Nursing Student Kim Ha-ryeong (4)
“Uwaaaah!”
Go Cheon-su poured gomtang into a large pot, filled the others with water for heating instant rice or boiling noodles, and threw meatballs and steaks onto frying pans. Whoosh. He cranked the heat to maximum. Flames danced wildly in his vision.
“Brothers, we’re finishing this on time.”
Sizzle. The commercial gas stove’s firepower was intense. The half-cooked foods started browning fast.
“Um, Go Cheon-su…?”
Jang Seo-yeon stared at him slack-jawed from the side, but Go Cheon-su ignored her.
“One more of these…”
He slapped another frying pan on a burner, then dug butter and bread out of a basket. As soon as the pan heated up, he slathered on butter and grilled the bread.
“Whoa, bro, you’ve done some cooking before?”
Yang Min-cheol wandered over, sniffing the aroma and letting out a gasp of admiration. But this was nothing to brag about for Go Cheon-su.
‘Living alone gets you used to convenience foods.’
He’d just researched ways to make them tastier and applied it.
“Min-cheol, grab some spaghetti noodles from the basket.”
He planned to max out every burner. Go Cheon-su added a pinch of salt to a pot of boiling water, checked the temp, and dumped in the noodles Yang Min-cheol handed him.
“Plates. Jang Seo-yeon-ssi, get the plates ready.”
As he cooked the meatballs, Go Cheon-su tasted them and tilted his head. Too bland for spaghetti sauce.
“Hm.”
He grabbed ketchup from the basket, squirted some on the meatballs, added a splash of water, and stirred.
The wall clock ticked oppressively, but Go Cheon-su had no intention of slacking. This was showmanship.
“Brothers, forgive the messy order.”
Food started piling up amid the frenzy.
“Jang Seo-yeon-ssi, plate it up.”
Gomtang, instant rice, stir-fried spaghetti with meatballs, steak, and even kimchi from the convenience store corner—all ready.
“……Hm.”
Jang Seo-yeon plated them on the kitchen table, swallowing hard.
“Jang Seo-yeon-ssi, don’t just stand there—serve it.”
Her eyebrow twitched at being bossed around, but she didn’t complain. The food was too tempting.
“Ah! I’ll help!”
With Yang Min-cheol pitching in, they quickly set the table.
“Bro! Anything else?”
Go Cheon-su glanced at the basket remnants and shook his head. Good enough.
“Brothers, pay up on our bet.”
He’d wagered with viewers on how many dishes he could make before heading here. Nailed it—he deserved his reward.
HanDochoe sponsors 1 Zen!
“Mukbang prep approved.”
“Tch.”
Only one sponsor.
“Brothers, that’s all? Big thanks to HanDochoe-ssi, of course. I’ll remember you forever. Forever.”
Exactly. He’d bet to chip away at his debt on the way here, but his balance still sat at 34 Zen.
“Whew, whatever. Let’s get to work.”
Cooking was secondary. Go Cheon-su had more to do.
“Alright! Dig in!”
He ladled gomtang for a taste.
“Whoa……”
Hot broth hit his stomach, sending shivers from toes to throat.
“This is insanely good.”
Eaten hungry, it rivaled fancy restaurant fare—though he’d never been to one.
“Mm.”
Bread with meatballs made his tongue dance. Go Cheon-su shoveled food without a care for stares.
No etiquette, no balanced bites mattered to him. Just chow down. Jang Seo-yeon finally cracked.
“Go Cheon-su.”
“……”
“Cheon-su!”
He finally looked up at her call.
“You got some emergency or what? Why rush everything.”
Nailed it. But instead of answering, he kept eating. He’d explain soon enough—didn’t want to waste eating time.
“What the.”
Jang Seo-yeon stared blankly.
“Bro, water.”
Yang Min-cheol brought him water instead of prying.
“Thanks.”
Stomach full in seconds, Go Cheon-su chugged it and turned to Jang Seo-yeon.
“Jang Seo-yeon-ssi, you gotta understand my crazy moves sometimes.”
“What?”
“Just know everything I do has a reason. Easier that way.”
He headed for the door.
Jang Seo-yeon yelled after him.
“Hey, Go Cheon-su! Where now!”
“Wait here. Be right back.”
That was it. He stepped outside.
“Whew. Brothers, I’m off.”
Destination set.
“Brothers.”
Go Cheon-su shook his head pityingly.
“She might wanna check my stomach. I said I’d eat and come back.”
Building trust with Kim Ha-ryeong. No need for tricks now.
“Aigoo.”
Go Cheon-su sighed.
“Brothers, never had friends?”
Building trust early—even small things—forged stronger bonds. Even if NPC-based, Kim Ha-ryeong was human-derived. Exploit that right, unlock more potential from her setup.
“Don’t just game it—make friends, chat with me.”
He ignored the last jab and headed back to the convenience store.
“Sure enough……”
Kim Ha-ryeong had to be at the spot for next steps.
“Ah!”
There. Squatting blankly in front, waiting.
Go Cheon-su had promised: wait motionless here while he ate, and she’d join the group.
‘Controllable.’
Viewers called her support, but he needed to gauge her obedience himself. Confirmed now. She followed orders.
“Kim Ha-ryeong-ssi.”
No more delays. He stepped up.
“Ah!”
Spotting him, she lit up and ran over.
“You’re back!”
“Yeah, promised, didn’t I?”
“I was worried you ditched me—even though time wasn’t up. I trusted you, but my chest got tight, nearly passed out.”
Blunt, but fine. Go Cheon-su got her vibe.
‘Really got abandoned.’
Before heading back to the diner, he’d heard her story. Nursing student from a nearby uni. But alone here—no houses, no hospital—because abandoned.
“Kim Ha-ryeong-ssi, student ID again?”
“Student ID? That?”
She pointed at the convenience store front.
“Still there.”
“Didn’t pick it up?”
Go Cheon-su walked over, eyed the ID on the ground. 4th year. Fake. She’d meticulously added the ‘4’ to a blank-year card. Actually 2nd year.
‘What a joke.’
She’d come with seniors, run into soldiers. They said limited seats—only upperclassmen—and left. When Go Cheon-su wanted to check her ID, she’d chucked it.
“Pick up your ID.”
“For real?”
“Yeah. You explained already. No judgments. Take it.”
She beamed, snatched it up.
“Thank you! Can I thank you? I’ll help with all my heart. 2nd year, but full campus training done. Don’t worry.”
“Sure.”
Reeling her in was easy. Accept her, give her a role. She stabilized feeling useful.
‘Knew she’d follow.’
Waiting on command meant basic control. Seemed minor, but crucial for adding to a pack—dog or human.
“Ah.”
Kim Ha-ryeong suddenly sighed.
“Then… can I call you Go Cheon-su-nim?”
“Go Cheon-su-nim?”
“You accepted me.”
He scratched his head. First time hearing that.
Daejeon crawled with soldiers. More useful cards, the better for Go Cheon-su.
“It’s fine. I got this, brothers.”
Decision made. He grabbed Kim Ha-ryeong’s hand and dragged her along.
“What?”
Back at the diner, Jang Seo-yeon gawked as expected.
“Bringing her? This girl?”
“Yes. Nice to meet you.”
Kim Ha-ryeong bowed to her and Yang Min-cheol.
“Go Cheon-su……”
Jang Seo-yeon sighed in disbelief.
“She helped us, had circumstances. Turns out her team ditched her. She’s coming.”
“Ditched?”
“Yeah. Why she was alone.”
Jang Seo-yeon froze, swallowing.
“Jang Seo-yeon-ssi, said you gotta understand my actions sometimes?”
He pointed at Kim Ha-ryeong.
“Now’s the time.”
“……”
“Trust me? Accept her.”
Yang Min-cheol glanced around, then raised a hand.
“I’m in.”
“Ah, you……!”
“You saved me, bro. Wouldn’t bring dead weight.”
Yang Min-cheol grinned at shocked Jang Seo-yeon.
“We’re going together. Understand, noona?”
Since when ‘noona’? Her flirty tone left Jang Seo-yeon flustered.
“No…… Whew.”
She sighed deeply, caught off-guard.
“Can’t say I don’t trust you now. Cheating.”
“Great.”
Go Cheon-su clapped.
“Decided. We all go.”
No backsies. He tidied the mood.
“Announcement time. Listen up.”