Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Perfect Score Brag and Dinner
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It was quite late in the evening.
We rubbed our rumbling stomachs as we headed to Ms. Yoon Si-won's house.
“Dad, I'm hungry. When are we eating? I want to eat soon….”
“Yu-na, let's hold on just a bit longer.”
“How much longer?”
“We can eat right away once we get to the neighbors'. She said everything's ready.”
“Really? Dad! Let's hurry!”
“Pfft!”
I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
We wanted to rush, but we couldn't. We were in the elevator, and I couldn't make it go any faster on my own.
I couldn't turn back time, either.
“By the way... Yu-na, why'd you bring your bag? You should've left it at home.”
“This one?”
Yu-na pointed to her cute bag with the kindergarten logo on it. Then she grinned and opened her mouth.
“I wanted to brag to Ha-yul about getting a perfect score. Hehehe.”
Ah, so that's why she brought the bag even though we're just going for dinner.
She wanted to show off her perfect kindergarten score—my daughter really can't be helped, even if she is mine.
Ding! We arrived at the tenth floor before long.
As the elevator doors opened, Ha-yul and Lee Jong-min greeted us. They had the front door wide open and politely ushered us inside like gentlemen.
“Thank you for coming all this way. Please, come in, great actor.”
“Uncle, come on in.”
Their uncharacteristically formal behavior felt so awkward that I burst out laughing.
“Ahaha! What are you two doing right now?”
Lee Jong-min scratched his neck sheepishly and then pressed down on Ha-yul's head.
“Acting is so hard. Ha-yul told me to do it like this….”
“Dad, that was awkward just now. You should've done it like me. Say it confidently and move boldly!”
Ha-yul pinpointed his mistake exactly and puffed out her cheeks.
“Dad ruined it.”
I was speechless at the sight of the table laden with enough food to break a horse's legs.
Chapchae that's notoriously hard to make, handmade dumplings.
Various side dishes of seasoned vegetables.
And freshly made, hearty soybean paste stew….
“Oh? I told you to come whenever, but you're already here.... Just.... give me a moment. I just need to finish the dessert. It's almost done.”
“Ah, this is already more than enough….”
“Please sit down first.”
Before I could say it was plenty, Yoon Si-won headed back to the kitchen.
Wait, she's even making dessert herself?
I stood blankly in the living room, staring at the kitchen. Then Lee Jong-min let out a quiet sigh and said,
“Should we sit down first?”
“...Yeah, let's do that.”
“Uncle, our dad told Mom to go easy, but it still turned out like this, so please understand.”
Following Lee Jong-min and Ha-yul's guidance, I sat politely at the table that looked mouthwateringly delicious just to behold.
A brief awkward silence.
But it didn't last long.
“Ha-yul! Ha-yul!”
Yu-na rummaged through the bag she'd brought and pulled out her notebook, opening it wide.
Right in front of Ha-yul, who was sitting across from her.
“Ha-yul! Look at this. Ta-da!”
She lifted her head proudly, her expression triumphant. Her little nose seemed to point straight up.
“...So what? It's just a test paper.”
“I... I got a perfect score in kindergarten.”
“Doesn't everyone get perfect scores?”
Ha-yul tilted her head innocently, but it hit Yu-na like a shock.
Yu-na's mouth fell open wide.
Ha-yul had clearly asked without any malice—just pure curiosity. Her puzzled expression gave off that vibe strongly.
“Damn! Dad! Stop poking at her.”
“Sip! H-Ha-yul. Read the room a bit.”
I wanted to say that myself.
Look at Yu-na right now.
Her mouth was frozen open like a stone statue—big enough for a bug to fly in.
Only then did it dawn on her?
Ha-yul finally noticed Yu-na's expression and widened her eyes.
Thud thud thud!
She strode over to the still-shocked Yu-na and waved her hands, showering her with praise.
“W-Wow! That's amazing, Yu-na.”
“......!”
Yu-na jolted back to life and shrugged smugly, puffed up with pride.
“Right? Pretty great, huh? Dad and Teacher praised me. Hehehe.”
“The food's getting cold. Eat up, everyone. Ha-yul, you too. Back to your seat.”
Yoon Si-won emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands, and sat down with a furrowed brow.
Then she smiled only at me and Yu-na.
“It's not much, but... dig in. Yu-na, eat up too. This auntie put some effort into it.”
“Auntie! Look at this. Yu-na got a perfect score!”
“Oh my! Really? Yu-na's so smart. Now put that away and let's eat. And later, how about some delicious homemade ice cream?”
“Yesss!”
Only after Yoon Si-won sat down did we finally pick up our spoons.
“Ahem!”
A sudden fake cough.
I froze and looked ahead.
“Before we eat, how about a toast? Wishing success for the drama that Jun-seo and our daughter Ha-yul shot….”
Just as he grabbed his glass and started his toast speech without warning. Whoosh! Yu-na shot up, interrupting Lee Jong-min.
“Yu-na's perfect score too!”
“Pfft. Right. A toast to Yu-na's perfect score on dictation too!”
It felt awkward reciting a toast at such a wholesome family table.
I couldn't help but laugh.
“Ahaha! Toasting without alcohol feels weird.”
“Should I grab some beer then? Hold on. It's in the fridge….”
That wasn't what I meant.
I quickly waved my hands to stop Yoon Si-won as she started to stand.
“Ah, no need.”
“She says it's fine. Honey. Jun-seo would feel uncomfortable. Sit down.”
“What did you say? You….”
A sharp tension flowed between Lee Jong-min and Yoon Si-won, instantly cooling the lively atmosphere.
Yu-na and Ha-yul too.
They looked clearly tense, as if a fight might break out.
At least something good?
Realizing the mood had soured in an instant, the two cleared their throats repeatedly.
“...Ahem! Got it.”
In times like this, it's best to stay quiet.
I poured water into Yu-na's cup, then into mine.
“Ahem! To everyone! Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
Once we started eating, the cooled atmosphere warmed up again.
Now, time for me to eat?
I picked up my chopsticks.
The vegetable stir-fry and chapchae infused with Yoon Si-won's care, plus the hearty soybean paste stew—I ate voraciously until I felt burdensome stares from around me.
I paused and looked around to see everyone staring at me.
Did I eat too sloppily?
I smiled awkwardly and set down my chopsticks.
“It's really delicious. This is my first home-cooked meal like this. Thank you for inviting me and Yu-na to such a wonderful dinner. Sorry for the late thanks. Ahaha.”
“Yu-na too. It's so good.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“Ahaha. Eat up. There's plenty.”
“Uncle, eat lots. Yu-na, you gotta eat like me to grow tall.”
After a hearty dinner, Yoon Si-won headed to the kitchen to wash the mountain of dishes, while Ha-yul and Yu-na got absorbed in a kids' program.
I checked the clock.
It was already ten o'clock.
‘Time to head home….’
Should I just say that and go?
Tap. Tap.
Lee Jong-min quietly tapped my shoulder and pointed toward the inner room with his finger.
He wanted me to follow.
I stood quietly, but Yu-na, who had been glued to the kids' program, grabbed my pant leg.
“Dad, where are you going?”
“Just to talk with Uncle in that room real quick.”
“Then Yu-na wants to go too.”
What to do.... He clearly called me aside for a private word.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been sneaking glances at Yoon Si-won doing the dishes.
“I'll just talk and come right back, so wait here nicely, okay?”
Tears welled up in Yu-na's eyes.
She looked ready to cry any second.
No helping it. If she cries here, I won't hear his secret talk. Guess we'll go together….
“But you have to be quiet.”
“Yesss.”
We snuck into the room, keeping an eye out for Yoon Si-won.
Clothes racks filled with eye-catching outfits and photography equipment.
This was Lee Jong-min's studio.
“This is my studio.”
“Ah.... It feels so professional compared to the living room.”
One entire wall was covered in countless photos. The more I examined them closely, the more an odd sense of unease crept in.
“Wow! So many pictures.”
“Yu-na, there's important stuff here. Try not to touch anything.”
Her eyes were darting around restlessly—it made me anxious. I picked her up to keep her from moving.
This should be fine.
Anyway.
I finally figured out the source of the unease.
‘Blurry photos that are out of focus.’
Every single one was like that.
Even pros make mistakes?
That's when I noticed it.
“Huh?”
At about waist height, crooked, large letters were scrawled.
‘Photos I took.’
Even from the sloppy handwriting, I knew exactly who wrote it.
“Ha-yul took these, huh?”
“I love them so much. And actually.... it's embarrassing to say in front of my wife.... so I moved them here.”
He fidgeted with his lips, gave an awkward smile, and scratched his nape.
Hard words to bring up?
As Yu-na reached for a photo, I subtly shifted my body.
“Actually, Jun-seo, I was hoping you'd model for me.... I wanted to ask carefully.”
I stiffened at his words.
“Huh? Model?”
He nodded and replied.
“I recently partnered with an apparel company on a project. But the model….”
His story boiled down to this.
The contracted model fell down the stairs and injured her leg, making it impossible to continue shooting.
When he was in a bind,
He ran into me out shopping.
From then on, he'd been waiting for the right moment to ask, gauging the situation. He'd appreciate it if I could help.
Even so....
I couldn't agree blindly.
Schedules might overlap, causing issues. I smiled awkwardly and bowed my head slightly.
“Ah.... I'd need to check with my agency rep. Sorry I can't give a firm yes. If my schedule's free, it should be fine.”
His expression darkened as I bowed, but brightened fully once he heard me out.
“Then we can adjust the schedule on our end, so that's basically a yes. Ahaha! Thank you.”
I shrugged.
“No need to thank me. But.... what product am I modeling for, exactly?”
“Ah! I forgot to explain. It's this….”
He pulled an expensive-looking outfit from the rack and showed it to me.
“...Huh?”