Chapter 40: The Reunion

Ryu Seo-woo walked slowly through the quiet streets of his new neighborhood, holding many paper bags. The crisp evening air cooled his skin. The streetlights cast a warm glow on the pavement, and the distant hum of the city was barely audible.

A tune drifted into his mind—soft, bittersweet, yet comforting—and before he realized it, he was humming.

Then, his hum turned into a quiet song.

"Through the winding roads, I wander alone,

A home so close, yet far unknown.

Shall I enter, shall I stay,

Will the past still find its way?"

His voice faded into the night, the lyrics carrying an uncertainty that mirrored his own feelings.

A home that had never truly felt like home. A family he had long been distant from.

Seo-woo sighed, coming to a stop in front of his house.

The gate loomed before him. Unfamiliar, yet his.

His fingers curled around the lock, hesitating for a moment before clicking it open.

He stepped inside and took a deep breath, trying to shake off the nervous energy curling in his stomach.

But just as he reached the front door, cheerful voices spilled out from inside.

Curious, Seo-woo stepped toward the window and peered in.

The sight froze him in place.

Inside the warmly lit house, his strict father, Ryu Woo-hyuk, was playing with Seo-min—the very same man who had never once played with him or Ji-woo when they were kids.

Seo-min giggled in his grandfather's arms, tiny fingers clutching onto his collar as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Nearby, Seo-jun and Seo-jin were laughing at something Hyun-woo's wife said, their little faces bright with amusement.

The rest of the Ryu family was there too—Hyun-woo and his wife, a young girl, and a little boy who looked about the same age as his triplets.

The scene felt so warm, so normal, yet it didn't make sense to him.

Was this really his family?

The father he had once feared, now smiling gently?

The siblings who had once been strangers, now laughing together?

For a moment, Seo-woo didn't know whether to walk in or turn away.

His hesitation was broken when Hyun-woo's gaze met his.

Hyun-woo's expression changed, a flicker of emotion passing through his eyes before he leaned toward Ji-woo and whispered something.

A second later, Ji-woo rushed to the door and pulled it open.

"Oppa!" Ji-woo greeted me with a bright smile.

At that single word, Seo-woo saw it.

His father flinched.

The cheerful noise faded, replaced by a sudden stillness as all eyes turned to the doorway—to him.

Seo-woo froze.

He felt like an outsider looking in.

But before the silence could become suffocating, there was a blur of motion—

"Dad!"

The triplets ran to him, their small feet pattering against the floor, their arms stretching out eagerly.

They crashed into his legs, wrapping their little arms around him.

"We missed you!" Seo-jin said.

"Dad, you're back" Seo-jun added.

"Did you bring us something?" Seo-min asked innocently.

A startled laugh escaped Seo-woo's lips, breaking through the stiffness in his chest.

His fingers ran through their soft hair, his heart easing just a little.

He may not have been ready to face the rest of his family, but he knew one thing for certain—

He had already built his own.

Ryu Seo-woo exhaled deeply, pushing away the hesitation that lingered in his chest. The weight of the past, the distance between him and his family, all the emotions he had long buried—it was time to move forward.

His past life had been filled with loneliness. His parents had been too far away, too busy, their rare visits home leaving little room for genuine connection. They provided everything except the one thing he had truly wanted—warmth. A family that cared.

That void had led him to pursue music. If his own family wouldn't love him, he would find love elsewhere. Through his voice. Through his fans.

But that love, no matter how strong, had been fleeting. Temporary.

The moment his plane plummeted, he realized—everything could be lost in a blink of an eye.

But here he was, given another chance.

He wasn't going to let this story end in tragedy again.

A small smile lifted his lips as he clapped his hands together.

"Since this is our first proper reunion," Seo-woo said, breaking the silence, "I brought something for everyone."

He placed a bag on the table, pulling out carefully wrapped gifts, each one chosen with his family in mind.

Using the original Ryu Seo-woo's memories, he had selected gifts that suited each of them.

For Hyun-woo, his eldest brother who had always carried the burden of responsibility, he gifted a high-quality leather briefcase—practical, professional, and something he could use every day.

For Jung-woo, his younger brother, he handed over a customized set of professional paintbrushes and sketchbooks. Seo-woo had seen the way Jung-woo's eyes would light up whenever he talked about his art.

For Ji-woo, his younger sister, he pulled out a delicate silver bracelet with a small charm in the shape of a microphone. "For when you finally decide to showcase your voice," Seo-woo said with a teasing smile. Ji-woo huffed but her ears turned pink.

For Hyun-woo's wife, a luxurious yet subtle perfume that suited her elegant style.

For Hyun-woo's children, a music box for the little girl and a toy car set for the little boy—because every child deserved something fun.

His family stared at him, stunned.

Seo-woo felt his nerves creeping back in. Was this too much?

"Oppa, you didn't have to—" Ji-woo began, but Hyun-woo cleared his throat and nodded.

"They're good gifts," Hyun-woo said simply, running a hand over the briefcase's leather. "Thank you."

Jung-woo grinned widely, already inspecting the bristles of the paintbrushes.

Ji-woo still flustered, fiddled with the bracelet before slipping it onto her wrist.

Hyun-woo's wife thanked him graciously, while the children giggled in delight as they played with their gifts.

The atmosphere was warming up, but there was still one last gift left.

Seo-woo turned to his father.

The moment he handed the small, neatly wrapped box to Ryu Woo-hyuk, the room fell silent again.

His father didn't reach for it.

Instead, he stared at it, his expression unreadable.

The triplets, however, did not like this at all.

They puffed up their tiny chests, exchanged glances, and then—

Seo-min took the gift and boldly placed it onto Woo-hyuk's lap.

Seo-jun leaned in. "Grandpa, you have to take it!"

"Yeah! It's from Dad!" Seo-jin added, nodding fiercely.

Woo-hyuk's gaze flickered toward them, then toward Seo-woo, before he let out a small sigh and finally picked up the gift.

Slowly, he unwrapped it.

Inside was a set of rare, aged tea leaves from a prestigious brand—one that Seo-woo had remembered his father used to enjoy when he actually took time to relax.

Woo-hyuk's fingers brushed over the tea canister.

Seo-woo's voice was steady but soft.

"I remembered you liked this."

There was a pause.

Then, Woo-hyuk huffed. "Hmph. You remembered something useful, at least."

The triplets gasped dramatically.

"Grandpa, you have to say thank you!" Seo-min scolded.

"That's the rule!" Seo-jun declared.

Woo-hyuk looked at them, then at Seo-woo, and exhaled.

"...Thank you."

It was gruff. It was reluctant.

But it was there.

Seo-woo blinked, then smiled. What a tsundere like his eldest son. I think I can melt his heart someday.

Before the moment could stretch into awkwardness, Seo-woo clapped his hands together.

"Well! Since we're all gathered here, I'll cook dinner."

Ji-woo and the triplets beamed.

Everyone else? They froze.

"You?" Hyun-woo looked skeptical.

"You can cook?" Jung-woo's eyes narrowed.

"Are you trying to kill us?" His father's voice was deadpan.

Seo-woo ignored them all.

"I'll take that as a yes," he said cheerfully, already heading toward the kitchen. "Everyone, sit tight."

Ji-woo followed him immediately, knowing better than anyone that Seo-woo had actual culinary skills.

The triplets, ever the loyal fan club, cheered.

"Dad's cooking!"

"It's gonna be yummy!"

Seo-woo smirked as he tied his apron around his waist.

If they thought he couldn't cook, they were in for a surprise.

As Seo-woo stepped into the kitchen, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.

—𝙏𝙞𝙣𝙜!—

A floating blue window materialized before his eyes, translucent yet vivid.

[𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩: A Family Feast]

📜 Objective: Cook a grand dinner for your family.

🍽 Required Dishes:

𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙗𝙞-𝙅𝙞𝙢 – Braised Short Ribs

𝙅𝙚𝙤𝙣 – Assorted Korean Pancakes

𝘼𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙜𝙚 – A Luxurious Starter

𝙎𝙖𝙢𝙜𝙮𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙣 – Ginseng Chicken Soup

𝙆𝙞𝙢𝙘𝙝𝙞 𝙅𝙟𝙞𝙜𝙖𝙚 – Kimchi Stew

𝙎𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙨 – Various Korean Banchan

𝙃𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙠 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙨𝙪𝙮𝙤𝙠 – Pumpkin Sweet & Sour Pork

🎁Reward: Improved Affection with Family + Hidden Bonus

Seo-woo blinked. A quest?

"...I really am in a damn novel, but it's a good thing that Jung-woo already bought some ingredients to put inside the fridge" he muttered under his breath, shaking his head in amusement.

Ji-woo and Hyun-woo's wife, Eun-ha, entered the kitchen just as he was closing the system window.

"We're here to help!" Ji-woo declared, already tying an apron around her waist before he could object.

Eun-ha smiled gently, rolling up her sleeves. "I'd like to help too. It's been a while since we had a home-cooked family meal."

Seo-woo chuckled, feeling warmth in his chest. This felt... nice.

"Alright," he said, "then let's make a meal no one will forget."

With quick, precise movements, Seo-woo started assigning tasks.

"Ji-woo, help me prep the vegetables and slice the beef for the pancakes."

"Eun-ha, can you handle the abalone porridge? The rice should be soaked properly."

They nodded, quickly getting to work.

Seo-woo first marinated the short ribs for the 𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙗𝙞-𝙟𝙞𝙢, mixing soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, and a hint of honey. The rich, savory-sweet aroma filled the air as he massaged the sauce into the meat, letting it soak in the flavors.

Meanwhile, Ji-woo expertly chopped green onions, bell peppers, and carrots, setting them aside for the 𝙟𝙚𝙤𝙣.

Eun-ha, carefully stirring the 𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙜𝙚, looked over and smiled. "Seo-woo, you're really good at this."

Seo-woo smirked, flipping a pancake effortlessly. "Of course. Who do you think raised these three monsters?" He gestured toward the triplets, who were peeking into the kitchen with big, excited eyes.

Seo-min gasped. "Dad's cooking is the best!"

Seo-jin and Seo-jun nodded furiously, their mouths already watering.

After nearly two hours of hard work, the dishes were ready and arranged beautifully on the dining table.

🔹 𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙗𝙞-𝙟𝙞𝙢 (Braised Short Ribs): The meat was tender, fall-off-the-bone, coated in a glossy, rich sauce that shimmered under the dining room lights.

🔹 𝙅𝙚𝙤𝙣 (Assorted Pancakes): Golden, crispy on the outside, soft and flavorful on the inside—kimchi, seafood, and veggie pancakes stacked neatly.

🔹 𝘼𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙜𝙚: A velvety, creamy soup, lightly seasoned with sesame oil and topped with thinly sliced abalone and seaweed.

🔹 𝙎𝙖𝙢𝙜𝙮𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙣 (Ginseng Chicken Soup): Whole young chicken, slow-cooked in ginseng broth, stuffed with glutinous rice, garlic, and jujube.

🔹 𝙆𝙞𝙢𝙘𝙝𝙞 𝙅𝙟𝙞𝙜𝙖𝙚 (Kimchi Stew): A bubbling, spicy red stew packed with aged kimchi, tofu, and pork belly, sending mouthwatering steam into the air.

🔹 𝙎𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙨: Various pickled vegetables, steamed eggs, and sweet soy-glazed anchovies.

🔹 𝙃𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙠 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙨𝙪𝙮𝙤𝙠 (Pumpkin Sweet & Sour Pork): A unique take on the classic dish—crispy battered pork glazed in a tangy, slightly sweet pumpkin sauce.

Ji-woo beamed proudly at their work.

"I think we outdid ourselves," Eun-ha said, adjusting the plates slightly.

Seo-woo grinned. "Now, let's see how they react."

When the rest of the family gathered at the dining table, their jaws collectively dropped.

"You really cooked all this?" Hyun-woo looked skeptical.

Jung-woo poked the food with his chopsticks. "Is it safe?"

Seo-woo rolled his eyes. "Just eat before I take it all away."

The triplets were the first to dig in.

"Waaaah!" Seo-min's eyes shone with delight as he took a bite of the braised short ribs. "Dad, this is so gooood!"

Seo-jin, with his cheeks stuffed with food, gave a thumbs-up.

Even Seo-jun, usually the picky eater, was silently stuffing his face.

The adults finally took their first bites—and their reactions were priceless.

Hyun-woo froze mid-chew, then quietly took another bite. Then another.

Jung-woo's eyes widened. "...This is better than restaurant food."

Ji-woo smirked. "Told you."

Their father, Ryu Woo-hyuk, took a spoonful of the abalone porridge and nodded subtly. "...Not bad."

For him, that was basically a standing ovation.

Seo-woo chuckled, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction.

The dinner was filled with laughter, warmth, and good food. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he truly belonged.

Maybe, just maybe—

This second chance at life was worth it.

---

Far away from the warmth of the Ryu family's dinner table, in a space beyond human perception, a massive screen illuminated a dark, ethereal room.

Displayed on it was the joyful reunion—the table laden with steaming dishes, laughter filling the air, and Ryu Seo-woo smiling brighter than he ever had before.

A lone figure sat before the screen, watching intently. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes gleamed with something deeper—nostalgia, perhaps even longing.

Just then, a voice echoed through the void.

"System No. 1276."

The figure turned his gaze away from the screen, expression unreadable.

The voice continued, its tone light yet tinged with finality. "Looks like this is it. After supporting so many hosts, you're about to complete your last mission."

The figure—System No. 1276—didn't respond immediately. He simply watched Seo-woo a moment longer, his eyes softening as the young man playfully ruffled the triplets' hair.

Finally, he let out a quiet chuckle. "Yeah... this is the last one."

The other voice hummed in acknowledgment. "You've done well. Your host is thriving. Once he finishes his journey, you'll be free."

System No. 1276 leaned back, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest of his chair. His lips curled into a faint smile.

"Free, huh?" he murmured. "So I'll finally wake up?"

The unseen speaker chuckled. "Yes. You'll finally see your family again."

My family. At that, System No. 1276's smile widened—not with the usual detached amusement of an overseer, but with genuine warmth.

He turned back to the screen, watching as Seo-woo poured a bowl of samgyetang for his father, a hesitant yet hopeful smile on his face.

A deep breath. A quiet exhale.

"...I can't wait to go home to my family."