Chapter 460: Those Who Left, Those Who Stayed(2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 460: Those Who Left, Those Who Stayed(2)
"Bo-ss~"
Oh Yun-ji frowned as Bae Ji-hye (Popo) burst through the door.
"Don't you know how to knock?"
Yun-ji glared at her, lowering the ballpoint pen she had been biting. Bae Ji-hye simply replied with a grin.
"I'm doing a special broadcast today. You're going to monitor it, right?"
"What do I have a manager for? I'm busy right now."
Yun-ji was living a quite hectic life now that the number of broadcasters she managed had increased. Having taken a break for a while, the work had piled up.
"You've got merch, a fan meeting scheduled, a mini-concert... Sigh, why is there so much to do—"
"I'm doing a military experience roleplay today. The viewers are going to join in as NPCs and chat."
Bae Ji-hye added that they were all veterans.
Yun-ji paused for a moment, then glared at her again in annoyance.
"And why does that matter? That's a common content trope. Why are you telling me this?"
"Huh? Aren't you curious? I specifically asked them to make it as realistic as possible just for you, Boss."
"Just because Kim Woo-jin enlisted doesn't mean it has anything to do with me."
"Still, wouldn't it be nice to know what kind of life he's living?"
Yun-ji eventually fell silent, staring down at her documents for a moment before asking, "What time?"
"In thirty minutes! You have to watch, okay? I told them I was going to the restroom, so I have to get back right now."
"They're going to tease you again, saying you're taking a dump," Bae Ji-hye grumbled as she hurried back out.
Yun-ji watched the spot where she had stood for a moment, then slowly turned on her broadcast.
"The first time was fine."
Next to her monitor, she smiled bitterly at a photo she had secretly put up of herself with Kim Woo-jin.
"Is it because it's the second time?"
Caressing the photo with her finger, Yun-ji felt a sense of emptiness and a sharp sting in her nose at the same time.
"It's even harder."
Her pen hovered over the documents in her anxiety, and in the end, she couldn't get any work done properly.
"I guess I'm the type of person who needs a clear goal."
Before, she had the goal of being able to return. That was why she could work hard the first time. Because if she worked hard, they could meet sooner. She had to grow the company to reunite with him even a day earlier.
But now...
"I feel so helpless," Yun-ji muttered gloomily, flicking the photo with her finger.
The fact that she could do nothing but wait made her miss the warmth of his embrace—which she had felt for the first time in so long—even more.
*
"Ugh!"
A bodyguard tumbled and collapsed on the ring. Including this one, three people had already gone down without being able to put up much of a fight.
Wearing a black sports bra with her hair tied up, Min Ju-hee waited for her next opponent, even as she dripped with sweat.
"Ju-hee, I think you're overworking yourself."
At the security team leader's words, Min Ju-hee remained standing in silence, her lips pressed thin.
"Sigh, I'm telling you, there's no one left to go against you. You worked out for four hours even before sparring, didn't you? I checked the logs; you came in at 1:00 AM."
"...I have to train."
"You've already passed. You're confirmed as an experienced hire through my connections and the Young Master's. We're even hiring one less rookie this time because of you."
"Even so. Once the Young Master returns, I won't be able to train while guarding him, so I have to go hard until then."
I won't let him get hurt, no matter what.
At those words, the security team leader beat his chest in frustration and replied, "That's all well and good. It's a great sentiment. But it's only been a week since the Young Master enlisted. Forget his discharge—his completion ceremony is still ages away!"
"..."
A week?
Had only a week passed?
She had tried exercising to forget the time somehow, but Min Ju-hee realized that time was flowing much slower than she had imagined.
"Haa..."
"Ju-hee, come down. Let's go grab some food. I told you, you don't need to worry about the military so much."
"And who was it that made me worry?"
"..."
In fact, the security team had already held a department gathering once for Ju-hee's sake. Among them were not just former soldiers, but former officers and even people who had worked as foreign mercenaries.
But that was the problem. While talking about the military, it had turned into a competition of who could brag about the worst military absurdities they had experienced, which only made Min Ju-hee worry more.
And as if taking out her frustration on the people who made her feel this way, Ju-hee had been sparring every single day.
"Sigh, alright. I understand for now."
Even as she stepped down, the shadow cast over Ju-hee's face remained.
*
"Why does this chicken taste so bad?"
In Choi I-seo's studio apartment, Yoo Ah-rin wore a grumpy expression even as she ate the chicken they had ordered.
"Are you on a diet?"
When Jung Min-ji, who lived with Choi I-seo, asked, Yoo Ah-rin touched her own cheeks.
"Why? Do I look like I've lost weight?"
"You look gaunt. Are you not eating properly lately?"
"I don't know, nothing tastes good. I just feel... off."
She set the drumstick down and brushed the crumbs off her hands. Jung Min-ji took a bite of chicken, knowing the reason but figuring she'd get lectured if she pointed it out.
Just then, Choi I-seo stepped out after showering.
"Oh, the chicken's here?"
Having just finished exercising, Choi I-seo sat down immediately, looking refreshed. Unlike Yoo Ah-rin, I-seo didn't seem much different from before.
"Look at her. Her mental game is so strong she's perfectly fine. You should learn from her."
"...How are you so unfazed?"
"Huh? Um, I'm just focusing on my own life. It's already been two weeks since Woo-jin enlisted."
It was now the second week of Kim Woo-jin's enlistment. It was about time for both the person who enlisted and those left behind to start adjusting.
Choi I-seo scratched her cheek sheepishly and picked up a piece of chicken. Jung Min-ji, who had been staring at her, suddenly asked, "By the way, the new clothes you've been buying lately seem a bit big. Did you get the wrong size?"
"Huh?"
Choi I-seo asked back, her mouth open to eat the chicken. She looked troubled, as if struggling to find an answer.
Yoo Ah-rin, who was about to go back to her chicken, widened her eyes as she looked at Choi I-seo's oversized hoodie.
"Hey, isn't that Kim Woo-jin's clothes?"
"..."
"Did you seriously go to his main house? How many of his clothes did you take?"
"N-no. I thought some of my things got mixed in with his. I just went and got a few things back. It's comfortable to wear after working out..."
Jung Min-ji quietly grabbed a few pieces of chicken and slipped away to her room. She felt like she'd get caught in a weird fight if she stayed.
"Wow! So that's why! You're such a cheat! You should've shared that with me!"
"W-why would I share this—! Hey! What are you doing!"
"Sniff! Holy shit! It smells like Kim Woo-jin!"
"S-stop it! I said stop! You're pulling my clothes off! No, the scent will fade!"
"Where's the rest? Hand them over."
"Absolutely not!"
"I see now, this is why you were so calm! You sly fox!"
The two began to bicker and scuffle. Just then, the front door opened, and another person burst inside.
"I'm so buuuuusyyyyy! I feel like I'm gonna diiiieeeee!"
Seo Ye-rin shrieked, clenching her fists and roaring.
"Bring me Woo-jini and Woo-jini's Woo-jini right nooooow! If I don't do it soon, I'll tighten up again and have to get used to it all over agaiiiin!"
'...God dammit, why are these bitches acting crazy in someone else's house?'
Jung Min-ji, watching the situation from her room, finally locked her door. It felt like she was in a safari.
"Hey! Seo Ye-rin! Do you know what she's been doing?"
"D-don't tell her! You don't know how far Ye-rin will cross the line!"
At those words, Yoo Ah-rin shut her mouth. She hesitated, thinking that Seo Ye-rin might actually go as far as barging in to steal his underwear.
'Even so, ruining our image that much is a bit...'
'His father and mother will see us all as weirdos.'
Yoo Ah-rin and Choi I-seo locked eyes and nodded simultaneously. However...
"That's Woo-jini's clothes!"
Seo Ye-rin was already lunging at Choi I-seo.
"S-stop! Okay! Wait! I'll take it off! D-don't touch me!"
Ten minutes later.
"The scent is all gone..."
Seo Ye-rin wore a hollow expression. Choi I-seo, straightening her clothes, tidied up the area and got down to business.
"The reason I gathered everyone today is because of the letters."
"Letters? I write them every day."
"I write a ton!"
The internet letters were piling up so much they wondered if his locker would burst. But Choi I-seo shook her head.
"Not those. I saw that you can also leave video letters and voice letters."
"Oh? Really?"
"How?!"
"They play the video letters during religious activities at the church or temple on weekends."
They had heard that while Kim Woo-jin didn't usually do religious activities, it was common for soldiers to go just to get snacks.
"And they do something like a radio show for the voice letters at night?"
"A radio show?"
"Yeah, they said they read stories like a radio broadcast before bed and play voice letters too."
Choi I-seo had come quite prepared. Seeing this, the other two nodded in satisfaction.
"We have to tell him we're still waiting!"
"Is the brat gonna cry from being moved?"
"Since today is the weekend... he's probably eating a Choco Pie at a church or temple right about now, isn't he?"
The three of them imagined what he might be doing.
*
Among his fellow recruits.
Kim Woo-jin, now with a buzz cut, was at the church, screaming at the top of his lungs while watching an idol music video.
"They say it's sweet like candy! Waaaaah! Noonaaaa! Take meeeee!"