Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: A Secret Thank You
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For now, I decided to play dumb about what I'd seen.
Honestly, I couldn't say anything about her studying, even if nothing else made sense.
But I planned to ask her about it later.
"You're out already?"
"Yeah, there were way more people leaving early than I expected."
"Not too early, I hope."
They say if you talk about a tiger, it shows up.
Swish.
Someone came up to our floor and approached us.
"Oh, the coffee's already here."
"Yeah, V-Veronica, you're already here?"
"No, I just got off the phone..."
"Wow! Auntie!"
No way—she'd hung up just moments ago, and she was already here. Anyone would think she'd been waiting nearby.
"I was seriously shocked too. I happened to have some business right around here, but who would've guessed you'd be here."
Erina smiled as she spoke to Daeun.
"Daeun, have you been well? Auntie missed you so much. Did you miss Auntie?"
"Daeun missed you too!"
Daeun showed Erina the necklace around her neck.
"I wear this every day! Auntie's gift!"
"Oh, really? Hmm! Even now, I think I picked out something perfect. It's so pretty!"
"Daeun will give Auntie a gift later too!"
"What gift?"
The word "gift" piqued my curiosity too.
What kind of gift could Daeun possibly be talking about?
"It's a secret!"
Swish.
At Daeun's words, Jungeun suddenly turned his head and chuckled.
'Huh? What's that about?'
Did he know something?
I could sense it from his expression as he looked away.
He knew everything but wasn't going to spill for Daeun's sake.
Tap.
I lightly tapped his arm at that look.
"You know something."
"Ahem, what?"
"You know. Your face is screaming 'I know everything.'"
"Misunderstanding."
"No, it's not. It really looks like it."
"Then it's your imagination."
Imagination my foot.
Look at him now, smirking away. Anyone could tell he knew.
And Daeun drove the nail in.
"No telling Uncle!"
See? He knows.
At her words, I narrowed my eyes at him. Caught, Jungeun just stared off into the distance with a look that said,
'I don't know anything!'
Erina asked Daeun curiously.
"But why's it a secret? Can't you just tell Auntie? I'm dying to know."
"No way! If I tell, it won't be a surprise!"
"Surprise? You mean like a surprise?"
"Yes! That's it!"
Where does she pick up these words?
Erina smiled at her adorable niece.
"Well, if that's what Daeun wants, Auntie can wait. But I'm really curious. Right?"
"Hee!"
Daeun didn't switch topics. She just gazed at Erina and smiled.
Then Erina looked at me and asked.
"But I didn't expect an interview with a TV station PD. Doesn't that mean you'll be on air? You said you avoided broadcasts back then..."
She must have heard it from the manager.
Things had changed a lot since then.
"Yeah, there were some developments in the meantime."
"Oh, if it's hard to talk about, that's fine."
Daeun answered for me.
"Daddy promised Daeun! He said he'd get famous so Daeun can ride in Daddy's car anytime!"
"Wh-what? Famous?"
Aigoo, hearing it stated so bluntly was embarrassing.
How was I supposed to react?
"Is that true?"
It felt even more embarrassing in front of someone famous.
"Well... I mean, I'm thinking of giving it a shot. Not sure if it'll work out."
Erina's eyes widened.
"Why? If you set your mind to it, I bet you'd do great."
"Haha, isn't that too generous..."
"No way. Painter Lee, you've got what it takes."
What "that" was she referring to? Then Erina casually dropped something unbearably flattering.
"Your face."
"......"
What was I supposed to say to that?
She was practically gilding my face with gold.
At those words...
"Puhahaha!"
Jungeun couldn't hold back and burst into laughter.
Hey, that's too much.
Even if we're friends...
"Stop laughing."
"Haha, sorry. Puhaha! Sorry."
Despite my warning, he kept laughing.
After a good long while...
"Heehee."
Was it contagious? Daeun started giggling too.
Soon Erina joined in, and even I, the source of it all, ended up laughing.
Laughter bloomed around our table for quite some time, only dying down after a while.
"It's really okay if we just go by ourselves."
We'd left the coffee shop and were about to head our separate ways.
Jungeun had to go back to the office, so we promised to keep in touch and parted.
Daeun and I planned to head to the studio.
"Anyway, my schedule's done for today, so I was wondering what to do. Let me drop you off and see your studio, Painter Lee and Daeun."
I'd planned to take a taxi with Daeun, but Erina insisted on driving us, saying she wanted to see the studio.
No matter how I looked at it, the studio seemed like an excuse. Dropping us off was the real goal.
"If you're busy, we can really manage."
Erina blinked at my words.
"I'm really not busy."
"Yes?"
"I have nothing to do."
"What does that..."
For some reason, Erina looked desperate.
"Can't you hang out with me a bit?"
"......"
Hang out...
Faced with Erina's unexpected plea, I could only chuckle awkwardly.
"Then... want to come along?"
"Yay!"
"Wow! Auntie, you're coming to Daeun's house?"
"Yeah! Daeun, it'll be so much fun!"
Who was the kid here?
But since Daeun was thrilled about Erina coming, that was good enough—or so I thought.
Bzzz-!
A phone rang from somewhere.
'Huh? Who could it be?'
Who'd call at this hour? Not the director or Painter Oh.
I'd talked to them last night about heading up to Seoul, so no reason for a call the next day.
"Hold on a sec."
I excused myself, pulled out my phone, and checked the screen. Smiling at the name, I answered.
"Yeah, Aram. It's been forever since we talked."
It was none other than Aram Go.
-Hi! Hope you've been well!
"Yeah, doing great."
-I heard from my aunt yesterday when I picked her up from the station. You moved into a new studio?
Oh right, I'd forgotten to tell Aram.
"Ah, sorry. Totally slipped my mind."
-No, no. It happens. Anyway, can I swing by the studio today? I'll bring a gift and check it out!
"Sure, now?"
-Yeah! You there?
"No, not exactly. Someone else is coming to see it too."
-Oh, really?
She sounded disappointed.
But true to her bright personality, Aram asked again.
-Can I come with them? I start prepping for my next piece tomorrow, so today’s my only shot!
I glanced at Erina, who was chatting with Daeun.
"Hold on, let me ask."
Erina, overhearing, asked curiously.
"Something come up?"
I couldn't invite someone else without checking, especially with plans already set.
"Well, there's Director Go's niece, Aram Go. I forgot to tell her about the studio earlier. She wants to come by today."
"Oh, should I step aside?"
"No, nothing like that. If it's okay with you, Erina, could she join? She said tomorrow's booked with work prep, so today only."
Erina had traveled with the director before. Maybe she'd understand...
"Work? Is this Aram also an artist? Ah, makes sense if she's the director's niece! I love that! I was thinking it'd be great to meet more artists, and this is perfect!"
'Huh?'
She was way more enthusiastic than expected.
I hadn't anticipated this; good thing I asked.
At her reaction, I smiled awkwardly and got back on the phone.
"She says it's great."
-Wow! What a relief! I was so nervous it'd be a no. Who's she? I should grab a thank-you gift for her too.
"Nah, no need for gifts. Just come."
Aram just laughed it off.
-Hoho, I'll handle it! Can't visit a new studio empty-handed!
Jeez.
No point arguing; she'd do what she wanted. I chuckled.
"Drive safe. We'll be waiting."
-Okay! See you soon!
Click.
Hanging up, I couldn't help smiling at the high energy after so long.
'Haha, she's always so upbeat.'
Turning with that thought, I overheard Erina talking to Daeun.
"Yeah, give me some paper and a pen."
"Okay! For Auntie!"
"Hmm, probably in the car. One sec."
Erina fetched a small notepad and pencil from her car and handed them to Daeun.
A cute one with character designs.
"Wow, so pretty!"
"Auntie picked it herself, so of course. How many sheets, Daeun? I'll give you as many as you want!"
Daeun held up two fingers.
"Two!"
"Two sheets it is."
"Yes!"
Erina tore out two pages and gave them to her.
Then she asked.
"But what are you gonna draw on them?"
Daeun shook her head.
"It's a secret!"
"Again!"
"Yes!"
Daeun grabbed the notepad and toddled over to me.
"Daddy, Daeun needs this!"
"Yeah? For what?"
"Draw a picture!"
She tugged my arm and pulled me back into the cafe.
Exchanging glances with Erina, we followed. A table was free, so we helped Daeun settle in.
Scribble scribble.
Blocking our view with her body, Daeun intently worked on the notepad.
After a while, she finished, folded the papers neatly, and handed one to me and one to Erina.
"Daeun, what's this?"
Curious, I asked. She beamed.
"Open it!"
Okay...
Still puzzled but figuring there was a reason, I unfolded mine.
Then I understood.
Why Daeun had been sneaking peeks at Jungeun's phone earlier.
On the paper, in her wobbly handwriting, her heart shone through.
[Thank you Daddy I love you so much]
Such a loving message.