Chapter 4
Chapter 4
After letting out a hearty burp, she now seems sleepy, nodding her head drowsily with her eyes half-closed.
Eat, shit, and sleep.
I couldn't help but suspect she might be a real animal.
"Habeum..."
But I guess if you're cute, it's forgivable.
I don't know about anything else, but even I had to admit that Miho's appearance was cheating. Especially those abnormally long ears—they only made her look even more striking.
If an ordinary person had ears that long, they'd most likely be creepy or not suit them at all.
But for Miho, those ears made her even cuter.
"Good. While she's asleep, I can step out for a bit."
Now that my erectile dysfunction was cured, I planned to go back to the host bar that had kicked me out and show my face again.
They told me not to even come near the place again, but that was only because I'd become useless. Now that I was useful again, I could just change my face and they'd accept me—that's how the adult world worked.
I had enough magnanimity to just let bygones be bygones.
Kkuuuuk!
As if she heard me again, Miho, even in her sleepy state, cautiously tugged at my collar with all her might.
"......Where, go?"
She asked that question with a face like a stray dog about to be abandoned.
So I answered carefully.
"Don't worry too much. I'll be right back. I'll be here when you wake up."
"Really?"
"Of course. Even if I'm not here, I'll be back soon, so don't wander around or touch anything—just stay put."
"......Arasseo."
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded obediently—there was nothing better.
Feeling good, I stroked Miho's head, then scooped her up and carried her. I took her to the bathroom to wash her up before sleep.
"Hyunu."
"Huh?"
"......You'll, come back soon?"
Seeing Miho's serious expression as she asked again, I seriously thought it over.
'I'm just going to ask if I can work or not. Even if they say they need me right now from this moment, I can just refuse.'
After thinking it over, I nodded confidently.
No matter how I thought about it, if I drove there and back, it would be quick. By the time Miho woke up, whether the result was good or bad, I'd definitely have a chicken in hand.
'She was ecstatic over ramen—I wonder what kind of reaction she'll have to chicken, the pride of Korea. Hehe.'
Just imagining Miho, holding two drumsticks with sparkling eyes and dancing with joy, made me smile involuntarily.
Is this why people put up with the hassle of having pets?
"I told you I'll be right back. You just sleep soundly and wait quietly."
"Yeah, arasseo......"
Tak, klik.
I tore open a new toothbrush from the cupboard for Miho, squeezed some toothpaste on it, stood her in front of the mirror, and started brushing her teeth.
"Habeu, habe... Kkyaaa......"
"Hm?"
I noticed Miho's expression was a bit strange, so I looked.
[Strong Mint]
[#1 toothpaste for bad breath]
'It might be too strong for a kid.'
So that's why they sell more expensive chocolate-flavored toothpaste for children at supermarkets and department stores.
Was I like that when I was little?
'Come to think of it, I think I used strawberry-flavored toothpaste until I graduated elementary school.'
"Just bear with it a little. I'll buy a different toothpaste too."
Brush, brush, brush.
Even though Miho didn't understand what I was saying, she nodded her head obediently.
Maybe it's because we've gotten close, or because she's sleepy.
Right now, Miho was so well-behaved it felt like our first meeting was a lie.
"Because you're being good."
"Ung?"
"......Maybe, you're a little cute."
"Cute?"
What am I even saying?
I quickly shook my head and took off the rags Miho was wearing. Then I was surprised again. I felt it when I held her, but her current state was awful—her bones were protruding prominently.
Not only that, but there were signs of misalignment and faint traces of bruises.
I could tell because when I was young, I caused so much trouble that my dad beat me with a wooden club, and my mom hit me countless times with a switch.
The marks on Miho's body were clear evidence of vicious beatings.
If someone hit you out of care, with affection, to guide you on the right path, such marks wouldn't remain.
"......I need to buy some clothes too."
"It's okay......"
Feed her delicious food, move to a good house, and dress her in nice clothes.
Yeah, isn't that the best way to be a good parent?
'I have to make money. Lots of it.'
I don't know about other things, but South Korea is the happiest country in the world if you have money. So if I earn tons of money, Miho will surely be happy, right?
Maybe then she'll call me 'Dad.'
If that happens, I'll try to slowly truly regard Miho as my daughter. Anyway, after all, the two of us are going to have to be together for at least the next ten years, no matter what.
Shoooooo.
"Kuuul, kuul......"
While I washed her hair and carefully scrubbed her body, Miho had already fallen asleep.
[Heung, you're quite skilled and gentle despite your appearance.]
You're still here?!
I thought this bastard had left since he was quiet, but he was just silently watching with his mouth shut.
Gives me chills.
"Do you think I've only washed a woman's body once or twice? What's different about a kid?"
Sure, my face is decent, but achieving the number one request rate at a top-tier host bar wasn't something you got without any effort.
Studying classical orchestras I had no connection with was basic—I had to study everything that might interest the customers.
Same with the English proverbs I habitually checked every day.
If you ask if there are women who like idiots, there are also women who get excited by intelligent men's sexiness.
Wiiiiiiiiing.
I dried Miho's blonde hair with the dryer's weak breeze, and it was so soft and silky I wondered if it was real hair.
After drying her hair, I put one of my t-shirts on her and laid her down on the 100,000 won mattress.
She wiggled her fists and slept soundly.
"Eum."
I gazed down at her, then quietly grabbed my car keys. No matter how I thought about it, I was sure to be back before she woke up.
Yeah, definitely.
"......."
Kkik, kung.
I quietly left the house.
Buuuuung, kkik.
Having come to work via the familiar route, I parked the car and took a quiet deep breath. Coming back to the workplace that kicked me out required more courage than I thought.
I already felt my face flush with embarrassment, afraid someone I knew might spot me.
[Valentia Host Bar]
Current time: 5:30 PM.
Honestly, it wasn't opening time for a host bar yet, but Valentia's sign was still shining luxuriously.
One of the reasons this host bar was popular was that it operated 24 hours.
This meant that women all hot and bothered could come here anytime, play with a guy they liked, and then also enjoy a cock they fancied, without being constrained by time.
You know how it is sometimes.
Unlike men, women occasionally have that magic day. Some have an abnormally high sex drive on that day—waking up in the middle of the night desperately wanting sex.
That's when they come here or contact this place.
Unlike average men, the technique of men working at a host bar was practically guaranteed.
'To be honest, I wasn't that great at technique.'
I had the basics, but frankly, in sex, it was more about the size and girth of the dick than technique.
It wasn't for nothing that my pride reached the sky. My erect dick was truly something to boast about.
'Yeah, fuck. I'm not impotent now. I've regained my past glory—my monster cock.'
I forcibly repeated this in my mind, regained my confidence, and walked proudly toward the entrance of the host bar.
Chak!
"Hey, stop right there."
A familiar face blocked my way.
It was one of the doormen guarding the main entrance of the host bar—commonly known as the security guard who handles disturbances, also a bouncer and cleaner.
"Oh, look who it is. Isn't this Kim Hyun-woo, the 'former' pride of our host bar? The guy who always wore luxury items around his neck and everywhere—you've gotten quite shabby. Looks like business hasn't been good since you got kicked out of the host bar. Even if you just sold those things, I'd think you'd be living pretty well."
"......."
My face flushed, and I kept my mouth shut.
Before coming here, I'd resolved to answer back confidently, but hearing those words right in front of me made my mouth not open easily.
'Yeah, I lived like a dog.'
He's right.
I earned a lot of money as the number one requested host, but if I'd saved that money diligently, or at least handled the luxury gifts from women wisely, I might still be living comfortably.
But for someone who'd always been at the top, the sudden impotence and the ensuing fall from grace was a reality hard to accept.
I threw so many hail marys trying to deny it.
Trying to make a big score gambling at Kangwon Land, only to fail even harder, then insisting I couldn't drink cheap booze, splurging money recklessly to boast that I was still strong.
Even I think that was the typical behavior of someone throwing their life away.
If you look at it from one step back, you'd never think you'd do that, but when you're actually in that situation, you lose your mind.
"......Should I just go back?"
I'm so embarrassed I could die.
Countless times I thought I shouldn't have come. But then I recalled why I came back here despite enduring that shame.
First, this place is the best in the host bar industry.
Second, you can effectively have second rounds legally.
Third, there's no better place than this host bar for STD prevention or pregnancy-related issues.
Fourth, most of the people I have connections with use this host bar.
In the so-called host bar industry, the giant corporation among giants was Valentia.
"Oh......"
"Oh?"
"It's been a while, Park Ui-ri hyung-nim!"
"......What?"
The embarrassment was momentary.
Once I mustered the courage and opened my mouth, it loosened up like magic, unlike the tightly locked lips from before.
"I'm really sorry for acting so arrogantly back then when I was younger and more immature."
I immediately bent my waist and bowed my head.
If I'd known this would happen, I should've acted better in the past.
"Ha, haha... Look at this punk?"
I felt a bit hurt that he'd react like that when I was apologizing with a full bow, but I also understood.
I'd sown what I reaped.
Of course, the income difference between a doorman like Park Ui-ri and me when I was number one was like heaven and earth.
Back then, I was drunk on luxury goods and my own popularity, looking down on people.
So I did a lot of terrible things to Park Ui-ri too.
"You think I'll forgive you just because you come apologizing now and wipe your mouth clean? Get lost right now. Unless you want to get beaten to a pulp on a rainy day."
"......."
Kkuuk!
Faced with Park Ui-ri's sharp threat, the thought of running away from this place filled my head.
But then, out of nowhere, Miho's face popped into my mind.
「Mashisseo! One more...」
At that moment, I don't know why I did it.
"Go ahead and hit me until you feel relieved!"
I found myself shouting that without thinking.
At the same time, Park Ui-ri's eyes went wide.