Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Late-Night Snack
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“A date?”
Yoo Si-eun raised her voice as she repeated the word.
Her face was full of bewilderment, and her already large eyes had grown even wider.
I looked her straight in the eye and answered.
“Yeah.”
“Not ‘yeah’...”
Si-eun bit her lip lightly. Her eyes darted left and right, as if she were searching for the right words.
Maybe I'd overdone the teasing. I decided to correct myself for her overloaded brain.
“Well, it's not really a date, to be honest. We're not dating or anything.”
“R-right. That's what I wanted to say.”
Si-eun let out a sigh and met my gaze. Her eyes demanded an explanation.
I opened my mouth in response.
“Lately, I've been torn on which company to invest in. So I thought I'd do some legwork and investigate in person.”
“Investigate?”
“Yeah. Investing is all about assessing a product or company's future value and growth potential. You can't just sit in your room staring at disclosures, articles, and stock charts—that's a recipe for failure.”
“Hmm. Is that how it works?”
Si-eun looked like she didn't quite get it.
She'd called economic texts “squiggly writing” or whatever before. She didn't seem all that interested in economics.
“Exactly. For example, if you're debating investing in a snack company, you should try their snacks. If they taste like they'll sell well, you can bet it'll boost the stock.”
“Okay...?”
Si-eun crossed her arms and tilted her head for a moment.
“If you say so, then I guess it is.”
She nodded soon after. I was grateful she wasn't into economics right then.
Si-eun held up her index finger like she was summing it up.
“So, basically, you want me to tag along on this investigation. Right?”
“Spot on. If I go alone, I'll get biased opinions. Your take—as a different gender and personality—would help balance things out.”
“If that's it, then yeah, I get the gist.”
“Glad you do.”
“Still...”
Si-eun dropped her gaze.
She got the story, but maybe she wasn't sold on the idea. Or perhaps she was suspicious of my motives. Starting with “date” might've backfired.
Either way, now was the time to push harder.
“And you always say you're bored on weekends. Spending time with me might suck, but wouldn't it kill the boredom?”
“Hanging out with you is fine, but...”
Si-eun trailed off with an awkward smile.
“You know I'm short on cash.”
She was worried about money?
“I'll cover it.”
“What?”
“You're helping me out, so expenses are on me.”
“No, that feels kinda bad...”
“It's fine. For a loner like me with no real friends, this is practically lavish. I hate going out anyway, so better to cram in a ton of research per trip.”
At that, Si-eun clamped her mouth shut.
No turning back now. Pushing more would just raise suspicions. If she shot me down, I'd have to wait for another chance.
I waited quietly, and soon she lifted her head.
And from her lips came...
“Okay. I'll go.”
Acceptance.
“Saturday after lunch? Or Sunday?”
“Saturday after lunch. No other plans, right?”
“None.”
Si-eun nodded readily.
After some internal debate, she'd decided to trust me.
Truth be told, that's why I'd come home late today.
I figured making an outing excuse for her weekend visits would be perfect.
But holing up in my room all day meant I had zero talent for planning date spots.
In a pinch, the internet was my savior. I'd scoured sites on my phone for well-reviewed places and even done prelim scouting before heading back.
Good thing the effort paid off.
I let out a relieved sigh, but I felt Si-eun eyeing me suspiciously.
Hmm. Guess she hadn't fully dropped her doubts.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Through this whole process... I'd succeeded in proposing a “research date” for investments.
The whole week, my heart raced. When Si-eun came to wake me, I was already up—a shocking event.
Si-eun, meanwhile, showed zero signs of anticipation.
After agreeing, she never mentioned it once. I half-wondered if she'd forgotten.
And so Saturday arrived.
At 2 a.m., I clutched my growling stomach.
Thankfully, it wasn't indigestion—just hunger.
Me, numb to everything, buzzing like a kid the night before a picnic. Brain activity must've burned through my dinner energy. What a waste.
No way I'd sleep like this. I left my room for the kitchen.
First stop: the rice cooker. Rice plus random sides would do.
I opened it, but...
“Ah.”
No rice at all. Rookie mistake. Si-eun only cooks single servings.
Can't just snack on sides. Nothing else in the house to fill this gut...
Wait.
Didn't we have instant noodles in the pantry?
On a weekend without Si-eun, I'd mapped the kitchen. Opening the right-end cabinet revealed stacks of ramen.
Grabbed one and shut the door. No Post-it today.
Perfect. Time to boil.
As I reached for a pot...
“I told you not to eat ramen.”
“Whoa.”
The sudden voice startled me into a weird yelp.
Turning toward it, I saw Si-eun in pajamas, rubbing her eyes as she emerged from her room.
Her hair was a mess, exhaustion under her eyes.
Was she sleeping? If so, spooky—she popped up like she sensed my ramen plot. Sensors or what?
She leaned on the table as she approached.
“Heard rustling outside, wondered what it was.”
Sound carried, huh? Rooms here echo kitchen noise. Cooker lid or bag crinkles must've tipped her off.
Embarrassed, I scratched my neck.
“Did I wake you? Or were you too excited about tomorrow to sleep?”
“It's just tagging along to help. What's to get excited about?”
“Fair enough.”
So, my noise woke her.
“Sorry for waking you.”
“Whatever.”
Si-eun covered her small yawn with her hand.
“But why ramen all of a sudden?”
“I like it.”
“You don't say.”
She snorted and stepped closer.
“You never snack late.”
“True. Not as gluttonous as some.”
“...”
“Sorry.”
I hadn't named names, but she glared anyway.
“Stomach just hit me out of nowhere. Even after a full dinner.”
“Then why not wake me and order in?”
“How could I while you're sleeping?”
“You woke me anyway. And with a housekeeper hired, isn't it wasteful not to use her?”
“You want to be bossed around?”
“...”
“Sorry.”
Apologizing nonstop. Time to quit the snarky add-ons.
Si-eun checked the fridge, closed it, then eyed the rice cooker.
“No good ingredients, no rice. Should I hit the mart?”
“What? No. It's late—dangerous out there.”
Crime's low here, but night streets are risky. No way I'd send her shopping late.
“...Okay.”
She nodded slightly.
“So what now?”
What else? I shook the ramen pack. She sighed like it was too much hassle to argue.
“Fine. Once won't kill you.”
She'd flip out over ramen talk usually, but tonight? Lenient.
As I thought that, she went to the cabinet and grabbed the same kind.
“For you too?”
“Yeah.”
“Hungry?”
“You said you were, so now I am.”
“Hmm.”
...See? Glutton confirmed.
I could boil it myself, but she insisted on cooking and plopped me down.
So here I was: woke her with rustling, now waiting for her ramen.
Five minutes of guilt later, she set two perfect bowls down—cooked just how I like.
“Thanks. Dig in.”
“Yeah. Eat up.”
Chopsticks up after thanks.
“Why do you like ramen so much?”
As I slurped noodles, she asked.
“Dunno. Ate it tons from childhood to my last place. Body's tuned to it now, maybe.”
“I ate it daily too, childhood to solo living. Got sick of it.”
Same path, opposite results. Where's the difference between us?
“Oh yeah, last home visit—you Post-it'd the ramen?”
“Didn't you say on Kakao you didn't see it?”
“Uh, well... Your tone made me curious, so I checked.”
“Huh.”
Si-eun tucked stray hair behind her ear and slurped noodles.
Chewing and swallowing, she replied.
“It's not healthy, so eat in moderation. That's why the note.”
“Moderation? You barely let me unless it's dire.”
“After all you've scarfed? You could skip it for life.”
Couldn't argue.
“Your food's delicious anyway. No need for ramen while you're here.”
“Right? Cooking's my strong suit.”
“Earned it. I’m impressed daily.”
Honest praise, and she shrugged, visibly pleased. Predictable.
“No gig like this elsewhere. Light workload, room and board, boss doesn't nag, everything tastes great. Last one's my skill, though.”
“Other jobs aren't?”
“Duh. Earning's tough. Spots are scarce too—before this, commutes took an hour.”
Beauty salon gig—far out, she said. I'd be wiped just traveling.
How rough was her life? Hiding it at school too.
I couldn't hack that.
“You worked hard.”
She brushed it off with “No biggie.”
Then silence. Just chopsticks clinking, bowls tapping, noodle slurps.
Stomach full, I looked up—her bowl empty, waiting.
“Can head to bed once you're done.”
“Saw you finished, so I'll drop these and wash.”
“Cool.”
Perfect timing. Handed her the bowl; she rinsed both at the sink.
Unexpected wake-up, but midnight snack over.
Full belly brought sleepiness. Craved bed. Especially with tomorrow's outing—conserve energy.
Shower first, though. My fault she woke; let her go first, I'll PC a bit.
“Hey.”
Lost in thought, she spoke.
“Yeah?”
I turned. She paused, then...
“Looking forward to tomorrow.”
With a slight smile.
No hints all week Mon-Fri.
Was she waiting too?
Maybe my noise caught her 'cause excitement kept her light sleeper.
...Nah.
I scoffed inwardly and replied.
“Didn't you say it's just helping out?”
“Well... yeah, but.”
“Still.”
I smiled back like her.
“Look forward to it.”
She huffed “Hmph,” spun away.
What? She said she was looking forward.
Impossible to pin her down.
Shaking my head, I headed to my room.