Chapter 42
Chapter 42
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Candy for the Crying Baby
-----------------------------------------------------------------
As the bus started moving, I quickly stood up and grabbed Daeun's arm, worried she might fall.
Then I brought her back to our seat, where she was smiling at the crying child.
[I just don't get it.]
Daeun's behavior was so inconsistent.
If she was going to be clingy, she should stay that way, but that didn't seem to be the case.
It felt like she only got clingy in special situations.
"Daddy, Daeuni good!"
Right now, she even seemed proud of herself for what she'd done.
What was the difference, exactly?
I was so curious I had to ask.
"Daeun, why didn't you eat the candy and gave it to the little brother instead?"
"Daeuni candy."
"Yeah."
I'd asked out of genuine curiosity, but her answer was pretty straightforward.
"'Cause cryin'."
"Yeah?"
She gave it because he was crying.
"Yeah! Daeuni no wanna candy now, so gave it. Daeuni good!"
Her saying she just didn't want the candy didn't seem very believable.
Honestly, it was late enough that she should be hungry.
But if that's what Daeun said...
I smiled and patted her head.
"You did a good deed, Daeun, so when we get off the bus, Daddy will buy you something even tastier."
"Weally chocowate cookies too?"
"Of course. I'll buy whatever Daeun wants to eat."
"Yay!"
Her tiny fist pumping in excitement was adorable.
I was smiling at Daeun when...
"Um..."
The mother of the crying child approached.
"Thank you for the candy. She finally stopped crying thanks to you."
She turned slightly, and sure enough, the child was sniffling while sucking on the candy Daeun had given her.
"I had to leave early for the hospital today and forgot to pack snacks. Thank you so much. And you too, sweetie. That was your candy, right?"
The mother showered Daeun with praise for her actions.
"It's okay! Daeuni no wanna eat it anyway!"
"You're such a good girl. If this weren't a bus, Auntie would buy you something yummy, but just wait a sec."
With that, the mother rummaged through her bag.
She soon pulled something out and offered it.
"Do you like these by any chance?"
What she held out was a box of bandages.
She must have bought them on the way back from the hospital.
"I bought a few because I needed some, but I don't have anything else suitable right now. These are okay if you want them."
"Oh, you don't have to bother. I can..."
"I wike it!"
Huh?
Daeun took the box of bandages from the mother and bowed while still sitting.
"Thank you!"
"Glad you like them. Take care, and thanks again for today."
The mother smiled and returned to her seat. I glanced back and forth between the character-printed bandages and Daeun.
[What is it?]
She probably didn't really want the bandages, but I couldn't read Daeun's mind at all.
Well, she's just a kid, so maybe that's that. Still, no harm in asking.
"Did you like the characters on here, Daeun?"
"Yeah, what?"
"I mean the characters drawn on the box."
When I pointed to the characters on the box, Daeun nodded.
"Yeah, I wuv Tearyping!"
"Really?"
I'd been with Daeun for over a month and had no idea she liked Tearyping characters.
I didn't know much about them myself, but Tearyping had a ton of characters, from the main one to others named after emotions.
The box she'd just gotten had quite a few drawn on it too.
Maybe being a dad for a month had made me more attuned, because I casually asked her,
"But Daeun, out of all these characters, which one's your favorite?"
"Tearyping... um..."
She started pondering which one she liked best.
I figured Daeun would pick the one representing happiness.
My careful guess turned out a bit off, though.
"Ah! Daeuni's favowite!"
"What is it?"
"Blinky Blinkyping."
"What?"
"Blinkyping always fowgets stuff, so cool!"
I smiled at her answer, but it was so unexpected.
[Blinkyping...?]
I couldn't help but think about it.
The studio was tucked away in an alley just off a main road.
[Hmm, this neighborhood feels kinda familiar somehow.]
Seoul neighborhoods all blend together, but this one rang a bell.
Like I'd been here before at some point.
[Yeah, probably just my imagination.]
The building was two stories: the first floor displayed finished works, and a path alongside led up to the second-floor studio.
I'd heard there was staff on site, but now I got it.
[They run a gallery too.]
Most pieces were from the department store exhibition, but the quality was still top-notch.
Plus, with staff managing the works and studio, it was surprisingly comfortable.
*Zing*
The automatic glass door slid open, and a woman greeted us with a smile.
"Welcome. You're Painter Kanghyeok Lee, right?"
"Oh, yes."
"And this must be Painter Daeun Lee."
"Yes! That's me!"
She seemed thrilled to be called a painter.
"We heard from President Jeong that you'd be coming. Shall I show you to the studio right away?"
"Yes, please."
"Sure, follow me."
*Click-clack.*
The staff member smiled as she led us up the stairs to the second floor. We arrived at a spacious, spotless studio.
"Wow!"
Daeun spread her arms wide and dashed inside the moment we entered.
"Wow, it's bigger than I expected."
"Most people who come here say the same."
It wasn't just polite talk—the interior was genuinely huge.
I wondered if we could really use the whole space.
"We've stocked all the basic supplies, but if you need anything else, just let us know. We'll provide whatever we can."
"Thank you."
"For finished works, mention it and we'll handle preservation too, so don't hesitate."
Preservation processing? I didn't know they did that.
"Would you like to look around inside?"
"Yes, thank you."
*Step-step.*
I went deeper inside with Daeun.
The vast open space had nothing in the way. Sunlight poured through the large windows—it was perfect.
On a desk in one corner were brand-new tools set up.
"There's a bathroom here, and for those who might stay overnight, we've added a sleeping area in the back."
"There's even a place to sleep?"
"Yes. It wasn't here originally, but so many artists pull all-nighters that we added it recently."
*Swish.*
Looking back as she spoke, I saw a neatly made bed with bedding.
[This is better than I thought.]
It went beyond just a studio.
I'd done plenty of work and gotten lots of support from Director Go, but...
This had to be top-tier treatment in the industry.
"What do you think, Daeun? Like it?"
"Yeah! Wuv it lots!"
Whether she loved the space itself or just how big it was, she ran around exploring every corner.
Then she spotted a small door, went in, and called me.
"Daddy! Come hewe quick! So much stuff!"
"Okay."
What could be so plentiful?
Following her voice, I found stacks of food—ramen, drinks, and even a spot for simple meals.
"It's a pantry."
"Pantry?"
The staff member approached with a smile and explained.
"Yes, help yourself to anything here. We check and restock regularly, so use it freely."
Hearing "food" made forgotten instincts kick in for me and Daeun.
*Grrrowl!*
[Man, I'm hungry.]
Daeun hadn't eaten anything either, since she gave her candy to that kid on the bus.
Seeing the food brought the hunger rushing back.
I pointed to a bag of chocolate cookies and asked the staff,
"Can Daeun have this one?"
She nodded.
"Of course. Eat as much as you want—everything here's fair game."
"Wow! Thank you! Daddy, she said I can have it!"
"Good thing. You must be starving."
I hurriedly tore open the bag and handed it to her.
*Crunch!*
She was so hungry she shoved the cookies in her mouth, beaming happily.
"Want some of this."
The staff tilted her head at Daeun's enthusiasm.
"Have you not eaten yet?"
"Oh, yeah. We rushed out and haven't had a chance."
"If that's the case, would you like some food?"
"Here?"
"Yes. There are great spots nearby—I was going to recommend some. They deliver too, so no need to go out."
Daeun perked up at "great food."
"Wotsa yummy food hewe?"
"Yes. Want to take a look?"
She opened her phone to a delivery app.
"I've got a list of good ones I've tried myself."
Her curated restaurant list was impressively varied.
Chinese, Japanese, chicken, even jokbal—everything was neatly organized.
Looking at the list, I asked her,
"Any recommendations? Something quick."
With the time being what it was, filling our stomachs came first.
"If you're eating with little Daeun, how about some homestyle rice sets?"
"Homestyle rice sets?"
"Daddy, what's homestye wife?"
I smiled and explained to Daeun.
"Like regular home cooking. The stuff Daddy makes for you every day."
"Wow! Daeuni wuvs rice!"
The staff pulled up info on a homestyle place.
"You'll love it. It's the best I've ever had."
"Really? That good?"
"Yes, guaranteed satisfaction."
Her confident expression sold it.
I wondered just how tasty it could be when she mentioned a familiar name.
"Sunja's Rice House. It's small, but a hidden gem everyone in the know raves about."
[Sunja's Rice House.]
"Ah!"
So this was the place.
When I first got the address, it felt familiar for a reason.
"Why? Have you been?"
"No, not exactly."
Hearing the name brought back memories.
"Is Sunja's the place with the mural on the wall?"
"Yes, exactly. It's even more famous for that mural. How'd you know?"
How did I know...
When I first heard the neighborhood name for the studio, it clicked—and now it all made sense.
Back in my sophomore year of college, Professor Kwon had hooked me up with a gig painting a mural for a restaurant.
That place was Sunja's Rice House—and I'd done it with Hyorin.
"Oh, I think I heard about it passing by once."
"Nice. Want me to order delivery for you?"
I smiled and shook my head.
"No, we'll go in person with Daeun."
"In person?"
"Yeah. I want to show her that mural."
It had come to mind a bit late, but I really wanted Daeun to see the mural Hyorin and I had painted.
"Go see muwal, Daeuni."
I smiled and told her the truth.
No reason to hide it.
"Yeah. The mural on that restaurant's wall? Mommy painted it."
Daeun's eyes went wide at "Mommy painted," and she yelled,
"Daeuni wanna see Mommy's muwal!"
Just as I figured.