Parenting section
Postpartum life is like an impromptu piece with its rhythm completely disrupted, yet full of novel notes. G-Dragon and Su You's world was utterly overturned and rebuilt by their little princess, named "Kwon Min-seo." Returning from the hospital to their well-prepared home, theoretical parenting knowledge began to clash with the realities of daily life.
The first few weeks were a chaotic period of fragmented sleep. Minshu's world had no distinction between day and night; every two or three hours, she would announce her needs with loud cries—hunger, needing to urinate, or simply needing comfort.
G-Dragon, who once commanded the emotions of millions of audience members on stage, is now flustered by his daughter's dissatisfied whimper. He has learned to accurately prepare formula at three in the morning with his eyes closed (although Su You tries her best to breastfeed, she sometimes needs supplementation), and carefully drips milk onto the inside of his wrist when testing the temperature, his focused expression no less than when adjusting the most sophisticated recording equipment.
Su You was immersed in the dual exhaustion of breastfeeding and postpartum recovery. She often held her daughter, sitting in the rocking chair in the nursery for half an hour at a time. As the sky outside the window gradually turned from pitch black to dawn, she looked at the little one's profile as she contentedly suckled, feeling the intimacy of being completely relied upon. A sense of indescribable maternal satisfaction rose from her exhaustion.
G-Dragon would quietly stay by her side, handing her warm water, draping a blanket over her, or simply watching them quietly, feeling that the tranquility of the moment was more moving than any applause.
It was a seemingly ordinary afternoon. The sun was shining brightly. Min-seo had just finished eating and lay on the changing table, her big, dark eyes wide open, curiously observing her father's enlarged face above her, which wore a flattering smile. Kwon Ji-yong was clumsily but extremely earnestly patting her back to help her burp. This was a skill he had been practicing diligently lately; his palm was cupped, and he gently patted his daughter's small back.
“Our Minshu is such a good girl, she’s eaten her fill, hasn’t she?” he said softly, completely immersed in the glow of his fatherly love.
Su You was taking a nap against the headboard when she heard Kwon Ji-yong exclaim, "Ah!" His voice was filled with surprise and a hint of panic.
She immediately woke up and looked in the direction of the sound. She saw Kwon Ji-yong frozen in place, his face, glasses, and even hair splattered with warm, milky-white milk. Meanwhile, the culprit, little Kwon Min-seo, seemed to have accomplished something remarkable. She let out a small burp, smacked her lips contentedly, and even had a hint of satisfaction on her face.
The air froze for two seconds.
G-Dragon blinked, a single, dangling milk droplet clinging to his long eyelashes. He seemed not quite in the mood to realize that he, the idol revered by millions of fans on stage, was being expressed with "love" by his own daughter in such a "direct" way.
Su You was stunned at first, then an uncontrollable laugh welled up in her chest. Looking at her husband's disheveled and bewildered appearance, she couldn't help but burst out laughing, laughing harder and harder until she almost collapsed on the bed, tears welling up in her eyes.
Her laughter startled G-Dragon awake. He wiped his face, looked at the milk stains on his hands, then at his wife laughing hysterically, and then at the innocent-looking "little devil" on the changing table. He couldn't help but laugh too. It was a helpless, indulgent, and slightly self-deprecating laugh.
"Oh! Kwon Min-seo!" He gently tapped his daughter's nose, feigning seriousness. "Is this a 'special gift' for Daddy?"
The little guy seemed to understand, waving his little fists and making "ee-ya" sounds, as if in response.
Su You smiled as she got up, picked up a clean gauze towel, and went over to gently wipe the milk stains from his face and glasses. "Welcome to the real world, Daddy Kwon Ji-yong," she joked with a smile, her eyes filled with love.
Kwon Ji-yong let her wipe him, his gaze remaining tenderly fixed on his daughter. "It's okay," he said with a smile, a strange sense of pride in his voice, "It just means our daughter has a good appetite and is strong!" He even lowered his head, gently sniffed the milky scent emanating from his body, and shrugged, "Hmm, all-natural, no additives."
This small, slightly "flavorful" accident, far from causing any unpleasantness, acted like a humorous seasoning, instantly making the otherwise tiring and tense parenting life more vivid and real. G-Dragon even picked up his phone, with half his face still wet from being wiped clean, and took a selfie with Su You and his daughter, capturing the "disaster scene," saving it privately and naming it "Dad's Medal."
The spitting-up incident is just a small episode in the long journey of raising a child. What follows are the troubles of diaper rash, unexplained crying, and a little body that's as slippery as an eel during bath time, making you feel uneasy.
They learned together, made mistakes together, and grew together. Kwon Ji-yong was in charge of researching various baby care gadgets, from thermos flasks to diaper changing tables with music, trying to improve parenting efficiency with technology; Su You, on the other hand, focused more on researching infant development patterns and nutritional balance. One was intuitive and practical, the other was rational and analytical, and they worked together more and more seamlessly.
Giving Min-seo a bath became the top priority in the family. Kwon Ji-yong rolled up his sleeves, and Su You prepared all the supplies. One supported her head and neck, while the other washed her. Their teamwork was seamless, as if they were performing a delicate surgical procedure. Every time they successfully lifted the fragrant little one, wrapped in a soft towel, they would smile at each other, high-five in celebration, and feel a sense of accomplishment comparable to completing a grand performance.
When Min-seo finally falls asleep late at night, the two of them will quietly squeeze onto the sofa, share a glass of warm milk, and look at the dark circles under each other's eyes, feeling both sorry for each other and amused.
"What were we doing at this time before?" G-Dragon might ask.
“You might be composing music in the studio, and I might be writing a report,” Su You replied.
Then the two of them would look towards the nursery at the same time and think that things were fine as they were.
G-Dragon would hold his daughter and hum unreleased melodies or his classic love songs in her ear, only slower and softer. Min-seo seemed to recognize her father's voice, becoming exceptionally quiet in his arms, her little head nestled against his chest. Su You would secretly capture these moments with her camera, finding them more touching than any stage performance.
Parenting is a cycle of diapers and bottles, exhaustion from lack of sleep, and frantic dealing with all sorts of unexpected situations. It strips away the glamour of celebrities and academics, reducing them to their most primal parental prototypes.
But in this process, both G-Dragon and Su You experienced a profound growth. Their patience was extended infinitely, their sense of responsibility became concrete and detailed, and their love became deeper and more resilient as they jointly protected this little life.
G-Dragon, who once pursued the ultimate stage effects and was almost obsessive about details, can now handle his daughter's vomit and excrement without batting an eye.
The Su You who was logically clear and sharp-tongued at academic conferences now utters all sorts of childish and meaningless syllables to her daughter just to make her laugh.
Their world shrank, shrinking to just one home and one child. Yet, their world also expanded, becoming vast enough to encompass all the trivialities, weariness, and the boundless love and tenderness that arose from this little life.
Being spit up in their face is just a small, milky-scented footnote on their long parenting journey. It reminds them that being a parent doesn't require perfection, only genuine love, boundless patience, and the unspoken understanding and courage to smile at each other even amidst the chaos. And all of this is just the beginning. Many more surprises and challenges await these new parents, but they know that as long as the three of them are together, they are fearless.
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