Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: How to Become a Villain (5)
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I served the food and explained the situation.
I wanted to create a new signature move for Yoon-seul.
But there was one condition.
- Yoon-seul has to hear that she's cool, right?
"That's the key point."
She must have already heard "cute" so many times it's coming out of her ears.
She's a 5-year-old who wants to be cool and wild.
If she shows off her finishing move and gets called cute again, she'll probably pout and blame herself.
It'd be best to give her a flashy signature move that boosts her self-esteem.
The workout video of Baek Su-in I accidentally saw yesterday was pretty sharp. As a self-proclaimed villain fanatic, she could definitely teach Yoon-seul a cool signature move or two.
Baek Su-in silently scooped and ate her rice, lost in thought.
Her eyes darting side to side or her hand brushing back her hair looked comically endearing.
- I'll give it a try.
"Oh! Really?"
- Since Yoon-seul likes it.
Baek Su-in might secretly want to see Yoon-seul's cool signature move too.
That's one trait of our restaurant's regulars.
They're all-in on Yoon-seul fandom, united as one.
- But one condition.
"Want me to throw in some extra service?"
- No, nothing like that. I'll tell you later.
"Sure thing."
I figured it was something minor, like asking for extra meat when adding more food.
She's got a huge appetite, after all.
After finishing her meal, Baek Su-in stood confidently in front of Yoon-seul and boldly declared:
- I'll make you a villain.
Yoon-seul shuddered as if electrified.
Then she nodded solemnly.
The two headed outside for a strategy session.
They really click well together.
Kinda jealous.
**
After about an hour of intense practice outside, the two returned.
The 5-year-old, Jang Yoon-seul, entered the restaurant with tremendous presence. Even her footsteps carried weight.
Overwhelmed by her intimidating aura, the customers all thought the same thing.
'What concept is this now?'
It was like a cute thunderbolt striking mid-meal.
The regulars at Onui Restaurant had been ambushed by Jang Yoon-seul multiple times before.
The 5-year-old's finger-gun barrage was no joke in destructive power.
She'd aim precisely with her little fern-like fingers, go "bang" with her mouth.
It quickened heartbeats and kept drawing people back to this restaurant with its dramatic flair.
Gulp.
Everyone swallowed dryly in unison.
The restaurant's atmosphere chilled.
Even Boss Song Joo-hyun, who had been quietly cooking, couldn't help but focus on the 5-year-old.
What signature move had she learned?
He was curious.
Jang Yoon-seul strode haughtily to Boong-boong No.3 and perched on it.
She undid her loosely tied ponytail.
Her hair cascaded forward.
She dug her fingers deep into the roots and smoothly swept it back.
Thanks to killer genetics, even without losing her baby fat, her jawline was sharply defined.
Her narrowed eyes made even a casual sidelong glance feel fierce.
'A little beast?'
Song Joo-hyun sensed that about his sister.
Coolness radiated from her, but she was still undeniably cute.
As everyone watched, Jang Yoon-seul delivered her line.
"Oppa. Yunseul-i wants a small chocolate milk.
Her tone was plenty haughty, in her mind.
But the content was chocolate milk.
The customers were at a loss for how to react.
Cute.
That hadn't changed.
No matter how hard she tried, a 5-year-old was a 5-year-old.
But Jang Yoon-seul had clearly put effort into exuding coolness.
Ignoring that and reacting like she was just cute felt almost cruel.
So they stayed silent.
That's when it happened.
Song Joo-hyun ran over to his sister with quick steps, a surprised look on his face, and presented a chocolate milk.
He bowed lightly.
"Our lady's gotten so cool! What happened?"
"Yep! Eonni and I studied lots and lots."
"You studied with Su-in Eonni and came back even cooler? You were already super cool!"
"That's right! Now I can do it!"
The 5-year-old was bursting with pride.
She puffed out her chest and stuck out her tummy.
Still cute.
No matter the pose, a 5-year-old was a 5-year-old.
Her brother rushing over to praise her had her grinning ear to ear in seconds.
Laughter bloomed among the customers.
"Wow~! Our Yoon-seul's gotten so cool! Right?"
Song Joo-hyun asked the customers for agreement.
It was practically groveling, but luckily lunchtime drew lots of nearby regulars.
They got the gist of what the young boss with a 5-year-old sister wanted.
Applause erupted.
Clap clap clap clap clap-!
- Right! Our Yoon-seul's all grown up now?
- I was shocked~ When did our Yoon-seul get so cool?
There were plenty of office workers old enough to lavish endless praise on kids.
That boosted Jang Yoon-seul's confidence even more.
"Oppa, now Yunseul-i can protect Oppa! Right? Yunseul-i's gotten super strong now."
"Yeah. Our Yoon-seul can protect Oppa now."
Song Joo-hyun hoisted his sister up, wrapped his arms around her neck, and hummed happily.
The customers smiled warmly at the sight.
[Onui Tycoon!]
[Customers are strongly vicariously satisfied.]
[Overall restaurant satisfaction has risen 26%.]
The Yoon-seul growth plan was a success.
Satisfaction up.
And the 5-year-old was a bit more villainous now.
**
On the way home after closing, I held hands with Yoon-seul, who looked exceptionally happy, and strolled along Seongbuk Stream.
We decided to walk a bit before heading home.
On high-energy days like today, a nighttime walk helps burn it off for easier bedtime.
She usually crashes eventually, but our Yoon-seul tosses and turns if she misses her window.
"Hee hee heeng-"
Yoon-seul hummed a tune.
Hearing she was cool from the customers must have kept her in high spirits till closing.
Same energy from lunch till now.
"That happy, huh?"
"Yep! Yunseul-i got recognized big time."
Getting recognition from anyone feels good.
Though it was a bit of groveling.
I wondered how Yoon-seul would feel looking back on this someday.
Would she kick the blankets in embarrassment?
Or would it fade into a distant memory?
Meanwhile, Baek Su-in nagged at me.
- I'll ask my favor later.
Once Yoon-seul's show was over, she hopped on her bike and left like she'd seen it all.
Made me curious what she wanted.
"But why does Yoon-seul wanna protect Oppa so much?"
"Cuz you're Oppa."
"So Yoon-seul has to protect Oppa cuz he's Oppa?"
"That's obvious."
Yoon-seul snorted.
"So that's why Boss does it too? And villains?"
"That's right! Now I can do it!"
Not entirely convincing.
Felt too intense for just play or a concept.
Yoon-seul likes cars too.
Still fascinated by model cars.
But she doesn't treat them with that level of sincerity.
She likes cars, but doesn't mope noticeably if she can't have one.
Yet Yoon-seul wasn't satisfied being cute instead of cool.
Maybe she thinks being cute means she can't protect me. Felt like there was more to her villain ambitions.
"Is Oppa in danger?"
"Huh?"
"Oppa in danger, so our Yoon-seul thinks she has to protect him?"
"Umm..."
Yoon-seul hesitated.
She gripped my hand tighter.
A faint tension traveled up her fingers.
"Yunseul-i knows Oppa always stays by her side."
"Of course Oppa's by your side. Where would he go?"
"You don't know that."
"Why do you think that?"
"Cuz other people all leave Yunseul-i."
"Yoon-seul..."
"Yunseul-i knows everything. Mommy and Daddy and Grandma. They all disappeared. Grandma at least calls. But Mommy and Daddy went far away. They don't even call. That's why I can't see them..."
Thinking about it, yeah.
Yoon-seul was only five, but her short life had as many goodbyes as hellos.
Lost her biological parents in an accident, and her grandmother entrusted her to me before returning to her hometown.
Kindergarten too.
She stopped going for bad reasons.
Raised by Grandma from young.
Then at five, she came to live with me in Seoul.
In that brief life, she'd parted from people and places multiple times.
Tossed around by fate just cuz she's a kid.
"So Oppa has to stay by Yunseul-i's side forever. No going anywhere. That's why Yunseul-i has to get stronger. Won't let anyone take Oppa. For a long long time. Cuz Yunseul-i likes Oppa the best. Oppa won't go anywhere."
Yoon-seul's grip on my hand strengthened.
So light.
Yet her words weighed heavy, pressing into my palm.
My heart softened.
My vision blurred softly.
Tears welled up.
It hurt realizing Yoon-seul's talk of guarding the restaurant and Oppa wasn't just concept play.
I'd been so close, yet never truly understood her feelings.
What a lousy brother.
"Sorry, Yoon-seul. I didn't get it."
"Oppa won't leave Yunseul-i?"
"Never, never ever. I'll stay by Yoon-seul's side. Together for a long long time."
"That's cuz of Yunseul-i's wish already!"
"Huh? How'd our lady make you say that so confidently?"
"Hee heeng- Cuz Yunseul-i wished on her birthday. To live happily with Oppa forever. So it'll definitely come true."
"You wished that?"
"Yep! But wishes all come true like that. Yunseul-i secretly made three. Got lots of chocolate, new friends too. Yu-min-i and Rui! So... with Oppa too... we can live together long time. If Yunseul-i gets super strong!"
I couldn't hold back anymore.
I hugged Yoon-seul and buried my face in her tiny shoulder.
Just enough not to get caught.
I sobbed quietly.
Mm- mm-
After a moment of thought, Yoon-seul buried her face in my shoulder too.
Thud thud.
Step step.
The weary footsteps of passing pedestrians echoed around.
No time or leisure to mind them.
"Oppa, people staring."
"Sorry, Yoon-seul. Just a bit longer."
"Okay."
Sniff sniff-
Sniff...
Bored of waiting, Yoon-seul nuzzled into my neck and sniffed.
Her breath tickled.
So small. So precious.
I vowed never to leave this child anywhere.
I vowed firmly.