Chapter 226
Chapter 226
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 226. A Different Smell
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"No, they still have some shame."
"What shame? It's just a game anyway, and honestly, just considering what Jaeheon has done for me, letting me live in his house wouldn't be enough—I'd have to hand over my own house and it still wouldn't suffice."
Yoo Daon shook her head as if my refusal was utterly ridiculous.
"And at the very least, as long as my eyes are open, I can't bear to see Jaeheon sleeping outside."
"That's just..."
She said it so firmly that I couldn't muster the courage to argue back at all.
...
And above all, I had no idea how to get back.
The moment I'd opened the door to Jang Chaeyeon's house, I'd ended up in Yoo Daon's practice room. What the hell was I supposed to do?
I pulled out my smartphone, but as expected, there was no signal.
"...I'll impose on you for just one night."
"Great!"
In the end, I decided to accept Yoo Daon's offer.
*
I gazed around Yoo Daon's room, lost in thought.
The Yoo Daon's house in my memory had truly been barren.
"What are you thinking so deeply about?"
She must have just finished washing up—drying her hair vigorously with a towel, she approached my side.
"I was thinking about your house, Daon."
"Ah. Isn't the house really pretty?"
"It is, but."
I nodded and looked around.
"I was wondering what it'd be like if your house was a little like this too."
"Ah..."
Yoo Daon trailed off.
"My house is... pretty barren, isn't it."
"No, it's not like that."
"But it is."
Yoo Daon averted her eyes and continued.
"I've been to other people's houses too, after all."
...
Honestly, she was right, so I had nothing to say to that.
"But next time you visit, it'll be different!"
As if nothing had happened, Yoo Daon beamed brightly.
"Next time, I'll have it decorated so beautifully that Jaeheon will be totally shocked!"
"That would be great."
An empty house like that just hurt my heart to look at, no matter what.
Especially considering the path the person named Yoo Daon had walked.
"By the way, Daon."
"Yeah?"
I looked at Yoo Daon, who had roughly dried her damp hair and draped the towel over her head.
"About what happened with Chaeyeon."
...
Yoo Daon's movements froze.
"See..."
"I'm, I'm sorry."
Before I could even get the words out, Yoo Daon apologized right away.
"Huh?"
"No. In front of Jaeheon... I, I shouldn't have fought with Chaeyeon."
Yoo Daon gazed at me with terror-filled eyes.
"I should have just endured what Chaeyeon was saying..."
"That's not..."
"B-but I really only have Jaeheon."
Yoo Daon placed her fist against her chest and looked at me.
"It's true. I've never acted like I'd hand over my liver and gallbladder to anyone else. Really!"
"...I believe you."
Had she even had the time for that in the first place?
It had only been twice at the hospital, but clashing with them had taught me one thing.
They didn't treat people like people.
Ye-eun's father had been that way, and so had Yoo Daon.
In a place like that, had she even had time to talk to others?
She'd simply survived there all alone.
Maybe it was already a miracle that she hadn't lost her mind.
"I believe you."
At my words, Yoo Daon's expression visibly brightened.
"T-then that's good."
"Yeah. But what I wanted to say was, there was no need to push Chaeyeon that hard."
...
Yoo Daon directed her gaze to the floor.
"We're teammates anyway. It'd be good if we relied on each other a bit more like that—relying and being relied on and all."
...
Yoo Daon stayed silent, her eyes fixed on the floor.
If she said she hated it, what should I say?
If she said she liked it, then what?
As I pondered her reaction, Yoo Daon lifted her head and nodded over and over.
"I'll do that."
"...Good."
"I can apologize to Chaeyeon too!"
"That's up to you, Daon."
The moment I ordered someone to apologize, my position would be set in stone.
At that instant, we would no longer be colleagues.
Commands or suggestions in a situation were one thing.
But telling someone in a relationship to apologize—or not to—that was off-limits.
The moment I advised on emotions as well as actions, I'd be perfectly establishing a superior-inferior dynamic between that person and me.
I couldn't do that.
"If Jaeheon tells me to, I'll do anything."
And then, as if peering right into my thoughts, Yoo Daon murmured.
"...You can't do that. You need to voice your own opinions more, Daon."
"For example?"
"Saying my opinion is awful, or... mixing in your own take on someone else's opinion appropriately..."
"I could mix my opinion into other people's, but I don't think I could mix it into Jaeheon's."
"That's the same principle as going against my opinion."
"Uh, uh... uh...!"
As if realizing what I'd said, Yoo Daon widened her eyes.
"I didn't mean it like that! If Jaeheon says to do it, I'll do it..."
"Then say my opinion is awful, like you just did..."
"No, I can't do that!"
"You're ignoring my opinion again right now, though?"
"Jaeheooon...!"
Looking at her now-pouting face, laughter bubbled up naturally.
[The effect of "If You Love, Give Money" has activated!]
Of course, the moment I saw the window pop up in front of me, my laughter vanished instantly.
Otherwise, it felt like I hadn't just been talking casually but had been seducing Yoo Daon purely to rack up points.
"What's wrong?"
Yoo Daon looked at me curiously.
"Are you hurting somewhere? Your face suddenly looks bad."
"No, it's not that..."
"If you're hurting, tell me right now! I'll figure out some way to get us out of here."
The Yoo Daon who'd been enjoying the house was gone—now only the HR Team's Yoo Daon remained, her will to drag me out of here blazing clear.
"No, really, it's nothing."
"What do you mean nothing!"
Yoo Daon widened her eyes.
"It's true."
"I may not know everything about Jaeheon, but I know exactly what he's thinking from the look on his face."
Yoo Daon stared at me with a grave expression.
"You're super troubled right now."
Everyone was starting to pick up on things about me with eerie accuracy.
"...Got it. Then I'll explain."
In the end, I had no choice but to explain Casanova to Yoo Daon too.
After hearing my full explanation, Yoo Daon blinked, then looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"So?"
"Yeah?"
"So what?"
She stared at me as if she truly couldn't comprehend.
"I'm taking your points, Daon?"
"Yeah."
"Didn't you hear? The grand prize."
"Ah..."
Yoo Daon nodded as if finally realizing.
"The way to escape the hospital forever?"
"...I'm a little different."
"That was it for me."
Yoo Daon smiled.
"You don't have to tell me yours. Everyone has things they don't want to talk about."
Yoo Daon looked at me.
"But it doesn't matter to me."
"Huh?"
Wasn't she scared of the hospital?
"Honestly, even if they caught me and dragged me back to the hospital right now, I could wait with a smile on my face."
Yoo Daon met my eyes.
"I believe Jaeheon will come to save me."
...
"Even if you couldn't for some reason, as long as Jaeheon is alive, I'd be happy."
She closed her eyes.
"So it doesn't hold much meaning for me."
...
"But the Jaeheon I know wouldn't cling to me over conditions like that. He'd sooner lose."
With her eyes open, she gazed at me.
"You have a reason you have to win, don't you?"
"...You're really impossible to fool, Daon."
Maybe because she was the member I'd spent the most time with, Yoo Daon's ability to read me was always a cut above the others.
"Then I have to help you even more!"
She beamed brightly.
[You receive 50% of income from Yoo Daon.]
My conscience hurt so badly it felt like it was bleeding.
"And you were at Chaeyeon's house."
"How did you know?"
"Smell."
Yoo Daon pointed to her nose.
"Actually, the moment I saw you, I could smell Chaeyeon's shampoo. But since you didn't say anything, I figured there was a reason, so I kept quiet."
Lying right in front of someone who knew the truth. I'd done the worst possible thing.
"I'm sorry."
"No. I totally get it."
She shook her head as if it were no big deal.
"Then next up is Arin's house?"
"Uh, I haven't decided yet."
"You have to go!"
She widened her eyes as if asking what kind of nonsense I was spouting.
"You have to if you want to win!"
"No, but I'd feel bad for Arin..."
"You don't feel bad for me?"
...
Unable to come up with any retort to Yoo Daon's words, I just hemmed and hawed until she gave my back a light shove.
"I was planning to let you crash here, but now I guess I need to send Jaeheon off quick."
"Wait a sec, Daon—"
Ignoring my words entirely, Yoo Daon pushed hard at my back.
"Go quick and snag Arin's points too! I'll work hard earning points! I'll even aim for the world championship!"
"Daon...!"
"Instead."
She looked up at me as she pushed my back.
"You absolutely can't sleep at Arin's house."
"...Got it."
After my deadpan reply, the expressionless Yoo Daon smiled again.
"Then off you go!"
She shoved my back.
"Ow!"
Now I was in the professor's room, late at night with the lights on.
"...What is it?"
Song Arin was staring at me.
*
Gazing at the door the man had vanished through, Yoo Daon wore a satisfied smile.
If she could deliver exactly what he wanted, what happiness could surpass that?
Humming a tune, she plopped down right onto the floor.
She was in a great mood today.
Now all that was left was...
"...Shoe rack here. Sofa over there."
The man had said he liked this house.
She herself had no talent for design.
"Have to memorize it."
If she memorized the house perfectly, she could go back and plug in a design.
Blooms of smiles blossomed across Yoo Daon's face.