Chapter 574: Impersonator
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 574: Impersonator
To start with, the meal was modest.
The place Senior Ju-hee took me to was a poke restaurant.
To be honest, I still don't really know the difference between poke and a salad. One thing I do know for sure, though, is that if you want it to actually feel like a meal, you have to add a hell of a lot of toppings.
"You expect me to call this dinner?"
When I asked that, incredulously stirring the poke with my chopsticks, Senior Ju-hee just nodded calmly.
"Yes, this is plenty. It’s more than what’s on your usual diet plan. I-seo told me not to be too strict with your diet since you have to study, so we’re eating this."
As expected of the Great I-seo.
When it comes to worrying about her husband’s health, I-seo is number one.
...Is that why she beat me to a pulp today?
The spots where I got hit while jogging this morning are still aching.
"Jin-ah eats even less than that. So stop grumbling and eat."
"She’s a pig, though."
"...Don't say that to Jin-ah."
I let out a sigh and started on the poke. It was filled with chicken breast, and as I ate, I naturally started getting sick of it.
"Can't I have a drink?"
"Absolutely not. Drinks are the most dangerous."
"What about a Zero Coke?"
"Do you really want it that badly?"
"A little?"
When I spoke up, hoping for at least something sweet, Senior Ju-hee nodded.
A moment later, just as I was about to take a sip of the Zero Coke that had arrived...
"Woo-jin, I’m actually looking forward to it."
"Huh?"
I paused with the straw at my lips and asked what she meant. Senior Ju-hee gave me a soft smile as she answered.
"You lifting me up while we do it. I’m looking forward to that."
"..."
"Just like you did with Yun-ji back then. Just thinking about it makes my body heat up."
I slowly pulled away from the straw and asked, "Who told you about that?"
"Yun-ji and I-seo. They said if you ever try to snack or give up on your diet, I should just say things like that."
Seriously.
They know me so well it doesn't even make me angry anymore.
"Whew. Do you want some coke?"
I slid the coke I’d just ordered toward Senior Ju-hee. She took it with a smile.
"Thanks. You’re so adorable when you listen to me like this. I mean it."
"Just you wait. I’m going to work out so hard that I’ll make sure you can’t even make a peep."
"I can't make a peep even now, though."
Sipping the coke, Senior Ju-hee acted as if things wouldn't change much from how they were now. She wore a satisfied smile, not just because the coke tasted good, but because I had listened to her.
"Mmm, it’s good."
"Hmph, fine. Seeing you happy makes me feel a bit better."
"So, what was that earlier? Han Gi-min from the Security Department? Is someone intentionally sniping him?"
Senior Ju-hee returned to the topic of the Bamboo Forest. I answered while chewing on the poke.
"If you look closely, there are people who keep saying suspiciously similar things. Like how we need to install CCTVs, or how there are a lot of weird people around."
"Isn't that just normal stuff people say? Everyone’s been making a fuss lately about how dangerous the world is."
"That’s true, but among the comments on the post sniping Han Gi-min, the ones that were particularly supportive were the ones pushing that narrative."
"Hmm."
"They’re building up to something. I bet another story about Han Gi-min will pop up soon."
Taking another sip of coke, Senior Ju-hee tilted her head and asked, "Is that how a Bamboo Forest Manager usually works? I’ve only ever managed posts as a moderator."
Her blank, questioning expression was so cute that I couldn't help but laugh.
"No, I’m just the weird one. Usually, on communities like that, it’s considered good manners not to mention real names or go looking for people like this."
"...Then why do you do it?"
"Because I have no manners."
"..."
"..."
She didn't deny it and just went back to her poke. Feeling a bit slighted, I added, "And it’s similar to what happened to me in the past. A few people intentionally taking turns to keep the bait circulating."
"Ah."
"Thinking back on that time... it just left a bad taste in my mouth. I mean, of course, this Han Gi-min guy could actually be a bad person."
After listening to the story, Senior Ju-hee muttered as if she understood.
"You were just bored."
"..."
She caught me.
* * *
"Woo-jin, it’s fine to poke around at things because you’re bored, but call me if it gets dangerous."
"...Don't I look like I'm trying to help because I'm worried another victim like me might appear?"
"If you want to frame it that way, go ahead."
"I'm leaving."
Senior Ju-hee, who had dropped me back off at the university, waved goodbye.
I shoved my hands into my pockets and headed toward a cafe to grab some coffee.
"Yaaaawn."
As if to confirm Ju-hee’s words about me being bored, my body immediately let out a massive yawn.
I was grumbling to myself, feeling like I’d somehow lost the argument, when I spotted a familiar face in the cafe.
"No, really, guys. You don't necessarily need to join a club."
It was the shame and stain of the English Literature department.
Kang Han-gang.
"But Senior, isn't it better to join a club to build a network and stuff?"
"Yeah... I want to make some friends."
"Haha, guys. Even if you go to a club, it’s just full of guys trying to hit on girls. Networking? I’ll introduce you to good people naturally over drinks. Oh, by the way, I’m actually supposed to meet Woo-jin today."
Me?
I never agreed to that.
"Who’s Woo-jin?"
"Oh, I think I’ve heard that name somewhere."
Kang Han-gang stared at the two girls, then laughed brightly and tapped the table excitedly.
"Ah! You’re freshmen, so you probably don't know yet. Haven't you heard that the youngest son of Uju Group is at our school?"
"I heard about that."
"Heol! No way! Really?"
"Yeah, that’s Woo-jin. Kim Woo-jin. He’s my best friend."
Since when?
Fuck, I hate this.
But Han-gang, oblivious to my gaze, continued to work his charm on the girls.
"What do you think? Want to come today? Woo-jin said he’d buy drinks. He’s a bit frugal, so we were going to have pork belly, but since you guys are coming, should I ask him to get something else?"
"Oh, n-no! No! But is it okay if we go too?"
"Amazing... the youngest son of Uju Group?"
"Haha, you can speak comfortably. Even if Woo-jini looks like that, he’s a good guy and very quick-witted. Ah, 'Woo-jini' is a nickname only his close friends use—"
"Hey, Han-gang."
I couldn't take it anymore.
The moment I joined the table, Kang Han-gang’s expression froze.
With a face that screamed 'How the hell did this guy show up now?' I gave him a sly grin and spoke.
"What are you doing? And who are these girls?"
"Woo-jin, I'm your senior, aren't I?"
"Ah, sorry, Senior Han-gang. So, who are they?"
"I-I'm Han So-ae!"
"I'm Min Ji-ah! Ah, hello!"
"Ah, So-ae and Ji-ah."
I intentionally chuckled and asked, "How old are you?"
"...Twenty."
"M-me too."
Sensing something was off, the two women glanced at each other. Han-gang tried to stop me, but my mouth only shuts if at least one of my wives is present.
"Woo-jin, it’s not like that—"
"Hehe, Hyung. Are you sure about this time? Last time wasn't fun at all. Those kids passed out so fast. That’s why I told you to give them the meds."
Last time, I told Chan-woo and Hyun-ho to take some hangover cures, but they refused out of pride, got wasted immediately, and ended up puking everywhere.
"W-Woo-jin. If you say it like that, they’ll misunderstand—"
"Oh, come on. It was so hard stripping them after they collapsed."
Thanks to that, I had a hell of a time stripping the vomit-covered clothes off Chan-woo and Hyun-ho.
"W-we should probably get going!"
"Hieeeek!"
The two women immediately stood up and bolted.
Watching them flee, I grinned.
"See? This is the kind of prejudice South Korea has against chaebols."
"You crazy bastard, you said it in the weirdest way possible."
"That’s also true."
I looked at Han-gang and said with a smile, "If I hear 'Woo-jini' come out of that mouth one more time, I’ll kill you."
"This little shit is acting so tough. Aaaargh! That was a big catch I had after so long!"
"A big catch? Those girls? They were pretty, but has your taste died that much, Han-gang?"
"You son of a bitch. That’s only because you live in an aquarium every day."
"...Should I take that as a compliment?"
"Would it be an insult?"
Somehow, it still felt insulting.
"Anyway, stop using my name to do weird stuff. When did we ever agree to drink today?"
"...Sorry."
"No, what were you going to do if I said I wasn't drinking today?"
When I asked in disbelief, Han-gang gave me a bright smile and a thumbs up.
"I wasn't going to call you. I was going to call Jin-ho and tell him to introduce himself as you."
"Fuck, that’s the most offensive thing I’ve heard, you prick."
"...You should apologize to Jin-ho."
The thought of Pyo Jin-ho using my name and pretending to be me was the most disgusting thing I’d heard all day.
"You can impersonate me, but don't use a guy like that. At least use Jeong Chan-woo."
At least he’s handsome.
Mentioning Jeong Chan-woo reminded Han-gang of something, and he asked, "Hey, speaking of which, lately when Chan-woo and I walk around, people have been staring at us weirdly."
"...That’s always been the case."
"No, how should I put it? It’s like they’re looking at something... sacred? They even take secret photos."
"..."
"Is there some weird rumor going around?"
"Don't you use the Bamboo Forest?"
"I stopped after I got discharged from the military. There’s nothing for me to gain there."
Hmm, I see.
"Don't ever use it. It’s bad for your brain health."
"Brain health?"
Because on the Bamboo Forest, they were already shipping Jeong Chan-woo and Kang Han-gang as a gay couple.
"Buy me a coffee. Since you used my name."
"Tsk, fine. Sorry about that."
He went straight to the counter and ordered a coffee with a name that sounded incredibly long and expensive.
"Ah, the guy who usually drinks Iced Americanos is ordering something weird—"
Han-gang, who was grumbling as he listened to my order, let out a sigh and answered his vibrating phone.
"Yeah, Gi-min."
Gi-min?
"Han Gi-min?"