Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: It Tasted Pink! (2)
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Yoon-seul toddles right over to me without hesitation and confidently flashes a V-sign with her fingers.
I stay crouched in front of the sink, pull her onto my lap, and snap a selfie.
Click—
"...Ah!"
"Figured it out now, huh? Jang Yoon-seul-ssi."
I zoom in on the selfie and show her the photo of her mouth.
In the enlarged image, her lips are unmistakably smeared with thick chocolate.
Just like a thief caught red-handed, she starts glancing at me nervously.
She’s pieced it together.
"I didn’t think of that..."
Of course you didn’t.
"So, what should our Yoon-seul do if she ate chocolate?"
"Brush my teeth..."
"Did you brush after eating this last night?"
"No..."
"Then what do we do now?"
"I gotta brush!"
"That’s right. Next time you eat chocolate, you brush right away, okay?"
"Yeah!"
Yoon-seul answers boldly and scurries off to the bathroom, pitter-patter-pitter-patter. It’s not a huge deal, so letting her brush her own teeth should suffice.
"Alright, time to pack the lunch."
I open the rice cooker and check the rice.
It’s got just the right amount of stickiness—not too glutinous, nicely chewy. Perfect for kimbap.
"If it’s too sticky, the kimbap won’t taste good when you roll it."
I scoop an appropriate amount into a bowl and season it with sesame seeds and salt. A spoonful of sesame oil brings out a nutty aroma that wafts gently.
While letting it cool a bit, I heat up a pan and pour in the eggs.
I’ve adjusted the egg mixture with a bit of mirin and water, plus a touch of sugar.
"You’ve gotta season the rice and eggs too, so it’s not bland."
Kimbap gets its flavor from how all the ingredients harmonize, but to achieve that, each one needs a little seasoning on its own.
I lay seaweed on the bamboo mat and spread the rice evenly over it, pressing down gently.
On top of that, I layer stir-fried fish cake and fluffy rolled omelet.
"Gotta add some carrot too."
Yoon-seul isn’t picky, so it should be fine. Carrots add nice color, plus dietary fiber for better digestion.
I skip the ham and pickled radish meant for kimbap—they just take up fridge space if I’m not making a ton.
Even with just this, it’ll be plenty delicious.
Press firmly and roll it up!
"Kimbap!"
Yoon-seul peeks over from behind, craning her neck to identify today’s picnic lunch.
She comes into the kitchen, rubbing her face vigorously with a towel. Looks like she washed up while brushing her teeth. Probably to wipe off the chocolate around her mouth.
But...
"Yoon-seul, come here to Oppa."
"Yeah."
Pitter-patter-pitter—
As expected, she didn’t wash thoroughly. She got the foam off okay, but there’s toothpaste residue around her mouth.
I gently wipe it away with the towel.
Once it’s all clean, she grins ear to ear.
"What’s got you smiling like that?"
"Oppa wiped it for me."
Guess little things make her happy.
"Doesn’t Yoon-seul wanna help?"
"The kimbap’s already rolled, so how about you taste-test it? See if it’s flavorful enough."
"Everything Oppa makes is yummy."
"Then since you said it so nicely, I’ll give our Yoon-seul the best part. The end bits."
I slice off both ends of the rolled kimbap. The ingredients poke out unevenly like cordyceps, but
despite the ugly looks, they’re the most flavorful.
Especially the one bursting with egg—it’ll have the fluffiest texture.
"Ahh—"
Slide.
I feed the kimbap end to Yoon-seul, who’s opened her mouth wide.
Munch munch.
But her expression is ambiguous?
Her eyebrows wiggle up and down, then her brow furrows.
Her lips pout out.
"Not yummy."
"Huh? Why doesn’t it taste good?"
Shock.
Not yummy?
No way.
I was cooking fine just yesterday.
Customers all said it was delicious.
Kimbap’s easy to make tasty, even if it’s hard to make pretty.
Too salty?
No, the seasoning balance was perfect. I could tell without overthinking.
...
I think I know why.
Such a simple reason.
"Toothpaste flavor?"
"Yeah..."
"You just brushed, so mixing it with kimbap made it taste like that, right?"
"Ugh... A little later, it’ll be better."
"There’s one lucky thing for Yoon-seul, though."
"What?"
"There are two ends, so once the toothpaste taste is gone, we’ll try the other one."
"What about Oppa?"
"Oppa doesn’t like the ends much, so I’d love if Yoon-seul ate them for me."
"Then I guess I have no choice! Can’t leave food behind."
She says it’s unavoidable, but her face looks oddly excited. She wanted it but was gonna let me have it.
Grown-ups have the ultimate concession skill: "I don’t really like it." So you can’t concede to me, Jang Yoon-seul. Eat up obediently.
I kinda get how that mom felt who claimed she hated jjajangmyeon.
I neatly pack the kimbap into the lunchbox and finish getting ready to head out. My mindset’s much lighter than on workdays.
It’s a day off to play, after all.
"Going out with Oppa after so long."
"Haven’t played much lately, huh? Sorry."
"It’s fine. Playing at the shop’s fun anyway."
"You’ll have way more fun seeing the cherry blossoms."
"Yeah!"
I take Yoon-seul’s hand and board the subway. First time bringing her today, and I learned something surprising.
I asked a station attendant.
"Yoon-seul-ah, you’re free!"
"Yoon-seul isn’t free."
"No, not that—you ride the subway for free."
Under six years old, she doesn’t even qualify for the kids’ fare. Thinking about it, my little sister really is still so young.
Yet she communicates surprisingly well for her age—that’s the fun part.
"Subway expensive?"
"Not really, but it feels good to save, y’know?"
"Hm?"
Yoon-seul might not get it, but these little expenses bug me subtly.
What can I say.
I don’t mind splurging nearly 100,000 won on a jacket for her, but subway fare around 1,000 won? I wanna save it.
Selective cheapskate mentality?
I lead Yoon-seul toward the subway platform.
At first, she’s disinterested, staring at the ground.
But then—
*The train is now arriving. Please maintain a safe distance from the platform edge for your safety.*
With the announcement and the rushing train, her eyes lock on.
"Whoa! So fast!"
"Faster than a car, right?"
"Yeah, super fast. When Yoon-seul grows up, I’ll buy you one!"
"Thanks."
Best to play along here—why burst her bubble? Even if you become the country’s leader, you won’t buy me one.
We board the subway.
It’s near noon on a Monday, so the car isn’t too crowded. Leaving a bit earlier would’ve meant rush hour chaos.
There’s only one seat in this car, but at least there’s a spot.
"Yoon-seul-ah, there’s a seat over there—go sit."
"Okay, but what about Oppa? No seat next to it."
"Oppa’s fine standing. Just hold the kimbap for me while you sit?"
"Hm... Okay!"
Yoon-seul snatches the kimbap from my hand and dashes du-du-du to the seat, plopping down.
Thankfully, she’s small, so no bother to other passengers.
But the suit-wearing ajusshi next to her keeps glancing at us alternately.
Did we make too much noise?
As I approach Yoon-seul, he suddenly speaks up.
Hm? His face looks kinda familiar.
*Just pick her up and sit like usual—why stand on ceremony?*
"...Pardon?"
"Whoa! It’s the cane ajusshi."
*Oh my~ Yoon-seul remembers me? Thanks.*
Ah, right.
I remember now.
He’s a customer from opening day.
One of the guys who came after eating twigim somewhere.
He was in hiking gear then, but today he’s sharply dressed in a suit.
The cane must be his trekking pole.
"Oh, hello. On business?"
*Yep, heading to a client meeting. Boss off today?*
"Yeah, it’s my day off—taking sis to see the flowers. Cherry blossoms drop if you dawdle."
*True that... Take her somewhere nice. Where to?*
"Seokchon Lake in Jamsil."
*Nice~ Great spot, crowds aside.*
"I kinda like weaving through the crowds to sightsee."
Yoon-seul, with the lunchbox on her lap, goes wide-eyed.
"Lake...?"
Bad memories with lakes?
She doesn’t seem thrilled.
*Yoon-seul-ah, lucky you—got an Oppa who takes you fun places.*
"Oppa makes yummy food too."
*Heh? What a great brother. Right?*
"Yeah, ajusshi come to the shop again. Oppa’ll cook for you."
*Will do. Your Oppa makes killer food. I skip bad spots, but Onui Restaurant? I’m back—for you and to try the pork stir-fry.*
"Good idea."
[O-nui Tycoon!]
[Random customer praises the restaurant.]
[Hiking Maniac: Satisfaction +10%!]
[Total Satisfaction: 15%]
Whoa, Yoon-seul chatting boosted satisfaction? Didn’t expect that.
Gained from my sister.
At the transfer station, the mid-40s man labeled ‘Hiking Maniac’ waves warmly and exits.
He scrambles to answer his phone right after—peak salaryman.
Follow exit 2 from Jamsil Station straight down to Seokchon Lake. The capitalistic buildings upfront—a department store and amusement park—catch Yoon-seul’s curiosity.
A short walk along them reveals a massive lake rare for Seoul.
Cherry blossoms bloom prettily along the path, and being Monday morning, it’s less crowded than weekends.
A few suit guys—office workers with packed lunches, probably—and plenty of young folks, likely college students.
"Not too many people—perfect for sightseeing. Shall we go see the flowers, Yoon-seul?"
I ask, but unusually, no reply.
Looking down at my sister, her face is priceless.
Nostrils flaring, shoulders twitching.
"W-What’s wrong with you?"
"Oppa, here."
"Hm?"
"Smells like dog poop?"
...?
"Maybe you’re confusing it with that thing from the Han River?"