Chapter 478: Future Worries
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 478: Future Worries
— I honestly cannot understand where exactly you went wrong.
"What is it now?"
It was a sudden remark.
Now that we were into August, the girls were all busy with their own work, leaving me feeling a bit adrift.
So, I was currently freeloading at Choi Jin-ah’s place when my Big Hyung suddenly called.
— Why did you have to involve Father while he was trying to rest?
— I heard you even got the villa he gave you taken away because of it?
"Thanks to that, I can’t even look the girls in the eye. I didn't think Father would actually be so firm about taking back something he’d already given."
— If it were me, I would have sent people to drag you back by any means necessary. Father has definitely softened up.
"…I only did it because I needed his help. It’s not like I’ve asked for much before, right?"
Kim Woo-jin had spent most of his life at odds with his father.
"Can’t he just treat it like I finally filled up a punch card and do this one clean favor for me?"
— If you actually mean what you just said, I’m going to book you a hospital appointment.
"Sigh, I know. I know."
Kim Woo-jin sighed at his brother’s warning—or rather, his lack thereof.
He knew it himself.
He knew just how unreasonable he was being.
But this situation felt so hopeless that he felt forced to resort to such stubbornness.
Yoo Ah-rin, well, from what I heard, she said she thought she could handle things on her own.
The problem was Choi I-seo and Seo Ye-rin.
Especially regarding Ye-rin’s mother—I truly had no words for her.
Didn't I basically cut off Ye-rin’s career right as it was skyrocketing after she won the Newcomer Award last year?
Even though Seo Ye-rin herself kept saying she was much happier now than when she was an actress, it wasn't a matter I could just brush off so easily.
"But what can I do? Three of them are already pregnant. I have to take responsibility."
— Why didn't you think about taking responsibility and letting go before they got pregnant?
"Sorry, I’m just greedy and selfish like that."
— It seems like you’ve been using those words lately as some kind of invincible logic to justify your actions—.
My brother started pouring out more words, but honestly, it went in one ear and out the other.
It’s not like he was going to go down and kneel for me.
"It already happened. I have to fix it! They’re my family!"
— …There is nothing I can do to help you with this matter.
"Hyung? Hey, Hyung?!"
Click.
The call ended.
I pulled the phone away from my ear and tossed it onto the sofa.
I hadn't expected much anyway.
'Sigh, what do I do now?'
To be honest, it felt overwhelming.
From a common-sense perspective, the whole thing felt impossible to justify.
Though, I suppose it’s a bit funny for me to be talking about common sense.
Beep, beep, beep, beep.
Just then, the front door passcode was entered.
Clack.
"Phew, it’s sweltering outside."
The person who walked in was Choi I-seo.
Even though it was summer break in August, she went to school occasionally. I heard it was to hand over the various positions she held.
I’d never seen anyone treat university like a full-time job before.
"I-seo! You’re back!"
As I hopped over to greet her, Choi I-seo gave a small smirk and held out a bag of ice cream.
"I bought this on the way. You said you wanted ice cream."
"Wow, you’re the best!"
Classic Choi I-seo.
I’d only mentioned it in passing, but she remembered and bought it.
"Ugh, I’m sweating so much. Some weirdo kept following me on the way back, and I had a hard time shaking him off."
"What?"
My voice dropped instinctively.
I felt a surge of irritation, wondering what kind of bastard dared to hit on someone else's wife. Choi I-seo chuckled as she started taking off her clothes.
"I told him I have a husband. When I said I was pregnant, he finally left."
"…That’s my girl."
"Honestly, I wondered if that would work at first. It’s not that he necessarily believed me, but he probably just took it as a sign of how much I didn't want to talk to him."
Standing there in just her underwear, Choi I-seo looked for a towel. Since this was Choi Jin-ah’s place, there was usually only enough for one person. But with seven of us living here like it was a dormitory lately, basic supplies like that ended up in the washing machine instantly.
Before I left for the military, we had quite a few of our things here, but we hadn't replenished them since I got back.
"…."
"What should I do?"
Choi I-seo walked toward the balcony.
The washing machine had just finished, so she gathered the towels and tossed them into the dryer separately.
"You didn't have the air conditioning on?"
"…Yeah."
Then, Choi I-seo slid over and leaned against me on the sofa.
The TV was on, and I had just been idling on Yoo Ah-rin’s Neutube channel.
"When she filmed that, I was actually standing just out of frame. After Ah-rin finished—."
"I-seo."
"Yeah?"
Choi I-seo glanced up at me.
I let out a sigh and spoke.
"Why are you provoking me?"
"…."
I didn't mind her walking around in her underwear.
It was a sign of how close our relationship was and meant we had nothing to hide from each other anymore.
But.
The thing was.
"You’re the one who said we can’t do it during early pregnancy."
Right now, we were in a literal sex-prohibition period.
During the early stages, sex is strictly forbidden because it can be dangerous for the fetus.
"I can’t exactly put clothes on right now."
"Then why did you take them off? You should have checked for a towel first."
"…Are you angry right now?"
"Of course I am. Ask the Woo-jin downstairs if he’s angry or not."
Choi I-seo glanced down.
"He’s… very angry. It’s even more obvious because of the pajama pants."
"Right? He’s furious. My heart is actually aching because I can’t do it with you right now."
I held back, knowing that if I even touched her breasts, I’d start immediately. For the health of our child, this father can endure.
"Okay, okay. I’m sorry."
Choi I-seo pecked me on the cheek and ran off. The small smile playing on her lips made it clear she had done this on purpose.
'They’ve really developed a taste for this lately.'
Seo Ye-rin was about the only one who genuinely felt sad about not being able to have sex.
Choi I-seo and Yoo Ah-rin, on the other hand, used it as an opportunity to tease me or occasionally tempt me on purpose.
They said they liked seeing me drool over them.
Apparently, watching me try to suppress my obsession was quite entertaining.
"The towels should be dry by the time I’m done showering."
Muttering that, Choi I-seo disappeared into the bathroom. Seeing her lock the door firmly, it seemed she really had no intention of letting things cross the line.
"Phew."
I dove for my phone where I’d tossed it earlier and immediately fired off a message to the group chat.
I didn't want to be this blunt, but it was all Choi I-seo’s fault.
I didn't want her to look at me like some sex-crazed beast.
But she had already provoked me.
Since we were all in this together, someone had to pay the price.
The replies came back lightning-fast.
Ah, shit.
In my rush, I’d sent it to the wrong group chat.
Ah, damn it, my boner’s gone.
I was all worked up because of Choi I-seo, but thanks to these idiots, it cooled down in an instant.
Annoyed, I decided to just keep chatting with them.
"These little shits."
I immediately went into my phone gallery and sent the Ahegao photos of Kang Han-gang and Pyo Jin-ho that I’d taken back when they lost a penalty game.
-
I wondered how these guys were planning to live their lives.
But then again, I wasn't much different.
I could only talk like this because I was the youngest son of Uju Group; if I were from a normal family, I’d be drowning in future worries too.
"Sigh, now that I think about it, that’s true."
Thinking about it brought up a lot of complicated feelings.
What should I do after graduation?
Regardless, I needed to do something productive with my life so I could hold my head high in front of my kids.
After closing my eyes and pondering for a moment...
I finally sent the message to the girls' group chat.