Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Little Sister Rolls In (4)
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"Don’t wanna..."
"Hm..?"
"Kin... der... gar... ten... don’t wanna."
"Oh."
Yoon-seul’s gaze drops downward as her lips pout out. She’s rolling her eyes around like she really doesn’t want to let the words out.
I knew it instinctively.
Something must have happened at kindergarten.
She probably did go, at least.
I couldn’t imagine Grandmother keeping her cooped up at home all day.
Not when her health wasn’t great.
Still, something had gone down at kindergarten. And I had a rough idea of what it might be.
"Hey, Yoon-seul, wanna check that out over there for a sec?"
"Huh?"
I pointed to the escalator heading up to the upper floor of the big mart.
"Wanna guess what’s up there?"
"Hmm? No idea."
"Cars are up there. Let’s grab what we need to eat first, then go check ’em out together?"
"Whoa! Cars!!"
Yoon-seul’s eyes start sparkling right away.
Truth be told, I’d kinda picked up on it since yesterday, but Yoon-seul might just be a car nut like me.
Last night before we ate ramen, she’d been glancing around the room, and her eyes had locked onto one spot like glue.
It was the model sports car I had up on the shelf.
Her round eyes had stared at the figurine like it was a long-lost lover or something.
Blood will out—she loves cars, just like me.
"You know your stuff, huh, Yoon-seul? I love cars too. Let’s get the essentials first, then head up and have some fun looking around?"
"Yeah!!"
Our little sis flashes a big grin like her sulkiness was never there.
Kids are so much easier to handle when they keep it simple like this. Their bodies and hearts are too fragile for complicated feelings.
When I’d asked what she wanted to eat after mentioning cars, she’d said anything was fine.
When I’d asked what she needed, she’d said she was good.
Her heart was already up on the third-floor toy section, so I decided to just grab the stuff we’d noticed we needed yesterday first.
"We can always come back later if something else comes up."
When we got to the toy section, Yoon-seul blew right past the doll aisle and the magical girl merch, making a beeline for the model cars.
Talk about set in her ways.
There were more boys than girls around that area, but Yoon-seul didn’t care one bit.
I liked seeing her dive into what she loved without a glance at anyone else.
To be honest, I had a bit of a selfish motive too, so I secretly browsed while pretending to keep her entertained. My little secret.
- Mom, I want that dump truck. It’s so cool.
- Didn’t I just buy you one..?
- That was a forklift.
- Ugh, one’s enough already. What are you, starting a construction business? You’re collecting work vehicles by type now.
This time, a conversation between a mom and kid drifted over from the opposite aisle.
Normally, I wouldn’t have paid it any mind.
But for some reason, with Yoon-seul here, I found myself listening in.
I looked down at Yoon-seul.
She was gazing at the toy cars displayed in their clear boxes, eyes shining, lost in thought.
Then came a totally unexpected remark.
She tugged at my pant leg.
"Oppa, let’s go now."
"Huh? Done looking already?"
"Yeah."
"Really..?"
But her face showed a creeping regret. She was forcing the corners of her mouth up.
Her eyes kept drifting to the floor.
Like she was turning away from those toy cars.
I’d noticed it since yesterday—Yoon-seul had this tendency to act way too mature for her age.
What could have pushed her to hold back so hard at her age? Tough to say right now.
But we were family now, and seeing my little sis trying so hard to endure like that made my chest ache.
I pulled out my smartphone from my pocket and opened the banking app.
[Song Joo-hyun’s Current Balance]
[42,378,815 KRW]
'It’s money I barely spent anything on besides food for seven years to save up. But surely I can spare enough for one toy.'
Money isn’t earned to make more money.
It’s earned to buy happiness.
That’s what Grandmother always told me, and I agree 100%.
Don’t blow it frivolously, but it’s fine to spend it on things with value.
If Yoon-seul lights up over a toy, I bet I’ll be happy too.
"Little sis, come here for a sec?"
"Why..?"
I took her tiny hand and headed toward the sports car toy she’d been eyeing the most.
Then I boldly tossed it into the basket—whoosh!
A bit aggressive there.
"Huh..?"
"I told you earlier. I love cars too. We can play with it together, right?"
"But it’s expensive. We shouldn’t..."
"Yeah? Well, today’s our first time meeting up and coming to the mart together.
So it’s fine. You gotta treat yourself to one on a day like this."
"Yay..? Really okay?"
"Of course! Oppa doesn’t lie. But if I buy it for you, you gotta play nice with me, okay? Think you can do that?"
"Yeah!! Super nice!"
Yoon-seul starts bouncing around excitedly. She’s cute enough to be a kid model.
Finally acting her age—such a relief, and a good thing. Getting to know these sides of her bit by bit is what family’s all about.
I couldn’t help but smile warmly. I really thought coming shopping with her today was the right call.
**
"Uncle, I’m here."
"Oh, what’s this? Song Joo-hyun’s here."
"Little sis, come say hi?"
The scent of old paper brushes my nose. Different from a big bookstore.
Bookshelves line the walls, neatly arranged by height.
Old Man Kang from the used bookstore is a pro at this kind of organization.
"Who’s that kid? Your daughter?"
"I literally just said ‘little sis.’"
"Did I?"
"Yoon-seul, you gotta say hi, right? You’re good at it."
Unlike last night with me, she’s glued to my leg, not letting go.
Like she’d seen something scary.
Not hard to understand.
Old Man Kang looks like a bandit from the 17th century, visuals-wise.
Faded tied-back hair, bushy beard, and ropy muscles everywhere.
He’s even wearing some surplus army jacket, so no wonder a kid would be scared.
But Yoon-seul doesn’t know.
That I learned how to handle kids from him.
He doesn’t match the look at all, but he really loves children. And as a regular, I know he’s trustworthy.
"Your little sis’s name is Yoon-seul?"
"Yeah, Jang Yoon-seul."
"Hmm, Yoon-seul, huh."
The uncle rummages under the counter where he was sitting, grabs something in both hands, and slowly walks over.
A appetizing milk chocolate, with that rich brown sheen!
"Oh man, Uncle’s got chocolate right now. Too bad it’s just me—looks like we’d have to split it two ways?"
"Yeah. Wow! Chocolate looks yummy."
Finally biting, Jang Yoon-seul-ssi.
She’s hooked proper.
Her hand’s still stuck to my leg, but she leans over, peeking her head out.
Still finds Uncle Kang strange and scary, I guess.
"Gimme... please."
"Oho?! There’s a super-duper pretty little miss here. What’s your name?"
"Jang Yoon-seul."
"Ahh, Yoon-seul~ Mind if I share a bit? It’s edible, y’know?"
"Thank you..."
Ask if she wants some, and she says thanks.
Like, does she even need to answer?
She bows from the belly when she’s grateful, too.
Before I knew it, she’d let go of my leg, stepped forward, and bowed deeply to the uncle.
Now her little hands are full of mini chocolates.
She looks up at me all earnest, like asking if it’s okay to eat.
"Want me to unwrap it?"
"Yoon-seul can do it."
"Then Yoon-seul can unwrap and eat it herself~."
The crinkling of the wrapper tenses up the quiet used bookstore. Peel off the clear packaging, and the chocolate scent wafts gently.
Milk chocolate, so it’s extra mellow.
No burden at all for a kid to chew.
Pop—nom!
Munch munch~
I can already imagine the taste. That sweet melt wrapping the tongue. The milky richness filling the mouth.
Soon the sweet aroma seeps into your nostrils, so even breathing makes the chocolate linger faintly.
Kid or adult, chocolate’s a guilt-free snack. Truly blessed sweetness.
Watching Yoon-seul eat makes me wanna have some too.
There’s some magic to her, my little sis.
She whets the appetite?
How’s she making that chocolate look so delicious?
Before long, Old Man Kang pulls out a stuffed animal from under the counter to draw Yoon-seul’s attention.
He loves kids so much he stocks the place with ’em and plays with little customers forever.
His way of building regulars.
"Uncle, I’m gonna step out front and make a quick call."
"Sure~"
I glance down at Yoon-seul—she’s already lost in the cute puppy plushie.
Plan’s working.
She’ll be fine here with him for the rest of the day.
I pull out my smartphone and dial.
[Loving Grandma]
Riiing—riiing—
The classic ringback barely goes twice before Grandmother picks up.
Her voice sounds spry. Background’s a bit noisy, so probably at a friend’s place.
[Hey, yeah, Joo-hyun?]
"Yeah, Grandmother. You got home okay last night?"
[Nighttime, of course I did. Bus didn’t get stuck, went smooth.]
"Good to hear. Hey, Grandmother, I’m calling to ask about something with Yoon-seul."
[What? Something happen already?]
"No, nothing major. Just wondering if anything bad happened at her kindergarten."
[Oh dear, you brought up kindergarten with her?]
"Yeah, I realized too late. Her face fell bad."
[Tsk tsk, no. My fault. Should’ve explained it all calmly.]
"No, don’t say that."
Like Grandmother would know everything that could happen.
And last night, she’d told me pretty much everything to watch out for with the kid. Nothing to blame her for.
[The kids were bullying her when she went to kindergarten here.]
"Oh, bully... ing?"
My throat tightened. Just like that.
Felt like it was happening to me.
[I only found out ’cause the kindergarten teacher told me when I went to pick her up. The kids kept asking where her mom and dad went.]
I couldn’t string words together for a moment.
Didn’t feel like someone else’s business.
Felt like mine.