Chapter 168
Chapter 168
Translator: Penny
Chapter 168
"Yes! Vacation time!"
With our promotional activities concluded, we were granted a week-long break.
As always, Kim Dobin bolted straight to his family home, while Seo Yehyeon and Gyeon Hajun also headed to their respective homes.
Only Ryu Jaehee and I remained at the dorm. Thankfully, my firm insistence prevented a second "bone broth incident."
Instead, Gyeon Hajun made me practice kimchi fried rice several times. Only after I finally managed to cook a passable version did he relax and head home.
"Knowing your cooking skills, I can't tell you to completely avoid ordering takeout. But try not to order too much, okay?"
Seo Yehyeon strongly urged us one last time as he stepped out the front door.
"Yeah, yeah, we get it. You really don't trust people, do you?" I replied casually. As soon as the door closed, I turned to Ryu Jaehee and said, "Kid, let's make a list of all the delivery food we want for the next five days."
"Whoa, are you serious?"
"Well, you want us to cook?"
"Ah, that's... a bit much."
Ryu Jaehee shuddered, remembering our countless culinary disasters, and shook his head vigorously.
After meticulously planning our five-day menu to avoid any repeats, I sprawled out on the sofa and muttered, "I miss Podo..."
"Then go visit him at the main house. I can call Dobin Hyung right now, so don't worry about me and just go."
Kim Dobin wanted to take Ryu Jaehee to his house, but Jaehee refused when he learned I was staying at the dorm.
"I'd be dead if I went..." he replied weakly. Now that Mom had discovered the graduation album, any hope of a peaceful break at the family home was gone.
And the moment Dad found out I'd secretly taken his golf club as a prop for the shoot, I'd have to declare myself dead.
Confessing to damaging the golf club would be the same as admitting I'd done it.
I'd be lucky if I went to see Podo and didn't get beaten with the golf club.
"Let's order chicken tonight, Kid."
"Chicken sounds good."
And so, the first day of our break passed peacefully with chicken.
Then came the second day.
I had to repay my high school friends who had worked tirelessly to clear my name from the bullying accusations.
I told Ryu Jaehee I'd be back before dinner and headed to the restaurant my friends had reserved.
"Hey, the Ranger King is here!" Kim Woochan, recently discharged from the military, shouted as soon as he saw me. The other jerks, who had watched One Chance just to see me, immediately understood and started banging on the table, laughing and calling me a "half-military."
I sat down next to Kim Woochan and casually draped my arm over his shoulder.
"Seriously, I owe you my life. I almost became that guy who couldn't handle Ranger Training and ran away."
"What did I tell you? Just trust me, right?"
"Yeah, but that's one thing. We still need to settle the score for you singling me out for extra hell, you bastard. Was that fun for you?"
I tightened my grip on Kim Woochan's neck, putting him in a headlock. He coughed and tapped my forearm in submission.
"What? It was fun! Honestly, Woochan saved about 40% of your Risa episode."
Hearing Kim Yuseon's words, I decided to generously forgive her and released the headlock.
"Hey, hey, these fans think he's called Dark Knight because he beats up bullies, right? Shouldn't we reveal the truth?"
"Exactly! The nickname actually comes from Shakedownception—when he shook down a guy who was shaking down someone else!"
These crazy bastards were determined to bury me. It hadn't even been that long since the rumors about me being a bully and a school violence perpetrator had finally died down.
"I barely managed to put out the fire, and now these lunatics are trying to pour gasoline all over it."
Kim Yuseon clicked her tongue. Thanks to this, the truth about Dark Knight was buried as a secret known only to us.
"Wow, your memories are amazing," I said, impressed that my friends remembered such trivial details. A sharp retort immediately followed.
"Isn't it you who has the memory of a goldfish? What, did you live ten extra years somewhere?"
Seven years back and three years spent here... that makes exactly ten years. I gave my friend, who had accidentally caught a mouse while backing up like a cow, the traditional blessing: "You should buy a lottery ticket!"
"But seriously, he really beat up that bully."
"Ah, right. I remember that. But that bastard kept harassing me while making me rap. And let's be clear—it wasn't a beating, it was a fight."
Grumbling, I picked up a slice of tuna sashimi.
"Hey, you really think he's gonna stop cussing after his debut? Look at him now—not a single curse word. Back in the day, he'd be calling everyone 'motherfucker,' 'son of a bitch,' 'every kind of bastard under the sun.'"
"Yeah, yeah, he's on some 'speak properly' campaign. Happy now?"
He had a point. The System would pounce on anyone who swore, slashing their Original Intent Score.
After the first round at the Japanese restaurant, we moved on to a barbecue place for round two.
"Everyone knows we're going all night, right? No early exits allowed?"
"Can't. I gotta get back to the dorm."
Since the System's restrictions prevented me from drinking more anyway, I figured it was better to use the dorm as an excuse to leave early rather than stay sober until the end and end up cleaning up the mess.
"You're on vacation, aren't you? Why stay at the dorm instead of going home? Finally got kicked out?"
"That's not it. If Mom finds my graduation album, I'm dead."
"Wow, you've managed to keep that hidden this long? I got caught ages ago. When my mom heard about your debut, she was worried about you. She asked if celebrities are allowed to have embarrassing old photos circulating."
"Tell your mom I appreciate her concern."
The trivial conversation and clinking glasses continued.
Excessive alcohol consumption detected.
Original Intent Score -1
After two bottles of soju and one bottle of beer, the System finally warned me to stop drinking. It was perfect timing, as it was dinner time anyway.
As I subtly tried to get up, my hawk-eyed friends grabbed me.
"Hey, why are you leaving so early?"
"I can't just leave the youngest member alone at the dorm. I need to make sure he eats dinner."
"How old is your youngest member?"
"Nineteen."
"Not even fifteen? Could you not be alone or cook for yourself at nineteen?"
"I could be alone, but I couldn't cook. Did we ever cook at home when we were nineteen? We ate school lunches until dinner, right?"
"That's true."
The friend nodded in agreement.
"Just invite him over and feed him meat. What, is your youngest member shy?"
"Can't you see all these soju bottles? Why would I risk getting him involved in underage drinking rumors?"
I gestured at the row of bottles and asked sarcastically. One of the guys snapped his fingers.
"Ah, that's the problem? Then there's a simple solution."
With a confident grin, he lifted a soju bottle and shouted, "Drink it all!"
As I stared dumbfounded at him chugging the entire bottle in one go, cheers and applause erupted from all around.
"Drink up! Drink up!"
"Boss, clear these empty bottles!"
Those crazy bastards... I chuckled dryly as I surveyed the table, now a full-blown drinking party, and stood up.
I'd already reached the System-approved alcohol limit anyway. And based on my experience, once a drinking session reached this stage, any meaningful conversation was out the window.
As I rose, Kim Woochan, who was sitting next to me, asked, "Leaving already?"
"I told you, I'm waiting for the youngest member."
"Well, look at that. Yoon Eden, the legend himself, leaving a drinking party early to take care of his little brother. You've really grown up, Yoon Eden."
Anyone would think you raised me, you jerk. I smirked without replying and handed him my card.
"I don't know how many rounds they'll go, just charge everything to this."
"Okay, I'll pay you back tomorrow," Kim Woochan said, bowing deeply as he took my card with a wink.
I left the bar, ignoring his loud praise about me bestowing my "grace" upon him.
Back at the dorm after the drinking session with my high school friends, I rubbed my eyes, wondering if I was seeing things.
"Holy shit, what's going on?"
I vividly remembered that everyone except Ryu Jaehee had gone home. So what was this scene unfolding before me?
The dorm looked exactly as it always did, making me wonder if I was still drunk.
"I don't have any friends around here anymore. Everyone scattered for college... Most of my high school friends are in Seoul..."
"If I left you two alone, you'd either live on takeout or starve to death. I'm really worried."
"I fought with my younger sibling," Seo Yehyeon said, unprompted, her expression still sulky.
"What's the point of a vacation if we're just stuck here?" I grumbled, squeezing onto the sofa between Kim Dobin and Gyeon Hajun.
Seo Yehyeon, who was leaning against the sofa's base, retorted, "It doesn't matter to you, Yoon Eden. You'd stay in the dorm anyway. It's just more people here now. But I specifically told you not to order too much takeout, and you've already made a detailed meal plan?"
The moment I stepped into the dorm, I was bombarded with nagging, making me dizzy. Is this why I had to ditch my long-awaited drinks with friends and sneak out early?
"Sorry, Eden Hyung. Yehyeon Hyung just happened to catch me." Ryu Jaehee apologized shamelessly, his face showing no hint of remorse.
I scanned the members gathered here despite our vacation, pondering what to do. We could just go about our usual schedule-free days, but it felt like a waste to let the vacation slip by like that.
"Does anyone have anything they want to do during the vacation?"
Kim Dobin's eyes lit up as he raised his hand enthusiastically. "Since we're on vacation anyway, let's go on a trip together! A real trip, without cameras!"
📝 Translator’s Note:
You may notice that certain lines or phrases in this novel appear both in their original Korean (or Hanja) form and in English translation.
This is intentional — these phrases are classical idioms, divine titles, or poetic expressions that carry layered meanings.
To preserve their original tone and authenticity, the raw text has been kept for reference, while the English interpretation is provided right before or after it. This helps convey both the literal and cultural nuance of the original work.
but if you guys dont want tha raw for future chapters or my future other novels u can just text me on discord and say so discord name Mr.Penny