Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Overprotection
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As soon as they entered 4th Street, Mrs. Choi's eyes began to sparkle.
She grabbed Lily's hand, just like an explorer arriving at a treasure island, and headed straight to the first boutique that caught her eye.
"Oh my, Lily. Come here."
Mrs. Choi unhesitatingly picked up a light, airy pastel blouse and an A-line skirt.
"How about trying this on?"
Lily took the clothes with a dazed expression and headed to the fitting room.
A moment later, the curtain parted, and Lily stepped out cautiously.
"Oh my goodness!"
Mrs. Choi let out an involuntary gasp of admiration.
The pastel tones suited her white skin so perfectly.
She truly looked like a living doll.
"Oh, you're so pretty! It suits you perfectly!"
Mrs. Choi circled around Lily, exclaiming in delight.
Lily's face flushed slightly, looking awkward.
"Alright, next! Let's try that one too!"
Mrs. Choi's doll dress-up game had only just begun.
They headed to the next store.
This one was a more casual brand shop.
Mrs. Choi selected jeans and a cute printed T-shirt this time.
"Lily has such a nice figure, so this will look great on you too."
When Lily emerged from the fitting room, Mrs. Choi clapped again.
"Amazing! So cute! It makes you look lively and just right for your age!"
Lily stood in front of the mirror, staring awkwardly at her unfamiliar reflection.
Mrs. Choi was already planning the next outfit.
"We should look at some matching shoes and bags too."
She dressed Lily in one thing after another, had her try on shoes, slung bags over her shoulder, losing track of time.
Her face was filled with pure joy, just like dressing up a childhood doll.
"This is pretty, that suits you too... Argh! Let's just buy them all."
Lily simply followed Mrs. Choi's lead, changing clothes as directed.
But she didn't dislike it.
For the first time in her life, she was receiving warm attention and praise.
And pretty clothes.
It was unfamiliar, but a pleasant experience.
Mrs. Choi gathered the outfits she liked and headed to the checkout.
And so, their shopping marathon lasted over three hours.
Mrs. Choi even stopped by a lingerie store, buying Lily a ton of pretty underwear.
"A woman has to care about her underwear, even if it's not visible."
At her words, Lily's face turned bright red, but she couldn't refuse the gift from her new mother.
Before long, both of their hands were full of shopping bags—so many it was hard to carry.
Mrs. Choi felt a bit regretful.
It would have been better if there was a department store or outlet nearby.
Unfortunately, there wasn't; just the boutiques lining the street.
"Lily, when you visit Korea later, Mom will buy you even prettier clothes, lots of them. Got it?"
"...This is already plenty, Mom."
After three hours of just changing clothes, Lily was already exhausted.
"Hoho, tired, huh?"
"Yes..."
"Hmm~ Then how about we rest over there?"
Mrs. Choi looked around. Across the street, a fancy-looking restaurant caught her eye.
'The Golden Poppy Bistro'.
It was a well-known place famous for using fresh, seasonal California ingredients.
The exterior exuded a refined, upscale vibe.
"Hungry? Mom's hungry too. Let's go eat something delicious there."
Mrs. Choi took Lily's hand and headed to the restaurant.
Guided by the staff, they entered to find a bright, cozy hall.
Small fresh flowers on each table and soft lighting added to the luxury.
The two sat at a quiet corner table.
Only then did Lily seem to relax, leaning back in her chair.
"Hmm~ I wonder when he'll get here."
Having already ordered, Mrs. Choi Mi-hee had told her son Ji-hoon to come here.
There were too many bags to carry, and above all, she wanted to show him Lily dressed up in the new clothes.
Lily had changed into the new outfit Mrs. Choi picked, instead of what she'd arrived in.
A white skirt and boots with a slight heel.
Knee-high socks and a pink T-shirt that draped loosely over her body.
It was an overall lovely coordination.
Even inside the restaurant, she kept her sunglasses on.
Sunscreen blocked UV rays, but not enough for Lily's weak eyesight.
"Here are your orders."
Before long, the staff deftly brought the food.
The main was the 'Chef's Special Grilled Salmon Steak'.
The thick salmon fillet glistened with a golden, crispy skin on top, and underneath flowed a smooth orange-dill sauce.
On one side of the plate, grilled asparagus and colorful seasonal veggies were artistically plated.
The salmon's nutty aroma mixed with fresh herbs, whetting the appetite.
For salad, 'Basil Pesto Pasta Salad'.
Colorful fusilli pasta, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese tossed in rich green basil pesto sauce.
The fresh basil scent tickled the nose.
"Let's eat, Lily~"
At Mrs. Choi's words, Lily's eyes sparkled as she picked up her utensils.
"Yes~ Mom! I'll eat well!"
"Yes, enjoy it."
Mrs. Choi cut a piece of salmon steak with her knife.
The soft texture yielded instantly.
One bite, and the crispy exterior gave way to juicy, moist salmon filling her mouth.
The orange-dill sauce's tanginess elevated the salmon's savoriness.
Lily carefully forked some pasta salad into her mouth.
The burst of cherry tomato acidity, chewy pasta, and fragrant basil pesto created a new taste experience.
A happy smile bloomed on her face.
A familiar voice came from the restaurant entrance.
It was Ji-hoon.
He walked toward the table with slightly flushed cheeks.
But the moment his gaze landed on Lily—eating naturally with just sunglasses, no mask.
And seeing his mother beaming beside her.
A faintly irritated expression crossed Ji-hoon's face.
"Sunlight isn't great for her... Why come out before sunset? Couldn't you wait?"
Ji-hoon grumbled as he plopped down in his seat.
His words made Mrs. Choi Mi-hee's expression turn icy.
"Are you snapping at me right now?"
Ji-hoon didn't back down.
"I clearly told you daytime isn't good for Lily."
Tension crackled over the table in an instant.
Lily fidgeted between them, glancing nervously, while Kim Sung-tae silently watched.
After a moment of silence, Mrs. Choi spoke again.
"How long are you going to keep Lily cooped up inside? Are you really taking proper care of her?"
Ji-hoon bristled in rebuttal.
"Of course! From the house interior onward, how much have I put into it!"
Mrs. Choi clicked her tongue at her son.
"Do you think I just dragged her out without thinking?"
"Pardon?"
"I asked your uncle first."
Only then did Ji-hoon recall his uncle, the university hospital doctor.
Mrs. Choi continued.
"I even sent him photos of Lily's sunscreen and asked if it was okay to go out with that. He said as long as she wears sunglasses, no problem."
Ji-hoon was speechless.
"What do you know about women? Her closet had no decent clothes, not even proper underwear. Raising a son... Ugh, I can't go on."
Only after her scolding did Ji-hoon finally notice them.
The piles of colorful shopping bags stacked beside the table and under chairs.
He stared blankly at the enormous haul.
"Sorry, Mom."
Even with Ji-hoon's apology, Mrs. Choi Mi-hee's anger didn't subside easily.
"Seeing you like this, I can guess how you treat Lily usually. I get she's sensitive to light, but locking her in the house makes it a prison, not a home. Lily's a grown adult now; she needs to go out into the world. I looked it up—plenty live normal lives. Why are you the only one making such a fuss?"
Ji-hoon had no retort to her sharp words.
"Effort is good, but don't treat Lily like a doll on display. I'm disappointed in you today, son."
"...Yes. Sorry."
Ji-hoon was deeply shaken by his mother's words.
Upon reflection, he'd been overly cautious under the guise of caring for Lily.
Only meeting after sunset, telling her to stay indoors during the day.
Always making her wear full-coverage clothes, so he'd never even thought to buy her pretty outfits.
Yes.
He'd been thoughtless.
Seeing his still-angry mother and fidgeting Lily made him even more speechless.
Then, Father Kim Sung-tae, who had been quietly observing, spoke.
"That's right, Ji-hoon. Husband and wife are partners. You can't act like your way is the only right one, as your mom said."
At his father's words, Ji-hoon bowed his head deeply.
It really hit home; he felt sorry.
Because the store was busy.
Because light was bad for her.
Had he been forcing her to stay home?
Shouldn't he have taken the initiative to help her venture out?
Such thoughts swirled complicatedly in his mind.
Then, Lily, who had been silently watching, spoke cautiously.
"Um... Mom..."
Mrs. Choi Mi-hee's gaze turned to Lily.
"What's wrong?"
"Hoon... didn't keep me locked up."
Mrs. Choi's eyes widened slightly.
"Staying home was... because I didn't want to go out. Outside... the sunlight's too strong, and people stare at me weirdly... I was scared, so I didn't go."
Lily's soft voice was filled with sincerity.
"Hoon always said, 'Let's go out,' 'Let's go together.' But I kept saying I was fine, I'd stay home... So Hoon made the house pretty for me and brought everything I needed."
Lily gently took Ji-hoon's hand.
"Hoon... thinks of me and cherishes me so much. He never left me alone, always protected me."
At her words, Ji-hoon looked up.
Lily gazed at Mrs. Choi with worried eyes.
"Mom... you're misunderstanding Hoon. He's not a bad person."
Mrs. Choi was momentarily speechless at Lily's words.
The pure, fragile girl defending her husband.
Hearing Lily's excuse, Ji-hoon was overwhelmed with heart-wrenching guilt.
'I've never said that.'
He'd never actively urged her to 'go out' or 'let's go together.'
If anything, he'd implicitly forced her to stay home, using her condition as an excuse.
Under the label of albinism, he'd effectively confined her world to the house.
If he'd truly cared for her, he should have empathized with her fears first.
And reached out more proactively to help her overcome them and step outside.
But he hadn't.
Using the store's busyness as an excuse, he'd too easily defined her world.
Seeing Lily defend him so innocently only amplified his guilt.
More than his mother's reprimand, Lily's words led him to deeper reflection.
Ji-hoon bowed his head.
He didn't know what to say.
His hand simply tightened around her small one.