By the time they finished shopping that afternoon, Kael had learned two things. First, babies needed far more things than he had expected. Second, shopping with Sera was dangerous for his wallet.
"Do we really need another blanket?" Kael asked.
Sera looked at the blanket in her hands, then at the shopping cart. "Yes."
"We already have three."
"And?"
Kael stared at her for a moment. "And nothing. Apparently, I’m outnumbered."
Sera smiled and placed the blanket in the cart. "You’re learning."
"I’m beginning to regret becoming a father."
The moment he said it, Kael looked down at Noah, who was resting in the stroller they had borrowed from the store for the trip.
"Not you, little man. You’re fine."
Noah kicked his legs beneath the blanket, and Sera laughed.
"Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he knows his father is a good man."
"Please do. Someone needs to defend my reputation in this family."
They finished shopping shortly afterward. Between the groceries, baby supplies, and a few things Sera had insisted they needed for the apartment, their bags had filled the shopping cart. Kael paid for everything and arranged for the heavier items to be delivered to their new home.
By the time they left the mall, the sun was beginning to set. Kael stretched his arms and looked at the bags they were carrying.
"Next time, we’re making a smaller list."
Sera adjusted Noah’s blanket. "You said that before we entered the baby store."
"And I meant it."
"You also said we didn’t need eight outfits."
Kael looked away. "Let’s not talk about that."
Sera laughed as they headed toward the taxi stand.
For once, Kael didn’t mind spending the afternoon doing something as ordinary as shopping. He had spent years buying only what he needed to survive, and every purchase had required a little calculation. Could he afford it? Would he have enough left for rent? Could he put it off until next month?
Today had been different. He had bought things for his son without worrying about whether they could afford the next meal, and it was a good feeling.
Still, the total had been rather high.
While they waited for their taxi, Kael pulled out his phone.
’Let’s see how much damage I’ve done.’
He opened his banking application, then stopped. His eyes widened as he stared at the screen. The money he had spent was back in his account.
Not part of it. All of it.
Kael refreshed the application, but the balance remained the same. Before he could make sense of what he was seeing, another notification appeared.
[Ding!]
[Family Man System]
[Qualifying Family Expenses Processed.]
[Total Eligible Spending: $1,684.50]
[Rebate Rate: 10x]
[Total Rebate: $16,845.00]
[The rebate has been deposited into your account.]
Kael nearly dropped his phone.
’Sixteen thousand dollars?’
He quickly looked around, but nobody seemed to have noticed his reaction. Sera was busy adjusting Noah’s clothes while waiting for the taxi, leaving Kael free to read the notification again.
He had spent $1,684.50, and the system had returned ten times that amount. That meant he had received $16,845 on top of getting his original money back.
He opened his banking application again, just to make sure. The balance confirmed it.
Kael slowly put his phone away.
’This is ridiculous.’
He had known about the rebate bonus since the system first appeared, but seeing it work was something else entirely. Yesterday, he had been struggling to get through another shift at the convenience store. Now, he had earned more money from buying baby supplies than he would make in months of working.
And he hadn’t done anything unusual. He had simply bought things his family needed.
Kael glanced at Sera, who soon looked up at him.
"What’s wrong?" Sera asked.
Kael quickly put on a normal expression. "Nothing."
"You’ve been staring at your phone for the past minute."
"Just checking my bank balance."
Sera frowned. "Did we spend too much?"
Kael shook his head. "No. Everything’s fine."
He slipped his phone into his pocket. The system was his secret, and he wasn’t going to tell anyone about it, no matter how much money it gave him.
If Sera asked questions, he would find an explanation. He could say he had made some investments, received an unexpected payment, or found another source of income. He didn’t like lying to her, but he couldn’t risk exposing the system, not until he understood it better.
"Kael?"
He looked up at her. "Yeah?"
Sera gave him a worried look. "Are you sure everything’s okay?"
Kael smiled. "Everything’s fine. I promise."
She studied his face for a moment before nodding. "All right."
A taxi pulled up beside them. Kael helped Sera get inside before carefully placing their shopping bags in the trunk. Once he settled into the seat beside her, he glanced down at Noah, who was sleeping peacefully.
Kael smiled.
’Thanks, little man.’
He wasn’t sure whether the system had chosen him because of Noah or whether there was some other reason behind it. Whatever the answer was, he wasn’t going to waste the opportunity. He would provide for his family, and if the system continued rewarding him for doing so, he would make the most of it.
By the time they returned to the apartment, the delivery service had already dropped off the larger purchases. A new crib stood in the second bedroom, waiting to be assembled, while the grocery bags had been placed neatly beside the kitchen counter.
Kael looked at everything and nodded. "All right. We have a lot to do."
Sera carried Noah into the living room and sat down on the sofa. "I can help."
Kael looked at her. "You’ve been on your feet all afternoon. Sit down and rest."
"But you can’t do everything yourself."
"Watch me."
Sera raised an eyebrow. "You’re very confident for someone who struggled to change a diaper this morning."
Kael pointed at her. "That was one mistake. A learning experience."
"You put the diaper on backward."
"I said it was a learning experience!"
Sera burst out laughing, and Kael shook his head as he picked up the bags.
"Fine. You can help by keeping our son company."
Sera smiled. "That I can do."
Kael carried the groceries into the kitchen and began putting everything away. He arranged the food in the refrigerator, stored the dry goods in the cupboards, and checked the list to make sure they hadn’t forgotten anything important.
For once, the refrigerator was full.
He stood in front of it for a moment, taking in the sight. It was such a small thing, but he couldn’t remember the last time he had opened his refrigerator without immediately wondering how long the food would last. Now, there was enough for several days, and he could afford to buy more when they needed it.
Kael closed the refrigerator and moved to the second bedroom, where the crib was still in pieces.
He stared at the instruction manual, then at the parts scattered across the floor.
"Of course," he muttered.
He had assembled furniture before, but that had mostly involved cheap shelves and a table that wobbled whenever he leaned on it. This was different. The crib needed to be sturdy and safe, so he couldn’t afford to rush through the job.
Kael sat on the floor and began sorting through the pieces.
An hour later, he was still working.
"Why are there so many screws?" he asked nobody in particular.
From the living room, Sera called out, "Do you need help?"
"No!" Kael answered quickly.
He looked at the instructions again before picking up a wooden piece and turning it around. Five minutes later, he realized he had attached it backward.
Kael closed his eyes.
’I’m going to lose my mind.’
Another ten minutes passed before he finally managed to put the crib together. He checked every connection, tightened the screws, and gently tested the frame to make sure it was stable. Once he was satisfied, he stepped back and admired his work.
"Done."
He felt absurdly proud of himself. It wasn’t a particularly impressive achievement, but he had built something his son would use every day.
Kael ran a hand over the smooth wooden rail.
’Your first bed, little man.’
He returned to the living room, where Sera looked up from the sofa.
"Did you finish?"
Kael nodded proudly. "Of course."
"Was it difficult?"
"No."
Sera stared at him. Kael held her gaze for two seconds before sighing.
"All right, yes. It was difficult."
She laughed. "I knew it."
"But I got it done."
Sera smiled warmly. "You did."
Kael looked at her for a moment. There was something comforting about hearing those words from her. He had spent so many years doing things alone that he had grown used to receiving no praise for them. Now, even a simple acknowledgment made him feel better.
He cleared his throat. "Anyway, let’s put Noah in his new bed."
Sera carefully lifted their son from the sofa, and together they walked into the second bedroom. Kael had placed a fitted mattress and a clean sheet inside the crib, making sure there were no loose blankets or pillows that could pose a risk to the baby.
Sera gently lowered Noah onto the mattress. The little boy stirred but remained asleep.
Both parents stood beside the crib, watching him. For a while, neither spoke.
Then Sera smiled. "He looks so small."
Kael nodded. "Yeah."
He rested his hands on the wooden rail. "I guess he’ll grow into it."
Sera glanced at him. "You’re already thinking about when he’ll be bigger?"
"Someone has to prepare for the future."
She laughed softly. "You’re going to be an annoying father, aren’t you?"
Kael grinned. "Probably."
He looked down at Noah again. "But I’ll try to be a good one."
Sera’s expression softened. "I think you already are."
Kael looked at her, momentarily unsure what to say. Then he smiled. "Thanks."
They stayed beside the crib for another minute before leaving the room. Kael quietly closed the door halfway. Their son finally had a proper place to sleep, and for the first time since Sera had arrived at his apartment, Kael felt as though they were beginning to settle into a real home.
Later that evening, Kael prepared dinner. He wasn’t a particularly good cook, but he could manage a few simple meals. He made rice, fried some eggs, and prepared a small portion of vegetables.
Sera offered to help, but Kael insisted she stay with Noah. When the food was ready, they ate together at the dining table.
Sera took a bite and looked at him. "This is good."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yes."
He smiled. "Then I guess I’ll have to cook more often."
"Please do."
Kael looked at her. "You didn’t even hesitate."
Sera laughed. "Should I have?"
"No. I’m just surprised you trust my cooking."
"It’s better than starving."
Kael put down his fork. "That’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me all day."
Sera laughed again, and their conversation continued as they ate. They talked about the apartment, the things they still needed to buy, and how they would manage their schedules now that they were living together.
For the first time, Kael learned more about what Sera wanted for Noah. She wanted him to grow up in a place where he could be himself. She wanted him to have friends, attend a good school, and enjoy his childhood without being forced to meet anyone else’s expectations.
Kael listened carefully before answering.
"I want the same thing," he said.
Sera looked at him. "You do?"
"Of course. He’s our son."
She smiled. "Right."
Kael finished his food and leaned back in his chair. There was still a lot he needed to figure out: his job, his growing responsibilities, the mysterious system, and the questions surrounding Sera’s past. But those problems could wait until tomorrow.
Tonight, he had a full refrigerator, a comfortable apartment, and a family sitting around the same table. It was more than he had ever expected to have.
[Ding!]
[Daily Family Care Recorded.]
[Family Bond experience increased.]
[New Task Available: Prepare a long-term financial plan for your family.]
[Objective: Establish a sustainable source of income and plan for future family expenses.]
[Reward: Unknown.]
Kael paused and read the notification twice.
A financial plan?
That was something he could actually use. He didn’t want to depend entirely on the system forever. Even if the rewards continued, he needed to understand how to manage his money and prepare for the future.
He had a son now. There would be school fees, medical expenses, and countless other responsibilities as Noah grew older. Kael wasn’t going to let his sudden good fortune make him careless.
He would save money. He would learn how to invest. And he would make sure his family had a future that didn’t depend on him getting lucky every day.
Kael dismissed the notification and looked at Sera.
"Hey, what do you think about opening a savings account for Noah?"
Sera blinked. "For Noah?"
"Yeah. Something we can put money into every month. By the time he’s old enough to use it, he’ll have something to start with."
Sera looked surprised, but her expression soon softened. "That’s a good idea."
Kael smiled. "Then I’ll look into it tomorrow."
Sera nodded. "I can help you."
"Deal."
They cleared the table together before preparing for bed. As Kael entered the second bedroom to check on Noah one last time, he found his son sleeping peacefully in the crib.
He stood beside it for a moment.
"Good night, little man," Kael whispered.
Noah moved slightly but didn’t wake up. Kael smiled and turned toward the door.
His life had changed dramatically in just two days. He had money he never expected to see, a home he could barely believe he owned, and a son who had already become the most important person in his life.
But he knew this was only the beginning. There would be problems he couldn’t solve with money, things he would have to learn the hard way, and days when he would question whether he was doing enough.
Still, he wasn’t alone anymore.
Kael glanced back at Noah. "Don’t worry, little man. Daddy’s got you."
He closed the door gently.
For the first time in years, Kael went to bed without worrying about tomorrow’s bills. Tomorrow, he would start planning for his family’s future, and whatever came next, he would face it as a father.