Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Hero Hwa-young
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A torn photo of Hwa-young, riddled with stab marks from what looked like an awl.
Cockroaches, centipedes, ants, and all sorts of unidentified creepy bugs.
"Ugh."
The contents were enough to make anyone gag.
"Hwa-young unnie. This is a gift for you!"
Remembering that fan handing it over so casually only made it worse.
"This is just too much."
…I tossed the box into a nearby trash can, but I still spent a good while fighting back waves of nausea.
*
Hwa-young's next schedule was patrol duty.
From what I'd heard, each hero had their assigned patrol zones, and they followed set routes to keep watch.
Similar to how police officers patrol, the mere presence of heroes seemed to deter crime.
…'I still feel like throwing up.'
The aftermath of that box lingered; even crawling along at 30 km/h, my stomach churned.
"Hm? Honey, what's with that look? Feeling dizzy again?"
It must have shown on my face, because Hwa-young asked if something was wrong.
…How could she stay so calm after seeing that box's contents?
"No, it's nothing. Just feeling a bit sleepy from driving so slow."
I brushed off her question vaguely and stared straight ahead again.
I couldn't exactly say it was because I'd peeked at the box she told me not to open.
But then.
…"You saw it, huh? That thing."
She murmured softly.
'Is she a telepath or something?'
No, as far as I knew, Hwa-young's powers were fire-based…
"Honey, are you wondering right now if I'm a telepath?"
Whoa. She really was.
…"Are you actually a telepath?"
"Pfft. As if. It's written all over your face. You must be the type who can't lie to save his life."
…I had nothing to say. I'd heard that plenty growing up.
Caught in my lie, I decided to ask the question burning in my mind.
"How do you look at that stuff and stay so calm?"
If that torn photo had been of me, I'd have been grimacing for hours.
But apparently, that was my misconception.
Hwa-young gave a slightly bitter smile and said,
"Calm? Hardly. I was shocked too. It's just been a while since I got one like that."
Hold on.
…"A while?"
"It's happened a few times. More when I film dramas with male heroes. Sigh."
She continued with a wry smile.
"But now? I'm used to it. …I'd cry sometimes back in the day."
"Ah. Keep this a secret," she added, her expression oddly familiar.
Yeah, it was just like…
"Boss. What do you think of Hero Yoon Seol?"
"Something about beating up a junior hero on set, or her parents in America pulling strings… Yeah, she's a riot."
…Seeing Yoon Seol when she first visited the bar.
"What? Don't make that face, honey. You're killing the mood."
"I'm fine. I've got my meds."
"Eh, occupational hazard. Let's go if you're feeling better. Tell me if it gets bad again."
Suddenly, Hwa-young seemed a bit fragile.
…"You okay?"
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
"Huh?"
She let out a surprised sound.
But soon, she flashed her usual smile.
"What? You worried about me, honey?"
"If you wanna split hairs."
Was I overstepping? Still…
…"Sometimes it's good to vent to someone. Even me, if you want. My manager gig ends today anyway."
People don't know unless you tell them.
…
Hwa-young fell silent, making me uneasy.
'Was that too nosy…?'
You know those people who overthink and make it awkward? Was that me?
As I tried to refocus on driving…
…"Hey, honey."
She spoke up, her expression serious.
"Did the princess get hate mail too?"
"Pfft…!"
The car swerved.
Her out-of-nowhere comment caught me off guard.
"What kind of question is that?"
"Hehe. Kidding. So, wanna hear me vent a bit?"
…"If I'm good enough."
No wonder anonymous forums overflowed with advice posts.
Sometimes, you can only open up to near-strangers.
…
A brief silence followed, then Hwa-young spoke.
"Hey, honey. Do you know why I call Yoon Seol 'princess'?"
…"To tease her?"
She shook her head lightly.
"The first time I saw her, she struck me as princess material. Looks, personality, all of it."
…
I kept my eyes on the road, listening.
"You know? Yoon Seol never does dramas or photoshoots like me. Interviews are it."
True. I watched TV a lot, but I'd never spotted her in dramas or movies.
That's why I didn't recognize her at first.
"Still, she's got this pull on people. Like a fairy-tale princess. Sure, lots of people envy her… but she doesn't seem to care."
Here I was, rattled by one nasty gift… She gave a self-deprecating chuckle.
"Standing next to the princess makes me feel like a kid begging for love from the crowd, obsessed with popularity. Guess that's why I get petty."
I'd wondered why she fixated on Yoon Seol so much.
A misplaced interest. Or maybe admiration.
'…At least she doesn't hate her.'
But one thing she said needed correcting.
"Actually, she cares about haters more than you think."
"What?"
She stared at me like I'd lost it.
Makes sense—she'd wonder where that came from.
I pressed on regardless.
"She came to my bar last time, got drunk, and cried. More sensitive than she lets on."
…
"And the time before, she apologized with watermelon and bit her tongue. Pfft."
That was funny. Or cute, maybe.
"Oh, and yeah, she looks the princess part."
Ice Princess. Fitting nickname, looks-wise.
…
Hwa-young listened quietly.
Finally, she frowned slightly.
…"What's your point?"
My point? Simple.
The Yoon Seol you admire is actually…
"More ordinary than a princess. Oh. Not that ordinary."
Superpowers, beauty, money, popularity.
'And haters.'
Anyway, not the perfect fairy-tale princess she imagined.
"I don't get why you're so hung up on popularity… but you don't need to compare to Yoon Seol."
…
A little lip service.
"At least to me, you're pretty cool too, Hwa-young."
Honestly, what she'd shown me felt more like a mischievous kid than cool…
'But you don't say that in a moment like this.'
Read the room.
…
Hwa-young bowed her head, lost in thought.
Not crying. More like holding back a laugh.
'Did I overdo it?'
As I glanced at her…
"Pfft."
She burst out laughing brightly.
"Honey. Wanna just be my manager for good?"
"No thanks."
"Why? I'd treat you great."
She smacked her lips regretfully.
I replied firmly.
"I think running a cocktail bar suits me better than managing."
One more fansign and I'd collapse.
"Aw, too bad."
Hwa-young looked a bit down.
After a pause, she gazed out the passenger window.
"Do you like me, honey?"
Not romantically, surely.
'No way.'
Not asked seriously, so I half-joked back.
…"I don't like people who dig into my background."
"Pfft. So what type do you like?"
"Honest ones."
"Too bad," she muttered, then slyly added,
"If I swing by your cocktail bar after work sometime, you'll hook me up, right?"
I answered,
"Of course… if you're a customer."
Customers welcome, not scouts.
After wrapping up the rest of the schedule.
I was wiped out, while Hwa-young somehow looked more energized.
We pulled up to the building with her office, polar opposites.
"Sorry, honey. Made you work overtime."
"Nah, it's fine. Just an hour."
…Considering what she paid me, I could work twice as long and still owe her.
'Though I doubt she'd ask again.'
Managing wasn't my thing.
"Where to now, honey?"
"Hm. Probably stop by the bar, then home."
"Want a ride?"
"I'm good. Subway's quick."
Hwa-young's lips drooped a bit.
"Yeah? Okay."
Clack, clack.
She approached me.
She stopped just close enough to feel each other's breath.
…
Her face seemed redder than usual.
As I opened my mouth to ask if she had something to say…
…"See you next time, Do-han."
She murmured softly, then turned and headed to her office.
'What was that…'
I stared blankly at her back for a moment, then walked the opposite way.
'…She's pretty.'
The sunset painting the sky felt just like her.