#16. Uhakwang (6)
Director Choi Youngji took us to a meat restaurant—not just any pork belly joint, but a premium Hanwoo beef place. She even called over the rest of the filming crew, introduced us, and took charge of the after-party feast.
"The crew isn't huge, so I wanted us to build some real team spirit. That's why I planned this dinner. I went with Hanwoo beef to make sure my family eats hearty and powers through this hot summer. Think of it as a bribe to ensure smooth shooting—stuff yourselves silly. But you gotta work it off, got it?"
Clap clap clap clap!
Woooah!!!
""Thank you, Director!!""
"Director unnie's the best!"
"Who just called me unnie?! Am I unnie material or what?"
"Puhahaha!"
"If you buy us tasty stuff, you're totally unnie!!"
With Hanwoo instead of regular pork belly, the staff's vibe was through the roof. Director Choi Youngji made the rounds at every table, putting faces to names.
She's such a social butterfly. Total people person.
Caught off guard by the meat party, we dove in, chowing down on that Hanwoo like champs. Then Director Choi Youngji showed up at our table with writer Choi Heemin.
"Everyone enjoying the food?"
"Yeah. This place must be a hidden gem—the beef's amazing."
"Told you I had good taste picking it. Haesol, Jun, Taeho, Minyeong—let's pour you all a round."
Director Choi Youngji filled our glasses with soju. But...
"Jun's underage, so could we sub in some soda?"
"Huh? Jun's a minor?"
"He's 19."
"I thought that noble vibe on Jun's face was all baby fat. Soda's fine! Alright, everyone—cheers! You know the rule: first toast means one-shot, no mercy."
"Noona! Don't push the booze so hard."
"You're one to talk—sticking to Haesol like glue the second we sat down. What's that about, you creep?"
"Is it a crime to wanna get close?!"
Maybe 'cause they're siblings, but those two bickered nonstop. The issue? They were fighting over me.
Guys, please just fight each other and leave me out of it?
If writer Choi Heemin wasn't married, I'd swear he was gay from how fixated he was on me. At least he seemed pretty into Kang Jun too, which was some small comfort.
Why's this married dude acting like this?
Luckily, he had a wife, so my ass was safe. Still, watching him cling like that made my arms twitch with the urge to shove him off.
Wanna deck him.
To switch topics, I raised my glass. "Let's drink. You said cheers, right?"
"Oh yeah! Almost forgot. Everyone, glasses up. First one's gotta go down clean—no leftovers. Or did I say that? Anyway, no forcing after this. Just rinse that throat nice and fresh."
Glasses ready, we all pulled back and shouted.
""Cheers!""
"Kaaah~"
Long time no booze—it hit bitter and sweet. How'd I forget this magic all this time?
Alcohol calls to alcohol, after all.
The engine revved, and the soju kept flowing endlessly. Director Choi Youngji matched my pace, thrilled, and plopped down to drink with us. My cheat-level body had killer detox, so I barely felt a buzz.
"Hyung, how do you drink like that?"
"This ain't much. Just wetting my whistle."
"...Holy crap. You're a booze monster."
Men got that drinking pride thing, and coming from a place where I flexed mine, the tipsy haze loosened my tongue.
"Dude, be a man—handle this much at least. Hit 20, and hyung'll school you proper. Just wait."
"Ahaha!! Haesol's spot on. Booze is learned from adults. Man, this guy's gold. Thought he'd be all prim from that face."
She liked her liquor but not super strong—her face flushed red as she laughed nonstop, repeating how much she dug me. She'd already hit a few tables before ours, so yeah, she was buzzed.
She chatted up the quieter Kang Taeho and Han Minyeong too, building bonds left and right.
Other texts were similar. Ahyeon, Boksun noona, and Manager noona sent worried check-ins. Most surprising? One from mother-in-law Jeonghwa.
Guess Jua noona spilled about my day.
Short, but it tugged at my heart. Classic mother-in-law! She gave that warm maternal vibe no other woman could.
Miss her.
We only met when visiting Jua noona—after she crashed, I'd sneak in at dawn for the night.
Never even took her on a proper date, yet she always welcomed me warmly.
How could I show my face? She probably felt neglected, even if she hid it. But with her daughter's man in an impure fling, she held back for our sake.
Should've paid more attention sooner.
Plus, she was filling my role—without her, could Jua noona and I have handled the sudden pregnancy without negativity? Our worry-free life was all thanks to her.
I've made bank now—no way I'm slacking. That'd be shameless.
What could I do for her? Time to brainstorm.
I had a mountain of coins available. Or more precisely, would soon.
Wonder if the sales post got bites?
Lotsa folks probably needed one. Sure enough, status window check: comments flooded in.
Selling old status window terminal for new AI model—reaction was insane. Private trade requests: 500+.
So many rich bastards.
Some stood out—no need to sift every one. They sent detailed old terminal specs, pics, and coin proof.
That's the dedication for a deal.
Picked the newest old model and highest +@ coin offer. Took days for caution; buyer was desperate, so I scored sweet.
Honestly, who else trades new for old? But pocketful of fat coins quelled my attachment to the AI window.
Bye, AI.
Short but sweet love! Sniff!
Luck struck sudden, gone before bonding. Felt hollow. Old window's fine, but no morning cuckoo-wake-up AI? Weird adjustment.
Humans adapt, though! Fat coin haul from the sale filled the void.
At first, the huge number and surprise freaked me.
"?"
Trade coins came as stat-up coins, not gift certs. Jackpot I never saw coming.
Freaked thinking it glitched. But mission coins aside, this is normal—straight to usable pool.
I'd mistaken everything for gift coins before. My bad. This windfall? Legit as hell.