For a brief moment Minjun felt a spark of hope. Daiki ignored him and instructed Kenta to take Thomas back to the study.
Thomas protested, shouting that he hated Papa, while Minjun broke into a cold sweat.
Then Daiki stated firmly that Thomas could not visit crowded places such as zoos.
Gathering his courage, Minjun argued that everything would be fine if Daiki and Kenta came with them.
With an unreadable expression, Daiki simply told him to continue.
After thinking for a moment, Minjun blurted out that they should just go. The instant he heard how blunt it had sounded, he hurried to explain himself.
Raising an eyebrow, Daiki questioned the rude expression he had used. Embarrassed, Minjun claimed quickly that it simply meant something similar to please.
After letting out a sigh, Daiki repeated that Thomas could not go without his permission, and told Minjun to leave.
Even so, Minjun grabbed his arm and insisted, explaining that childhood experiences like visiting a zoo mattered.
Curious, Daiki asked why he was trying so hard for Thomas's sake.
Minjun replied that as a mother, it was only natural to want to see her child happy, even if the father was absolutely terrifying.
Daiki warned him at once not to say such pointless things.
Upset, Minjun asked how he could call somebody's feelings pointless. Then he opened up. He explained that Thomas had asked whether all the animals in the picture book were dead, and admitted that hearing a question like that had broken his heart.
Lost in his memories, he began talking about his own childhood.
He recalled how he used to run around naked at his grandmother's house, until one day an insect bit him in a very sensitive place and left him in terrible pain. He remembered ending up in hospital after eating too much grass while playing with the rabbits in his grandmother's yard. To him, those simple moments, being surrounded by animals and making unforgettable memories, were what childhood was truly about.
That was why he believed Thomas deserved to visit a zoo.
When Minjun mentioned the incident at his grandmother's house, Daiki's eyes drifted toward his trousers. Noticing the strange glance, Minjun stopped talking and asked where he was looking.
Without hesitation, Daiki replied that he was simply checking whether Minjun had any scars.
Embarrassed, Minjun protested that this was hardly important at a time like this.
Pulling him into an embrace, Daiki insisted firmly that it was important. He added that he would check for scars later, and also forbade Minjun from speaking Korean unless he was saying something positive.
Then, leaning closer to Minjun's lips, he added that he would ask Sho to take them to the nearest zoo.
Unable to contain his excitement, Minjun cheered happily. Halfway through celebrating, he froze, as though he had realised something important.
Looking at Daiki, he asked why Sho would be taking them instead of Daiki himself.
Daiki said nothing at first. Encouraged, Minjun asked again, saying that he wanted Daiki to come, because he wanted to share that moment with him.
Finally smiling, Daiki proposed a wager. Instead of answering directly, he explained that if he were allowed to inspect Minjun's scar, he would personally accompany them to the zoo.
Caught off guard, and thoroughly embarrassed by the condition, Minjun could only stay silent while he processed the proposal.
The next day, Kenta packed drinks and supplies for the zoo while Minjun watched him impatiently. He asked whether Kenta was even listening to him, and Thomas immediately repeated the complaint in a teasing voice.
Looking at the mountain of supplies, Minjun remarked that it appeared Kenta was packing the entire kitchen, and asked whether all of it was really necessary.
Calmly sealing another bottle, Kenta explained that Daiki had ordered him to prepare everything in advance, so that they would not have to buy food or drinks at the zoo.
Suspicious, Minjun joked that perhaps Daiki was worried somebody might poison them.
Kenta did not answer. He merely gave Minjun a sideways glance.
That alone was enough to make Minjun shrink back uneasily. Trying to laugh it off, he asked Kenta not to say anything so frightening.
With a completely serious face, Kenta replied that it had happened before.
As soon as he began telling the story, Minjun cut him off, insisting that the day was supposed to be fun and that nobody should be talking about such dark things. Everyone, including Kenta, should simply enjoy themselves.
Full of confidence, Minjun declared proudly that he would protect the boss.
Neither Kenta, nor Thomas, nor any of the other men took the declaration seriously.
A moment later one of the guards announced that the car was ready. When Minjun turned around, he saw all the men standing there with intimidating expressions that made it painfully obvious they were members of the mafia.
Uncomfortable with the attention they were bound to attract, he suggested that they change into more ordinary clothes, reminding them of their promise to dress less conspicuously.
Unfortunately, there was no time. Just then Daiki appeared, asked impatiently what everyone was doing, and ordered them all to leave.