The soft ticking of the wall clock filled the quiet apartment as Kaneisyeon sat cross-legged on the couch, her small frame dwarfed by the cushions around her. She glanced at the clock again, a slight frown creasing her round face.

"Momma is not back from work yet," she muttered, her voice tinged with disappointment. Dressed in a bright yellow frock that mirrored her usually sunny demeanor, she sighed heavily and flipped through the channels on the television. Nothing caught her interest.

She slumped further into the couch, holding the remote loosely in her hand. "And she won't be back until tomorrow morning," she mumbled, her voice barely audible over the faint hum of the TV.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, its sharp chime cutting through the silence. Kaneisyeon straightened up, her heart skipping a beat. She stared at the door, her brows furrowed in confusion.

"Momma wouldn’t be back this early," she murmured to herself. Her initial confusion gave way to a flicker of hope, and a small smile began to form on her lips. She hopped off the couch, clutching the remote tightly in her tiny hand, and jogged to the door.

Opening it cautiously, she left the security chain latched, peeking through the small gap. Her face lit up instantly as she recognized the familiar figure standing outside.

"Jeha Oppa!" she exclaimed, her smile now as bright as her frock.

Jeha, dressed in a crisp black suit, crouched down to her level, a warm grin spreading across his face. "Hey, kiddo," he said softly, reaching out to ruffle her hair affectionately.

Kaneisyeon quickly unlatched the chain and opened the door wide. Jeha stepped inside, shutting the door behind him with a soft click. Scooping her up effortlessly in one arm, he carried her back to the couch and gently set her down.

"Have you eaten?" he asked, his tone light but caring.

Kaneisyeon shook her head, but before she could answer, she yawned widely, her eyelids already growing heavy.

Jeha chuckled softly. "Let’s get you to bed, okay?"

She nodded sleepily, leaning against him as he lifted her once more, cradling her tiny form in his arms. He carried her to her room, carefully laying her down on the neatly made bed. Tucking the blanket around her, he kissed her forehead gently.

"Good night, Kaneisyeon," he whispered.

The little girl murmured something incoherent in response before drifting off to sleep. Jeha stood there for a moment, watching her peaceful expression. A faint smile tugged at his lips. He turned off the light and closed the door quietly behind him.

Back in the living room, Jeha dimmed the overhead lights and slumped onto the couch, exhaustion weighing heavily on him. He ran a hand through his hair, loosening his tie but not bothering to remove the rest of his suit.

The day had been long and taxing. Work at the office was relentless, and his manager had been especially difficult, nitpicking at every little detail for no apparent reason. All Jeha wanted was a moment of rest, a chance to let his mind and body recover.

Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to sink into the couch. Sleep came quickly, pulling him into a blurry, dreamlike state. But the reprieve didn’t last long.

The sharp chime of the doorbell jolted him awake. Jeha sat up abruptly, ruffling his hair in frustration.

"Who could it be at this hour?" he muttered under his breath.

He glanced at the clock on the wall—it was well past midnight. His brows knitted together in irritation. In-Ha wouldn’t be back until dawn, and he was already here to watch over Kaneisyeon. Who else would come at this time?

The bell rang again, insistent and sharp. Jeha groaned as he stood, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Tightening the loosened knot of his tie, he shuffled toward the door, each step heavy with exhaustion.