Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: The Corporation, and Full-Time Employee Choi Yang
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Some creepy feeling jolted me awake from sleep.
Beyond the closed door, I could sense the pattering footsteps of something small scurrying around.
In my line of sight were Yura and Chaewon's naked bodies, lost in deep slumber from sheer satisfaction.
The sun was rising outside the window.
It was the post-nut clarity lingering from last night's intense sex.
The calculations wrapped up in a flash.
We're screwed.
I'd overslept right up to when Haneul was supposed to wake up.
In that post-nut clarity state, I grasped the situation in an instant.
Current time: 8:12 AM.
Haneul's wake-up time: 8:00 AM.
Current state of my room: Total disaster zone.
Two naked women tangled up asleep on the bed, and the floor littered with traces of last night.
Pat pat pat pat pat.
The footsteps were drawing closer.
Normally, at six years old, Haneul would head straight for Mommy first thing upon waking.
But this morning, when she opened her eyes, Mommy's room was empty.
The bedding was neatly folded, not a sign that Mommy had slept there.
To a six-year-old Haneul, it must have felt like Mommy had vanished.
That's why she was frantically searching the house for her right now.
"Mommy? Where are you, Mommy?"
Chaewon should normally be sleeping in her room downstairs on the first floor, but right now she was buck naked in my bed.
The bigger problem was that Yura was here too.
If Haneul saw this scene...
"Mommy? Mommy~~?"
Haneul's voice echoed from downstairs.
In that instant, I transformed into a superhero.
Like a superhero struck by lightning and super-speedy, I bolted upright at lightning speed, snatching up the scattered clothes on the floor with the agility of Spiderman shooting webs.
I yanked a T-shirt over my head at Superman-changing-in-a-phone-booth speed, then pulled on my underwear with the motion of Wonder Woman slipping on her bracelets.
As I dragged my pants up at high-tech tin-robot suit speed, I swung the blanket like Thor, Asgard's hammer fanatic, covering the two women completely.
"Hey! Wake up! Haneul's coming!"
But the two were out cold, completely knocked out.
How intense had last night been...
Pat pat pat pat pat.
The sound had reached the upstairs hallway now.
Moving at Batman grappling-hook speed, I reached the door and blocked it with my body like Captain America's shield.
"Uncle Cheolsu?"
Haneul's voice came right from the other side of the door.
I hastily straightened my T-shirt and cracked the door open a bit.
"Oh, Haneul. You're up early, huh?"
Haneul looked up at me with her big round eyes.
"Where's Mommy? She's not in her room."
We're screwed.
In post-nut clarity mode, I whipped up a lie in 0.1 seconds.
"Oh, Mommy... went to the mart early with Aunt Yura. She said she'd be back before you woke up, but... maybe traffic's bad?"
"The mart?"
Haneul tilted her head.
"Yeah, you gotta go early in the morning to get the fresh stuff. They went to buy strawberries—you like those, right?"
"Strawberries?!"
Haneul's eyes sparkled. She seemed totally bought on the word "strawberries."
"So, wanna help Uncle get breakfast ready? Wash up before Mommy gets back and..."
"Yes!"
Haneul nodded with a bright smile.
I carefully closed the door and led Haneul to the bathroom.
Crisis averted, but...
We couldn't keep going like this.
Haneul was growing up, and our complicated relationships needed even more careful hiding.
I'd made 13.8 billion, but the truly important thing was protecting six-year-old Haneul's innocence.
As the post-nut clarity faded, I thought to myself.
I'd made the money, but the real hard game was just beginning.
Anyway, we'd gotten through it for now, so I took Haneul's hand and headed downstairs.
Now, gotta feed her breakfast—what should I make?
All I knew how to do was nuke convenience store bentos in the microwave or pour hot water into cup ramen.
I couldn't just shove any old thing in her like I got as a kid...
But starving her felt wrong too, so I was in a bind—until our savior stumbled down from upstairs.
Public opinion manager part-timer Choi Yang!
With her hair a bird's nest mess, rubbing her eyes as she descended the stairs, Choi Yang looked like an angel.
"Ugh... what time is it? Ah, my throat's killing me."
Choi Yang muttered, still half-asleep, rolling her neck.
"Choi Yang! Perfect timing!"
I shouted, thrilled.
"Oh, boss, what's up? Oh? Haneul's awake too. Hi, Haneul~"
Choi Yang gave me a perfunctory reply, then naturally greeted Haneul with a smile.
"Hi, sis!"
Haneul beamed back brightly.
"Choi Yang, you can cook, right?"
I asked with desperate eyes.
"Cook? Yeah, basics... Why?"
She yawned in response.
"Gotta feed Haneul breakfast, but all I can make is cup ramen..."
Choi Yang's face lit up with an "aha."
"Oh, where's Chaewon unnie?"
"Still... sleeping. Went to bed super late last night."
I glossed over it vaguely since I couldn't say the real reason in front of Haneul.
"Got it. I'll handle it. What do you want, Haneul?"
Choi Yang rubbed her sleepy eyes and asked Haneul.
"Um... fried eggs! And bacon too!"
Haneul replied excitedly.
"Okay! What about you, boss?"
"I'll... eat whatever you make."
"Got it. Toast, fried eggs, and bacon it is."
Choi Yang headed to the kitchen, muttering.
"But boss, what went down last night? I fell asleep on the couch, and then super noisy upstairs in the early morning... Ugh, couldn't sleep a wink."
Damn it, you crazy bitch!! You know damn well, and you're saying that in front of the kid?!
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
"Oh, that? Yura was doing nighttime workouts. Home training."
"Aha~ That's why it was so loud. Heard moaning too—must've been her struggling through the workout~"
Choi Yang said with a meaningful smile.
"Some intense home training, huh? Were you joining in, boss? Seriously kept me up— so annoying."
Her sly tone made it clear she knew everything and was just messing with me.
Haneul, oblivious, started playing with her toys in the living room.
"Choi Yang, you're a lifesaver for real."
I thanked her sincerely.
"Aw, no biggie. Part of the job. But seriously, when do you think Chaewon unnie and Yura unnie will wake up? Haneul's gonna start looking for Mommy again..."
Choi Yang asked practically.
"Mm... about an hour?"
I had no clue, but needed to buy time.
"Cool, I'll hang with Haneul till then. Let the unnies rest. Oh, but extra pay, right?"
She flashed a kind smile but didn't miss the practical stuff.
"Obviously. 100,000 won extra today."
"Sweet! Alright, Haneul! Sis is gonna make yummy breakfast!"
Choi Yang's energy spiked as she called Haneul.
True to her role as top contributor in the Battle of Red Cliffs, she provided perfect support even in crisis.
Grateful for the 13.8 billion she helped earn, and now watching Haneul too.
"Alright, Haneul! Breakfast is ready!"
Choi Yang called Haneul over to the perfectly set table.
The morning crisis was averted for now.
But upstairs, the two women were still naked asleep, and Haneul could start hunting for Mommy anytime.
While Choi Yang fed Haneul, saying, "Here, Haneul! Bacon's perfectly crispy~," I seized the chance.
With ninja steps, I quietly slipped back upstairs.
Like a sleepy ninja from Sleepy Village, not a sound on the stairs, then like Assassin Ezio, I silently opened my door.
The room was still a disaster zone.
Two heads poked out from under the blanket.
Yura's black hair covered her face, and Chaewon's blonde was a tangled mess—she was totally passed out.
"Hey, wake up."
I whispered softly.
No response.
"Hey! Wake up!"
A bit louder, but they were still dream-sailing.
Had to go physical.
I gently shook Yura's shoulder first.
"Mmngh..."
Yura groaned and squirmed but didn't open her eyes.
This time, harder on Chaewon.
"Ah... what..."
Chaewon mumbled without opening her eyes.
"Haneul's awake! She's looking for Mommy!"
Both their eyes snapped open at once.
"What?!"
"Haneul?!"
Chaewon tried to bolt up but her body wouldn't cooperate, and she flopped back down.
"Ah... why's my body like this..."
"Ow, fuck... you maniac, take it easy on the backdoor next time..."
Yura tried to sit up staggering, but her legs had no strength.
"Choi Yang's feeding Haneul breakfast right now. But she'll keep looking for Mommy. Hurry up, wash and come down."
"Got it... just a sec..."
Chaewon staggered up and started hunting for clothes.
"You too, Yura."
"Uh... where're my clothes?"
Yura rubbed her eyes and looked around.
I scooped up the floor clothes and tossed them over.
"Down in 15 minutes. Any later and Haneul'll get suspicious."
"Okay..."
"Gotcha..."
The two moved like zombies, getting dressed.
I ninja-stepped back downstairs.
"Where'd you go, boss?"
Choi Yang asked with a meaningful smile.
"Bathroom."
"Aha~ Long trip, huh?"
I confirmed Haneul was still eating, then shot Choi Yang a silent glare.
'Stop messing around.'
She giggled and nodded.
"Uncle! This is yummy!"
Haneul waved her bacon excitedly.
"Yeah? Glad you like it."
I sighed in relief and sat beside Haneul.
About ten minutes later, footsteps came down the stairs.
"Haneul!"
Chaewon forced a bright voice as she descended. Hair roughly tied, but mommy-like enough.
"Mommy!"
Haneul jumped up and ran to Chaewon.
"Oh? Aunt Yura too!"
Yura followed, naturally greeting, "Good morning."
"Where were you, Mommy? Couldn't find you this morning..."
Haneul asked worriedly.
"Oh, sorry, sweetie. Mommy and Aunt Yura went to the mart early."
Chaewon hugged her like nothing happened.
"Huh? Where's the strawberries?!"
Haneul's eyes sparkled as she looked around.
"Strawberries? What... strawberries?"
Chaewon stammered, flustered.
"Uncle said you went to the mart to buy strawberries!"
Haneul dashed around the living room excitedly.
"Strawberries! Where are the strawberries?!"
Chaewon's face drained pale.
Yura's eyes went wide, staring at me. I swallowed dryly, throat parched.
Strawberries?
When did I mention strawberries?
Chaewon shot me a sweaty "What strawberries?" look.
"Mommy, I want strawberries!"
Haneul ran to the kitchen, yanking open the fridge.
We three were in full panic.
Chaewon glared like "What the hell are strawberries?", Yura fidgeted helplessly, and I scratched my head with a "Why'd I mention strawberries?" face.
"Puhahaha!"
Then Choi Yang burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.
"Look at your faces, bosses! Total meltdown!"
She pointed and cackled.
"When did you buy strawberries? What dimension's mart was that?"
She laughed harder at our desperate expressions.
"Mommy! No strawberries!"
Haneul peeked out from the fridge, disappointed, looking at Chaewon.
Her little lips pouted, face crumpling.
"I wanted strawberries..."
Tears welled in Haneul's eyes.
Me, Yura, and Chaewon wore crumbling faces.
Chaewon looked like a sinner wronged, Yura annoyed yet sorry, and I clutched my neck thinking "Why'd I bring up strawberries?"
"Puhahahaha!"
Only part-timer Choi Yang enjoyed the chaos like prime entertainment.
"Puhahat... So freaking hilarious!"
She wiped tears, still laughing.
For the start of a mundane day, it was thrillingly intense.
The victors of the 13.8 billion Battle of Red Cliffs utterly defeated by a six-year-old's strawberries—an irony.
Just a hollow, laughable kickoff to a simple day.