Beauty and the Beast [𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐨𝐤] - Vincenzo

1

6 years ago…

"Dàiyù, wǒ de ài nǚ."
-"Daiyu, my beloved daughter."

Shaolin called out to his daughter.

Daiyu faced her father with a smile on her face.

"Shì de, fùqīn?"
-"Yes, Father?"

Shaolin handed her a USB file. Daiyu looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

"Dàiyù, nǐ xiān huí Hánguó ba."
-"Daiyu, please go back to Korea for now."

Daiyu scoffed and frowned. She didn’t agree.

"Fùqīn? Wèishéme?"
-"Father? Why?"

Shaolin held both of his daughter's hands.

"Dàiyù, nǐ xiān tīng wǒ shuō. Wǒmen de shēngmìng kěnéng chǔyú wéixiǎn zhī zhōng."
-"Daiyu, please listen to me first. Our lives could be in danger."

Daiyu shook her head as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Fùqīn, nǐ ne?"
-"Father, what about you?"

She looked at the ground.

"Fùqīn, mǔqīn shīzōng hòu, wǒ zhǐ shèng xià nǐ le."
-"Father, after Mother disappeared, you're all I have left."

Shaolin held her shoulders.

"Dàiyù, bié dānxīn wǒ. Qǐng bāng wǒ bǎoguǎn zhège wénjiàn."
-"Daiyu, don’t worry about me. Please keep this file safe."

He gently touched the back of her head with his palm. Daiyu looked at him, eyes brimming with tears.

"Bié dānxīn, hǎo ma? Nǐ āyí huì zài nàlǐ zhàogù nǐ."
-"Don’t worry, okay? Your aunt will take care of you there."

Shaolin spoke gently, reassuring her. He hugged her.

"Bié dānxīn, wǒ de nǚ’ér. Jíshǐ nǐ zài lìng yīgè guójiā, wǒ yě huì quèbǎo nǐ de ānquán."
-"Don’t worry, my daughter. Even if you're in another country, I will keep you safe."

..

Present, 2021.

“Wahh! Cheers to getting into Seoul National University Hospital, Lee Soomi and Gong Hana!” Jieun yelled as the four of them toasted with bottles of soju.

“Congratulations,” Seungjeon said in a soft tone, smiling at them.

“Seungjeon-ah, you should start applying to other jobs too!” Hana said, nudging her shoulder playfully.

“I agree! You used to be top of the class!” Soomi added.

While Jieun cooked BBQ on the grill, she looked over at them.
“Well... I still don’t know,” Seungjeon said, glancing down.

“What do you mean? Didn’t you take Fine Arts?” Hana asked.

“I don’t know anymore,” Seungjeon chuckled, shaking her head.

“Ayy, this girl, really!” Jieun said, pinching her cheeks.

“Enough chatting! Aren’t you guys hungry?” Jieun added, making them all laugh.

“Byee, Seungjeon-ah!” Soomi, Hana, and Jieun waved.

“Byee!” Seungjeon replied with a smile, waving back.

She boarded the bus, paid for the ride, found a seat, and plugged in her earphones. She laid her head against the window and stared outside.

It was raining.