Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Won't Hurt You? (1)
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In the blink of an eye, only five days remained until the construction on Onui Restaurant was complete.
I'd prepared two or three sets of tables and chairs to coincide with the balcony's completion date. The plan was to resume business as soon as the work finished—or the next day at latest.
In that sense, catching this cold right now could be seen as a stroke of luck.
If you had to get sick, better on a day off.
"Cough— Yoon-seul-ah... sorry."
"Mm... It's okay."
Yoon-seul placed her tiny hand on my forehead, then pressed it to her own.
Her eyebrows twitched.
"Ew, Oppa sweat got on Yoon-seul's forehead."
She must've been trying to check my temperature, but hadn't accounted for the sweat.
Or maybe it was some advanced assassination technique.
Constantly exposing me to cuteness to induce a fatal happiness overdose.
Even that suspicion felt reasonable in my current state.
Either my love for my little sister was too intense, or the cold had numbed my brain.
One or the other.
"Sorry, Yoon-seul. We were supposed to go to the zoo together today. Bummer, huh?"
"It's fine! Yoon-seul thinks Oppa being sick is more important!!"
She huffed and pounded the pillow beside me. Bam! Bam!
Meaning: lie down already.
I'd propped myself up to talk with her, but apparently that didn't sit well.
"Lie down quick! Yoon-seul will nurse you."
I obediently lay back down as my little sister commanded.
At least it wasn't contagious, which was a relief.
This morning, I'd felt chills and had a few dry coughs, so I went to the doctor. Turned out it was just a cold.
The doc said it wasn't the viral kind that spreads, and with meds and rest, I'd bounce back quick. Silver lining.
Still, leaving a 5-year-old in charge of nursing felt guilty and nerve-wracking as her guardian.
Given the doc's diagnosis, it seemed like accumulated fatigue from the trip had led to this.
As the saying goes, even dogs don't catch summer colds. I'd heard that from the pharmacist this morning while picking up my meds, and Yoon-seul had chimed in.
'Mm... Then Rui never gets colds in summer.'
Hearing that had made my diaphragm twinge.
If I dragged this out with constant hacking, Yoon-seul might scold, "Oppa! Even Rui doesn't get this kind of cold. Get better quick!!"
It'd be cute dialogue, but making my sister worry like that wasn't big-brotherly.
"Oppa, Yoon-seul will make you better fast."
Oblivious to my worries, she peeked under the blanket I'd been using and slipped her hand inside.
The hand crept up my body toward my belly button.
Then she poked around until she found it and slipped her finger in.
Swoop—
"Huh? Oppa's belly button here?"
"Yeah, belly button."
"Oppa's belly button tickles."
She wiggled her finger around it, but sadly, I'm not ticklish except on my soles.
Still, I squirmed politely for her sake.
"Uwaaaah... Yoon-seul-ah, picking on your sick Oppa is against the rules."
"Oof, right! Can't forget Oppa's sick. Reflection time..."
She placed both hands back around my belly button and rubbed in circles.
Rub-a-dub rub-a-dub.
Rub-a-dub rub-a-dub.
"Yoon-seul's hands are magic— Yoon-seul's hands are magic—"
Anyone could see Grandma's influence there.
When I was little.
I'd scarfed too much ice cream at once and got a tummy ache. That's how Grandma had soothed it.
"Learned from Grandma?"
"Mm! Grandma's hands are magic, so Yoon-seul's hands are magic too? 'Cause Grandma's Yoon-seul's Grandma?"
"Right, so Yoon-seul's hands are magic hands. Feels like Oppa's getting better already."
"Ooh...! Magic power, go!"
Rub-rub-rub—
Rub-rub-rub...
Her hands sped up.
Now at double speed.
She probably thought faster rubbing meant faster recovery.
Classic 5-year-old logic—made me chuckle.
It was a bit scatterbrained, but cute, so I let it slide.
Our little magic hands expert lasted less than a minute before conking out.
Exhausted, she flopped her head onto my hand.
"Ugh... Yoon-seul's tired."
"Good job, my magic hands."
"Mm... Thanks, Yoon-seul worked hard."
She grinned sleepily and stayed sprawled out.
Rubbing my hand against her cheek like a toy.
That felt even more ticklish than the belly button.
....
A floaty sensation at the back of my head.
Breathing evened out.
Vision blurred.
And I passed out.
**
Maybe thanks to taking my meds properly and sleeping it off.
My back was soaked in sweat.
Not gross-sticky, just refreshingly damp.
August, peak summer—blankets and all, no wonder.
Yoon-seul slept soundly beside me.
Hadn't even turned on the TV, just kept vigil by my side.
Must've dozed off from fatigue.
"Hm? My phone."
I'd swear I left it by my head before nodding off.
But it was gone.
Checked between the bed and wall...
Nope.
Nothing urgent—no calls needed right now—but smartphones are anxiety magnets when missing.
Look around—
Look around—
Turning my head, I spotted it in an unexpected place.
Tucked near Yoon-seul's chest.
Our 5-year-old, hugging it like a doll in her sleep.
"Trying to scare Oppa by hiding his phone, huh, my little miss?"
I gently extracted it without waking her.
She's a deep sleeper—could carry her anywhere unnoticed—so easy peasy.
But checking the phone...
"Why's the screen on?"
Battery blinked red.
Cutting it close.
[3%]
Hadn't died yet.
I grabbed the charger quick and plugged in.
Screen showed a green search bar.
Yoon-seul must've fiddled with it out of boredom.
Nothing problematic there, but what would catch a 5-year-old's eye in a search bar?
Webtoons at most?
Doesn't look like she did.
Tapped the bar out of habit, and recent searches dropped down.
Topped with wonky Hangul.
Kang-gi.
Byeong-eon.
A-pu.
O-b-ba.
And so on...
Babyish spelling, but obvious who and why.
She'd been genuinely worried about her sick Oppa.
Probably searched for cold, hospital, pain, Oppa—stuff like that.
"How does my sister always pick the cutest things to do."
I stroked sleeping Yoon-seul's face.
She mumbled and scooted closer.
Carefully withdrew my hand to check the time without waking her.
[18:32]
Dinner time.
For colds, nothing beats porridge.
I'd whip up some simple egg porridge to share.
First, anchovy stock in water.
Mild dizziness lingered, but for Yoon-seul, no half-assing.
When it turned faintly yellow, remove anchovies, skim foam, add rice, stir thick.
Then pour in egg whisked with mirin over the porridge.
Finally, chopped green onions, stir, sesame oil—basic egg porridge done.
Anchovy stock for umami, green onions lighten the heaviness for a refreshing bite.
"This should be tasty enough for Yoon-seul."
She says everything I cook is delicious, but constant praise breeds worry.
What if one day: "Oppa, this isn't great?"
That'd hit hard.
Porridge done, nearly 7 PM, so I woke Yoon-seul.
Gently rubbing her tummy in circles, like she'd done my belly button.
Rub-a-dub—
Rub-a-dub...
"Mm... Mm."
She blinked at me blankly, then eyes popped wide!
Bolted up and grabbed my face.
My cheeks squished inward, lips puckering—ugly doll face achieved.
"Oppa's better."
"Nope, you're the one who just woke up, Yoon-seul."
"Oppa all better? No more hurt?"
"Yeah... Still need rest, but you gave me those magic hands earlier? Feeling much better."
"Thanks to Yoon-seul?"
"Of course, all thanks to Yoon-seul."
"Heehee!"
Thrilled, she hopped off the bed.
Freshly awake and full of energy.
While I headed to the kitchen to dish out porridge, she set up the low table.
Took chopsticks and spoons from me, arranged them neatly.
Our 5-year-old helper was restaurant-ready competent.
Steaming egg porridge.
Hand her a bowl, but she stares at me instead of digging in.
"Hm? What's up? Go ahead and eat."
"Yoon-seul head hurts. But Oppa?"
"Oppa can eat too."
"Mm... Yoon-seul will feed you."
"Then since Oppa's sick, can I ask my little sister for help?"
"Only Yoon-seul trusted!"
Beaming, she sat beside me, spoon in hand.
Blew on the steaming porridge—fw—fw—fw—till the steam vanished.
Didn't realize she scarfs hot food without a care, but worried it'd burn me.
What a quirky 5-year-old.
I savored the cooled porridge.
Porridge stays hot forever, but this was mouth-roll perfect.
Tasted good too.
"Yoon-seul has to feed Oppa, so eat like this."
My turn to feed her.
Same blowing, and she ate happily.
"Mm! As expected, Oppa's cooking is the best."
Five-star review from my top customer, never forgotten.
Tonight's dinner felt extra warm and cozy.
That night, as she stroked my belly vowing to heal me, Yoon-seul fell asleep first.
Rub-a-dub rub-a-dub—
The stroking distracted but felt so comforting.
Next morning.
Thanks to our magic hands expert, I made a full recovery.