Chapter 132 (1/1)

The woman huffed.  "Children need discipline, you should know that."  She said.  "Or do you just let your children run wild?"  She asked. Jeonghan shrugged.  "They are fine, young men who are respected very greatly in their place of work."  He said proudly.  "Two of them even have their teaching degrees.  And Hoshi is going for his masters degree."  He gave the facts. The woman huffed once more.  "Are you boasting now?"  She asked. "I am not."  Jeonghan said simply.  "I'm telling you how my children behave.  And it's not because I starved them or hurt them."  He answered. Renjun watched with scared eyes.  He could tell that the male adult was fighting questioning about the other things.  He moved to hold Jeonghan's arm.  "Please, Mr. Yoon, you don't have to defend me.."  He said in a small voice. "I defend who I love, Renjun."  He said firmly.  "I'm not just going to sit back and let you get hurt from just growing up.  I'm not going to let you get hurt because all you want to be is your own man."  He held Renjun's hand. Renjun was speechless.  However, the woman looked at the two angrily.  "Get your hands off my child."  She took Renjun back. "Hey, what's going on over here?"  They heard a man's voice. The three look toward the officer, San.  He had a raised eyebrow as he saw the familiar faces plus the woman.  "This man is trying to kidnap my child."  The woman pointed. San looked from the woman to Jeonghan.  "What?  When did.. San, I didn't attempt to steal him."  He defended himself. "Are you looking to press charges, Mrs.."  San looked at the woman once more. "Liu.  And yes, he was about to take my child."  She stated. San scratched his neck and saw Renjun's sad eyes.  "Alright, I need you three to come to the station with me."  He said.  "Mr. Yoon, please put your arms behind your back so I can handcuff you."  He requested. Jeonghan rolled his eyes and complied.  "I didn't do it.."  He muttered. San smirked.  "I know,"  He whispered, "let's just get this straightened out."  He continued as he put the cuffs on Jeonghan.

They arrive at the station, surprising Sungyeol definitely.  He saw the three being seated.  "Okay.. What do we have here?  And one at a time please."  He requested, already knowing Jeonghan would be talking but the woman would try talking over him. He's seen this situation plenty of times.  "This man was trying to kidnap my child."  She said simply and he typed it.  He then looked at Jeonghan. "I wasn't stealing him, I was curious as to why he was quiet over the weekend."  Jeonghan said honestly.  "Renjun usually comes over on the weekends and so I wanted to talk to him as he was walking back to school."  He continued. Sungyeol typed this into the computer too and then looked at Renjun.  "He wasn't trying to kidnap me."  He started, getting a glare from his mother.  "He was just concerned for me, and I didn't want to be rude and say that I'm not allowed to talk to him.  Mr. Yoon has been nothing but nice and supporting to me, the least I could do was tell him why I was quiet and why I won't be seeing him or Dino again."  He said in a mature tone. Sungyeol hummed.  "Alright, I'll take a look at the street cam.."  He said, accessing the cameras. The three stay silent as Sungyeol watches the screen.  "Okay, so.. No, Jeonghan wasn't stealing Renjun.  In fact, Renjun was crying and Jeonghan hugged him."  He looked up at the parent before the woman. She looked the other way while folding her arms.  "Renjun, why aren't you allowed to see Jeonghan?"  He asked. "Because he's a bad influence."  Renjun replied.  "Or so my mom said."  He looked toward the woman who was killing him with her eyes. Sungyeol hummed.  "Do you still wish to press charges, Mrs. Liu?"  He asked.  "We could go to court, but you'd most likely lose."  He gave her options. She rolled her eyes.  "No.  I'd just like it if I could get a restraining order.  I don't want any of his family near my child."  She said. "Suddenly I'm your child and not just some emotionally unstable animal."  Renjun narrowed his eyes as he spoke softly. "You be quiet."  She said. Renjun clenched his fists.  "Maybe Mr. Yoon is a bad influence.  He told me I shouldn't be ashamed of who I am.. I'm a human being, Mom."  He stood up.

San took his hands from behind his back in case he had to step in.  "Who punishes their kid for living?" Renjun asked. Sungyeol looked between the child and his mother.  "How does she punish you?"  He asked. "That's enough, Renjun."  She said. "When will I be enough for you?  When will you ever love me like a son rather than a puppet?"  Renjun asked.  "You never loved me and you're ashamed of me!"  He was loud, crying once more. San stepped in and held the child gently.  "It's okay, Renjun.  Please come with me, we'll get everything straightened out, okay?"  He spoke softly.  Seeing that Jeonghan spoke casually with the officer, Renjun was more comfortable with San holding him.  "I want to live with them.  They love me."  He muttered sadly. Jeonghan opened his mouth but he was speechless.  "That does pose as a problem,"  Sungyeol said, watching Renjun being walked away, "if she gets imprisoned, he has no family to live with."  He said. Jeonghan looked down before looking at the silent woman.  "I.. don't know if I could take him in, I need to talk to talk to Cheol first.."  He muttered.

Sungyeol looked at the woman.  "You will be held here until we're finished questioning Renjun."  He said to the woman. "Who gave you permission to question him?!"  The mother stood up.  The sheriff cracked his neck.  "Renjun himself gave permission.  He's a child that claims to be mistreated and he's willing to talk to us."  He informed.  "If you'd like to leave, you may, Mr. Yoon."  Sungyeol said.

Jeonghan sighed.  "No, I'll stay here.  I told him that I would be here for him, but I don't know if I can gain custody of him."  He held his forehead. Sungyeol hummed.  "Well I'll get Chankyung to prepare the documents in case.  Otherwise, we'll be sending him to a family.. I think in Gangnam."  He thought back. "He'll have to change schools.."  Jeonghan lowered his eyes as he imagined Renjun not being able to fit in the new environment. How the child would become stressed and depressed, moving so far away from where he's comfortable.  He stood up.  "I need to make a phone call."  He said, walking away from the two. He walked to the side and took out his phone.  He breathed in and out, pressing on Seungcheol's phone number.  The man answered on the third ring. "Hey Jeonghan, what's up?"  Jeonghan heard him say. He wiped a single tear in his eye as he imagined the man becoming angry at him for being in this sort of situation.  "You're not going to be happy with me, Cheol."  Jeonghan started.  "You're going to hate me for being involved and you're going to be so mad.."  He trailed off, leaning back against the wall. Seungcheol furrowed his eyebrows.  "I would never hate you, Jeonghan."  He said.  "Tell me what happened, where are you?"  He asked. "I'm in the police station.."  Jeonghan closed his eyes.  "Renjun's being mistreated and.. I don't know what to do.  He'll be taken away and it's all my fault."  He said, his voice becoming sadder and guiltier by the word. Seungcheol didn't know what to say.  The silence was killing Jeonghan more than the older knew.  "Figure out how long he has until they send him somewhere else, I'll think of something."  He instructed.  "I don't hate you, Jeonghan.  Please don't ever think I would."  He slightly begged, imagining the tear that helped make that sniffle. Jeonghan's shoulders trembled as he cried silently. "Cheol.. We can't take him in, I-I don't even know if our house is suitable for a regular child his age.  I don't know how well he would adjust or-" "Jeonghan,  Seungcheol interrupted, "you did what you thought was best, right?  Don't beat yourself up over doing the right thing."  Seungcheol said, abandoning his work at his desk and his eyes trailed off to the drawings the children put in his office. Jeonghan looked down.  "If I never got involved in Renjun, he wouldn't have been punished.."  Jeonghan muttered. "But we did get involved, and it's our responsibility to see it through to the end.  Whether we get him or he gets sent away, he needs to be treated like a proper teenager."  Seungcheol said firmly.  "We do have Wonwoo's room open still..  He mentioned. Jeonghan wiped his last tear and nodded.  "Right.. Hyunjae won't want a room for another year probably.."  He said. "And by that time, we might have our house bigger.  Or Minghao will move out like he's been threatening at the dinner table."  Seungcheol chuckled.  Jeonghan laughed along.  "It'll work out, Jeonghan."  Jeonghan could hear Seungcheol's smile.  "Just get me the information and any documents we need, alright?  Renjun almost feels like family already.  And if he's going to move in when Dino and he get married, why don't we get used to him living with us?"  He mentioned it in a question. Jeonghan nodded.  "Alright.. You make a good point.."  He said with a small smile.  "I'll get what you need."  He promised. "I'll see you at home tonight, okay?  And just in case, make sure your suit is clean."  Seungcheol suggested.  "I doubt it, but we might have to go to court." Jeonghan hummed.  "Right."

And with that, he ended the phone call.  Walking back to the sheriff and the woman, Sungyeol looks up at him and then the woman.  "Are you interested in taking custody of Renjun?"  He asked. "I am."  Jeonghan said, sitting down.  "Seungcheol requests that you give me the documents and do all preparations necessary for him to move in as soon as possible.  How long does he have until he must go somewhere?"  Jeonghan asked in a confident voice. Sungyeol was a little taken back as the male seemed nervous earlier.  "He must be in an established home in forty-eight hours."  He informed.  "We will send an official to look over your house and make sure it is suitable for a child his age.  You and Mr. Choi have a fairly clean record, so there's no danger there."  He continued. Jeonghan crossed his leg and put his hands in his lap.  "And obviously I have experience with raising kids.  I'm even helping raise my grandchildren right now."  He stated, getting a surprised look from Sungyeol.  "Oh really?"  He asked. "Yes, and the twins aren't stork children."  He included.  "I have a vehicle I can drive Renjun to school every day in.  We have delicious food, three meals a day and snacks whenever they want."  He said. Sungyeol hummed.  "Alright then, we'll make sure to send an agent over after Renjun is finished in the other room and confirms he wants to stay with you."  He gave a neutral expression. The woman rolled her eyes.  "I demand we go to court.  I did not abuse him."  She said. "If you wish for your child to cry in court in front of the judge, jury, and audience while retelling the horrifying things you did to him, that's your decision."  Sungyeol said.  "But as I see it.. I think we could just get the judge to pop in here real quick and he'll give your sentence."  He said, thumbing through his list of contacts.

The door opens, making the adults look up.  San walked Renjun out by his shoulders, patting the child's shoulders as he guided him to the chair once more.  "I'll send the recording to the court house."  San said with a bow.

Jeonghan looked at the Chinese child and held his hand.  "Are you sure you want us to have you?"  He asked quietly.  You don't want any other family member to have you?  Not even your dad?"  He asked. "My dad is active military,"  Renjun said in a small voice, "and I've never met any of my other family members.. I-I can understand if you don't want me though, I am trouble.."  He said, his tears starting up again. Jeonghan put his arm around the boy.  "No, you're not.."  He whispered, pulling him close.  "I just want to make sure this is what you want.  I want you to be happy and comfortable."  He put his other arm around the boy, patting his back. Renjun nodded and hugged back.  "It's what I want." He confirmed.  "I promise you'll barely hear me."  He said. Jeonghan pulled back and cupped the child's cheeks.  "None of my children are quiet, so don't feel the need to be quiet, okay?  You be Renjun."  He said. Sungyeol stood up.  "Sungjae knows you, right?"  He asked. "Definitely."  Jeonghan replied. The male nodded and cracked his neck.  "His office is over there, tell him I said that he's to do background checks on all of the residents and make sure that the house is suitable for Renjun."  He tasked Jeonghan. On a normal day, Jeonghan would give attitude.  But seeing that it has Renjun involved, and Seungcheol's little pep talk aided him, he didn't say a word.  Rather, he walked straight to wear Sungyeol pointed, knocking on the door.  Getting a response, he opened the door and saw Sungjae typing on his computer. "Mr. Yoon,"  Sungjae saved the document before standing up, "what are you doing here?  Is everything okay?"  He asked. "Sungyeol said to do background checks on all of us and inspect the house."  Jeonghan repeated.  "We're taking in Renjun."  He continued. Sungjae's eyes go wide.  "R-really?"  He asked.  "I uh.. yeah, how long do I have?"  He asked. "Forty-eight hours.."  Jeonghan muttered. Sungjae quickly closed his folders on his desk.  Jeonghan noticed the title of one of the folders.  "You're opening the case up of Haechan?"  He asked. Sungjae nodded a little.  "Haechan gave me permission to investigate.. So I'm figuring out why he goes by his real name rather than the stork's nickname for him."  He explained.  "Did Dino ever bring Haechan home?"  He asked. "I think at one of the parties I saw him."  Jeonghan replied, walking out of the office with Sungjae.  "I definitely recognized him at the eating contest.. but he looked a lot softer and nervous than I remember."  He explained. Sungjae nodded.  "His profile at school said that he was very playful and had fun with Jisung normally."  He said, seeing Renjun. "Hey there, Renjun."  Sungjae greeted with a positive emotion.  "I'll make sure you can stay with Mr. Yoon, okay?"  He patted the child's shoulders. Renjun pursed his lips.  "I'm not a child you know.."  He muttered. "No, but you still need to be treated with love.  So you'll have to get used to Jeonghan's hugs."  Sungjae winked.  "I'll go out now, Mr. Lee."  He bowed.

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