He’s a Fox Ch 59

Chapter 59

“Welcome home, young master.”

The elderly man, a cat beastman, approached and embraced Kangwoon warmly. The great tiger accepted the hug with equal fondness before gesturing toward Hohyun.

“This is our family’s resident physician. Just call him Dr. Lee. And this here is—”

“Moong-moo Oppa!”

“…Yuri’s friend.”

The elder showed no surprise that a full-grown adult was introduced as a baby’s “friend.” Smiling kindly, he remarked:

“The young lady should also be arriving home today. With all three of you present, the household will feel lively again.”

Young lady? Certainly not referring to Yuri—the cub clung tight before their eyes. At once Kangwoon’s expression darkened, his face twisting in distaste. Hohyun then understood who the physician meant.

“…Beom Taeryeong is coming.”

“Now, now,” chided the doctor. “You mustn’t call your elder sister so bluntly.”

Beom Taeryeong. The name was new, yet her identity was not. The eldest daughter of the Beom clan—the one mentioned in Hohyun’s very contract briefing. The woman who had once attempted to kidnap her infant sister in a power struggle with her father.

In his arms, Yuri stiffened. The fox’s hold tightened protectively, just as the slow, heavy tread of another approached. Heavier than Yuri’s, lighter than Kangwoon’s—the unmistakable sound of their father.

Beom Jaegwon entered. Fur silvered at the edges, wrinkles marking him old, yet his aura did not fade. Authority poured from him thick as storm-clouds. He was, in frame and figure, exactly Kangwoon’s mirror twenty years onward—an awe-inspiring mountain of tiger who smiled broadly as he drew near. Anticipating, Kangwoon shifted Yuri into his father’s arms.

At once, the old tiger pressed his face against his daughter’s cheek, brimming with doting laughter.

“My little princess!”

Yuri squealed, “Daddy, itchy!” squirming at the feel of coarse fur rasping her skin. Still, the man’s grin never faltered; the physician watched with fond eyes. Yet the cub wriggled away nonetheless, hiding behind Hohyun’s leg, tail exploding in spiked fur.

At once, Jaegwon’s warm smile froze. Cold eyes, sharp as a blizzard riddled with hailstone, fell upon the fox.

“…A fox?”

The sour bite in his tone was plain. Kangwoon stepped smoothly between them. Displeasure etched across the patriarch’s face as he clicked his tongue.

“Once you wanted to hire a creature stinking of fish, and now, a fox. Will you invite anything into our house?”

Aside from his own tiger kin, Jaegwon looked down on all beasts. Even the alligator at their side flinched, caught in the blast though his kind was rarely maligned. Standing firm, Kangwoon met his glare.

“Then throw us out, if you like.”

Calm, unruffled—the words enraged his father further, veins throbbing on his brow. Just then, Yuri screeched from behind Hohyun’s leg:

“Daddy! Don’t bully Moong-moo!”

The betrayal in her cry cut him still. Kangwoon chuckled faintly—exactly as he’d expected.

“…Moong-moo(puppy)?” Jaegwon echoed, bewildered.

Yuri held her ground, stubbornly pointing. The friend she adored was Moong-moo Oppa, her most trusted companion. No argument possible.

Only then did Jaegwon recall the phone call, the child’s mention of “Moong-moo.” He sighed low. He disliked greatly that a fox should stand by his beloved youngest daughter—but given the promise he had already made, he could not break it. He stroked Yuri’s head with a grumble.

Still, his eyes locked unyieldingly on Hohyun. The fox felt déjà vu: that exact steadfast gaze was the same one he had first seen on Kangwoon. Like father, like son, even their sternness identical—though Kangwoon managed to soften it for the cub.

With a final growl of frustration, Jaegwon turned deeper into the house. To Hohyun’s surprise, his resistance was gentler than expected. Perhaps this prejudice was nothing new; many older folk disliked foxes. He had seen far worse working convenience store counters. Kangwoon, seeing Hohyun’s calm complexion, finally shifted the topic.

“…Where’s Mother?”

“She’s in the greenhouse.”

Everyone knew Jaegwon trailed his wife like shadow; if he were here while she was away, it meant she’d driven him off for peace.

But Yuri had not forgiven so easily. Angry that he had “bullied” her Moong-moo, she cold-shouldered her father, even demanding he apologize. Beom Jaegwon, one of the most fearsome patriarchs alive, could only flounder miserably before a child’s demand. Yet apologize? Impossible. In sulk, Yuri refused to leave Hohyun’s side.

Guided to the parlor, the physician glanced back with an amused smile. The mighty tiger, reduced to longing glances at the fox shielding his daughter, evoked the image of a sulky dog begging attention.

Upon entering the receiving room, Jaegwon launched his counter: gifts. Dozens of unopened toys lay prearranged. He scattered them before the child eagerly.

But when Yuri peeked toward Hohyun, then trotted back to his side with her choice clutched tightly, Jaegwon’s face crumbled. More toys were presented, more rejected—until the fox found himself surrounded by a fortress of bright packages, while the father sat stunned.

Watching miserably, the fox felt sympathy. After all, this man, estranged from his daughter most days, now faced her lack of welcome. So he grabbed one book from the pile—a picture story with a tiger on the cover. Surely it would entice her.

Indeed, Yuri’s eyes fixed on it instantly. Hohyun carried it nearer, seat shifting bit by bit closer to Jaegwon. Startled by the fox’s initiative, the old tiger blinked in confusion, yet did not repel the approach. Yuri, too, held no objection if Moong-moo himself initiated.

Finally, Jaegwon gave a weary sigh, his eyes less hostile now.

“…Forgotten daddy in less than a week.”

“It’s hardly even been that long—barely a few days,” Kangwoon muttered.

Another round of father-son battle nearly ignited—but timely knocking interrupted. Tok tok, a delicate sound, wholly unlike the pounding of heavy beastmen. Jaegwon’s face lit up like dawn.

There was only one who knocked so gently in this house of giants.

His voice far warmer than even with his daughter, the old tiger himself went to open the door. Before Hohyun could rise, the door swung wide and a tall, elegant figure slipped inside.