Chapter 226
Chapter 226
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 226
Chapter Title: Overflowing Crowds
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Daeun's interview wrapped up without any issues.
"Thanks. The interview content turned out better than I expected."
If anything, I was the one who wanted to thank her.
I'd learned the reason why Daeun started painting, after all.
Just then, Daeun came running over and asked,
"Daddy! Did Daeuni do good?"
"Yeah, you did amazing. You really seemed like a pro artist out there."
"What are you talking about? At this point, I am a real artist."
"Real awtist?"
Daeun's face bloomed into a huge smile.
She must have loved being called a real artist.
Considering all the effort she'd put in so far, she more than deserved the title.
"You fulfilled Mommy's dream for her, Daeun."
"Hee! Daeuni's suwper awtist!"
"You bet. Of course you are."
With the interview over, we stuck around the department store where the solo exhibition was being held.
We had lunch there, then dinner from the food court as well.
Time passed, and the crowds gradually thinned out.
Right as closing time approached.
"Whew, I ended up being way too late."
Director Go Yunmi finally arrived.
She'd said she'd come straight after finishing work, but it looked like things had dragged on quite a bit.
"I was hoping to at least catch the opening..."
As she said that, the director glanced around, taking in Daeun's displayed works.
"What a shame. All the pieces are already sold."
Had she heard on the way over?
I smiled and told her,
"It's all thanks to you, Director. We wouldn't have made it this far without you."
It was the honest truth.
If she hadn't supported Daeun.
I wouldn't have been able to spend this time with her.
I'd probably still be scraping by, working whatever jobs I could find.
But at my words, the director shook her head firmly.
"What are you saying? This is all because Daeun did so well. She could reach this point because she's Daeun."
"It would've taken a lot longer without your help."
"Be that as it may, getting here was all her own doing."
For the first time, the director looked at Daeun and smiled.
The director, who had always been so stern.
"You did great. Really great."
I'd hardly ever seen her smile before.
Not even after selling out her first solo show.
Yet Daeun had brought a smile to that stern face.
"Hee! Director's smile is so pwetty!"
Whoosh!
The director, realizing her expression a beat too late, quickly turned her head.
But everyone had already seen it.
Then, from behind her, Painter Oh walked in, exclaiming in surprise.
"Whoa, all these painted by Daeun? Incredible!"
"Yeah, Painter Oh!"
It seemed the director had been delayed picking up Painter Oh.
"Truly outstanding work. I could learn a thing or two from these."
Painter Oh slowly toured the now-quiet exhibition hall, admiring the pieces with a serious expression.
Then, she muttered—maybe to herself—
"Suryeon would've loved this if she were here."
At the mention of Suryeon, I instinctively glanced at the director.
She'd gotten a bit better lately, but she still reacted sensitively to anything about Suryeon.
But.
"You're right. Suryeon would've adored Daeun's paintings."
Ah...
The director didn't cry at the mention of Suryeon.
Maybe living together had let them talk about all those things they'd held back on.
Seeing the director's completely changed attitude—such a far cry from before—my tension melted away.
That previous smile from the director.
And the way her expression stayed soft even now.
It wasn't all of it, but Suryeon's influence surely played a part.
Now, she could even bring up Suryeon naturally.
No, more like...
'Has the way she misses Suryeon changed?'
Step.
The director walked over to Painter Oh.
She gazed at the most popular piece, Love, and said,
"She probably would've loved this one the most."
"That's what I think too."
"Since Suryeon takes after me, naturally."
"What? No, she took after me. You always said she looked like her dad."
"No, I don't remember that."
"Hey! Don't try to weasel out of it!"
Their banter brought a smile to my face.
Daeun was giggling nonstop at their exchange too.
Daeun had said the reason she painted was happiness.
It seemed her paintings brought not just her own joy.
But happiness to everyone who saw them.
That must be the power contained in Daeun's art...
And so, the first day of Daeun's solo exhibition drew to a close.
On the ride home in the director's car.
Daeun, exhausted from all the tension, fell asleep before we even arrived.
Carrying her on my back without even washing up, I got her home.
'Guess she'll have to bathe tomorrow.'
Not wanting to wake her, I laid her in bed and quietly closed the door.
Click.
My throat was parched from the tension of piggybacking her, so I grabbed a small drink from the fridge and chugged it.
Then I pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and stared blankly into space.
I hadn't shown it because of Daeun's nerves.
But I'd been pretty tense myself.
Of course. How could I stay calm when Daeun was that worked up?
Gulp.
With it all over, a pleasant fatigue settled in.
'I should wash up and crash.'
Maybe because the tension released.
Sleep came crashing over me like a wave.
I tried to get up to wash, but my body wouldn't cooperate—it was too exhausted.
In the end, I couldn't fight the drowsiness.
'Just lie down for a bit, then wash.'
Slump.
I face-planted onto the desk and passed out.
I had a dream.
Deep underwater, surrounded by water on all sides, I curled up alone in silence.
It was quiet.
A silent space with no sound at all.
Just like the dreams I used to have every day back when I was in a vegetative state.
Lonely and desolate.
I wished someone would pull me out of this place.
But no matter how hard I tried to scream, my mouth wouldn't open.
Curled up like a fetus, I could only wait for someone to come get me.
I'd been in that silent space for what felt like ages when.
Bubbles rose from the deep abyss below.
In the utter silence, even the bubble sounds felt welcoming.
I opened my eyes and peered down toward them.
It was too dark to see clearly, but some kind of shape was visible.
A person?
It looked like one.
But the surrounding darkness made it hard to make out.
What is it?
All my nerves were fixed on that presence deep in the water.
Other thoughts or feelings didn't matter.
Right now, the most important thing was that bubbling which shattered my lonely silence.
I waited.
And waited some more.
For whatever was making the bubbles to reveal itself.
How long had I been staring at them?
Ah!
The dark, shadowy form was approaching me, growing closer.
It got bigger.
As if I'd been its target from the start, the black shape kept coming without pause.
But even as it drew near—when it should've become clear—it stayed indistinct.
No, it grew even darker.
When the black form was right in front of my face, it finally spoke to me for the first time.
-Just wait a little longer. I'll be there soon.
Before I could reply.
Splash!
I was flung out of the water.
Rustle.
I sat up.
Morning light filled the room when I opened my eyes.
"Ugh."
Sleeping slumped over the table had wrecked me.
I let out a small yelp at the instant muscle pain.
But even amid the ache, I couldn't forget the shadowy figure looming in my mind.
It should've been scary, since I couldn't see a thing.
But it wasn't frightening at all.
Warm, even.
And that voice lingered in my ears.
'Could it have been Hyorin?'
I'd had a similar dream before waking up in the hospital.
Maybe because I wanted Hyorin there for Daeun's exhibition too.
That's what I was thinking when.
"Ah! Hold on."
I hurriedly checked the time.
No matter how tired I was, I couldn't be late for Daeun's show.
[08:37]
Damn...
"D-Daeun! Get up!"
We were late.
The second day of Daeun's solo exhibition.
The week-long event didn't really require the artist to be present after the first day.
Unless there were unsold pieces.
Especially not when everything had sold out like this.
But this exhibition meant so much to Daeun that I'd committed to showing up all week.
"Daddy, we're slow..."
"N-No, it's fine! We can still make it if we hurry!"
That's what I said.
But why was traffic this bad?
A car sure would come in handy right now.
I should buy a used one soon, for Daeun's sake at least.
Of course, I wouldn't touch the money she'd earned—that was for her later.
Once the contract went through soon, I'd get a decent advance.
That should cover a modest used car.
I was mulling over the need for a car again when.
Our taxi finally pulled up to the department store's main entrance.
"Thanks!"
I paid quickly, hopped out, grabbed Daeun's hand, and bolted for the top-floor exhibition hall.
Murmur murmur.
Whoa, the place was packed to the gills.
Somehow even busier than yesterday.
The elevator line was so long, there was no way we'd make it on time.
I had to make a choice.
"Daeun, come here."
"Yeah?"
"Daddy'll carry you."
I scooped her up tight in my arms.
Pat.
And started running.
I took the escalator nearly two steps at a time.
Careful not to bump anyone, of course.
But we couldn't afford to be late.
At least the line skewed to one side, so ascending wasn't too bad.
With just one floor left.
"Hm?"
I spotted someone on the escalator ahead.
President Jeong.
"Hey! You're here!"
"Wh-what! What are you, huff! doing here?"
"Hello!"
Surprised by the question, President Jeong asked,
"No way you ran all the way up here, right?"
"Y-Yeah. Huff! Worried we'd be late."
"Goodness, you didn't need to rush on day two. Take it easy."
"Nah, can't risk being late. But President Jeong, why're you still here? Oh, checking on your store?"
At that, President Jeong gave an awkward smile and said something unexpected.
"Too many people."
"Pardon?"
"The department store suddenly flooded with crowds, so I beefed up security and kept an eye on things, just in case."
A sudden crowd surge?
"Why? What happened?"
President Jeong gave me an odd look and asked,
"You haven't seen the news?"
"No?"
"About the department store crowds."
I could only gape at what he said next.
"Word must've spread—everyone's here for Miss Daeun's exhibition."
"What?!"