When Haeun heard that the puppies had arrived at the hangover-soup shop, she ran there the moment school ended. She immediately started rolling around and playing with the puppies in the small back room. Cha Uijae, along with the regulars, watched the scene with fond smiles. Haeun asked, her eyes sparkling.

“they’re so cute! are you raising them all, uncle?”

“No. I’m going to find them good owners and send them off. They’re just under temporary protection right now.”

“Can’t we raise one?”

“Huh?”

“I want to raise a puppy. This one! I like this one the best!”

Haeun scooped up a puppy with brown fur and white patches. It was the one she had been hugging and playing with ever since Ham Seok-jeong’s place. Maybe it was born laid-back—whether its body was lifted or not, it just smacked its lips and yawned lazily.