Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Eating with Verdi-chan!
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The place I'd come to with Verdi—no, Rine-chan—was the restaurant Ra-hee unni had recommended.
Originally, it was the kind of spot the President might take me to. That... what was it again?
Ah, right. Fine dining.
I'd considered going there but decided to save it for dinner.
So, this was the place we'd ended up.
A shop serving safe Korean dishes like tteokgalbi or bulgogi that even foreigners could enjoy.
It came out neatly portioned for one person, and there was fun in swapping if we ordered different things—that's why I'd gotten the recommendation from unni.
"Ah, hello. We have a reservation for 1:30."
"Yes, you're Jeong Da-jeong, right? Please have a seat wherever's comfortable."
Even though it was lunchtime, the place was fairly quiet.
Probably because it was completely reservation-only, just like Ra-hee unni had said.
Not that it was outrageously expensive or anything.
Of course, to my old self, the prices would've been enough to make my eyes pop.
For regular folks, it was a spot offering meals well worth the cost.
Honestly, when Ra-hee unni offered to recommend a restaurant,
I'd figured she'd point me to somewhere the President would take me.
This felt a bit unexpected.
【What a nice place. The interior really oozes Korean vibes.】
【Yeah, I like this kind of atmosphere too.】
The moment we stepped inside, Rine-chan looked around and drew in a deep breath.
Just like someone on a hike savoring fresh mountain air.
When I asked why, she said there was this subtly enchanting aroma wafting through the shop.
Ah, I think I get it.
You know how some older shops have that woody scent?
The kind that just relaxes your mind.
【What'll it be, Rine-chan? They've got bulgogi here too, your favorite.】
【Ooh, bulgogi! I love bulgogi. But since it's a rare treat, I kinda want to adventure a little.】
【Rine-chan's got such a pioneering spirit.】
【You bet! Life's no fun without a few challenges.】
Ooh, that's a gem of wisdom.
She's spot on.
Not that I, who used to hole up editing videos in my room, have much room to talk.
But yeah, I totally agree—life needs challenges to be exciting.
【So, what's Da-jeong recommending?】
【First time for me here too, but... most people go for the tteokgalbi, I bet. It's like a hamburg steak made from finely minced meat. A little sweet and super tasty.】
【Like bulgogi?】
【Yeah, kinda that vibe?】
Rine-chan must've really loved that bulgogi.
Every food comparison circles back to it.
Not that she's wrong.
【Alright, I'll go with this. But is tteokgalbi the only main dish?】
【Mm-hmm, there'll be sides too. By the way, Rine-chan, how do you handle spicy food?】
【Pretty well. I even ate Korean fire noodles on stream the other day.】
F-fire noodles?!
That spicy stuff?!
I tried them once as a test with Yuna and nearly died.
【Gasp, really...?! W-was it edible?】
【Yeah, no big deal? Though Anise straight-up bailed, saying she couldn't handle it.】
That's edible to her?
Rine-chan feels more Korean than me sometimes.
Gotta hunt down that Mityube clip later.
【Wow, impressive. I could never do fire noodles....】
【Heh, yeah, you strike me as the type who'd bawl your eyes out from spice.】
【Th-that's rude...! It's not that bad!】
O-of course, I did shed a few tears!
Not just tears—snot too, and I was blowing my nose forever!
Had to pop stomach meds the next day!
Anyway, I'm not that weak to spice, or so Rine-chan thinks!
Ding-
"Welcome. Do you have a reservation?"
"Ah, yes. Well...."
We'd just finished bickering over orders and were waiting for the food when
a woman with an incredibly secretive vibe slipped in.
Coat, scarf, and mask for winter? Fine.
But sunglasses too, hiding her identity tight? That was intriguing.
Whoa, a celebrity?
Maybe an entertainer?
If so, staring would be rude—better pretend not to notice.
Definitely a hot spot.
Celebs coming by and all.
Makes sense, coming from Ra-hee unni's recommendation.
Shush-
【People pouring in. Must be a popular spot.】
Three more followed her in a line, filling up one table.
Then folks started trickling in one by one after that.
Rine-chan glanced around in wonder.
【Yeah, one of our member unnis said it's a famous local eatery.】
【Ah, gotcha. Explains it.】
Before we knew it, our food had arrived amid the lively chat.
"Here's your tteokgalbi set and meat veggie set."
"Thank youuu."
"Tha-nk... you."
"You're welcome. Enjoy your meal."
I thanked the server as she brought the dishes.
Rine-chan followed suit, her Korean a bit clumsy but earnest.
The server smiled—probably charmed by the foreigner's effort.
Looks delicious.
Especially those bean sprouts piled under the meat.
Meat's great, but it needs veggies.
【Bon appétit, Da-jeong.】
【You too—dig in.】
And so the meal began.
Rine-chan tilted her head at the unfamiliar tteokgalbi for a second,
but quickly figured it out, tearing off a piece and popping it in her mouth.
I grabbed some bean sprouts and the meat on top,
and slurped it straight in.
"Hehe...."
The subtle smoky aroma filling my mouth,
and the crisp crunch of the bean sprouts.
Perfect harmony—couldn't help but smile.
【Wow...! Da-jeong, this is really good.】
【The tteokgalbi?】
【Yeah. I tried hamburg steak in Japan, but this hits my taste more. That subtle sweet tang—what's the secret to this sauce?】
Luckily, it suited Rine-chan's palate too.
She started demolishing it with rice and salad in no time.
Yep, tteokgalbi's the real deal.
I'd only had the discounted stuff from the mart before.
The first time the President took me to a proper place, I was blown away.
Chewy yet tender.
And like Rine-chan said, that sauce coating? Perfection.
Total rice thief. Rice thief.
【Rine-chan, wanna swap bites?】
【Ooh, yes! Been eyeing yours.】
We swapped sides here and there,
continuing our happy feast.
【Mmm...! This one's good too. These veggies have a spicy kick.】
【Yeah, probably seasoned that way to go with the meat.】
My order was hitting the spot too—
Rine-chan kept gasping in delight.
Glad she's enjoying it.
Swish- swish-
Ugh, my hair keeps brushing my face. Annoying.
Can't take it. Gotta tie it up.
There were assorted hair ties at the counter for customers.
Grabbed one, swept my hair back, and made a long ponytail.
Used to struggle tying it alone.
But practicing while cleaning at home helped.
Now I can do it solo easy.
Perfect.
Now I can eat for real.
"Munch munch...."
I figured I should eat daintily in front of Rine-chan,
but once the bites started flowing, that flew out the window.
Just too damn good.
【Pfft....】
【Rine-chan? What's up?】
She'd been chopsticking away nonstop,
then suddenly burst out laughing. I tilted my head.
Seen something funny?
No phone or anything, though.
【Ah, sorry. Your eating face is too adorable—I lost it.】
【Huh? Mine?】
Mouth still full,
so I mumbled back in confusion.
Thought I was eating normal.
Maybe Rine-chan's praise-tease tactic.
But she seemed genuinely amused.
I ignored it to resume blissed-out eating when—
【Da-jeong, look over here?】
【Huh? What hap—】
Click-
She suddenly wanted me to look her way—thought maybe food trouble.
But nope. Tiny shutter sound.
Rine-chan had snapped a smartphone pic the instant I turned.
【R-Rine-chan?! Why the photo...?!】
【Kuh-heh, sorry. But you're too cute—I couldn't resist. Had to capture one. Delete if you hate it.】
【Ugh, it's not that....】
N-not like I'd worry about Rine-chan leaking it.
Still, kinda embarrassing.
I'm not pretty like the members or Rine-chan.
And why an eating pic, of all things.
【Don't worry, Da-jeong. Came out adorable. Wanna see?】
【Uh, sure.】
Like she'd guessed my fretting,
Rine-chan held out her phone with the fresh shot.
Honestly didn't wanna look,
but she'd gone to the trouble, so
I peeked to check how bad it was....
【See? Super pretty, right?】
【W-well... kinda okay, maybe.】
It wasn't exaggeration.
Soft light from outside, shop lamps as halo—
I looked pretty decent, honestly.
Subject's the weak point, sure.
But passable, even.
One tiny flaw: meat crumb at my mouth corner.
What am I, a kid? Sloppy eater.
Pure black history material.
Wipe- wipe-
Grabbed tissue, dabbed right below lip.
That get it all?
【Pfft! Da-jeong, other side.】
【Eh...?!】
...Right, photo's mirrored.
Her laugh turned my face red on cue.
【Here, I'll get it. Hold still.】
【Uuuun....】
Couldn't stand it, so Rine-chan skipped tissue and wiped near my lips with her hand.
Felt like getting pampered by Mom—super shy.
"...Huh?"
Hey, those four who went inside earlier....
Kinda like the folks I locked eyes with on the street.
Especially the one on the left—hat hiding hair,
but blonde strands peeking out, like Ji-ah unni.
【Da-jeong? What's wrong? Know them?】
【Nah, but... they kinda look like our members.】
【Huh? Members?】
I knew it was impossible, obviously.
But the familiar vibe kept drawing my eyes.
【Tell the members we were meeting here?】
【Nope, not in group chat. Just mentioned to Lucrezia unni.】
【...Hmm, really?】
Rine-chan's face shifted oddly as she heard me.
She kept sneaking glances at that table,
【Probably nothing. Oh, since it came up—got member pics? I'll show my agency crew too.】
【Yeah, cool.】
Suddenly dying to see member shots.
I was curious about her agency mates anyway,
so I nodded and pulled out my phone.
The Blue LUV crew tailing Da-jeong—
the so-called stalkers—were starving.
They'd skipped breakfast to chase her early, so no surprise.
"So good...!"
"They say even Mount Geumgang's best after a meal."
"Totally. Ra-hee's picks never miss."
So when their orders arrived at Da-jeong's restaurant,
they dove in, drooling and chopsticks flying.
"Unni, check that out...!"
"......?"
Yuna, hat pulled low to hide her face,
tapped the table frantically and pointed somewhere.
Ji-ah, seated diagonally across, got a question mark over her head.
Turning to see what—
there was Rine, hand fussing near Da-jeong's mouth.
Probably wiping a smudge,
but the angle made it look intense.
"W-what do we do...! Da-jeong's getting NTR'd...!"
"Y-Yuna. Okay, calm down... Where's your food? Let's eat first, eat."
"Huh? Finished the rice...? This is dessert."
"...Dessert?"
Portions had seemed bird-feed small,
turns out she'd scarfed the main and scored dessert already.
After ranting how she couldn't eat with Da-jeong in peril.
"Gasp...! This is amazing, unni. Want a bite?"
"Ah, sure...."
At this point, was she even worried about Da-jeong?
Or just loving the detective-stalker thrill?
In a way, peak optimistic Yuna.
Ji-ah decided to resume eating indifferently, then idly glanced back.
Glance-
Right then, her eyes met Rine's as she turned her head.
"......?!"
A faint smile crept onto Rine's lips.
Ji-ah jolted, whipping her head away.
She couldn't have noticed, right?
No way.
She didn't even know their faces.
"Unni, food's cooling. Eat up. Gotta eat it hot."
"Y-yeah. Right."
She tamped down the worry and dug back in.
But eating with your back to the enemy? Food just wouldn't go down easy.