Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Morning with Yu-na and the Valley Getaway
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Tick. Tock.
Tick. Tock.
An early morning as the dim sky began to brighten.
I jolted awake from a nightmare of being crushed by a giant rabbit, clutching my pounding chest.
"A d-dream. Phew..."
It had been so vivid that the pressure still lingered on my body.
[It's 7:10 a.m. now.]
Too late to keep sleeping.
Too early to get up.
I stared blankly at the ceiling skylight, then suddenly burst into laughter. What an absurd dream when I thought about it.
Not some scary ghost.
A cute rabbit, of all things.
"What a ridiculous nightmare."
Still...
Why did my body feel so heavy?
Only after my mind fully cleared and I looked down did I spot the cause.
Yu-na was clinging to my chest like a cicada, breathing softly in her sleep.
"Ah... So that's why I had that nightmare."
But why was she sleeping with her mouth open?
My pajama shirt had turned into a massive drool map courtesy of Yu-na.
Even now, saliva trickled from her tiny open mouth.
Sure, it felt nice having her snuggled up like that.
But I couldn't stay like this forever.
[First things first, I need to change.]
I gently pried off her little fingers one by one and eased her down onto the bed without waking her.
"Daddy... Daddy..."
The moment she lost contact with me, Yu-na reached out into the air, whimpering. It looked like she was groping around for me.
I glanced around and placed a small rabbit plush from the shelf on her chest.
[This should do it.]
I nodded and turned away, only to feel a faint tug on my clothes.
Yu-na had thrown the rabbit plush to the floor and grabbed my shirt instead.
"Ah, Daddy..."
Was she having a nightmare?
Her brows furrowed, and a single tear rolled from her eye.
"Don't go... Don't leave Yu-na... I'll be good..."
"......"
I froze in place.
It seemed she was dreaming that I was abandoning her.
I had no such intentions at all.
If anything, I should be the one begging her not to leave me. Yu-na was my everything in this life.
I calmly lifted the corners of my mouth and sat back on the bed. Then I wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.
"Daddy's not going anywhere. No matter what anyone says, you're Daddy's little girl, right?"
"Ah... Daddy... I did something... wrong..."
"It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong."
"...I'll do... better..."
"No. You're already doing great."
She reminded me of my past life's self.
Was that why?
I poured all the love I'd never received no matter how hard I tried back then into responding to every one of her sleep-talk murmurs.
Hoping she would never get hurt like I did.
How much time passed like that?
As I kept saying sweet things, Yu-na's lips slowly curved into a smile.
Her grip on my clothes loosened.
Had she switched to a good dream at last?
Her angelic smile was so adorable that I lost track of time just watching her.
Ring ring ring!
A loud noise blared from my phone. At the sound, Yu-na's brows furrowed deeply as she squirmed.
[Already time to get up?]
I moved my stroking hand to her chubby belly and gently kneaded and rocked her. Her brows scrunched even more.
Playtime over.
Time to wake her properly.
"Yu-na. Time to get up."
Her eyebrows twitched.
Her eyes cracked open slightly.
Then they closed again as her tiny mouth opened.
"Just... a little longer..."
She grabbed the hand that had been rubbing her belly.
Normally, I'd let her sleep a bit more, but not today. We absolutely couldn't be late.
I pulled my hand free and lay down beside her, whispering in her ear.
"Then you don't want to go to the valley today? You promised with Ha-yul's uncle and aunt yesterday."
That was right.
Yesterday, we'd gotten caught up in the moment and made plans with them.
I figured two days of just me and Yu-na would be fine, but it'd be more fun with a group.
Hadn't we done that before?
[The swimming pool with the sitcom crew.]
I wanted to make good memories for Yu-na like that time.
Luckily, they agreed right away.
Yoon Si-won even booked a pension by the valley on the spot.
The catch...
Yoon Si-won's stubbornness meant we wouldn't contribute a dime to the costs.
And...
I'd promised to play with Yu-na in the valley until she was satisfied.
Since I'd already broken one promise.
This felt like a perfect compromise.
What still nagged at me...
Was the vision of myself collapsing from exhaustion after playing with stamina-monster Yu-na.
Well, if Yu-na has fun, sacrificing my body is fine...
Worries aside.
I opened my mouth right away.
"Yu-na."
Squirm. Squirm.
With the alarm still blaring, she burrowed under the covers.
Then poked her head out.
"Daddyyy... Just a little longer."
Whining with her eyes still closed was unbearably cute.
But no mercy today.
"Hmm, no can do."
I muttered just loud enough for her to hear and sneaked a glance.
Yu-na tilted her head.
"If you don't get up soon..."
"Then what?"
She wasn't even fully awake, yet her responses were spot-on.
If you're that alert, just get up already.
Holding back a laugh, I flicked her furrowed brow and said it like I meant it.
"I'll feed you nothing but bean rice for life. Want me to go stuff breakfast full of beans?"
I slid off the bed, and her eyes snapped open. She bolted up and yanked my pant leg.
"Really? Nooo! Don't! Really don't!"
Hated beans that much?
I gripped my waistband to keep my pants up and kept smiling.
"Then let's eat breakfast with Daddy and get ready, okay?"
"...This is really the place?"
"Yep. Shall we unpack first?"
I couldn't hide my surprise at the scenery outside the window.
Peak summer season...
And they snagged prime valley access overnight? I'd suggested it first last night, sure.
[Did a spot just open up by chance?]
As the engine cut off, Ha-yul and Yu-na shot up from the back seat.
"Wooow! We're here!"
"Yu-na! Let's go over there!"
"Okay!"
Before I could stop them, they dashed out at the sight of the water.
That exciting?
They'd seemed on rocky terms yesterday, but today they were besties, holding hands tight as they ran around.
Good or bad blood...?
Well, Ha-yul's mom got out right after to follow them. I could leave Yu-na with her for a bit. I leisurely unbuckled and headed to the trunk.
Lee Jong-min, who'd beaten me out, was already unloading bags.
"Yu-na's dad. Let's move the luggage first. Stuff like this goes faster with strong guys, right?"
"Yeah, true. Let's finish quick and play."
Boxes of groceries.
Coolers of drinks and water.
Bags with spare clothes.
The two of us hauled them to the pension in no time.
About five minutes?
I stashed the groceries in the fridge, then scanned the interior.
Spacious living area with a loft upstairs, and the wide-open main room felt as luxurious as a hotel.
"Isn't this place amazing?"
I nodded vigorously at Lee Jong-min's question as he approached.
He continued.
"Truth is, my grandpa owns this pension. No need for bookings or hassle."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Price? Ha-yul's mom made me promise to send tons of photos instead."
That explained it...
Any awkwardness about not chipping in vanished.
"By the way... Yu-na's dad, you look buffer. Hitting the gym?"
He flexed his solid muscles as he asked. It creeped me out a bit, so I edged back.
"I've been at it for a while."
"Wanna work out with me sometime? I can teach you everything from A to Z."
A chill ran down my spine.
My instincts screamed to refuse as tension flooded my body.
"Haha. My manager's already training me. Th-thanks for the offer, though. I'm good."
"Too bad. Shall we head out? Oh! Yu-na's dad, you go first. I need the bathroom quick..."
"Sure."
Splashhhh.
Stepping outside alone, a cool breeze greeted me. I savored the mountain air while admiring the crystal-clear valley below.
The water was so pure I could see the rocks at the bottom, shaded by dense leaves blocking the hot sun.
A single leaf drifted downstream like a paper boat.
The most surprising part of this place?
No one else around but us.
Picture-perfect scenery.
Crisp, refreshing air.
A spacious pension perfect for two families.
Even with family connections, landing a gem like this meant I should repay Ha-yul's family somehow.
Maybe send a coffee truck next time in Ha-yul's name?
[Yeah, that works.]
As I resolved that.
"Yu-na's dad."
Lee Jong-min's call snapped me back. I turned.
Fresh from the bathroom, he carried a load of gear.
"I'll take the parasol and cooler. Grab the mat and tubes, Yu-na's dad."
"Oh, sure!"
I hurriedly took the lighter items he'd brought.
"Ready to go? Let's relax and have fun today."
"Yeah, let's make it a blast."
While Yoon Si-won played with the kids.
I finally escaped Yu-na—by acting like I was dying from exhaustion, using my talents.
I'd broken my promise to play till she was satisfied again...
[But I gotta save myself first.]
Keep playing like this, and I'd be the one floating downstream.
"Oof. I'm dying. Dying..."
Catching my breath on the mat, I watched Yu-na.
She was having a blast without me.
[Anyway.]
I glanced at Lee Jong-min, who'd climbed a big rock without entering the water.
He was diligently photographing the kids and Yoon Si-won.
[Should I snap some Yu-na pics?]
I grabbed my phone from the mat.
"Huh? What's this..."
A call from CEO Do Bong-seok. Seventeen missed calls—sounded urgent.
What happened?
I picked up, and his hurried voice came through.
"Hey, Jun-seo. Saw the pics you sent yesterday. Who took them?
"Yeah? Oh... Those photos?"
I'd sent him the Yu-na shots Lee Jong-min took yesterday.
Must be those.
"Who took them? It's urgent."
"You know child actress Lee Ha-yul?"
"Yeah. The one from High School 2022 with you?"
"Yep. Her dad took them. But... why do you ask?"
A brief silence.
"Hmm, Jun-seo."
His suddenly serious tone wiped the smile from my face.
"Yeah. What's up, CEO?"
"That guy... Think I could meet him? Float it casually—if he says no, just give him my number."
"Why all of a sudden?"