Chapter 424: Plan
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 424: Plan
“Doom-tish, doom-tish, doom-tish, doom-tish.”
Seo Ye-rin was grooving to the rhythm as she pounded on the electronic drums.
She had started learning the drums at Choi Jin-ah’s house to relieve stress, and it was surprisingly exhilarating. It really helped clear her head.
Since she could wear a headset to prevent the loud drumming from leaking outside, it was the perfect setup.
“Drums are fun, aren't they?”
Choi Jin-ah asked with a bright smile, clearly happy to have a fellow musical companion.
Seo Ye-rin nodded vigorously, returning the smile with equal purity.
“Yes! It’s great practice!”
“Practice?”
Jin-ah wondered if she had a specific performance coming up, but Ye-rin just swung the drumsticks through the air with a cheerful expression.
“It’s perfect practice for drumming on Woo-jin’s head.”
“……You shouldn't swing drumsticks at people.”
“It’s fine. Woo-jin is a beast.”
Her voice dropped slightly, sounding chillingly sincere.
“Beasts only learn through the rod….”
While Choi Jin-ah was feeling an inexplicable sense of dread toward the woman named Seo Ye-rin for the first time, the door to the practice room swung open. It was Yoo Ah-rin.
“Hey, I’m here. How many times do I have to call you?”
Ah-rin had arrived after picking up Kim Woo-jin.
“Let’s go!”
Seeing Ye-rin excitedly grab her drumsticks, Jin-ah hurriedly tried to stop her.
“Ye-Ye-rin! Even so, you can’t hit people with sticks!”
“Is he even human, though?”
“Woo-jin hits me with his stick every day, too.”
“What?!”
Setting aside Ah-rin’s nonchalant reaction, Jin-ah was genuinely shocked by Ye-rin’s words.
She knew Kim Woo-jin wasn't exactly normal, but was he actually violent toward his girlfriend?
“Hey, you’re giving her the wrong idea.”
When Ah-rin warned her to watch her phrasing, Ye-rin giggled and held a drumstick between her legs.
Mimicking a certain erect anatomy, she said brightly, “I mean this stick.”
“…….”
“Of course, our Woo-jinny doesn't have a stick—it’s a log!”
Ye-rin puffed out her chest proudly. Having seen her on movie sets multiple times, Jin-ah often found herself doubting if this was the same person.
‘Maybe she actually has a twin?’
The elegant, innocent woman she saw on the filming set was currently standing in front of her, using a drumstick to mimic a penis.
Could they really be the same person?
It was hard to believe. No, she didn't want to believe it.
“Anyway, leave the sticks here. I don’t want my drumsticks being used to hit people, no matter what!”
“……Hmph.”
Ye-rin put the sticks down with a look of regret. Then, she clenched her fists, snorting defiantly.
“Then it is time for my Nuclear Fist to undergo nuclear fusion.”
“What is this scrub even talking about?”
Vrrr!
Just then, Ah-rin’s phone buzzed.
“Senior Ju-hee?”
It was a text from Min Ju-hee, who had been with Kim Woo-jin today.
A few minutes later, the three of them walked out together.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
In the living room, Kim Woo-jin was waiting, his face being firmly stepped on by Choi I-seo.
Woo-jin and Oh Yun-ji were sitting on the floor, leaning against the sofa. Oh Yun-ji had pulled back awkwardly, while Choi I-seo, propping her head up with one arm, was staring down at Woo-jin while pressing her foot into his face.
I-seo, who looked like she had just woken up, had a deep scowl on her face. Woo-jin had clearly messed up somehow.
“I-seo, I was wrong.”
His eyes were covered by I-seo’s foot, so his expression was hidden, but his mouth was still free.
Woo-jin apologized in that state, but I-seo didn't budge.
“I-seo, I’m sorry. Please move your foot.”
“…….”
“I-seo? Your foot—”
“What about my foot? Go on, say it.”
I-seo challenged him to speak his mind.
The warning in her voice was enough to inject some manners into even Kim Woo-jin’s reckless mouth.
“It smells wonderful.”
In truth, there was no strange smell. In fact, since Woo-jin had licked them during their private time before, he didn't find it unpleasant at all.
“Sigh.”
I-seo finally pulled her foot away.
Woo-jin blinked as his vision returned. He greeted the three girls coming out of the practice room.
“I’m back, guys.”
“Woo-jinnaaa!”
Despite all her talk about being angry or hitting him, the moment she saw him, Seo Ye-rin was the first to go flying toward him.
“Oof!”
Woo-jin was knocked backward by Ye-rin’s tackle-like hug.
“Whoa, crap!”
Oh Yun-ji, who had been sitting behind him, barely managed to scramble out of the way to avoid getting caught in the collision.
“Woo-jinnaaa! Where have you beeeen?!”
Ye-rin rubbed herself all over him.
Watching her bury her face in his chest and nuzzle him, Woo-jin felt a surge of emotion and hugged her back.
“It was so scaaary! Those yakuza bastards kidnapped Chan-woo, and I had to go save him, dammit!”
“Oh nooo! Are you hurt anywhereee?!”
“Senior Ju-hee protected meee!”
“My Woo-jinnyyy!”
Watching the two of them, Ah-rin tilted her head and looked at Choi Jin-ah.
“Didn't that bitch just say something about a Nuclear Fist? Something about fusion? Did I hear her wrong?”
“……I heard it too.”
* * *
“So, Ahn Hyun-ho suddenly calls in these hostesses. All these women just start pouring into our room.”
Late at night.
I was in the living room, explaining the day’s events to everyone.
I had given Oh Yun-ji a brief summary earlier, but now I was laying it on thick with plenty of exaggeration.
“That’s when I said it! SILENCE! Dammit, men and women should not sit together after age seven! Begone, thots!”
I waved my hands around as if the Scorpion Lady were standing right in front of me.
“I am a man who already belongs to someone! How dare you try to seduce me with such paltry temptations! But I had been drinking some expensive liquor, you see? I was a bit dizzy, and the Scorpion Lady took that chance to sit right next to me. Even her movements were like a scorpion.”
“My head was spinning. Was this her scheme all along? But I have people I love! Even in my dazed state, I fought to keep my senses. In my mind, Ye-rin, I-seo, and Ah-rin all flashed by one by one. But then, Ahn Hyun-ho suddenly blurted out to the Scorpion Lady that I’m the youngest son of Uju Group. And what do you think happened? She thought, ‘Jackpot!’ and lunged in for a kiss. But using my superhuman willpower, I twisted my head at the last second and successfully defended my lips!”
“Right after that, I shouted: ‘I have beautiful lovers! How dare a plain woman like you try such a thing! Get out at once! My sperm already has eggs they are destined to meet!’ Once she realized I wouldn't fall for her charms, the Scorpion Lady apologized in tears and left.”
“Then, while I was on the phone with Ah-rin, Senior Ju-hee saw the Scorpion Lady’s lipstick on my cheek and wiped it off. But you know how strong Senior Ju-hee is? It hurt so much that my voice came out weird, and you guys totally misunderstood.”
Huff, huff.
I took a long breath and looked at the girls. By now, I must have secured a place in their hearts as a dignified man who overcame temptation—.
“That’s completely different from what Senior Ju-hee told us.”
Shit.
I looked at Ah-rin and asked cautiously.
“……You talked to Senior Ju-hee?”
“Yeah, you idiot. She sent me a text.”
Ah-rin mocked me, flipping me the bird.
I had tried so hard to spin a tall tale to fix the situation, but it was already over before I started.
“……Then why did you listen to all that? I just put on a whole damn show for nothing.”
My throat was actually a bit hoarse from talking so much, and I was sweating. Plus, my brain felt fried from trying to come up with all those exaggerations.
To be honest, it felt more taxing than taking a final exam.
No, the tension was definitely higher than an exam.
“I just wanted to see how much of a fuss you’d make.”
Ah-rin smirked.
“Sperm and eggs… good grief.”
Choi I-seo sighed, leaning her head on her hand.
“L-like this?”
“Ooh.”
Choi Jin-ah and Seo Ye-rin weren't even listening to me anymore; they were busy doing something together.
Sip.
I hadn't noticed because of her hair, but even Oh Yun-ji was wearing earphones, monitoring BJ Popo’s broadcast and ignoring me completely.
“……I really did just put on a one-man show.”
As I muttered blankly, finally realizing the truth, Ah-rin chuckled and gave me a mock round of applause.
“Hey, it was entertaining. Watching you struggle to survive was like watching a nature documentary.”
“Woo-jin, at least keep your lies within the realm of common sense.”
Surprisingly, the atmosphere wasn't that bad. I didn't know exactly what Senior Ju-hee had said, but she must have explained things in a way that favored me.
Senior, thank you.
She really is my bodyguard.
I should ask Big Hyung to give her a bonus later.
“Woo-jinna! Look at this!”
Ye-rin suddenly approached me and showed me her forearm.
“A scorpion!”
There was a crudely drawn scorpion that Choi Jin-ah had doodled on her.
Seeing her bright smile, I couldn't help but let out a little laugh.
“Why did you draw that?”
“Because I thought you liked scorpions, Woo-jinny!”
Seeing a smile like that made the stress of dealing with gangsters earlier melt away.
“Sigh.”
When I hugged the smiling Ye-rin, she accepted it, stroking my hair.
“Haha! Woo-jinny must have had a really hard time!”
“It’s all because of that idiot Jeong Chan-woo….”
As I grumbled, Ah-rin and Choi I-seo, who were sitting on the sofa, made a space between them.
“I gave him a stern warning. Told him to get his life together.”
“He’s a college student. Just being caught between gangsters and yakuza must have been exhausting enough.”
I went over and leaned back against the sofa. Choi I-seo gently took my hand, and Ah-rin leaned her head on my shoulder with a smirk.
“W-wait! That tick—hahaha! It tickles!”
Meanwhile, Ye-rin was lifting Choi Jin-ah’s shirt and drawing a scorpion on her belly button.
It was peaceful.
Yeah, this kind of peace is the best.
“……Woo-jin, you smell like cigarettes.”
“Hmm?”
At I-seo’s remark, I made an embarrassed face.
“I guess the smell stuck to me since I was around those people.”
Sniff, sniff. “Whoa, you’re right.”
Ah-rin, sitting on the other side, also caught the scent and made a face.
“Sorry, I’ll go wash up.”
“Wait. I have deodorant.”
I-seo insisted on spraying me instead of letting me just wash.
“……That’s mi—hahaha! Ye-rin!”
“Hold still! I’m going to draw a Pokkachu next to it!”
“Why would you draw that?!”
Choi Jin-ah shouted something, but we were already ignoring her. Her voice had become nothing more than background noise… or rather, the squealing of a Piggy.
“Hey, look at this.”
Ah-rin, sitting next to me, held out her phone. It was a video from some travel Neutubers.
“Let’s go here once exams are over. What do you think?”
“Here? It’s close. Looks good.”
We had already agreed to go on a trip together. She seemed to have put a lot of effort into researching it, looking quite excited.
“Is there anything you want to eat?”
“Hmm, Ah-rin?”
I immediately got punched.
“……I’m fine with anything as long as there’s meat.”
“You want to die? We’re talking about a sacred trip here.”
Ah-rin grumbled and swiped to the next screen.
“What about these?”
The screen showed models, and she seemed to be asking what kind of clothes she should wear.
“Just wear something comfortable. Don’t push yourself on my account.”
Total gentleman move.
I said it with a smile, but Ah-rin scowled in annoyance.
“Dammit, what am I supposed to say to a boyfriend who tells me not to dress up for a trip? Didn't Oh Yun-ji teach you anything?”
Oh Yun-ji, who was watching the Popo broadcast with her chin in her hand, replied nonchalantly.
“I eventually gave up because that guy just strips everything off anyway.”
“Ugh, you horny beasts.”
“…….”
Is this really a conversation between an ex-girlfriend and a current girlfriend?
Just as I was starting to feel awkward, Ah-rin swiped the screen to show the next set of images.
There, a row of "combat uniforms" for adults was displayed—outfits that clearly couldn't be worn outside and were meant strictly for the bedroom.
“……Pick one.”
Ah-rin whispered softly, her face flushing.
My lips curled up involuntarily, and my mouth began to move of its own accord.
“If you were going to do this, why did you hit me earli—wait, I shouldn't ask that, right?”
Seeing Ah-rin getting ready to punch me again, I quickly changed my tune and grinned.
As I was giddily deliberating over the choices…
Pshhh! Pshhh!
I jerked my head back as a cloud of fresh-scented deodorant hit me.
“Ack!”
Choi I-seo was expressionlessly spraying me with deodorant. It was a phytoncide scent that felt heavily laden with her annoyance.