TFIU 42

Chapter – 42

In the end, the two of them headed to a nearby Chinese restaurant.

“…That choice doesn’t really suit him….”

Since he was British, she had expected him to choose Western food.

Blinking in surprise at his unexpected choice, Yewon watched as Eon casually scanned the menu hanging on the wall.

“Eat jjajangmyeon.”

“?!”

He just decided her menu for her.

Hey, wait a second. Why didn’t he ask for my opinion?

“Owner! Two servings of jjajangmyeon here. And sweet and sour pork too.”

“Yes~”

The owner, who looked like a kind man, took their order with a warm smile and went back to the kitchen.

In the old Chinese restaurant with no other customers,

The two sat facing each other awkwardly.

“Uncle, what kind of food do you like? Fried fish?”

To Yewon, whose knowledge of British food was limited to fish and chips, it was the only question she could think of.

“…You’re biased because I’m British, aren’t you?”

“Well, asking a Korean if they like Korean food is just small talk. If you ask a British person if they like British food, is that bias?”

“……”

Eon, who had been logically defeated by a seven-year-old, twitched his mouth in obvious displeasure before turning his head sharply away.

…She’s just an elementary school kid….

Yewon, who had actually been an elementary school student just last year, looked at Eon with a sour expression.

So that’s why she didn’t get along with Uncle Doha.

Uncle Doha was like an old man trapped in a young body.

“Did you fight with Uncle Doha?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because he made me angry… I mean, upset.”

He clearly tried to say “pissed off” just now. That was obvious.

Yewon pretended not to hear and ate a piece of pickled radish.

“If you’re mad at me, why are you angry at Uncle Doha?”

“…I can’t get angry at you.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re a kid.”

“But it’s bad behavior for an adult to get angry at someone unrelated to the matter.”

At Yewon’s earnest answer, Eon glared at her for a long while, then crossed his arms and sat crookedly in his seat.

“…You really are I Doha’s niece. No need for a DNA test. Two hundred percent sure.”

“What will make you feel better?”

“I won’t feel better.”

“Please feel better.”

“I said I won’t.”

Yewon resented her small mouth that sometimes slurred her pronunciation at the wrong timing.

She wasn’t trying to act cute!

“If you feel better, I’ll grant your wish.”

At the word “wish,” Eon snorted.

“How can a kid grant an adult’s wish? It should be the other way around. You’re a strange kid.”

“Uncle, you have wishes too.”

“I don’t.”

“Everyone has wishes.”

“Oh, then what’s your wish?”

“That Uncle Doha becomes happy.”

Eon’s answer, full of irritation, was met with Yewon’s calm reply.

“!”

At that answer,

Eon’s expression changed strangely.

It looked like it had loosened slightly, but instead seemed to be twisting in a different direction.

“…My wish has always been one.”

“What is it?”

“That Glint will be loved as Glint forever.”

“Aren’t you like that even now?”

“But if Doha keeps pushing us away by trying to play leader when he can’t, then there’s only the path of Glint’s disbandment left.”

“It’s not Uncle who’s splitting you apart.”

“No. It’s I Doha who is splitting us apart.”

At Yewon’s protest, Eon answered firmly.

“He must learn to trust and depend on us.”

“!”

“And please, he should open his mouth and share the thoughts in his head too.”

At the unexpected answer, Yewon just stared at Eon without speaking.

“But because of that stubborn pride… Forget it. Why would I say this to a kid? You asked about my wish, right? My wish is for I Doha to keep his promise.”

It felt like she could hear more details.

But it was disappointing.

Yewon tried her best to hide her disappointment.

“A promise?”

“No matter what happens, even if the whole world throws stones at us… if there is even one person left who likes us, we gather on stage again as if nothing happened.”

“That was our promise.”

Eon muttered under his breath.

“Then why do you think Uncle Doha won’t keep that promise?”

“……”

Eon paused for a moment and stared at Yewon.

“Because it feels like he has something more precious than us.”

“!”

In other words…

He was worried that Doha might abandon Glint because of me.

Yewon met Eon’s gaze.

Eon’s eyes, usually a clear green like fresh leaves, now looked like muddy water after rain.

Yewon couldn’t easily answer and just stared at his eyes.

Then,

“Your jjajangmyeon and sweet and sour pork are ready~”

The owner placed the food in front of them.

“Thank you!”

“You’re very polite~”

At Yewon’s bright greeting, the owner chuckled and placed a plate of fried dumplings in front of her.

“This is a service because our little lady is so pretty~”

“Wow, thank you!”

“You two look very alike. Are you late-born siblings?”

Unable to recognize Eon and Yewon, the owner’s comment made Eon smile a rotten-to-the-core smile.

“Do we look alike? I don’t think we do.”

…He must really hate hearing that he looks like Doha uncle.

Yewon realized the comment wasn’t directed at him.

“Yeah. But your atmosphere is the same? Not siblings? Then what’s your relationship…?”

“He’s my uncle!”

Yewon hurriedly answered in place of Eon.

“Oh~ Uncle~ Ah, no wonder. You did look alike. Your parents must be very good-looking, right, kid?”

“……”

Even Yewon, who had always answered well, couldn’t respond to that.

She knew her mother’s face.

But she had never seen her father’s face.

Thinking about it made her chest feel strangely sore.

Just then—

“She looks exactly like her mother.”

“!”

Eon answered in Yewon’s place.

“What are you looking at? Doha is her mother, and she looks exactly like her.”

Not mother… but father, right…?

Yewon was momentarily confused but didn’t bother correcting him.

Perhaps sensing Yewon’s complicated feelings, the owner quickly changed the topic.

“Anyway. Our little lady can do that thing.”

“Huh?”

“Kid model~! If you become famous later, give me an autograph~ These days, having autographs from celebrities helps with business. But we don’t have anyone like that here~ Haha~”

The owner said that and left while laughing heartily.

…Owner, instead of waiting for me to become famous later, it might be better to get an autograph from this already very famous young man first…

It was sad that he didn’t recognize him….

Yewon tried hard to mix the jajangmyeon with her small hands, but since her hands were small and weak, the noodles didn’t mix well.

Still, she struggled and did her best—

“Give it here.”

Eon snatched her jajangmyeon.

Then, he mixed the noodles violently, cut them about ten times with scissors, and even placed sweet and sour pork on top before returning it to Yewon.

“Use your teeth to eat the pork. You have teeth too.”

…He was definitely not a bad person.

He just had a rough mouth.

“So right now, Uncle… what do you want Doha uncle to do?”

“What do you mean. I just want him to come to his senses.”

“……”

Geez….

For the first time, Yewon was glad she was only seven years old.

If she were over ten, she was sure this uncle would have said all kinds of harsh things….

“Is there no more modest wish?”

“…I want him to do it.”

“!”

It was said almost like a murmur.

But Yewon heard it clearly at once.

And she stood up abruptly with a bright smile.

“I’ll grant Uncle’s wish!”

“What?”

“But please come back to our house! That’s the condition!”

As she shouted that, she held out her little finger.

Eon looked at her in bewilderment, then hooked his own finger around her tiny one.

Exactly two hours later.

“…I decided to move back to this house.”

Eon declared this as he returned home.

“?!”

“I thought about it. This house isn’t cheap, and half of this house’s shares are mine anyway, so I don’t understand why I should live in a hotel and pay expensive fees.”

At Eon’s words, Doha looked at him with a guilt-filled gaze.

“Wow. So you thought of that only now, Lee Eon?!”

At Wooyon’s words, Eon raised his eyes.

“You’re living in my house without paying rent, so you talk too much. Want me to kick you out?”

“I’m sorry. Should I bow and hit my head on the floor?”

“And. Don’t ask the reason, I Doha.”

“….”

“I’m not coming back because you’re pretty. I’m coming back because your niece begged me desperately.”

At Eon’s words, Doha looked at Yewon in surprise.

But Yewon just smiled and said nothing.

“Indeed, women and children are good at being listened to….”

Youngo, who had been watching the filming like a background character, muttered in a hollow voice.

“So. Ask the question again. The same one. Exactly.”

“Huh?”

“This time, I’m ready to answer.”

“!!”

[Sudden Quest Successful!

Congratulations! One more family member has joined the house!

Quest success: Reputation +10]