Chapter 200
Chapter 200
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 200
Chapter Title: Unexpected Dinner Guest
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I never imagined Jungeun would show up for dinner.
Sure, back at school, I'd called him on the off chance, but I didn't actually think he'd come.
At his sudden appearance, I blurted out in a panic,
"Y-Yeah, what are you doing here!"
Jungeun gave an awkward smile as he replied.
"Ah, you told me on the phone earlier, remember? That you were eating here."
"I was just mentioning where, not inviting you to join!"
At that, the professor looked at me like I was the weird one.
"Why wouldn't it be good if Jungeun came?"
And at Jungeun's arrival like this, Minji spoke up with a slightly chilly expression.
"But Kanghyeok, you seem really shocked. Like Jungeun showing up here is some big problem or something."
"N-No, it's not that he can't come, I'm just a little s-surprised..."
"Why surprised? It's not because I'm here, is it?"
Man, this is driving me crazy.
If he was coming, he could've given me a heads-up!
As Minji said that, I shot Jungeun a glare, but he just looked apologetic.
'Well, whatever. The people involved have met now, so maybe it's for the best.'
Scratching the back of my head with that thought, the professor spoke up.
"Still, good timing. I was going to treat you anyway, so we can all go in together."
With that, the professor turned to Daeun.
"But, Daeun. What was that earlier about the painting being needed for Minji?"
I'd been curious about that too.
Why would a painting she drew be needed by Minji?
But Daeun didn't give a clear answer.
She just grinned.
"Auntie needs it! So Daeun's giving it!"
No point asking more; she wasn't going to spill.
Probably nothing I'd figure out anyway.
So the professor gave up on getting an answer.
"Well, we'll find out eventually. Shall we all head in?"
At the professor's words, everyone entered the restaurant.
I was about to grab Daeun's hand and follow when...
Tug!
Daeun yanked my arm and said,
"Daddy!"
"Yeah?"
"Daeun has something to tell Daddy!"
"Yeah, Daeun?"
"Yeah!"
Then Daeun said something I'd never forget for the rest of my life.
And once again, I could feel how much she took after Hyorin.
"Daddy's my daddy, I love it so much!"
–Kanghyeok, I'm so glad you're Kanghyeok.
Looks like I'm living a pretty loved life.
The meal was pretty good.
The atmosphere wasn't bad either.
Of course, the fighting couple didn't exchange a single word the whole time.
But otherwise, everyone was satisfied.
As the meal was wrapping up, the professor asked,
"But Minji."
"Yes, Professor."
"About the graduation exhibition this time. Don't you need to write an article on it?"
"Ah, yes. I've already talked to the office about it. They'll probably release the article soon."
"Good."
Then she turned to Jungeun with a question.
"So, are you writing an article on our school this time?"
"Ah, of course. I mentioned it to the section chief—we'll start covering it from this year. Since it's my alma mater, the chief said to pay extra attention."
"Oh, really? So you'll come to the exhibition day too?"
"Yes, I'll clear my schedule as much as possible."
"Great. Then I have one favor to ask."
At the professor's question, Jungeun's eyes widened.
"What favor?"
"Oh, nothing big. It's because it's you, but... when interviewing students, could you include Minji too?"
"M-Minji?"
Minji was a teaching assistant.
So there was no real need to interview her.
But the professor seemed to have her reasons.
"Yeah, it'd be good to have a few lines about Minji."
At that, Jungeun asked innocently,
"May I ask why?"
The professor grinned and turned to Minji instead.
"Minji, can I tell them?"
"Um, I was planning to wait a bit longer..."
Something was definitely up with Minji.
But she must have figured it would come out eventually, because she nodded and replied,
"I'll tell them."
Looking at us, Minji said,
"Um, I was going to wait until it was more certain, but... I applied to be a professor at our school."
"......What!"
"W-What did you say?"
P-Professor?
Of course, I knew Minji had been studying her butt off lately.
But aspiring to be a professor? Never saw that coming.
Among the shocked reactions to Minji's bombshell, the biggest came from none other than Jungeun.
"P-Professor application?"
"Yeah, the professor helped me a lot. To make it happen."
Then the professor smiled as she spoke.
"Oh, come on. This is all Minji's hard work. Even after I told her she didn't need to stick around as TA until a spot opened."
Being a professor wasn't for just anyone.
It required years of intense study at minimum.
Not to mention master's and doctoral programs.
Yet here was Minji doing it.
Then Jungeun, catching on late, said in surprise,
"Wait! So what you said about preparing..."
"Yeah, exactly. Professor at our school. That's what I'm going for."
"Hahaha..."
Jungeun just laughed in astonishment.
Meanwhile, the professor looked at Minji proudly.
"That's why I'm so grateful to her. One of my students graduates, studies hard, and comes back as a professor here. Not easy by any means, and such an honor."
The professor smiled gratefully, praising Minji.
In the meantime, Daeun asked curiously,
"Daddy! So Auntie Minji's gonna be a teacher?"
"Ah, not a teacher, a professor. From now on, Auntie Minji will teach students... Man, even saying it feels unbelievable."
Daeun clapped her hands and said to Minji,
"Auntie! You're super smart!"
"Thanks. I thought I'd fail this time, but the professor put in a lot of effort for me."
"Well, not to brag now, but being our school's alum played a huge role."
"So I'm incredibly grateful too. Truth is, you're my life role model, Professor."
"Yeah! Hohoho! Already gilding my face before you're even a professor."
I never expected such shocking news today.
But it was definitely worth celebrating.
Maybe being a professor was all about helping countless kids achieve their dreams.
Was it because Minji had helped so many students before?
"It suits you. Should I start calling you Professor Park now?"
"I'm not a professor yet. It'll be official next year when I join the school."
"But it's confirmed, right? That's why the professor's saying it."
"Yeah, it's set. Just waiting to join the school now. Five months at most."
At this exchange, the hitherto quiet Jungeun spoke up.
"Congratulations, Minji. Really, congrats."
At his sincere well-wishes, Minji's expression darkened slightly, probably thinking of their recent issue.
But she couldn't show it here, so she brushed back a stray lock of hair and replied,
"Thanks. For congratulating me."
Then the professor asked Jungeun,
"So, you'll write the article on Minji, right?"
"Of course. Who else would write it for our Professor Park's debut article?"
"Good, I figured you'd do it. Looks like we're done talking now."
Lean.
The professor leaned forward, looking at the two and saying,
"Now, make up."
"Yes."
"Yeah."
"You two fought, didn't you?"
"H-How did you..."
"Hey, did you tell the professor?"
At Minji's words, Jungeun shook his head vigorously, looking wronged.
The professor laughed at their exchange.
"You thought I wouldn't notice? Kanghyeok probably figured it out too. It's obvious you've been fighting. Who're you fooling?"
Ahaha.
Can't fool the professor's eyes, huh.
Her sharp insight was impressive enough, but fixing their rift in one go was tongue-prodding skill.
"So, hurry up and make up."
At that, Minji glanced at Jungeun before quickly looking away.
She still seemed pretty mad about yesterday.
But Jungeun was different.
He'd wanted to apologize from the start, but she hadn't picked up.
"I'm sorry. It's all my fault. So forgive me."
At that, Minji said,
"No."
She wouldn't accept the apology.
The professor smiled at her and said,
"Come on, accept his apology. Still that mad?"
It felt weird, like parents mediating their kids' fight.
How did the professor end up meddling in her former students' lovers' quarrel?
As I silently apologized to her life for that, Minji spoke.
"Well, people make mistakes. But that's not why I'm mad."
"Then?"
"It's because you didn't fix it yourself and sent Kanghyeok to me instead."
I jumped in surprise.
"W-What? Y-You knew?"
"You think I wouldn't? You said you were going to dinner and asked if I was coming, then today too. You came early, spent time with me—did you think I wouldn't notice?"
Tsk.
Sure, my actions were obvious, but I didn't think she'd see through it all.
Like professor, like student.
"If you have an excuse, spit it out."
Jungeun clamped his mouth shut.
No matter the reason, nothing Minji said was wrong.
Faced with that, he couldn't muster any excuse beyond apology.
"I'm really sorry. I know whatever I say sounds like an excuse..."
Jungeun chewed over his words but ultimately stayed silent.
At that, Minji said firmly,
"So, I'll cool off next week. Call me then. Got it?"
He'd only made things worse trying to fix it.
The proposal was just two days away, and she wanted him to wait a week.
Jungeun practically whimpered at her,
"That won't work."
"No, I won't pick up anyway, and next week I'll forgive you."
"No, absolutely not."
"Why not?"
Finally, Jungeun spilled it.
"I've got everything ready to propose to you this week."
"......"
"......"
"......"
Jungeun, I know this sounds weird coming from me,
but this has to be the lamest proposal timing I've ever seen.
"Sigh, you idiot."
And so their fight ended in a somewhat ridiculous fashion.