Chapter 147
Chapter 147
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Doll Theater and Guests
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I came home with a pot full of spicy braised chicken stew and found Yu-na still glued to her drama.
Even funnier, the floor next to her was littered with snack wrappers, making a total mess.
When did she even bring all that?
And right now.
She was picking them up one by one and munching away.
Dinner was almost ready...
I set the pot down on the kitchen table and walked over to Yu-na.
"Yu-na, Daddy's home. Stop with the snacks now. It's almost dinnertime."
"......"
No response even when I called her.
I let out a quiet sigh and confiscated the snacks from the folding table, then cleaned up the trash scattered on the floor.
'She really ate a ton.'
I wondered if she'd even have room for dinner.
I couldn't help but worry.
"...Huh? Where'd the snacks go?"
Her eyes met mine as she looked around. When she saw the snacks piled in my hands, Yu-na's mouth fell open.
"Daddy, that's mine."
"I'll give them back after dinner. No more snacks."
"Tch...."
Yu-na grumbled softly, gave up on the snacks, and turned her gaze away.
That's when I noticed her runny nose again.
Snot was dangling down.
As if it were the most natural thing, Yu-na wiped it roughly with her sleeve.
'I told her not to do that...'
Her sleeve was crusty and stiff from dried snot.
She must have kept wiping it that way while she was at Ha-yul's place.
By the way.
'She's already caught up to the latest episode.'
The part where Yu-na had her cameo just ended, and now I was on screen, writhing in agony in the darkness.
Memories from when I was human.
Recalling what kind of person I had been.
How I'd been betrayed and killed by the one person I trusted most.
It was all coming back in that moment.
Just then, Yu-na's head whipped around.
"Ah, Daddy...?"
"What's up, Yu-na? Did you call me?"
Yu-na stared straight at me, her eyes flickering with unease for a split second before steadying.
A brief silence.
"......"
"......"
Soon, the melancholic OST signaling the end of the latest episode started playing, and Yu-na got up with a bright smile and hugged me tight.
"...Hee hee hee. You're warm."
"......"
For some reason, I couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling. Why? No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn't figure it out.
The day flew by before I knew it.
Early morning, as the sun began to rise.
I slowly got out of bed and gently stroked Yu-na's back, where she was stuck to me like a cicada. A moment later, I carefully peeled her off and laid her back down.
Yu-na scratched her plump belly and giggled sleepily.
Her peaceful sleeping face made me smile, but it quickly turned cold.
"...Haa."
I sighed involuntarily.
The nagging unease from the whole day hadn't left me. I'd barely slept, just closing my eyes through the night...
And now, Yu-na's inexplicable behavior at dawn had muddled my mind even more.
'Yu-na touching my cheek.'
She'd mumbled that it was warm, then snuggled into my chest and fallen back asleep.
Why had she checked on me like that?
After agonizing over it all night, I'd come up with one hypothesis.
'It might be overthinking it, but...'
What if Yu-na had watched me take a massive dose of sleeping pills?
What if she'd tried shaking my cold body to wake me up?
"Ah...."
Another odd detail came to mind.
When I'd woken up in Lee Jun-seo's body.
Yu-na had been shaking me awake, then suddenly crawled under the folding table.
Thinking back, that was weird.
Even recalling Lee Jun-seo's memories, he'd never laid a hand on Yu-na.
Never scared her badly.
He'd just ignored her no matter what she did.
"......"
I shook my head.
'That's probably just overthinking too...'
Pondering it here wouldn't give me answers.
All I could do...
Was keep being good to her like I had been.
No matter how tough the situation.
I would never make an extreme choice like the old Lee Jun-seo.
So.
I'd live hard, always showing Yu-na my bright side so she wouldn't worry.
'Yeah, that's it.'
I'd finally found the answer.
Just keep being good to Yu-na now.
I stretched.
"Kuugh!"
My groan made Yu-na furrow her brow and squirm.
"Kng.... Daddyyy...?"
"You're awake? You can sleep more."
"Then.... I'll sleep a little longer."
With that, she hugged her pillow tight and pulled the blanket up over her head.
"Heh heh. Yeah, sleep tight. Daddy'll wake you later."
"Okayyy."
Leaving Yu-na, I grabbed my phone and headed to the living room.
It was 6 a.m. now.
Too early for much of anything.
Sleep wouldn't come anyway.
I fiddled with my phone, searching for something good to serve the guests coming over tonight.
Simple-to-make, tasty stuff. There were plenty of good options.
'Beef shabu-shabu.'
Perfect for a cold day.
So, beef hot pot for dinner.
For our breakfast and lunch...
I glanced at the kitchen.
There was still a lot left from what Lee Jong-min brought yesterday. Too bad to throw out, so we'd finish that.
Should I debone it for Yu-na and mix it with rice? There were too many small bones, and she seemed uncomfortable eating it last night.
"Early, but maybe I should prep breakfast?"
Muttering to myself, I jumped up.
In the sunlit middle of the living room.
I held a cute bunny doll and duck doll, shaking them vigorously.
The puppy doll strode forward.
Yu-na shook the puppy doll with her hand and moved it toward the duck.
Her lips parted.
"This is your last chance. Do you want revenge?"
I lowered my voice to sound stern, but why did it still sound so cute?
I nearly burst out laughing.
Swish swish.
Yu-na shook the doll, signaling me to hurry with the next line.
Fine, if she's asking...
I held back my laugh and opened my mouth.
"Yes, please get revenge."
"Ahem! Very well. Half of your lifespan... Uh.... Is that right?"
At the end, I slipped into my normal voice.
"Heh heh, yeah. Next line is 'Don't forget it.'"
"D-don't forget it."
Yu-na's voice dropped low again.
Not a hint of sternness—just pure cuteness to my ears.
How long did we play like that?
After matching her puppet show for a while, I checked the time: past 4 p.m. already.
Oh, I need to finish cooking...!
I set the dolls down and stood up.
"Yu-na, play by yourself for a bit."
"Okayyy? Can't you play.... a little more?"
"I'll play as much as you want after I finish cooking."
"Tch.... Okayyy."
That's when it happened.
Ding dong!
The doorbell made me freeze.
'No way they're here already?'
I checked the intercom: Dong-hyun and Seol-hwa noona peering close.
They got here fast...
I hit the open button without hesitation for the cold-looking pair.
Yu-na came over holding cute dolls in both hands.
"Daddy! Who's here?"
"Dong-hyun Uncle and Seol-hwa Aunt."
"Oh, really?"
"You can play with Uncle and Aunt later. Daddy'll be making yummy food."
"Okayyy. Hee hee hee."
The doorbell rang again soon after. I opened the front door, and a blast of freezing air made me shiver.
Yoo Seol-hwa came in first.
She tossed off her scarf and thick knit hat, then handed me something.
"...What's this?"
"Belated congrats for hitting number one ratings."
Peeking inside, I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Haha. What is this? A desk calendar with your pictures."
"Sell it secondhand if you don't need it."
Dong-hyun followed, stomping snow off his shoes.
"Whew.... Coldest day yet. Hey, this is my gift."
What he handed me was some pretty pricey-looking booze.
In my past life, maybe, but now?
Fancy liquor was just decor.
No one here drinks...
"...Don't like the gift?"
I shook my head.
"Nah, thanks. I was just cooking. Play with Yu-na for a sec. I'll be done soon."
"Cool. Easy enough."
Just then, Yu-na's laughter rang out from inside, followed by Yoo Seol-hwa's voice.
In the living room, Yu-na was rolling on the floor from Seol-hwa's tickling.
"Eeeeeek! S-stop, Aunt!"
"Aunt again? No way."
Roll roll.
Yu-na rolled away, panting, and hid behind me.
"D-Daddy! H-help!"
"Daddy's gonna talk with Seol-hwa Aunt for a bit, so play with Dong-hyun Uncle, okay Yu-na?"
"Okayyy."
I sent Yu-na to Dong-hyun, and Seol-hwa approached with sharp eyes.
"Hey! You told her to, right? Why's she calling me Aunt?!"
Where's her conscience?
I brushed it off casually to Yoo Seol-hwa.
"You're older than me, and the age gap with Yu-na's huge. Aunt fits."
"That's prejudice, you know? Ever heard of it?"
"But if you keep teasing her like that, she might end up hating you.... You okay with that?"
Flinch! She clamped her mouth shut at my words. Guess she didn't want Yu-na to dislike her.
"Then I'll go finish cooking. Play puppet theater with Yu-na."
"...Haa. Fine. Got it."
Yu-na and Dong-hyun were already doing a puppet show with cute dolls, reciting drama lines.
I could safely leave her with them. I smiled and headed straight to the kitchen.
With two guests, the usually quiet evening was nonstop chatter, no mental break.
Even during dinner.
And during the card game with chicken delivery bets for late-night snacks.
Voices so loud my ears hurt.
Clang!
"Yes! I win again! Game's too easy. Look at my cards—I've got this many already."
Yoo Seol-hwa rang the center bell first, so Dong-hyun and I just forfeited our played cards again.
Dong-hyun was clearly last place now.
I was barely ahead, so this game would decide the chicken bet.
"......"
"......"
In the middle of our staring contest, Yu-na, sitting quietly on my lap, raised her arm high.
"Daddy! Fighting!"
The game restarted.
This time, strangely, I couldn't collect five fruits.
One by one.
Our cards dwindled.
Dong-hyun had five left.
I had ten.
The stare-down peaked.
Ring ring! Ring ring!
Flinch!
My phone alarm shattered my focus.
'Ah, drama time already?'
I silenced the blaring alarm, grabbed the remote, and turned on the TV.
"Hey, play your card already."
"Already my turn?"
Dong-hyun rang the bell right after my mindless play.
Making me dead last.