The Hard Conversation

“Yeah, yeah, go have fun,” Jiyu said, nodding absentmindedly as she hurried toward the front door. Affection grumbled while following. “Dad will come pick you up at ten. I’d love to go with you, but you made such a fuss that I’m sending you alone. By the way, that kind of party… I’ve only seen them in movies. I’m dying to know what the real thing is like.”

Leaving the clingy girl behind, Jiyu rushed out the front door. If she dawdled, Affection might actually follow her all the way to the party.

“I’ll be back soon!”

Her light steps, sneakers brushing the floor all the way up to her ankles, echoed down the hallway.

Hunter stepped into the dressing room right after his shower. Knock knock knock. A small hand tapped the door awkwardly, accompanied by pattering feet and a muffled giggle from inside.

It was his five-year-old sister, Daisy. She had just changed into a pair of dark trousers from the rack, which were color-coordinated and neatly ironed. “Hunter, oppa’s leaving soon, remember? I can’t play with you today, so go see Rosa.”

Daisy always begged Hunter to play with her whenever he had a moment. She never scolded him the way older siblings usually did. Because of their big age gap, he would throw her high in the air and catch her, step on her like a living pillar and let her climb, even swallow a coin and spit it back out. He was better at juggling than any circus performer. “Not Daisy. It’s Dad.”

The little girl answered. Then a low voice came through the gap in the door, shushing the child. “Dad? You got home early?” Hunter said firmly, as if speaking loud enough for the other side to hear. “Tell Dad there’s a fifty-dollar fine for anyone over forty entering this room.”

Lately, a pirate flag-style warning sign had been taped above Hunter’s door. “Must knock!” “No entry for anyone over 40.” “Penalty: $100.” A crude drawing of a stick figure in a skirt had been added to show what happened if you ignored it. Even Daisy, who still couldn’t read, would understand that.

He had started closing his door recently. In the past, he hated shutting it and left it wide open most of the time. That was why the family used to barge in without knocking. But privacy had become an urgent necessity. “I wonder what you’re doing in this room. You still think I’m a kid.”

Daisy answered with sparkling eyes, “Mhm! That’s why I knocked. Dad says he’s too old to knock.”

Jared’s voice replied, “Hunter. Can we talk before you leave?” Hunter’s hand froze mid-motion as he pulled the navy shirt off its hanger. Jared’s tone was a full octave lower than usual. That voice usually waited in the office. Friday evening, Jared had left work early and done something he never did before. That was deeply unsettling. It made Hunter even more suspicious. “Have I done something wrong lately?”

When Hunter stayed silent, Jared continued, “Uh… I mean, man to man. Straight talk.”

Hunter froze with the shirt half-unbuttoned. “Man to man?” “Straight talk?” This couldn’t be… He answered firmly, “No.”

A soothing voice returned, “Don’t say that, Hunter. I’ll pay the fine. Just ten minutes, okay?”

Something like this had started a few years ago. On the night before, all the kids who had received that “straight talk” from their parents trembled and called it terrifying. Hunter had always thought it was lucky his parents never mentioned it. Now that he was almost fifteen, he wondered what the hell they were talking about. Too late. He already knew everything. “Lauren suddenly must’ve had a strong urge a few days ago and dragged me into it. I’ll keep it short, promise.”

Hunter narrowed his eyes, tilting his head. “Mom?” Suddenly? “That’s impossible.” A few days ago he had thrown away several ruined underwear and clothes. Lauren hadn’t cleaned his room. There was no way she knew. Hunter glared at the door and muttered, “Three minutes.” If he had to do this, he’d make it as short as possible. “How about five? Two hundred dollars cash, paid immediately.”

The negotiation came from outside the door. He hesitated for a moment. A shrill giggle escaped through the keyhole. They were probably still standing there, arguing in front of the door. Five minutes was acceptable. Hunter strode over and yanked the door open. Jared stood there holding Daisy in one arm, his chubby forearm wrapped around her. He opened his mouth wide, ready to swallow a coin, and clicked his teeth together. Daisy giggled and wiggled happily in his hold. “Hunter! Spin me around once!”

The second Hunter appeared, Daisy grabbed his leg and begged, “Just one time!” Hunter became human iron bars, supporting Daisy’s tiny hands while she climbed his body like a spider, then spun her once with a quick foot kick to the stomach. All the while, Jared waved his hand toward Rosa waiting at the end of the corridor. The nanny who had become Daisy’s favorite rushed over and scooped the child up, carrying her toward the playroom. “I remember when I was five, Rosa never carried me like this.” Hunter thought to himself. Then he shrugged. “So what? I still have Rex around. What’s the big deal?”

“Son, may I come in?” Hunter stood on the threshold with his arms crossed, stepping aside reluctantly. Jared slipped one leg into the room and knocked Hunter’s shoulder with his fist. “Kid, you’ve gotten strong. You’ve grown since we last met.”

Hunter let out a soft chuckle and draped the shirt over his shoulder. He always used to look up at his father. Now their eye levels were almost even. The man in the suit with the tie knotted at his neck had clearly changed into fresh clothes after work before being pushed out the door by Lauren. He tossed his jacket onto the chair at Hunter’s desk, leaned back, and rested the headrest against his stomach. A warm smile softened his sharp eyes.

From the old money families in Manhattan, he was the only one with perfect bloodlines. Thanks to his down-to-earth attitude and open mind, he had built an extensive network with almost no enemies. He received more invitations to New York events than the mayor did, which was why everyone pushed him to get into politics. Despite his age, the loose and relaxed atmosphere made him look far younger. Even now, in his late forties, his athletic physique from his elite academy and military days remained intact. He strictly followed a workout routine. On weekend mornings, he would jog with Hunter in Central Park, racing against each other, and later compete in the gym with weights. At home he acted like a nerd, but outside he disarmed competitors and finished them off the moment a weakness showed. The fact that Hamilton Group had more than doubled in size since 2000 was no coincidence. Of course, as a father he was decent enough not to throw his authority around. So while he talked “man to man” and straight, he didn’t sound like a closed-minded old man or deliver textbook lectures to a child. But the topic of puberty was still awkward. If possible, he wanted to avoid it. He struck first. Attack is the best defense. “I already know all about the physical changes that happen during puberty, the differences between male and female bodies, how a child is conceived, and how sex works. We can skip the details.”