Chapter 154: Proposal
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 154: Proposal
“Are you trying to kill your own brother?! Is it that big a deal that I didn't listen to your love story?!”
I yelled at my brother in annoyance as he nearly swerved into the next lane while looking at me.
I might be the younger brother, but honestly, this was something worth getting angry about.
“……I’m sorry.”
My Second Hyung, seemingly acknowledging his mistake, apologized and fixed his gaze forward, his lips pressed into a thin line.
“Wow, I really thought I was a goner.”
At any rate, it was a relief that no accident occurred.
— What? What happened?
Yoo Ah-rin’s urgent voice came through the phone.
Since the call hadn't ended yet, she must have heard everything.
It was rare to hear Yoo Ah-rin sound worried, but I calmed her down first.
“It’s okay. We almost crashed, but we’re safe. Phew, that was really dangerous.”
— My heart almost dropped. I thought it was one of those scenes from a drama.
“Tell me about it.”
“Hey… Woo-jin?”
Second Hyung called out to me again.
“What.”
When I replied with a narrow-eyed glare, Second Hyung kept his eyes on the road and spoke.
“Can you put it on speakerphone?”
“Why? She’s my friend.”
“Please, I’m begging you.”
“No.”
— What’s going on?
“Then let me talk to her. Or do you want me to turn my head again?”
Is he insane?
He’s literally negotiating with his own life.
“Fine, fine! Just look at the road, please!”
I switched to speakerphone in annoyance, and Second Hyung immediately greeted her with his professional 'sales' voice and a smile.
“Hello, I’m Kim Un, Woo-jin’s second older brother. Do you have a moment to talk?”
— Huh? Woo-jin’s second brother? What, he has another brother besides the Vice Chairman?
“Yeah, there’s one more.”
— I’m jealous. I’m an only child.
I don’t know why the conversation naturally flowed back to me even though Second Hyung was the one who started it.
Second Hyung seemed a bit taken aback by Yoo Ah-rin’s 'my-pace' attitude, but a satisfied smile played on his lips.
“Ah-rin, do you happen to watch internet broadcasts often?”
“Hyung…?”
I finally realized what he was trying to do. Yoo Ah-rin’s voice was uniquely charming.
It seemed Second Hyung saw that as a major selling point.
— Internet broadcasts? I don’t watch them.
“I see. A lot of people watch them these days. They’ve become quite mainstream.”
— ……You really are Woo-jin’s second brother, right?
Yoo Ah-rin grew slightly wary, probably thinking he was trying to sell her something. His tone and the way he was building up the conversation were definitely a bit suspicious.
“Ah, of course. It’s just that I work on scouting and growing internet broadcasters.”
— You want me to do a broadcast?
“Yes, yes! Your voice is so incredibly charming, and from what I can tell, you have a great, easygoing personality. You’re perfect for internet broadcasting.”
— But I’m not really into showing my face and all that.
“Oh! These days, there are things called VTubers where you use a character instead.”
— Hmm, Kim Woo-jin is right there, isn't he?
“What.”
When I brought the phone closer to me, Yoo Ah-rin whispered softly.
— Hey, you didn't join some weird cult, did you? He’s not like a 'brother bound by heart' or something, right?
“Ah-rin! I can hear you!”
— Shit.
“I can hear that, too!”
— Kim Woo-jin, you son of a bitch, you should’ve taken it off speakerphone if you had any sense.
“You’re the one who messed up, so why blame me?”
— Do you think I’d be good at internet broadcasting too?
Despite how he looks, Second Hyung is surprisingly good at business.
He must have seen potential, which is why he was pushing this scouting offer so aggressively to my friend.
After a moment of thought, I gave my honest opinion.
“Hmm, well, it wouldn't be bad? But instead of being a VTuber, it’d probably be better to just show your face.”
— Why?
“……I just think so.”
— Say it. Or I won’t do it.
This girl always wants me to say what she already knows I’m thinking. Feeling Second Hyung’s desperate gaze on me, I sighed and answered in a small voice.
“Because you’re pretty.”
— Sigh, this guy always says stuff like that so quietly.
“Our Woo-jin has very, very high standards, so if he says you’re pretty, you must be a real beauty, Ah-rin!”
Honestly.
‘She is pretty.’
Though she was often overshadowed by the halo radiating from Seo Ye-rin, Yoo Ah-rin was a beauty in her own right.
— Hmm, well, I’ll think about it for now. Thanks for the great offer.
“Oh, of course! I’ll send my contact info and business card through Woo-jin! Please make sure to get in touch!”
Click.
As soon as the call ended, Hyung pulled into a nearby rest area and stopped the car.
“Do you have a photo of Ah-rin?”
“Are you serious?”
“Of course! VTubers are great, but a beauty is always more than welcome.”
“Sigh……”
I’m not the type to take many photos, so I checked her profile picture on Tok.
There was a photo of Yoo Ah-rin in her Gold One uniform, so I showed him that.
Thud!
He slammed his palm against the steering wheel and shouted wildly.
“It’s her! She’s the one! Our next star! She’ll definitely make it! Absolutely! Wow, Woo-jin! Where did you find such a hidden gem?!”
“…….”
“She’s pretty, but she’s also got a cool personality and speaks her mind. In the streaming world, this type works way better than the quiet ones. I’m going to make her a star, no matter what!”
“……But Hyung.”
“Take my business card, Woo-jin. Tell her she has to call. No, wait, that beef from earlier? I’ll buy it, so tell her to come out right now…!”
“She’s, uh, one of the three.”
“…….”
Second Hyung, who had been shaking his jowls and spitting in excitement, froze.
He stared at me blankly, took a deep breath, and patted my shoulder.
“Our company artists are forbidden from dating.”
“What about Sister-in-law?”
“She’s the CEO.”
* * *
Shit, what is this?
I was at the beef restaurant with Second Hyung.
Seo Ye-rin’s sudden Tok message snapped me to attention.
She even sent a photo of the inside of my room. This girl is seriously a psycho.
When I snapped at her, another Tok arrived.
The photo showed Seo Ye-rin lying on my bed wearing white underwear. I felt a surge of heat in my lower body despite myself.
But I am not the Kim Woo-jin of the past.
I am the Kim Woo-jin who has attained enlightenment.
I won’t act like trash anymore. I’ll draw a clear line and find my own answer.
But it seemed my brain and my fingers weren't communicating well.
This time, she sent a photo posed as if she were waiting for it from behind.
I wanted to grab those hips and make her moan right then and there.
This girl should have been a pepper farmer.
She’s a genius at making my 'pepper' angry.
-
Phew.
Handled that for now.
“Can you ask Ah-rin how close she is?”
Second Hyung was fidgeting beside me.
I handed him a wet wipe to dab his sweat.
“She said she’d be here soon. Just wait.”
She was the type of girl who would follow a stranger if they promised her beef.
Sure enough, after waiting a few minutes, Yoo Ah-rin walked into the restaurant wearing a gray hoodie and tracksuit pants.
Spotting us, she hurried over.
“Hello, I’m Yoo Ah-rin.”
“Oh! Hello! I’m Kim Un! Here’s my business card. I didn't bring a family relationship certificate, but I’m Woo-jin’s brother by blood.”
“Ah, yes.”
Ah-rin took the card and sat down. Her eyes were already scanning the menu rather than the card.
A smile spread across her face when she saw the prices. I wondered if she was always this easy to please.
“Woo-jin, I want to eat beef when I get proposed to later.”
“Just order chicken at home.”
We exchanged silly jokes while ordering the meat.
“Oh, you’re even more beautiful in person!”
“Thank you!”
To Ah-rin, anyone who bought her meat was a good person. Second Hyung had already earned that title.
Vibrate!
My phone buzzed while the two were talking.
It was rare for Choi I-seo to send a photo, so I checked it. It was a picture of Seo Ye-rin asleep on my bed in her underwear.
‘…….’
She clearly said she was going home, so I have no idea why she fell asleep there. It’s not my fault if she gets in trouble with her parents.
I stopped the flood of question marks and asked.
Choi I-seo wasn't a dormitory student either, so I didn't know how she was there.
Since it was Choi I-seo, she’d handle it somehow.
Second Hyung was explaining various things to Yoo Ah-rin, but her attention was already fixed on the beef.
Deciding that he needed to fill her stomach before they could talk further, Hyung leaned back in his chair and paused.
“Perfect. She’ll be great at Mukbangs too.”
He looked at Ah-rin and seemed satisfied, thinking she was a perfect fit for the job.
Just then.
“We’re here.”
“…….”
Two women approached our table.
One was a stranger.
Her hair was a mix of various vibrant colors—so flashy it was clear she wasn't an ordinary person.
And the other was...
Oh Yun-ji, with her passionate red hair.
“……Huh?”
I reflexively looked at Second Hyung, who scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“I couldn't decide everything on my own. Ah! Honey! This is our youngest! Woo-jin, say hello! This is your Sister-in-law!”
“Hello, I’m Choi Eun-byeol. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“……Hello.”
I stood up awkwardly and shook her hand. My Second Sister-in-law immediately greeted Yoo Ah-rin as well.
Oh Yun-ji met my eyes and sighed, telling me not to worry.
“I’m here for work today.”
She drew a firm line.
Yeah, that’s Oh Yun-ji for you.
I felt the tension leave my shoulders as I relaxed.
Oh Yun-ji then offered her hand to Yoo Ah-rin.
“Hello, I’m Oh Yun-ji. We were both in the English Department last year, but we didn't get to talk much back then, did we?”
“…….”
“I was so busy going everywhere with Woo-jin that I didn't have time to look after other classmates.”
Yoo Ah-rin’s eyes widened slightly as she stared at Oh Yun-ji.
My goodness.
‘She broke her promise in three seconds.’
She clearly said she’d keep things professional, but Oh Yun-ji had already thrown the first punch.
“Ah!”
However.
“You must be Woo-jin’s ex-girlfriend?”
Yoo Ah-rin wasn't the type to just take a hit and stay down.