Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Golden Sun Visits Another Girl's House
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“Hehe, this should be enough…!!”
“Yeah.”
I'd stroked her for quite a while, and now her face was flushed bright red as she bounced around excitedly. Then, as if something had just occurred to her, she clapped her hands together.
“Ah, right…! Aren't you heading to Do-yeon unnie's place today?”
“What? How'd you know?”
“I heard from unnie in our chat. She said she'd invite you over after today's game…!”
Geum Seong-muk wondered if the two had gotten pretty close lately. Noah had a knack for bonding with anyone quickly, thanks to her outgoing personality.
“She told me to drop by sometime, said she'd cook something delicious.”
“I see. Ah…!”
As if struck by a brilliant idea, Noah slapped her palm with her fist. She grabbed both of my hands and looked up at me with sparkling eyes.
“Please visit our family sometime too…! Dad's been dying to meet you, oppa.”
“Me…?”
“Yes! You're the one who saved my big brother's life, and I've owed you so much…!!”
“Hmm.”
Noah's family was probably Japan's largest yakuza syndicate. The thought of visiting them already sent shivers down my spine.
They wouldn't try anything funny with the next boss candidate's friend, right?
Seong-muk figured they wouldn't pull anything shady. He nodded without hesitation.
“Sure, I'll make sure to drop by.”
“Ah, that's a promise…!?”
“Yeah, really.”
Come to think of it, the Asian qualifiers for the international tournament are in Tokyo, right?
If he made the national team, that'd be his chance to visit Japan. Seong-muk thought it might be worth swinging by then.
“I'll roll out the red carpet for you…! You can look forward to it!!”
Noah clenched her fists, brimming with resolve. With their family's wealth, she clearly planned something big.
“Ah, time's up already….”
Seong-muk realized it was time to meet Do Do-yeon in the parking lot. When he explained, Noah nodded readily.
“Have fun at unnie's house! Next time, take me along too…!!”
“Huh? Oh, sure.”
Seong-muk figured having an upbeat social butterfly like Noah around wasn't a bad thing. He nodded and parted ways with her.
“……….”
Noah stood there waving goodbye to Seong-muk when a soft voice called from behind her.
“Noah.”
“Ah, big bro.”
Ryuuji had been watching the whole scene ever since Noah had been leaning against Seong-muk, soaking up the affection. Now he was certain of the feelings his little sister harbored for him.
“You cool just letting Seong-muk go like that? I figured you'd throw a fit, like 'Don't go, bro—play with me instead' or something.”
Ryuuji recalled the stubborn tantrums Noah used to throw as a kid.
'Big bro, big bro…! Don't go train—play with me!'
'Nooo, no way…!! Don't go…!'
'Waaah, Daddy! Big bro's abandoning me…!'
Those were from when she was little, of course. But even after that, Noah had always been the type to dig in her heels and never budge once she latched onto something.
So Ryuuji had secretly figured she'd pull the same stunt with a guy she liked.
But Noah looked utterly relaxed.
Even though the boy she fancied was off to visit her rival's house.
“Hehe, it's fine! Everything's going according to plan.”
“Plan? Hmm, alright then….”
Ryuuji pondered for a moment.
Then he asked her.
“Noah, mind telling me what this plan is?”
“Sure—no way…!”
“Tch….”
Noah clearly had no intention of spilling the details about 'that plan,' not even to her own brother. She shut him down flat-out.
This is tricky, Ryuuji thought.
She was his sister, but sometimes he just didn't get her.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “I'll dig in.”
“Yeah, enjoy…!”
The table was laden with enough food to break a leg.
I'm at Do-yeon and Do-jin's place for dinner together.
I scooped up a spoonful of kimchi jjigae and popped it in my mouth. The smooth, satisfying glide down my throat hit just right.
“Oh, this is good.”
“...Phew, what a relief.”
“Right? Noona's been cooking since she was little, so she's probably one of the best among regular folks.”
Do-yeon let out a sigh of relief while Do-jin chimed in with the explanation. It had been ages since I'd had such heartfelt home cooking, and I shoveled it in eagerly.
“How'd the game go this time? You didn't look in top form….”
“Knew you'd notice, noona. Yeah, my stamina was way down compared to last time.”
“Ah, it really was…! Sorry about that. If I'd known, I would've postponed our plans.”
Do-yeon sounded genuinely apologetic.
I waved it off.
“Nah, days like this are even better. This kind of delicious home cooking recovers me way faster.”
“Really…? Hearing that makes me so happy. Thanks!”
Do-yeon flashed a bright smile.
Man, that one stung my heart a bit.
Okay, fine—I was a little smitten. Sue me.
“What's your ideal type, Seong-muk hyung?”
“Cough, cough…!!”
Do-jin lobbed that one out of nowhere.
Do-yeon suddenly started coughing too, looking pretty flustered.
“Do, Do-jin! Don't spring questions like that….”
“Just curious, that's all. So, hyung, what's your type?”
“……….”
They both stared at me with these super tense expressions. Ideal type, huh? I'd thought about it before.
“Basically, someone I click with in conversation.”
“Ah, yeah—conversation's key.”
“And most importantly, someone who looks past the surface to the real me inside.”
“Aha, gotcha.”
Do-jin nodded along while Do-yeon kept watching me, still on edge. No clue why she was so tense, but their barrage of questions dragged on for a good while.
“Um, Seong-muk…! Wanna talk barrel-hit theory…?”
“Hyung, if you get married, around what age?”
“Hold on, one at a time….”
The chaotic dinner finally wrapped up, and it was cleanup time. I thanked Do-yeon for the amazing spread.
“Thanks for the feast. It was delicious.”
“I'm glad you enjoyed it. Wanna crash here and rest?”
“Can't impose like that after a free meal. Least I can do is the dishes.”
Do-jin popped up in front of me, waving it off.
“Nah, hyung—we got this.”
“No need to hold back. It's not a big deal.”
“No, it's not that….”
“...?”
“We run all our dishes through the dishwasher. If you insist, just help move them over there.”
“Oh? Alright.”
It was obviously top-of-the-line at a glance. I loaded the plates in, hit the button, and it took over washing them spotless.
Whirrr…!
Tch, so that's why he brushed me off.
“Gonna hit the bathroom to brush my teeth. Where is it?”
“Ah, that way.”
I followed Do-jin's directions to the bathroom. The house was so huge that even after visiting before, I still got turned around.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Noona, seriously—what're you doing…?”
“Huh?”
“...Why'd you do that? I tossed out those questions about relationships to set the stage, and you wrecked it with baseball talk.”
“I just….”
Where was the cool noona who'd stonewalled guys like statues? In her place was this shy girl.
Even Do-yeon's genius brain for crunching data and solving problems with cold logic turned to mush in front of the guy she liked.
Of course, there was some reason behind her behavior at dinner.
“I didn't wanna be too obvious, or he'd catch on….”
“That's the whole point—let him catch on.”
“Huh?”
“Romance kicks off when one side gets found out for liking the other, and they notice it too. Brooding in secret like you do just turns you into a lonely old spinster.”
“……Ah.”
Do-yeon hadn't even considered that angle. She looked pretty shocked.
“What're you, Do-jin? How do you know all this?”
“I get confessions pretty often, so I've dated a few times. Lost interest quick, though—none lasted a month.”
“What…!?”
Do-yeon was floored by her little brother's romantic history. Her five-years-younger brother had way more experience than her, the hopeless singleton!
“Had no idea. Why didn't you ever tell me…?”
“Those girls were just like the guys chasing your looks all this time. Would've said something if any were keepers.”
“Ah, I see.”
Do-yeon nodded, somewhat convinced.
No one spills every little detail, even to family.
“Noona, I've got something in mind anyway?”
“Huh…?”
Do-jin had a plan all mapped out.
As a top-tier 'evil matchmaker,' he had the ultimate scheme to hook up noona and Seong-muk!