Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Unexpected Neighbors
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While pressing down on Ha-yul's head as she bounced around, Lee Jong-min turned to me with a grin and asked,
"So, what brings you here? Shooting something nearby?"
"I've moved into this apartment recently. What about you, Jong-min? Why are you here... with a camera and all...?"
Before I could finish my question, Lee Jong-min's eyes widened in surprise.
"Really? Then we're neighbors now. What a coincidence. If you have time, I'd love to invite you for a late dinner. Would that be okay?"
His words came out like rapid fire, and I couldn't hide my own astonishment.
In this massive city, what were the odds of moving into an apartment where an acquaintance lives? Caught up in the shock and pleasant surprise, I realized too late that it was rude not to answer his question directly and instead asked one back.
"Neighbors? You live here too, Jong-min?"
He nodded slightly.
Then he stretched his hand out to the left, pointing at the building in front of the playground.
"See that one right there? I live on the 10th floor of that building. And you?"
"...I'm on the 13th floor on the opposite side."
"What are the chances! Ahaha!"
"Daddy! Stop pressing!"
Ha-yul dodged Lee Jong-min's big hand and stuck to me with a slap.
Seeing her, Yu-na came running over and hugged my other leg tight.
As if she wasn't going to let her have me.
I froze in place like a statue.
If I moved carelessly in this state, the kids might trip and get hurt.
"Sip! If you stick like that, the cool uncle will be in trouble."
"Uncle! Come play at our house."
Wiggle. Wiggle.
As Ha-yul looked up at me and asked, Yu-na's tightly shut mouth slowly opened.
"...No way. You promised to play with Yu-na. So, not even as a friend.... Absolutely not."
I felt a faint tremble and tension from my right leg. Didn't they get close at the amusement park last time?
Oblivious to Yu-na's quiet mutter, Ha-yul threw a tantrum.
"My mom said she misses you, Uncle. She'd definitely be happy to see you."
Hmm...
I was mulling it over when—
"No way.... Really, no way..."
Yu-na looked sulky, while Ha-yul sent me pleading eyes as she tugged at my pants, putting me in an awkward spot.
Was this amusing him?
Lee Jong-min casually held his expensive-looking camera and snapped photos of the kids.
Circling around me, photographing Ha-yul and the sulky Yu-na—he clearly had no intention of stopping them.
'Ah, whatever.'
I was hungry anyway.
And tomorrow was the weekend.
I picked up Yu-na, whose cheeks were puffed out like they might burst if poked.
Then I gently patted Ha-yul's back, who was clutching my pant leg, and said,
"Alright. But I can't stay long. You get that, right?"
Only then did Lee Jong-min speak up.
"Have you decided?"
"...If you're inviting me, how could I refuse?"
"Ah, Daddy! Daddy's a liar!"
All eyes turned to Yu-na as she suddenly shouted. She balled her tiny fists and started thumping her chest.
"Liar! You said at kindergarten you'd play with me today as a reward for getting a hundred points!"
At Yu-na's teary outburst, Ha-yul, who had been throwing her tantrum, glanced around cautiously.
Lee Jong-min did the same.
He lowered his camera, scratched his neck, and gave an awkward smile.
A brief silence.
Then it was broken by—
Grrrrowl!
Yu-na's stomach clock went off.
Lee Jong-min blinked twice, then clutched his belly and burst out laughing. The camera around his neck swayed precariously.
"Ahaha! Looks like it's dinnertime. Let's head back home then. Follow me. My wife makes pretty good food."
"Oh, really? Looking forward to it."
He scooped up Ha-yul, who was pouting at the ground.
"Follow me."
As I followed him, I glanced at Yu-na. Her earlobes were red as tomatoes.
Embarrassed about the stomach growl?
"Ah, hello?"
"......"
Was it because I'd shown up unannounced?
Yoon Si-won's eyes shook briefly when she saw me at the entrance, then sharpened coldly.
I shouldn't have come after all.
But the stinging glare wasn't directed at me and Yu-na—it was at Lee Jong-min.
I felt so out of place that I wanted to turn around and head straight home.
Should I really just go home?
I was about to say so when she smiled at me, her eyes curving into half-moons.
"Hello. It's hot even at night, isn't it? Come on in. And..."
She trailed off, then turned back to Lee Jong-min.
Her gaze was icy.
"...Honey? Come here for a sec. Jun-seo, sit on the sofa with Yu-na and relax. Ha-yul, you too."
It seemed Lee Jong-min had invited me without a word, and she was furious.
Even an outsider like me could tell, but he seemed oblivious.
"What's wrong? What is it?"
"...I need to talk to you. Now."
She grabbed his wrist and dragged him off. Left at the entrance, I genuinely wanted to go home.
Bang!
The door slammed shut roughly, making me flinch involuntarily.
The front door was already closed...
No choice but to go in?
I took off my shoes neatly and followed Ha-yul inside, sitting quietly on the sofa with Yu-na.
'...The interior's pretty ordinary.'
Considering Lee Jong-min's job, the place felt surprisingly plain.
Simple furniture, a leather sofa showing faint signs of wear from years of use.
Plain white wallpaper, a large wedding photo.
Well-tended potted plants on the balcony.
'Not what I imagined.'
I'd thought a photographer's home would be full of artwork and photos.
But...
Was the soundproofing this bad?
I could clearly hear Lee Jong-min and Yoon Si-won arguing from the room.
"Honey! How could you invite a guest out of the blue without saying anything? I haven't even prepped dinner!"
"No, we ran into each other by chance, and I got excited..."
"What am I supposed to do.... I want to serve him something delicious. The ingredients I have now won't cut it.... What to do?"
"Just whip something up."
"To our benefactor? Make do?"
My face burned at Yoon Si-won's booming shout. I hadn't done anything worthy of being called her benefactor.
Our first meeting, I'd been nosy and given her a piece of my mind, listened to her troubles, offered some advice—that was it.
Benefactor for that much...
"Hehehe. Uncle, look at this?"
Lost in thought, Ha-yul pointed at the TV and asked.
A kids' cartoon with monsters.
Yu-na's favorite show.
'Right, it's on now.'
I'd forgotten.
Yu-na's eyes, nestled in my arms, darted around. Sulky or starving, she wouldn't miss this kids' program.
"If you visit again, I'll make you something delicious. I hope you're satisfied with this today."
"No, this is great. Beef is perfect."
As we chatted, Lee Jong-min placed the freshly bought beef on the grill.
Sizzle!
Every time the beef grilled to a golden brown on the hot plate, tasty cuts went on one after another.
Gulp!
Yu-na, fully over her mood, swallowed hard and asked me,
"Daddy, can I eat now?"
"Not yet."
Lee Jong-min and Yoon Si-won sat side by side, smiling at us.
They sliced the perfectly cooked beef into bite-sized pieces and put the first serving on our plates.
"Here, don't hold back. Dig in."
"Eat up. My husband grills meat like a pro. It'll be delicious."
"Ahaha. Sure."
"Thanks for the meal!"
Yu-na snatched her chopsticks and popped the beef into her mouth.
Her sharp eyes softened, her face lighting up with pure bliss.
"That good, huh?"
Munch. Munch.
Yu-na's chubby cheeks jiggled faintly with every chew.
I hadn't eaten dinner yet and was starving, but oddly, just watching her eat filled me up.
No exaggeration.
I couldn't eat much anyway.
Binge today, and I'd have to kill myself exercising tomorrow.
Just five pieces for me...
'And give the rest to Yu-na.'
I wrapped a perfect piece in lettuce and held it out to her.
Yu-na, who had just been munching air, gulped at the sight and opened wide.
Missing front teeth.
That explained why food gathered in her cheeks—she was using only her molars.
"Daddy?"
"Huh? Oh... Here, Yu-na."
She chewed the wrap I made thoroughly.
Now me?
As I reached for meat—
Sizzle! Pop!
A familiar sound from in front.
Lee Jong-min cracking open a beer can.
"Kya! Nothing beats one can a day. Want one, Jun-seo? Got plenty at home."
In my past life, maybe...
But now, no desire for alcohol. Hadn't changed since possessing this body.
I shook my head.
"Managing my weight. Anyway, why'd you bring the camera?"
"Oh, I was taking some late-night profile shots for Ha-yul."
"You did it yourself? Don't agencies handle that?"
"Truth is, we weren't happy with the agency's shots of Ha-yul."
"Ah..."
"So I called the agency to complain, and they told me to take them myself and bring them in. Ahaha!"
He got up from the table mid-meal and fetched the camera. After fiddling with it, he handed it to me.
"What do you think? Took these in my studio—aren't they great?"
As he said, they were perfect for a profile.
Every photo captured Ha-yul's charm: mature beyond her years, natural expressions.
'As expected of a pro photographer.'
Flipping through, one slid sideways. Yu-na, pouting and clinging to my leg.
From earlier?
It came out perfect...
"This would make a flawless profile pic. It's great. Makes me want to ask for mine too."
Lee Jong-min's mouth curved up at my praise. He shrugged and flipped the well-cooked meat.
"Anytime. I'd do yours for free, Jun-seo."
"Even so, shooting this well for free feels..."
As I started to refuse—
They cut me off with smiles.
"Don't refuse."
"Yeah. After all the help you've given me."
Seeing their firm expressions, I let out a quiet sigh, shrugged, and replied,
"Then... could I ask you to do mine and Yu-na's profiles next time? I like our current ones, but..."
I handed back the camera and continued,
"And could you send me this photo? I'd love to post it on my StarTalk and show off."
"Ahaha! Of course I'll send it."
That's when—
Ha-yul, quietly eating her beef, jumped up.
"Uncle. Then should I give you the photo Daddy took of me today too?"
Lee Jong-min pressed her shoulders down to sit and spoke.
"Our princess. You mean the one where you're crying on the ground? Should we send that to Uncle too?"
"Eeeeek! Why that one!"
"Ahaha! Send that one too. Sounds cute."
"Grrr!"
"See? If you'd stayed still like Mommy. Why'd you do that? Did you finish your workbook? Mommy's checking later."
Flinch!
Thanks to the now-quiet Ha-yul, dinner turned into a sea of laughter.
However.
One person wasn't laughing.
Yu-na.
Her lips stuck out like she'd taken a grudge.
"Why's our princess's lip poking out like that? Want Daddy to feed you some tasty beef?"
Slurp.
Yu-na tucked her lip in, closed her eyes, and opened wide toward me.
Munch munch.
As I fed her, her mouth corners lifted.
No idea why she was sulky.
But her mood seemed better.
'No business like meat.'