Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: Hyorin's Answer
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I really had no idea.
That Hyorin was jealous of me.
She never showed a hint of it before going abroad to study, after she returned, or even up until we got married.
That was when the professor chuckled and said,
"Still, I was relieved to think that after studying abroad, Hyorin seemed to have found her answer."
"Her answer?"
"Yeah. When she finished her studies and came back, she told me she wouldn't have any more regrets."
Hyorin had mentioned it in passing back then.
That it had been a truly meaningful time abroad.
She must have found her own answer there.
"Whew, I've kept you longer than I thought. Daeun must be waiting. Go on now. We can talk more over dinner later."
"Ah, yes. Daeun's probably fine since she's painting, but I don't want to leave Minji alone too long, so let's chat later."
"Sure, sure."
As the professor spoke, I picked up the coffee he'd personally poured for me and said,
"But, Professor."
"Yeah?"
"There's something I've been wondering about."
"Yeah, what is it? Tell me."
Truth be told, while listening to the professor's story up to now, one big question had been nagging at me.
Her jealousy toward me, and the study abroad she chose for her own growth.
But when she returned from studying abroad.
There was something Hyorin did for me.
I was curious about what that action meant.
So I asked the professor.
"Did you ever talk to her about anything besides her studies abroad?"
"Who, Hyorin?"
"Yes. After she came back from abroad, she gave me something..."
"What did she give you?"
At the professor's question, I told him about what Hyorin had given me back then.
Then the professor smiled brightly and gave me an answer to my question.
"So she finally made up her mind, huh."
It seemed the professor knew the reason behind Hyorin's action.
I left the professor's office and headed straight to the studio.
I'd spent nearly an hour chatting with him.
I was a bit worried about Daeun.
But since she was with Minji, it eased my mind somewhat.
Click.
As I opened the door, an unexpected scene unfolded before me.
Scribble, scribble.
'Huh?'
Daeun was painting in one corner of the studio.
And behind her stood all the students who had been preparing their graduation pieces, watching her paint.
"Man... I might need to start studying again."
"I'm suddenly hit with reality..."
"Is this what talent looks like...?"
"But Daeun's painting really has something special."
"Yeah, looking at her picture makes me want to cry."
Studying, reality check, talent, tears.
What on earth was Daeun painting to get such reactions from the students? That's when—
Minji, who had spotted me as I closed the door, greeted me.
"Hey, you're back."
"Yeah. What's everyone doing gathered here?"
As I walked over, Daeun looked up with a smile and said,
"Daddy! Daeun's painting!"
"You finished?"
"No! Still painting!"
She dove back into her painting with focus.
I quietly moved behind her to see what the students were looking at.
And there was a bouquet of flowers Daeun had drawn.
'Hmm.'
A pink flower, a bouquet shape that felt strangely familiar. I asked curiously,
"Daeun, why'd you suddenly draw flowers?"
At my question.
The students' expressions shifted oddly.
Minji looked the most shocked.
"You don't know what this is?"
"It's just a bouquet, right?"
"Just a bouquet?"
Everyone looked at me like how could I not know. I could only smile awkwardly.
"Why? Is it a flower I should know?"
"You had to have seen it."
"H-Had to?"
"Yeah, this is that. A bouquet."
"Ah!"
Looking again at the word "bouquet," it was definitely different from a regular flower arrangement.
The pink roses tied together weren't like a standard bouquet.
That made me curious about the painting.
"But Daeun, where'd you see this flower?"
How did Daeun know about a bouquet and draw it?
Of course, with her memory, she remembers most things she's seen once, so maybe she spotted it somewhere.
At my question, Minji tilted her head and said,
"Didn't you show her your wedding photos?"
"Huh? Wedding photos?"
Come to think of it, Hyorin probably would have shown her the wedding pictures.
Maybe to plant memories of me in Daeun's mind.
"I didn't. Hyorin might have, though."
I glanced at Daeun and asked,
"Did Mommy show you wedding pictures?"
"Yeah! Mommy showed me!"
"So you're drawing it from memory?"
"Yeah! Mommy said this flower is Daddy's favorite!"
"Huh? Mine?"
At Daeun's words, I looked back at her painting.
And that's when I realized it.
Why the flowers had felt so familiar from the first glance.
'This flower...'
I'd asked the professor in his office.
About the meaning of what Hyorin did for me the day she returned from abroad.
He'd given a somewhat vague answer.
But seeing Daeun's painting made it crystal clear.
'This is your answer.'
Just then, Minji looked at the painting and said,
"Victoria rose."
"Huh? What'd you say?"
"The flower's name that Daeun drew—Victoria rose. And its meaning is 'oath of love.'"
Oath... of love.
At those words, I gazed at Daeun's painting and said,
"Hyorin studied abroad for two years. And on the day she returned to Korea, she gave me something."
"Hyorin did?"
"Yeah. What she gave me then was this. This rose bouquet."
Some might think it odd for a woman to give flowers to a man.
In fact, when I received them back then, I'd said something like that.
Like, I was planning to prepare flowers—why'd you bring them back from abroad?
But Hyorin just handed me the flowers with a smile, saying nothing more.
Just that she'd bought them because they were pretty.
Now I knew.
Why Hyorin had gifted me the flowers used in a bouquet.
Hearing the professor's story and Minji's words made it clear.
Then, the students who'd been listening came closer and asked,
"W-Wait, did she really give him these flowers as a gift?"
"Oh! So she'd been planning to marry him since then!"
"Seriously! That's so romantic!"
"Ugh! When will I get a love like that...?"
The students went wild.
And why not—they'd heard most of our story.
They could empathize with the feelings and affection fully.
Amid their reactions, Minji.
Just stared silently at the painting.
I'd come here today to mend things between Jungeun and Minji.
But I hadn't brought it up properly yet.
I'd have to find the right moment to talk about the fight with Jungeun and how much he regretted it.
That's when Minji spoke up.
"Alright, everyone, back to work! You don't have time to listen to someone else's love story. The exhibition's right around the corner!"
At her words, the students grumbled regretfully and returned to their spots.
Watching them, I quietly sat down next to Daeun.
And asked,
"But what did Mommy say when she showed you the picture? And what's this about it being Daddy's favorite flower?"
Daeun paused her painting and said,
"Mommy said she loves Daddy sooooo much, but Daddy doesn't know! So she gave a hint!"
"A hint?"
"Yeah! And Mommy said..."
"W-What?"
"You're a dummy, Daddy!"
Hahaha.
Yeah, Daeun was right.
No—Hyorin was right.
How frustrated must she have been to tell me that at a bar on graduation day.
"Mommy's right. Daddy's a dummy. Even knowing everything, I couldn't say a word like an idiot."
At my words, Minji, standing behind me, muttered something.
"I'm a dummy too..."
"Huh? What'd you say?"
"Nothing. I'll head to the department office for a bit. Watch the kids."
"Uh... yeah, okay. Go ahead."
With that, Minji left the studio with a complicated expression.
And shortly after.
Bzzz—
My phone rang.
It was none other than Jungeun calling.
"Hello?"
The moment I answered, Jungeun's voice exploded, making my eyes widen.
—Kanghyeok! What the hell did you say to Minji?!
Huh, suddenly...
By evening, we rode with the professor to the restaurant.
But there was a somewhat unexpected passenger.
"You're busy, aren't you?"
"Yeah, I had a schedule, but it got canceled suddenly. And the kids said they'd eat out tonight."
"Ah, got it."
No real need to come early for something like this.
Still, learning something new and arriving early felt worthwhile.
Just then, the professor asked Daeun in the back seat,
"By the way, Daeun, you draw so amazingly. Others struggle with one piece, but you whipped up a masterpiece right there."
Daeun grinned at that.
"Daeun's good at it!"
"Yeah! Super good. Daeun, when you grow up, you have to come to our school, okay? Professor will wait for you."
Suddenly sales-pitching...
At the professor's words, Minji chimed in.
"I'll send that painting you did earlier to the studio later. It's not dry enough to take now."
"Ah, perfect."
I'd been wondering how to transport it.
I could ask Jungeun to handle it as thanks for his help this time.
Or pick it up when attending the graduation exhibition.
Then, as the professor pulled up and parked, he said,
"We're here. Let's go eat."
The place was an upscale Korean restaurant, obvious from a glance.
With its imposing aura from the entrance, we cautiously got out and headed inside.
But then.
"Daddy! Daeun has something to say!"
Daeun suddenly grabbed my sleeve, stopping me.
"Hm? Something to say?"
"Yeah!"
Then she looked up at Minji and said,
"Daeun! Has a present for Aunt Minji!"
"A present for me?"
"Yes!"
Wondering what gift this was about—
Unexpected words came from Daeun's mouth.
"Daeun's painting! Giving it to Aunt!"
"The painting Daeun drew... for me?"
"Yes! Daeun really wants to give it!"
"Why... why give me the painting all of a sudden..."
Then, Daeun beamed at Minji and said,
"You need it to get happier, Aunt!"
Just then.
An unexpected person emerged from the Korean restaurant.
"Professor! Kanghyeok! Daeun! And Minji!"
It was none other than.
"Hey! You!"
Jungeun.