Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Housewarming Hijinks
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Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang while I was hurriedly getting ready. I dashed to the front door.
"Coming!"
The moment I opened the door, my face hardened at the sight of the visitor, and I shut it again.
Then I added,
"I'm not buying."
I had just turned to head back to the kitchen when the person who rang the bell started pounding on the door.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Hey! Open this door right now!"
Maybe I should stop messing around now?
I shrugged and opened the door. Shin Dong-hyun, dressed neatly but holding a roll of toilet paper that didn't match, was scowling.
"...It was a joke. Why get so mad?"
"Your joke went too far. I pushed back my busy schedule to come here."
I couldn't help but chuckle at his words.
"Yeah? Thanks."
"...You've changed lately, huh?"
"Hmm, you think so?"
It wouldn't be weird if he thought my personality had changed. At first, I was busy pushing away this guy who was the same age as me.
'You can't trust friends.' In my past life, trusting a friend had left me with painful scars I never wanted to repeat, so I hadn't tried making any in this life. That's why I made it obvious, shoving him away. And yet. This guy wouldn't give up and kept approaching without hesitation. Even when he helped with the move, he didn't complain once. Maybe that's why? His foolish persistence in coming closer despite my rejections softened my heart. 'Maybe I can trust this guy?''Yeah. He's not like that trash.''Let's trust him just once.' That's how I came to accept him as a friend and stopped pushing him away. So that's where the misunderstanding came from. I called out to the guy who was rolling his eyes, scanning the house.
"Why are you looking around like that? There's nothing to see here. Come in already."
"Oh! Take this. Housewarming gift."
Shin Dong-hyun handed me the roll of toilet paper. He scratched his cheek awkwardly, avoiding my gaze.
"...Couldn't you get something more expensive?"
"Don't you know? Toilet paper is the standard housewarming gift. It's even law."
"Law my ass... Anyway, thanks."
I let Shin Dong-hyun in and tossed the housewarming gift onto the balcony.
"Don't just stand there. Sit wherever you're comfortable."
"This place is better than the one I saw last time?"
"Of course. I put a lot of thought into picking this one. Police station's right in front for good security. It's bright at night too, so no dangers."
"But man, something smells good. Were you cooking?"
I jumped in surprise when he suddenly headed to the kitchen. Oh no! Not yet! I hurriedly blocked him, pushed him back, and sat him down on the living room floor.
"Rest here first."
"H-Huh?"
"If you're bored, play with this."
Yu-na's number one toy. I handed him the laptop toy that played songs and returned to the kitchen with a sigh of relief. On the sink sat the seafood stew I'd bought from the restaurant today, all by its lonesome. Next to it were japchae and pork stir-fry. I hadn't expected him so early... I quickly tore off all the packaging and transferred the food to plates. I'd originally planned to serve homemade dishes. Picking a seafood recipe I'd never tried before was the problem. My soft fingers were covered in knife cuts, and the failed dishes were already tossed outside. 'Just need to deal with these bags now?' The moment I lit the stove to heat the pot, I heard footsteps behind me.
"Whoa, seafood stew and pork stir-fry? Those are tough to make... Why not just order in?"
I swallowed hard. He didn't notice, right? That's when it happened.
"Huh? What's this?"
Shin Dong-hyun picked up a paper from the floor. It was the receipt I'd dropped. He looked at it and made a knowing face, muttering, 'I knew it.' "What? It's all delivery food?"
Busted after all? No. If I say the rest was homemade, he'll buy it. I put on an act for the idiot so he wouldn't catch on. What a waste of talent... It really was a waste of talent.
"What are you talking about? I got the seafood from Yu-na's favorite place. I made everything else."
"Really? Doesn't seem like it..."
"Can't you see my hands hurt from prepping the seafood?"
I showed him the marks on my hands. Only then did Shin Dong-hyun drop his suspicions, let out a small sigh, and speak.
"Yeah? Must've been tough to make."
Some compliment that was. Trying an unfamiliar recipe while following the internet wasn't easy. If even I failed... It was no small feat.
"So, just need to plate it up?"
My acting must've worked on Shin Dong-hyun. I inwardly sighed in relief and nodded.
"Just need to plate the braised short ribs from that bag."
"I'll help with that."
Ding-dong! The doorbell rang again. I left the last task to Shin Dong-hyun and ran to the door.
"Coming!"
I flung open the door, and Kang Su-ho and Yoo Seol-hwa greeted me with smiles.
"Hey, junior."
"I'm here too. You should've told us right away about the move."
I stepped back to welcome my seniors. They handed me rolls of toilet paper as housewarming gifts and came in. Was he right? Is toilet paper legally mandated for housewarmings? Before I knew it, my place was stacked with toilet paper. Enough for a year, easy.
"Wow, the place is neat and nice?"
"Not bad at all."
"Ahaha. The house is smaller than it looks. So, bear with me."
Showing my place to Kang Su-ho was embarrassing. The house he'd visited on sitcom airing day was in a famously expensive apartment in Korea. Showing a brand-new studio to someone like that felt like showing off a dollhouse. 'Sigh... That's why I only wanted to invite Dong-hyun without the seniors...' He was looking around the interior. Was the small space fascinating him? My seniors' faint smiles faded, their eyebrows drooping.
"Where's Yu-na?"
"Yeah. I thought she'd greet us first..."
"Ahaha. Yu-na's at kindergarten."
It wasn't the size; they were looking for Yu-na. Their disappointed faces were so funny I couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh? Seniors! Hello."
Shin Dong-hyun, fresh from the kitchen, bowed to them.
"Dong-hyun, you beat us here?"
At Yoo Seol-hwa's casual question, Shin Dong-hyun's lips slowly curved up.
"Ahaha! I'm close with this guy, so of course I left early to celebrate first."
Yoo Seol-hwa's eyebrow twitched at his emphasis on "close."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah! Ahaha!"
Please... Read the room. I subtly poked his side to signal him. But that backfired. My seniors' gazes sharpened as they watched us.
"So we're not close enough to be told about the move?"
"Yeah. I thought we were close with Junior Jun-seo... Was it all in our heads?"
Water under the bridge now. After some desperate groveling to soothe them, I barely turned their moods around. Shin Dong-hyun staring blankly at me the whole time pissed me off to no end. 'Read the damn room...'
All the food for entertaining guests was ready.
Yu-na was due back from New Sprout Kindergarten soon, so we killed time chatting about recent events.
"So, you're going into part two without Dong-hyun this time?"
"Yep. Same for you."
Ring ring ring!
A sudden blaring alarm.
I snatched my phone and turned it off. I'd set it for Yu-na's return from kindergarten.
"Oh! I gotta head out. Yu-na should be here any minute."
"Want a ride?"
I shook my head at Kang Su-ho's offer.
I'd arranged the kindergarten shuttle for moving day.
No need to go all the way there.
"Just drop me at the police station."
"Huh? Why there?"
"I set the shuttle pickup there. And..."
I shrugged and continued. While house-hunting, I'd run into the cop on patrol last time.
Gratefully, he'd promised to ensure Yu-na's safe return when I was busy. When I explained, Shin Dong-hyun—who'd been munching hidden snacks—gaped.
"Wow... You're amazing. An actor buddies with the cops..."
Kang Su-ho, sipping coffee alone, spoke lowly.
"Be careful with that. Lingering around the station makes you tabloid bait."
I thanked him for the serious advice and headed out.
It was less than a five-minute walk.
Standing in front of the station, I could see my house right there.
My seniors peeking out the window and even Shin Dong-hyun's head were visible, it was so close.
"Hmm... She should be here soon..."
Right on cue, the kindergarten bus appeared.
It approached at a safe speed, stopping near me.
Screech! Jolt!
"Daddy!"
The door opened, and Yu-na leaped into my arms.
"Let's go home quick! Okay?"
"Ahaha. Say bye to teacher first."
As Yu-na jumped down, the young teacher who'd followed sighed deeply.
She must've been startled by Yu-na bolting out.
"Bye-bye, teacher!"
"Thanks for your hard work, teacher."
"Yes... Um, Yu-na's dad? Tell her not to jump off the bus. It's dangerous."
"Sorry. I'll scold her good, so don't worry."
After seeing off the teacher, I poked Yu-na's forehead.
"Yu-na, that was dangerous."
"Y-Yu-na... gonna get scolded by Daddy?"
"Of course. As punishment, no meat side dishes today—your favorite."
"Then what does Yu-na eat?"
Yu-na's eyes shook wildly.
She really thought I meant no meat.
"Fresh stir-fried veggies and the bean rice you hate most in the world."
"N-Nooo! Daddy, Yu-na's sorry. Okay?"
I firmly shook my head at her teary plea for mercy.
Think I'd fall for that?
I'd fallen for Yu-na's tears more times than I could count.
I tuned out her evolving tearful act.
That's when it happened.
Real teardrops like pearls fell from Yu-na's eyes.
W-Was she actually crying?
I wiped her tears and hurriedly backpedaled.
"Y-Yu-na. Remember what Daddy said? It's for your sake. So never jump off the bus again. Got it?"
"......"
Nod nod.
Her pouty nod weakened my resolve.
I gave her a wry smile and focused on comforting her.
Patting her back, I started with how her big bros and sis had come to visit.
And that we'd prepared her favorite braised short ribs.
To cheer her up.
We reached the house soon after. I set her down gently.
"Shall we go in? To our new home."
"Yeah!"
Then a familiar voice came from behind.
"This is straight-up tearjerker drama material."
"Is that the real doting dad look?"
I glanced back. My seniors and Shin Dong-hyun were watching with pleased smiles.
Why were they all outside?
Something was off.
Shin Dong-hyun was holding his phone, lens pointed right at me.
No way...
Just as I wondered if they were filming,
"Everyone, behold!! The doting dad you've all been dying to see!"
Shin Dong-hyun shouted loudly.
He approached and handed me a clip-on mic.
"How do you feel right now?"
"...What the hell are you doing?"
"Internet live stream. Say hi at least."
Comments flooded the phone screen Shin Dong-hyun pointed to—too many to read without eye strain.