Manager App - Chapter 71: [Idol Project]
“Who the hell do you think you are, talking back to me when you're younger?!”
“Then act like the elder! Did you shit out your age through your asshole?!”
“Hey!”
“Stop yelling! I'm not deaf!”
Lee Hyunju was screaming so loud that the entire restaurant echoed with it, and Seoyeon noona wasn't about to back down, firing right back at equal volume.
Suddenly, Lee Hyunju pointed at me and Seoyeon noona in turn with her finger, shouting.
“You, you... I'm telling Jiyeon and Aunt everything that happened today! Dragging around some old hag as your girlfriend! She looks like a college kid at first glance—do you have any idea what time it is for you? Are you insane?!”
“Then what about you, fucking around with little boys? That's fine and dandy?”
“You bitch...!”
Lee Hyunju's lips trembled, her ears turning beet red. Seoyeon noona fanned her own face, looking embarrassed.
“I'm so ashamed... that she's my cousin...”
“Hey!!”
“Stop yelling! If you came to eat, just eat quietly and go. Why start shit? Are you crazy?!”
“This...!!”
At Seoyeon noona's words, Lee Hyunju raised her hand up to shoulder height. It looked like she was about to slap someone.
I shot up from my seat and grabbed her hand.
“That's enough.”
“Let go!”
With her wrist caught in my grip, Lee Hyunju twisted her body every which way, trying to wrench free. But my hand stayed clamped tight on hers, not giving an inch.
Realizing it was futile, she raised her other hand to slap my cheek.
“Hey, who the hell are you to hit my boyfriend?!”
Seoyeon noona jumped up and seized Lee Hyunju's other hand.
“You two, ganging up...!!”
With both hands restrained, Lee Hyunju ground her teeth, glaring back and forth between me and Seoyeon noona.
“Um... could you please stop here?”
As we stood there in a standoff, a man in a suit approached our table, pleading earnestly.
I glanced around at his request.
Oh no...
Everyone in the restaurant was staring at us. Swallowing a silent groan, I decided it was time to call it quits. Besides, this was a restaurant run by Seoyeon noona's family. I couldn't let our drama cause them any trouble.
Smack!
As I released Lee Hyunju's hand with that thought, a sharp crack rang out, and her head snapped to the side.
“Hey!!”
Smack!
“Kyaa!”
Seoyeon noona yelled loudly at the sight, then viciously slapped Lee Hyunju's cheek.
“...You, you... you're crazy! Who the hell do you think you're hitting?!”
“Then why'd you hit my boyfriend?!”
“You fucking cunt!”
The two women were on the verge of throwing down for real. I quickly exchanged a look with the man across from us, and without a word, I grabbed Seoyeon noona while he restrained Lee Hyunju.
“Let go!!”
“I'm not letting go!!”
They thrashed and screamed, making sweat bead on my forehead, but it was short-lived. Following the gesture of the waitress who'd seated us, I hurried toward the private room.
Glancing back on the way, I saw Lee Hyunju venting her rage with a torrent of abuse at the staff.
This is kinda making me feel bad for them.
Tsking bitterly, I looked at Seoyeon noona, still fuming in my arms, huffing and puffing.
“Noona.”
“...”
“Noona.”
Calling her again, her gaze finally turned to me.
“Hey, are you an idiot?”
“Huh?”
“Why the fuck did you just stand there and take the slap like a moron?! And if you get hit, you hit back—why stay still?!”
“...”
I was at a loss for words. Sure, if it had been a guy, I'd have fought back without hesitation. But unfortunately, it was a woman. No matter what, a fit guy slapping a woman around didn't look good from any angle.
“Sorry.”
As I pressed my lips together, Seoyeon noona buried herself tight in my arms and apologized.
“...I shouldn't have brought you here...”
Her sincere apology made me chuckle softly as I hugged her back.
“No, noona. As long as you didn't get hit, I'm good.”
“Still...”
“And you slapped her back for me. Honestly, watching from the side felt so damn refreshing.”
Seoyeon noona giggled at that, holding up her hand.
“Frankly, it felt good for me too.”
“Glad to hear it. Let's sit down first.”
I let go of Seoyeon noona and took a seat. The private room didn't feel much like a restaurant anymore, but being alone together made it meaningful. No interruptions like before, that was for sure.
But...
First, I needed to rescue those poor staff members.
“Noona, I'm gonna hit the bathroom real quick.”
“Want me to come with?”
“I'm not a kid... I'm fine.”
Seoyeon noona let out a small laugh at that, waving me off with a threat: 'Hurry back. If you're late, I'll order whatever I want.'
I grimaced playfully—'Guess I better hurry'— and bolted out of the room.
“I got slapped, and you just stood there?!”
“We're sorry, ma'am. We didn't have a chance to intervene...”
“Then call the cops or help me out, you idiots!”
Stepping out, I caught sight of Lee Hyunju screeching nonsense at the staff, taking out her anger on them. Her cheek was swollen bright red—Seoyeon noona had landed a solid one.
It must've stung like hell to swell up like that. Not that I felt sorry for her at all. If anything, it was satisfying.
And personally, she deserves some punishment.
When the underage onboard orgy scandal broke and the public raged, I'd been furious too. Especially hearing that Daehan Hangun had fired the captain and crew who reported it to the press—I'd been angrier than anyone.
Later, when that crew member got reinstated and betrayed the captain, I thought justice had hit rock bottom. And finally, learning Lee Hyunju only got a two-year suspended sentence? Pure despair.
...But things are different now.
I had the Manager App.
Time to get that captain reinstated too.
Thinking of the captain fighting his lonely battle, I pulled out my smartphone and ducked into the bathroom.
Locking myself in a stall, I launched the Manager App right away.
Your current level is 5.
You can only train women within a 100-meter radius.
Please select a woman to train.
There are women saved in your list.
Would you like to view the list?
[Yes / No]
I hit No on the prompt asking if I wanted to view the list.
Immediately, info on every woman within 100 meters popped up on the screen. There were so many, it threw me off for a second.
But that passed quick—I spotted the search bar at the top and typed in Lee Hyunju.
“Ha.”
I let out an involuntary scoff at the line about her reinstatement as Daehan Hangun Vice President in 1 year and 8 months. How the hell does that even happen?
Shaking my head, I gritted my teeth.
It's rotten to the core.
I selected Lee Hyunju right away.
Select Lee Hyunju?
[Yes / No]