Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Mustang or Challenger?
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “...No need to dress up too much, right?”
I stood in front of the mirror, looking at myself.
Long black pants perfect for fall.
A shirt lightly buttoned up.
It looked fine enough to head out like this, but I couldn't do that.
“The chest area stands out too much...”
Even in the mirror, my chest was so prominent. How would it look to others?
Thinking about that made me self-conscious.
'Maybe throw on a loose jacket...'
I immediately pulled a jacket from the closet and slipped it on.
Looking back in the mirror, it felt much better than just the shirt alone.
What if I wore a hoodie instead of a shirt to cover my chest?
I pondered for a moment, then shook my head.
Even if it was a casual club, it was still a muscle car club.
Muscle cars were expensive, with maintenance costs rivaling sports cars.
So, people who showed up regularly were probably quite wealthy.
Going too casually to a gathering like that didn't seem like a good idea.
I'd experienced it multiple times before.
I didn't need that kind of attention again.
'This should be just right.'
Not overdressed to stand out, but not sloppy like heading to the convenience store down the street.
Satisfied with my reflection, I nodded.
The girl in the mirror still felt a bit unfamiliar, but I knew that was me.
Choi Yeon-bi, owner of 500 billion in assets.
Tall, perfect looks.
Great proportions, so she didn't just look like a tall girl.
And above-average chest to top it off.
Meeting my eyes in the mirror made my cheeks flush a little.
I shook my head to chase away the stray thoughts and trudged toward the entrance.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ It took about ten minutes on foot to reach the meeting spot.
The parking lot ahead was packed with cars you rarely saw around.
'Am I late?'
Being late to the first meeting would be rude.
A bit worried, I pulled back my jacket sleeve to check the watch I'd impulsively bought at the department store.
'Not late.'
Five minutes before the time the guy with the ID "Han" had told me.
Thinking I'd timed it perfectly, I walked forward slowly.
“Hello~ You a new Mushroom member?”
A guy with a sporty haircut approached with a smile.
'Good call dressing moderately.'
Shorts and a flight jacket.
Sneakers and sunglasses.
His outfit screamed youthful vibe.
Badly put, young fogey. Nicely put, someone who liked to dress up.
Fitting for a non-mainstream car owner.
I felt an odd affinity since I was one too.
'Would I have dressed like this if I'd succeeded?'
Of course, not quite this flashy.
Not mocking him. His style just differed from what Choi Min-hoo had aimed for.
Anyway, I bowed politely at his friendly greeting.
“Hello. I'm Choi Yeon-bi, new to the club... the gathering this time.”
When I looked up after greeting, everyone around was staring at me.
'Because I'm the newbie...?'
Honestly, I knew it wasn't just that.
Still, I hoped it was.
'Why does this happen every time I meet people?'
Complicated thoughts swirling.
I was too timid to just enjoy the situation.
“What's your ID?”
The stares weren't familiar yet, so I'd slightly unfocused when someone else approached.
He scratched his neatly trimmed short hair.
His square glasses and short hair suited him well.
Like the class president you see in school.
Seeing a model student checking attendance made me chuckle softly, like being back in school.
“Bi, as in English 'bee'...”
“Let me check... Got it. You're the one who joined a few days ago, right?”
“Yes, that's me.”
As I gave my ID, a young guy from a bit away looked surprised and walked over slowly.
Then he smiled and spoke.
“Whoa, you actually came.”
“Ji-hu, you know her?”
The class president guy looked at him puzzled.
Others were glancing too.
'Who...? Oh, him.'
Thinking back, one person had told me about the meetup.
ID Han.
Had to be him.
Called Ji-hu, so probably Han Ji-hu.
I eyed him carefully.
Trendy baggy pants.
So long they draped over his sneakers.
White oversized shirt on top.
Seemed casually thrown on, but clearly styled.
'College student.'
His youthful look and effort screamed springtime of youth.
Brought back memories of trying hard to dress up in college.
'Well, I'm college age now too.'
Lost in thought, Han Ji-hu grinned, enjoying the attention.
“She messaged about the meetup, so I told her. Said she was thinking of buying a Mustang, so she had to come today.”
He finished and grinned at me.
His smile felt heavy, so I awkwardly smiled back and looked away.
“So she's a stranger then?”
The sporty-cut guy frowned slightly at Han Ji-hu.
“I never said I knew her.”
Han Ji-hu chuckled and shrugged.
Some subtle exchange there.
The class president cleared his throat and turned to me.
“We've got quite a few new members today, so we're thinking light self-intros. Come this way and wait a sec.”
“Okay.”
As I moved to where he pointed, the two guys blatantly stuck to my side.
Sporty-cut and Han Ji-hu.
The reason was obvious, making it burdensome.
And the other members' gazes were shifting subtly.
'I just came to see cars...'
Felt unfairly wronged.
Suppressing the frustration, we arrived at a small pavilion by the parking lot.
The expo building was modern, but the pavilion out front felt oddly placed.
New members filled the pavilion.
Well, it looked full because the space was tight.
“By the way, you're planning to buy a car, right?”
Han Ji-hu tossed out casually as we walked.
I nodded briefly.
“Yes...”
“What kind? Mustang, of course?”
“Yeah. Found the club while searching Mustangs.”
“Perfect. Ride with me later when we do a lap. You'll feel things you miss when driving yourself, so it's good to check it out as a passenger.”
Classic pickup line.
But not wrong.
No harm in riding along once.
Passenger feel differs from driving.
'Is he really just offering advice, not hitting on me?'
Maybe I was overconfident about my looks.
As I nodded, the sporty-cut guy suddenly laughed heartily and cut in.
“Mustang's great, but how about a Challenger? If you're buying later, better try something you haven't.”
Sound advice too.
Rare chance to ride a discontinued model.
Especially a Challenger, few in Korea.
'Never even seen one outside the internet.'
Like the guy said, I'd ride the Mustang plenty if I bought it.
Challenger? Probably never.
Unless I bought one myself.
'Hmm...'
Tough choice.
Like a game: pick one.
Mustang or Challenger
Pre-ride my future Mustang, or try the rare Challenger.
Their stares pressed, so I thought fast.
Okay. Decided.
“Can I ride the Challenger...?”
The guy's face lit up excessively at my choice.
“Of course! I'll drive safe, princess!”
'P...Princess...'
I involuntarily closed my eyes at the word.
Wrong choice.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Nothing goes my way.'
Han Ji-hu clicked his tongue inwardly, watching Choi Yeon-bi from a distance by the pavilion.
He pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it.
'Last one already.'
Last cig in mouth, lit up, eyes fixed on Choi Yeon-bi and Kang Min-seok.
'He should stick to girls his age.'
He sighed lightly, exhaling smoke.
Nicotine cleared his head, calming the rising anger.
With a cool head, he pondered his next move.
'Switch at the rest stop first.'
Today's drive plan.
Leave here, hit the highway, rest stop 30 minutes away.
Chat and lunch there, then scenic cafe nearby for more talk.
Until evening, then dinner for some, rest disperse. Typical social.
'Switch at rest stop... chat heading to cafe, then block him completely.'
Han Ji-hu schemed to get Choi Yeon-bi in his car.
But Kang Min-seok was plotting too.
'Got her riding, but he'll pull something at the rest stop. No good letting the young lady hang with a guy like that...'
Kang Min-seok rationalized his crush as "protection."
He watched her chatting with others, eyes worried.
“Really? Almost no young women like Yeon-bi drive Mustangs.”
“Ah... yeah.”
“Wanna drive with me? Rare chance for a Dark Horse in Korea~ Engine roar is killer.”
“Dark Horse...”
To truly protect Yeon-bi from Han Ji-hu, hand her to Yoo Yeon-ah nearby.
She was already showing massive interest in Choi Yeon-bi.
But.
“Hey now, princess is with me today.”
“Princess? Ugh, who says that anymore?”
Kang Min-seok didn't.
Seeing Choi Yeon-bi's stiff expression at "princess," he smiled smugly.
'Women love princess treatment, as expected.'
A bit later.
“Alright, everyone, let's head out! Destination's the usual rest stop! Safety first, second, and third!”
At Kim Ki-seo's standard pre-departure shout, everyone boarded their cars.