Chapter 278
Chapter 278
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 278. No. 100
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Watching Song Arin stare at the flashlight, I take a moment to sort out my thoughts on this containment object.
So... it shows the favorability level of the person it's shone on?
Shining it on Yoo Daon would reveal how much she likes me.
Shine it on me from her, and it'd show my favorability toward her.
Where the hell does the branch head dig up these ridiculous gadgets and send them our way every time?
And always ones perfect for starting fights, too.
What did I ever do to deserve this?
...
Song Arin stares blankly at the flashlight.
An inexplicable anxiety bubbles up in me as Yoo Daon and Jang Chaeyeon crowd in close beside her to check the number.
"How much did it show?"
"Lemme see."
Both of them peer at Song Arin's flashlight, and...
"Pfft."
Jang Chaeyeon covers her mouth, laughing.
Yoo Daon rolls her eyes around before patting Song Arin's back.
"Feelings vary from person to person! Don't take it too hard!"
...
Song Arin clamps her mouth shut, and pure dread washes over me.
"Can I... take a peek at the number?"
I glance cautiously at her, and she silently hands me her flashlight.
...
She remains utterly silent.
I look at the flashlight she passed me, and the number on it comes into view.
<43>
...
"Under half."
Song Arin mutters, glaring at me.
As much as I hate to say it, she looks seriously pissed off.
"Hey, is this thing even working?"
"Hang on, Arin. Even I can't say for sure—"
"You bastard!"
She rears back to hurl the flashlight at me, but Yoo Daon grabs her wrist, and Jang Chaeyeon yanks her arm further, bending her body backward.
"Ow ow ow ow ow!!"
"We gotta test it on ourselves too!"
"Yeah, our turn."
"Ow ow ow! Let go! Let go! Let go, you lunatics!"
Song Arin shrieks as she drops it, and Jang Chaeyeon snatches the flashlight from her and aims it at me.
"Here goes."
"Wait, wait!"
Why is everyone gunning for me?
I frantically wave both hands to fend off the three of them.
Song Arin, slumped over clutching her waist with limp wrists, looks up at me.
"What's 'wait'? You... heartless... monster..."
-Click!
Ignoring Song Arin, Jang Chaeyeon shines it on Yoo Daon, who goes wide-eyed.
...
"How much?"
Yoo Daon sidles up to Jang Chaeyeon, eyes still bulging, and hands me the flashlight.
I check the one she passed over.
<2>
...
How much?
I rub my eyes and look again.
<2>
"Chaeyeon, you didn't run off with Daon's money or anything, right?"
"I'm not that kind of person."
Jang Chaeyeon furrows her brow, looking offended at my words.
"Sorry. Just... can't wrap my head around that number otherwise."
What could she have done to make Yoo Daon's favorability toward her a measly 2?
...
"We're friends, though?"
Yoo Daon gives an awkward smile toward Jang Chaeyeon, who nods slowly back at her.
"Yeah, we're friends."
"How can you say that with a straight face after seeing a 2?"
A 2?
I'd begged them to get along, but not only did they ignore me—this number's so low I'm worried how they even function on the same team.
...
"Here!"
Yoo Daon cuts me off, and as if on cue, Jang Chaeyeon blasts me with the flashlight.
-Click!
Bright light floods my eyes, and Jang Chaeyeon freezes solid.
...
"How much?"
Yoo Daon and Song Arin sidle up beside her.
...
"Whoa..."
Yoo Daon mutters in shock, while...
...
Song Arin stares at the flashlight, then shoots me a betrayed look.
"Hey, why are you all staring at me?"
Intensely.
At my question, Jang Chaeyeon shows me the flashlight.
<47>
Another number.
...
"That's over twenty times higher than what Daon feels for Chaeyeon?"
"We're not friends."
Didn't she just say they were, like a minute ago?
Jang Chaeyeon shakes her head shamelessly at my question.
...
"Higher than me...?"
Song Arin mutters gravely.
Big deal—a few points' difference.
"Hang on. Chaeyeon, shine it on Arin."
...
"Me? On her?"
"Nooo!"
The two of them shake their heads vigorously at my suggestion.
"If we're doing this, might as well go all the way, right?"
Better than them shining it only on me and gossiping about who's close to whom. Spreading the attention around a bit couldn't hurt.
I glance at them meaningfully, and Jang Chaeyeon eyes Song Arin, who eyes her back with clear reluctance.
...
"So... we doing it?"
...
"Yeah, fine. Do it."
Jang Chaeyeon hesitates, then shines it on Song Arin.
I check the number beside her.
<32>
Not bad.
I shrug at Song Arin, who flashes Jang Chaeyeon a knowing smile.
"What. You like me that much?"
"Shut up."
"I thought you hated me from all the telekinetic whacks, but what's this? Huh?"
...
Jang Chaeyeon swings her hand, and with a heavy thud from above, Song Arin clutches her head and crumples.
"You crazy bitch...!"
"Arin, your turn to shine it."
Quit fighting, seriously.
I hurriedly shove the flashlight into Song Arin's hands. She takes it, still cradling her head, and slowly aims it at Jang Chaeyeon.
...
I approach as she stares silently at it, but she shields the light.
"Did it come out high?"
"Why are you so clueless usually but sharp as hell right now?"
Song Arin mutters irritably and hands me the flashlight.
I examine it.
<34>
...
I stare at Song Arin, who averts her eyes from me.
"What? Why."
"Arin, you like Chaeyeon that mu—Ow! It hurts!"
The second I open my mouth, Song Arin starts kicking my shin, forcing me to hop away clutching it.
"Hoo... Hey, black hair. Your turn."
"Y-Yes..."
After several shin kicks, Song Arin fans her face and passes the flashlight to Yoo Daon, who shines it on me.
Click, and my vision whites out again. Yoo Daon soon peers at it.
...
"Hehe..."
Then she grins like an idiot, all to herself.
What's her deal?
The other two don't share her amusement and rush over.
"Hey, what'd it say?"
"How much?"
"Hehe... Hehehe..."
They snatch it from the giggling Yoo Daon, check the number, and glare at me.
"What, you planning to murder someone with your stare today?"
Why keep staring?
I approach and peek at the screen. Sure enough, another number.
<51>
"Hehehe... Hehehehe..."
Yoo Daon laughs delightedly.
"You like her?"
"Huh?"
What nonsense.
"Office romance is a straight path to misery."
"Look at her dodging again."
Song Arin tsks and yanks the flashlight from the chuckling Yoo Daon.
"Quit grinning like an idiot and shine it on someone else."
"Yesss hehehe..."
Yoo Daon, still grinning foolishly as instructed, takes it and shines on Song Arin.
"Hmm."
Jang Chaeyeon nods from behind after checking the number.
"How much?"
Jang Chaeyeon silently snatches it and shows me.
<18>
"Not on purpose, right?"
"You think I'm some psycho?"
Song Arin lifts her leg again, and Yoo Daon leans back warily as she waits for Yoo Daon to shine on Jang Chaeyeon.
Yoo Daon does, and another number pops up.
<3>
...
Are these two actually the least compatible?
"Should we start a Management Bureau friendship month with weekly drinks?"
Maybe ask Team Leader? He'd probably worry for real if he saw this.
...
...
The two fall silent, speechless now, so I grab the flashlight and hand it to Song Arin.
"Arin, shine it on Daon."
"Got it."
Song Arin shines it on Yoo Daon.
...
She stares at it with a stiff expression.
Right. How low did it come out?
I steel myself and sidle up beside her.
<40>
...
"Forty?"
Way higher than expected, so I can't help glancing at Yoo Daon.
She meets my eyes and smiles.
"I really do like Arin, you know? She's so understanding."
...
"Tch."
Song Arin tsks in annoyance and hands the flashlight to Park Ye-eun.
"Hey, intern. You try."
"Probably about the same for me?"
Park Ye-eun tilts her head and shines it on me and the others.
As she said, Yoo Daon and Jang Chaeyeon score twenties to thirties with her, and me...
"Forty!"
"Higher than I thought."
"Of course! Oppa feels responsible for me!"
Park Ye-eun grins playfully at me, and I just shrug.
Ailin too, her dad too—it's true I do feel responsible for Park Ye-eun.
Anyone I can relax around?
"Now it's my turn to shine on you all."
"Sure."
"Hey, wait...!"
Jang Chaeyeon nods, while Song Arin startles like she's been burned and glares at her.
"What? I'm not worried."
"No, it's not that...!"
Song Arin glances at Yoo Daon, who gives Jang Chaeyeon a troubled smile.
"Chaeyeon."
"Yeah."
"Feeling confident?"
...
"If you're confident, go ahead."
Yoo Daon smiles at Jang Chaeyeon, who hesitates briefly.
...
"Um..."
"What the hell is this?"
The door bangs open as Team Leader strides in.
"Oh, Team Leader."
"What? Another prank from the branch head?"
Team Leader tsks at the flashlight and looks at me.
"You got plans with someone?"
"Plans?"
"Yeah. Someone was looking for you."
"Who?"
"You'll see."
Team Leader beckons me.
"Come on."
"You're coming too, Team Leader?"
"Yeah. Hurry up. Just you."
I follow his gesture out the door.
Damn, no time to test it on him.
Outside, Team Leader turns to me.
"Listen up now."
...
"Why so ominous? My arm's not even fully healed yet."
I fiddle with my still-sore arm and eye him. He shakes his head.
"Not that. My friend's in a bind, so we're both going."
...
"Pardon?"
Team Leader pulls out a card.
[Happy Housing Voucher]
"What's this?"
"You just go and keep your eyes peeled."
"But I only got discharged two days—"
"For real. I stake my hair on it—nothing'll happen."
Team Leader mutters, staring at the card.
"Go find one person. Please."
Unlike before, his eyes gleam sharply, not drowsily.