Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Playground Surprise
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"All done."
"Thanks for your hard work."
I set Daeun down from my lap, and she scampered over to check the drawing.
"Wow!"
"Is it okay?"
Nod! Nod!
She must love the caricature. Daeun nodded her head so vigorously it looked like her neck might snap, then called out to me.
"Daddy! Come quick! Auntie drew it super pretty!"
"Alright, let's take a look."
I walked over and checked the picture right away.
"Oh!"
"It's drawn weally good!"
Nod.
It really was well done. It captured that classic caricature vibe without feeling too forced.
'Is it because she's in the comics department?'
It had that lively feel of a character straight out of a webtoon or comic.
No wonder Daeun loved it at first sight.
"You drew it so beautifully."
"The model was great, so it came out easy."
She's good at business.
I chuckled at that and said to Daeun,
"Daeun, should we hang this on the wall at home later?"
"Yeah!"
"Of course. Let's put it somewhere nice and visible. Sound good?"
"Yeah! Su...per..."
She answered brightly at first, then suddenly looked downcast.
Her mood swung so fast that I blinked in surprise, and she said in a slightly deflated voice,
"But Mommy too."
"Yeah, Mommy."
"Yeah, it's a family picture. Daeun wants Mommy in it too."
That was a tricky situation.
Asking her to draw Mom out of the blue.
I totally got where Daeun was coming from, but it wasn't easy to just request that from a student artist.
Drawing without a live model isn't simple.
"Would you like me to draw your wife too?"
"Yes?"
She must not know Hyorin passed away, saying it so casually.
I smiled and shook my head.
"No, that's okay."
"Why? Is she not here? Do you have a photo or something?"
"A photo?"
"Yeah, if you show me a picture, I can add her to the drawing."
"That works?"
Even with a photo, adding her imaginatively without a model isn't easy.
But the student artist spoke confidently.
Nod.
"Yes. Tell me any pose you want, and I'll make it as close as possible to what you like."
She said it so assuredly. It didn't seem impossible.
"Uh, then... could you put her with Daeun in the middle...?"
"Hmm, no complicated poses, so that's totally doable. Since it's three people, I'll give you a special discount—20,000 won total, including your wife."
Normally 10,000 per person, but the discount made it 20,000 for three.
It felt like too little compared to her skill and effort. I was grateful.
"Just bring the photo and come back."
"Not waiting around?"
"Yeah, you're not heading straight home anyway. And you're going to the kids' zone, right?"
"Oh, right."
She grinned.
"Perfect then. Go enjoy yourselves, and swing by before you head home to pick it up."
It wasn't a tiny caricature. Pretty big canvas, awkward to carry around.
"If you're offering, we're thankful."
"No, seeing you two so close makes me happy too."
"Yeah."
"Honestly, seeing a dad and daughter this tight sometimes makes me jealous. I never had that."
She gave a wry smile as she said it.
I smiled softly and replied,
"You can still make it good now."
"Hmm, I want to, but it's too late."
"Why?"
Her next words left me speechless.
"She passed away three years ago."
Seeing her faint smile, it hit me.
Why she wanted to draw with Daeun.
'These moments become memories for Daeun too.'
She probably wanted to create fun memories with her dad for Daeun.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up..."
"No."
I smiled warmly at her.
"Thanks to you, I made great memories for Daeun. Please take good care of the drawing, artist."
At my words, the student artist rolled up her sleeves and replied energetically.
"Yes, leave it to me!"
After finishing the caricature, we left the comics department booth and headed along the main road to the main building.
The kids' zone was mainly for children, so they prioritized safety by choosing the underground auditorium in the main building.
Click.
"Daddy, here!"
"Yeah, it's underground. Oh, here it is."
I arrived at the main building and went down the stairs to the basement with Daeun.
At the entrance to the underground auditorium stood a huge plaque with the department name.
Giggle!
Children's laughter echoed from beyond the large auditorium doors.
Quite a few kids must already be playing—heat from the fun was palpable even outside.
"Daeun too!"
Caught up in the vibe, Daeun stomped her feet, eager to go in.
Then a student with an Early Childhood Education name tag approached us.
"Are you from the affiliated kindergarten?"
She must've mistaken us because of Daeun's age.
"No, we came for the festival with my daughter, heard about the kids' zone, and stopped by. Can I go in with her?"
"Nah, of course you can."
She explained in detail.
"Any kid can come here. There's an entry fee, but it's not bad. Adults free, kids 10,000 won for two hours."
Typical school festival pricing—not too pricey.
"And if parents want, you can leave your kids with us."
"Yes? You can drop them off?"
"Yeah, our department students look after them directly, so feel free to leave and go."
Kids play at the zone, adults get free time.
"Mommy! Jiyu wanna do that!"
"Yeah, then Jiyu can play here with friends."
"Yeah! Jiyu play with fwiends!"
Even as we talked, moms were taking kids inside.
Hearing that mother-daughter chat, Daeun tugged my hand.
"Daddy, go!"
"Yeah."
"Daeun go alone too!"
"Alone?"
Maybe from what that other kid said.
Daeun said resolutely again.
"Yeah! Daeun play with fwiends."
Having Daddy doesn't mean she can't play with friends, but Daeun seemed to think otherwise.
Well, if she wants to go alone, fine.
'Will she be okay?'
Still worrying was inevitable. After past incidents.
But I couldn't worry forever.
"You can play by yourself okay?"
"Yeah! Daeun do good!"
The guiding student sensed my concern and reassured me.
"Our students stick close, so no big worries. If she cries or anything, we'll call. Go enjoy."
"Then..."
With Daeun and the student saying that, I couldn't refuse.
"Have fun then, and if you miss Daddy, tell Auntie, okay?"
"Yeah! Daddy!"
"Shall we go in with Auntie?"
"Yes!"
With that, Daeun grabbed the student's hand and scampered inside.
Suddenly alone unexpectedly.
'Hmm, should I call Changsik?'
Staring blankly at where Daeun vanished holding the auntie's hand, I pulled out my phone.
Right then.
Bzzzt.
Perfect timing—a call came in.
Hey, Jungeun. You here?
It was Jungeun calling.
Zap.
With a cold expression and icy stare fixed on me, I slurped my iced Americano and said,
"Hey, isn't your face too frosty just 'cause Daeun's not here?"
"You know why I came, right?"
Jungeun had that look ever since learning Daeun went into the kids' zone alone.
"So go check the playground now."
"She's a big girl who wanted to go alone, so as her uncle, listen to her."
Hah, unbelievable.
I gave Jungeun a look of disbelief and took another sip when.
Rustle.
Changsik, looking worn out, plopped down next to us.
"Whew, you're early."
"Yeah, you made it."
Jungeun gave a casual wave, but Changsik ignored him and asked me,
"But wasn't Daeun coming with you today?"
"Oh, she went to the main building. Early Childhood Ed's running a kids' zone there. She went in alone."
"Oh yeah, I vaguely heard about it at the festival preview. She's there."
"You knew?"
"Of course. Professors from other departments recommended it too."
Professors from other departments recommending...
"Parents love a safe spot to leave kids at school. Professors are parents too."
It made sense, but kinda bittersweet.
Then Jungeun beside us said worriedly,
"But Daeun's okay, right? Not getting bullied or anything?"
"Worrying about everything. Whose daughter is she? She's fine."
With that, Changsik looked at me.
"Right?"
Nod.
"Daeun's playing great. She's smart and lovable."
Honestly, I wasn't worried about accidents.
But one thing bugged me.
'Is she making friends okay?'
That's why she pushed so hard for the playground.
I wondered if she was befriending kids when.
Rustle!
Jungeun shot up.
"Nope, can't do it."
"What?"
"Gonna sneak a peek at Daeun."
He nudged my arm.
"Admit it, you're worried too. About if she's okay."
Curiosity more than worry, but.
"You really going?"
At Changsik's question, I hesitated.
'Should I?'
Not distrust, just curious how she's doing.
Quick peek seemed fine.
"Sneak over and check?"
Jungeun grinned wide, grabbed Changsik's and my arms.
"Decided? Let's go."
Changsik didn't love Jungeun's pushiness.
But eventually, we all headed to the main building to see how Daeun was.
We arrived at the underground auditorium.
And there...
"Hmm..."
"Uh..."
The unbelievable scene shocked us.
"Th-that's Daeun, right?"