Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: New Schedule
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"Take care going in."
"Yeah, make sure you eat well!"
Heading home after wrapping up today's schedule.
Na Yeon stepped out onto the street from Choi Yeon-bi's apartment, letting out a short sigh.
"Haa..."
Her head was spinning from the story her employee and newfound little sister, Choi Yeon-bi, had shared.
Choi Yeon-bi had proposed that she live in the house as a full-time live-in housekeeper.
'I've got some personal reasons, so I'm moving to a pretty big house this time. If it's okay with you, sis... would you be willing to live there and work as my exclusive housekeeper...?'
The moment she heard that, all sorts of questions popped into Na Yeon's mind.
Not personal doubts, but ones tied to her current job.
So she'd asked Choi Yeon-bi outright.
Was she giving up her independence to live with family?
Was she leaving this place for the capital?
If so, no amount of good terms would make Na Yeon go. Of course, even if not, it was still iffy.
In any case, Choi Yeon-bi had shaken her head and replied.
'It's the same neighborhood, so not far at all. And it's not living with family either. So... what do you think, sis?'
Honestly, it was an offer so good it bordered on ridiculous.
If Na Yeon had gotten this proposal right after taking her leave of absence from school, she would've jumped at it gratefully and worked hard for a year.
Room and board provided meant no worries about rent or food costs while saving up.
The salary she mentioned was pretty substantial too.
On top of that, most of the work involved handling things machines usually did, so aside from cooking, there wasn't much to fuss over.
The house was big, so cleaning might be a chore, but if it was that large, they'd probably hire more than one housekeeper, so no need to worry too much.
In the end, it was just switching locations from her current gig.
Any other housekeeper would've snatched it up without a second thought.
But.
She turned it down.
'Can I think about it a bit and get back to you?'
'Uh... of course.'
Na Yeon pictured Choi Yeon-bi's slightly flustered face at her refusal.
She probably hadn't expected such a sweet deal to be rejected.
'This is what makes her seem like a real chaebol.'
Having lived a life where money solved everything, she just couldn't understand.
So Na Yeon gave a wry smile.
'Yeon-bi and I are worlds apart.'
She understood the gap.
Between her—living alone in an Allstate apartment at a young age, hiring a housekeeper, now prepping to move to a house—
And herself, still in college, working as a housekeeper to pay tuition.
It made her feel a little... no, just a tiny bit shabby.
Still, she had a dream.
And for that dream, she'd turned down the sweet offer.
Hotel chef.
And someday, further up, becoming a full-fledged chef.
'This makes me pretty cool too, right?'
A woman who could turn down good money for her dream.
She figured she had a different kind of cool from Choi Yeon-bi, and gave a small smile.
That didn't mean she'd quit and cut ties, though.
No reason to, and Choi Yeon-bi was a genuine person, unlike the rich folks Na Yeon had imagined.
Modest in a way that didn't scream "rich."
Thinking of others before flaunting her money.
Spending carefully.
Never frivolously.
'...If I make it as a chef, getting hired as her exclusive cook isn't a bad idea.'
And just like that, a new little goal joined her dream.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
'Was the money not enough?'
They say if money can't solve it, you just didn't throw enough at it.
Na Yeon phrasing her refusal so politely made me wonder if that was it.
She said she'd think about it, but having some social experience, I knew that was a polite no.
Anyone with a bit of tact could've spotted it.
Anyway.
I should've offered more.
'Too late to up it now.'
It's past that point.
Bringing it up again would just make things awkward.
She's made her stance clear, so changing her mind won't be easy.
My head was getting complicated.
Anyone who could replace her?
There'd be similar people, but no perfect substitute.
'Tough, so tough.'
Dealing with people is the hardest.
Not just hiring, relationships, everything.
I flopped on the sofa, fiddling with my phone.
I even considered the housekeeper site where I'd found Na Yeon.
But most there do it as a side gig, and scouting long-term from a site anyone can join feels off.
Especially now that it's live-in.
'Needs solid background, long-term commitment, no drama...'
One person came to mind.
'Na Yeon is the best.'
No point dwelling on someone who's not coming back.
I let out a long sigh, staring at my sparse messenger friend list.
In the meantime, it had auto-updated again, revamping the friends screen like Instagram.
'Driving me nuts.'
Even old pics from Yeon-ah I'd never checked flooded in.
'Yeon-ah's living really well, as expected.'
Pics with model friends at a fancy pool.
Her in front of her Mustang.
And one in a huge private parking lot.
'That parking lot doesn't look like an apartment one.'
Maybe she lives in a house too.
In that case...
'Should I ask her?'
I texted Yeon-ah right away.
💬 Messenger Chat Sis ㅡ< br />One thing I wanna ask ㅡ< br />You free? ㅡ — Of course.
>— I'd cut sleep for my benefactor
>— (Rabbit doll emoji jumping up from sleep) No need to go that far... ㅡ< br />Anyway, I'm thinking of moving to a house ㅡ< br />So I need a housekeeper ㅡ< br />Know where to find one? ㅡ — There's that one site. The site feels a bit iffy... ㅡ — Hmm... Looking for long-term live-in help?
>— (Rabbit doll emoji in apron washing dishes) Yeah ㅡ< br />House is kinda big ㅡ< br />Better if they live there and work ㅡ — Hmm
>— Here's the plan What? ㅡ — Invite me over after you move
>— Throw a housewarming, and I'll hook you up
>— With solid people
>— (Rabbit doll emoji with sunglasses on radio) Huh? ㅡ — Let me know when you're settled
>— Promise?
>— (Rabbit doll emoji winking) Yeah?? ㅡ
And just like that, a housewarming party was suddenly on the calendar.
Not that I minded...
'Will it be okay?'
I worried they'd see the house and feel burdened by me.
'Hmm.'
Nah, probably no need to worry.
From what they've seen of me so far, it should be fine.
'Speaking of, housewarming...'
Housewarming.
A casual little party inviting friends over after moving.
I'd done it once.
When I got my first place after starting work, some buddies came over for "housewarming" and just chugged booze till they crashed.
Nothing but drinking and passing out—no real memories or thrills.
Still, it stuck in my mind, so it must've been fun enough.
'Hanging with those guys was always a blast.'
Enough reminiscing.
Housewarming... housewarming...
Never done a proper one.
I started searching hard on how to do it right.
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The next day.
Weekend, but I hustled to check the remaining house listings.
Including extras the agent insisted on showing.
I'd checked them all.
Felt bad for the agent working the weekend and explaining so hard, but neither of today's two clicked.
The first was right by the mountain—bugs everywhere.
Not scared of bugs, but no one wants to live with that many.
They didn't swarm inside, but no relaxing in the yard then.
And her evasive answers to my bug questions meant no real fix.
'Not much different from the first house, no point picking one crawling with bugs.'
Out it went.
The next was a massive house with a pool.
Pristine white luxury walls, parking for five cars easy.
Unusual layout, fountain in the yard—definitely pretty.
'Zero practicality.'
Too focused on looks; nothing stood out beyond aesthetics.
Inefficient flow.
Tons of pointless fixtures screaming maintenance costs.
The fountain and pool upkeep? Insane, from what she quoted.
Unneeded fountain.
Costs to maintain if left, more to demo.
'Spending that on pretty junk makes no sense.'
And the pool?
No real need, no matter how I thought.
If I got into swimming, great to have at home leisurely... but
'I could just add one to the spare basement in the first house.'
If I really wanted, the previous house's unused underground space would do.
Plus, the walls here were low; pool visible from taller neighbor houses.
'Explains why they don't build 'em like this anymore.'
For all those reasons, my new house was settled on as
"I'll take the fortress house from day one. What's the process?"
The fortress house from the first day it was.
'Time to prep the housewarming.'
After contract and move-in, I'd ask Na Yeon for one day's help.
No way I could cook for a housewarming solo.
'Feels like I'm doing more than singing these days.'
I just wanted a karaoke bar originally, but things keep snowballing.
Oh well.
If I'm having fun, that's what matters.