Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Jeju's Most Expensive Hotel
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The accommodation was, naturally, decided to be the most expensive hotel on Jeju Island. This was probably set in stone from the moment I mentioned traveling with the director.
And so, we piled into Painter Oh's van and made our way into the hotel.
"Daddy! Look at this, Daeun!"
"Yeah, hold on—just let me grab my carry-on too."
After unloading Daeun's luggage from the car, I grabbed my own carry-on and headed into the hotel lobby.
Director Go, who had checked in ahead of time, handed me a keycard.
"It shouldn't be too cramped. But if it feels tight, just say the word. I'll upgrade you to a bigger room."
"No, this is plenty."
"You haven't even seen it yet."
I could tell without looking.
"Well, Director, your idea of 'cramped' is a far cry from mine. This should be more than comfortable."
At that, the director frowned like she couldn't quite grasp it, but she didn't press the issue.
"Alright then, Daeun, shall we head up to our room?"
"Yeah!"
With that, I took the key from the director and waited for the elevator with Daeun.
Then, from the side...
"I'll come too!"
Erina came dashing over and joined us in waiting for the elevator.
"I peeked, and it looks like we're on the same floor."
"Oh, really?"
"Probably the director arranged it on purpose."
It made sense—keeping the group on the same floor would be convenient.
"Right next door, even. Nice."
"Totally. What do you think, Daeun? Fun?"
At Erina's question, Daeun beamed and shot her hand up high.
"Yeah! Daeun loves it!"
Ding! Whirr...
We rode up to our rooms, laughing all the way...
Clunk!
But just as the doors were closing, Painter Oh suddenly appeared, forcing them open again.
"Huh? Something wrong?"
I barely had time to register Painter Oh's sudden intrusion.
"L-Let's go together."
She hopped in out of nowhere.
"Aren't you going up with the director?"
It was odd—no luggage, just herself. I remembered their bags being pretty hefty since it was a rare trip.
'No way the director's carrying everything herself...'
No, that seemed too much, even for her. Right then...
"I have something to ask."
"Something to ask? What is it?"
"W-Well, um..."
Painter Oh's voice trembled faintly as she asked,
"Are you planning to take Daeun fishing?"
Ah... So that's why she threw herself into the elevator so desperately.
Pfft...
She must have overheard me telling the director I wanted to let Daeun try fishing.
Of course—going fishing with Suryeon had been her lifelong dream.
Surprised by the question, the two of them fired back.
"Fishing? Do you fish, Painter Oh?"
"Daddy, Daeun knows fishing! It's catching fishies, right?"
I chuckled at Daeun's question.
"Yeah, that's right. Catching fish is called fishing. Painter Oh loves it so much, I was thinking of asking if she'd teach you."
Daeun's eyes sparkled at that.
"Daeun wants to try too!"
"R-Really?"
She seemed thrilled. Restless to get started, she fidgeted at the thought.
"I-I mean, if Daeun wants to, of course we can. Boat fishing's too risky and tiring for now. Oh, but one-pitch with some help..."
"Hey, what's that?"
Painter Oh looked overjoyed, ready to launch into a full explanation of fishing for Daeun.
But...
Ding!
The elevator arrived, cutting her off.
"Whoops, got a little too excited there."
At least she knew it.
"Let's unpack first, then meet in the lobby on the first floor. It's lunchtime anyway—how about we grab something nearby and chat more about fishing? Sound good?"
Erina chimed in from the side.
"I looked up a few spots when I heard we were coming here. Tons of amazing restaurants nearby. If it's okay..."
"Let's go with whatever Erina picks."
Her decisiveness was refreshing.
"I picked places with kid-friendly menus, but does Daeun have any foods she can't eat?"
Well, she didn't hate outright, but there were a few she wasn't crazy about.
Daeun seemed fine, though.
"Daeun likes everything!"
"Perfect. Hurry up and unpack, then... head down to the first floor. You too, Daeun—got it?"
Painter Oh was practically itching to dive into fishing talk, and Daeun couldn't hide her grin.
'People really do turn childlike when it comes to what they love.'
"See you soon."
With that, Painter Oh hopped back into the elevator and headed down to the first floor.
"Shall we unpack quick and head down too?"
To accommodate Painter Oh's eagerness, we hurried a bit.
Daeun let out a cheer at the sight of the food laid out before us.
"Wow! Daddy, what's this? It looks super yummy!"
"This is abalone porridge."
"Abalone porridge?"
"Yeah, it's made from abalone—like a shellfish. Super tasty. Give it a try, Daeun."
"Yeah! Daeun wants to!"
Daeun grabbed a kid's spoon and fork in both hands, then glanced across the table at the director and Painter Oh.
Catching her gaze, the director picked up her own spoon.
"Let's eat."
Everyone laughed and replied,
"Enjoy the meal."
"Enjoy... the meal."
Everyone except one—Jungeun Park.
"Hey, what's your deal?"
Swish.
At my question, Jungeun shot me a deeply hurt look.
"If you really don't know why, maybe your personality's the weird one."
"What're you talking about?"
"Dude, you're the worst. Just 30 minutes! Wait 30 more, and I'd have been there! How could you ditch me?"
Come on, you'd think I'd abandoned him for real.
"You're not a kid— you could've come on your own."
"No, I picked a hotel nearby on purpose to stick together! That's too much!"
Fair point, but the rule was to go with the majority.
Waiting at the airport for a late Jungeun would've been exhausting.
Especially with a celebrity who everyone in the country knows right there.
"Dude, that's selfish. Look at Erina here. Should a mega-famous singer wait at the airport for one journalist?"
"Ah! No, I mean..."
Erina flushed a bit at my words, but the director stepped in.
"Let it go. He's trash journalism anyway."
Swish.
"No one's called him trash journalism here."
"Oh, my bad."
They made an unlikely pair, but...
'It's... kinda fun.'
The director and Jungeun's banter was top-notch.
"Jeez, heartless bunch. I even used vacation days to hang with Daeun..."
Grumble grumble.
Only one person could shut down Jungeun's muttering.
"Uncle! Daeun's gonna eat! Quiet!"
"Got it."
He clamped his mouth shut without a second's hesitation.
As expected, only Daeun could tame him.
Of course, everyone knew his antics livened up the mood—no need to say it.
"Alright, enjoy the meal!"
And so the meal began.
Slurp!
Daeun scooped up some abalone porridge, blew on it, and took a bite. Her eyes went wide as she turned to me.
"Daddy! This is super yummy!"
Luckily, it suited her taste.
Gulp!
Daeun devoured her porridge in a flash, and everyone else polished theirs off quickly.
Slurp!
'Whoa, this is seriously good.'
Most internet-famous spots didn't live up to the hype—just okay, like exaggerated ads.
But this place? A whole new world of flavor.
Especially the fresh abalone—its burst of taste in your mouth was beyond words.
The director must've felt it too, praising Erina as she ate.
"Finding places this good is rare. Impressive."
"Oh, haha. Thanks."
"Mind scouting restaurants for today and tomorrow too? You've got skills."
Searching was a skill these days—a top one.
Erina grinned at the director's request.
"No worries. That's my specialty."
Somehow, I trusted her completely.
Now I was already excited for dinner.
Then...
"Um."
Amid the laughter, one person sat quietly eating: Painter Oh.
"So, where to after lunch?"
She was squirming to talk fishing.
Barely tasting her food, half-standing like she couldn't sit still.
'She turns into a kid at times like this.'
I smiled at her question.
"Any simple way for Daeun to try fishing?"
"Fishing experience?"
"Yeah, boats or big-rod deep-sea stuff is too much for her right now. And anything too long might bore her."
"Hmm, in that case..."
Painter Oh pondered briefly, then perked up.
"Ah! How about this—since the ocean's right nearby, rent a small rod and drop a line?"
"A small rod?"
"Yeah, I saw a few tackle shops on the way. Buy or rent one there. It's close by, and we're not after big game."
Nod.
She'd nailed the perfect beginner experience, launching into details.
"Won't take more than an hour round-trip for a quick catch-and-go. If she loves it, we can try one-pitch later."
Whether one-pitch or basic, the point was Daeun's first fishing.
And it mattered to Painter Oh too—not just me.
Fishing with Suryeon was her dream, after all.
Though Daeun couldn't be Suryeon, she wanted that feeling—the parent's heart.
Probably wanted to give Daeun what she couldn't give her own daughter.
Just then, Painter Oh asked Daeun, who was scraping her bowl like she meant to wear a hole in it.
"Daeun."
"Yeah?"
"Anything specific you wanna catch?"
"Fishies."
"Yeah, there are."
"Yay! Awesome!"
She had something in mind?
'No way—octopus or something?'
Right then, Daeun's words turned the restaurant into a sea of laughter.
"Daeun wants to catch a shaaaark! A super duuuuper big shark!"