Chapter 63
Chapter 63
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Manly Brother (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
- Shhh.
Mi-jeong Sam made a sharp hissing sound with her mouth to stop us. She pressed her index finger to her lips, blocking our path with her other hand.
Until Su-young-i and the sunglasses guy were out of sight.
"Huh? Shiii—?"
- Shiii—
Yoon-seul and Yu-min-i found the sound fascinating and tried mimicking it with their mouths wide open, but it honestly just came out as "shee."
"Who's that guy?"
- It's a secret.
I figured the teacher had stopped us because of that man. A grown man around my age, wearing sunglasses.
Normally, she would've shouted at the top of her lungs, making the alley echo—"Hey! Kwon Su-young, where are you going!"—but not this time.
She was keeping quiet, almost like she was hiding our presence from Su-young-i, and not letting us get any closer.
"If it's a secret, I guess there's nothing we can do."
Still, I didn't feel like pressing her.
Mi-jeong Teacher was currently Su-young-i's homeroom teacher. She seemed to know a bit about Su-young-i's situation. That guy from earlier was probably tied to her personal life somehow.
Family, maybe.
Or a boyfriend.
Even if we'd gotten close lately, it wasn't right to dig too deep until she told us herself.
That had to be why Mi-jeong Sam kept us from rUnnieng into those two.
"It's a secwet, so we can't do anything about it. But Yunseul-i wants to know."
- Huh? Is Yoon-seul curious?
- Mommy, I'm curious too.
The two little ones were drawn to the word "secret" and tugged relentlessly at the teacher's tracksuit.
She bent down, grabbing one with each arm, and whispered. I could faintly hear it.
- You two could've gotten eaten...! Didn't you see that dog just now?! It's huge!
"Eek!"
Yoon-seul shuddered in surprise.
There had been one big dog with those two. It was getting dark, so I wasn't sure, but it looked like a Golden Retriever.
Twice the size of Yoon-seul and Yu-min-i.
- So Mommy protected us?
- Of course. Doesn't Mommy rock?
- Yeah!!
Yu-min-i clung to his mom's neck like a monkey. Seeing that, Yoon-seul thought hard for a moment before coming over to me.
"Oppa, Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"How much bigger does Yunseul-i have to get to beat a dog thiiis big?"
"Good question. Once you're as big as Oppa, you could win."
"Gasp...!"
Disappointed, Yoon-seul muttered softly.
"Yunseul-i's still a baby... No way she could win..."
She was so cute that I hooked the shopping bag over my forearm and scooped her up into a hug.
"Instead of trying to beat the dog, Yoon-seul, you could just use a different method."
"Huh? Like what?"
"If you make friends with the dog, you won't have to fight—you'll be on the same team."
"Oh...!"
Yoon-seul's eyes sparkled as she nodded vigorously several times.
"That's right! I'll make the dog my minion too! Oppa is the smartest!"
It wasn't quite what I'd intended, but Yoon-seul perked right up.
Seeing how quickly I'd soothed my little sister, Mi-jeong Sam gave a silent clap from the side.
Felt like I'd earned some parenting cred.
- Not bad, huh?
**
The customers loved Yoon-seul's outfit.
Especially the regulars.
- Did her big bro buy her that? It suits her perfectly!
- It looks like a restaurant uniform—makes her even cuter.
Some went full fangirl.
But Yoon-seul didn't seem to want that kind of reaction.
"This isn't... cute, it's cool..."
The five-year-old quietly protested to the heart-eyed customers.
Lunch service was over, and it was break time.
We decided to take Boong-boong No.3 out to Seongbuk Stream for the first time in a while.
Lately, with the heat, I hadn't felt like going out much. But Yoon-seul put on short sleeves and declared, "Now Yunseul-i can beat the sun!"
This five-year-old was plotting to conquer the solar system someday.
On our way out after prepping for dinner service.
A crowd had gathered by the roadside, catching my brother and sister's eyes.
"Huh? What's that?"
"Someone get hurt?"
Four or five people circled something, the vibe chaotic and excited.
Getting closer, I saw.
- What's its name?
- This one's super chill! I'm scared of big dogs usually.
- It won't bite, right? Can I pet it?
They were surrounding a guy with a big dog. He didn't seem to be with the rest of them.
Most looked like middle or high schoolers. Obviously young.
"Oppa. That dog."
"Yeah, it is."
It was that guy from before—and the retriever.
Sunglasses on, walking next to Su-young-i.
Still wearing them today.
And the retriever was in a yellow vest.
"It's a guide dog."
It'd been too dark that night to tell, but now it was clear. That retriever was a guide dog. Only they wore those polyester yellow vests.
I'd thought it odd for him to wear sunglasses at night, but now it made sense.
I hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then decided to help.
The guy with the guide dog looked flustered, face stiff. He clearly hadn't okayed all the petting.
"Excuse me. He's with us—mind if we get through?"
I pushed through the crowd.
The kids glanced at me.
- You busy?
They just wanted more puppy time. Innocent enough.
Still, I had to shut it down firmly.
"We're meeting up to go somewhere right now. Didn't know you were here. Let's hurry."
- Oh, got it.
The sunglasses guy startled at first but quickly caught on that I was helping and stayed calm.
He was nearby anyway, so I brought him straight to our shop.
Yoon-seul stuck close to my leg, keeping distance from the "doggo"—still a bit scared and unfamiliar.
- Thank you for the help.
"No problem. Hope I didn't overstep."
- You saved me. I was in a bind.
He bowed politely right toward where I stood.
Maybe his hearing or other senses were sharp, or his sight wasn't completely gone.
"Were you heading somewhere?"
- Just walking. Rui wanted to go out.
He looked toward the dog as he spoke.
That must be the retriever's name.
"Rui...?"
Yoon-seul tried the name out.
- This a restaurant?
"Yeah, we serve food."
Asking how he knew would've been rude.
I'd heard blind people develop other senses more.
Hearing, smell, touch.
They use those to identify things and places.
To live.
To survive.
- You open now?
"Yeah, wanna order?"
- What's good?
"Got some super fresh veggies today. If you like spicy, how about bibim guksu?"
- Sounds great. One bibim guksu, please.
It was break time, but if he wanted to order, I was happy to serve. A hungry guy like him wouldn't find it easy to get into other places.
Hygiene and vibe issues with dogs, especially big ones.
Our place welcomed guide dogs.
"Doggo..."
- Name's Rui.
"Rui..."
She watched from afar.
The big dog panting with tongue out looked harmless, but maybe not through Yoon-seul's eyes.
After staring at Rui for a while, she approached the sunglasses guy.
"Um... Can Yunseul-i play with Rui too?"
- Yeah, Rui loves neck pets.
If he wasn't heading out, it should be fine to pet the guide dog while sitting in the shop.
Tip-toe.
Tip-toe—
She crept up way more carefully than usual.
Then Rui let out a big yawn.
Its dopey face hid massive fangs—intimidating.
Yoon-seul froze, gulping hard.
But Boss Yoon wasn't one to quit over that.
Finally, she placed her hand on Rui's scruff and stroked gently.
Rui panted, tail wagging wildly.
That tail even smacked Yoon-seul's ponytail a couple times.
"Rui-ya."
Pant pant—
"You're super cool-lookin'."
Pant pant—
Wag wag—
Rui seemed to get the compliment—its tail swept a bigger arc.
"Wanna be Yunseul-i's minion?"
Woof!
A quiet bark, mouth closed.
No clue if yes or no.
"O! Thanks, Rui!"
Yoon-seul took it as a yes.
Voluntary or not, Rui had joined Yoon-seul's crew as member number three.
The sunglasses customer chuckled softly at their exchange.
"Our little sis is only five. She's got her own world."
- Ah, not your daughter—little sister, huh. My little sis was the same at that age. I get it. And... she's adorable.
My little sis.
Hearing that made me guess his tie to Kwon Su-young. Way calmer and more composed than her for blood family.
He must be hungry, so time to whip up that bibim guksu fast. Rui was entertaining Yoon-seul anyway—I'd totally forgotten about our walk with Boong-boong No.3.
Well-cooked somyeon noodles with sauce poured over—90% done. Few dishes come out faster if prepped right.
Sauce had plum syrup and vinegar for balanced sour and sweet.
Topped with veggies.
Baby lettuce, cucumber, young radish kimchi, and paper-thin apple slices. Fresh from the market today.
"Final touch to make it perfect."
Lime zest.
That's the kick.
Bibim guksu bases on sour and sweet—add fresh citrus aroma, and it pops.
Serving it up, his face lit up dramatically.
- Bibim guksu with such a great scent?
"Secret ingredient. Veggies are fresh—mix well."
Slurp—
Slurp—
Neat and polite eating.
Looked my age but carried himself like an adult.
Watching him eat, I noticed faint scarring on his eyelids inside the sunglasses.
Surgery scar, probably. That's why the shades.
As he ate, Rui perked its ears and licked its nose repeatedly. No demands, but holding back hunger.
"Oppa, Rui?"
"Rui's hungry too?"
"Uh... Gotta take care of minions, right?"
"Oh yeah?"
I rummaged in the kitchen for something suitable.
Spotted leftover sliced apple.
"Sir, mind if Rui has a bit of apple?"
- As long as not too much, Rui loves it.
With permission, I took the sliced apple over.
Handed a few pieces to Yoon-seul.
"For Yunseul-i?"
"Yeah, you feed Rui. You're friends now, right?"
"Uh... Got it!"
She took the plastic container from me, tense-faced.
Picked up a slice and held it gently to Rui's nose.
Sniff sniff—
Sniff...
Rui sniffed.
Lick.