Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Blue LUV's First Group Dinner!
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We were still in the middle of the meeting.
For some reason, the President led us all out of the company as a group.
"President, where are we going?"
Yuna asked, curious about our destination.
I was just as curious, so I trailed along at the back, ears perked up.
"We're going to eat. It's our first time all together today, so wouldn't it be nice to chat over some delicious food?"
Ah, so we're heading out for a meal.
It must be because of me.
I let my stomach growl so loudly right in front of her.
Sorry for making her worry over nothing.
"Wow, the President's treating us?!"
"Of course."
"Yayyy!"
Yuna threw both arms up high with a shout of joy.
Her innocent smile was so adorable that it brought a grin to my face too.
As expected of Blue LUV's top healing character.
"Ah, over there. Let's head in, everyone."
"Waaah..."
The restaurant we finally arrived at looked dazzling even from the outside.
At least a hundred—no, a thousand times better than my rundown place.
For me, it was the kind of spot I wouldn't even dream of stepping foot in.
"Welcome. Do you have a reservation?"
I slunk inside, hiding behind the members out of sheer intimidation.
A neatly dressed waiter emerged and greeted us with polite poise.
"Yes, under Kang Haneul. I just called a bit ago."
"Ms. Kang Haneul, I presume. Yes, confirmed. Right this way."
We were ushered into a private room set aside just for us.
'People who come to places like this all dress so stylishly.'
As we walked there, I glanced around and saw men and women alike, all seated in chic, pretty outfits.
In stark contrast, I was in a threadbare white t-shirt and shorts.
I didn't want to confront my pathetic reflection, so I kept my head raised high.
"Da-jeong, what are you doing? Come on in."
There stood Ra-hee unnie, dressed prettily and smiling warmly as she extended her hand to me.
The soft glow spilling from the private room framed her like a halo.
Her sparkling figure blurred over my own shabby one.
In that instant, shame and self-mockery welled up, and my head drooped with a thud.
"Ah... s-sorry."
"Huh? No, you don't need to apologize..."
I couldn't bring myself to take her hand and just followed behind her instead.
A paper marked 'Reserved' sat on the table.
"I'll bring the menus right over. Please have a seat."
The waiter cleared it away, gesturing for us to sit.
"Da-jeong, sit next to me."
I was about to claim an empty spot when the President patted the seat beside her.
Huh, why are the others just sitting wherever?
Why me, of all people?
"A-are you talking to me...?"
"Yeah. Why, don't you want to?"
"N-no, of course not."
Ugh, it's not like I dislike the President or anything...
Still, just thinking about my boss sitting right next to me made swallowing food feel impossible.
Why go out of her way to have someone like me beside her?
No way to refuse, so I shuffled over like my shoes were glued to the floor and sat down.
The moment I did, a barrage of boos rained down from around the table.
"Uuu, President, that's not fair! I wanted to sit with Da-jeong too!"
"Yeah, there's plenty of seats."
"Monopolizing our maknae is too much, isn't it?"
Ugh, huh? Why is everyone getting upset?
I mean, I get it from what they're saying.
But why on earth would they want to sit next to me?
Being this grubby, I'd just dull their shine.
Even the usually quiet Ji-ah was eyeing me with a hint of regret.
Surely she doesn't want to sit with me too—that'd be way too self-centered of me to think.
"Tsk, talking back to the President? Sit down quietly, all of you."
"Hing, abuse of power!"
The members' rebellion was swiftly crushed by the President's single 'tsk.'
Yuna tried to hold out the longest, but the President didn't even blink.
Our members sure are bold.
This is our first time all together today, and they're already so casual with her.
Probably only possible because the President has such a relaxed vibe.
In the end, I sat next to the President.
The rest lined up across from us, forming an odd standoff.
As I felt a strange awkwardness in the setup...
"Here are your menus."
The waiter from earlier returned with menus and set out water for us.
The President skimmed hers, asked the members a few times what they wanted, then finally turned to me.
"Da-jeong, anything you want? President's treating, so go ahead and order whatever."
"Ah, yes..."
She spread the menu out in front of me, and I froze for a second.
It wasn't discomfort from her excessive kindness.
I simply had no clue what any of the dishes on there even were.
P-Prime? What the heck?
Sounds like something from a robot anime I saw once.
And the prices are insane.
Dishes nearing 200,000 won? Some menus cost that much?
200,000 won could feed me for two whole months.
If I really skimped, even three.
Utilities aside, of course.
"Um, then I'll have this one..."
"...Huh? Pasta?"
I picked the cheapest-looking option, and the President reacted with clear surprise.
So that's what pasta is.
I wouldn't have guessed from the name alone.
"Da-jeong likes pasta, huh? The steak here's amazing too."
"N-no... I've never had pasta before."
"......"
I knew what it looked like from the name, but I'd never actually eaten it.
So I replied timidly, and the President made an 'oh no' face.
What's that about?
"Eek? Never had pasta? For real, Da-jeong?"
"Y-yeah. Is that weird...?"
Is pasta some kind of national staple?
I asked Yuna cautiously as she stared at me in astonishment.
"Of course it's weird... Ah."
She started to nod, then froze, blinking a couple times upon seeing something.
Felt like her gaze flicked toward the President.
Just my imagination?
"N-no! Not weird at all. It'll be super tasty, so get excited."
"Yeah."
Pasta must be something really special then.
I'd thought about trying it once before, but every bowl was over 10,000 won, so I never dared.
Looks like it lives up to the hype.
This one's 30,000 won a serving, after all.
I won't leave a single strand behind.
"Your food has arrived."
We'd finished ordering and were chatting away when...
Quite some time had passed unnoticed, and the waiter reappeared with our dishes.
"Pasta for which seat?"
"Here."
Huge slabs of meat went before the other members.
In front of me sat a plate of long noodles mixed with all sorts of ingredients.
Wow, so many shrimp.
And they look so plump and juicy.
Just a few of these could cover my weekly grocery budget.
Huh? It's a fork.
No chopsticks here?
I vaguely recall using a fork ages ago as a kid—that's it.
A bit thrown off, but utensils are utensils, so whatever.
It's not like forks are complicated.
"I'll dig in."
"Eat up, Da-jeong."
The President smiled warmly as I picked up the fork and patted my head.
Felt a bit like being treated like a kid, but it wasn't bad.
Now, to twirl some pasta and take a bite...
Plop.
"...Eh?"
The pasta I'd lifted slipped right off and fell back into the bowl, leaving me blinking blankly.
Why'd it drop?
One more try...
Plop.
Again.
Now it was personal—I couldn't back down.
Let's see who wins, you or me.
"D-Da-jeong?"
"Yes, President."
I glared at the pasta with fierce determination, stabbing again...
When the President called out to me in a bewildered tone.
"For pasta, you twirl it up like this. Then rest it on your spoon and slurp."
"Oh, is that how?"
Come to think of it, I recall seeing someone eat it that way in an anime once.
Guess my technique was all wrong.
Sorry for blaming you, innocent pasta.
Twirl... twirl...
Ooh, got it.
Now, following the President's lead, spoon underneath... slurp.
"Mmm...!"
Whoa, delicious.
What even is this flavor?
Hard to put into words, but a subtle spiciness blended with seafood richness created an explosive synergy in my mouth.
Anyway, insanely good.
The best thing I've ever eaten, hands down!
"President, this is amazing."
"Yeah? To your taste?"
"Yes! No exaggeration—best food of my life!"
I knew restaurants called for quiet, but excitement got the better of me, and my voice rose.
The President stared at me, eyes brimming with emotion as she covered her mouth.
Puzzled, I glanced around—same from the others.
Slightly different vibes, but all looking at me with moved expressions.
Did I say something weird?
"Yeah... Let's do this more often. I'll treat you anytime."
"T-that's too much. It's so expensive..."
I frantically shook my head at her follow-up.
I love good food as much as anyone, but I'm not that shameless.
She was already giving me a computer—I'd planned to refuse somehow, but piling on pricey meals? I couldn't face her.
"No, I just love treating people close to me. Got it?"
"B-but..."
"Tsk. Answer me."
"Yesss..."
Okay, next time she invites me, I can just say I have plans.
No rule saying I have to accept every time.
Just nod along for now.
"Da-jeong, want some steak?"
"Da-jeong, try mine! It's so good?"
"I cut it up already—here."
"I cut mine too..."
Why's everyone so eager to feed me?
Even though the other five all ordered the same thing.
They kept insisting, and it felt rude to refuse, so I accepted bits here and there.
The steak melted in my mouth, rivaling the pasta in perfection.
"Hehe, steak's delicious too."
"Hnnng...!"
My face relaxed without me realizing, and I let out praise.
In response, the four across from me let out pained groans.
Clutching their chests—did they pull something?
That's no good.
I can't tolerate my Blues being in pain.
Better if it were me hurting instead.
After the meal wrapped up, Kang Haneul pretended to call it a night.
Actually, she sent Da-jeong off alone and gathered the rest of the members.
She had something important to discuss.
"Girls, didn't Da-jeong seem a little off today?"
"Yeah... weird, I guess..."
Chae-yoon started to reply to the offhand question but trailed off.
She couldn't quite find the words for what she'd seen.
A 21-year-old woman who'd never tasted pasta or steak before.
And so clumsy with a fork, too—it was odd in every way.
"You're going to be active with Da-jeong from now on, so I think you should know a bit. But don't tell her you know about this, and don't spread it anywhere."
"What on earth is going on?"
The only one her age, Yuna, looked worried at how long she was beating around the bush.
What kind of circumstances did Da-jeong have?
Kang Haneul had wrestled plenty with whether to share this.
It was Da-jeong's personal family matter, after all.
Revealing it without her consent might be rude.
Still, she spoke up in the end.
Not out of some vague notion of propriety—these five stars now tucked into her treasure chest meant far more to her.
"Actually..."
As Kang Haneul carefully began, the four faces shifted through every expression imaginable.
It was only natural.
From the perspective of ordinary people living in 21st-century Korea, it was a story too heartbreaking to even believe.