Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: 'Let's Take a Family Photo'
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No way she wants to take a family photo with Mom like that?
I had no idea what Daeun was getting at with that, so I didn't know how to respond.
In the end, I could only manage an awkward smile as I asked,
"Daeun, what was that?"
"Daeuni wanna take fambily photo!"
"A family photo?"
"Yeah! Awweady did with Mommy! Now with Daddy!"
Ah, so that's it—she couldn't take one with Mom, so she wants to do it with me instead?
Maybe it was her heartbreaking little wish coming through, but for some reason, I felt a swell of pride.
"Alright, we'll take all our individual shots first, then a family photo with just you and me. Sound good?"
"Yeah! Wuv it!"
It wouldn't include Hyorin, but the act of taking the photo together was what mattered, so I beamed at her sweet intention.
"Then let's go get those pictures taken."
"Otay!"
With that, I took Daeun's hand and headed back to where the shop owner was.
"Ah, the princess is here!"
Just like before, the shop owner greeted us brightly, and Daeun's passport photo session began.
She gestured toward a chair against the plain white wall.
"Princess, shall we try sitting there?"
"Yes!"
At her request, Daeun scampered over to the chair and hopped right on.
"Alright then, sir."
"Ah, yes."
"Could you tuck the princess's hair behind her ear and tilt her head just a tiny bit to the right so it's straight?"
"Ah, sure. One moment."
At the shop owner's request, I hurried over to Daeun and swept the stray hair that had fallen forward behind her ear.
Then I gently nudged her slightly tilted head a bit to the right.
"Perfect."
I stepped back, and just as she was about to snap the photo...
"Hm?"
"Uh."
Daeun's head creaked back to the left.
The shop owner laughed and said,
"Oh, could you straighten her head one more time? I'll snap it as quick as I can."
"Ah, sure."
I went back over and tilted her head slightly to the right again.
Daeun blinked rapidly and said,
"Daddy, Daeuni not moving!"
"Really?"
"Yeah! Daeuni stay still. Weally!"
She looked so aggrieved, it was utterly adorable.
I chuckled and replied,
"Hmm, then who's the one moving? Let's try our best to stay still this time, okay?"
Daeun pouted her lips.
"Weally not moving... Hing."
I grinned.
"No, I'm not saying you moved on purpose. Just that we should try. Got it?"
Nod.
"Mm, otay."
With that, I held her head steady to keep it straight and asked the shop owner,
"How's that?"
"Ah! Yes. Step back, and I'll shoot."
"Got it, here goes!"
Whoosh!
Pat pat pat!
I quickly pulled my hand away from her face and backed out of the shot.
Click!
The shop owner snapped it in an instant, and I thought we'd nailed it.
But even that was too late.
"Ah! So close!"
The first shot had been fine, but starting with the second, her head began tilting again.
It didn't feel like she was doing it on purpose.
She was still so young, like she couldn't quite control her body yet.
I'd noticed it when I was getting my own photo taken earlier—everyone's head tilts a little differently.
Straightening it perfectly isn't easy for anyone, so it wouldn't be for Daeun either.
"Could we try just once more?"
I nodded with a smile at the shop owner's request.
"Of course."
Normally I'd apologize, but not this time.
I didn't want Daeun thinking she made me say sorry.
The shop owner didn't seem to mind anyway, and she clearly understood the situation.
I approached Daeun again, and she gave me the world's cutest serious face.
"Daeuni not moving!"
"That's right, you weren't."
"Weally! Bewieve me!"
"Sigh, of course Daddy believes you!"
"Weally?"
"Yeah, for real!"
Even so, her expression stayed serious.
But we just needed one more good one.
As I straightened her face with my hand, I said,
"We still need you looking pretty in the photo, so can you smile?"
"Otay."
"And you're doing so great, I'm super proud."
With some well-timed praise to lift her spirits, I glanced at the shop owner.
'OK!'
The moment she signaled, I bolted from the spot.
Click!
She captured it perfectly...
Creak—!
But as expected, Daeun's head started turning.
This time, though, it was different.
As her head wobbled...
"Hm?"
The cutest scene unfolded.
Fed up with it turning all the time, maybe?
Pffft—!
Just like I'd done, Daeun grabbed her own cheeks and forced her head straight.
Then she yelled at all of us,
"Daeuni do it awone!"
Click!
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Click.
"For now, with this editing, it'll be perfect for a passport photo."
"Ah, thank you."
"So that's the photos done. Now I just need to send the originals..."
The shop owner glanced at Daeun sitting beside her, then asked me,
"Should I send the outtakes too?"
I wasn't sure if it was intentional, but one shot perfectly captured Daeun grabbing her cheeks and declaring she could do it herself.
I hadn't noticed at the time, but seeing it now, it was collector's item gold.
I replied with a straight face,
"Could you include them?"
"Heehee, of course. I've been shooting people's photos for years, but it's been ages since I've had this much fun."
Good to know she saw it positively.
I gave her my email, and once we had the originals including mine and Daeun's, she piped up.
"But aunty! Daeuni wanna take photo!"
"Hm? What photo?"
Whoosh!
She pointed at one wall.
"Fambily photo!"
"Yeah, family photo."
"Yes! Daeuni wanna take fambily photo!"
The shop owner looked at me.
"You want a family photo too?"
"Ah, yes. Can we do it now?"
"Well, we can..."
Her eyes suggested she was thinking about Daeun's mom.
I smiled and clarified,
"Just the two of us, me and Daeun."
"Ah..."
She must have done this long enough to get it right away.
"So just you two?"
"Yes."
At that, the shop owner suddenly beamed.
"Perfect timing. We have a family photo event going on."
"A what?"
"Daddy! What's a event?"
"Hmm, an event is like..."
As I pondered how to explain, the shop owner jumped in.
"If you do a family photo, you get one passport photo free. You already did yours, so it counts—great deal, right?"
"Wow! Daddy, event good!"
"Whoa, I had no idea. Yeah, it's awesome."
"Then Daeuni smart?"
"You bet! Good job!"
"Yay! Daeuni smart!"
I smiled at her and thanked the shop owner.
"Thanks anyway."
"Oh, I should be thanking you. Ready for the family shot now? We have outfits for family photos if you want to borrow some."
"Outfits?"
"Of course. We run a studio too, so lots of people come for themed shoots. Might be fun to dress up properly. Want to take a look?"
Dressing up for it sounded way better than casual.
I looked at Daeun.
"Daddy wants to see the clothes. What about you?"
"Daeuni wanna see too!"
I didn't even need to ask, but she was thrilled.
Nod.
"Alright, let's go inside and check out the clothes."
I glanced at the shop owner, who looked charmed by adorable Daeun and stood with a big smile.
"Follow me, I'll show you the costume room."
"Ah, yes."
We followed her inside to the room at the very back.
Whoosh!
The curtain parted, and Daeun shouted,
"Wow! Daddy, so many pwetty cwothes!"
I'd figured there'd be some since she mentioned it.
"Yeah, tons."
I hadn't expected quite this many.
For real.
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"Take your time browsing, change into whatever you like, and come on out."
The shop owner said that and left the costume room.
I wondered if I'd even find something decent as I slowly looked around.
Men's and women's sections were separate.
Each outfit had a tag for easy browsing: when to wear it, sizes, etc. Simple info made it straightforward.
'Family photo, so suit up, I guess.'
Safest bet, and suits had the most sizes.
As I hunted for my size...
"Daddy!"
Daeun called urgently.
"Yeah?"
Startled by the sudden shout, I turned to see her holding something.
"Daeuni wear this!"
"Yes? You want to wear that one?"
It was a beige dress.
Simple style, nothing fancy—just your standard dress.
"Yeah! Daeuni wanna wear this!"
Normally I'd let her pick, but...
"Hmm, how about something else? That one over there looks even cuter."
Plenty of sweeter, more fitting options caught my eye.
But Daeun shook her head firmly.
"Daeuni wanna wear this one."
"...Really want this?"
"Yeah! Have to be this!"
Hmm... Must really love this dress.
Her face said she wouldn't budge.
She had to wear her pick, no question.
I had no choice but to nod.
"Well, if you really want it..."
"Thanks, Daddy!"
She grinned cutely and inspected the dress.
Seeing that made me chuckle. I quickly grabbed a suit for myself.
"Then let's change quick and get the photo."
"Yeah!"
We changed into our chosen outfits.
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I suddenly trailed off, and Jungeun's eyes went wide.
"What? Why stop? So, did the outfit Daeun picked suit her?"
I grinned and turned the question back.
"But aren't you curious?"
"Yeah, about what?"
"Why Daeun picked that plain, super ordinary beige dress."
Jungeun tilted his head.
"There a reason?"
"Yeah, there was."
"What was it?"
At that, I slipped a hand inside my jacket lapel, pulled out a photo, and showed him.
Jungeun's eyes nearly popped out as he stared.
"...Whoa."
Maybe that was the perfect reaction.
That's exactly how I reacted when I found out.