Episode 4: One Bed, One Little Matchmaker

The storm outside continued to rage.

Rain hammered against the windows while thunder echoed through the mansion.

Jiwoo remained firmly attached to both adults.

His tiny hands refused to let go.

"Jiwoo," Taehyun said gently, "the power will come back soon."

"But what if the thunder comes back?"

"It probably will."

Jiwoo immediately tightened his grip.

"No."

"..."

"..."

Minho bit his lip to stop himself from laughing.

After several minutes of negotiations, Jiwoo reached a compromise.

A very suspicious compromise.

"You can both sleep here."

Taehyun narrowed his eyes.

"Both?"

"Yes."

"Why both?"

Jiwoo looked offended.

"Because I'm scared."

The answer sounded reasonable.

The innocent smile on his face did not.

Eventually, the staff brought emergency lamps.

A warm glow filled the bedroom.

Jiwoo was tucked under the blankets.

Minho sat on one side of the bed.

Taehyun sat on the other.

The little boy looked extremely satisfied.

Mission accomplished.

"Teacher Lee."

"Yes?"

"Tell me a bedtime story."

Minho blinked.

"A story?"

Jiwoo nodded.

"Please."

Minho thought for a moment.

Then he began telling a simple story about a brave little rabbit who protected his friends from storms.

Jiwoo listened carefully.

So did Taehyun.

The gentle voice filled the room.

Slowly.

Softly.

Comfortably.

By the time the story ended, Jiwoo's eyes were drooping.

"Daddy?"

"Hm?"

"Teacher Lee?"

"Yes?"

The little boy smiled sleepily.

"You both look nice together."

Minho nearly fell off the bed.

Taehyun coughed into his fist.

"Go to sleep."

"Okay."

Jiwoo obediently closed his eyes.

Within minutes, he was asleep.

The room finally became quiet.

Neither adult moved.

The soft light cast gentle shadows across the room.

Minho looked down at the sleeping child.

"He's really precious."

Taehyun nodded.

"He is."

For a moment, they simply watched Jiwoo sleep.

Then Taehyun spoke.

"Thank you."

Minho looked surprised.

"For what?"

"For spending time with him."

His voice was unusually soft.

"He's happier lately."

Minho smiled.

"That's because he loves you."

Taehyun looked down.

"Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing enough."

The confession caught Minho off guard.

The powerful CEO everyone admired.

The man who seemed capable of anything.

Yet here he was worrying like any parent.

Minho answered honestly.

"From what I've seen, you're a wonderful father."

Taehyun stared at him.

Something warm settled in his chest.

A feeling he hadn't experienced in a very long time.

Suddenly—

CRACK!

A loud thunderclap shook the room.

Jiwoo jumped in his sleep.

Then, without opening his eyes, he rolled across the bed.

Straight into Minho.

And then grabbed Taehyun's sleeve too.

The result?

The three of them ended up squished together on the bed.

Minho froze.

Taehyun froze.

Jiwoo slept peacefully between them, completely unaware of the chaos he had created.

For a second, Minho glanced up.

At the exact same moment, Taehyun looked down.

Their faces were much closer than either expected.

Very close.

Dangerously close.

Neither spoke.

Neither moved.

And somehow...

Neither wanted to be the first to pull away.

To Be Continued... ❤️🌧️👨‍👨‍👦✨💕

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