“I'm home,” said Kang Jin-Ho as he stepped inside the house.

“Welcome back, son... Mm?” Baek Hyeon-Jeong's eyes narrowed in suspicion as she greeted her son. “Why do your clothes look like that, Jin-Ho?”

Kang Jin-Ho inwardly grimaced. The 'rough' shenanigans from earlier had left his clothes looking like dirty rags, but he forgot to change them as his mind was too occupied with other, more urgent thoughts. “...The work got a little rough, that's all.”

“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere, Jin-Ho?”

“No, I'm fine, Mother.”

Baek Hyeon-Jeong grew angry almost instantly. “Your father suddenly went senile and sent our perfectly-healthy son to hard labor, and look what happened to you as a result! Jin-Ho! Are you really alright?”

“Yes, Mother. I'm fine.”

“I knew something like this might happen! Other families do their best to give their children the best foods and only the best possible life, yet why does your crummy father try so hard to put you through a wringer like this?! Even though he only served as a defense force serviceman and now lives a cozy life!”

'...Mother, I don't think this and father serving in the defense forces have anything to do with each other.'

Kang Jin-Ho had half a mind to defend his father's honor, but carelessly saying something right now could get him utterly obliterated. All he could do, at least for now, was pray that his father wouldn't get sucked into the Hell of Nagging later. While lightly shaking his head, he headed to the bathroom.

Baek Hyeon-Jeong called out to him. “Would you like...