Chapter 68

The afternoon sun spilled gently through the curtains, turning the nursery and living room into a soft golden glow.

Everything in the house felt slower on days like this.

Calmer.

Softer.

But Lisa knew better.

Because “calm” in their household usually meant the chaos was just recharging.

And she was right.

From the living room floor, three tiny voices overlapped like a chorus:

“Mamaaa!”

“Mama, look!”

“Mama, I’m winning!”

Lisa sighed from the couch, staring at the scene like a woman who had accepted her fate long ago.

Ruby and Jane were building something that vaguely resembled a tower out of blocks, though it had already collapsed twice in the last minute. Ella, the youngest, sat nearby chewing on a plush toy while observing them like a tiny commander.

And Jennie—

Jennie was sitting beside Lisa, scrolling through her phone, looking entirely too peaceful for someone who had created this chaos genetically.

Lisa slowly turned her head.

“…Do you ever think about the consequences of your DNA?” she asked.

Jennie didn’t even look up. “No.”

Lisa groaned.

Before she could continue her complaint, Ruby suddenly stood up and ran toward them.

“Mama! Mama!” Ruby climbed onto Lisa’s lap first, as if she had claimed territory.

Jane followed immediately, squeezing in on the other side.

And Ella, after a moment of staring at the distance like she was calculating physics, crawled over with determined little movements until she reached Lisa’s legs.

Three mandu-cheeked girls now clung to her like magnets.

Lisa blinked slowly.

“…And here we go.”

Jennie finally looked up, amused. “What’s happening now?”

Lisa didn’t answer.

Instead, she raised both hands and gently cupped Ruby’s cheeks.

Soft.

Round.

Warm.

“Mandu,” Lisa murmured fondly.

Ruby giggled instantly. “Mamaaa, don’t squish!”

Lisa leaned forward and kissed her cheek once.

Then twice.

Then three times in a row, slow and exaggerated, like she was stamping affection into her skin.

Ruby squealed. “Mama! Stop!”

But Lisa didn’t stop.

She kissed the other cheek too.

Then pulled back, admiring the result.

Ruby’s face was already turning pink.

“…Perfect,” Lisa whispered like she had just completed an important scientific experiment.

Jane immediately pushed herself forward. “My turn! My turn!”

Lisa turned without hesitation, cupping Jane’s cheeks next.

“Mandu number two,” she said solemnly.

Jane puffed her cheeks proudly. “I am strong Mandu!”

Lisa kissed her.

Once.

Twice.

Then repeatedly, faster this time, making Jane giggle so hard she almost fell sideways.

“Mamaaaa, tickles!”

Lisa kept going until Jane’s face turned a deep shade of pink, her laughter mixing with protest.

Finally, Lisa pulled back again.

“…Also perfect.”

Jennie watched from the side, clearly entertained now. “You’re spoiling them.”

Lisa didn’t even argue.

Instead, she leaned down and scooped Ella up carefully.

The smallest Mandu blinked at her.

Lisa stared back.

“This one,” she said slowly, “is final form.”

Ella made a tiny sound.

Lisa immediately softened.

“Okay, okay, don’t look at me like that.”

She gently cupped Ella’s cheeks—so small compared to the others, so impossibly soft.

And then she started kissing her too.

Soft kisses.

Repeated kisses.

All over her cheeks.

Ella blinked at first… then slowly let out a tiny giggle, her hands grabbing Lisa’s shirt.

Lisa smiled without realizing it.

“…You’re dangerous,” she whispered to the baby.

Jennie leaned back slightly, watching the scene unfold with an expression that softened more and more with every second.

Three children, all flushed and giggling.

And Lisa—

completely gone in affection.

But then Ruby suddenly tugged Lisa’s sleeve.

“Mama! Mama! Me again!”

Jane followed immediately. “No, me!”

Lisa paused.

Then sighed dramatically like she was dealing with negotiations.

“All right. Line up.”

The three girls instantly arranged themselves in front of her like they were waiting for inspection.

Even Ella, still in Lisa’s arms, was gently repositioned into the “queue” by Ruby’s tiny hands.

Jennie raised a brow. “Line up for what exactly?”

Lisa didn’t answer.

She just started again.

Ruby first—more kisses, slower this time, deliberately exaggerated until Ruby’s face turned bright pink again.

Jane next—more kisses, even more dramatic, until she was laughing so hard she couldn’t sit still.

Ella last—gentle, careful kisses, like she was something fragile and precious.

By the time Lisa finished, all three children had matching flushed cheeks.

Tomato-faced Mandus.

Lisa sat back, breathing slightly like she had just completed a very important mission.

Jennie finally set her phone aside.

“…Are you done?” she asked.

Lisa looked at her.

Then slowly smiled.

“No.”

Jennie blinked.

That was when Lisa suddenly stood up, still holding Ella, and walked over.

Jennie barely had time to react before Lisa leaned down and cupped her cheeks too.

Jennie froze. “Wait—Lili—”

Too late.

Lisa kissed her once.

Jennie blinked.

Then again.

Jennie’s eyes widened slightly.

And then Lisa continued—slow, repetitive kisses, just like she had done to the girls.

Jennie’s cheeks started turning pink almost immediately.

“Hey,” Jennie muttered, trying not to smile too much. “I’m not a baby.”

Lisa pulled back just slightly. “You’re my Mandu too.”

Jennie scoffed softly. “That’s not a—”

Lisa kissed her again.

Jennie stopped talking.

Ruby clapped from behind them. “Mommy Nini is red!”

Jane copied instantly. “Mommy Nini is red!”

Ella made a tiny sound that suspiciously sounded like laughter.

Jennie covered her face slightly, but it was too late—her ears were pink now too.

Lisa stepped back finally, looking satisfied.

All four Mandus.

All tomato-faced.

All completely hers.

Jennie shook her head, laughing despite herself. “You’re unbelievable.”

Lisa tilted her head. “Why?”

Jennie gestured to the chaos around them.

Three kids clinging to Lisa again.

Ella still in Lisa’s arms.

Everyone giggling.

Everyone warm.

“Because you turn everything into… this,” Jennie said softly.

Lisa looked down.

Ruby was hugging her leg.

Jane was leaning against her side.

Ella had fallen asleep against her shoulder.

And Jennie was standing in front of her, cheeks still slightly pink, eyes soft.

Lisa’s expression changed.

The teasing disappeared.

Just warmth left.

“…Yeah,” Lisa said quietly. “I guess I do.”

Jennie stepped closer, resting her forehead lightly against Lisa’s.

For a moment, everything was still.

Even the kids quieted down, like they could feel it too.

Lisa raised her hand again instinctively, brushing Jennie’s cheek with her thumb.

Still warm.

Still soft.

Still hers.

“I don’t care who they look like anymore,” Lisa murmured.

Jennie smiled faintly. “Oh?”

Lisa nodded slightly.

“I just like this.”

She looked around at them.

At Ruby’s sleepy smile.

At Jane holding onto her shirt.

At Ella breathing softly in her arms.

Then back to Jennie.

“And I like you,” Lisa added simply.

Jennie let out a soft laugh, shaking her head like she was trying not to get too emotional.

“You’re so cheesy.”

Lisa shrugged. “You started it.”

Jennie kissed her cheek gently this time, slower, softer.

“Good,” she whispered.

From the side—

Ruby yawned. “Mama… more kisses tomorrow?”

Jane nodded sleepily. “More Mandu time…”

Ella stayed asleep.

Lisa smiled faintly.

“…Every day,” she promised.

And as the sun dipped lower, painting everything in soft gold again, the Mandu-filled house stayed exactly like that—

warm, loud, slightly chaotic…

and completely, undeniably full of love. 💛