Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The Village Mural Job
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After returning from the gallery, Daeun spent the entire evening painting, driven by her single-minded desire to hold an exhibition.
The next day arrived.
I had to answer a call from Jungeun first thing in the morning.
"Hey, how'd it go yesterday?"
"Oh, it went well."
"What do you mean 'well'? Did you sell one of the paintings you had out on loan?"
Given our history, it was a perfectly reasonable guess.
"No, I couldn't sell the painting. You saw it yourself."
"Then what went well?"
I chuckled at his question.
"I got sponsorship from the director."
……What? Sponsorship?
For reference, Jungeun had been my friend since high school and knew me inside and out.
He even knew how much I despised accepting sponsorship.
"Sponsorship."
Jungeun stammered, clearly shocked.
"Y-you really accepted sponsorship?"
"Why can't I? Is there a law against it?"
"No, you always said you'd die before taking sponsorship. So, is it... okay?"
"That was in the past."
…….
Jungeun fell silent, at a loss for words.
The director had said the same thing, but apparently, my past self had been a bit... no, pretty stubborn.
"You seem a little different now."
"Yeah, the director said that too."
"So, how much sponsorship? Someone like her probably offered around 5 million, loan fees included."
"Oh! Close, but no cigar."
"What? How can it be accurate but wrong?"
"She started with that amount, but then I realized I'd need to save up for Daeun's art academy fees—and even study abroad if necessary."
……You asked for more?
"Yeah, I did. But it's not like I'll keep taking sponsorship forever. Once I have my solo exhibition and start earning, I'll raise Daeun on my own money. This is just a temporary loan."
Jungeun asked again at that.
"So, how much did you get?"
"Ten million won."
"Wh-what? Ten million?!"
"I was thinking seven, but she gave a bit more. Came with some conditions, though."
"Conditions?"
His voice turned deadly serious at the word.
But I just laughed it off.
"No need to worry. I just have to do whatever she asks once every two weeks. Probably her getting petty because I asked for more."
"W-well, if that's all, then it's a relief."
"You don't trust the director?"
"No way. If it's anyone else, maybe, but Director Go? I trust her."
"Then we're good."
As I kept laughing, Jungeun's tone softened a bit as he asked,
"Still, ten million is a lot. Not that raising a kid doesn't eat up money."
"It'll be just right for living with Daeun."
"Ju-just right with ten million? How much do you think living expenses are?"
"Not just living—I'm paying off debts too. Feels weird using sponsorship for that."
"Debts? What debts? You take out loans without telling me?"
I had a massive debt.
And Jungeun knew about it better than anyone.
"Someone covered extra hospital bills for me. Thanks to that, I'm alive."
"Hey, that—!"
A couple days ago, after our call, I'd phoned the hospital to check my bills.
Even excluding Hyorin's life insurance, they'd racked up over 60 million won extra.
And the one who'd paid it? Jungeun.
"I'll pay it back in installments."
I told you, forget about it.
"No, now that I know, I can't. I'll pay it back. No money now, so installments, but once the exhibition money comes in, I'll pay it all at once."
Jungeun sighed deeply.
"I was trying to pretend the hospital bill never happened."
"I'm grateful and sorry. Let this one slide."
"Hoo, what am I gonna do with you?"
I smirked at his attitude and continued.
"Anyway, that's it. Hanging up."
"You just say your piece and bail?"
"We've talked plenty, haven't we?"
Mr. Big Shot.
"Now you know I'm awesome?"
Jeez.
Smacking his lips, he shifted to a worried tone.
"I don't know what the director will have you do, but your body's not back to normal yet. Say no if it's too much."
"She knows all about it. She wouldn't ask for anything strenuous."
"True, she's the one who values your health more than anyone. Handle it well. Talk later."
"Yeah, I'll call."
Click.
After hanging up with Jungeun, I fiddled with my darkened phone and grinned.
'Thanks, man.'
Thanks to him, I'd survived.
Without Jungeun, I might not even be here now.
Probably.
Bzzz.
Then the dark screen lit up with a name.
[Director Go Yunmi]
Just one day after agreeing on the sponsorship, she called.
'Hope she's not backing out.'
Swipe.
I answered quickly, a hint of worry in my voice.
"......Yes, Director? What brings you to call so early......?"
No take-backs on the sponsorship, so relax.
Wow. How'd she read my mind...
Like she was psychic.
"So, is it about the conditions?"
"Yeah, an acquaintance needs someone, so I want you to handle it."
"What's the job?"
Her explanation made my eyes widen.
"What? You want me to paint a mural?"
By the time all the calls ended, it was past 10 a.m.
Click.
Right on cue, Daeun woke up, rubbing her eyes as she shuffled into the living room.
"Ah! Daeun...... Ah."
I thought she'd fully woken, but I was wrong.
Still drowsy, she dragged a chair to the desk, plopped down in front of her painting, and...
I was stunned.
'What the...'
Honestly, I couldn't help but be shocked.
'That's totally me.'
Blood's thicker than water, huh?
It was the exact routine I'd followed during my intense solo exhibition prep, always sleep-deprived.
Like a ritual to banish the deep abyss of sleep demons every day.
"Uh......"
Even the weird noises she made, and finally...
Slap.
She smacked both cheeks with her hands.
'For real......'
No teaching needed—she did it identically. Seemingly trivial, but as her dad, it hit me hard.
Watching her like this...
'Is this what happiness feels like?'
It made me happy without trying.
Then, somewhat awake, Daeun whipped around to me.
"Daddy, Daeun draw picture."
"Picture?"
"Exhibition...... gotta do."
She'd painted till bedtime last night, and now first thing...
My daughter, but damn, impressive.
Then a thought struck.
'Wait, how did Hyorin work while living with Daeun?'
It hit me amid thoughts of the director's task.
I'd been glued to Daeun for two straight days.
Not bad, but for work, you need some alone time.
'Oh, right—kids go to daycare or something.'
I asked her on a whim.
"But Daeun."
"Yeah?"
"Daddy's curious about something. Can I ask?"
"Daddy curious? Yeah! Ask away."
I smiled and asked.
"Did you go to daycare or kindergarten with Mommy?"
"Uh."
"Yeah."
For a split second, I saw her panic.
Even her pupils......
'What? Why's she so flustered?'
Before I could dwell on her odd reaction...
Scrape.
She bolted up, avoiding my eyes.
"Daeun gotta do this. Didn't finish yesterday."
She grabbed her sketchbook from last night and started painting.
'Huh? Suddenly painting?'
The fluster was surprising, but heading straight to the desk was weird too.
'Maybe bad memories from daycare or kindergarten.'
Hard to pry without making it worse.
Unlike other kids, Daeun remembers everything perfectly.
In the end, I'd have to ask Grandma.
She'd been watching Daeun lately, so she might know. I called her right away......
"Yes."
And heard something unexpected.
'Hmm......'
After hearing Grandma out, I fell into deep thought.
'Daycare or kindergarten must be scary for Daeun.'
She'd first gone at age two, Grandma said.
They'd planned later, but my sudden decline forced Hyorin to send her.
On that first drop-off day, trouble brewed.
'Had to separate from Mommy.'
For little Daeun, always attached to her mom, it must've been terrifying.
The director insisted on forcing separation, so Daeun was pried away.
"Hmm."
If Hyorin had known about Daeun's perfect memory gift, she never would've.
Scribble scribble.
That bad memory was likely etched deep in Daeun's mind.
'And it carried over to kindergarten.'
Grandma said she'd never gone without crying once. It stabbed my heart.
Hyorin must've realized her mistake too late, with no way to fix it.
She couldn't just keep her home forever either.
'Kindergarten can wait.'
Stability was key for Daeun now.
Tough, but I didn't want to retraumatize her.
Luckily, the director's task could be done with Daeun watching.
Swipe, scribble!
I called to Daeun, hard at work.
"Daeun."
Flinch!
Still shaken from earlier, she whipped around, trembling.
"Y-yeah? Why?"
Shoulders hunched, I smiled gently.
"Hey, Daeun. Wanna go somewhere with Daddy if you're okay with it?"
"Wh-where?"
Does she think kindergarten?
Her pretty eyes already quivered.
Before old memories resurfaced, I hurried to clarify.
"Can Daeun help Daddy a bit?"
"Daeun...... help Daddy?"
"Yeah, I'd love your help. So......"
The director's job was perfect for Daeun too.
For the next week with her, it was......
"Ever drawn on a wall, Daeun?"
A city-run village mural project.
Never guessed the director would assign this, but Daeun's reaction changed my mind.
"Ah!"
Her face brightened bit by bit, making me smile.
Worried about kindergarten? Relieved it wasn't, she beamed cutely and shouted.
"Daeun wanna do it! Daeun draw on wall!"
A week later, I'd have to tell her about kindergarten, which worried me a bit.
'Nah, if this moment's happy, that's enough.'
For her happiness, I'd table worries and make the most of now.
Wide grin!
"Alright, let's go paint that wall together."
And so, Daeun and I took on a short-term village mural painting gig.