Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Onui Restaurant Opening! (2)
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Mid-April, when the spring warmth was in full bloom.
The shop's interior work was finally wrapping up.
Once we hung the sign, Yoon-seul's and my business would be complete.
I walked along Seongbuk Stream with my little sister. On the uphill path to the shop, there was a walking trail, and I ended up strolling along it, entranced.
A male student jogging with earphones plugged in.
An Auntie walking her dog.
An old man sitting on a bench by the stream, quietly reading his newspaper.
Normally, Yoon-seul would have tilted her head curiously at people like that.
But today, her interest was drawn elsewhere.
Butterflies flitting between the grass blades along Seongbuk Stream.
She was captivated by the fluttering of their wings.
"Oppa, butterfly!"
"Yeah, butterflies, huh?"
"The wings are white."
"Right, the wings are white. That's called a white silk moth."
"White silk moth?"
It was pretty specialized knowledge, but I'd just gotten lucky remembering it.
Not having higher education didn't make me totally ignorant. I'd occasionally borrow interesting books from Uncle Kang's used bookstore and read them.
Dictionaries to novels.
Not a uniform selection, but it stocked my brain with broad, shallow knowledge.
"Oppa, but I have a question."
"What are you curious about?"
"Why is butterfly called butterfly?"
"Why is it called a butterfly?"
Was my sister subtly nudging me to play philosopher?
Probably not.
"Why'd that pop into your head all of a sudden?"
"Because kitty is also called butterfly."
"Huh? Now that you mention it, yeah."
Butterfly is called butterfly.
Cats are called butterflies too.
The latter's a word elders mostly use.
Our Grandma called cats butterflies sometimes, I think.
"Want to think about it together, Oppa?"
"Um, I dunno."
I had no idea either.
Yoon-seul pursed her lips and sank into deep thought. I scooped her up, sat her on the bench, and plopped down next to her.
No point standing blankly in the path, blocking passersby.
- Out with your little sister?
It was then.
The grandfather who'd been quietly reading his newspaper next to us spoke up.
"Ah! Yeah, that's right. Just taking a walk."
- You two get along so well. Nice to see.
"Oppa and I get along great."
Yoon-seul piped up.
- Mind if this old man chimes in on your sibling talk?
"Ah... Sure, what's up?"
- Nothing much, but before I retired, I researched Korean a bit. So I know some about the etymology of 'butterfly.'
"Ah, you caught our chat just now. We're grateful.
My sister's curious, so tell us what you know!"
"Tell us!"
- Heh heh, thanks for indulging an old timer. Simply put, in old Korean, quick critters were called 'nap.'
"'Nap'?"
- Yep, that's the root. They flutter fast, right? Butterflies. Cats dart quick too. 'Nab-i' from 'nap-i,' pronunciation shifted to 'nabi.'
"Ahh, kinda get it."
Intuitive, yet scholarly—fitting a researcher.
But Yoon-seul just tilted her head more, looking lost.
Seeing that, the grandfather cracked a wry smile.
- Oh dear, maybe I overdid it. Head hurt more now?
"No, we're thankful already! Honestly, might be too tough for my sister to grasp though..."
- Haha, yeah. Bit advanced for her age. You two live nearby?
"Not too far, but not right next door."
- Hmm? Then you came here just to walk?
"Actually, we're opening a restaurant up that way soon."
- Oh, restaurant? Prime spot by Seongbuk Stream. Subtle foot traffic, great vibe.
"Right? Love the location."
I glanced down at Yoon-seul next to me—she'd switched from butterflies to numbers.
Counting solo: "Twenty-one... twenty-two..."
Lately, she'd fold her fingers one by one, then brag to me her high count.
Last time, something over three hundred—I forget exactly.
Must've looked cute as hell to the grandfather; he watched with a fond smile.
- Sister coming to the restaurant too?
"Yeah, probably. She's scared of kindergarten, so she'll stick with me at the shop for now."
- Some backstory there, huh. Anyway, restaurant with a cutie like that? Gotta visit. Name?
"Onui Restaurant."
- Hahaha! Adorable name, spot on. I'll swing by for a meal. Cool?
"Welcome anytime!"
We chatted more with the grandfather before heading off. Felt like my sister netted us a future customer. Lucky break.
His praise for the name pumped me up too. Not like I earned it—I had zero naming flair.
All Yoon-seul.
Few days back, she woke from a nap nightmare and straight-up asked the restaurant name.
'Haven't decided, been stressing, little miss.'
She pouted and suggested:
'Onui Restaurant...'
Thought, what's with the kid suggesting names?
But mulling it, not bad at all.
Yoon-seul and me together at the shop—it nailed our vibe!
One snag though...
Those 'Onui' creeps who messaged about her from Dongdaemun nagged at me.
Still, no way she knew them and pitched it on purpose.
'Got the idea from an old fairy tale?'
'Um... maybe.'
Not thrilled face, but only classic with 'onui' was Sun and Moon Siblings. Not a word she tossed around lately.
Took her idea, ran it by Hyo-yeon Hyungnim and Uncle Kang—both thumbs up.
'Warm, nice feel. Fancy names scare folks off. Cute, perfect.'
'You two at the shop? Matches great, smart pick.
Song Joo-hyun Restaurant was solid too...'
Hyo-yeon Hyungnim's vet take, Uncle Kang's.
Hyungnim hit business-savvy notes.
Uncle Kang clung to his [Song Joo-hyun Restaurant].
Drop it already.
Anyway, Yoon-seul locked the name. Total lucky charm.
Without her, I'd be agonizing solo still.
So ordering the Onui Restaurant sign? Gave her all the chocolate she wanted.
She lit up then, sure she'd nailed it. Probably feared I'd hate it.
One hang-up though.
Phone rang right after ordering [Onui Restaurant].
Déjà vu city.
Uncanny timing.
Knew who—spot on.
[Great naming sense! You like us deep down, right? - Onui]
Those Onui guys.
What a joke.
Didn't name it for them, so why the 'we're buddies' crap.
Don't peg 'em as evil, but shady as hell.
Probably gifted Yoon-seul her weird powers.
Boosted my cooking too, nine outta ten.
"Not bad stuff... but fishy, yet sorta fine."
Gonna watch Onui messages close for now.
Strolling Seongbuk Stream, our shop appeared.
Sign up already—game on for real.
"Onui Restaurant..."
"Yoon-seul and Oppa together, so Onui Restaurant."
"Yeah! Oppa and me."
Yoon-seul spelled out her pick clearly. Kept the sign simple—not flashy, white base, compact for years of use.
Shop's modest: four tables.
Tight space, so grand sign? Pointless.
- Oh, young boss here's here.
"Thanks for the hard work!"
Pulled canned coffees from my pocket, handed to the sign crew.
- Whoa, no need! We'll savor 'em.
"Yeah, small thing—grab one each on break. You handled our interiors and more.
Canned joe's all I got."
- This is plenty. Paid gig, but tons of owners skip it. Young boss here's a gem! Boom times ahead.
"Hope you're right."
Swapping good vibes with the crew? Felt lighter.
Human bonds over sub-5k canned joe. Wild.
Bzzz-!
Phone buzzed.
Figured Hyo-yeon Hyungnim—nah, Onui.
[Onui: Business fighting! We're watching!]
"You my pals now or what."
Yoon-seul hopped up, peeked my screen, scowled hard.
Baby tiger growl.
"Grrr... Onui...!"
Huh? Why's Yoon-seul so pissed at 'Onui'?
Didn't clock it much then.