Chapter 117: Promise
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 117: Promise
Ever since she met my brother, Yoo Ah-rin has been acting a bit different.
Maybe it was because Department Head Lee Chan-song’s disciplinary committee hearing was set, or because the order came down to pull part-timers from night shifts, returning her to her original schedule.
Or maybe it was because she found out I’m the youngest son of the chairman of Gold One’s parent company.
No, that’s probably not it.
In fact, when I told her I wasn't inheriting anything and had walked away from it all, she actually clapped and laughed in my face.
What was it she said?
Something about how Gold One employees drive imported cars while Kim Woo-jin walks everywhere.
She teased me so relentlessly that I got annoyed and gave her a light noogie, only for her to counter-attack, which is why I’m out here now.
I wasn't off the clock yet.
It was just a short break, but instead of sitting still, I decided to head over and see Seo Ye-rin for the first time in a while.
There’s also the matter of Department Head Lee Chan-song.
Even though I work with Yoo Ah-rin, I hadn't noticed what she was going through. In that sense, I planned to ask Seo Ye-rin about it too.
The way she’s been spamming messages and sending photos lately is weird.
I was actually a bit worried because the frequency of her photos had increased so much recently.
It was a sign that she was under a lot of stress.
Especially since photos of her were circulating on SNS, calling her the "Beauty Part-timer of Dae-Han-Dang at Gold One Bakery." She was probably dealing with people staring at her every single day.
I should tell her to just pull them out by the roots this time.
Since my big brother is still at the hotel, I could use him as a "chance."
At first, I felt a bit weird about asking for help, but thinking about it, I was actually helping my brother out.
I was helping him clean up the people in the company who had lost their minds.
I don’t really want to do my brother any favors, though.
As soon as I arrived at Dae-Han-Dang, Seo Ye-rin stood out immediately. Dressed in her uniform—a white dress shirt, a brown apron, and a baker’s hat—she possessed a charm that would make anyone, man or woman, do a double-take.
She really is something.
I was thinking that her face was practically a national treasure as I started to enter the bakery, but then—
"Aw, come on, what’s the big deal?"
Before I could even get close, someone was already hitting on her. Because Gold One has a casino, gangsters often come by as customers, and this guy looked the part.
The goblin tattoo crawling up his neck was clearly meant to intimidate.
The other part-timers were glancing at the thug, too terrified to intervene.
...I kind of just want to leave.
If it were a part-timer or an employee, I’d just whip out the Vice Chairman’s card and tell them to get lost, but this guy was a customer.
Plus, he looked like he belonged to some organization with a cringey name like the "Fire Poker Gang."
I didn't want to get targeted just for protecting Seo Ye-rin, but...
Sigh.
Thinking back to how Seo Ye-rin used to suffer at the hands of our seniors, I couldn't just stand by.
She’d been pushed around and had a hard time with Han-gang and our classmates at the karaoke bar, and with the 3rd-year seniors at the gopchang house.
How was she supposed to shake off a gangster on her own?
I was about to step in to buy time to call the hotel guards, but then—
"Don't touch me, sir."
Contrary to her bright smile, her tone was sharp as a thorn, instantly shifting the cozy atmosphere of the bakery.
"What?"
The thug was gripping Seo Ye-rin’s wrist. She looked at it, then pointed to the CCTV camera with her other hand.
"This is all being recorded. Sir, you shouldn't be doing this."
"Oh, so you think you're hot shit just 'cause you've got a pretty face? You look like a loose bitch who's been around the block anyway—!"
He’s insane.
I don't care if he's a thug or uneducated; how could he say something like that?
But then.
Snap.
Seo Ye-rin immediately flipped him off with her middle finger. I’d never seen her swear before, so my jaw practically hit the floor.
The thug huffed, looking like he was about to strike her at any moment, but—
"We received a report!"
The guards arrived in the blink of an eye.
They seemed used to this situation; apparently, they’d been called out because of Seo Ye-rin several times already.
"Sir, you cannot act like this here."
"I'm a customer! Is this how you treat a fucking customer? Huh? Is it?! You're gonna run your business like this? Do you know how much money I've spent here?"
He was quite proud of the fact that he’d blown a fortune at the casino. As I watched the guards drag the thug away, I stood there dazed.
"Oh? Woo-jina!"
In total contrast to the icy atmosphere from a moment ago, Seo Ye-rin approached me with a radiant smile.
"What's up? Are you here to buy bread? Or did you come to see me?"
"...I did come to see you, but."
Feeling the weight of the other part-timers' gazes, I looked over awkwardly to find them all staring at us in shock.
It wasn't really a conversation to have here, so I was debating what to do when—
"Sorry, but do you mind if I take a quick break?"
Seo Ye-rin was surprisingly quick on the uptake and asked the other part-timers. Given what had just happened, no one objected to her taking a break.
We ended up on a nearby bench outside.
I grabbed a Coke from the vending machine and handed it to her. She smiled brightly and gulped it down.
Then she said:
"I only drink Zero!"
"You already drank half of it, what are you..."
"I have to manage myself by drinking Zero. Get me a Zero next time."
So she does "manage" herself.
I guess looks like hers don't just happen effortlessly.
"So, what did you want to say?"
"Um."
I originally had something to say.
But after seeing her just now, the words vanished. She was handling thugs perfectly fine on her own; it was clear she’d speak up immediately if she were sexually harassed.
So, I shifted the subject.
"You've changed a bit. You couldn't even speak up in situations like that before."
When I told her she’d done well, Seo Ye-rin gave me a big thumbs-up.
"The trend these days is a protagonist who handles their own business."
"Stop watching so much anime."
"Hehe, there's that too. But I can't have you protecting me forever."
"..."
Maybe it was because I hadn't expected her to say that. As I stared at her blankly, she looked quite proud of herself.
"That's why. I wanted to become someone you don't have to worry about. Yeah, I think I found the courage because I wanted to be that person."
She probably didn't notice that her shoulders were still trembling slightly, just like when she’d given the thumbs-up.
She talked a big game, but of course, it must have been scary.
She was just pretending not to be, and she’d gotten better at saying things people didn't want to hear.
"You're working hard."
I patted her shoulder as a form of comfort. Seo Ye-rin grinned, seemingly pleased, and finished the rest of her Coke.
Alright, comfort over.
I moved my hand from her shoulder and pinched both of her cheeks with my fingers.
Her mouth puckered out as her cheeks were squeezed.
As she looked at me with a questioning gaze, I spoke with a voice full of annoyance.
"I told you to stop sending those photos."
"Hehehe! Are you having a hard time because you're turned on?"
This girl...
"Phew, just stop. Got it? It doesn't seem like you're under much stress lately, so why do you keep doing it?"
I let go and sighed. Seo Ye-rin stroked her soft cheeks with both hands as she replied.
"Then play with me today. How about it?"
"I don't know how the conversation led to that, but no."
Given what my brother said yesterday, I wasn't in the mood to hang out one-on-one with a girl.
"Aw, why?! If you play with me, I promise I'll never send photos like that again! Deal?"
"I could just block you, you know."
When I said that confidently, Seo Ye-rin pouted.
"Is that how it's gonna be between us?"
"What exactly is 'between us'?"
"We're sex friends."
"..."
I had no comeback for that.
"You're gonna act like this after taking my virginity?"
"Watch your mouth!"
I covered her mouth with my hand and looked around to see if anyone was nearby. Fortunately, there wasn't.
Having learned from experience, I pulled my hand away quickly before she could lick it. She gave me a sly smile.
"If you play with me, I'll help you."
What was she talking about now?
"What are you saying? Help me with what?"
When I asked irritably, Seo Ye-rin wore a suggestive smile and leaned in to whisper in my ear.
"I'll help you sort out... why you aren't dating I-seo or Ah-rin."
"...?!"
I looked at her in shock, but she just met my eyes with the same expression.
"Got it? I'll send you a Tok, so you better reply immediately when I call. Okay?"
"Sigh."
"Or do you want to pick me up when I get off work? Let's do that."
With a bright smile, Seo Ye-rin stood up from the bench. She looked at my exhausted, half-dead expression and clicked her tongue.
"Heal!"
Suddenly, she grabbed my head and shoved my face right into her cleavage.
"Mmph-ubub?!"
My vision went dark, and the soft sensation against my face made me let out a muffled noise.
"Hehehe! That tickles!"
Whatever she found so funny, she tightened her grip on my head so I couldn't escape.
She clearly had no intention of letting go, so I had to get out on my own. To do that, I had to touch her breasts.
Anyone would have hesitated in that situation.
But I didn't. I grabbed both of her breasts with my hands and shoved her away.
"Phew!"
As I escaped, Seo Ye-rin adjusted her chest.
"You chafed my bra."
Like I care.
"Then don't do that."
"I did it to make you feel better because you looked so miserable. Well? Do you feel better now?"
"...Fuck."
Setting aside the fact that my lower half felt like it was going to explode, I hated myself for actually feeling better just from touching a pair of soft breasts.
Is this because of my bloodline?
Looking at my big brother, he seemed like the type to be pushed around by women too. It must be his fault.
Either that, or I’m just a man who’s naturally weak to a woman’s seduction.
"More importantly, how was it?"
"How was what? Your chest? Air it out, it smells like sweat."
I immediately got smacked.
"Not that! Didn't they get bigger?"
"...Huh?"
"With this much, don't you think I could pull off that cosplay I showed you last time?"
Was she talking about the cow cosplay?
At her words, I blankly stared at her chest. Indeed, they did seem a bit larger than before.
"Did you put in pads?"
"Shut up! I've been growing them with daily massages!"
Alright, just stop shaking them. It makes me want to touch them.
"Anyway, I'm off at 5:00, so you have to come pick me up. Got it?"
Since her break was almost over, Seo Ye-rin told me not to forget.
"Fine, you brat."
I sighed and nodded.
"See you later then! Sex!"
"..."
Is she actually insane?
As I stared at her blankly, Seo Ye-rin scratched her cheek awkwardly and made an excuse.
"I... I heard guys use that as an exclamation? Like, 'This is sex!' or something..."
"It's not, so just go."
"Sex!"
I said it's not.