There Are Four Top Idol Uncles - Chapter 3

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 3

At Doha’s gentle voice, Yewon drowsily opened her eyes.

Doha lifted the still half-asleep Yewon into his arms and began walking.

Yewon obediently stayed in his embrace while looking around.

It was an underground parking garage filled with expensive cars.

‘…This must be the building where Uncle Doha lives.’

Doha headed toward the elevator as if familiar with the place.

The elevator rose continuously upward and stopped at the penthouse floor. The heavy door opened with the cheerful sound of the door lock being released.

“Let’s go in.”

Doha awkwardly set Yewon down.

Yewon confidently stepped inside without hesitation. She was curious about what kind of place Doha lived in.

It must be well-decorated, probably.

‘Since he’s a top idol…what?!’

But the scene that met Yewon’s eyes was different from her expectations.

A living room as spacious as a playground, with Seoul’s night view sparkling like jewels beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows that filled one entire wall.

That was all.

…Is this really a home?

The interior was entirely colorless. Furniture arranged with knife-sharp precision.

A space like a giant ice rink where not even a speck of human warmth could be felt.

‘It really looks like a model house.’

For a successful top idol’s home, it was too bleak and quiet.

As if it perfectly reflected the mental state of the owner living in this house.

“Come in. There’s not much… but.”

Doha scratched the back of his head sheepishly as he turned on the living room lights.

When the bright lighting came on, the bleakness of the house was revealed even more starkly.

On the living room table, there was only an unopened vitamin bottle and a half-drunk water bottle sitting forlornly.

“Wow…”

Yewon pretended to be amazed and opened her mouth wide. A 7-year-old child would naturally be fascinated when coming to such a magnificent house.

“The house is like a playground, Uncle!”

“…Really?”

At Yewon’s innocent admiration, Doha’s stiff expression softened just slightly.

Doha seated Yewon on the sofa and headed to the kitchen.

“Do you want something to drink first? Let me see what’s in the house…”

Doha opened the refrigerator door, then hesitated for a moment before closing it again.

‘…There was nothing but alcohol in that refrigerator just now, right?’

In the brief glimpse of the refrigerator, there was only water, alcohol, and sparkling water. There was nothing he could give to his 7-year-old niece.

…What kind of life is this person living…?

Yewon began to feel uneasy.

Escaping from Fake Uncle had been really good, but…

‘Somehow I feel like I’ve walked into another tiger’s den with my own feet.’

“Wa, water! Can I drink water, Uncle?”

When Yewon couldn’t stand it anymore and asked first, Doha turned around with a flustered face.

“Huh? Oh… Yeah. I’ll get you some.”

Doha hurriedly took out a cup, filled it with water from the purifier, and handed it to Yewon.

And he blushed, probably embarrassed even by his own standards.

“…Sorry. I don’t usually have children over, so there’s no juice or anything.”

“It’s okay. I like water.”

Yewon sat obediently on the sofa and held the water cup Doha gave her with both hands.

“…”

“…”

And then.

An awkward silence flowed again.

‘This is driving me crazy, really.’

Yewon tried hard not to look at Doha awkwardly and broke out in a cold sweat.

…I have absolutely no idea what to say…!

‘First of all… I still can’t believe… that this person… is my uncle.’

That top idol Lee Doha is our uncle? Really my family?

It seemed like it would take a really long time to properly grasp this reality.

While she was panicking like this.

Beep beep beep beep beep.

“!”

A savior entered with the sound of the door lock.

“Doha, I’m here…!”

That manager uncle from earlier…!

Yewon’s face brightened considerably. Three people would be less awkward than two…!

“You’re here?”

Doha also seemed to have found the situation overwhelming, as he let out a sigh of relief while greeting Yeongoh.

Yeongoh came in panting and wiping his sweat.

“Hah, hah. I had a hard time shaking off the reporters who caught wind of this. I talked to the company’s public relations team and blocked all the articles for now. Asked them to handle it as a simple incident.”

“…Sorry.”

“Sorry for what. It’s naturally something I should do.”

Yeongoh was entering the living room when he spotted Yewon sitting obediently on the sofa holding a water cup.

“Oh my, Yewon. You must have been really scared, right? Are you okay?”

“Yes, hello…”

Yewon smiled brightly and bowed her head politely.

Seeing the child greet them so maturely without crying despite being scared, Yeongoh’s expression softened as if he found it touching.

“Amazing. Our Yewon. You must have been really scared… You were surprised too, weren’t you, Doha?”

“…”

Doha seemed to lack the energy to respond and just rubbed his face dryly.

Yeongoh clicked his tongue and glanced toward the refrigerator.

“But you only gave the kid water? Isn’t there anything to eat?”

“There isn’t. You know that.”

“Right… What would be in your refrigerator. You don’t even eat properly.”

Yeongoh sighed deeply and hung his outer clothes on a chair.

Silence fell over the living room again. Yewon rolled her eyes as she observed this strange atmosphere.

For the home of South Korea’s top idol group leader, it was far too quiet.

Usually they would live in dorms with members, or at least visit each other frequently. But in this house, there wasn’t a trace of other people no matter how hard you looked.

‘…I know that Uncle Doha is going through a really hard time right now because of ‘that incident’ that happened to GLEET.’

…Could it be that his relationship with the other members isn’t good?

She knew. That this was the worst time for Lee Doha.

Probably not just Yewon, but the entire nation knew.

TV, internet, SNS – everywhere was talking about Doha. At this point, he was being hit by stones flying from all directions.

…I should ask when I get the chance. Where all the other members went.

But before that…

‘There’s something I absolutely must ask.’

In order to accept this person as ‘real family,’ there was a question she absolutely had to ask.

“Uncle.”

Yewon called out to Doha with her hands clenched tightly from nervousness.

Then Doha and Yeongoh stopped their conversation and looked at Yewon.

“Uncle… you’re really, really our uncle, right?”

“….”

Doha’s expression darkened, as if he had somewhat expected this question.

But even though he had anticipated it, it seemed to remain a difficult question nonetheless.

Judging by how he continued to struggle to speak easily.

“A-are you and my mom… really family?”

But Yewon couldn’t just leave Doha alone like this.

She absolutely had to hear the answer to this question from his own mouth.

‘Cotton Ball, who turned back time, wouldn’t have lied. But I… this is the first time I’m hearing it. That GLEET’s Lee Doha is my real uncle.’

Mother had never once talked about Lee Doha.

‘Just once.’

She had mentioned the existence of an ‘uncle’ in passing.

‘You know, Yewon. If someday… you meet your uncle.’

She remembered it because Mother’s expression when she said that was so incredibly sad.

‘…tell him that Mom is very sorry. Okay?’

That’s what she had said.

Until now, Yewon had thought the meaning of that apology… was probably because she owed too much debt.

So when Fake Uncle said that Mom had a lot of debt and she needed to work a lot to pay it back – she had quickly accepted it.

…That even she had to pay back Mom’s debt.

Yes, that’s what she had thought back then.

But now that she knew he was a fake uncle, that debt must all be lies too.

Then the meaning of Mom’s words changes as well.

So, she wanted to hear it directly.

If he really was family with Mom.

Why there had been no contact with Mom all this time.

“…Yes.”

“!”

At Doha’s acknowledgment, Yewon’s heart sank and wavered.

“I am Yewon, your mother’s… younger brother.”

Doha said that and added with difficulty.

“But, I… haven’t seen your mother for a really long time. The reason for that is…”

Doha struggled to get the words out, then let out a sigh.

“I’ll explain it to you later.”

It wasn’t a complete explanation.

But Yewon had to be satisfied with just this.

She could feel with her skin how much Doha was struggling just to say this much.

“Anyway, that’s why I had no idea about your existence either, Yewon. I only found out you existed after I learned that your mother had… gone to heaven.”

Doha said that much and closed his mouth.

Then.

“!”

As if it had been waiting for Doha’s words to finish, some kind of message window appeared before her eyes.

[Adjustment Complete!]

[Contractor Identity Confirmed: Lee Yewon (14 years old, child actor)]

[A guide will be provided tailored to the contractor’s profession and age!]

[▶Main Quest

: Confidential

Currently in tutorial mode. Will be revealed after tutorial completion!]

‘What is this…?’

While Yewon was processing the existence of the message window.

“On the other hand, Yewon. I’m sorry, but I also… no, Uncle also needs to ask.”

Doha brought up the question he had been harboring all along.

“How on earth did you know, Yewon, that I was your uncle?”

“!”

Yewon’s face stiffened.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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