Chapter 408: Dangerous House
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 408: Dangerous House
“But no matter how I look at it, I think this is going a bit too far.”
Choi I-seo muttered as she stepped out of the house.
No matter how much Kim Woo-jin needed a place to stay, and no matter how much Choi Jin-ah owed him, she felt that taking over her house was crossing a line.
“Well, I did feel a little bad for her,” Yoo Ah-rin agreed, looking a bit embarrassed herself.
Seo Ye-rin, however, felt differently.
“I think this much is perfectly fine!”
While it might have looked like they’d taken it by force, Kim Woo-jin had presented his own reasons, and Choi Jin-ah had accepted them. That was how they’d reached this outcome.
There was the time Choi Jin-ah had lived like a parasite at Kim Woo-jin’s family home when she couldn't go to her own, and the fact that she was still borrowing his Porsche.
On top of that, the final blow that got Kim Woo-jin kicked out of the dormitory had originated from Choi Jin-ah.
When you actually listened to the whole story, Kim Woo-jin had done quite a lot for her.
“Well, even if there’s a reason, feeling sorry is still feeling sorry.”
“Sigh, I guess for a while, we’ll have to meet him outside.”
No matter how thick-skinned they were, they weren't shameless enough to get all lovey-dovey in Choi Jin-ah’s house while she wasn't there.
“Ah-rin, when are you going to go play? I want to go soon, too.”
“Just wait. I’m going to use a whole day after exams are over.”
“…….”
Just as Choi I-seo had taken Kim Woo-jin to the glamping grounds, the other two were preparing to spend private time with him as well.
Watching them, Choi I-seo felt a subtle lump forming in her chest.
She knew she shouldn't feel this way, but emotions don't always follow one's will.
“Guys, but—”
“Shut up, Choi I-seo.”
“Shh.”
“…….”
She tried to say something, but she was shut down so cleanly that she could only keep her mouth shut and listen to the two of them plan their schedules.
* * *
“Nice place.”
After the siege of Choi Jin-ah’s house was over.
Once the girls had all left, I took a slow look around the interior.
Exploring someone else’s home gave me a strange sense of forbidden thrill, but since I’d be staying here for the time being, I figured I should get used to it.
Wow, she really did a good job with this place.
Starting from the kitchen, the clean yet classic feel was quite calming.
If I were to imagine a violinist’s home, this was exactly the kind of atmosphere I’d expect.
Is this the practice room?
It wasn't just violins; various string instruments were lined up.
There were enough for an entire ensemble, which really made Choi Jin-ah’s status hit home.
There were also massive speakers set up; I planned to ask her how to use them later.
In the next room, there was a mini gym filled with exercise equipment.
They looked like high-end machines, and even though they seemed relatively new, there were signs of frequent use.
I probably shouldn't go into the bedroom.
It was a woman’s room, after all; it felt wrong to just barge in and make myself at home.
I planned to bring my own blanket and sleep on the living room floor anyway.
Look at the size of that TV.
Watching movies on that would be a total jackpot.
Though, since the three girls probably wouldn't want to hang out in Choi Jin-ah’s house, I’d mostly be watching alone.
Vrrr! Vrrr! Vrrr!
My phone rang in the middle of my house tour.
— Oh Yun-ji —
Thinking that what was bound to happen had finally happened, I gulped and carefully answered the call.
“Hello?”
— Do you want to die?
“…….”
— Huh? You want to die? You want me to literally tear you apart?
“N-No.”
— I even prepared dinner because I thought you were coming. What the hell is wrong with you? Is it fun playing with people like this?
“I-I wasn't playing with you. I just didn't want to be homeless, so in order to survive—”
— Forget it! You haven't eaten dinner yet, right? I’m coming over there now, so don't eat anything else.
“You’re coming here?”
— Yeah! I boiled some Doenjang Jjigae to feed a certain someone, and it’d be a waste to give it to Jin-ah.
— Yun-ji?!
I heard Choi Jin-ah’s hurt voice over the phone.
I hung up after telling her I understood.
Doenjang Jjigae, huh?
Come to think of it, was there even anything to eat here?
I was almost out of money, so I had to keep my food expenses to a minimum.
I peeked into the refrigerator and saw rows of frozen foods along with a few bottles of Soju.
“…….”
Honestly, Choi Jin-ah was way too fast at picking up bad habits.
Until a moment ago, it felt like I was looking at a violinist’s home, but the fridge was strictly that of a broke college student living alone.
Ding-dong!
After waiting a bit, the doorbell rang.
Yun-ji said she’d gotten a place near the school, and she arrived much faster than I expected.
“Yes, coming.”
I really felt like the owner of the house.
Clack.
“Huh?”
“Hmm?”
When I opened the door, Senior Ju-hee was standing there wearing her Dragon Padded Jacket.
Since such an unexpected person had appeared, we both stood there in a daze, momentarily lost for words.
“W-Where’s Jin-ah?”
“Ah, about that.”
I unintentionally began to explain.
I was so flustered that I ended up blabbing the whole story of what had happened right there at the door.
“Wait, what?”
“Ju-hee Unni?”
While I was explaining, the elevator opened, and Oh Yun-ji and Choi Jin-ah arrived.
* * *
The three of them came inside.
I set the side dishes on the table and spoke.
“It’s not much, but please, help yourselves.”
“……I’m the owner of this house, you know.”
Choi Jin-ah glared at me poutily.
But for now, it was my house.
“I’m the one who made all these side dishes and brought them over anyway,” Oh Yun-ji said, sounding exasperated as she brought out the utensils. Judging by how familiar she was with the place, she must have come here often.
“So. You decided to stay here? After kicking Jin-ah out?”
Senior Ju-hee, already seated at the table, looked at me with an incredulous expression.
She seemed genuinely impressed that someone could even come up with such an idea.
“I had no choice if I wanted to survive.”
“Then you should have behaved when you were at I-seo’s place.”
Oh Yun-ji’s reality check hit hard. I sat down as well, pretending I hadn't heard her.
It was a dining table that sat exactly four people.
Wait……?
I naturally sat down next to Oh Yun-ji. For a second, I wondered if I’d made a mistake, but the others didn't seem to care.
“Oh, this is good. You used that seasoning from last time, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. I added a bit more soy sauce and let it simmer.”
“Yun-ji, pack some of the leftovers for me.”
“You’re staying at my place anyway.”
“Ah, right.”
I listened to the three of them talk while I ate, and it was quite unexpected.
I guess the three of them eat together often.
They looked incredibly comfortable with each other.
To be honest, I still couldn't quite believe the three of them were close, but seeing them like this, they actually made a good picture.
The atmosphere was different from my usual group.
“Hey, try the Doenjang Jjigae.”
Yun-ji pointed her spoon at the stone pot. Without a word, I took a bite.
“Oh?”
It was a familiar, nostalgic taste.
I let out an involuntary exclamation at the taste of the stew Yun-ji used to make for me all the time when we were together.
The warmth and savoriness I’d forgotten for a while awakened my tongue.
“Hehe.”
Oh Yun-ji was staring at me.
I replied awkwardly to her playful smile that seemed to be demanding a reaction.
“I-It’s good.”
“It’s what you used to love. Don't you remember how you made such a fuss the first time you ate this?”
“…….”
“I put in tons of tofu, too. Eat up.”
“Okay.”
Slurp.
It was delicious.
It was really, really good.
As I found myself reaching for more without even realizing it, I felt eyes on me.
Before I knew it, Oh Yun-ji had stopped eating and was resting her chin on her hand, staring at me intently.
The other two sitting across from me were also staring blankly.
“W-Why……?”
“No reason. You just look so good eating it. It’s nice to see.”
“Okay.”
As I continued to eat in a daze, Choi Jin-ah took a bite of the stew and asked with a smile.
“Yun-ji, teach me this recipe too.”
“Me too. This really is good.”
Even Senior Ju-hee chimed in, but Oh Yun-ji responded with a bright smile.
“No.”
“…….”
“…….”
The atmosphere turned awkward.
But Oh Yun-ji was as firm as could be.
“Oh, try this too.”
I wondered what else she was going to bring out, and this time it was perilla leaves pickled in soy sauce.
I wondered where she found the time to make things like this when she was so busy.
She was always quite good at cooking.
Since Oh Yun-ji was the queen of being self-made, she was honestly unrivaled in this area.
Choi I-seo was good at cooking too, but compared to Oh Yun-ji, who had spent her whole life fending for herself…….
The moment I wrapped some rice in a perilla leaf and put it in my mouth, my face twitched involuntarily.
“Wow, what is this?”
It was beyond delicious.
The food the aunties made at my family home was good, but this was… how should I put it?
It suited my palate perfectly.
“Good, right? I knew it’d be exactly your style.”
“Y-Yeah.”
I nodded awkwardly and continued eating.
I felt a bit uneasy and wanted to stop, but it was so delicious that I couldn't help myself.
Let’s just finish quickly.
I felt the eyes on me again as I shoveled the food down.
Somehow, I managed to finish the meal quickly.
One by one, the others finished after me.
As I was doing the dishes, Senior Ju-hee slipped up beside me.
“I’ll help. I did get a free meal, after all.”
“Well, if you’re offering.”
I didn't stop her.
As we washed the dishes, a question suddenly occurred to me.
“But Senior, why did you come here?”
“Hmm?”
“I mean, it didn't seem like the girls invited you.”
“Ah.”
She gave an awkward laugh and gestured toward one of the rooms with her chin.
“Have you been in there yet?”
“The place with the exercise equipment?”
She’d set up the room with machines like a small gym.
“Yeah, I come over to work out sometimes. It’s hard to afford a gym membership, and there’s a limit to what you can do without equipment.”
“Ah.”
“Jin-ah told me to come and use it whenever I want. So I came to work out today, too.”
“I see.”
“You should try it later. Jin-ah bought some really high-end brands. Though I’m not sure if she actually uses them herself.”
Maybe that was why she let Senior Ju-hee borrow them.
Just then, the faint scent of coffee wafted through the air.
I felt a finger poke my back and turned around to see Choi Jin-ah holding out a mug.
“Woo-jin, you didn't know there was a coffee machine, did you?”
“……Where is it?”
“It’s in my room. I’ve cleared out a separate space, so if you want to use it, just go in and use the machine.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll leave the cup here, okay? Unni, would you like some too?”
“Yeah, I’ll take a cup. Thanks.”
“Okey-dokey.”
Choi Jin-ah left the coffee and walked away.
I finished the dishes and took a sip; the flavor was so rich I felt like I could get addicted to it.
I’d heard that Choi Jin-ah had a lot of money and a well-decorated house.
It seemed I had extorted quite a nice place.
* * *
“Mmm?”
The next day.
My first night sleeping at Choi Jin-ah’s house.
Aside from waking up in the middle of the night and moving from the floor to the sofa, it had been a very satisfying sleep.
I rubbed my eyes and looked around, noticing the house was strangely noisy.
The first thing that caught my eye was the underboob of a red-haired woman.
“Huh?”
As I let out an involuntary sound of confusion, Oh Yun-ji, who was leaning on her hand and looking at her phone, laughed.
“You’re awake?”
What exactly was going on?
From a familiar angle, I looked up at Oh Yun-ji.
I realized that I was currently lying with my head in her lap.
“W-What? Why are you here?”
I was sure she’d gone home after dinner last night.
“Ah, Jin-ah said she forgot something. I came with her to pick it up, but then I got lazy, so I just stayed.”
“That makes no sense—”
Clack.
Just then, the bedroom door opened, and Choi Jin-ah walked out. She was holding a mug again, and when she saw me awake, she smiled and asked.
“Would you like some morning coffee?”
Clack.
I heard another door open.
“Oh? Woo-jin’s awake?”
Senior Ju-hee appeared in the living room, sweating in a sleeveless top as if she’d just finished her morning workout.
“…….”
As I sat there in a daze of confusion, Oh Yun-ji grabbed my arm, pulled me up, and laughed.
“Let’s eat. I’ve made breakfast.”
In that moment.
I was certain.
I had moved into a very dangerous house.