Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Drama Time with a Fever
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Yu-na's face was a total mess of tears and snot after bravely taking that shot in the butt.
As we strolled down the street in that state, eyes were locking onto us from every direction.
Young students and aunties snapping photos with their phones and trailing after us.
'...Should I just carry her on my back and run home?'
She'd sniffle, then cough.
Sniffle again, then cough.
Parading around like this, it felt like word would spread through the neighborhood that she'd caught a cold.
'Alright, I'll piggyback her and head straight home.'
Just as I hoisted Yu-na onto my back and quickened my pace, my eyes caught the pamphlet listing menu items from the restaurant right next door, and I stopped dead in my tracks.
'Pumpkin porridge, huh...'
She said her throat hurt, so maybe I should grab some porridge to go for lunch?
I didn't agonize over it for long.
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After packaging up the food and hurrying home, the first thing I did was...
Turn on the TV and switch to the drama, just as I'd promised Yu-na.
And that's how things stood now.
Having stopped crying, Yu-na was sitting primly at the folding table, watching the drama I was in. All while cooling and eating the steaming pumpkin porridge.
"That uncle and auntie are so mean..."
A long string of snot dripped from Yu-na's cute little nose. I hurriedly pulled out some tissue as she wiped it roughly with her sleeve.
"What're you doing, getting all messy? Wipe with tissue. Here, blow! Like this."
"Hng!"
Even as she blew her nose, Yu-na's eyes stayed glued to the TV screen.
'Ah, it's my scene.'
The terrified manager shoves past pedestrians while fleeing, then trips and falls.
A sharp, chilling glare.
My face filled the close-up shot.
"Isn't Daddy scary in that? He does all these bad things to people."
When I asked worriedly, Yu-na shook her head without a moment's hesitation.
"Daddy's punishing the bad guy there. That's why he's so cool."
With that, she reached out, groping across the folding table while fixated on the drama.
Looking for her spoon?
Smiling, I placed the spoon in her hand. She immediately dug back into the pumpkin porridge with gusto.
Her expressions shifted by the second all the while.
When violence broke out, she'd clasp her hands over her eyes. When I gave the bad guy his comeuppance, she'd beam with joy.
Watching the drama paled in comparison to the far more entertaining show of Yu-na's ever-changing faces.
'Ah, she looks shocked this time.'
After staring at her face for a good while, I moved to the sofa.
If I kept watching her face, she wouldn't be able to enjoy the drama comfortably.
So, now what was there for me to do...?
Nothing, so I pulled out my phone to check the chat rooms I'd ignored for two whole days.
The high school series group chat was dead silent, not a single message.
The sitcom group chat, on the other hand, was buried under a mountain of messages.
Kang Su-ho: Isn't this guy way out of line? He drops another ratings bombshell and now he's brushing us off like we're nothing?
Yoon Mi-jeong: Send him a message or something.
Shin Dong-hyun: He replies right away, but... it just feels kinda half-hearted compared to before?
Yoo Seol-hwa: Hey! Lee Jun-seo! Answer if you see this.
Kang Su-ho: No reply even now...
Shin Dong-hyun: Hyung, just wait a bit.
The gist of two days' worth of backlog was nothing but people looking for me.
'No, just call me.'
Half-hearted now? I was dumbfounded.
Just two days! Why did everyone think I was ignoring them?
First things first, time to reply.
I was typing a message when—
Kang Su-ho: Huh? The unread count just dropped by one. Looks like he finally saw it?
Yoo Seol-hwa: So you're too big for us now that you're blowing up? I'm really disappointed.
Kang Su-ho: I'm actually hurt.
Yoo Seol-hwa: After all we've done for you, show some interest and keep in touch. Okay?
Yoo Seol-hwa: See? No reply again.
Sweating bullets, I typed and sent my response.
Lee Jun-seo: No, it's a misunderstanding. How could I ditch the hyung and noona who took such good care of me early on?
Lee Jun-seo: And it's only been two days! Why make a fuss over that?
Yoo Seol-hwa: Whatever! You off tomorrow?
Yoo Seol-hwa: I'm coming to your place tomorrow, so be ready. We have to watch the finale of your hit drama together.
Shin Dong-hyun: Whoa! What? Meeting up tomorrow? I can make it!
Kang Su-ho: Ah... I've gotta head to my parents' place then, so no can do...
Yoo Seol-hwa: Unnie! What about you?
Yoon Mi-jeong: You kids have fun. I feel like I'd just cramp your style. I'll sit this one out.
The conversation flew by so fast I couldn't talk the two planning to visit on Sunday out of it.
I let out a quiet sigh.
Lee Jun-seo: Then anyone free, come over to my place tomorrow. Oh, and Yu-na has a cold, so no responsibility if you catch it.
Shin Dong-hyun: Okay! Awesome! Got snacks at home?
Yoo Seol-hwa: I'm fine. And tell Yu-na this auntie—wait, no, not auntie. This noona's bringing her a gift.
I chuckled at the title switch to "noona." Looked like a conscience had finally kicked in.
We were deep in catching up when I glanced at the time on my phone and my eyes lit up.
'Ah, right. Cold medicine.'
I grabbed the remote and paused the drama.
Yu-na whipped her head around and shot me a fierce glare.
"Daddy? It's not over yet..."
"...Ahem! Gotta take your cold medicine, right? Take it in front of me, and I'll unpause it."
"Give me the cold medicine quick! This is a super important scene!"
"Haha, got it."
I mixed the powdered cold medicine into water for her. Grimacing, she downed it all, then licked every last bit of pumpkin porridge off the spoon.
"You scraped it clean, huh?"
At my question, she showed me the cup.
"There, happy? Turn it back on already."
"Alright. Good job."
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I was messaging back and forth with the sitcom crew again when Yu-na's whimpering voice came from right beside me.
"Poor Daddy..."
Poor what?
I turned to the TV.
Whoa, already midway through?
It was the scene where past memories start resurfacing, causing agony.
Time had flown by unnoticed...
I shot to my feet.
"Yu-na, what do you want for dinner?"
"...Anything."
She answered slowly, totally absorbed in the drama. Fair enough—this was one of those can't-look-away moments...
It hinted that once all the memories returned, the demonic traits would fade, stripping away all my abilities.
And Yu-na seemed to get it too.
Her face looked adorably serious right now.
"Really anything? Even bean rice?"
"Yeah. Anything."
The medicine must be working well...
No more coughs from Yu-na. And the constant runny nose had dried up too.
Chuckling, I slowly stood, stroking her head.
"I'll be cooking, so you stay here and watch nicely."
"Yeah."
In the kitchen, I set my phone on the sink shelf. That way, I could still see the sitcom crew's lively chat.
Alright, bean rice it is?
I was rinsing my hands under warm water when—
Bzzz! Bzzz!
Of course, a call right then.
Screen showed Lee Jong-min's number. Why was he calling at this hour?
I wiped my hands roughly with a towel and picked up.
"Hello?"
-Jun-seo, I made a ton of spicy chicken stew. If you haven't eaten dinner yet, want some?
I'd planned on a quick meal kit, so perfect timing.
"Sure, sounds good. I'll come grab it."
-Yeah, bring a pot and I'll share. Come now.
"Got it."
Call ended, I grabbed a pot from the shelf.
Then...
"Yu-na! Daddy's heading to Ha-yul's for a sec. Be good and wait, okay?"
"Yeah!"
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I arrived at Ha-yul's with a decent-sized pot, only to be stunned by the sheer volume of spicy chicken stew—way beyond expectations.
A pot big enough for a restaurant.
Using that at home...
Must be enough for ten servings.
I cautiously asked Lee Jong-min, who was wearing a frilly apron.
"...You made all this today?"
"The chicken for spicy stew was 70% off, so I went overboard."
Even so, there were limits.
He grinned broadly and ladled a generous amount into my pot. It looked like plenty, but the pile barely diminished.
"If it's not enough, come back tomorrow. Probably leftovers again."
"Ah, thank you... We'll enjoy it."
As he handed me the pot, a deep sigh came from behind. Yoon Si-won stood with arms crossed, glaring at Lee Jong-min.
But...
'Why's Ha-yul acting like that?'
Lee Ha-yul, hiding behind Yoon Si-won, kept shyly averting her eyes like a bashful girl.
Normally, she'd be asking what Yu-na was up to or whining to eat together here.
As I stared at Ha-yul, Lee Jong-min smirked and nudged her back.
"You were just singing about wanting to see Uncle a minute ago. Didn't you have something to say to Uncle Jun-seo?"
"Ah, Dad! Don't push. Okay?"
"Ha-yul, no time later."
At Yoon Si-won's final words, Ha-yul flushed red and stepped forward.
She thrust out her tiny hand.
"Uncle! Shake!"
"Huh? That's easy enough..."
What was this about?
I glanced around.
Lee Jong-min and Yoon Si-won just smiled; no one explained.
Well, a handshake was no big deal.
I set the pot down and took her small hand. Ha-yul's mouth curved up to her ears.
"Thank you, Uncle. I'm a real fan now! I rewatch it all the time. And I never miss the live broadcast."
"...Ah, got it."
Now it clicked.
Ha-yul had watched the drama too.
Her shyness was so cute I smiled warmly. She blushed deeper and ducked behind Yoon Si-won again.
"Wish granted now?"
"Y-Yeah, Mom."
"Ha-yul's acting so different—it's awkward. Normally, she'd be begging me to stay and eat here."
At that, Lee Jong-min clapped.
"Great idea. Want to bring Yu-na and have dinner here?"
I shook my head.
"Sorry, Yu-na's got a cold. Appreciate the invite, but..."
"...Ah."
Ha-yul let out a disappointed sigh.
Her eyebrows and shoulders drooped.
She'd clearly hoped I'd stay for dinner.
But with Yu-na waiting alone at home...
I had to decline.
"Thanks, but I need to get back. Worried about Yu-na home alone."
I thanked them again for the food and headed to the door.
The whole family came out to see me off.
"Eat up with Yu-na. It's my recipe—delicious, I promise."
"Come play with Yu-na anytime. Ha-yul would love it."
"Will do."
I turned, then pivoted back to Ha-yul.
"See you next time, Ha-yul."
"...Yeah! Uncle!"