Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Princess Yu-na
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Following the counselor's advice, I showered Yu-na with nothing but uplifting, empowering words nonstop.
And I kept it up for over a week.
"Daddy treasures his daughter more than anything."
"I couldn't live a single day without Yu-na."
"Our daughter is the cutest in the world."
"I want to keep you with me forever."
Repeating these cringe-worthy lines over and over somehow changed Yu-na in a way I never expected.
She stopped with the weird, clingy behavior that was only directed at me...
But she entered the early stages of what people call princess syndrome.
Just look at that haughty attitude right now.
Dressed in her pajamas, she's rubbing her cheeks in front of the sink like she's getting a massage.
"Get prettier... Get even prettier."
Water droplets dripping down, Yu-na turned to me and flashed a beaming smile.
"Daddy! Daddy! Am I pretty today?"
"Of course, the prettiest in the world."
Her lips curved up to her ears at my automatic model answer.
She suddenly threw her arms around me, slowly turning her head side to side.
I felt something damp.
Wait a second, is this...
'She's wiping her water on my pajamas?'
I let out a chuckle at her brazen use of my pajamas as a towel.
Fine, as long as she's cute.
Cute is all that matters.
I pulled out a fluffy towel and wiped the remaining water from her face.
"All clean now, so let's get dressed and get ready to meet Uncle Jeong-su. We'll eat there, okay? Can you hold out?"
"Yesss!"
Today, Yu-na and Su-jin were scheduled to create wholesome content: cooking a delicious meal for Daddy with a little help from a chef.
"Oh! Right! What should I wear today?"
"Don't run. You might get hurt."
"Yesss!"
Yu-na dashed out of the bathroom, tossing her pajamas aside as she headed to the master bedroom.
"Sigh... Guess I should get ready too."
Chop! Chop! Chop! Chop!
In the kitchen, a man silently prepared egg topping with rhythmic knife sounds.
'Chef Kim Young-jo.'
Kim Young-jo had lived a tiring life, constantly getting into arguments just from making eye contact due to his sharp features.
That is, until his one appearance on [Daddy, I Love You!].
Back then, as the chef, when the kids burst into tears and ran to their dads upon seeing him, it became a major turning point in his life.
His bittersweet smile.
The awkward, careful way he helped the little ones—it changed his image completely.
'And this time...'
He was tasked with teaching two simple dishes to Su-jin, whom he'd met before, and the new addition, Yu-na.
Would they pull it off?
Lost in thought, Kim Young-jo never stopped his precise knife work.
Chop! Chop! Chop! Slice.
Egg topping, cucumber.
Seasoned veggies, kimchi. Ham and pickled radish too.
"Whew. All done now?"
Finishing the prep, Kim Young-jo untied his headband and stepped out of the kitchen.
Now ready to welcome the little chefs, he sat alone in the empty hall and let out a quiet sigh.
'When are the kids coming?'
The dishes he'd teach them were simple: kimbap and onigiri.
'Hope they don't get scared...'
Kids' terrified faces never got easier, no matter how much time passed.
With a deep sigh, he pulled out his phone from his pocket.
'This Yu-na kid...'
He knew An Su-jin, son of An Jeong-su, from before, but honestly, he'd barely heard of Yu-na.
Not until he searched her name...
"Huh, new photos are up."
He muttered softly, his lips twitching up before he smoothed them down with his hand.
'An Su-jin and Lee Yu-na.'
The two kids he was teaching today were total opposites, like front and back.
An Jeong-su's son was a cheeky brat who sassed back at his dad without hesitation.
Lee Jun-seo's daughter was the pure type who only had eyes for her daddy—Su-jin's opposite.
Of the two...
The one he liked was the innocent one, Yu-na. Just from the photos, he oddly wanted a daughter of his own.
Even though he'd never even dated.
Kim Young-jo, smitten with Yu-na's pictures, smiled at his phone screen, oblivious to the arriving staff.
"Um... Chef Kim Young-jo?"
Startled by the voice and footsteps, he fumbled to pocket his phone.
The camera crew and main writer stared at him puzzled.
"Can we set up the cameras now?"
"Oh, sure. Starting filming right away? Then we'll get ready."
He shot to his feet, but the main PD waved him down frantically.
"We've got plenty of time. The kids are playing out front right now. They'll come in later to greet you and..."
Kim Young-jo couldn't focus on the main PD's words at all. His mind wandered to the glimpse of Yu-na outside the window.
I stood blankly in front of the nice-looking restaurant, scanning the building.
Black brick walls, antique-style windows, pristine white decorations.
And a beautiful flower bed with blooms.
'So this is Sirius Restaurant.'
Today, Yu-na and Su-jin would make food for Daddy here, with a bit of chef help.
Wonder what we'll eat.
The menu was a secret from us—we wouldn't know until it was done.
I wanted to eat already...
"Hey, Jun-seo. Check that out."
"Hm? Where?"
An Jeong-su slung an arm over my shoulder and nodded toward the flower bed.
Yu-na and Su-jin admiring the flowers.
I stood back with An Jeong-su, quietly watching the two.
"Yu-na, this flower looks like you."
Su-jin pointed at a bright red bloom in praise, but Yu-na turned with a pout.
"Are you saying I'm ugly, oppa?"
"No, that's not it..."
Su-jin looked pitiful today, flustered by Yu-na's sassy attitude.
She never acts like that with me...
Why's she doing it?
"Then am I prettier, or is the flower?"
Yu-na's pointed question made Su-jin sweat bullets.
"O-Obviously you're prettier, Yu-na."
"Hmph! I know."
The cameraman shook with laughter at Yu-na's demeanor.
An Jeong-su, arm still around me, laughed and pointed at her.
"Hahaha! Hey! Jun-seo! What's up with your daughter? What did you do?"
"...Praised her?"
"Just praise did that?"
Nod. Nod.
" Hilarious! She's totally different now. Hahaha! A real princess."
I rubbed my throbbing forehead.
Even when Su-jin spoke to her, Yu-na flipped her hair with a haughty look.
Wait a minute.
Cold sweat ran down my back.
What if this isn't new?
What if she acts like this at kindergarten too?
"...Ah."
"Hahaha! This is killing me."
"Hyung, looks like they got the shot. Let's head in. I'm hungry."
"Yeah, yeah. Haha... Today's gonna be fun thanks to your kid, bro."
"......"
We led the kids inside.
Two seats prepped in the wide hall.
We sat, tweaking the camera positions slightly.
All set now.
"Daddy, when do we cook?"
To Yu-na's question, I gently brushed her hair back and replied.
"Soon. Can Daddy look forward to it?"
"Yesss. Yu-na will make it yummy."
An Jeong-su, watching us intently, asked Su-jin the same.
"Can Daddy look forward to it?"
"Look forward? Last time you said my food was crap."
Same question, totally different answers. Calling his son's hard work "crap"... Jeong-su hyung can be ruthless with critiques.
Step. Step.
Right on cue, a middle-aged man appeared—not huge in build, but with piercing eyes full of intensity, headband on.
"...May I say hello? I'm the owner of this restaurant, Chef Kim Young-jo."
I almost tensed up seeing him.
Ah, that's why he said that.
An Jeong-su's words from the car ride hit me.
'Jun-seo? Don't freak out at the chef's looks. He's got a soft heart.'
'C'mon, hyung. Judging by face is rude. I wouldn't.'
'Good, then.'
Now I got his meaningful smile.
That's why "you too."
Honestly, the chef's face could scare kids.
Even I thought he looked intimidating.
'Oh, haven't greeted him yet.'
I snapped to and stood, bowing politely.
"Hello. Nice to meet you."
"Been a while. Nice to see you."
After brief hellos with us, Kim Young-jo turned to the kids.
Flinch!
Yu-na, ever brave, clenched her fists and glared at him.
A heavy minute of silence.
"...Hehehe. Yu-na wins."
Yu-na's bright grin softened Kim Young-jo's eyes into a small smile.
What? He looks nice when he smiles.
Only then did Su-jin snap out of his statue-like freeze and step in front of Yu-na.
"My son, but... this is embarrassing. Son? You were shaking, and you wanna protect someone?"
"I-I wasn't shaking at all!"
"Hahaha! Not shaking at all?"
An Jeong-su clutched his stomach laughing, teasing his bristling son.
Meanwhile, I just watched their silly spat blankly.
How much time passed?
It was getting boring.
"Fun times. So, can I take the kids now?"
Right on time, he cut off An Jeong-su and Su-jin's childish bickering.
"Yes, please do."
"Take good care of my son."
"Look forward to today's dishes."
Yu-na and Su-jin trailed after Chef Kim Young-jo into the sparkling kitchen.
Gulp!
Su-jin swallowed hard.
"Oppa, why? Nervous?"
"W-What? I'm not nervous."
"Got it."
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Kim Young-jo clapped to get attention and pointed left.
"Yu-na, left. Su-jin, right. Hurry over. No time to waste."
"Yesss! Hehehe."
"Y-Yes!"
Yu-na bounced to the left spot with pep, while tense Su-jin took the right.
"Watch the teacher closely."
As Kim Young-jo demoed seasoning rice with seaweed powder and salt...
Yu-na watched intently, but Su-jin just stared at Yu-na's focus.
"Like this. You can do it, right?"
"Yesss!"
"Huh?"
"Alright! Might be hot, so gloves first... Go!"
Yu-na donned gloves and sprinkled salt and seaweed powder over her rice bowl.
Then she kneaded the rice vigorously with her tiny hands.
"...Yu-na! Need help?"
"......"
Blank stare.
Yu-na eyed Su-jin.
For a moment.
Then she narrowed her eyes to slits, whipped her head away, and sassily flipped her stray hair.
"Being pretty is tiring..."
The cameramen burst into chuckles.
In just days, Yu-na's character had flipped to full princess.
"And I don't need help. Yu-na's better at cooking than oppa anyway."
"...I'm better! If you're so good, let's compete!"
"Fine. Sounds good."
A rivalry sparked out of nowhere.
Kim Young-jo, quietly observing from behind, smirked.
'Cute little chefs' showdown.'
Who would win?
An exciting matchup.