Chapter 227
Chapter 227
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 227
Chapter Title: Chuseok Was Also Very Fun!
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The next morning, Unnie and I finished getting ready to head out.
We had originally planned to stay just one night, but Auntie was so insistent.
We ended up imposing on them for an extra day unexpectedly.
Thankfully, our streaming hiatus lasted until today, so it wasn't a big issue.
Though I was a little worried about Tofu, whom we'd left at home.
Of course, I'd asked Ra-hee Unnie to stop by and check on Tofu occasionally if she wasn't too busy.
"Uncle, Auntie. Thank you so much for everything."
As I slipped on my shoes, I bowed deeply toward the two of them.
Auntie then pulled me into a warm embrace.
It reminded me of the President's mom who had seen me off during the last Lunar New Year.
"Don't mention it. Auntie feels bad she couldn't take better care of you."
"Have a safe trip. Forgive our daughter if she causes you too much trouble."
"Hehe, of course."
Uncle spoke as if he felt ashamed.
In response, I proudly flexed my nonexistent biceps like I was showing them off.
Only then did a smile spread across Uncle's face.
"Hm? Did you forget something?"
As I finished my goodbyes and turned to leave, Auntie's voice made me stop.
When I looked back, Unnie, who had been following me out, had paused at the door.
Just as Auntie said, had she forgotten something?
"No, it's not that..."
Chae-yoon Unnie lowered her head and mumbled to herself.
Her expression suggested she had a lot to say.
This was the first time I'd seen Unnie hesitate so much before speaking.
"Um, Mom. As you probably heard from yesterday's stream... I'm moving out soon. I might not be able to visit as often."
Unnie finally spoke up.
It was about the move she'd announced on yesterday's stream.
Ah, right.
Once Unnie moves into our apartment, she'll be even farther from her parents' home.
Plus, with work only getting busier, she probably couldn't promise when she'd drop by.
She had been debating whether to come home for Chuseok just a little while ago.
Deep down, she must have felt guilty about not visiting her parents more often.
Seeing that expression on Unnie for the first time made me feel a pang of sympathy.
"I know, silly. Now go on."
But Auntie acted like it was no big deal at all.
She waved her hand as if shooing away an annoying peddler and turned away.
Her cool attitude left Unnie and me both stunned.
"You don't have to come often—just focus on work. Eat your meals properly, get along with your coworkers, and take good care of your members. I won't be able to help with housework as much since it's farther away, but I'll send over some side dishes by delivery. Share them with the other girls next door. Don't worry about us."
"......"
She paused mid-turn to deliver those words.
Unnie mumbled for a moment before nodding.
"Don't worry, Mom. Who am I? I've got that covered."
"Ugh, covered my foot. All talk and no action. Lulu, Auntie asks you to keep an eye on her too, okay?"
"Don't worry. I'm the one imposing on Unnie a lot anyway."
Unnie and I bowed toward Auntie at the same time.
Auntie watched us with warm eyes before finally turning away.
Uncle, who had stayed at the door until the end, spoke last.
"She seems tough, but she's sensitive and will feel lonely. I'll look after her, so you two head out."
"Got it, Dad."
"Goodbye, Uncle. We'll come visit again soon!"
"Alright, thank you."
Click—
With that final goodbye, we closed the front door.
Unnie still seemed a bit concerned about Auntie.
But knowing there was nothing to be done, she quickly reverted to her usual self, her eyes sparkling as she linked arms with me.
"I'm doing a housewarming next week, so you have to come, Maknae. Got it?"
"Of course! I'll come with Ra-hee Unnie."
As I answered, the elevator doors opened.
For some reason, it felt like a door leading to a new path, putting me in a strange mood.
After parting ways with Unnie and returning home, another unnie was waiting for me.
It was Ra-hee Unnie.
She had offered to check on Tofu while I was away, so she must have come for that.
Ra-hee Unnie was shaking Tofu's favorite toy when our eyes met.
She came straight over and hugged me tightly, like she was reuniting with someone after years apart.
"Did our maknae have a good trip?"
"Ugh... Unnie... Can't... breathe..."
I knew this was just Unnie's way of showing affection...
But I never seemed to get used to it.
What was it? It felt like my face was being smothered by a massive cushion.
Before, I'd have turned beet red from something like this.
But now I didn't, which meant I'd adapted somewhat.
It was far too late to suddenly remember I used to be a guy... Yeah, moments like this made me feel like I'd truly become a girl.
"Oh, by the way, I heard the news. Chae-yoon's moving in too?"
"Yeah. She said it was decided a while ago, but she kept it secret to surprise us."
"Why surprise us instead of Black Moon Squad..."
"R-Right?"
Maybe she thought we'd be more shocked than the fans?
Yeah, that wasn't wrong.
I had literally fallen backward off my chair in shock yesterday.
"Anyway, Unnie, how was your Chuseok?"
"It was good. I streamed, ate alone, played with Tofu a bit—that was it."
Ra-hee Unnie shrugged, saying, 'It was the most laid-back holiday ever.'
Oh, right—she usually went on overseas trips during holidays.
In that sense, this Chuseok must have been unusually quiet and ordinary for her.
Though paradoxically, that made it far from ordinary for Unnie.
"Was Tofu well-behaved? D-Did Tofu scratch you or anything...?"
"Yeah, she was good. She even came to me first."
"Really?"
Surprised by the unexpected news, I widened my eyes.
Of course, our Tofu was super friendly...
But she didn't just approach anyone right away.
Well, Ra-hee Unnie wasn't just anyone.
Plus, she visited our place often.
From Tofu's perspective, there wouldn't have been much reason to be wary.
Asking Unnie to look after Tofu really was the right choice.
"But Tofu has a sneaky pervy side, huh?"
"Huh? P-Pervy?"
I was nodding to myself, thinking it was a nice choice.
Unnie narrowed her eyes with a sly smile.
Tofu being pervy? What did that mean?
"Yeah, she climbed onto my lap and kept poking here."
"Eek...?!"
I tilted my head, demanding an explanation.
Unnie mimicked Tofu's front paws by tapping her own chest with her fist.
A shriek close to a scream escaped my lips.
Our Tofu, committing what they call bad touching on one of our members...!
Was she trying to get from Ra-hee Unnie what she couldn't get from me?!
No way, absolutely not!
"T-Tofu! Where did you learn such naughty behavior?!"
"Meow?"
"What's 'meow?' Stand up straight!"
"Meeow..."
I scolded her and tried to make her stand in the corner as punishment.
But Tofu just tilted her head innocently, as if to say 'What did I do?'
Then she yawned and started looking down on me.
You little...! Tofu Jeong!
How dare you act like that when Mom's talking to you!
Do you want a real scolding?!
"It's fine, Da-jeong. It's just a cat—what's the big deal?"
"Ugh, but still..."
I glared at Tofu fiercely, but Unnie petted my head to calm me down.
Of course, I knew cats did stuff like that...
But I couldn't easily forgive her for groping one of our members.
I kept huffing and staring at Tofu.
Ra-hee Unnie, who had been staring right back at me, chimed in.
"If you're that mad, maybe our maknae can grope Unnie's chest to cool off?"
"N-No, I don't want to...! And that wouldn't make me less mad anyway!"
"Really? That's how I used to calm my boyfriends."
"I'm not a boyfriend...!"
"Why not? Chae-yoon's always trying to cop a feel whenever she can."
"That's because it's Chae-yoon Unnie...!"
What the heck has Chae-yoon Unnie been up to on the regular!
How much must she have groped for Ra-hee Unnie to react so nonchalantly!
This is basically workplace sexual harassment—I should report her to the President!
"Meow!"
Hop—
"Oh my?"
Just then, with a small meow, Tofu jumped up from under the sofa.
At the same time, a slightly surprised sound came from Ra-hee Unnie.
Wondering what was happening, I turned to look.
There was Tofu, landed squarely on Unnie's lap...
Tap tap—
"See? Tofu really likes me."
"Tofuuuuuu!"
She was doing exactly what Ra-hee Unnie had described earlier.
I couldn't hold back a lion's roar.
As punishment, I didn't give Tofu any Churu for three days.