Chapter 269: Designated Request (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 269: Designated Request (2)
Slacks and a white shirt.
I stood before the mirror in a simple, uninspired outfit, adjusting my appearance.
It was hardly appropriate attire for a Hunter tutor, a job that required strenuous physical activity, but it would probably be fine.
What Kim Eun-bi’s father, Kim Yong-un, truly wanted to see wasn’t my tutoring ability.
“He must be dying of curiosity.”
He must have been so curious that he went as far as to file a designated request to invite you over.
It seemed he wanted to see for himself what kind of man his daughter had fallen so head over heels for.
“Then I have to play along.”
And do it properly.
I understood how our dear father must feel.
How could I not?
I was once a father with a daughter who was the apple of my eye.
Even now, with our bond weakened, the thought of her marrying some good-for-nothing punk makes my blood boil. Imagine how much worse it is for a father in the thick of it.
“This outfit should be good enough.”
After neatly styling my hair, I left the house immediately.
I set her home address, saved in my navigation system, as the destination and took the wheel.
As I slowly drove out of the alley, the faces of the two very different siblings came to mind.
Kim Eun-bi and Kim Jeong-hun.
I wondered how they would react throughout our time together.
“Just thinking about it is fun.”
I was really looking forward to it.
* * *
“Everyone, please hurry a little faster!”
“Yes, Madam!”
The employees at Kim Eun-bi’s house moved about busily.
Tending the garden, deep-cleaning the house, preparing food…
Of course, they weren’t the only ones who were busy.
The lady of the house, Ahn Joo-ri, was occupied with giving instructions to the staff and looking after her family.
“Honey, you should get changed. You’re not planning to meet your potential son-in-law dressed like that, are you?”
“What’s wrong with this…?”
“At. The. Very. Least! I’d like you to wear a shirt.”
“F-Fine.”
Pestered by his wife, Kim Yong-un had to go and change.
“What should I wear? What will make Do-jin think I’m pretty? I need to do my makeup, too! Ahhh, seriously! Why do I have nothing to wear?!”
With the meet-the-parents… no, the meeting, happening sooner than expected, Kim Eun-bi had been turning her entire closet upside down since the crack of dawn, hell-bent on finding the one outfit that would make her shine for the day.
And as for Kim Jeong-hun…
“Fuck, fuck, fuck…!”
He sat in his room, struggling to suppress the rage that was constantly welling up inside him.
He hated everything about this situation.
The fact that his family was bustling about first thing in the morning to welcome Kim Do-jin.
“A bastard like that is going to be my tutor?!”
The reality that he had to accept Kim Do-jin as his tutor.
He was so unbearably angry that he felt nauseous.
“Hoo…!”
Kim Jeong-hun slumped down, letting out a hot breath.
Soon, Kim Do-jin would arrive at the house.
He would brazenly insert himself into their once-cozy four-person dinner, chatting with his mother, father, and sister, their laughter blooming around the table.
Just the thought of it made his suppressed anger surge once more.
“Ugh, uh…!”
No, the truth was, he was afraid.
He felt like there would be no place for him in their harmonious gathering.
He was afraid of being unable to fit in, of becoming a bystander, and eventually, a forgotten existence.
He was terrified that the person he despised and had tormented so viciously would steal not only his sister but his entire family.
‘What do I do? How can I…!’
How could he make his family dislike the guy?
How could he change his sister’s mind?
As he agonized over his thoughts…
Knock, knock, knock!
Someone knocked on his door.
“Jeong-hun! The guest is here, so come down quickly!”
“……”
The inevitable had finally arrived.
* * *
The smoothly driving car entered a residential area.
It was a neighborhood where a security team of current and former A-rank Hunters stood guard 24/7, maintaining a tight watch in case of a villain attack.
Thanks to them, the residents lived without a single worry about monster or villain raids, creating a stable and charming atmosphere that permeated the entire area.
My house used to be here, too.
In one of the sections where the largest mansions were lined up in a row.
“The property value went up a lot because of me, didn't it?”
This place, already famous as a wealthy neighborhood, saw its already high land prices soar once more because of my existence.
The most famous and powerful S-rank Hunter couple in South Korea had moved in.
It wasn't just about the sense of security that brought; it was also the potential opportunity to form even a small connection with the couple.
“The more I think about it, I really should have received some kind of incentive.”
Well… the house price went up from when I bought it, so I guess that’s basically the same thing.
Of course, it’s not my house anymore, so I ended up with nothing.
So, do I regret it?
“Not a chance.”
I got my youth in return, didn’t I?
Whether it was tens of billions or hundreds of billions of won.
I received something that money could never buy, so no matter my total assets, I definitely came out on top.
Soon, Kim Eun-bi’s mansion came into view.
As I approached the garage door, the closed gate rose with a loud noise.
“Wow, look at all these expensive cars.”
I parked in an empty spot and got out of the driver’s seat. A middle-aged man in a suit stood by the door leading to the house, his hands clasped politely in front of him.
He didn’t seem to be Kim Eun-bi’s father… a servant, perhaps?
“Welcome, Mr. Kim Do-jin.”
“Hello.”
I bowed politely to the man, who was bowing deeply in greeting.
A man with his kind of demeanor was likely a trusted aide who had worked for the family for a long time.
“Everyone is waiting for you, so I will escort you inside right away.”
“Oh… am I late?”
“Haha, not at all. You don’t need to worry.”
“That’s a relief.”
I followed the man up the stairs toward the upper floor.
After he opened one more door, the mansion’s living room and entryway came into view.
And so did the people standing in front of them.
“Do-jin…!”
Kim Eun-bi, standing glued to her mother’s side, greeted me shyly.
And next to her was a middle-aged woman in a dress that seemed a bit too glamorous for wearing at home.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Ahn Joo-ri. I’ve heard so much about you from Eun-bi.”
She looked young and beautiful for her age, but her role was clear.
The lady of this house, and the mother of Kim Eun-bi and Kim Jeong-hun.
But just because it’s obvious doesn’t mean you can say it outright. That’s not how you survive in this jungle.
“Uh… I don’t think Eun-bi ever mentioned having an older sister…?”
The important thing here wasn’t the line, but the expression.
I had to put on a surprised face, as if I truly believed it.
“Oh my, do I really look that young? Hohoho!”
The butler who had guided me here cleared his throat and whispered in my ear.
“That is the Madam.”
Nice one, Ajeossi.
With that timely assist, I feigned shock once more and continued.
“Oh my… I truly had no idea. I was wondering who Eun-bi took after to be so beautiful, and now that I see her mother, I understand why.”
My tone was utterly polite, not at all flippant.
Honey began to drip from Ahn Joo-ri’s eyes as she looked at me.
“My, you have such a pretty way with words… You’ve made my day.”
“Haha, have I? I was only saying what I see.”
“Hohoho.”
One down.
In truth, as with any family, the final boss in a house with a daughter isn’t the mother.
“Ahem… Welcome.”
It’s the father.
I took the hand he extended solemnly and bowed my head slightly.
“Good afternoon, Father. My name is Kim Do-jin.”
“Kim Yong-un.”
Our hands parted as soon as we exchanged greetings.
I could feel a faint but hostile gaze.
That’s unexpected.
I thought he’d be glaring daggers at me, as if to say, So you’re the punk trying to take my daughter, but his reaction was weaker than I expected.
I’ll work on him more later.
“Jeong-hun, it’s been a while.”
“……”
Now, it’s time to play with our dear Jeong-hun.
At my friendly greeting, Ahn Joo-ri, who had been watching me with a constant smile, asked.
“Do you know our Jeong-hun?”
“I guess Jeong-hun hasn’t told you yet.”
“Told me what…?”
“We were high school classmates.”
“Oh my… what a coincidence! Jeong-hun, why didn’t you tell your mother?”
Ahn Joo-ri clapped her hands, delighted by the overlapping connection.
In contrast, Kim Jeong-hun’s expression twisted further as he lowered his head and muttered a reply.
“We weren’t that close.”
“Hoho, is that so? Well, what does it matter? You can get close from now on.”
“Keuk…”
At the simple suggestion to get along, Kim Jeong-hun clenched his teeth.
His predicament, unable to do one thing or the other, was quite impressive.
What can you do, Jeong-hun? You may have lived like a king at school, but at home, you’re just an ordinary son. Can you defy your mom and dad? Or can you grab me by the collar and shake me right here?
Just stay put like that.
I’m going to enjoy messing with you.
“…That’s enough talk in the entryway. Let’s go inside. It would be a waste for the food we prepared to get cold.”
“Oh, where is my mind? Do-jin… Teacher? Please, this way.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I followed behind Kim Yong-un and Ahn Joo-ri on the way to the kitchen.
As if his feet were glued to the floor, Kim Jeong-hun walked slowly. I placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered.
“Hey, Jeong-hun. You should smile.”
“You son of a bitch…!”
The kid flared up.
That’s strange.
“Why are you so angry? You’re the one who said it.”
“What the fuck are you talking about, you bastard.”
He really must not remember.
“You told me to smile in front of you, no matter how fucking shitty I felt.”
“……”
“So you should smile too, right?”
The pupils of the kid glaring at me as if he wanted to kill me trembled violently.
Look at this.
I told him to smile, but he’s not listening.
I wiped the smile from my face and spoke to him in a commanding tone.
“Hey. I told you to smile.”
If you don’t want to die.