Chapter 150: The Meetup
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 150: The Meetup
“Ahyu.”
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
At last, the weekend arrived.
I was sitting with Ahyu in a cafe.
Still sulking, Ahyu refused to even look at me, no matter how many times I called her name.
After watching her for a moment, I sat down beside her and rested my head on top of hers.
“Ahyu, please stop being mad. I was wrong. We can go next weekend.”
“I don’t wanna. I was looking forward to it so much.”
Completely upset, Ahyu wouldn’t relent despite my earnest pleas.
Left with no choice, I reached my arms around and hugged her from behind.
Then, I rested my chin on her shoulder.
The funny thing was, even while pouting, Ahyu naturally settled into my embrace.
Finding that adorable, I barely suppressed a smile and gently patted her head as I held her.
“Ahyu, let’s do everything you want to do then. Okay? Kkotbi barely managed to make time to come out this time, too. You wanted to see her, right?”
As I spoke in a soothing tone, Ahyu hesitated for a moment before glancing at me.
“You’ll really do everything?”
Finally, she was starting to show signs of letting go of her anger.
“Yes, I’ll really do everything.”
“Then marry me.”
“Should we hold the ceremony tomorrow?”
When I picked up my phone and pretended to look for a wedding hall, Ahyu’s mood finally lifted, and she began to giggle.
What a relief.
“I’m letting you off just this once.”
“Okay, thank you so much.”
I replied with a smile, and Ahyu turned around to hug me herself.
She leaned against my chest, stared up at me, and puckered her lips.
Knowing what she meant, I checked to make sure we weren’t drawing any attention in the cafe before giving her a quick kiss.
Instantly, her mood completely recovered. She beamed and nuzzled her head against my chest.
“Well, aren't you two lovey-dovey. You didn’t even notice I was here, did you?”
Startled by the voice, we flinched and pulled apart.
When I looked up, Naek was standing there, wearing a pair of round fashion glasses and looking at us with disapproval.
“Ahem.”
While I cleared my throat, Ahyu fanned her flushing face. Naek let out a sigh.
“It’s tough being single around here. Honestly.”
“Why? It’s not like you’re completely alone,” I said, gently teasing her.
Naek subtly rolled her right eye.
Then she looked at me and said, “Should we agree not to mention certain people?”
From her expression, it seemed like something was still brewing between her and Do Hwa.
Then again, Ahyu had told me they were meeting up often, so I guess it was to be expected.
“So, who else is coming here?”
Eva-noona had said she would pick up Juksim herself, so they weren't coming here.
And since Kkotbi was so famous, she was going straight to the hotel we had booked.
That left only one person who would be joining us here.
“Get ready. Someone you’d never expect is coming.”
Just as I said that with a smirk, my phone rang.
“Looks like she’s here. Let’s go.”
I stood up and led the two of them out of the cafe.
Parked in front of us was a car so stunning it would make anyone gasp.
And just as expected, all eyes were on it.
“A Roll-Rolls-Royce.”
While Naek stood frozen, staring blankly at the car, I walked up to it.
A door opened automatically, and an incredibly beautiful woman with bluish-silver hair stepped out.
“Iron-Blood?”
Ahyu tilted her head at the sight of Seol-hyang.
As if asking what she was doing here, Seol-hyang casually walked over to my side and linked her arm with mine.
“This is a first, isn’t it, Domi?”
As she let out a faint smile, both Naek’s and Ahyu’s eyes went wide.
“It’s the first time we’re meeting like this. I’m Ahing.”
“Ahing, Ahing? Ahiing?!”
When Seol-hyang’s nickname, ‘IKnowit,’ was mentioned, Ahyu stammered and shrieked.
Her hair practically standing on end, Ahyu marched right up to Seol-hyang.
“You, you-you, you’re Ahing?”
“What’s wrong, Ahyu? We got along so well in the game. You followed me around every day calling me ‘unni, unni,’ asking to play. Hmm?”
“Ah, aaack!”
Unable to bear the truth, Ahyu let out a scream and stomped her feet.
Watching Ahyu with an amused expression, Seol-hyang placed a hand on her chest and gave a playful wink.
“Want to call me Seol-hyang-unni?”
“...I’m going to die.”
Ahyu suddenly declared her own demise.
I gave her a sharp flick on the forehead.
“Don’t say that, not even as a joke.”
“Ugh, Domi-oppa, you knew! Why didn’t you tell me!”
Realizing she was no match for Seol-hyang in a war of words, Ahyu changed her target to me.
Hearing that, I scratched my head lightly.
“Would it have made a difference if I’d told you?”
By the time I found out Seol-hyang’s identity, she and Ahyu were already close in the game.
When I pointed out that nothing would have changed, Ahyu was left speechless, her face flushing red with frustration.
“Puhaha, this is great. If I’d known I could see the Heavenly Demon like this, I would’ve said something sooner. I should take a picture. Heavenly Demon, look over here.”
“Get away from me! The Ahing-unni I know isn’t someone like you!”
“Hurry up and call me unni. Hmm? Say ‘Seol-hyang-unniii’.”
Those two bicker every day, but aren’t they surprisingly close?
To be precise, Seol-hyang is fonder of Ahyu than you’d think.
There is such a thing as a fondness born from bickering, after all.
Maybe my telling them to get along had actually helped.
“Wow, I was completely fooled. Domi, I almost fainted.”
Just then, Naek came over and said to me.
Almost fainted, huh?
Sorry, but Naek was still a long way from fainting.
“Let’s get going. Seol-hyang, Ahyu, that’s enough from you two.”
Seol-hyang had been shoving her phone in Ahyu’s face and had finally earned a slap on the chest for it. Seeing them glaring at each other, I told them to knock it off and got into the back seat.
Immediately, Seol-hyang and Ahyu scrambled to sit on either side of me.
What is with these two?
“Domi, I’m starting to respect you a little.”
Naek, who had sensed the dynamic between Seol-hyang, Ahyu, and me for a while now, looked at me as if I were some kind of marvel.
I admit, I still haven’t fully adjusted to my situation, but I’m in the process of just accepting it.
“This is ridiculous. How can someone like that be Ahing-unni.”
“That’s harsh. Besides, hitting me in the chest? Are you in your right mind? You almost left a handprint.”
“Hmph, so what if I did? It’s because you’re carrying those huge things around. If you don’t want to get hit, get rid of them.”
“I can’t. They belong to my husband.”
“Wha-what? Why would a monstrosity like that belong to Domi-oppa!”
“Because…”
“Both of you, I’m going to get angry.”
Sensing they would be at it all day, I gave them a warning. Ahyu and Seol-hyang glared at each other one last time before grabbing one of my arms each.
I don’t know why they always have to put me in the middle like this.
“Driver, my apologies. Please, let’s get going.”
“Yes, of course.”
When I spoke to the driver in the front, he started the car with a gentle smile.
The ride was just as incredible as the car looked from the outside.
So this is why people ride in expensive cars.
Whenever our car moved, the nearby cars would naturally clear a path.
“Wow, this is my first time in a car like this. This is insane. Ahing, aren't you amazing?”
“I don’t usually ride in cars like this. But since we're all together, I thought I'd make an occasion of it.”
Naek had quickly warmed up to Seol-hyang and was now chattering away beside her.
Watching them, I gently poked the side of Ahyu, who was sitting to my left.
When Ahyu looked at me with a slightly disgruntled expression, I told her, “Take this chance to get a little closer to Seol-hyang.”
“...Domi-oppa, I am trying to get along with her, you know? But she keeps acting like that.”
“That’s just Seol-hyang’s way of trying to get closer.”
She’s always been like that, but I knew she was genuinely making an effort in her own way.
Hearing my words, Ahyu let out a small sigh and leaned her head on my shoulder.
“I’m only putting up with this for you, Domi-oppa.”
“Right, right.”
It seemed today’s main event was the ‘Ahyu and Seol-hyang Get-Along Project.’
Before long, our car arrived at a hotel.
For the record, there was no one in the hotel besides the staff.
That was because we had rented out the entire place.
To be precise, Seol-hyang had.
It turned out she knew someone who worked at the hotel, so she had booked the whole building for the day.
She’d done it on the very day of our meetup, so I hadn’t heard about it either. I was shocked and asked if it was really okay, but Seol-hyang just said with a nonchalant expression:
“There are a lot of people in our group who can’t relax if there are strangers around.”
She had a point. We had Kkotbi, a global idol star, and Juksim, who avoided people altogether.
Besides, our group was so ridiculously good-looking that it was an undeniable fact we would attract attention.
In the end, I accepted it as Seol-hyang’s consideration, all the while being reminded of the sheer scale of the World Returnee Association’s Chairperson.
As we got out at the entrance, we were met with the sight of an obviously luxurious hotel.
“Welcome. We have been expecting you.”
A man who appeared to be the manager came out with his staff and bowed to us.
“We have prepared the finest suite on the top floor for you. We will guide you there immediately.”
“I’ve never been treated like this before.”
I felt the same way as Naek, who hesitantly handed her bag to a staff member.
As a born-and-bred commoner, every little part of this felt incredibly awkward.
In stark contrast, Seol-hyang and Ahyu acted as if it were perfectly normal.
Well, Seol-hyang was the Chairperson of the World Returnee Association, and Ahyu had once lived a life as the Heavenly Demon, revered by everyone in the Demonic Cult.
In a way, it was probably natural for them to be used to it.
Guided by the manager and staff, we went up to the top floor of the hotel. After walking down a hallway, we were shown to a room.
The room we would be staying in today was a suite large enough for a big group to enjoy.
As the door opened, I saw some familiar faces.
“Manager!”
“Brother Ha-chan, you’ve arrived.”
The first to greet me were Si-ho and Seo-ho.
Si-ho came running and threw herself into my arms, and I stroked her head.
Since we had the whole hotel to ourselves, we had decided to invite not just our meetup members but also other acquaintances.
Of course, most of those acquaintances ended up being mine, but I wanted everyone to have a chance to relax, so I invited them.
“Oh, Ha-chan-oppa, you’re here?”
“Haha, I’m still not used to this. Student Kang Ha-chan, it’s been a while.”
Then, Ji-eun and Jo Si-a greeted me as well.
The two of them seemed to have gotten close and were chatting with each other.
“Si-ho, where’s Yu U-jeong?”
“She already went off by herself to get a skin massage.”
Acting on her own as soon as she arrived?
It seemed she was planning to enjoy the hotel to the fullest while she was here.
“D-Domi? Why is Mr. Do Hwa here?”
Just then, Naek sidled up to me, trembling as she asked.
Just as she said, Do Hwa, who had been sitting in a corner chair reading a book, looked our way and smiled warmly.
Do Hwa, who found it easier to absorb knowledge from books than from a phone, had become quite the bookworm lately.
Naturally, I had invited him since he was an acquaintance of ours.
It seemed Naek hadn’t known.
“Do your best today.”
I gave Naek a gentle push toward Do Hwa. She hesitated for a moment before approaching him and starting a conversation.
Perhaps because the room was filled only with my acquaintances, I felt an unfamiliar sense of fulfillment.
“All that’s left are Eva-noona, Hyeok-seo-hyeong, and Juksim, I guess.”
I had received a text a little while ago saying they would arrive soon.
They’d be here before we knew it.
“Manager, Si-ho brought her swimsuit today,” Si-ho said at that moment, still hugging my waist.