Jiyu and Yumi’s greenhouse adventure was far from over. In fact, it was just beginning.
Leaving Maru behind, who was diligently packing the strawberries Jiyu and Yumi had picked into boxes, Hana grabbed their hands and led them forward. Passing through the greenhouse filled with strawberries, they entered another greenhouse.
With a mischievous smile, Hana spoke to Jiyu and Yumi, as if revealing a secret place.
“This is where I’ve been growing my latest crops! I haven’t even shown this to the employees—you’re the first to see it!”
“What is it? What is it?”
Jiyu jumped up and down, clapping her hands in curiosity. Yumi, who had just eaten strawberries earlier, listened intently, her heart racing as she waited to hear what Hana would say. Hana then opened the door and showed them the scene inside.
“Wow!”
“Whoaaa…”
The two gasped as they looked inside. Watermelons hung everywhere. Exaggerating a bit, the watermelons were as big as Hana herself, and there were hundreds of them. It was unbelievable that Hana had grown all these by herself.
Sure, experienced farmers could grow them, but Hana was still just a kid. It would be hard for her to even lift one of those watermelons, let alone grow them. And if Hana hid behind one of those watermelons, her entire body would disappear.
“This is Hana Watermelon No. 1!”
Hana grunted as she lifted one of the watermelons. Its deep green color and vivid black stripes made it look incredibly delicious. Even without tapping it, the watermelon appeared to be of SSS-grade quality.
Jiyu excitedly joined Hana and tapped the watermelon. The sound was incredibly clear—clearer than any wooden drum. Yumi, the only one thinking rationally, was in shock. She couldn’t believe the size and color of the watermelon.
“What kind of watermelon is this…? It’s almost as big as a car tire!”
Hana, struggling, put the watermelon down. The ground shook with a loud *thud*. It seemed like it would be a hassle to move these watermelons, let alone process them all.
Of course, there were plenty of people who could help process them. If they distributed them to the employees, they’d be gone in a day.
Some employees wondered if they could sell the crops Hana grew, but the moment they found out how much water and fertilizer Hana used—water infused with her own hair—they quickly dropped the idea.
Since it was her own hair, no one could really criticize her for using it. But if they tried to sell the produce, a single strawberry would cost tens of thousands of won. Not a pack—just one strawberry. That’s how valuable a single strand of Hana’s hair was.
As for the watermelons, exaggerating a bit, they’d have to sell one for a million won just to break even. Of course, the employees hadn’t tasted the watermelons yet—they only knew Hana was growing them.
“Maru!!!”
Hana shouted loudly. Maru came running immediately, sweating, worried that Hana might have fallen or gotten hurt.
“Yeah? What’s up, Hana?”
“Cut this watermelon for us to eat!”
Hana pointed to the giant watermelon. Maru nodded, of course, and got to work. Maru knew Hana was growing watermelons, but this was the first time she’d actually taste one. She was curious about how it would taste. If Hana grew it, the flavor was guaranteed to be amazing—though she had no idea what kind of flavor to expect.
Maru brought a knife, placed the watermelon on a plate, and cut it into large slices. Despite its size, the watermelon wasn’t too tough. A few smooth cuts, and it sliced like jelly.
“Whoa!”
“Ooooh!”
Jiyu and Yumi gasped as they saw the sliced watermelon. Maybe because Hana grew it, or maybe it was just like this naturally, but the watermelon had no seeds—just a radiant red flesh that greeted them.
They each took a big slice and prepared to take a bite. Even Hana, who was tasting it for the first time, was curious about the flavor. It was bound to be delicious, but she couldn’t imagine what it would taste like.
“It looks incredibly delicious…”
“Hana, here you go!”
Jiyu also lifted a watermelon and said, “Since it’s seedless, you can just eat it as it is.” It was the kind of watermelon that even people who dislike seeds would prefer. After all, many people find seeded watermelons inconvenient to eat.
“Ah!”
After taking a big bite of the watermelon, Jiyu and Yumi opened their eyes wide and exclaimed. This must be their first time tasting such a watermelon.
“Wow, Hana, this is really delicious! It’s on par with the strawberries we had earlier!”
Jiyu kept giving thumbs up and was about to lick the watermelon down to its rind. With every chew, the sweetness filled her mouth, as if she were eating watermelon punch. It was as sweet as if sugar had been generously sprinkled on a regular watermelon.
Yumi, who usually doesn’t eat much, was now devouring it as if she had forgotten her usual habits. If the kids who knew Yumi saw her now, they wouldn’t believe how much she was eating.
“Maru, you should try it too!”
Hana handed a slice of watermelon to Maru, who was still cutting the watermelon with a knife. The watermelon was so big that she was still in the process of cutting it. And since knives are dangerous for kids, she was cutting it out of their sight. Maru’s heart raced as she took the watermelon from Hana.
Given that Hana is known for making delicious things, this watermelon was no exception. The strawberries were already a hit, and it was hard to gauge how popular the watermelon would be. And since it was now summer, the peak season for watermelons, the demand for cold watermelon on hot days was sure to explode.
“Ah, here, Maru!”
Hana fed Maru a bite of watermelon directly. Maru took a big bite and, after chewing a little, couldn’t help but be amazed. The taste was extraordinary, as expected. Such a sweet and refreshing watermelon probably didn’t exist anywhere else in the world.
But Maru had built up some resistance from eating so many of Hana’s delicious creations. It was like she had developed immunity. So, while she didn’t overreact, she couldn’t help but be honest.
“This is really delicious, Hana!”
Maru sincerely complimented the taste. Hearing this, Hana puffed up with pride. Of course, the plants she grew were bound to be amazing. Meanwhile, Jiyu and Yumi were devouring the watermelon without a care. It was hard to tell if they had come to farm or just to eat.
After finishing the watermelon, Jiyu and Yumi lay down on the bench next to the greenhouse. They were so full and satisfied with the watermelon. Hana smiled contentedly as she watched them rest. Her smile was even brighter than before, perhaps because her efforts had paid off.
“Hey, do you guys want to take a watermelon home?”
Maru asked Jiyu and Yumi. The two quickly sat up and nodded. They thought their families would enjoy it too. With the gentle breeze and perfect weather, Jiyu and Yumi soon drifted off to sleep.
Hana, feeling drowsy, kept nodding off, unable to keep her head up. Maru carefully laid her down and brought pillows for Jiyu, Yumi, and Hana, placing one under each of their heads. Since Maru wasn’t sleepy, she sat by the kids, keeping watch, and took out her phone. She figured they’d only need an hour or two of solid sleep.
Since it was only 1 PM, there was still plenty of time to play at the building. They had until 7 PM to get home. So, Maru jotted down a few things on her phone and put it away.
The strawberries were already packed, but preparing the watermelon to take home required a bit of prep since it had to fit in the car trunk. Maru decided to quickly get things done while the kids were asleep. Once they woke up, she’d have to take care of them, so now was her chance.
Maru got up and started moving the watermelons. Even for an adult woman like her, the weight of the watermelons was quite a challenge.
