Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Merging the Taverns
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"What, merge the taverns?"
Yaeun senior's face crumpled at the suggestion of combining the taverns.
"Yeah, you guys are short on space with all the customers. Our tavern's right next door anyway. We could say it's all one place and run it together. Wouldn't that be great?"
Of course, merging would let us serve more customers.
"But I don't really want to take on that many."
If this were real business, we'd scramble for every customer, but we had no reason to here.
Sure, some of the sales went to the hardworking folks as a small fee, but most went straight to club dues.
We were only doing this for the festival—a special occasion.
It wasn't about making money.
But the design department senior showed no signs of backing down.
"We share manpower, and it benefits us both. We lend you space, team up on sales. You're overflowing with customers anyway—surely this is fine."
No, not at all.
There was zero upside for us. Just more work for nothing.
"No, our seniors would never agree. It's not my call."
"Ah, don't worry about your seniors. Our department head already talked to them and smoothed things over."
"What...?"
The air chilled at the news they'd already coordinated.
"So if your seniors are cool with it, we do it."
Had they set this up in advance, just waiting for the seniors' input?
I hesitated at the eerie timing, but Yaeun senior scratched her forehead, about to speak.
"Hey, you..."
Her friend from the design department flashed her phone to change the subject.
"Oh, hold on. Call from my senior. Yeah, Senior! Yes, we decided to merge the taverns starting tomorrow."
"......Damn."
"Yeah! I'll let them know right now. Perfect timing—I'm at the tavern. Yes, sir! Head in safe!"
Then she waved the phone at Yaeun senior like a trophy.
"Your seniors approved."
"Hey, you!"
Yaeun senior's face flushed beet red.
"You really doing this?"
"Why not? You've been raking it in all day, and we just want a piece of the action. Is that so wrong? Festivals are about everyone coming together. Aren't you sorry for hogging customers from other departments just 'cause you caught a thief?"
Not everything that comes out of your mouth is gospel. She had a real talent for pissing people off.
Luckily, Yaeun senior's nickname—which everyone who'd heard knew—was...
"Shut up."
......Bulldog.
"...What?"
"You're full of shit, you bitch."
"Did you just cuss me out?"
"You think you'd hear anything nice after pulling this crap? Shameless."
"......"
Yaeun senior's barrage of curses from then on was pretty raw...
"Dad, what did that lady say?"
My eyes flickered wildly as I told the story to Daeun.
[I can't tell her.]
Even adults would be shocked—no way I could relay it straight to Daeun.
I tried softening it as much as possible.
"The auntie talked scary."
"How scary? What'd she say?"
Daeun looked super curious about Yaeun senior's words.
"Uh... well."
No way. Telling her would curse me for life.
She'd learn someday, but not today.
I swallowed hard and filtered it my way.
"She said, 'I won't play with you!'"
Totally not it, but in the end, it boiled down to that.
Thankfully, Daeun took it the same way.
Her eyes went wide as she nodded along.
"That uncle must be super bad!"
Nod.
"Yeah. Super bad."
I sighed in relief and kept explaining.
"Hey! You! Little bitch!"
"......"
Everyone's eyes bulged at the raw outburst.
Especially her friend—the instigator—Yaeun senior's buddy, whose gaze shook violently.
Overwhelmed? She just stared blankly at Yaeun senior, speechless.
"Ugh, so annoying!"
Yaeun senior spun and stormed into the tavern. Hyorin followed her.
She deserved every bit of it. I'd be pissed too.
The design department senior, still eyeing Yaeun senior's vanishing back, snapped to with an awkward grin, trying to defuse.
"Haha, she's not usually like that..."
No, she's not.
Someone just made her that way.
"A-anyway, let's go. Seniors approved, so we merge tomorrow. You guys know. See you then."
He notified me and Jungeun like it was a done deal, then left.
"Feels like a storm just blew through..."
Nod.
I totally agreed with Jungeun.
Yaeun senior aside, who knew they'd push to merge taverns?
Blame the crowds, sure... but that design senior's words lingered.
['Cause you caught a thief']
Clench.
To me and Hyorin, it was huge—but to some, nothing. Hell, they even envied our "luck."
I'd tell them to switch places, but they'd never get it.
I was pissed; Hyorin must be furious too.
Then Jungeun sighed deeply.
"But we're really merging?"
"Seniors okayed it. We will."
Yaeun senior left without protest—resistance seemed tough.
"Sigh, what a mess."
Freshmen like us had no power to fight it.
Seniors say jump, we jump. Frustrating, but that's life.
Rustle.
I worried about Hyorin following Yaeun senior. Hyorin'd be fine, but...
[She's okay.]
Something nagged at me.
Anyway.
"Let's wrap up quick and head out. I'm beat."
"Yeah."
The stormy day ended, and the next day...
After buying supplies, we hit the tavern—and ran into a panting Jungeun.
"K-Kanghyeok! B-big trouble!"
"Whew, why so many calls? Right, Daeun?"
He was handling the company solo.
Late from work, and now glued to his phone here.
Daeun pouted cutely at Jungeun.
"Tell the story, Dad! So shh!"
"Oh, you were telling stories without me?"
"Yeah! Dad's been telling great tavern stuff!"
Jungeun blinked at "tavern" and eyed me.
"Whoa, you weren't gonna tell me about that day without me?"
Well, honestly, no Jungeun needed... but he thought otherwise.
"That's cold."
Daeun piped up curiously.
"Uncle tell too!"
Nod!
"Of course! Uncle was awesome that day!"
"What?"
"Yeah, Daeun, how far'd you hear? Not the showdown part, right?"
Who was calling who awesome?
"Not there yet. Was at the merger day."
"Ooh, perfect timing—you showed up right at the fun part."
"But what's the showdown? Daeun curious!"
Jungeun narrowed his eyes at her question.
"A pride-on-the-line showdown, you could say."
"Pride?"
"Yeah, grip-your-sweaty-palms exciting."
Changsik, listening nearby, chimed in like he'd remembered something.
"Oh yeah, on the way here, I saw this too."
"What's that?"
Daeun asked, and Changsik grinned.
"Water balloon toss."
Day two of the festival drew even bigger crowds than day one.
Even regular folks were showing up now.
"Who's the one that caught the thief here?"
"Oh, the thief?"
"Yeah, heard he knocked him out in one hit. True?"
I gave an awkward smile to the woman.
"Haha, yeah. Probably cooking in the kitchen now."
"Whoa! Told you this place. I'll have egg rolls and a bottle of soju!"
"Sure, coming right up. Egg rolls and a bottle of soju!"
My call got echoed by servers and kitchen crew.
"Egg rolls and soju! Thank you!"
"Thank you!"
Chaos. I'd planned kitchen help, but merging freed up staff.
So I was back serving the floor—with design department freshmen.
Then, a design student—Bae Changsik?—yelled, arms full of empties.
"Help clear tables!"
"Coming!"
I rushed to bus.
Meanwhile, Changsik set down plates, grabbed a rag unasked, and wiped my cleared tables.
[Good worker.]
Met last night—no rapport, awkward.
But somehow, we synced perfectly.
He felt it too? We eyed each other wordlessly.
Then Hyorin yelled from the kitchen, plate of fat egg rolls out.
"Egg rolls up! Kanghyeok! Take this!"
I headed over—then...
Thud thud thud!
[Huh?]
Someone beat me: Changsik, who'd just wiped.
"Table number?"
"Uh... 7, table 7."
"Got it, table 7."
He grabbed Hyorin's plate and served.
[Solid worker.]
Quick, in sync—born for this.
We hustled till 7 PM.
Boom boom boom!
Festival highlight: fireworks and guest performers.
Tavern eased up.
"Whew, thought I'd die. Great job, everyone. Canned coffee on me."
Jungeun passed them out—to design freshmen too.
Then the merger-pusher senior approached from their kitchen.
"Good work. Festivals are fun with crowds, right?"
Yaeun senior emerged, adding:
"All thanks to who? If you're grateful, thank the thief-catchers here."
All design students eyed me and Hyorin. Their senior shrugged.
"Anyway. Profits—we split half-half, right?"
"What?"
Half-half?
"Didn't your seniors tell you? We worked hard too—fair's fair."
"We didn't ask for this. Half the profits? What law says that?"
"Hey, business is business. Didn't peg you for thieves."
"Who's calling who..."
He eyed Hyorin.
"You tell us. All these customers 'cause you caught a thief. You won't hog it all over that, right?"
Cheeky bastard.
Rustle.
I'd tolerate most—but not this to Hyorin.
"Hey!"
I shot up.
But...
"Kanghyeok, wait."
Hyorin stopped me, face steely, to him:
"Wanna bet? Winner takes all today's sales."
Daeun's eyes sparkled.
"Mom chewed out the bad uncle like a hero!"
She clenched tiny fists, vowing:
"Daeun'll be awesome like Mom too!"
Nod.
"You will, Daeun. Mom's daughter."
Eek!
Her face bloomed with smiles.