Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: The Onigiri Contest
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Under a unique lamp shaped like a flower bud, at a table covered with a pure white tablecloth.
We sat down there, rubbing our hungry stomachs and letting out deep sighs.
"I should have eaten before coming."
"Yeah, right? Excuse me. Can we eat this now?"
Ahn Jeong-su pulled out something wrapped in foil that looked like a shiny ball and asked the PD.
The PD nodded upon seeing it.
What the heck is that?
I asked Ahn Jeong-su, who was already unwrapping the foil with great anticipation.
"Hyung, what's that?"
"This? It's onigiri I made yesterday by mixing leftover side dishes and rice my son left. I whipped it up simply this morning."
Is he planning to eat it alone?
Looks delicious...
"...Yeah? Must be tasty."
He suddenly stopped and stared at me, then chuckled.
Then he tapped my shoulder.
"Of course I'll share with you. No need to look so desperate."
"Who's desperate?"
He laughed heartily and looked around before calling over a server.
Dressed in a black tie, white dress shirt, and a thin black vest, the server approached, bowing slightly while mindful of the camera right next to us.
"Is there anything you need?"
"Could we get a plate and some chopsticks? And a pair of vinyl gloves too."
"Yes, please wait a moment."
Soon, the server brought over plates and utensils and set them on the table.
"You said one pair of gloves was enough, right? Here you go."
"Ah, thank you."
Ahn Jeong-su took the gloves and immediately split the onigiri neatly in half.
Exactly half.
He then shaped it into a more eatable form.
"Here, you first."
A small onigiri bite-sized, mixed with tiny bits of ham and stir-fried anchovies.
It looked utterly appetizing.
"Then... I'll dig in."
I swallowed hard and picked it up with chopsticks, bringing it to my mouth.
The salty flavor wasn't overpowering, so it didn't feel heavy on an empty stomach.
'Tastes better than expected?'
Ahn Jeong-su, watching me intently, grinned and asked.
"How is it?"
"Wow... it's really good."
"Right? I don't know why my son refuses to eat such delicious anchovies."
Only then did Ahn Jeong-su pop a small piece into his mouth and chew thoroughly.
He muttered under his breath.
"It'd be nice if the food I eat from now on was this tasty too..."
"...Why?"
"Because my son takes after his mom and can't cook worth a damn. Can't even season properly... Oh! Jun-seo, you know we did this content before, right?"
I shook my head.
He burst into laughter.
"Back then, he made inari sushi, but he soaked the tofu pouches in straight vinegar. You should've seen me eat that. Heh heh."
Inari sushi soaked in vinegar...
Just imagining it makes me lose my appetite.
"...Could you eat that?"
"I forced it all down, but my stomach rebelled, and I bolted to the bathroom. And that raw footage aired unedited."
"Ah..."
"So I got an earful from my son and wife. Be careful—you don't want Yu-na disappointed on broadcast day."
"......"
Hearing his story made me worry for no reason.
'Will I be okay today...?'
With our stomachs filled, Ahn Jeong-su and I engaged in some utterly nutrient-free banter.
"Jun-seo, next time let's go on a trip, just us two. Like 'Dads' Retreat' or something. Sound good?"
"Not bad... but how about bringing the kids along?"
"Then we can't relax and have fun."
"For me, having Yu-na around is what makes it fun. She's the most precious thing in the world to me."
"...You managing your image or what?"
The praise I usually gave Yu-na slipped out automatically, embarrassingly sincere.
In moments like this, shamelessness is key.
I let out a laugh and said.
"Ahaha! This is my honest feeling."
"Is it now?"
He eyed me suspiciously, then suddenly clapped his hands.
"Oh, right! Jun-seo, doesn't that air tomorrow night?"
I could vaguely guess what he meant.
'Devil's Errand Center.'
As he said, the drama where I starred was premiering tomorrow.
"Ah, you remembered?"
"Of course. What time?"
"10 p.m."
That was when.
Step. Step.
Chef Kim Young-jo emerged from the kitchen and placed two plates on our table.
Finally, the moment we'd waited for—the kids' first dishes as mini chefs.
'What did they make?'
The chef picked up the roast dome with a stern expression and spoke.
"First dish: onigiri."
The long-awaited first course.
On the two silver plates sat a large onigiri and a small one.
"Shall we taste them one by one?"
"Sure."
As we reached for our chopsticks, the PD cleared his throat softly and addressed us.
"Jun-seo and Jeong-su, please taste the onigiri and choose the delicious one."
What? What kind of instruction is that?
Can't we just eat?
This content was about treating dads to tasty food.
But...
Changing it like this?
I raised my voice a bit.
"Excuse me, no one said anything about that."
"Actually... Yu-na and Su-jin fought in the kitchen. We had to switch things up."
I jumped up in shock at hearing Yu-na fought.
"...Yu-na fought?"
"I'll explain slowly."
The main PD explained.
Yu-na had pulled the "You can't cook as well as me?" on Su-jin.
And Su-jin raised her voice, challenging who was better...
'What is this... it's intriguing?'
This rivalry setup was too interesting; I forced down my rising smile.
Was Ahn Jeong-su amused by the kids' contest too? He grinned, certain his son would lose.
Why concede defeat already?
"Shall we... start then?"
I sat back down.
Exchanged glances with Ahn Jeong-su and nodded.
An onigiri bigger than my head.
A cute little one.
Visually, impossible to tell who made which.
Time to taste.
Gulp! I swallowed dryly.
We split the large onigiri onto our plates.
Plain with just seaweed powder.
Had to taste good.
"Ugh!"
Ahn Jeong-su next to me spat out his bite into a napkin.
Dread washed over me.
Eyes closed, I brought the onigiri to my mouth. Intense saltiness hit.
How much salt did they put in?
I desperately wanted to spit out this salt brick, but couldn't since it might be Yu-na's—I forced it down.
Gulp!
"Ugh!"
Dry heaves rose; I poured water into my cup and chugged.
Barely survived.
'Now for the next one...'
Next: the cute small onigiri.
Couldn't muster the courage to reach.
"Jun-seo... let's try the next."
"...Guess we have to."
Eyes squeezed shut, we brought the cute onigiri to our mouths.
What? This one's delicious?
Not too salty, not bland.
Then it hit me.
'Ah, this must be Yu-na's.'
Grinning, I set down my chopsticks and pointed to the cute one.
"This one's the best."
Nod. Nod.
Ahn Jeong-su nodded seriously and pointed to the large one.
"This salt lump was the tasteless pinnacle of my life."
"Uwaa! Dad...! What do you mean tasteless!"
Su-jin, who had run over, started pummeling Ahn Jeong-su's legs wildly.
"This is Su-jin's loss. Admit it."
"Uwaaa! I hate Dad!"
"Hahaha! What kind of man cries over one loss? Aim to win next time. Though you'll lose again..."
He didn't console her.
Just kept teasing.
His playful antics turned the restaurant into chaos.
The content of repaying dads with loving homemade food ended in a contest.
Yu-na's complete victory, naturally.
Her final dish, kimbap, had burst sides and looked odd.
But it suited my taste perfectly.
Su-jin, tasting defeat fully, pursed her lips and stared out the window.
"Su-jin, your cooking was good too."
"......"
Even consolation got no response. Still, I kept talking to her.
"You can do better next time."
"...Whatever. Uncle said my kimbap was the worst."
"I didn't say that. Just that Yu-na's was tastier..."
Just as Su-jin's mood seemed to lift a bit, Ahn Jeong-su, focused on driving, suddenly called me.
"Jun-seo, just leave her be."
"It's okay?"
"Sons need tough love. What changes by moping after a loss?"
Shocked by his firm words, I asked back.
"Isn't that... too harsh?"
"Might seem so to you, but Su-jin isn't as fragile as you think."
"...Huh?"
"Su-jin, what do you say when you lose?"
"I'll challenge until I win..."
At her small reply, Ahn Jeong-su's lips curved up.
"Dad'll teach you cooking at home. Win next time, got it?"
"...I almost won this time."
"Haha! Wasn't it a total defeat?"
"Ah, no it wasn't!"
Father and son suddenly bickering, faces full of smiles.
Dad and son...
Exactly alike.
I shook my head and stroked Yu-na's hair as she sat on my lap.
She looked up.
"Our girl is pretty and a great cook too? Who'd she get it from?"
"Daddy."
Yu-na haughtily tossed her hair, putting on a prim expression.
"My daughter's got princess syndrome, huh?"
"...Seems like it."
Admitting it boldly, Yu-na blinked at me intently.
Brief silence.
Then her cute mouth opened.
"Daddy, what's princess syndrome?"
How to explain...
"Princess syndrome is... like, a mysterious illness that pretty girls like our Yu-na sometimes get."
At "illness," Yu-na's eyes widened, mouth agape.
"Does that mean Yu-na's sick?"
"Puhahaha!"
The car suddenly swerved side to side.
"Ah, hyung! Drive straight!"
"Daddyyy! Front! Front!"
After barely dodging an oncoming car, I sighed in relief.
"Ah, sorry. Pfft... continue. Jun-seo."
"......"
I shot Ahn Jeong-su a glare, then turned to Yu-na with a bright smile.
"It's a sickness that goes away on its own with time. No worries. That's why I called it mysterious."
"Ah, I see."