Chapter 231
Chapter 231
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 231
Chapter Title: A Precious Secret
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The atmosphere had lightened up considerably.
Just one word changed, and it felt like the distance between us had shrunk a lot.
While we were inside looking at the artwork,
someone approached us.
"You're here early."
Manager Jeong had told us to eat first and come up, but we had no choice because we ran into Junsu on the way.
"Ah, yes. I met a good person, so we came up together to look around."
"A good person?"
She glanced at Junsu's dad beside me.
A moment later, Manager Jeong's expression changed in surprise as she spoke.
"S-s-surely the 'g-good f-fate' you're talking about... isn't Representative Kim, is it?"
Representative Kim.
Junsu's dad smoothly turned his head and greeted her.
"Hello. Long time no see."
"Ah, Representative Kim! Now that I think about it, it's today. Father-son day!"
It seemed Manager Jeong knew Junsu's dad.
Well, on father-son days, he came to the VIP room every week to spend time, so how could she not know?
And entering the VIP room meant he was one of the department store's top customers.
"But did you two know each other before?"
At Manager Jeong's question, I shook my head.
"No, we just happened to greet each other."
Junsu, who had been with Daeun, stepped forward maturely to greet her.
"Hello."
"Ah, Junsu is here too. Nice to see you. It's been a while."
"Yes, I hope you've been well."
Goodness, he was too mature for his age.
I couldn't help but chuckle at Junsu's words. His natural demeanor, without any intent, felt even funnier.
"I understand. Since you greeted him, you had to come see the exhibition. Especially since it's no one else but Artist Daeun's show."
"Artist Daeun's show?"
...
I hadn't meant to deceive him, but I chose not to say anything so Junsu could focus.
Well, I had planned to tell him once we came up anyway.
It wasn't something I could hide.
"Ah, you didn't know yet."
Representative Kim turned to look at the standing sign at the entrance.
His eyes widened as he asked back.
"Th-then, all the paintings on display here... were drawn by Daeun?"
"Yes, I was going to tell you once we came up, but that's right."
"Huh..."
Junsu, who had come up with Daeun, looked at her in shock and asked.
"Is it true?"
"Yeah! All the paintings here! Daeun drew them!"
"Wow..."
It was the same painting, but knowing who drew it would make it look different.
Especially if it was Daeun, whom he had just seen as an ordinary kid.
At those words, Representative Kim said with a slightly surprised expression.
"I had a VIP right next to me and didn't realize. Impressive."
A VIP?
"N-no, it's not that big a deal."
"I don't know much about art, but at least the paintings by Daeun have the power to move people's hearts. I thought they were good, but... haha. Wow."
He seemed quite shocked.
But knowing who drew it didn't change anything.
"Then, how about looking at all our paintings and having lunch? It's almost lunchtime anyway."
Representative Kim nodded at my words.
"That would be an honor for us. It might not be much in return, but I'd like to treat the two of you who gave us an experience money can't buy. Would that be okay?"
Normally, I would have refused.
But not this time.
Refusing would be rude.
I smiled.
"Sure."
And so, we continued this somewhat special connection.
After viewing all the artwork, we headed to the restaurant area for lunch.
We were supposed to eat in the VIP room originally.
But fewer people recognized us than expected, so we decided on that.
Actually, plenty seemed to recognize us, but out of consideration, they pretended not to know.
On the way to the restaurant,
"Thanks to you, I feel like I got closer to Junsu."
I didn't know what Junsu's dad—Representative Kim—thought,
"But it still feels insufficient."
In my opinion, we had a long way to go.
Junsu was his son.
If it were a daughter, who knows,
but as a son, he needed to be close to his dad without barriers.
Of course, it depends on the dad, but Representative Kim seemed like someone who could get even closer.
"What should I do?"
Suddenly becoming Representative Kim's parenting advisor, I pondered and said,
"I'm a dad to a daughter, so I don't know for sure, but how about something more active like soccer?"
"Active play?"
"Ah, Manager Jeong mentioned there's a kids' cafe on the 6th floor or something. Or maybe go there together."
"Kids' cafe... I've never been to one..."
Huh?
"Y-you've never been to a k-kids' cafe?"
"No..."
It seemed the problem was more serious than I thought.
"Then we should start with a kids' cafe."
I wasn't sure if elementary schoolers could enter kids' cafes.
We'd figure that out when we got there.
For now, lunch was priority.
Then, Representative Kim said,
"By the way, what does Daeun like? We're going to Junsu's favorite place, but I'm not sure if she'll like it."
The place we were heading to sold pasta and pizza.
Pasta was new for her, but we ordered pizza sometimes, so.
"She'll like it."
"That's good to hear."
And so, we arrived at Representative Kim's frequent restaurant.
Maybe because he came often, Junsu guided us familiarly.
"Sit here! Let's sit here."
"Oppa comes here a lot?"
"Yeah, every week here!"
Coming to the same place weekly, Junsu must love pasta and pizza a ton.
As I sat thinking that, a staff member approached with a smile.
"You brought guests today."
"Ah, yes. They're kind people."
"Shall I prepare your usual then?"
"Ah, wait a moment."
Representative Kim asked me,
"We get cream pasta and shrimp pizza. Feel free to order anything else you'd like."
I asked Daeun,
"Daeun, anything you want to eat?"
"Hmm, Daeun wants this!"
Daeun, scanning the menu, pointed to the cod roe pasta.
"Cod roe pasta."
"It's spicy."
"No, it's not spicy."
"Then Daeun will eat this!"
"And pizza?"
"Pizza... hmm... this one!"
"Original."
"Yeah!"
With one pasta and one pizza chosen, Representative Kim smiled and ordered from the staff.
"Prepare this, please."
"Yes, got it. Just a moment, and it'll be ready."
After ordering, we chatted amiably.
The main topic was Daeun's artist exhibition.
Junsu showed Daeun the painting he drew,
and Daeun shared how much fun Junsu had at the time.
Representative Kim asked what time they spent together.
This was the most important part: time spent drawing together.
He envied that the most.
And he reflected.
He knew he hadn't spent much time with family,
but he realized he'd been more neglectful than he thought.
As he reflected and vowed to spend more time together in the future,
while chatting away,
"Here’s your food."
Our ordered dishes arrived.
Maybe because I was hungry,
a wave of appetite hit me suddenly.
Looking at the delicious spread, Junsu said,
"This is what I really love. The cream pasta is super tasty."
"Really?"
"Yeah, try it, Daeun. It's really good."
"Okay!"
Junsu kindly scooped some for Daeun to eat.
If Daeun had a real big brother, it might look like this.
Seeing the two kids getting along so well, Representative Kim smiled and said,
"Then, let's eat."
The lunch began.
There was a good reason Representative Kim came here weekly.
It was really tasty.
Not greasy, perfectly seasoned; the shrimp on the pizza was chewy, and Daeun's cod roe pasta was so good it could be life's best pasta.
"Oh, first time trying cod roe pasta, but it's really good. Gotta order it next time."
At that, Junsu suddenly said to Representative Kim,
"No."
"Huh? No?"
"Yes..."
Junsu, who always just said "okay" to his dad,
showed an unexpected reaction, so Representative Kim asked,
"Why not?"
"Th-that's..."
Junsu hesitated.
But this time, Junsu was firm, not backing down.
"It's a secret. But really, no. Only cream pasta and shrimp pizza."
When he wouldn't give a reason,
Representative Kim's expression hardened.
"It doesn't matter what we eat. Why are you suddenly like this?"
"It's a secret."
He pouted his lips.
If he explained, we might understand and let it go.
But he kept insisting without revealing why.
Representative Kim calmly asked instead of scolding,
"You can't tell me the reason?"
"Th-that's..."
"Dad wants to hear the reason. Can you tell me?"
Junsu glanced at Daeun and me.
Then he averted his gaze and fidgeted with his fingers.
'Is he embarrassed?'
The thought crossed my mind.
Maybe there's an embarrassing reason he finds hard to say.
That seemed plausible.
As I wondered how to handle it,
"Oppa!"
"Yeah?"
"Daeun knows!"
"You know?"
"Yeah!"
She knows the reason?
From Junsu's reaction, it didn't seem he'd told Daeun.
How did she know Junsu's secret? Just then,
"Daeun likes it too!"
"Daeun does too?"
"Oppa really likes it, so that's why he only eats this! Right?"
Pfft.
It was a simple reason.
He likes it, so only this.
An innocent thought only Daeun could voice.
"How did you know?"
Y-yeah, it's true.
Representative Kim's expression turned subtle at Junsu's following words.
"Dad asked me for the first time what I like..."
So, the reason Junsu insisted on only cream pasta and shrimp pizza was because his dad had asked him for the first time what he liked.
Ultimately, this place held precious memories of sharing emotions with his dad for the first time.
At Junsu's words, Representative Kim scratched his forehead and said,
as if pitying himself...
"What a pathetic dad I am..."