Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: Four Balloons Burst at Once
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Four balloons burst all at once.
The people watching were momentarily speechless, unable to say a word.
And how could they? No one could have imagined that all four would pop in a single throw.
But among them, the most shocked was someone else entirely.
The shop owner.
"Wow... Y-yes, all four popped at once."
As if this had never happened before, her face filled with bewilderment.
Swoosh.
At that moment, Daeun turned her head and asked,
"Daddy, did Daeun do good?"
"Yeah."
"So many popped super a lot!"
It seemed like she was asking if she'd done well.
"Of course! You did amazing! For real!"
"For real?"
Daeun's puzzled expression brightened in an instant.
Regaining her confidence, she picked up another dart and hurled it energetically at the balloons.
Pop!
This time, two burst.
"Heh heh heh..."
In just two throws, six balloons had popped.
Even if she missed every remaining dart, it was already an impressive score.
At that point, Painter Oh, who had been standing behind, clutched his chin and remarked,
"Man, it's like, is this how it's really done?"
"Right? It might even have a higher success rate than aiming for one at a time. I should try throwing like Daeun."
Director Go Yunmi watched with keen interest at the result Daeun had produced.
Of course, one could aim for a single target, but throwing like Daeun definitely raised the odds of popping something.
Unless you were a pro, you couldn't expect to hit every intended balloon anyway.
"And Daeun going first was the right call."
I nodded at Director Go Yunmi's comment.
"Yeah. With all the balloons still there, the chances of hitting some were that much higher."
The shop owner's expression grew increasingly uneasy at this analysis.
"S-so, would you like to keep going?"
In response to her reaction, Director Go Yunmi stepped behind Daeun on the platform and quietly said,
"Daeun, even if you miss every one, it's okay. Just throw however you want. Got it?"
"Yes! I got it!"
And so, Daeun threw her remaining eight darts.
Pop! Pop pop pop! Pop!
Popping a total of fifteen balloons.
The shop owner stared at the burst balloons in disbelief.
"Good heavens..."
* * *
Next up after Daeun was me.
I'm pretty good at this sort of thing, so I succeeded nine out of ten throws.
I did consider trying her method, but I worried I might end up missing instead.
That brought our total score to twenty-four.
Twenty-four balloons with twenty throws—an unexpectedly strong showing that darkened the shop owner's face even more.
Next, Director Go Yunmi stepped forward.
She was the type to show her resolve by even taking off her jacket.
Naturally, I figured she'd pop at least eight.
Swoosh.
"Here goes."
With a stern expression, she picked up a dart, carefully selecting her target.
Then she threw it at one.
'Oh?'
Whoosh—!
At quite a high angle.
Just like Daeun's style.
But her first attempt ended in failure.
Thud.
The dart fell without even getting close, darkening her expression further.
This was clearly a serious situation.
But for some reason...
'Ah, I shouldn't laugh.'
Why was it so funny?
At that moment, Daeun, who had been watching, spoke up to Director Go Yunmi.
"Director Lady! You can't do it like that!"
Huh?
Sudden advice from her.
At Daeun's coaching, the ever-serious Director Go Yunmi asked,
"Then how should I do it?"
"Like this!"
With her tiny, twig-like fingers, she launched into an explanation of "like this!" and "like that!" that no one could follow.
Even so, Director Go Yunmi tried her best to understand Daeun's words.
"Like this?"
"No! Not like that!"
Frustrated, Daeun kept wiggling her fingers.
Then she looked at me and said,
"Daddy!"
"Yeah?"
"Lift Daeun up!"
"You want me to lift you?"
"Yeah!"
A sudden request.
Not sure what she had in mind, but I lifted Daeun onto the platform anyway.
Daeun immediately went to Director Go Yunmi's side and grabbed her hand holding the dart.
"Like this!"
Director Go Yunmi looked at Daeun with a peculiar expression at her action.
Then she cautiously asked,
"You mean like this?"
"Yes! And whoosh! Throw it there!"
"I'm not sure about 'there.' Can you show me a bit more how?"
"Like this! Like this!"
"Like this?"
Nod!
"And whoosh! Whoosh throw it!"
What to call it?
It felt like Director Go Yunmi knew but was asking on purpose to engage Daeun.
She had said Painter Oh came here because he missed Suryeon.
I hadn't felt much at the time, but now, as Daeun taught her darts...
She seemed to be feeling that sentiment.
"Then I'll throw."
"Yes!"
Throwing exactly as Daeun had shown, she hurled the dart with all her might.
Pop!
'Wow... it popped.'
Two balloons burst in succession.
Seeing that, Daeun shrugged her shoulders and said,
"Daeun taught good."
"For real. Daeun's really good at this."
"Should Daeun help more?"
"You can do that?"
"Of course!"
Daeun continued helping Director Go Yunmi after that.
She looked delighted the whole time, and Director Go Yunmi wore an indescribable, subtle expression as she watched.
In the end, they used all the darts, scoring a total of seven.
Swoosh.
"All done."
Director Go Yunmi seemed a bit regretful after her last dart, but with the order to follow, she had no choice but to yield to Painter Oh.
"Daeun! Can you teach Uncle too?"
"Daeun help?"
"Yeah, Uncle sucks at throwing too."
"Oh dear."
Her tone and expression were somehow different.
Daeun clearly enjoyed being able to help but tried not to show it.
Not that it fooled anyone.
The onlookers found her adorable and stayed quiet.
Swoosh.
"Got it."
"Ooh! Got it. So just whoosh and throw, right?"
"Yes! Try it!"
At first, it was to win her a doll.
Then, to protect Director Go Yunmi's pride.
But now, Daeun's cuteness had turned this moment blissful.
Just an everyday thing, but precious time for someone.
"Hands like this!"
"Haha, got it. Like this?"
"Nooo! Not like that! Like this!"
"Like this?"
"Yes! Exactly!"
This moment felt like one I'd remember for a long time.
Swoosh.
"Kanghyeok."
"Yes, Director."
"Thank you."
Of course, for her too.
We spent quite a while throwing darts, and it was only after the next dish came out that we won the prize.
* * *
"Wow! It's the doll!"
"Daeun, there's an ice cream shop over there. Want some ice cream?"
"Ice cream! What flavor should Daeun eat!"
Hugging a doll bigger than herself, she held Painter Oh's hand as they headed to the ice cream shop.
Director Go Yunmi, watching with a warm smile, turned to the shop owner.
"Here's your change. I thought it'd take longer, but the kid's got talent. It's been a while since I had such a fun time watching."
At her words, Director Go Yunmi shook her head.
"No need for change."
"Pardon?"
"It was worth every penny."
This moment seemed incredibly precious to Director Go Yunmi.
That's why she refused the money.
Then the shop owner shook her head.
"Nah, can't do that."
"No, it's fine."
Perhaps due to Director Go Yunmi's firmness, the shop owner hesitated with the change in hand.
Anyone else might have taken it right away, but...
She seemed awfully conscientious.
At that moment, the shop owner clapped her hands and said,
"Ah, then take this instead."
She went into the back of the shop and returned with a small box.
On the front of the box was a picture of soap bubbles.
"I bought this to use as tomorrow's prize. Take it at least. It'll put my mind at ease."
I figured Director Go Yunmi wouldn't accept it.
But with a slightly rigid expression, she looked at the box and extended her hand.
Swoosh.
Taking the box, she didn't show it, but she seemed quite pleased.
Seeing her reaction, the shop owner beamed.
"Then come play again sometime. With the kid. Got it?"
Director Go Yunmi bowed her head.
"We'll definitely come back."
Smile.
"Yes."
Director Go Yunmi turned away with the soap bubble box, and I followed her, trailing Painter Oh.
Ding.
"Welcome."
Cool AC air greeted us as we entered the shop.
Spotting the ice creams in the freezer, Daeun scampered over excitedly.
"Mister! What's this flavor?"
"Oh, that's—"
"Yes! And this one too!"
"Sure sure, I'll buy 'em all, so pick whatever you want! Uncle's treating today!"
"Wow! Then Daeun can get them all?"
"A-all?"
I approached Daeun with a smile.
"Eat too much and you won't have room for dinner. Dinner's soon, so how about just two?"
Daeun looked a bit downcast but soon nodded.
"Got it! Then Daeun wants chocolate!"
I turned to Director Go Yunmi.
"What would you like, Director?"
"Me?"
"Yes. Everyone get one. I can share Daeun's, so one each. I'll get..."
Beep beep!
Then the staff printed the receipt and handed it to Painter Oh.
"Payment complete."
"Ah... Why'd you pay? I was going to..."
"Hey, we're in Daegu—I'm buying, obviously. Alright, Daeun, let's pick our ice creams."
"Yes!"
Daeun picked one loaded with chocolate, Painter Oh chose vanilla, and I got strawberry since that's what Daeun wanted.
And finally, Director Go Yunmi...
"I'll have mint choco."
"Yes, mint choco."
"Why?"
"N-no reason."
It just fit her image so perfectly, it surprised me.
Anyway, who knew she liked mint choco.
We finished ordering and sat around a small table.
Then Daeun noticed the box in Director Go Yunmi's hand and her eyes sparkled.
"But what's that?"
"Oh, this?"
I was about to explain it was a gift from the shop owner, but Director Go Yunmi's action made me blink.
"A gift."
"For Daeun?"
"Yeah, a gift for Daeun."
She handed the soap bubble box to Daeun.
Surprised, Painter Oh asked,
"But when did you buy a gift? You didn't have it earlier."
He confirmed the soap bubble gun as Daeun pulled it out and asked in mild shock,
"You... this..."
It was a somewhat unexpected reaction.
But soon, I understood why Director Go Yunmi made that face and why Painter Oh was so surprised.
Swoosh.
Director Go Yunmi leaned forward slightly and spoke to Daeun across the table.
"I thought Suryeon would love playing with it, so I gave it to you."
"Who likes it?"
"The aunt's daughter from the photo earlier, Suryeon—she loves soap bubbles."
Director Go Yunmi smiled broadly.
A genuine smile full of heartfelt warmth, one I'd never seen before.