Chapter 54
Chapter 54
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: 5-year-old, Shooting Romance (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Ohhh...!"
The fact that Yoon-seul let out that exclamation meant it was undoubtedly a major accomplishment for Yeon-woo-ssi.
Hye-won-ssi had challenged it yesterday but failed.
What Yeon-woo-ssi held in his hand piqued not only Yoon-seul's interest but mine as well.
A glossy wooden surface, beautifully finished.
The wood formed the shape of a gun, just like a plastic model kit.
The trigger was reproduced so realistically that it almost seemed like it could fire for real.
"What's with the wooden gun?"
- Isn't it, pretty?
"No! It's not pretty!"
- Oh...
Yoon-seul boldly denied it, then toddled back over to him with a do-do-do.
"Give it here!!!"
Her eyes sparkled brightly as she reacted enthusiastically to the wooden pistol.
Hearing that, Yeon-woo-ssi seemed relieved, stroking his chest with a small gesture.
- Yoon-seul. W-want to hold it once?
"You gonna let me?!!"
- Yeah...
He handed the wooden pistol to Yoon-seul, his cheeks drooping loosely.
She took it and mimicked the gunslingers from that hit movie recently, *Desperado of the Wilderness*.
Lately, more customers had been playing finger guns, going bang-bang, so it seemed kids were getting more interested in guns.
Seeing a little one who only came up to my waist happily aiming the toy gun here and there with such innocence made her even cuter.
"Shall I start on the donburi first?"
With the awkward vibe between Yoon-seul and Yeon-woo-ssi easing up, I could finally focus on cooking.
I took out the pork shoulder with slits cut at regular intervals and seared it in the pan first. Since it had less fat than pork belly, I added a bit of oil to the pan.
Once I confirmed the meat was cooking, I stir-fried shallots next to it.
The sauce and meat searing were done separately.
"Got to draw out the maximum sweetness from the ingredients."
I stir-fried the shallots in oil, then poured in a sauce mixed with soy sauce, oyster sauce, and brown sugar, letting it infuse the flavors.
Once the pork shoulder was done, I coated it with the thick sauce.
The sauce seeped into the slits.
I drizzled mirin on top and wok-tossed it.
As the loosened meat gained tension and the alcohol evaporated.
"Done."
I placed it straight onto a mound of rice and served it.
A simple recipe, but one where the ingredients' flavors really shone.
"Here's your donburi."
- Oh, thanks. I'll dig in.
He bowed reflexively.
Yoon-seul had taken the wooden gun over to Boong-boong No.3 and was practicing shooting from atop the electric bike.
Her small voice carried over.
Bang—
Bang—
No actual bullets came out, of course.
"What's with the gun?"
- Ah... Actually, we make those.
"You make stuff like that, Yeon-woo-ssi? Yourself?"
- Yeah, myself. Does it look okay?
"It's super cool and nice. I think it's got more soul than those plastic replicas of real guns."
- Thank you.
He bowed his head once more.
I'd always been curious about the times Shin Hye-won and Yeon-woo-ssi came to our restaurant.
Their visits were a bit irregular for office workers, mostly around lunchtime.
And the couple came together almost every day.
Judging by their late twenties age, it wasn't common. They had to make a living, but they didn't seem like they had regular jobs.
Today was the first I learned that making wooden crafts like that was their job.
"Here, take it back. Yoon-seul can't just play with it alone. It's not Yoon-seul's. It's yours, Uncle."
Yoon-seul thought for a moment by Boong-boong No.3, then came back to Yeon-woo-ssi.
She handed the wooden gun back.
- Already? Wasn't it fun...?
"Yeah, it was fun. But Yoon-seul can't just take it and play. It's not Yoon-seul's. It's the uncle's."
- Ah, uncle...
Hye-won-ssi called him "older sister," but Yoon-seul calling him "uncle" seemed to bother him.
But he quickly gave up.
Yeon-woo-ssi hadn't shaved, so a bit of stubble shadowed his face. Not enough basis to protest he wasn't an uncle looks-wise.
- It is mine, but. I've got tons at home, so Yoon-seul can have it.
"Really?! You're giving it to Yoon-seul?!"
- Yeah, I brought it to give to Yoon-seul.
Yeon-woo-ssi handed it back to her.
She clutched it to her chest like it was something precious, pondered a bit, then set it down on the floor.
And then
Squeeze—
- Huh...
Just like last time, Yoon-seul hugged Yeon-woo-ssi's leg while he sat.
Last time it was an accident, but this time it was intentional, as a thank you.
Followed by one word.
"Thanks..."
She scooped up the wooden gun from the floor and ran back to Boong-boong.
Do-do-do—
With a joyful expression, she spread her wings of imagination again for shooting practice.
Bang— Bang—
I peeked at Yeon-woo-ssi’s face.
He was in a daze.
"Come back to earth. You're too young to check out just yet."
- Ah, ah... Yeah. Nearly lost it there for a sec.
Looked like he actually had.
"Want to eat first? Have it before it gets cold."
- Right. Gotta eat. Calm down a bit.
He took a deep breath.
Hoo—
Hoo...
He settled down and ate quietly.
Since he was the shy type, I stepped away so he wouldn't choke with me there.
Pretending to organize the fridge inventory, I overheard him mumbling to himself.
- Should I say let's have a girl first... to Hye-won.
Looked like the couple had some intimate talk planned for tonight.
I'd pretend I didn't hear that.
- Here, all done.
While I was playing dumb, Yeon-woo-ssi pushed the bowl back into the kitchen.
Some customers just leave the dishes, but others neatly stack the bowl, utensils, water glass, and napkins.
For someone working solo, the latter are definitely favorites.
"Enjoyed it?"
- Yeah, Hye-won said it was super tasty. Good thing you had donburi today. Gotta tell her I enjoyed it when I get home.
Being newlyweds, the couple seemed to share what they ate and how good it was.
They got along great.
"Just here for lunch today?"
- Pardon?
"Didn't seem like it. Were you actually here to give that to Yoon-seul?"
- Ah.
A short sigh.
Looked like I nailed it.
Right from the start, instead of ordering, he'd focused on Yoon-seul, which wasn't like the usual Yeon-woo-ssi.
With an awkward face, he pondered briefly before spilling the beans.
- Wanted to cheer Hye-won up.
"Hye-won-ssi?"
- Yeah, not something she asked for. Just... I kinda upset her a bit yesterday. Wanted to make it up to her.
"By giving that to Yoon-seul, Hye-won-ssi's mood improves?"
True, Hye-won-ssi was one of the customers who really liked Yoon-seul, but the connection felt a bit off.
- Ah, I explained it wrong. Not that.
Just two hours ago.
Yeon-woo-ssi carefully recounted this morning's events.
**
The moment he tried to enter the house.
Cheon Yeon-woo tensed up.
So he pressed the door lock buttons gently.
To slip in quietly.
Ding!
Ding!
"Eek! Why so loud?"
Thinking about it, pressing gently wouldn't make the sound quieter anyway.
Entering the house, he saw his wife eating alone in the living room, silently.
Shin Hye-won eating just barley rice with yeolmu kimchi sent from her parents' home—it was heartbreaking.
"Hye-won~ I'm home..."
"Yeah."
Short reply.
Cheon Yeon-woo had known it would be like this.
Yesterday, he stayed over at his hometown friend's, drove back together at dawn, and got home in the morning.
He'd only had one beer in the evening, no buzz, so it was doable.
"Why just that? Want me to make something else?"
"No."
Shin Hye-won was properly pissed.
No helping it.
Cheon Yeon-woo was in the wrong.
He hadn't planned to stay out, and when he left home yesterday, he'd definitely said he'd be back at night.
So, he'd broken a promise.
Still, the reason he'd gone to his hometown yesterday was because his friend had finally landed a job after so long.
The mood was high; couldn't not drink.
To stay sober and drive back at dawn, he matched the vibe with just one beer.
And now he'd returned in the morning.
Anyway, Cheon Yeon-woo had broken his promise.
Shin Hye-won hated lies, and Cheon Yeon-woo knew that.
If he'd just said upfront he'd stay over, this wouldn't have happened.
"Sorry."
So he decided to apologize sincerely.
But.
"You really sorry?"
Her tone suddenly brightened like a lie, as she leaned toward Cheon Yeon-woo.
A playful smile tugged at her lips.
And she really asked if he was sorry.
Just like the usual Shin Hye-won.
No, even brighter and more innocent.
"Yeah, sorry. A promise is a promise, and I broke it."
"Then you'll grant me one wish?"
Grant me one wish?
No, grant me one wish.
It wasn't a question.
Practically a command.
"Name it."
He couldn't refuse.
For their harmonious marriage and peaceful home.
"Then I want to see you missing me."
"A movie? Want tickets?"
"No."
"Art? Some exhibition on?"
"No, listen."
"Yeah."
"I want to see Yoon-seul doing something she likes."
"Yoon-seul...?"
The kid from Onui Restaurant they frequented lately.
The restaurant owner's little sister, and Cheon Yeon-woo knew his wife adored her.
"You want to see her liking something?"
"Yeah!"
A tough request.
At least for Cheon Yeon-woo.
He had no idea what that kid liked.
Plus, he had a personality that didn't gel well with kids.
But.
"Got it."
"Huh?"
"So, take a photo of Yoon-seul liking something and show you?"
"Huh...? Uh, yeah, that'd work, but. Can you?"
"If I can't, make it happen. You want to see it."
Shin Hye-won was shocked.
It had just been a joke.
She wanted to tease Cheon Yeon-woo.
She'd been a bit down from failing to catch Yoon-seul's interest yesterday, but he didn't have to go that far.
She couldn't imagine the introverted Cheon Yeon-woo going to the restaurant alone and pulling off something Yoon-seul would like.
"Hey! Yeon-woo, you're really going?"
"Yeah, wait for me."
And so, shortly after getting home, Cheon Yeon-woo headed out again, stopping by their nearby workshop.
He grabbed a completed wooden toy pistol they sold as merchandise and put it in his bag.
Nothing else came to mind.
He had zero clue what a five-year-old girl would like.
Even as he packed the wooden gun,
'Yoon-seul's a girl; wonder if she'll like this. Guys buy them more usually...'
He'd thought.
But the effect was tremendous!
The five-year-old resident of Onui Restaurant had values a bit different from your average five-year-old.
**
"So, according to that, you need to take a photo of Yoon-seul and show it to Hye-won-ssi?"
- Yeah. Sorry. Made the call on my own.
Wasn't a bad story.
As long as it wasn't like Dal-nim uploading to NerTube without asking.
"But the key is Yoon-seul's say, not mine. If she doesn't want her picture taken, no go."
- Ah, yeah! Of course. I'll ask her myself...
He said he'd ask her himself, but he looked tense.
At least Yoon-seul clearly liked the wooden toy gun. That was obvious.
- Yoon-seul.
He stood before Yoon-seul, who sat on Boong-boong with a face frozen like thin ice.
"Hm?"
Yoon-seul's face wore a question mark.