Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: Sneaking Behind the Kids to School
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We moved to a nearby restaurant.
Yu-na and Ha-yul must have been starving, because the moment their ordered food arrived, their little hands started moving busily.
Gobbling it down.
It was like someone was going to snatch it away from them.
You can take your time eating, you know.
I placed a side dish on top of the rice bowl for Yu-na, whose chopstick skills were still clumsy.
"Thank you."
"...You must be really hungry, huh?"
"Yeah! I was super hungry."
It was 3 p.m. now.
Pretty late for lunch.
The parents... no.
Fans would be the more accurate term. The fans who had desperately waited in the hallway outside the classroom just to meet me...
Because of those fans, lunch had been delayed.
"Sigh."
Thinking about it made me sigh again.
I shouldn't think of my grateful fans this way, but today, they had felt like such a hassle.
They kept persistently asking for photos.
Some even suddenly hugged me.
If Yoo Sia and the manager hadn't firmly held the fans back... I still wouldn't have gotten out of there.
...No.
Not that I wouldn't have—I straight-up couldn't have.
"Jun-seo? Eat up. Are you skipping because you're on a diet?"
At Yoo Sia's question, I set down my chopsticks and shook my head.
"I don't have much of an appetite for some reason."
"You had a tough day. You were insanely popular out there."
"I thought it was my entrance ceremony. I had no idea they'd welcome me like that."
I shrugged with a joking tone, and everyone burst into laughter. In the now-lightened atmosphere, I stared quietly at Ha-yul, who was sitting right across from me.
Oh, right...
Ha-yul is a child actress too, isn't she?
I'd forgotten for a moment.
"Hey, Si-won? How was Ha-yul's class? Was it chaos over there too?"
She'd shown up right as we were leaving the classroom, so I had no idea what Ha-yul's class had been like.
Ha-yul's face is pretty well-known as a child actress. Probably not as bad as what we went through, but still lively, I bet?
She answered my question right away.
"It wasn't as bad as Yu-na's class. They asked my permission first before taking Ha-yul's picture. Ha-yul got all excited and started striking poses, so we ended up late..."
She trailed off, giggling, then pulled out her phone.
"Take a look at this. Isn't her grown-up pose adorable?"
"Heh heh. Yeah, it is. So cute."
In the photo, Ha-yul had her hands on her hips, striking a haughty model pose, but the pink bag with the rabbit character on it ruined the mature vibe entirely. Just like she said, it was so cute I couldn't help but laugh.
"Hey, could you show it to me and my manager too?"
"Yeah, I wanna see!"
"Sure, just a sec."
She turned her phone toward the curious Yoo Sia and the manager.
The two of them stared at the screen, and their lips slowly curved into smiles.
"You're right. I've done that pose for shoots myself, but seeing a kid do it feels totally different."
"So cute."
Yoon Si-won's mouth curved up all the way to her ears at their praise.
"She's been full of confidence again since winning that Youth Acting Award. Maybe too much. There are other photos too..."
And that's when it happened.
Plop!
Yu-na, having polished off her rice bowl, patted her full belly and flopped back dramatically.
"Hee hee hee. Ah, so full."
The room fell silent for a moment as Yu-na blatantly exposed her pale tummy and patted it.
"...Hahaha! Uncle? What are you doing?"
Yoo Sia was the one who broke the silence.
Her first big laugh I'd seen.
She stopped laughing and looked straight at Yu-na before speaking.
"Right. Yu-na, you're in first grade now. Congrats. You've gotta study hard, okay? Same for you, Ha-yul. Congrats."
I pulled out the flower bouquet I'd received from the manager earlier and handed it to Yu-na.
"Here, Yu-na. This is from Aunt Sia. I meant to give it to you earlier but forgot. Sorry."
"No, it's okay. Hee hee hee. Thank you, Aunt Sia. I'll study hard."
"Yeah. I'll study hard too."
The next morning dawned.
After wolfing down breakfast, Yu-na hopped down from her chair.
"All done!"
Zoom!
Without looking back, Yu-na dashed into the bedroom like a bullet.
'Why the rush?'
I quietly followed her into the bedroom, and it became clear right away.
"Pencil case in— notebook in— colored pencils in— toy in—"
Yu-na was packing her bag by herself, bobbing her head side to side to the rhythm, fully into it.
That's right.
Today was the day Yu-na would walk to elementary school with her friend for the first time.
Maybe that's why?
I felt unnecessarily worried.
Even though she'd be going with reliable Ha-yul, they were still kids who had just started elementary school.
"Ah! Should I ride ZingZing No. 8?"
That's not happening...
I knocked on the doorframe as I stepped over the threshold. Yu-na, catching my eye, slyly hid her bag behind her back.
"Ah, Daddy. What?"
"You gotta take the toy out of your bag, right?"
"I, I didn't put any toy in."
I couldn't help but chuckle at Yu-na's blatant lie and strode over.
I pulled the toy out of the bag she'd hidden behind her and held it up.
"Yu-na? Isn't this a toy?"
"...Huh? W-When did that get in there?"
She lies so obviously.
"And you absolutely can't ride the ZingZing to school. Wanna have the homeroom teacher confiscate it and your toys?"
"Th-they'll take it if I bring it?"
"Yeah, of course. You couldn't bring the ZingZing to kindergarten either. And you snuck toys in back then too."
"Th-then..."
Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang.
I checked the intercom in the living room, and there was Ha-yul waving her hand high.
"Yu-na, Ha-yul's here."
"Eek! Already? Wait a sec!"
Yu-na came scrambling out of the bedroom and beamed at me.
"Hee hee hee."
She wiggled her toes and clasped her hands politely in front of her.
"...Got something to say to Daddy?"
"I'll be off to school!"
Bow!
Ah, so that's what she wanted to do.
She's already in elementary school...
Soon she'll be in upper grades.
And then middle school before I know it.
Time flies way too fast. If only she could stay like this just a little longer.
"...Daddy?"
"Yeah, be careful on the way. Like they taught you at kindergarten, check left and right before crossing the crosswalk."
"Yeah! I'll be off!"
As Yu-na turned to go,
"Ah! Yu-na? If you get lost, what did I tell you to do?"
"Hmm... What was it?"
I'd explained this to her yesterday. Dozens of times, even.
Yu-na furrowed her brow, then raised her hand confidently with a grin.
"Go into a restaurant and boldly say I'm lost!"
The smartest thing, since wandering off alone could be dangerous.
I gently ruffled Yu-na's hair.
"Okay, last one... If a stranger says they're Daddy's friend and tries to take you along, what do you do?"
"My daddy only has one friend! Uncle Dong-hyun!"
Ding-dong! Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang again.
"Right answer. Ha-yul must be waiting."
"Yu-na's heading out!"
"Yeah, watch for cars."
"Yeah!"
After Yu-na left, I...
wiped the smile off my face and hurriedly changed into outdoor clothes. I put on a thick mask and hat, then checked the mirror.
I turned my head side to side.
"...Good. Perfect."
Truth is, I was so worried I planned to secretly tail her to school.
To make sure she got there safely.
Alright, time for me to head out too?
As soon as I stepped outside, I started peeking around the apartment complex.
"...Where the heck are they?"
No matter how thoroughly I looked, I couldn't spot Yu-na or Ha-yul.
So...
'They must've already hit the main road?'
Carefully, carefully.
So the kids wouldn't notice.
As I walked, scanning the area, I reached the busy main road with cars whizzing by.
'Ah, come on. They've already gone that far.'
Finally, I spotted Yu-na and Ha-yul holding hands and walking ahead.
I was about to follow at a safe distance when—
Tap! Tap!
Someone tapped my shoulder.
"...Excuse me, you're Lee Jun-seo, right?"
Startled by the low, thin voice, I turned around. There stood a suspicious figure in a mask and hat, just like me.
Given the small build...
Not a guy.
"Wh-who are you?"
I sighed in relief when she pulled down her mask.
It was Ha-yul's guardian.
Yoon Si-won.
"It's me. What are you doing lurking around like this?"
"You look pretty suspicious yourself."
She suddenly let out a small laugh, so I glanced back.
Then I spoke again.
"It's Yu-na's first walk to school. Just checking if she makes it on her own. You too?"
She nodded.
"Same here. I've always stuck close to Ha-yul, so... I don't know, I just got worried if she'd make it safely."
The kids had gotten pretty far ahead.
We'd lose them at this rate.
"...So, shall we move?"
"Wait a sec. Let me get this ready."
She pulled an expensive-looking camera and lens from her crossbag and quickly assembled them.
Her hands moved with expert precision.
"Isn't that Jong-min's gear?"
"Nope. This is mine. Ah, assembled now... Let's go."
We hurried to catch up, keeping a distance from the kids and walking slowly.
How long did we tail them?
About nine minutes in.
One by one.
Passersby waving to the kids ahead started laughing when they saw us. Once might be nothing, but it kept happening. Something was off.
Two masked faces.
And Yoon Si-won with a huge camera—super suspicious.
Yet they're laughing?
This doesn't add up.
"Hey, Si-won? Something weird, right?"
"What's weird?"
"Everyone's laughing at us."
"Probably recognized you, Jun-seo. Kids haven't spotted us yet. Let's keep going."
"...Okay."
We walked quite a while, matching the kids' pace, until Bora Elementary finally came into view.
Must've taken about 14 minutes?
"Just the crosswalk left. We can head back now."
"Yeah. I got tons of Yu-na pics. Want me to send them to you, Jun-seo?"
"That'd be great."
And right then—
Voices called from afar. We both flinched and looked toward the sound.
Yu-na and Ha-yul were waving at us.
"Daddy! I'm off to school! That's my daddy over there! Don't report the suspicious guy!"
"Mommy! Be careful going home! Watch for cars! No more sneaking around like this! Got it?"
"......"
"......"
Suddenly, it all clicked.
Why the passersby were laughing at us.
They knew we were tailing them...
My face burned.
Yoon Si-won looked the same.
Her ears were bright red as she hung her head.