Chapter 533: After-party
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 533: After-party
Choi Jin-ah stepped off the stage and looked at me with a shrug.
Seeing the look in her eyes asking how she did, I had no choice but to be honest this time.
“You were incredible.”
“Right?”
Choi Jin-ah gave a soft smile and tucked away the strands of hair that had been disheveled by her intense performance.
It was honestly bewildering that I hadn't realized until now just how amazing this woman truly was.
It wasn't as if I’d never seen her play before. I’d seen videos of her performing in massive concert halls, and I’d heard her play lullabies or songs supposedly good for prenatal care at our house.
But seeing it in person, from a vantage point closer than anyone else’s—I couldn't hide the feeling of being completely overwhelmed.
“Ah, I’m hungry.”
“…….”
For a split second, I felt like she’d snapped right back to her usual self.
But hey, whatever. Thanks to Choi Jin-ah, I’d managed to avoid a total embarrassment.
Actually, it went beyond just avoiding embarrassment. It was the best performance ever.
I used to disagree with the saying that even dog droppings have their uses because of Ahn Hyun-ho, but I never thought I’d find a use for Choi Jin-ah like this.
Even after coming off the stage, Choi Jin-ah was still being showered with cheers. People were reaching out, asking for just one handshake, or shouting as they snapped photos.
As if she were used to it, Choi Jin-ah gave a light wave and even shook hands with a few people. Yet, she naturally drifted toward our group of guys who had been in the band with her.
Even amidst the chaotic crowd, she caught my eye and gave a subtle nod—a silent signal that meant, ‘Let’s get out of here.’
Once we were a good distance from the stage and reached the shadows where the festival lights couldn't touch us, the crowd finally thinned out.
“Holy crap, I don’t think I’ll ever forget this moment as long as I live.”
“Agreed. Jin-ah, you were seriously amazing.”
“Wow, you absolutely tore that stage apart.”
Ahn Hyun-ho, Jeong Chan-woo, and Pyo Jin-ho finally let out their admiration, as if they’d been holding it back because of the crowd.
Choi Jin-ah smiled smugly at their praise and asked, “What should we eat? Since it’s a festival, we should probably eat festival food, right?”
She seemed to have high expectations for the festival, but we couldn't eat festival food right now.
“If we go to the stalls now, we’ll be swarmed. It’s a no-go.”
“True. You can’t even get a proper meal there.”
“Besides, university festival stalls are low quality and ridiculously expensive. You only eat there for the atmosphere.”
“Oh, really…? I thought it’d be fun, like a night market.”
Choi Jin-ah looked a bit disappointed. But her expression quickly shifted, and she gave a bright smile.
“Then should we go get some pork belly? I’m seriously craving samgyeopsal!”
Even a chaebol’s palate is the same as everyone else’s. It’s not like they don’t eat pork just because they’re rich. Well, Choi Jin-ah eats pretty much everything anyway.
“Pork belly sounds good.”
“It’d be perfect with some soju.”
“Soju! I love soju too!”
Watching a woman who was just in the celestial realm get demoted to a "piggy" in an instant left me with mixed feelings.
While the idiots were reaching a consensus—without the person in question—that Kang Han-gang was paying for the pork belly today, Choi Jin-ah sidled up to me.
“Woo-jin, we’re going to have a separate second round today.”
“We haven’t even eaten the pork belly yet, and you’ve already decided what you want for the second round?”
This is why people call her a pig.
However, Choi Jin-ah puffed out her cheeks slightly and shook her head.
“No, I mean just the two of us should go for a second round.”
“……And why should I?”
When I asked back with an absurd look, Choi Jin-ah crossed her arms.
“Why? Did you really think my performance was free? If the school can’t pay the fee, then you have to.”
“…….”
“I won’t take money. I’ll judge based on how hard you work for me tonight.”
Choi Jin-ah whispered with a wink. It seemed she was already planning to head to a hotel for the "second round" after the pork belly.
She’s turned into quite the little vixen.
She used to tremble in fear before.
Well, I can’t say she’s completely over that yet.
“Fine, I’ll work very vigorously today.”
“……Be gentle. It hurts and it’s exhausting when you go too hard. It’s scary. It feels like my brain is being fried by the pleasure.”
While listening to Choi Jin-ah’s grumbling, I saw people wearing masks approaching from a distance.
It was Seo Ye-rin, Choi I-seo, and Yoo Ah-rin. It looked like they’d been searching for us and finally made it here.
“Ah, right.”
I’d promised to go straight home with I-seo after the performance.
* * *
“Oooooh.”
The idiots, visiting my main house for the first time, looked around in awe.
“This is insane. Seriously insane.”
“Isn’t this a set from a chaebol drama?”
“Woo-jin, let’s be best friends forever.”
“…….”
Everyone was excited, except for Kang Han-gang, who hadn't contributed anything today.
I gave a clear warning in front of the main gate.
“The yard is the only place you’re allowed. The moment you step inside the house, the bodyguards will hogtie you and toss you into the Han River. Consider yourselves warned.”
“Don’t be so stingy.”
“Let us at least take a look.”
The idiots grumbled, but I remained firm. I wasn't even thrilled about having a barbecue in front of the house; I certainly didn't want to let these guys inside.
“I’m not joking. I’ve already told Senior Ju-hee that she has permission to kill anyone who enters.”
“Shit.”
“He’s dead serious.”
“Why is this guy bringing a nuke to a WWE match?”
Look at Senior Ju-hee over there, standing tall with her arms crossed, keeping a sharp eye on the idiots. Even though she’s just wearing a hoodie since it’s past her shift, she radiates reliability. How can a person be so cool?
“And one more thing. If you even get close to my kids, you’re dead.”
“Hey.”
“It’s not right to stop their uncles from playing with them.”
“That bald guy over there is playing with them.”
Inside the garden, the Bald Man was playing with the three babies, holding them in his arms.
“I’m sorry, but you guys are filthier than the Bald Man. As the head of this household, I cannot tolerate you.”
Actually, in terms of hygiene, the Bald Man was probably the cleanest person here. I heard he even gets regular waxing.
“Anyone listening would think we have some kind of infectious disease.”
“Jeong Chan-woo might have AIDS.”
“Bullshit. ‘Head of the household,’ my ass. You mean head of three households.”
I don’t know which one of them said that last part, but it was sharp. Still, I felt I was well within my rights to make these demands.
While we were coming to the main house, the aunties had worked hard to set up the barbecue. I’d bowed my head in thanks several times for them doing this so late.
“Anyway, I asked for expensive meat, so they prepared it for you. It was originally going to be thin-sliced pork belly, so be grateful you’re getting the good stuff.”
“Thank you, boss!”
“As expected of Boss Woo-jin!”
“Bong-geun, shut the hell up! Go eat sausages in Germany or something.”
“…….”
Maybe it’s because they’ve all finished their military service, but they certainly know how to fall in line.
Except for one.
Han-gang was letting out a long sigh, looking completely dejected. I patted him on the shoulder.
“I won’t deny that today, you were a piece of nuclear waste, a total scumbag, a pathetic human parasite that I can’t even fathom why you’re alive.”
“……Deny it.”
“But don’t beat yourself up too much. If you made a mistake, you just have to take your punishment.”
I pulled out a ham I’d specifically asked for. It was that pink ham that tastes best when fried with eggs in an old-fashioned lunchbox.
“This is all you get to eat today.”
“Fuck off.”
Han-gang immediately flipped me the bird. His voice was cracked, but his spirit was still there. However, the tide was in my favor.
“Senior Han-gang, you should be grateful to Woo-jin for preparing that himself. If it were me, I would’ve made you go to the mart and buy it yourself.”
“Agreed. I was sweating bullets today because of you, Senior. I still feel gross.”
“Even that ham is too good for you.”
“Sigh… if I knew it’d be like this, I wouldn't have come. I was hitting it off with a decent girl, too.”
This guy was hitting on girls while we were doing the band performance?!
While the idiots swarmed Han-gang to give him a hard time, I headed toward the garden.
The women were gathered around the charcoal grill, looking at the ingredients. Oh Yun-ji and Ahn Hyun-ho’s girlfriend, Lee Gyu-a, had also come, turning this into our own little private festival.
“I had no idea Jin-ah had that much charisma.”
“I was seriously shocked. I didn't even believe it when Hyun-ho said he was practicing with a violinist.”
“Hehe, it was nothing.”
Choi Jin-ah scratched her head bashfully. Yet, her feet were glued to the spot in front of the meat, and she even had a soju glass in her hand.
She already had a drink.
Seeing an open bottle of soju, it looked like she’d already downed a shot.
I walked past the three of them talking and headed toward my kids. The other three were laughing as they watched the Bald Man play with the babies.
“Hey, are you guys okay?”
I asked in a lowered voice. They all tilted their heads at my question, waiting for me to elaborate.
I glanced toward the idiots and spoke awkwardly.
“You guys are a bit uncomfortable with them around, aren't you?”
Seo Ye-rin had Kang Han-gang.
Choi I-seo had Ahn Hyun-ho.
Yoo Ah-rin had Pyo Jin-ho.
Even if Jeong Chan-woo was fine since he was friends with Yoo Ah-rin, I wondered if the others were a bit much.
But all three of them just shrugged.
“Not really? I kind of want to beat him up, but he’s not particularly bothersome! If I had to put it in perspective, he’s about as significant as an earthworm crawling through our yard!”
Seo Ye-rin gave a sharp yet bright smile as she demoted Kang Han-gang to the status of an earthworm.
“Hmm, wouldn't it be weirder if I were uncomfortable? Hyun-ho came with his girlfriend, after all.”
Choi I-seo spoke with her usual composure. Her lack of any emotional agitation made her seem truly calm.
“Who cares? I even did Neutube with that guy.”
True, Yoo Ah-rin and Pyo Jin-ho had seen each other often while filming for Neutube.
“Still, if you’re uncomfortable for any reason, let me know. I’ll kick them out immediately.”
“……You invited them all here and now you’re going to kick them out?”
“What does it matter?”
I really didn't see the problem. Couldn't I just tell them to get lost?
Choi I-seo looked at me with an absurd expression. Then, she let out a sigh and gave a small smile.
“Forget it. We’ll hang out among ourselves, so go enjoy yourself with your friends.”
“Why? I want to be with you guys too.”
“Hey, you brat. You finally invited the few friends you have to your house, so treat them well.”
“That’s right, Woo-jin! Even if they’re a bit foolish and lacking, they’re still your friends!”
“…….”
The three of them looked at me with sparkling eyes. I wondered what this strange pressure settling on my shoulders was.
Oh, I get it.
It was the look of parents at a school field day or a talent show, wanting to make sure their son was playing well with the other kids.