Chapter 165
Chapter 165
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: Dinner with Richard
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Time passed faster than expected.
Before I knew it, evening had arrived, and Daeun and I were standing outside our lodging, waiting.
After about ten minutes like that,
a luxury sedan approached from afar. James, dressed in a black suit, got out and greeted us warmly.
"Hi! You came out early!"
"Oh, did you come to pick us up, James?"
"Yeah, since I'm the best at speaking Korean."
Well, it made sense—we couldn't exactly ask Representative Yoon, who was off watching a movie.
"Get in!"
Daeun and I climbed into the back seat.
The car set off and arrived at the restaurant in no time.
"Hmm... This place is so close, we could've walked."
It felt like less than five minutes by car, which threw me off.
If I'd known it was this close, we could've just walked.
But James shook his head vigorously.
"No way. Then James gets in trouble. Don't wanna get scolded by the chairman."
Well, we'd already arrived by car anyway.
Maybe this was Richard's way of showing consideration.
"Alright, let's eat! This way!"
That's when Daeun asked James.
"Aren't you coming?"
"Nah, I have to eat separately. Tonight's just for guests."
It seemed we'd gotten somewhat close to him.
Daeun looked a little disappointed, but tonight was dinner with the chairman, after all.
"Thanks for the ride."
"You're welcome!"
After saying our goodbyes and getting out, a restaurant staff member guided us.
Thanks to James's prior arrangements, we were led straight to a private room enclosed on all sides without much conversation.
The staff member gestured politely.
I gave a slight bow of thanks and stepped inside.
The door slid open.
"Oh! You've arrived. Please, have a seat over here. Daeun's here too."
"Hello. Thank you for inviting us."
"Hi!"
"Oh, no need for thanks. I'm the one grateful you accepted my dinner invitation. Please, sit."
"Yes."
We took our seats across from Richard.
At that moment, Richard pulled out a small box he'd been hiding and handed it to Daeun.
"A gift."
"Wow! Another one!"
Maybe because she'd experienced it once before, Daeun seemed to have been secretly hoping for this.
And when her expectations were met, she lit up with joy. I smiled and said,
"You don't have to give gifts every time."
But Richard shook his head with a smile.
"As I said last time, I do it because I enjoy it. Seeing Daeun so happy makes me even happier."
He watched her tear into the gift with a blissful expression.
Rustle rustle!
In the meantime, Daeun had stripped off all the wrapping and opened the box.
"Dad! It's that! The one!"
"Yeah, this one."
I glanced up at Richard.
He beamed at me and asked,
"Is this something she likes? I heard Korean girls are into these lately."
"Daeun loves these so much!"
What Richard had given her was none other than a set of Teletubbies plushies.
Ten different ones, in fact. And of course, it included Daeun's favorite, the blinky one.
"Dad, can you open this?"
It was taped shut, so she asked for my help.
Richard, who'd been watching, took it instead and said,
"Uncle will open it for you."
He pulled out his key and carefully cut the tape himself.
Rip!
"There you go, all done."
He handed back the box, and Daeun gleefully tore it open, scooping up an armful of Teletubbies.
"Daeun so happy!"
"You're really happy?"
"Yes! Daeun super happy!"
Then, in a slightly wistful tone, Richard said,
"It's amazing how something so small can bring such joy. Makes me wonder why I never managed that."
He turned his gaze to me.
"So don't miss these moments. Once they're gone, you'll miss them terribly."
He could say that because he'd been through it himself.
"Yes, I won't."
I had no intention of letting these moments with Daeun slip away either.
We'd talked about something similar last time we met.
But this time felt different.
Because now, I had something to say.
"But isn't there a way to make her happy right now too?"
Richard's eyes widened at that.
"R-right now?"
He sounded genuinely shocked.
* * *
The dinner menu was steak.
I'd heard it was made from some Wagyu or whatever—supposedly very expensive.
We focused on eating as the meal began.
The steak melted in your mouth the moment it touched your tongue, not tough at all.
It really drove home how different high-end restaurants are.
That's when Daeun spoke up.
"Dad, Daeun doesn't like this."
"Okay."
She carefully transferred the asparagus from her plate to mine.
'Oh, Daeun's being picky.'
It was a first.
She'd always eaten everything we gave her.
Even greens without complaint, but now she was passing asparagus because she didn't want it. It was unexpected.
"Why?"
She pouted and said,
"It looks weird."
Ah, probably because it was new to her, triggering a natural aversion.
Makes sense—you don't see asparagus outside places like this.
I asked her,
"Wanna try one? It's really tasty."
"No... don't wanna."
Doubt crept into her expression at the word "tasty."
Still, she seemed torn, glancing back and forth between the asparagus and me.
To show her, I speared one with my fork and ate it.
"Mmm, this is so good. You should try it, Daeun."
"Really?"
"Of course. When have I ever lied to you?"
I shook my head.
Gathering her courage, Daeun speared one of the pieces she'd moved to my plate.
She stared it down with worried eyes for a long moment, then squeezed her eyes shut and took a bite.
Munch munch.
Everyone was watching intently.
Suddenly, Daeun's eyes went wide.
"It's good!"
She grinned.
"See? Tasty, right?"
"Yeah! This is Daeun's now!"
She promptly took all the asparagus from my plate.
Richard, who'd been observing from across the table, chuckled.
"You never know until you try. Glad Daeun likes asparagus."
"Yes! Daeun loves it!"
Even though she'd just rejected it moments ago.
Her behavior was so adorable and lovable.
"If you run out while eating, just say so. Uncle will order more. Got it?"
"Thanks, Uncle!"
Then Richard looked at me and asked,
"By the way, mind if I ask what you meant earlier?"
"Oh, the way to make her happy right now."
"Yeah, that."
He eyed me curiously, so I smiled and explained.
"Just what I said. If we look, isn't there a way to make Representative Yoon happy right now too?"
"What would that be?"
Was he genuinely curious, or pretending not to know?
I met Richard's gaze and said,
"You already know, don't you?"
His expression darkened.
"Surely you're not talking about that marriage proposal again."
So he did know.
But he just shook his head.
"No, that's not it. As you know, Painter, marriage isn't something you decide on lightly. There's no rush to go slow and get to know each other, but suddenly marriage? No."
"So you're okay with taking it slow and getting to know each other?"
"Well, I, uh..."
He seemed to realize he'd slipped up, his face souring.
Then, steeling himself, he continued.
"What would you do if Daeun made that choice, Painter?"
"Me?"
That caught me off guard.
Daeun getting married...
I glanced at her happily eating away.
'Daeun with a guy...'
Ugh, suddenly my mind conjured something I shouldn't even think about.
Just for a split second, but enough to make me want to banish it forever.
Richard spoke up.
"See? You're the same."
Of course I hated the idea. It felt like losing the most precious being in the world.
But...
"I'd probably act just like you, Richard."
"Right?"
"But I'd want to hear what Daeun has to say."
"Yes."
"If she truly seemed happy with him—and assuming he has no disqualifying flaws, of course."
I looked Richard straight in the eye.
'Maybe Representative Yoon's approach is the right one.'
She'd asked me to persuade him because, as a fellow dad with a daughter, my words would carry sincerity.
"Have you considered having a serious talk with Representative Yoon?"
His face turned awkward.
This wasn't what he'd expected.
But perhaps because of my earnestness,
After a long pause, Richard said,
"Alright. I'll talk to her. But I won't approve a marriage without even a proper meeting."
Nod.
That was only natural.
Yoon hadn't asked me to get her marriage approval in the first place.
This should open the door for them to work it out through conversation.
"I'd planned to discuss your work, but we ended up talking only about daughters. Sorry about that."
I waved it off.
"Oh, no. If anything, I'm sorry for bringing up a heavy topic."
"Still, since you mentioned it, I'll meet that man if the chance arises. As long as he has no disqualifying issues, like you said."
Gulp.
Hopefully money wasn't one of those issues.
From what I'd heard before, it didn't seem to matter much.
But I couldn't help worrying.
"Since we're on the topic, why not call her now?"
"W-what, suddenly?"
"These things are best done when the iron's hot. Isn't there a Korean proverb like that?"
When did he learn proverbs?
No, that's not the point.
She was at a movie right now.
She probably wouldn't pick up, but if asked where she was...
Suddenly, Daeun piped up.
"Pretty auntie says she's watching a movie!"
"Yeah, a movie?"
"Yes!"
"With who?"
Oh no, Daeun!
I hurriedly tried to cover her mouth.
If Richard knew Officer Kim was in America too, knowing his personality, he'd insist on meeting right away.
That would derail any talk with Yoon, and everything I'd said today would go up in smoke.
Knock knock.
But things escalated even faster than I'd feared.
"Yeah, who is it?"
A server's voice came from outside.
"Your companions have arrived."
"Companions?"
Richard turned to me.
"Do you have companions coming?"
"Oh, no. No one."
I shook my head, and he tilted his head, puzzled.
"Let them in, then."
"Yes."
Click.
The door opened, and in walked someone I never expected.
'Officer... Kim.'
It was Representative Yoon and Officer Kim Sucheol.