Are you a man or not?

  Most encounters on the way are not beautiful.

  Yoon Hyun-woo, who was wandering aimlessly in the direction of home, happened to hear a commotion coming from an alleyway as he passed by its entrance. Instinctively, he looked towards the source of the noise.

  A group of girls surrounded two girls. Judging from their clothes, they should be junior high school students from a nearby middle school.

  The two sides are arguing about something.

  Yoon Hyun furrowed his brow, thinking it was better to avoid trouble, so he decided to take a detour. Ever since the incident with Kim Hyeong-soo, Yoon Hyun had been taking detours whenever something like this happened.

  "OPPA! You're just in time! Are you here to pick me up?" Just as Yeon was about to turn around and leave, the taller of the two girls standing in front shouted out.

  Terrible. The first reaction of Yoon Hyun-jin was that this little girl's reaction was too quick.

  However, the boldness mixed in that soft and gentle voice left a very good impression on Yoon Hyun. In almost an instant, Yoon Hyun decided to use it to his advantage.

  So Yin Xian decided not to leave and just stood there stupidly.

  "Oppa, come here! They won't let me pass!" The girl beckoned to Yoon Hyun, her words were urgent but her tone wasn't.

  "What have you done now?" Yoon Hyun looked up and down at the little girl, who was about 1.6 meters tall, looking quite slender with a pretty doll-like face that seemed somewhat familiar, as he walked towards her while speaking.

  "Oh no, it's not me who started trouble, otherwise with my Taekwondo skills I would have knocked them all down already!" A threatening glint seemed to appear in the little girl's eyes.

  Yin Xian looked at the little girl who winked at him and then immediately became cute, feeling speechless and amused. Have all the little girls become clever nowadays?

  "Park Hye-na, listen up!" Before Yoon Hyun could even reach her side, the little girl couldn't wait any longer and directly pulled Yoon Hyun over, then wrapped her arm around his, and with a haughty expression, said to the leader of the five girls opposite them: "This is my oppa! As for that Zheng guy, whoever likes him can have him, just let him not bother me again! Next time if he makes me unhappy, it won't be me who deals with him. Let me tell you, don't look at my oppa's gentle appearance now, when he gets angry, even I get scared to tears!"

  Yin Xian felt a crow flying across the blue sky.

  The girl opposite, Park Hye-na, was already somewhat intimidated by this arrogant girl, and now a man who appeared to be over 1.8 meters tall had arrived, and she immediately wilted. However, she refused to back down, and still managed to say: "Park Ji-hyun, remember that when you have a boyfriend at school, you should behave yourself. If anything happens this time with Jung Joon-young oppa, I'll never let you off the hook!" Then she left with her four followers, looking dispirited.

  "They left." Only after those five people had all gone out of the alley did the girl who had been hiding behind them weakly say a sentence.

  "Indigo Eony, you can't do this! I thought you could help me teach these guys a lesson." This girl named Park Ji-yeon pulled her hand out of Yoon Hyun's arm and spoke seriously to the girl behind her who looked like she should be her younger sister. Then she patted her hand as if brushing off dust...

  This clapping action made Yun Xian's forehead twitch with a blue vein.

  That girl who looks very young is talking to Park Ji-yeon, but her eyes are fixed on Yoon Hyun, with a guarded expression.

  "Uncle, thank you so much just now!" Park Ji-yeon seemed to have also noticed her companion's gaze and replied calmly to Yoon Hyun.

  "Big uncle?" Yoon Hyun was speechless. "Then why did you just call me OPPA?"

  "Eh, you saw what just happened, Uncle. Although I'm not afraid of those few girls, if Baek Ah-rim gets dragged into this, it'll be too embarrassing. That's why I asked for your help!"" Park Ji-hyun waved her finger at Yoon Hyun, looking disdainful. "You're so wishy-washy, are you even a man?"

  Yoon Hyun stared at Park Ji-hyun with a serious face, but he smiled in his heart. What an interesting little girl.

  The young-looking girl standing beside her saw Yun Hyun's face turn gloomy, and was startled. She quickly pulled Park Ji-hyun behind her, then bowed 90 degrees to Yun Hyun: "Uncle... ah, OPPA, I'm really sorry for the trouble earlier! Ji-hyun is still young and doesn't understand things, please don't take it seriously."

  "Uncle is just an uncle, nothing much." Yoon Hyun looked at the young girl's tense face and felt a bit embarrassed. "You guys attend middle school around here?"

  "Ji-yeon attended elementary school nearby, and I graduated from school this year." The young-looking girl looked at Yun-hyeon's face, which was no longer dark, and also let out a sigh of relief.

  Looking at this girl who was only about a third-grade elementary school student in height and face, Yoon Hyun suddenly felt a sense of helplessness.

  "Which school are you attending?" Yoon Hyun-joon calmed down his emotions and said calmly.

  Perhaps it was Yeon-ah's question, or perhaps it was Yeon-ah's unusual calmness that made the young-looking girl suddenly alert again: "Uncle, do you have something to say?"

  "Uh... nothing." This sudden vigilance made Yoon Hyun feel a bit embarrassed, and he could only awkwardly rub his nose.

  "Then we'll leave first, thank you uncle!" The beautiful young woman bowed deeply again, then turned around and pulled Park Ji-yeon away, escaping like manner.

  A gust of cold wind blew over, and Yin Xian shivered.

  "It's really cold in Seoul during winter." Yoon Hee said quietly.

  In the winter, Seoul's JN district streets are not cold at all. Especially after New Year's, the street still has a lingering atmosphere of welcoming the new year. The largest of the three houses Yoon Hyun bought and gave to his parents is located in the most bustling area of JN district. According to Yoon Hyun's definition, this place can also be considered Korea's Hollywood, with numerous large and small entertainment agencies nearby that are too many to count. With the trainee system of Korea's entertainment industry, there are many trainee dormitories in the vicinity, which has led to a concentration of service industries, making this luxurious rich district have more flavor to life. For a mother who can't drive, this place is much more convenient than those pure rich districts where you need to drive just to go buy groceries.

  "I'm back." Yoon Hyun shouted loudly as soon as he entered the house.

  "How's it going? Was the school registration smooth?"

  "Everything is fine, it's just that the school's dormitory system is too annoying, and you have to apply for it. Otherwise, living in the school is still very convenient."

  "It's not far from home anyway, you can just come back every day." Mother said with some unease.

  "Mom, I've already served in the army! Isn't it strange that I'm still living at home?" Yun Xian said with some frustration.

  "Then where do you want to live?" Her mother was also a bit angry.

  "I'm thinking of moving into that empty house now. It's more convenient to take the bus from there, and it's also closer to school." Yoon Hyun said after some thought. He had actually bought that house in preparation for attending Seoul University one day.

  "What about your meal?"

  "The school cafeteria! Went to take a look today, it's still pretty good."

  "Are you sure you want to move out and live on your own?"

  "It's just usual, you know! On weekends or holidays, when I'm free, I'll come back home to stay. Isn't that what my sister does too?" Yun Xian explained hastily, seeing the sad expression on his mother's face.

  "Sigh. Since that's the case, then give your sister a call and come home for dinner tonight. You can move out tomorrow." Tears welled up in Mother's eyes.

  Seeing her mother's bad mood, Yin Xian had to thicken her skin and coquettishly again. For the person who gave birth to herself, Yin Xian was deeply respectful and affectionate, seeing her sad and not very happy herself.

  But anyway, one has to grow up eventually, right?

  His father, who had been promoted to a department head, was now in the standard white-collar working hours of 9 am to 5 pm every day. So when Yin Xian was still helping his mother prepare dinner, his father had already finished work and returned home.

  "Your mother just called me and said you want to move out?" His father called Yoon Hyun, who was chopping vegetables in the kitchen, to the study room. The two sat facing each other.

  "Yes. Father. I've completed my military service." In front of his father, who always had a stern face, Yun Hyun was always cautious and kept the etiquette as a junior. "It's also time to stand on your own now."

  "Well. It's good this way, after serving in the army, you can be considered a formal adult too. Although you're not yet 20 years old." Father nodded and said seriously.

  Yin Xian was somewhat unexpected. He thought his father would oppose him moving out to live.

  "The minister spoke with me today," his father continued. But he only said that one sentence and fell silent again.

  "Dad, you rarely talk to me about work-related things." Yin Xian said with some trepidation. Indeed, from the time he was born until now, this was the first time he had heard his father mention work-related matters.

  "If you had suggested moving out two years ago, I would have told you then." Father still has a poker face. "You're only considered an adult now that you've brought it up today."

  Yin Xian scratched his hair somewhat awkwardly and nodded, indicating for his father to continue speaking.

  "The minister said that the company headquarters needs to send a batch of experienced and skilled employees to work overseas in order to strengthen control over investments abroad. At my current age, it's already quite difficult to get promoted again at the company's headquarters, so he suggested that I consider going on an expat assignment." Father looked straight at Yin Xian and said calmly: "I was still hesitant at first, but after receiving your mother's phone call, I decided to accept the offer."

  "Are you going abroad for work, Father?" Yun Hyun was taken aback. "If it's just about making money, I don't think you need to go through so much trouble. Here..."

  "It's not a matter of money." Father waved his hand to interrupt Yin Xian's words. "Let alone I don't even know where that money came from. Although I didn't ask, it doesn't mean I'm not worried. From being a small worker in the workshop to now, it's almost 30 years, although I changed companies, my feelings for this job can't be measured by any amount of money."

  Yin Xian nodded silently. Although he had never quite understood the theory of practicing this value in either his past life or present one, after all, it was his father, and he had to listen.

  "I also hope that before I retire, I can really try to see what a small worker like me can achieve." My father's words were plain, but with a sense of grandeur. "I must tell you this."

  Yoon Hyeon was slightly taken aback, but his eyes flashed for a moment before disappearing.

  "From a young age, you were always a sensible child, learning things faster than others, and always reading those books that I couldn't even understand. But you never had any expectations or demands for yourself, which is not right." Father's tone became slightly stern. "You could have easily been the top student, but you always settled for second place. And although you clearly liked your high school deskmate, you never made a move."

  "Dad..." Yun Xian said with a hint of annoyance: "Didn't we already discuss this?"

  "It's not about whether you should or shouldn't express your feelings, it's about how you treat yourself! Attitude!" The father slammed his hand on the table in anger.

  "Yes, Father, I'm sorry, I was wrong." Yoon Hyun immediately admitted his mistake.

  "What you like, you must pursue. What you are capable of having, you must obtain." Father saw Yin Xian immediately admit his mistake and with a sincere attitude, his anger dissipated somewhat. "In the past, I didn't say anything because I always thought you were still that little kid who couldn't even walk properly. But since today you've grown up and are about to live on your own, then I must tell you, as parents, your mother and I don't expect much in return from you, but we won't want our child to live a life of mediocrity."

  Yin Xian lowered his head. As for whether he listened or not, only he himself knew.

  "Alright, that's all I have to say. Tomorrow morning, you'll come with me to a car 4S shop." Father seemed to want to end the conversation.

  Yoon Hyun said somewhat embarrassingly, "I... have money."

  "This is for you." The father waved his hand and unceremoniously drove Yun Xian out of the study.

  Before long, her sister also returned home. Then, she naturally grabbed her brother and teased him, while sighing that the little brat who used to follow her around with a runny nose had grown up (Yin Xian swore he had never done such a thing). At the same time, she was excitedly gossiping about whether her brother's insistence on moving out was because he had found someone special.

  If you don't count the father who has been cooped up in his study and hasn't shown his face, this family gathering is still quite enjoyable.

  The next morning, Yin Xian got up very early as usual in the army and started doing his morning exercise. As a person who has lived for two lifetimes, he naturally knew what it meant to have a healthy body, and someone with a mental age of 50 would not be like young people without self-control, unable to resist the temptation to sleep in.

  He ran a lap around the building downstairs and came back, and his father and mother finally got out of bed. As for his sister, she seemed to have been on the phone with someone until very late last night, so she was still sleeping soundly.

  After finishing a simple but formal breakfast, Father made a phone call to the company and asked for half a day off. Then he drove with Yin Xian to the 4S store of H car.

  As the head of a well-known department in the company, Yoon Hyun's father was warmly received and then bought Yoon Hyun a mid-range car at a fairly reasonable price.

  The whole time, Yin Xian quietly followed beside him, bowing to his elders and nodding to those of the same status.

  The formalities were almost completed soon, and the new car key was also handed over to Yin Xian.

  "This car is the gift I'm giving you for your coming of age," Father said seriously to Yoon Hyun. "Although it's still over a month until your 20th birthday, in any case, I think you understand what I mean."

  This is a ritual. Yoon Hyun silently said in his heart.

  Then his father drove away directly.

  Yesterday, he probably didn't sleep all night and must be tired too? Yun Xian thought with a sigh as he looked at his father's back.

  Although he was still moved by his father's gift of a car, Yin Xian felt a slight disappointment that his dream first car had changed from an F to an H. Nevertheless, he thought he would take good care of this first car of his no matter what.

  Driving over, Yoon Hyun arrived at the largest retail supermarket in JN district, where his new home was fully furnished but waiting for him to go on a big shopping spree for appliances and daily necessities.

  Then Yin Xian pushed the shopping cart and started wandering around the supermarket, loading various daily necessities into the car in heaps, attracting attention from people around.

  Yin Xian was hesitating over which bed sheet looked better and was more resistant to dirt, so he wouldn't have to wash it frequently, when a somewhat familiar figure passed by in front of him. The figure also seemed to have noticed him, stopped, turned around, and gave Yin Xian a glance.

  The eyes of the two met, and Yoon Hyun burst out laughing. It was the relatively quiet girl he had met in the alleyway yesterday.

  "What a coincidence!" Yin Xian greeted proactively.

  The girl was stunned for a moment, as if she had thought of something again, slightly bowed her head to bid farewell, then grabbed a set of bedding and left in a hurry.

  Am I really that scary? Yun Xian rubbed his nose in a somewhat speechless manner.

  He bought a large number of pots, bowls, plates, bedding, and other household items, as well as TV, refrigerator, washing machine and other electrical appliances. Then he left his address to the seller and let them arrange for delivery as soon as possible. Yin Xian drove leisurely to this place that would be his home for a long time in the future.

  As soon as he entered the house, the first thing he did was to clean up. Since he bought this house, it was his second time entering the house, and a thick layer of dust almost drove him out of the house.

  It wasn't until more than three hours later that the things from the big purchase arrived, and Yoon Hyun was barely able to clean up the room so it didn't look like a wasteland. Then the whole day passed in this arduous cleaning.