Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Fairy Tale Book
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Late evening, when customers were starting to thin out.
It was around closing time, with no line waiting outside.
Ding-a-ling—
The door opened, and I reflexively greeted them.
"Welcome! This is Babsang~!"
At first, I didn't recognize him.
Eh?
His face... looks familiar...
Then it hit me.
......!!
A... no way... Lee Da-joo hyung-nim, how did you end up here...!?
That's right.
The star of the blockbuster Iron Man, Lee Da-joo hyung-nim, had come to my restaurant.
I suppressed my trembling excitement and guided him to a seat.
After he eats... definitely! I'll get an autograph and a photo together.
I vowed it to myself over and over.
But then, hyung-nim greeted me first.
"Ji-hoon? Nice to meet you. I've really wanted to see you."
"Me? I'm a huge fan too!"
Hyung-nim burst into hearty laughter at my words.
Man... those wrinkles around his eyes when he smiles. So damn cool.
"Am I too late?"
"No! We're not closed yet, so please eat comfortably."
Hyung-nim looked relieved at my response.
But why did he come alone?
I wondered briefly but took his order first.
"Ready to order? If it's your first time with Korean food, I recommend bulgogi."
But hyung-nim shook his head and said,
"Give me a full spread of spicy pork stir-fry. I tried it in Korea, and it was delicious."
"Yes! Order noted!"
I bowed and passed the order to the kitchen.
Then I personally set up the side dishes for him.
"Enjoy your meal~"
As I turned to leave after setting the banchan, hyung-nim called me.
"Ji-hoon. If you're not busy, mind chatting for a bit?"
Oh. Holy shit!
The ecstatic "holy shit" nearly burst out.
But I played it cool.
Didn't want to make him uncomfortable.
I sat across from Lee Da-joo hyung-nim.
We faced each other directly.
My lips twitched, but I held it in as best I could.
"I've been following your exploits lately."
Hyung-nim spoke first.
"Your heroic actions for those kids. Appearing on broadcasts to dream of their futures and boldly calling out America's dark side. And... that love for your wife with her incurable illness. I really wanted to meet you, Ji-hoon. When I heard you were in LA today, I rushed over."
Huh? Me? What about me?
I didn't know where to put myself amid the sudden barrage of praise.
I figured it'd just be a casual hello—what was this?
"No, hyung-nim, you're too kind."
Truth was,
I wasn't particularly righteous or anything. I just acted because the situation called for it.
And... Lily had an incurable disease, but I believed she could overcome it with lifelong effort, so the praise felt a bit awkward.
"Haha, so humble. Actually, I came because I have something to say."
"Something to say?"
Thump thump.
My heart started racing.
What... what is it?
I swallowed dryly and waited for hyung-nim's words.
After a brief pause, he spoke.
"If you have time, could you attend a charity party? It'd mean a lot if you came, Ji-hoon."
Ah! Right.
This hyung-nim does a ton of good deeds.
I remembered reading articles about it back in Korea.
Especially for that group helping kids with incurable diseases... "Lily's House," was it?
He'd held fundraisers for them.
He was one of the most active celebrities in supporting children, so he must have been impressed by what I'd done.
I grinned and said,
"Of course I'd attend something meaningful like that. I'd be happy to if you invite me."
Jackpot!
An event hosted by Lee Da-joo hyung-nim would draw people from all walks of life, right?
The world runs on connections, even in America.
As someone running a business, getting my face out there was a great opportunity.
"Haha! Didn't expect you'd agree so readily. There's a fundraiser for a children's hospital coming up. With America's most child-loving Ji-hoon there, we'll raise a ton of donations."
Lee Da-joo hyung-nim praised me with a satisfied smile.
"Ah! Then I have one request too."
"Hm? A request? Anything. What do you need?"
To hyung-nim, who seemed ready to grant anything, I asked for an autograph and photo.
When I said I wanted to hang it on the restaurant wall, he laughed heartily and agreed without hesitation.
We even exchanged numbers right there.
He'd contact me once the date was set.
Just then, the main dish arrived.
"Enjoy!"
I greeted him and returned to my spot at the counter.
"Hubby! Who was that? Someone you know?"
Lily, sitting on the stool next to the counter, asked with a puzzled look.
"Yeah. He's an actor. I've been a huge fan since Korea."
"Aha~ So that's why you looked so thrilled earlier?"
"Was it obvious?"
"Yup!"
The dining hall had emptied out a lot, and Ji-min, who was wiping nearby tables, had overheard and was looking at me expectantly.
"What."
"C-can I... get a photo too...!"
Seeing her fidget like a puppy desperate to poop, she really wanted one.
"Sure. I'll ask after he finishes eating."
"Really!? Yes! Gotta post it!"
Her followers had surged lately, and she'd gotten hooked on posting photos.
I checked the time—it was too late to take more customers.
"Ji-min."
"Yeah?"
"Flip the sign to 'Closed' out front. Time to prep for closing."
"Okay!"
There were no waiting customers anyway, and none coming in.
I went to Evan, the manager, and said,
"Evan, start closing the kitchen."
As kitchen closing began, I glanced over—hyung-nim was nearly done eating.
I went to the kitchen, filled a tumbler with iced sikhye, and brought it to him.
It'd wash away the spicy pork's heat in one go.
He was wiping sweat with napkins nonstop—he must've found it a bit spicy.
"This'll make you feel better."
He took a big gulp from the tumbler and gave me a thumbs-up.
"Whew~ You have great timing. Perfect when I needed it."
"Haha, pretty spicy, right?"
"Good kind of spicy. Not too much. Delicious, Ji-hoon. Feels like ages since I ate a hearty meal."
"Really? Glad to hear it. Come back often."
"Of course. I'm at that age where I need to eat healthy, haha. Checkout at the counter, right?"
"Yes. I prepared paper for the autograph there too."
"Alright? Let's head over."
Hyung-nim stood, put on his jacket, and came to the counter with me.
Ji-min must've fixed her makeup in the meantime.
At the table near the counter, I finally got my autograph.
I felt like I could fly.
Man... to get a direct autograph from this hyung-nim.
It was the happiest moment since starting the business.
Well, excluding meeting Lily, of course.
He took a photo with me, and then with Ji-min too.
Surprisingly, hyung-nim asked for one with Lily as well.
I took it for them.
"Haha. Ji-hoon, I'm a subscriber too. Lily, you're even prettier in person."
Lily just giggled at the compliment.
We exchanged goodbyes, and hyung-nim left with a satisfied smile.
"Evan, tough first day?"
Evan, looking exhausted, just nodded.
"Openings are always busy. And you're still adjusting, so hang in there a few months."
"Still, you helped and we made it through. Thanks for coming."
"Haha, no biggie. Oh, Evan—when celebrities come, ask for autographs or photos and hang them up somewhere. Throw in some service too."
"Got it."
Ji-min had already changed and was waiting to leave.
"Heeek. Wanna head back to the hotel and crash."
"Then why'd you come instead of resting at home? Said you were going to work."
"Boring alone! And I scored a photo, so."
Fair point. How many Koreans get a photo with Lee Da-joo hyung-nim?
"Lily, you bored? Sorry."
"No way! Super fun! Got to people-watch a ton. Heehee. Good job, hubby~!"
That one line from Lily melted away the day's fatigue.
"Aghhh~ Exhausted. Let's get back to the hotel and rest."
"Yeah!"
We left the cleanup to Evan and headed to our booked hotel.
We'd head back to Berkeley tomorrow afternoon, so it was a tight schedule.
We got Ji-min the room next door.
Sharing might be awkward.
Better for her to have her own anyway.
Back at the hotel, after showering and slipping into a robe, lying on the bed felt like paradise.
Lily was in the shower.
—Splashhhh...
The sound of water from the bathroom sparked some naughty imagination.
Soon, Lily emerged, towel-drying her wet hair, wearing a slip.
She lay down snugly beside me, her face glowing from moisturizer.
Whoosh—Lily's unique scent tickled my nose.
A subtle lavender, maybe?
It was soothing.
"Hubby, you tired? Want a massage?"
I appreciated her concern.
"Nah. Not tired at all thanks to you."
"Liar!"
No, really.
Nothing tiring about it.
Just manning the counter—busy mentally, sure.
"For real. With my fatigue recovery right here, how could I be tired?"
"Really?"
Lily looked relieved.
"Hubby, gimme your hand!"
"Huh? Why my hand?"
"Gimme~"
I held out my right hand, and Lily sat up across from me.
She massaged it diligently with both hands.
"You're the one who's tired..."
"Heehee."
She kneaded firmly—it felt great.
Ooh~ Nice.
"Hubby."
"Yeah?"
"I felt weird today."
I was startled.
"Huh? Weird how? You sick?"
At my worried words, Lily shook her head.
"No... not that. I felt bad for getting jealous earlier for no reason. Never happened before. I just hated those people suddenly."
She spoke with a pout.
"That's normal. I'd be furious if some other guy did that to you."
"They say jealous girls don't get loved, hubby."
"Huh?"
Lily grew a bit serious.
"Like I said earlier, I've never had anything. The first thing I ever thought of as 'mine' is you, hubby."
Her crimson eyes stared straight at me.
It made me serious too.
I listened quietly.
"So I'll do my best not to lose you. I'll act lovable, be a wise and devoted wife. YouTube money? Don't care. So... if I get possessive sometimes, don't hate me too much. I'll study hard to be lovable. Just stay by my side and love me always."
Something... stung my heart sweetly.
Not quite obsession?
Someone loving me so blindly, craving my love—it felt this good?
"Yeah... got it. But what's this 'study to be lovable'?"
Lily beamed at my question.
"Can't tell you. Just love me when I do pretty things. Swans glide elegantly on water, but paddle like crazy underneath. You just see the surface me."
She'd been reading books lately—her words were so poetic.
"Alright... I'll just see your pretty side."
Lily smiled radiantly.
"Heehee. Good. Oh! I read a Korean fairy tale too. Gonna try it fairy-tale style. You'll help, right?"
"Fairy tale? Which one?"
Lily sidled up quietly and whispered in my ear.
"The Woodcutter and the Fairy. She can't return to heaven until they have three kids."
Her sticky voice made me swallow hard.
—Slip.
The strap of Lily's slip slid softly down her shoulder.
She gazed into my eyes and whispered,
"So... how about we stop at two?"
With that, Lily's soft body melted into mine.