My Little Baby (마이 리틀 베이비)

They said Eun Ae is okay. She'll be discharged tomorrow so just bring her things.

I'll call you tomorrow. Okay.

Not the dad, but the uncle?

Yeah, her guardian is her uncle.

Then, he's a bachelor?

I apologize, but this bachelor already has an owner. Sorry.

Ah, I should just go and wash up. Oh, towel...

But, why is the uncle raising his niece?

His sister and brother-in-law died in an accident, so he's raising her by himself.

So the child is an orphan.

That's right. Although the uncle is her guardian, she's an orphan without a mother or a father.

Poor thing. It will be a label that will follow her forever.

It's too bad.

You're an orphan! Stupid.

What did you say? Try saying that again!

Hey, Cha Jeong Han, you are an orphan!

Why am I an orphan?! I have a grandmother, uncle, and aunt.

I have them all! -They're just relatives.

If you don't have a mom or dad, you're an orphan, idiot!

What? You little—

Cha Jeong Han, you're an orphan! You are!

What are you saying?

Hey! What are you guys doing?

You're an orphan! - Let go! Let go!

Stop it!

Noona, those kids—

I told you not to fight! - Why are you hitting me?

Those jerks did wrong!

Ah, idiot. - Let's go.

Grandmother and aunt are raising us.

I told you not to do anything to make them worry!

I said to hold it in and not cause trouble!

Stop crying! Put a smile on as you go back home.

Ahjussi, please don't tell my grandmother.

Don't worry.

I'll take your picture, so come and visit!

I didn't want to give Eun Ae the same world I lived in.

Gift

I heard Eun Ae's fever went down. It's a relief it didn't end up becoming pneumonia.

Yeah, after getting discharged and coming home, she's playing well.

And she's eating well, too.

But... that looks good on you.

Then again, you look good in everything.

No, it's because you chose it well.

You have good taste. - Seriously!

That's enough. Stop it, stop it.

I didn't tell you to come so I could watch you two being mushy.

You gave me red ginseng the first time, but you came empty-handed today.

Are you saying you felt hurt by me? Is that it?

Ah, no, I'm not. I was coming straight from home.

Dad, Jeong Han isn't that kind of person.

Let's say that's the case.

Jeong Han, I'm sure you heard,

but because I judged the situation wrong all this time,

I caused Ye Seul a little bit of hardship.

So, are you guys dating?

Yes...

But, there's nothing you have to worry about.

Dad, we'll take care of our own business. I'd like you not to be so concerned from now on.

Ah, fine.

In some ways, a bachelor is better than a widower with kids.

So it won't be hard on Ye Seul.

Father, I have Eun Ae.

She isn't your child, she's a niece.

Aren't you going to send her away once she gets big enough? - Pardon?

No.. Eun Ae is like a child to me.

There's a big difference between being like a child and being a child.

Even legally you're not a dad but an uncle. A relative.

Do you think everyone who wants to be a parent can be a parent?

Ah, doesn't she have a large inheritance coming in the future?

Was it 30 million?

Is that why you're doing this?

Dad!

Ah! You scared me.

Just let it go in one ear and out the other. You're not going to adopt Eun Ae, so don't let it get to you.

No.

When Eun Ae was in the hospital, I thought about adopting her.

I know because I lived it.

As Eun Ae is growing up,

what it's like to be hurt for no reason.

So, you're really going to adopt Eun Ae?

I don't know. From hearing what Father said,

I feel like people won't think my motives are pure.

But to just live like this, I feel bad for Eun Ae.

How about holding off for now?

Would a real parent care what other people think?

You might be able to copy something, but it's hard to be the real thing.

And there will be things you'll have to give up.

Until you're certain you can be a real parent,

how about just waiting until then?

Do you think so?

But, how can you know so much when you're younger than me and have never been a parent before?

Do you have to be old or experience it to know?

Since you've never been the one to be cautious,

I know that you shouldn't be allowed to make rash decisions.

Hey, why do you think I'm not cautious? I'm Cautious Cha.

Cautious Cha, didn't you go and propose marriage to Ye Seul out of nowhere?

Hey, that was because—

Why are you bringing up something that's in the past?

Why don't you bring it up next year as well?

What do these women want now?

Purchase party favors? What is this now?

There's still several months until the children turn one.

Why are we already talking about party favors for their first birthday parties?

Wow... I reserved the place for Yoon Ji's first birthday party when she turned 100 days old.

These days, moms are very competitive about places that have good food, is easy to access, and popular.

I'm thinking of reserving my second's first birthday party location now.

The first birthday for a baby that isn't even born yet?

If you reserve in advance, you get a great discount.

Unnie, you should use the place where I had Yoon Ji's party for your second. There are rumors it's booked until next year.

In the end, this just means that that place is the best in the area, doesn't it?

But that place, are you sure they serve snow crabs?

I heard that they only serve red snow crabs. - Really?

Ah, I better look into it.

That place is only popular with all the moms because of their steamed snow crab.

I will turn the food table upside down if the crab legs look thin!

Eun Ae's Uncle, look into Yoon Ji's place, too.

Oh, I guess I should.

But it's probably fully reserved. It will be hard unless someone cancels.

Well, I should try going there for now.

Then if I decide the location for the first birthday party, am I done?

Done? That's just the start of it.

The first birthday table spread and doljabi (object grab from a selection of items, i.e., money, notebook, food) is basic.

You should decide on what she'll wear at her party first.

Decide if you're going to go with a hanbok (Korean traditional dress) or a dress and look into renting.

Also, you need to take pictures, so look for a photographer and come up with a concept for the shoot.

And, you'll want a video of her growing up and a photo table, too,

so if you prepare it now, it makes it easier.

How about buying the party favors in advance?

These days, they say it's popular to put the child's picture on a tumbler or a cup.

Oh, yeah, you know you have to prepare an event present for the guests, right?

An event present?

Wow, the preparations are no joke.

But why don't I see Ms. Jo here?

The art academies that are located within 1 km radius of our apartment

are mostly those that cater to preparatory examinations.

It should say that in that document.

However...

No, next page. The next page.

However,

over 38% of the kids in our neighborhood are between the ages of 0 and 10.

In light of that, we lack art academies that cater to preschoolers or elementary school kids.

Then, what should be Mirae Art Academy's aim in its survival strategy?

It should be the result of your performance assessment

according to the preschoolers and the lower-grade elementary schoolers.

W-wait a minute.

Why did you look into this?

I heard the rumors that you were thinking about selling the academy and becoming a teacher instead.

And I heard another rumor

that you're still undecided about the teaching job due to the terms that you aren't happy with.

You've heard the rumor, right?

My ability to gather information and my business sense have already been recognized by our community.

What do you think? Do you want to try saving this academy me?

Pardon?

But I know that you weren't an art major, so how are you considering—

This is the era of consulting. You run the classes,

and I will counsel the parents, take care of the students, and do all the PR work.

So, you're thinking of continuing with the academy?

Yeah. Actually, I've been fond of it for so long, it was hard for me to close it down.

And no one has offered to take it over either.

I'm thinking of trying with Ha Eun's mom.

Omo! Beom Soo Unni and Yoon Ji are going to register for classes as well.

Beom Soo Unni and Yoon Ji?

You're on speaking terms with those women?

Oh, earlier...

Ha Eun's mom said she was with them, so I ate with them.

But, don't get too close.

You know how out of hand and pushy those women are.

They're very different from you.

I'm a married woman, too.

Ah, did you find a place for Eun Ae's first birthday party?

No. I don't think it will be easy to find a good place.

Decent places seem to be reserved already.

I wish I could help.

But I had Hoon Goo's first birthday party very simply at home, so I don't know much about those places.

It's okay. It will probably turn out okay.

Eun Ae was sick, too.

I feel sorry for her and feel bad.

I want to have the best party for her just like the other mothers do.

Yoon Ji's mom! Don't be like that. A good thing is a good thing, so let's just do it at the same time!

That's just ridiculous.

Ah, really.

What's so ridiculous? - The place that I reserved for Yoon Ji's first birthday party,

I went to check on whether they serve snow crabs or red snow crabs, and this Detective Ahjussi said

that he wants to have Eun Ae's party on the same day, at the same time right next to ours! How ridiculous is that?

I got a call that the time slot was available because someone canceled. What else could I do?

But if you have it on the same day, at the same time, our guests will get split up!

And the gift money will be split up as well! Still, are you saying that it doesn't matter?

That would matter.

That's true. Our bottoms could fall out if we have to attend two parties at once.

Then...let's have it together. We can pay for the party half and half.

What? How can you do the first birthday party together? It doesn't make sense for there to be two stars at the party!

Why not? There are joint weddings, so you could have a joint birthday party, too.

It'll be more comfortable for us, too.

Then you do it with Beom Soo!

You know that Beom Soo's party is going to be held near my family's home.

And for Chan Yool's birthday, his whole family is going away on vacation.

Us, too. We're going to have dinner with just the family and that'll be it.

It's meaningful for community members to do something like this together.

And the birthday presents, we can give equally as a community.