Chapter 79
Chapter 79
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Even Farther Away (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After announcing the three-week closure for the restaurant expansion.
The customers started flocking in even more.
It seemed the regulars who frequented us felt sorry at the thought of going three weeks without our food.
More than dinner, they were mostly coming for lunch, showing up nearly every day together.
They said since the menu changed every day, there was no need to agonize over choices, and it wasn't a hassle even if they came often.
"Our Yoon-seule, what are we gonna do without seeing her for three whole weeks?"
"Yeah... It's like all the joy of going to work is gone. Truth be told, coming here at lunch to see Yoon-seule was the highlight of my life."
Some customers even grumbled like that.
They looked like they were on the verge of death until I served their meals, but once the food was up, they ate with satisfaction and headed back to work.
And during today's break time, the little sister who'd been eagerly awaiting Rui, along with the Kwon siblings, were coming over.
I'd messaged them that even if it wasn't a full meal, I'd at least serve some simple dessert, so please at least show their faces.
[Kwon Su-young: Exams are over, so count on it! I'll bring Ji-a and our Oppa!!]
That was the reply.
Sure enough, upon hearing Rui was coming, Yoon-seule plopped down on the toy car Boong-boong parked in front of the shop and was waiting impatiently.
"Roo... ee..."
Earlier, she'd spotted another retriever puppy walking near the shop, her eyes going wide, only to quiet down again when it got closer.
Up close, it was a different dog.
And the partner wasn't Su-an-ssi, but some other uncle.
Finally, around the time I finished the prep work for dinner service, the Kwon siblings and Ji-a arrived.
With Rui too.
"Wah! Rui-dang."
Mung-!
Rui seemed thrilled to see Yoon-seule too, licking her soft cheek right as they arrived in front of the shop.
"We came to eat something delicious!"
"We did!"
The two J High School girls looked even more lively than usual. Thanks to their finals finally being over.
"Yoon-seul-ah, Unniee's here too. You only gonna hug Rui?"
Kwon Su-young flashed a goofy smile and spread her arms wide toward Yoon-seule.
But.
"Yoon-seule only hugs Oppa and Rui."
She got boldly rejected.
Ji-a and Su-young-i exchanged wry smiles as they took seats at the bar table, with Su-an-ssi sitting next to them.
I'd timed it for their arrival and brought out the bingsu I'd prepared.
Nothing beats bingsu in the summer.
"Wow, what kind of bingsu is this?"
Ji-a, ever serious about food, marveled.
"The stuff sliced thin on top is mango. And the ice is mixed with condensed milk and regular milk, so it'll be smooth. Give it a try."
"No way, Boss, how do you even make stuff like this? It's amazing every time I see it."
"If it's small batches, you can do it without a bingsu machine. I'll teach you later."
It was nice buying snacks for Yoon-seule separately, but I also wanted to make them myself, so I'd been practicing bingsu here and there lately.
Serving it like this now was just an extension of that practice. I figured I'd let the Kwon siblings and Ji-a try it and gauge their reactions.
As expected, all three dug in with satisfied looks. The summer weather buff probably made it taste even better.
"Joo-hyun Oppa, this has such a rich flavor because of the condensed milk, right? Feels almost like something you'd buy."
"It's good, huh? Not too sweet?"
"Stuff like this needs to be a bit sweet."
Fair point.
When you're stressed from the heat, what else props up your spirits like sugar?
"Boss, just put this on the menu! Perfect to freshen up after pork stir-fry or eggplant fritters."
"Hard to make in large quantities, like I said."
"Then limited quantities?"
"Wouldn't that seem too merchant-like?"
"If it tastes good, that's all that matters. No one's gonna complain."
Ji-a had a point.
Even if it reeks a bit of capitalism, foodies will gladly accept it if it's delicious.
I'd given generous portions, but Su-young-i's bowl was already empty.
Not sure if she couldn't stand the heat or if the bingsu just hit the spot too well.
With the food gone, Su-young-i's attention naturally drifted elsewhere.
"Joo-hyun Oppa, isn't that picture of Rui and Yoon-seule?"
"Yeah, that's right. One of our regular customers is really good at drawing, and she did it for free."
"Ahh... The picture feels so warm."
Su-young-i zoned out for a bit, admiring the painting on the wall. She had no idea the artist was sitting right next to her.
I quietly put a finger to my lips and winked at Su-an-ssi.
The visually impaired Su-an-ssi clearly "noticed" and nodded.
"Yoon-seul-ah! Come here."
"Hm?"
Yoon-seule, who'd been playing with Rui, toddled over to Su-young-i.
"Unniee got inspired looking at that picture. So I wanna try drawing you. Be my model?"
"Model?"
"Yeah, you and Rui playing out front by Seongbuk Stream. Unniee'll draw based on that."
"Ooh...! With Rui?"
"How 'bout it?"
"It's goot."
Yoon-seule answered coyly, though she was inwardly pleased.
She sometimes got prickly toward Su-young-i since she called me "Joo-hyun Oppa."
"Oppa, I'm gonna go out front to Seongbuk Stream with Rui and the others for a bit."
"Yeah, go ahead. I'll hang with Joo-hyun-ssi."
"Okay! Joo-hyun Oppa, play with our Oppa! We'll be right back."
"Alright, have fun. Take good care of Yoon-seule, Ji-a-ya."
"Leave it to me."
"Huh? Why entrust Yoon-seule to Song Ji-a? Not me?"
"Honestly, Ji-a's more reliable than you for watching kids."
"Utter shock."
The three humans and one dog headed out of the shop like that.
I was a bit worried about Yoon-seule, but with Ji-a and Su-young-i, they'd take good care of her without a scratch.
And since it's right by Seongbuk Stream in front of the shop, they'd call if anything happened.
"How's life been lately?"
"Like magic. Thanks to you, Magician-nim."
With them gone, we could talk freely about secrets.
Around Su-an-ssi's neck hung a pendant modeled after Rui's face. I'd worked a bit of magic on it. Thanks to that, the once-blind Su-an-ssi could see.
And we'd agreed to keep it a secret.
To prevent all sorts of problems.
If his family found out, it'd just cause chaos.
"You still drawing?"
"Yeah, that's the issue."
"Not coming out as well as before? Makes sense it'd take time to get your hand back in shape after so long... But I felt great just looking at the one on the wall."
"No, the opposite. It's coming out too well, that's the problem."
"Huh?"
"Stuff I felt when I couldn't see anything is pouring into the paintings now, like new things keep flowing from my fingertips."
"The birth of a dramatic painter?"
"No. We made a promise with the magician, remember? That I'd keep the fact I can see a secret. How do I sell paintings as an officially blind person?"
"That's... kinda unfortunate."
I wanted to say it was fine to reveal it, but no matter how I thought about it, that'd be trouble.
If word got out he was using the pendant as new eyes, it'd cause a huge uproar.
"Still, it's not like I can't make a living off art. The world's so advanced now, I can earn as an illustrator."
"Ahh... You mean illustrations for novels or webtoons?"
"Yeah, so I'm thinking of trying that. Secretly from the family."
"That might be the tricky part."
Living under one roof with family, hiding something like that would be tough.
"But it's okay. Now that I've got my sight back, I wanna try anything. I'll keep the promise for sure. I got magic new eyes—hiding that one thing ain't hard."
"Good to hear. It'll work out great."
I hoped it'd go better than great.
"Thanks."
"But don't illustrators need pretty expensive equipment?"
"I had savings from working at that disabled employment center before... Bought good stuff with it, but getting it home to my room is the hassle."
"You already got it? Then, could you draw me one picture later? I'll pay."
"Free for you, my benefactor. What kind? Illustrations, context-wise?"
"Yeah, I wanna use one as a thumbnail in the info section when people search for our shop. Turns out you have to commission illustrators for that stuff. And it's pricey. Honestly, it's a burden."
I could afford to invest if I wanted.
But there's this thing called the 'acquaintance discount.' Gotta save where I can.
And from Su-an-ssi's paintings, I figured he'd nail illustrations that match our shop's vibe.
"If it's that, let's talk more later. Send me rough design ideas by email. I'll practice illustrations on the side and do it for free."
"Thanks!"
"No, thank you. I owe you more."
Su-an-ssi scooped up the half-melted, gooey mango milk bingsu as he continued.
"Lately, drawing and seeing Su-young-i—life's truly happy."
"Ah... Come to think of it, it's been forever since you last saw your little sister."
"Yeah, ever since that middle school surgery when I went blind. Had no idea how much she'd matured. I knew her height roughly. Face shape from touching. But seeing with my own eyes is different. She's grown up so... so beautifully. I'm grateful."
Su-an-ssi quickly wiped his moist eyes.
Emotions overflowing.
"Hope my little sister grows up big and strong too."
"Yeah. Yoon-seule'll be a beauty like Su-young-i when she grows."
"Huh? Hold on. What'd you say?"
"She'll grow up just as pretty as Su-young-i... Yeah."
"No, wait, wait. Sure, Su-young-i's attractive and all, but our Yoon-seule's the cutest in the universe? She's gonna grow up slapping celebrities left and right?"
"Ahh...! Our Su-young-i's already in the midst of slapping celebrities senseless?"
"Su-young-i might slap Korean celebs, but our Yoon-seule's slapping every celebrity on Earth?"
"Nope, Su-young-i's slapping every celeb in the universe? Anyway, my sister's the best."
"Nope. Can't accept that. Yoon-seule's the cutest."
"Su-young-i's the cutest."
Oppa alliance.
Facing a crisis of division.
The little sisters were unwittingly slapping hundreds of thousands of cheeks. Involuntary violence, indeed.
The debate raged until the three returned from Seongbuk Stream.
Before long, Su-young-i had become the goddess of beauty Aphrodite.
And Yoon-seule, the creator god of the universe.
"What the heck are these Oppas doing?"
"Don't tell Yoon-seule too."
It took the late arrivals a while to grasp the situation, and Su-young-i retaliated against Su-an-ssi.
She poked his armpits playfully! Poke poke!
"Ugh! That tickles..."
"That's why I poke you, you rascal."
The siblings were on great terms.