Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Friends' Gathering
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"Ah, my legs..."
The shift at the logistics center was finally over.
Even after taking it easy on the way home, my legs still throbbed like they might give out any second.
Why the hell did the workload explode like crazy today of all days?
I must've run around that massive center nonstop—my soles felt like they were on fire.
Normally, I'd crash straight into bed without even showering and pass out.
But not today.
The moment I opened the front door, my mind snapped awake.
'Tired? No time to feel that.'
Today was the day Eun Ha-min had mentioned for that high-paying gig.
She was paying me.
A ton of money.
Thinking of it as financial therapy made my aching legs feel brand new.
I fired up the computer before even showering.
There was something I needed to handle before heading out.
While it booted, I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and chugged it down.
The thirst faded, and my head cleared up.
"Perfect timing if I upload now."
I moved the mouse to find the video file I'd prepped earlier.
This wasn't one of my usual rambling Shorts.
Those were on hiatus for a bit.
First, I had to clean up the massive mess I'd made recently.
The ultra-high-quality RPG game video had the entire internet in a frenzy.
Communities and the gaming industry were flipped upside down.
An unheard-of game with insane production values?
Gamers were replaying it frame by frame, streamers were pulling all-nighters analyzing it as their next big break.
Game companies were probably breaking out in cold sweats.
'Only way to calm the fire is to toss some bait.'
The comments on my channel were offering bounties to figure out where it came from.
Things were getting dicey—my personal info might get doxxed—so I rushed to prep this video.
[Darkness Soul Land - Teaser Trailer]
The title was flashy, but...
It was nothing special.
I just stitched together clips from the full playthrough I'd uploaded before, slapped on some epic BGM, tossed in a few 3D animations.
Ended with some music and a "Coming Soon" stamp. That was it.
Your classic teaser trailer.
The kind movies or games drop to build hype.
And to reassure folks, 'Yeah, this is legit in production.'
The reactions right now were no joke.
Why are you the only one having fun? Who's the dev? Open beta already!
Communities, YouTube—everything was buzzing about my channel.
Even big corporate streamers were obsessed with this game.
Hell, it even hit the news.
"This should settle things down a bit."
I hit upload.
The reason for posting was obvious.
Everyone was way too hyped, so I was dangling a "Someday it'll drop" to ease the pressure.
That way, they wouldn't come at my throat demanding it now.
'Who'd think my channel's the official game page?'
Anyway, innocent game companies were suffering because of me.
Phones ringing off the hook: "Is this yours?"
They're scrambling to post announcements denying it.
But being businessmen, they don't stop there.
[We're working on something this epic too—stay tuned!]
Subtly riding the wave.
Not wrong, either.
If one of them buys my game later, they might become the game company.
"Upload complete."
The progress bar hit 100%.
Comments section blowing up was just a matter of time.
Hate or praise—it was all the same to me.
With a light heart, I headed to the bathroom.
Standing under the warm water, I pondered today's job.
'What the hell does Eun Ha-min want me to do...?'
She'd just said to dress sharp and show up.
Why care about clothes if it wasn't something fancy?
Hauling luggage?
Bodyguard?
VIP escort?
Whatever. As long as the pay was fat.
I'd carry shit on my back for that.
After showering, I threw on the clothes I'd impulse-bought yesterday.
Tossed the knee-ripped tracksuit and vest into the laundry.
Crisp slacks and a shirt made me look like a new man.
My reflection in the mirror felt downright alien.
"Hmm. Not bad."
Not quite heartthrob material.
Sure, next to a chaebol heir, I'd look like calamari—but this showed effort.
Final touch: spritzed on the cologne and headed out.
Lee Soo-yeon had gifted me that one.
Hopped into my Avante in the parking lot.
Engine roared to life with its familiar growl.
Destination: Hanbit Hotel.
Nav showed smack in the middle of Gangnam.
"Let's roll."
I hit the gas.
Weekend traffic jam, but it didn't piss me off like usual.
Hell, I was humming.
Money does that.
Dreaming of another thick envelope like last time made the gridlock feel like a flower path.
Took about 30 minutes to reach the hotel's underground garage.
True to a luxury spot, the cars parked there were savage.
German big three everywhere, sports cars galore.
My Avante looked humble, but I parked it proud. No shame.
As long as it rolls.
Elevator up to the lobby.
Doors opened to another world.
The lobby was a damn palace.
Sky-high ceilings, chandeliers sparkling.
Marble floors so shiny I could see my face.
Not a place I'd visit often in life.
Glanced around for Eun Ha-min.
"There she is."
Already there, waiting.
She'd dolled up extra today.
Expensive-looking dress that screamed money—stood out instantly.
Friends' meetup and she's in that? Fancy.
Approached, and she spotted me.
Cut her call and bounded over.
"You're here!"
"Yeah."
Before I could finish greeting, she grabbed my arm.
And hooked it right in.
The soft press against my arm made me flinch.
"Ha-min? What about this?"
"Stay still, puppy oppa. I'll kill you if you pull away."
"..."
Her whisper was scary as hell.
Worlds away from her smiling face seconds ago.
I shut up.
She beamed again and dragged me along.
Released me at a quiet elevator entrance.
That soft chest brush nearly drove me nuts.
"Okay, now I'll explain."
"What?"
"What else? Your job today."
She pressed the button, tone dead serious.
"Just for today... pretend to be my boyfriend."
"...Pardon?"
Must've misheard.
Boyfriend?
Me?
With an eight-years-younger chaebol heiress?
"You heard right?"
"Yeah. Friends' gathering today, and I bragged I'd bring my boyfriend."
"Why invent one if you don't have—"
"They keep teasing! 'No dating? Too picky?' It's annoying."
She pouted.
She was picky, yeah.
Her YouTube vids? Zero guys. All girls.
'Even chaebol heirs bicker over boyfriends, huh.'
Scraping egos over relationship status.
Money can't buy different drama.
"So, you want me to fill in?"
"Yeah. Puppy oppa's the only one I can ask."
"Why me?"
"You're no slouch elsewhere, but that face rivals idols."
"..."
Really?
I saw myself as average.
She pulled a thick envelope from her bag.
Slid it into my jacket pocket, whispering:
"Ten million won."
"...!"
Breath caught.
Ten million.
For one day of boyfriend acting.
Multiple months of logistics pay.
I straightened up, dead serious:
"What's first, ma'am? Hold hands? Peck? I can carry you if you want."
"...Cheek kiss later..."
"For real?"
"E-embarrassing now."
No scolding? She actually wants it?
She blushed, shaking her head.
"Just stick close for now. Gaze at me like I'm the cutest thing ever."
"Staring lovey-dovey at a girl who was in fifth grade when I turned 20... might be tricky."
"I-I'm an adult now!!?"
"Fine, leave it to me. Honey-dripping eyes incoming."
She peeked, face flushing harder.
Even she was embarrassed saying it.
We linked arms down the hall.
Like a real couple.
My head? All ten million.
The spot was her personal suite at the hotel.
"Personal room?"
"Yeah. I stay here a lot, so I had one made. Convenient."
Chaebol heirs have hotel suites. Cool.
Me? Rent anxiety monthly.
"Everyone's here. We're last."
"They'll stare when we walk in."
"Don't worry. They're all younger than you—no shade. They'll be nice."
"Dramas say otherwise."
"That's the dumb stereotype."
Eun Ha-min stopped at big doors.
Deep breath, pushed them open.
"Sorry we're late! Traffic."
She breezed in with a bright greeting.
I followed.
The room was huge and swank.
Luxury sofas, table—Seoul skyline through the windows.
'Damn... personal suite life.'
Inside, three or four girls on the sofas.
Dressed flashy like her—dripping designer labels. Rich daughters obvious.
"Ha-min's here!"
"You actually brought him?"
They welcomed us.
Eyed me with pure curiosity.
Feared zoo-monkey stares, but...
They were polite. Stood to greet.
"Hi! We've heard so much."
"Nice to meet you."
I bowed awkwardly.
"Ah, hi. Kim Min-jae."
One asked carefully:
"We heard you're older... feel free to drop formal speech."
"Yeah, oppa's fine, right?"
"Uh, sure. Casual it is."
Super courteous.
Guess I watched too many dramas.
Expected thug chaebol kids.
Preconceptions shattered.
Eun Ha-min was feisty but straight—no malice.
The gathering kicked off.
We sat at the table, ate, chatted.
Food came in courses—so fancy I couldn't tell if it was mouth or nose-bound.
"Um... oppa."
"Yeah?"
Mid-meal, naturally, talk turned to me.
New guy—curious, sure.
But not what I expected.
No job, school, car grilling.
"How'd you two meet?"
"Ha-min said you chased her hard, said you liked her first?"
"How intense was the pursuit to snag our haughty Ha-min?"
All they cared about was us.
I panicked, glanced at Eun Ha-min.
'What the hell? Me chasing you?'
She dodged my eyes, played dumb.
Selling me out like this.
Overnight, I became the pathetic 28-year-old tailing an 8-years-younger girl.
Made sense, though. Proud chaebol miss wouldn't admit chasing first.
"Ah, yeah... Ha-min's just so captivating."
Bitter smile, but answered.
Earned my keep.
Ten mil? I'd bark if asked.
Hell, I was Ten Mil now.
Who's Ten Mil's dog? Yeah, dog's name.
"Fell at first sight, got aggressive about it."
I hammed it up; friends giggled.
Eun Ha-min sighed in relief beside me.
"So romantic."
"Handsome like you? She'd cave."
"Right? Ha-min folds for looks."
Great vibe.
They'd worried at first, apparently.
Eight-year gap? Generational clash?
But seeing me? Nah.
"Sorry, oppa, but..."
One stared hard.
Something on my face? Tensed.
"Yeah?"
"You look way younger than expected. Thought you were our dongsaeng walking in."
"Totally! Figured Ha-min faked it with some random little bro since she couldn't bring a real BF."
"Skin, style... early 20s easy. What's your secret?"
Scratched head, grinned.
"Thanks. No real routine."
"For real?"
"No way."
"Vampire or something?"
"What?"
They cracked up—pretty cute.
Early-20s energy was different.
Then Eun Ha-min chimed in:
"That's oppa's charm. Older but baby-cute. Why I like him."
She squeezed my arm, pinched my cheek.
Eyes sparkling like crazy.
Friends jeered playfully.
"Ugh, lovebirds."
"Save it off-camera."
"Too jealous to watch."
Eun Ha-min lifted her nose, smirked.
First time seeing that arrogant chaebol vibe I'd imagined.
Anyway, mission success.
Ten mil secured.
Amid it, she looked up with a sly eye-smile.
Eun Ha-min's got acting chops?
Or actually enjoying this?