about your family?"

Jihoon paused for a brief moment before answering, his voice calm yet distant. "My parents passed away a long time ago," he said simply. Then, after a short breath, he added, "I used to live with my grandparents, but I moved out when I enrolled in university."

A heavy silence fell over the table. Jessica, mid-bite, glanced at him from the corner of her eye but said nothing.

Lee Youngae's face softened with sympathy. "Oh, you poor thing," she murmured. "That must have been so difficult for you."

Jihoon only offered a small, polite smile. "It was a long time ago," he said, as if that somehow made it easier.

"Still," Jung Yongmin, Jessica's father, finally spoke, his voice steady yet firm. "Losing family like that… it's an unimaginable pain."

He paused, eyeing Jihoon for a long moment before nodding in quiet approval. "But you're here. You've worked hard, built a life for yourself. That's something to be proud of, son."

Jihoon nearly froze.

Son.

It was such a simple word, yet hearing it come from Jung Yongmin—the same man who, up until this moment, had given Jihoon nothing but a strict, no-nonsense impression—felt jarring. Almost surreal. The word carried an unfamiliar weight, one he wasn't sure how to hold.

But instead of lingering on the feeling, he pushed it aside with a small nod of gratitude. "Thank you, sir," he said quietly.

Just then, Lee Youngae's eyes narrowed slightly, as if a realization had just dawned on her. "Wait a moment… When Krystal mentioned 'Director Lee' earlier," she said slowly, tilting her head, "did she mean the Director Lee Jihoon? The one all over the news lately?"

Jessica sighed, already sensing the shift in conversation. "Yes, Omma. That Director Lee."

Jihoon chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess my name's been floating around a lot lately."

"Floating?" Lee Youngae gasped. "Jihoon-ah, you're everywhere! To think someone so young—"

"—Hold on," Jung Yongmin interrupted, his brows furrowing. "How old are you again?"

"First-year at SNU," Jessica answered before Jihoon could.

Silence. Then, almost in unison—

"First-year?"

"Well, at the very least, we now have Jihoon to help tutor Krystal with her homework," Lee Youngae said, finally processing the full weight of Jihoon's accomplishments—especially at such a young age and without parental support.

As soon as the words left Lee Youngae's mouth, Krystal—who had been quietly focused on her meal—suddenly jolted upright.

"Omma! I can do it myself!" she protested, her voice filled with exaggerated outrage.

Jihoon smirked, turning to her with a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Oh, but I'd be more than happy to help her with her homework," he said smoothly, his tone dripping with amusement.

Krystal stiffened.

Instantly, she could sense the impending doom looming over her study life. A shiver of dread ran down her spine as she slumped back in her chair, utterly defeated. Her once bright expression darkened as she muttered under her breath, "I'm doomed…"

Her exaggerated despair sent the entire table into laughter.

Even Jessica, who usually found her little sister's antics exasperating, couldn't help but chuckle at how quickly Krystal's excitement for dinner had turned into a tragic realization.

And just like that, the meal continued—filled with warmth, teasing, and easy laughter.

For Jihoon, it was unfamiliar yet comforting. The kind of atmosphere he had only witnessed from the outside, never really experiencing it himself.

But tonight, he felt something different. Like, for the first time in a long time, he wasn't just a guest passing through—he belonged, even if only for a night.

An hour later, as the evening wound down, Jihoon rose from his seat, ready to leave. But before he could step outside, Jessica abruptly stood up as well.

"I'll walk with you," she blurted out, a little too quickly.

Jihoon raised an amused brow. "Oh? And that requires walking me all the way down?"

Jessica shoved her hands into her pockets, her voice suddenly defensive. "Gotta… you know, digest my food before heading back up."

Jihoon smirked knowingly. "Uh-huh. Sure."

"Shut up," she muttered, nudging his arm as they stepped outside into the crisp night air.

As they began walking, Jessica glanced at him and, with a playful pout, said, "Next time, if you've got any OSTs, you better come to me too! Don't be so selfish!"

Jihoon let out a laugh, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Hah! And what exactly do you have to offer me?"

"YA!" Jessica shot him a glare before punching his arm lightly. "What do you mean?! Did Taeyeon offer you anything at all?!"

Jihoon dodged her next playful punch, grinning. "Hmm… she didn't offer anything, but tell me—why should I replace her with you if you're not giving me any benefit?"

Jessica gasped, then huffed in frustration. "Humph! Fine! What do you want?!"

Jihoon tapped his chin, pretending to give it deep thought.

Then, with a smirk, he said, "Well, since you were the one who made me sign up for your dad's Taekwondo classes, shouldn't you be responsible for washing my training clothes?"

Jessica froze mid-step, her eyes widening in disbelief. "YA! What makes you think I'm your maid?! And besides, you're the one who wanted something to do! I was just offering a suggestion!"

Jihoon chuckled, effortlessly dodging the barrage of small punches she threw at him.

"You're unbelievable!" Jessica growled as she continued to chase after him.

And just like that, an unfair deal had somehow been agreed upon—Jessica would be responsible for Jihoon's training gear, and in exchange, she would get a chance at his next OST project.

The following weeks settled into a new routine for Jihoon.

His time was split between the company—where he focused on writing his film script and handling business affairs—and Jessica's dad's Taekwondo classes.

And, for his amusement, another new so-called 'responsibility' had been added to his schedule—tutoring Krystal.

At first, the little girl was furious at the arrangement. She pouted, whined, and even tried to convince her mother to cancel it. But over time, she eventually accepted her fate.

Not because she liked studying.

Not because Jihoon was a great tutor.

But because, after every lesson, he took her out for ice cream.

And, as far as Krystal was concerned, that was a deal worth keeping, even though Jihoon will sometime tease her and made her groan in frustration. All of it is worth it, because ice cream can heal her wound of shame. 

[Author's Note: Heartfelt thanks to Wandererlithe for bestowing the power stone!]