Chapter 264
Chapter 264
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 264
Chapter Title: Two Santas Appeared at the Orphanage!
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Finally, the long-awaited Christmas Eve was drawing near.
[Ji-ah unnie] - Merry Christmas, everyone!
[Yuna] - Merry Christmas~
[Chae-yoon unnie] - Why am I the only one alone on Christmas...
[Ra-hee unnie] - You have the Black Moon Squad.
[Chae-yoon unnie] - Should I have tagged along with you and the maknae?
[Ra-hee unnie] - Nope, no can do. Da-jeong's going on a date with me.
[Ji-ah unnie] - Ra-hee, I'm so jealous...
[Yuna] - I'm gonna have a blast with my little siblings!
[Me] - Have fun, Yuna!
Just like it was Christmas Eve, the group chat had been heartwarmingly lively since morning.
And as for our schedules, everyone except Ra-hee unnie had something completely different going on.
Ji-ah unnie had gone to spend time with her parents since her dad was back briefly.
Yuna, as she mentioned, was off to the amusement park with her little siblings.
That left Chae-yoon unnie as the only one home, so she ended up going live.
When word got out ahead of time, the fans' reactions were hilarious.
I especially remember the Black Moon Squad cheering "As expected of the leader!"
The rest of the fandoms were all chanting "It's cold..." throughout the impending ice age of a day.
Ra-hee unnie and I had debated whether to announce our plans.
But since the director had once revealed the orphanage's location, we decided against it upfront to avoid a crowd showing up.
"Tofu, Mom's heading out!"
"Nyaaang."
Anyway, after getting ready, I bolted out of the house and headed to the apartment complex parking lot.
There, Ra-hee unnie was waiting in her usual white sedan, engine already running.
"Unnie! Sorry if I kept you waiting!"
"No, I just got here too. It was cold, so I came early to turn on the heater, but Da-jeong beat me to it?"
Ah, so that's why she was out before our agreed time.
I saw the car was already on and thought I was late.
But checking my phone, it was still before schedule, so I was a bit surprised.
I rushed out not to keep unnie waiting.
Unnie rushed out so I wouldn't have to sit in a cold car.
We'd both been considerate of each other, which made me chuckle a little.
"Hehe, I couldn't keep you waiting."
"Honestly."
Smoothly—
Unnie gently stroked my hair and shifted gears.
As the car glided out of the complex, I watched absently and casually spoke up.
"Unnie, do you think I'd be good at driving if I learned?"
"Driving? Da-jeong, you're still too yo— Oh."
"...Unnie?"
Wait, what was that reaction just now?
Unnie, you didn't think I wasn't old enough for a license yet, did you?
I believe you didn't. I really do.
"Yeah, I bet you'd be great at it. Da-jeong's good at everything."
"Still, it scares me a bit. I worry about causing an accident."
"True, you're surprisingly timid. I was scared when I first learned too."
Unnie nodded in agreement.
Unlike games or cooking, a driving mistake could hurt others badly.
That's why it felt risky to just dive in.
Still, I wanted to learn because it looked cool.
Sometimes watching Ra-hee unnie, the president, or So-eun unnie drive from the passenger seat made it seem so stylish.
Plus, I can't rely on others driving me forever.
Someday, I want to drive the unnies around on a cool drive.
Then they'd think, "Wow, Da-jeong looks so cool driving." Hehe.
Lost in my daydream, I checked my bag at my feet and realized something.
I almost forgot the thing for unnie.
"Unnie, when we go into the orphanage later, you can wear this."
"Huh? What's this? A mask...?"
We were stopped at a red light, so unnie's eyes widened at the item I pulled out.
It was a mask—of the Lucrezia avatar I'd handmade this time.
"Yes! Actually, I've been making and wearing Lulu avatar masks every time I visit the orphanage. So I made one for you too."
"Ah, because of the red pills? You're thorough."
"Hehe, better safe than sorry."
Of course, coming from me—who'd already been spotted once by Ji-won—it sounded ironic.
Virtual YouTubers can never be too careful with this stuff.
Plus, with all the kids at the orphanage, they approach us more warmly seeing us as cartoon characters.
Best of both worlds.
"Then should I go by Luke? What do you go by?"
"Lulu for me too. The kids love the fun names."
"Pfft, Luke and Lulu— they'll think we're sisters."
"Maybe."
If the kids ask, sure, sisters it is.
Ra-hee unnie and I are basically blood sisters anyway.
No point explaining in detail to the kids.
— You have arrived at your destination.
Soon the navigation chimed in, and the orphanage came into view.
As we pulled in, a slightly elderly woman who'd been pacing at the entrance approached us.
It was Director Yoon Eun-sook, the head of the place.
Click—
"Director! How have you been?"
I greeted brightly the moment I hopped out, making her eyes widen.
She must've come out to check the unfamiliar car, then got surprised by my dash.
Unexpected surprise achieved.
"Oh my, more than fine. But Da-jeong, you must be busy on Christmas—thank you for visiting the kids."
"No, no. It's Christmas, so we had to come. Oh, right!"
Time to introduce Ra-hee unnie.
I nearly forgot in the excitement of seeing her after so long.
"This is the member unnie I mentioned who'd come with me. Unnie, this is Director Yoon Eun-sook."
"I'm Lee Ra-hee. I've heard so much about you, Director."
Unnie hesitated briefly on using her real name at first.
But seeing the director call me casually, she went with it.
"Hope we aren't imposing with one extra."
"Imposing? We're grateful. And if Ra-hee works with Da-jeong, that means... a stage name?"
"Pfft, just call me Luke."
The director, unfamiliar with the culture, picked "stage name" which cracked unnie up a bit.
She nodded with an "Aha!" Now Ra-hee unnie was destined to be Luke unnie around the kids.
"Come in for some tea first before seeing the kids. They're in full play mode, so sneak in quietly."
"Hehe, feels like we're real Santas. Right, unnie?"
"Yeah, kinda fun."
We followed the director, slipped off our shoes, and tiptoed inside.
Feeling like day Santas for Christmas, unnie and I exchanged quiet giggles.
— Kyahaha!
— Hey, get over here!
— Chae-rin, careful or you'll fall again!
Meanwhile, inside the lively clamor of kids' voices and footsteps never stopped.
Some might see orphanages as gloomy places for abandoned kids.
But here, at least, the children kept their smiles.
That alone makes this a wonderful place in my book.
"Drink it while it's warm."
"Ah, thank you!"
"Thank you."
We sipped the tea the director brought, soaking in the brief bustle.
It felt less like noise and more like white noise.
The faint kids' voices from behind were incredibly healing.
A bit longer, then we'd enter with Ra-hee unnie's snacks, and the kids would welcome us, right?
Whether they welcomed us or the snacks... well, no way to know.
B-But better than nothing— we'll borrow the power of gifts for a warm reception!
"Oh yeah, unnie. The snacks—are they being delivered here?"
"Yep. Should arrive soon."
Come to think of it, we hadn't picked any up on the way.
Confirming with unnie, she nodded with a smile.
Aha, delivery it is.
Pizza or chicken, probably.
Kid favorites for sure.
Knock knock—
"D-Director..."
"Yes, Teacher Choi? What is it?"
I was wondering what snacks unnie ordered when a knock came, and someone entered.
It was one of the female teachers I'd met and greeted on a previous visit.
"You might want to come out. The kids' meal delivery arrived..."
"It's what these ladies prepared. Bring it in with the other teachers."
"Ah, no, it's just..."
The teacher looked puzzled, unsure how to explain.
Wondering if something happened, Ra-hee unnie lightly tugged my hand.
"Da-jeong, let's go check with the director. Looks like my stuff arrived."
"Huh? Okay..."
So we all—me, unnie, director, and teacher—headed out.
And the moment we did...
"Wh-What is all this, Teacher Choi?! "
"D-Don't ask me..."
"Eek?!"
We three—minus Ra-hee unnie—gaped in shock at the sight.
It looked like a hotel buffet transplanted wholesale: every delicacy and dish imaginable piled high.
N-No way—did Ra-hee unnie order all this?!
"So, think this'll be a surprise?"
"......"
Unnie winked with one eye, but I was speechless.
Why am I the one getting surprised instead of the kids?
More importantly, unnie... how much did this even cost?!