Chapter 85
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Even If the World Hates on Me (1)
Life is all about timing.
In line with that famous saying, I'd added a bakery to the cafe ahead of the December Christmas season.
Sure, I wondered if it wouldn't be fine to wait until then, but starting now would get rumors spreading about how delicious our cafe's bread is—and honestly, even jumping on it right away feels a bit late.
"Su-hyun, I'm counting on you."
Honestly, this wasn't the plan from the start.
It was something I came up with after chatting with the cafe staff and learning that Su-hyun was job-hunting and trying to boost her resume with random certifications—one of which was a baking technician license.
"Yes!"
Fortunately, Su-hyun accepted right away, saying she actually enjoyed baking.
Truth be told, even though she's super capable, I felt bad piling on more work after knowing how much she'd suffered lately—enough that I could hear her thoughts. But if she's cool with it, then it must be okay for her too, right?
'Hmm.'
Anyway, timing is everything like that.
Like how in the military, nailing the perfect timing for lineup duty could land you a cushy job, while missing it dumps you in hell.
And the reason I'm thinking about this now is all because of Seo-yeon.
'I should've just said it from the start. I overthought it.'
It's been almost a month since I started living with Yu-ra noona, but I'd missed the right moment to tell Seo-yeon about it.
I'd decided to love both of them, so obviously I should let Seo-yeon know about living with Yu-ra noona, right?
It's not like Seo-yeon is some trophy to keep secret.
But the cohabitation with Yu-ra noona happened so suddenly, and I wasn't even sure it'd last, and by the time I was certain, the sudden skill changes had my head spinning, so I let the timing slip.
"Ugh, what should I do?"
Once you miss the timing once, it gets awkward to bring it up.
The awkwardness leads to overthinking, and overthinking breeds worry.
Worry about whether I should even tell her.
Yu-ra noona and I live together, but unavoidable circumstances make anything naughty impossible.
With Seo-yeon, it's possible, but out of respect for her pride, I'm holding back until she comes to me first.
But what if I tell her about the cohabitation and she says she wants to live together too?
'If we all live together, the relationships might fall apart.'
Lately, Seo-yeon's been mustering the courage to approach me more.
If we cohabited, we'd see each other even more, closing the distance until we reach the goal.
And I'd have the duty to accept it without running away.
'That would hurt Yu-ra noona's feelings.'
She's the first, but I'd end up being all lovey-dovey with the second, Seo-yeon.
But if I refuse Seo-yeon's request to live together?
That'd be ignoring her, hurting her feelings.
'The best case is if she finds out and just lets it slide.'
But that makes me feel like trash.
Even if Seo-yeon says it's fine, it might just be on the surface—deep down, she could be hurt.
It's not an easy answer, and handling something like this over messages or calls felt wrong, so I decided to casually bring it up during a weekend date with her.
"Who the hell said harems are great?"
If they were mindless yes-men, it'd be one thing, but everyone has their own feelings, so I can't just do whatever—and there's so much to worry about.
In that sense, I'd picked up some beer on the way home from work today too, only to be greeted by a dark, empty house.
'Noona said she was working late tonight, right?'
I'd forgotten she mentioned having tons of people to meet and meetings because of year-end stuff.
Still, she said she'd definitely head home after work and crash here, so I tied on an apron to prep some late-night snacks for when she got back.
"That seems like the way to go."
Something I'd learned from living together.
Yu-ra noona has the tastes of an elementary school kid.
"Sausage stir-fried in ketchup. Rolled omelet. Two side dishes and seaweed soup should do it."
Eating before bed can leave your stomach bloated in the morning or even cause acid reflux, but worrying about Yu-ra noona's health is about as useful as fretting over a celebrity's finances.
I whipped up the simple meal quick, then cracked open a beer.
"Whew, at this rate, I'm gonna end up an alcoholic."
＊＊＊
"...Drinking again?"
Choi Yu-ra wrinkled her nose as she got home from overtime.
The faint beer scent mixed with the mouthwatering aroma of food that overpowered it, stimulating her stomach.
"Ugh, seeing me tipsy must mean I haven't really drunk properly in ages. Must be the rebound."
Still, she figured it was time to put a stop to it soon.
Artifact or no artifact, he was drinking too often.
Empty beer cans littered the table in front of the sofa.
All drunk by Yoo Jun-hyuk while waiting for Choi Yu-ra to get off work—though he'd succumbed to the creeping buzz and passed out on the sofa.
"But... it's not bad."
Choi Yu-ra stroked the head of the softly breathing man, then headed to the table.
Her favorite home-cooked meal.
He hadn't left a note like before, but her gut was already churning, begging to devour it, knowing this was made for her, brimming with affection.
"Heh, makes me wanna brag."
She snapped a quick photo, her finger hovering to send it to the guild group chat—but it stopped.
During their cohabitation, she'd posted way too much about their lovey-dovey life without Yoo Jun-hyuk knowing, and lately the reactions weren't great.
[Argh, so jealous I'm dying!]
[You only care about yourself! Salting solo hearts for fun!?]
[LOL but it's cute. Seeing how much you really like him makes me happier.]
That was the reaction at first.
[Yeah, nice.]
[But does Jun-hyuk know you're posting pics like this in the group chat?]
[Alright, everyone prepped for the gate raid? Briefing tomorrow—raid the day after, don't forget.]
These days, that was the vibe.
Posting several times a day had made everyone so used to it they mostly ignored it now?
She'd half-accepted she no longer had to risk her life as a hunter, which ramped up her possessiveness and obsession with Yoo Jun-hyuk. She wanted to flaunt their relationship, but with reactions like this, the group chat felt awkward.
"Oh, right. That girl's still around?"
Even the non-hunter side was lit up like crazy for year-end.
The building lights were still on when she left, so she was probably still grinding overtime too.
"Should I send it to her?"
＊＊＊
"Haa..."
Lee Seo-yeon stretched, loosening her overworked body after finally wrapping up the end-of-year workload.
She was physically exhausted, but company work wasn't what had claimed most of her dark circles.
"Jun-hyuk... I miss you..."
Since the villain kidnapping incident, she hadn't met Yoo Jun-hyuk even once.
They still kept in touch, but less than before, and whenever he steered the conversation toward meeting up, she'd make excuses about being busy and bury herself in work.
"They say sighing too much scares away luck."
Her current state was like before she'd joined the guild on Choi Yu-ra's recommendation.
Her self-esteem had tanked hard.
'Is someone like me even worthy of being by his side?'
It started with Choi Yu-ra's on-air boyfriend reveal.
After that, communities everywhere praised how well Choi Yu-ra and Yoo Jun-hyuk matched, and she'd pored over every article.
[Choi Yu-ra's level, she has to date a guy like that.]
[They're the same tier—Choi Yu-ra and him match perfectly.]
Tier.
Dividing people by class is trashy, but society always ranks everyone.
Influenced by those reactions, Lee Seo-yeon blamed herself, convinced she wasn't on Yoo Jun-hyuk's tier.
'And I hear he got kidnapped by villains?'
At Choi Yu-ra's request, she'd even hacked military satellites and the Hero Association database.
She'd sensed it involved Yoo Jun-hyuk, and her hacks revealed a major threat to him—one Choi Yu-ra had resolved.
Afterward, to tie up loose ends, she'd asked Lee Seo-yeon for help, then gone public as his girlfriend on air to ward off bugs. As a girlfriend, Choi Yu-ra was perfect—even in another woman's eyes.
What had she done by comparison?
Nothing but mindless work.
She'd even given him food poisoning on their last date, so self-loathing hit hard—was a useless person like her even fit to stay by Yoo Jun-hyuk's side?
"From the start... the only reason I can even be near Jun-hyuk is because Choi Yu-ra's so magnanimous and allowed it."
Yoo Jun-hyuk didn't see it that way.
Lee Seo-yeon knew, but as a woman, she felt responsible for protecting her man—and she couldn't forgive herself for failing.
"Hm?"
Then, her smartphone screen lit up.
[Choi Yu-ra: photo.jpg]
A single photo from Choi Yu-ra.
A kid-friendly spread—she fired back a reply.
[Lee Seo-yeon: What's this?]
[Choi Yu-ra: Dinner Jun-hyuk made ㅎㅎ]
Lee Seo-yeon's fingers flew, changing the saved contact name for Choi Yu-ra.
[Bitch: Bet it's delicious.]
[Lee Seo-yeon: Date night? Not a hotel—you're even sleeping over at Jun-hyuk's place.]
[Bitch: No date?]
Her pride, flickering out until moments ago,
[Bitch: We're living together ㅎㅎ Didn't Jun-hyuk tell you?]
flared back to life at Choi Yu-ra's provocation.
[Lee Seo-yeon: Huh? Living together?]
[Bitch: Yeah. Been about a month? Lately after overtime, he makes just my favorite sides as late-night snacks. Sooo good.]
Kid-friendly sides.
And such immature behavior.
'Am I supposed to lose to a woman like this?'
She got that Choi Yu-ra was impressive.
But that was in work—didn't mean she ruled romance too.
'I want to steal it. Snatch the main wife spot from this damn bitch!'
And I want to live with Jun-hyuk too!
[Bitch: Bet your place doesn't have stuff like this.]
Of all people, sharing one man—and as the second, Lee Seo-yeon.
Choi Yu-ra's taunt was childish as hell.
Ignoring further replies, Lee Seo-yeon shut off her phone, finished work, and headed home.
And the next day, despite her packed schedule, she took half a day off to head to the cafe.
"Huh? Seo-yeon?"
"Jun-hyuk, have you been well?"
"What's up at this hour? Guild holiday today?"
"No. Took half-day leave. Back to work this afternoon."
She didn't really plan to do anything specific.
She just missed Yoo Jun-hyuk after hearing Choi Yu-ra's childish taunt.
[Jun-hyuk, that's not fair. Why'd you keep living with Choi Yu-ra a secret from me?]
But her blazing inner thoughts were already pouring out resentment—not quite resentment—at Yoo Jun-hyuk.
[I wanted to live together too! Leaving me out. Guess even you prefer capable women since you're a guy. So... what do you really think of me? I'm dying to know. If only there was a skill to read hearts instead of this hacking crap.]
"..."
And Yoo Jun-hyuk, hearing all her inner thoughts, grabbed her hand.
"Seo-yeon."
"Yes?"
With an apologetic smile.
"Wanna play hooky together?"
Clang-!
Su-hyun, passing by, dropped her tray.