Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Delicious Egg Tarts
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Egg tarts were truly, utterly delicious.
"Wow! This melts in your mouth so yummy!"
At Daeun's words, Erina, who had just tasted an egg tart, asked curiously.
"Where did you get these? It's my first time having egg tarts this delicious."
I felt the same way.
"Wow, these are really good. All the egg tarts I've had before must not have been real egg tarts."
They must have been freshly made, because the inside was warm—hot, even—and the pastry was incredibly soft. The sweetness was just right, not overpowering, and the cream inside was so nutty and rich.
I couldn't think of anything but how perfect they were.
"Right? They're so good. There's a new place in front of our school. Even though it just opened, the line is always huge. I was just going to grab some tissues, but I figured these would be better, so I waited an hour to buy them."
"An hour?!"
"But seeing how much everyone likes them makes the wait totally worth it."
Daeun, who had been listening quietly, gave Aram a thumbs-up.
"Auntie! Good job!"
"Eek! What? Did Daeun just compliment her auntie?"
"Daeun wuvs yummy stuff a wot! Auntie got them, so supa happy! Get more next time pwease!"
Nod!
"If Daeun likes them, I'll buy them anytime. Just say the word! If Daeun wants them, I can bring them every day!"
"Really?"
"You bet!"
Just like that, everyone was happy with the egg tarts Aram had brought, as she'd hoped.
That's when Aram looked around curiously.
"You said this place was lent by the organizers, right?"
"Oh, yeah. The department store provided it."
"I was shocked when my aunt told me. Solo exhibitions at department stores are impossible without connections."
True. If Daeun hadn't participated in Painter Son Jeongsun's solo exhibition that day, we wouldn't have had this opportunity at all.
She smiled brightly.
"By the way, Daeun's become my senior now."
"Senior?"
"Yeah. She's holding her first solo exhibition before her auntie did. Better late than never—congrats, Daeun."
Daeun beamed at her sincere encouragement.
"Yes! Daeun gonna work supew hawd!"
Erina, who was enjoying her egg tart nearby, smiled and chimed in.
"Me too! I'll cheer for you!"
At that, Aram suddenly asked curiously.
"Um, if it's not rude... do you two know each other already?"
"Yes."
"M-Me?"
Know each other?
Erina and I looked so shocked that Aram apologized in a fluster.
"Oh, sorry! Was that too personal?"
*'Why is your face turning red?'*
I had no idea what weird thing she was imagining.
"Oh, no, it's not that. I'm holding a solo exhibition at the department store too. So I asked the president if he knew any artists to introduce me to, and that's how we connected."
"Oh, Erina, you paint too?"
"Yes! I paint!"
Painting didn't require a major.
Painting was just capturing the emotions inside a person's heart.
No formal training needed.
"Wow... I wanna see."
"My... my paintings?"
"Yeah! I bet Erina's paintings are something special!"
Erina's paintings are special.
Honestly, thinking back to the one she'd drawn for Daeun, it was definitely unique.
Van Gogh's irises, the ones he loved.
"Oh, hold on. There's one of Erina's paintings here."
"Oh! Right, I gave it to Daeun as a gift."
"Oh yesh! Pictuwe hewe!"
"A... gift?"
As Aram looked flustered, I stood up from my seat.
"Yeah, one sec. I'll grab it."
"Daddy! Daeun go!"
"Uh, Daeun wants to go?"
"Yup! So Daddy stay!"
Before I could fully stand, Daeun hopped up and toddled into the inner room.
But she didn't come back for a while.
Instead, we just heard grunting noises.
"Ahaha, she forgot it's hanging on the wall. One moment."
If it's on the wall, just come ask for help right away.
I headed to the room where Daeun had gone and saw her standing on a small chair, stretching toward the painting.
"Daeun do it!"
Hmm... Daeun, that looks impossible.
Her arms were short—really short.
No way she'd reach that height, no matter how much she stretched.
I approached from behind and asked.
"Want Daddy to help?"
"Daeun do it hewsewf!"
Right. The important thing is an unyielding spirit!
I smiled proudly and asked.
"But what if Daeun takes too long and the aunties eat all the egg tarts?"
Whoosh!
Daeun's eyes trembled at the word "egg tarts."
I grinned and asked again.
"Want help?"
Nod! Nod!
Instead of taking it down myself, I lifted Daeun up so she could do it.
Up!
With my help, Daeun successfully took the painting off the wall herself.
"Daeun did it!"
Smile.
"Yeah, our Daeun is the best!"
At that, she clutched the painting and toddled out to show the waiting aunties.
"Wow, Erina drew this herself?"
"Yes, I made it as a gift for Daeun."
That's when a question popped into my head.
"But you didn't recognize it, so I guess Aram doesn't watch TV?"
Erina nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, you didn't recognize me at first either, and now you don't know the painting."
"Yeah, why? Did you appear somewhere?"
Just like a grad student holed up in her studio.
At Aram's question, I pulled out my phone and showed her a photo I'd saved from before.
It was a screenshot of Daeun on screen—so cute I had to keep it.
"Wow! It's real! Amazing!"
Then she turned back to the painting.
"But you really paint well."
"Oh, not really..."
"No, I get why you're having a solo show. You have a unique style."
Aram examined Erina's painting closely, then smiled at her.
"I think coming here today was the right call."
"Yes."
Then Aram suddenly grinned and asked.
"Can I paint one here before I go?"
At her sudden request to paint one to take with her, Daeun and I happily agreed.
Honestly, painting alone with just the two of us in this big space had felt a bit lonely.
But perhaps inspired by Aram, someone unexpected joined in too.
"I hope this isn't too sudden."
"No, painting together sounds great. Right, Daeun?"
"Yup, Daddy! Daeun wuv it!"
Yeah, I could tell without her saying. Daeun's face looked super happy.
If I'd known she'd love it this much, I would've asked them myself.
Daeun's expression was pure bliss.
"But this setup kinda looks like an academy."
"Y-Yeah, it does. Not on purpose, though."
"Daddy, what's academy?"
"Oh, academy."
The arrangement was a bit funny now that she mentioned it.
Not intentional, but with Daeun's spot up front and us all looking at her like students.
It was like Daeun was the academy teacher.
"Um, so an academy is..."
I was struggling to explain when Erina came to the rescue.
"It's a place where students learn things. Could be Hangul, math, or even painting."
Then Aram added.
"The spot Daeun's in is usually where the teacher sits."
At "teacher's spot," Daeun's eyes lit up.
"Daeun teachy!"
Uh, I think she misunderstood.
"Uh-huh."
"Daeun wanna be teachy!"
"Suddenly?"
No, I just said it's the teacher's spot.
But Daeun, having misheard, was excitedly repeating that she'd be the teacher.
Erina, Aram, and I exchanged glances and smiled.
"Yes, Teacher Daeun."
"Teacher Daeun! You're too cute!"
"Teacher Daeun! What are we learning today?"
In this unplanned role-play, Daeun was thrilled beyond words.
Honestly, they didn't have to play along—it might be tiring.
But the two of them...
"Today Daeun teach..."
"Ooh! What?"
"Tell us, Teacher!"
Hmm... they were really into it.
Maybe it was Daeun's cuteness, since they were openly staring at her now.
"What Daeun teach is quick quick quick dwawing!"
"Ooh! What are we drawing?"
"Is there a theme?"
"Yes! Wisten!"
"What's the theme?"
"Happiness!"
Yeah.
At "happiness," their expressions turned a bit odd.
Erina asked.
"So today's theme is happiness?"
Aram followed up.
"Any picture related to happiness is fine?"
Are they really going to draw?
Seeing them ask seriously, it seemed they planned to actually paint on Daeun's theme.
I asked them.
"You're really going to draw?"
"Yes! Sounds perfect. I needed a theme anyway."
"I like it too. Happiness... kinda poetic, right?"
What started as playful role-play was turning serious.
Daeun looked at me and asked.
"Daddy draw too?"
"Me?"
Well, since everyone's doing it.
Better to draw together on the same theme than just watch.
"Then Daddy'll draw too."
"Yay! Evewyone dwaw!"
Maybe thrilled at drawing together, Daeun looked delighted.
At her smile, I looked at everyone and said.
"Then how about we add one more fun twist?"
Things are more fun with a little extra spice.
"What fun?"
Erina's eyes widened at "fun," and I grinned.
The fun I suggested was.
"We vote on the three paintings excluding Daeun's, and the winner gets displayed at Daeun's solo exhibition. I'd have to check with President Jeong first, but I know him—he'll probably say yes."
Everyone here was no slouch.
Even Aram, with no exhibition experience, had her "Director Go is my aunt" title, which carried serious weight.
"Ooh, that's good!"
"Sounds fun!"
They looked at each other.
"Kinda like a competition."
"My heart's racing now."
Was this friendly rivalry?
Adding the condition heated things up. And with Daeun's shout...
"Ready, set—draw!"
It burst into flames.