Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Club Culture Shock
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“You really are 33! It’s legit, for real!”
When I said I was thirty-three, MD Jang started peppering me with questions.
Questions that only someone in that age group would know.
Things that someone underage or in their mid-twenties couldn't possibly answer just by skimming the surface.
Even the grim-faced guards softened their expressions.
“Oh, my apologies. I thought you were underage.”
“At 33, you can definitely leave your ID at home. Turns out you’re older than me.”
“Wow, the world is so unfair.”
“Hyung-nim, let me be straight with you. Your looks are so heavenly that I was going to let you in even if you were underage. I have a table that would be perfect for you.”
“But if you get caught with a minor, the fine is in the thousands, and if you get your business suspended for even a week or two, won't you lose tens of thousands in revenue? Considering how much you make.”
“See? See? Does that sound like something an underage kid would say?”
MD Jang grabbed me and led me down the entrance stairs.
The loud beat, making the entire building vibrate, was already making my ears go numb.
“Hyung-nim, trust me and just come with me this once. They’re really good people.”
“I’m not gay.”
“No, of course, they’re beautiful women. You know how rare it is for a group of women to book a room with their own money in a Gangnam club, right? They’re unicorns, I tell you. Unicorns. And you’re a unicorn too, so it’s a perfect match.”
“No, thanks. I just came to drink alone and listen to the music.”
“Please. Just save me this one time, huh? Hyung-nim, please! Please!”
I refused until the end and just ordered a bottle.
MD Jang walked away with a tearful expression, as if deeply wronged.
The inside was more crowded than I expected.
I guess my assumption that business was slow because there was no line was a mistake.
It seemed the line was gone because everyone who was coming in was already inside.
MD Jang personally brought over my liquor, glasses, and a tray of snacks.
“Hyung-nim, those ladies have a whole spread of Royal Salute laid out. How about just a quick peek?”
“I’m fine.”
The deafening music.
Young men and women, unable to stand still for a moment, swayed their bodies to the rhythm.
I couldn’t make out what someone was saying even when they were shouting right next to me.
It was an unfamiliar scene, almost a culture shock, but I actually liked it.
It felt like a paradise where all the world's worries had been banished.
Here, at least, no anxiety or concern could torment me.
[Yeon Da-eun] [Age: 26] [166cm, 52kg, A-cup] [Base Libido: A] [Affection Toward Me: A] [Note: Wants to go to a motel with me right now.] As I surrendered myself to the dazzling beat that drove away all troubles...
[Choi So-hee] [Age: 20] [168cm, 49kg, B-cup] [Base Libido: B] [Affection Toward Me: A] Right now, I too was getting high on the only drug sanctioned by the state...
[Im Mi-jin] [Age: 21] [Seo Min-hee] [Age: 22] [Kim So-young] [Age: 24] Ah, give me a break!
I was getting dizzy from the endless stream of women’s information appearing before my eyes.
The place didn't even seem that crowded, so why was everyone bumping into me?
Annoyed, I moved to a less crowded corner.
[Kim Ja-ye] [Cha Seung-eun] [Lee Jung-hwa] No, these women are following me as a group now.
“Did you come alone? Let’s hang out.”
“Wow, you’re so handsome. I want to see you in better light. Should we leave?”
“Should we? It’s too loud in here, right?”
“Oh, you have an aura. Want to dance?”
“Let’s go outside together. There’s nothing left for us here.”
I felt dizzy.
I thought I’d be fine because the lighting was dim, but women were flocking to Chang-woo, spotting his good looks like ghosts.
I’d heard that handsome men get special treatment in clubs, picking and choosing who they hit on.
I used to be envious, but is this the kind of hardship you face when you're *too* handsome like Chang-woo?
I can’t get used to this. I can’t take it anymore.
“Hey, Hyung-nim! Where are you going!”
Just as I was about to leave, MD Jang rushed over and grabbed me.
When did he see me?
Had he been keeping his eyes on me this whole time?
“I came to drink quietly and listen to music, but people are bothering me too much. I don’t think clubs are for me.”
“Man, if you want to drink quietly and listen to music in a club, you need to get a room! Follow me, follow me!”
“No, I told you I’m fine.”
“Just go and sit there for 10 minutes! If you really don’t like it, you can leave! I’ll even refund your drink money!”
Trying to buy me with a mere 600,000 won bottle of liquor.
“Really? Just 10 minutes and then I can leave?”
“Of course, of course.”
“Give it to me now.”
“Yes, yes! Here you go!”
That came out to 60,000 won per minute...
It was too much money to refuse.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The VIP room.
The well-appointed room was large enough to accommodate 20 people and had its own private bathroom.
It was well soundproofed, completely blocking out the loud beat from the first floor.
If desired, one could turn on the speakers to let the sound in.
Three women sat around a table, smoking.
They were draped in luxury brands from head to toe, with heavy makeup.
They looked to be in their mid-twenties.
“What’s with the crowd these days? There are no handsome guys in sight.”
“That's how Gangnam clubs are. The good-looking ones find someone in ten or twenty minutes and leave.”
“That’s why I said we should just go to a host bar. Clubs are basically a platform for rich men to shop for women.”
“Ugh, no. That place seems dirty.”
“It’s worth trying at least once, isn’t it?”
The women occasionally glanced down at the first floor, making small talk.
“Once Chae Song-hee goes to America, who knows when the three of us will get together like this again. I’m telling you, let’s go to a host bar.”
“No, thanks. It doesn’t sound fun.”
“I’m just saying we should go for the experience. Who knows when you’ll be back from the States?”
“Anyone would think I’m being exiled. I’ll be back once every two or three months, so you two better be ready to clear your schedules.”
“If you come back that often, won’t the Chairman break your legs?”
“Ugh, then he shouldn’t have sent me. It’s not like I want to go. I have to, because he’s threatening me with the will.”
The three women were from wealthy families.
All of them were quite beautiful.
As a result, they had incredibly high standards for men and were only used to men fawning over them.
“MD Jang was making such a fuss, telling us to look forward to a big catch today, but it’s nothing special.”
“A big catch? What big catch.”
“Still, MD Jang doesn’t usually talk complete nonsense. The guys he brought last time weren’t bad.”
“Oh, those model wannabes? I didn’t like them. They were too empty-headed.”
“Get a grip. Why would a guy who’s both handsome and smart come here?”
Slam!
The door flew open, and MD Jang entered with an air of triumph.
“Alright, ladies! You’ve waited long enough! I had a really hard time bringing him here! Hyung-nim, please, come in!”
A man slid into the room.
His visual was so stunning it was as if a radiant light shone from behind him.
The three women froze, their expressions fixed.
Like a baby bird, just hatched from its shell, seeing its mother for the first time.
They were utterly overwhelmed by the shock of this new world.
“Cough! Cough!”
Just then, the handsome man covered his face with his wrist and let out a dry cough.
“The smoke is thick. I’ll just leave. I don’t smoke.”
In that instant, the three women moved with lightning speed.
With synchronized movements, as if they were one body, they stubbed out their cigarettes in the ashtray and doused them with expensive liquor.
“We-we put them out! Please come in!”
“There’s still too much smoke, it’s hard to breathe. You all have a good time.”
“MD Oppa! Get us a new, clean room with no smoke! Clear all this out and set up new drinks!”
“Hey, hey! Let’s get up, get up!”
“Geez, Park Min-ha. Didn’t I tell you to quit smoking?”
“What are you talking about? You smoked the most, Kim Ga-eul.”
The women grabbed their bags and scrambled to their feet.
Their movements were sharp and swift, like disciplined new recruits.
“Alright, Hyung-nim. This way, please. I’ll guide you to a new, fresh-air room.”
“There was a lot of liquor left. Is this okay?”
“Oh, of course. Of course. It would be a disaster if you left now, Hyung-nim. Those ladies would kill me.”
“They looked young, though?”
Following behind, the three women giggled silently among themselves, overjoyed.
‘Hey, he said we look young.’
‘He’s so handsome. I’m going crazy.’
‘Chae Song-hee, what are you going to do now?’
‘I called dibs, so don’t touch him.’
‘What are you talking about? You’re going to America.’
‘I’ll stay in Korea even if I have to throw myself on the floor in front of my dad to protest.’
‘Wow, but I’ve never seen a face like that before. Those models from last time are just squids in comparison.’
‘Is he a rookie celebrity?’
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After moving to the new room and sitting down.
The women continued to grin, staring intently at Lee Chang-woo’s face.
Feeling awkward under their combined gazes, he averted his eyes.
That seemingly innocent gesture only charmed the women more.
‘Wow, he’s so handsome.’
‘He’s not just pretending to be innocent, right? With a face like that, he wouldn’t need to.’
‘I bet he came to the club alone out of curiosity.’
‘How old could he be? He looks young.’
‘He said we look young, so if he sees us as around 20, does that make him in his early twenties?’
“Excuse me for a moment.”
MD Jang was truly ecstatic.
He couldn’t contain the rhythm in his shoulders, which were practically dancing.
He brought in a large platter piled high with all sorts of fruits.
Seeing two bottles of liquor, Lee Chang-woo gasped in surprise.
“Wow, Royal Salute 38? That’s over a million won even at a liquor store. How much does it cost here?”
“Oh, Hyung-nim. You know your stuff.”
“You seem to be very interested in liquor.”
“Not really, but my supervising professor loved the 38-year-old. So whenever I heard a liquor store was selling it cheap, I’d rush over and buy them out. It brings back memories.”
“Oh, are you a college student?”
“No, I was a graduate student.”
“Oh my, you must have been a good student.”
The three women thought, ‘He’s older than we thought?’
He looked like he was in his very early twenties.
Of course, that wasn’t a flaw at all.
In fact...
‘That’s even better.’
‘Isn’t that better?’
‘Since he has a baby face anyway, I hope he’s an oppa.’