Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: My Daughter is a Genius Painter 077
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Filming resumed.
The sky painting that Daeun had drawn was hung on the most visible wall in her studio.
So she could chat with the clouds floating in the sky anytime, anywhere.
Ding-dong!
"Wow! Something yummy must've arrived!"
At Erina's shout, Daeun jumped up from her spot and said,
"Daeunnie hungwy!"
"You must be super hungry."
"Yeah! But Daeunnie can hold it in!"
"No way. If you're hungry, you gotta say so. Let's eat quick."
Daeun had every reason to be starving.
It was an early-morning shoot, and with her sudden TV appearance, they'd skipped lunch after a super simple breakfast.
Hearing Daeun's words, Erina hurried up with the delivery bags and unpacked the food on the big central table.
"Whoa! So much food!"
"Didn't know what Daeun likes, so I got a bit of everything."
The delivery spread Erina had ordered for Daeun came in three varieties.
Chicken, pizza, and jjajangmyeon.
"See anything you like, Daeun?"
Daeun's eyes sparkled as she glanced back and forth at the three options.
"Daeunnie wikes evewything here!"
"For real?"
"Yeah! Daeunnie wuvs it all!"
Then she sneaked a peek at Erina before reaching for the chicken.
Her determination to dig in the second she got the okay was crystal clear.
Shake shake.
"Nope."
Erina shook her head with a mischievous grin.
"If you're gonna eat, wash your hands first, right?"
Daeun clapped her hands like she'd just heard the wisdom of a kindergarten teacher.
"Oh yeah! Totawwy forgot."
Off she scurried to the bathroom...
Huff huff.
She sounded like she was giving it her all, but the noises from behind the door screamed for backup.
Erina called toward the inside.
"Daeun, want Auntie to help a bit?"
"Daeunnie do it awone!"
Splash!
The water roared out. Had the pressure always been that intense?
Erina cocked her head, about to ask again.
Splash splash.
"Yup, Daeunnie washed good!"
"Yeah! Daeunnie did it all by hersel!"
Something was off. Handwashing should've been over in seconds, but Daeun showed no sign of emerging.
After a moment's thought, Erina's eyes went wide as she called in.
"Ah, Daeun! Auntie needs to wash up too—wanna do it together?"
Not help—just together—and Daeun's reply was totally different this time.
"Auntie wash too? Come on! Then doing with Daeunnie be gweat!"
Erina eased the door open.
"Coming in, then."
Click.
And there she was.
"Wah! D-Daeun!"
Daeun's sleeves were utterly soaked.
Adult sink was too high up, no step stool—that explained it.
"Oh man, totally drenched."
Squeezing the wet sleeves sent water gushing out.
Scurry!
Arms aside, the setup naturally lifted her elbows, soaking the inner cuffs and even her upper body.
No way she'd stay like that—might catch a cold. Erina had no choice but to improvise.
"Daeun, let's change and eat."
"Cwothes?"
"Yeah, good thing Auntie bought some spares just in case..."
Clothes, she said.
But her expression was... peculiar. A faint smile, unmistakable.
Like she was thrilled this had happened.
"Daeun can wear those."
Daeun blinked.
"Gonna be huge on Daeunnie!"
Adult sizes—even on a skinny kid, no contest.
But Erina sounded dead certain.
"It's fine. Not that kind of clothes."
Not that kind? Daeun was hooked.
"Daeunnie wear Auntie's cwothes!"
"Right, so wash up quick while it's wet and let's change."
"Yeah!"
Erina swiftly washed up with her, then headed to the little back room.
The one spot without cameras—total blackout.
About ten minutes ticked by.
"Kyaaaaah!"
A scream burst from the room, laced with pure glee.
"You're sooooo cuuuute! Best ever!"
All eyes locked on the door.
At Erina's shriek, the PD stared at his monitor with a grave look.
"Edit point here. Split into two parts—cut and push to next week."
I blinked repeatedly, thinking,
Devil...? No matter how I sliced it, dragging it to next week was straight-up demonic editing. At least tease the payoff. Hell, a few more seconds was torture—next week? Click.
"Oh, here she comes."
Manager Park Ki-cheol glued his eager eyes to the monitor. Moments later, Daeun emerged—and he could only laugh in defeat.
"Haha... no fair. This is just... too much."
The PD watching the same feed let out a triumphant whoop.
"Kuh! Insane! Yeah, next week's gotta start with this. Locked in."
Everyone overreacting? Seemed excessive. Gulp. Should... I get her one? Even my heart clenched at Daeun's fresh look. Animal pajamas, the kind Erina bought for bedtime. Cat-themed. And Daeun was rocking those cat PJs. A tad oversized, but the zipper kept it secure. The real killer? The cat-face hood.
"Auntie! This supew cute!"
Daeun—you saying that makes you the cutest. Cat-pajamaed Daeun fawning over her cat hood.
"Absolute gold."
Manager Park couldn't peel his eyes away. Then Erina onscreen chimed in.
"Wow, way too adorable! Daeun, Auntie’s becoming your number-one fan."
"Fan? What's that?"
"Hmm... someone who loves you tons."
"Then people who wike Daeunnie! Daeunnie the staw!"
Erina nodded at "star," and Daeun hopped in excitement— Thonk! —tripped flat.
"Ah, oopsie."
Trip, not oops—but who cared? Every move was pure cuteness overload. Had to soak it all in. This moment hit me with gratitude. Glad we did the shoot. Her adorableness preserved forever. Rewatch anytime—that reassurance was a brand-new feeling. Swipe. Seeing her beaming onscreen sparked a thought. Does Daeun feel this too? Relief, maybe? Like how I could pull up her image anytime, did her memory give her that same comfort—vividly summoning anyone she missed? If so, one less worry about her. Swipe. Manager Park Ki-cheol leaned in.
"Uh, not sure if you caught it earlier, but my contact offer? Dead serious."
"Yes?"
"Not saying pick us. Post-broadcast, expect a flood of calls. Ah... no, guaranteed."
"Calls... what kind?"
He shot me a look.
"Debut offers, duh. Child acting, whatever."
"D-Debut?"
"Dunno how it'll land, but folks say I’ve got a killer eye for talent. And Daeun? Prime material. TV gold."
Talent. Sweet of him to hype her up, but broadcast "talent"? Not art. Couldn't fully buy it.
"Thanks, but..."
"Like I said—no pressure to join us. Just offering backup."
"Yes."
He flashed a grin.
"Love calls incoming from everywhere. If you're tempted, hit me up for advice anytime."
Tempted. Had me rethinking that fresh emotion. Not right now, anyway. His angle was clear: Prime contact if debut happens. I smiled back.
"If it comes to that, I'll reach out."
"Appreciate it."
As the surprise debut chat wrapped, onscreen cutie-Daeun finally dug in.
"Waaah! This so yummmmy!"
"Wow! Knew it was good, but this good?!"
Blissful grin plastered on. Her joy? Daeun, happy's all that matters. Complicated thoughts? Melted like snow.
A few days later, late evening.
Post-dinner wind-down led us to the TV.
First time chilling with Daeun in front of the screen? Memory said yes. Always dragging her everywhere—no downtime, plus those hospital days... Wasted time haunted me. Maximized every awake second with her. Cue tons of quality time, TV obsolete. Swipe. Daeun piped up.
"Daddy, Daeunnie weally on TV?"
"Why wouldn't you be?"
"No! Supew amazing!"
Her face on the tube? Mind-blowing for sure. Screen shifted—and her episode kicked off.
"Whoa! It's starting!"
Panels intro'd, bantered. Erina guest-starred, dished recent gossip. Long yak session later...
"Oh! Here we go!"
Daeun hit the airwaves. Doorbell debut, chocolate milk bliss, mutual portraits. Scenes rolled; Erina and panels bantered, loving it. Finale? [No! N-No way it ends here!] [Impossible!] PD's cliffhanger nailed—cut right before her outfit switch. Total devil. Then— ...! Zero warning. End credits faded; not even five minutes later, my silent phone... Bzzz bzzz! Exploded with texts and calls. Utter madness.