Chapter 347
Chapter 347
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Banquet
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No one said a word until we got back.
Not me, not anyone else.
Not even the Branch Chief.
And then.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Excluding me, the Branch Chief, and Jang Chaeyeon, everyone else was walking with grim expressions like war had broken out.
No. Let me correct that.
"..."
"..."
"Chaeyeon."
"Yeah."
"You're a bit close."
"Don't like it?"
"No, it's not that..."
"Then just stay."
With that, she dropped a bombshell so casually and stuck right by my side as we walked.
She kept glancing at my face—must be really amusing.
Meanwhile, I had no idea what to do and felt like dying.
I couldn't even say anything.
I sighed, recalling what had happened earlier.
After Jang Chaeyeon's bombshell "I love you,"
I was speechless,
Song Arin stared at her with her mouth agape,
Eileen looked away,
Yoo Daon just kept her expressionless face and said nothing.
And the Branch Chief...
"Oh my, oh my goodness. Oh my oh my..."
She was blushing by herself, pounding my arm like some weepy auntie.
The problem was that her pounding felt like it was breaking my arm, not just a light tap.
"Ow! Branch Chief! Ow!"
"Oh my goodness! Oh my oh my!"
"Aaack!"
After a bit of commotion, I could finally look at Jang Chaeyeon again.
"Chaeyeon, that—"
"I didn't say it expecting an answer."
She cut me off before I could finish, quick as ever—not like her at all.
"I just... wanted to tell you. You don't have to respond."
"...That..."
"..."
Then Jang Chaeyeon quietly turned her gaze from me to the others.
"Yeah. That's enough for now."
She smiled at me.
That was it.
*
"What're you thinking about?"
"Earlier."
"Hehe."
Jang Chaeyeon let out an even more enigmatic laugh and leaned against me.
"I see."
"..."
At my age, it was hard to tell a woman to back off, and besides, Jang Chaeyeon wasn't the type to listen anyway.
The Branch Chief gripped the wheel confidently, giving me a sleazy uncle grin.
"Should I drop you two off at a motel?"
"Branch Chief."
"No need to glare like that."
I shot her a loaded glare, and she grumbled as she started driving.
The ride back was awkwardly tense.
So awkward that the Branch Chief was the only one talking.
I ignored her as payback for her earlier joke.
How much time passed?
We were back at the Management Bureau parking lot.
"Phew..."
The Branch Chief stretched out, and we all rubbed our exhausted bodies.
"Everyone."
Until then, she'd just been mumbling to herself, but now she turned to face us.
"You all did amazing. Truly the best."
She smiled softly.
"No matter what, you helped bring peace to the world. No—I don't think we could've succeeded without you."
"..."
"Of course, there'll be a huge bonus..."
She muttered, glancing at Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin.
"You two could even aim for promotions."
Song Arin, whose face hadn't softened at all. Jang Chaeyeon, looking like she couldn't care less.
The Branch Chief gave a wry smile and looked at me.
"Anyway... great job. Take a break if you want. Or rather, I think the Bureau's throwing a party."
"Because we took down Aestheticism?"
A party for catching Aestheticism?
"Nah, it's just the annual event."
Weird. I didn't hear about any annual event last year when I was working.
I eyed the Branch Chief curiously, and she smiled while slightly avoiding my gaze.
"Of course, for those who've made significant contributions to the Bureau."
"..."
Meaning I was nothing before that.
Fine, whatever.
But one more thing to check.
"It's safe, right?"
"...Normally, I'd boldly say if that place isn't safe, nowhere is..."
She trailed off, gauging my reaction.
"But with you coming, Kim Jaeheon, I hesitate to declare it now..."
"...Who's coming?"
"The Head, the branch chiefs, and the Containment Team aces."
"..."
"And the food's great, plus you'll see amazing sights! The Gangseo Branch is planning some aerial acrobatics!"
Isn't this just hyping up Ahn Sanghyeon?
The Branch Chief smiled at me.
"What do you think? Oh, and HR will probably have an awards ceremony there too."
"..."
Honestly, I was a bit worried.
But on the flip side.
If something happened even with the Head and branch chiefs there, it'd be inevitable doom beyond my control—or some containment object too stupid to value its life.
"I'll go."
What else? Might as well.
"Great!"
The Branch Chief beamed happily at my words.
"So... date and location..."
She told me the details, then opened the car door to get out.
"You all did amazing!"
"You too, Branch Chief. Your front tooth's missing."
"This'll heal if I eat and rest well for a week!"
Missing front teeth heal with a week of good food and rest, huh.
The Branch Chief waved laughing, soon vanishing from sight.
"...Everyone, great job."
Now it was my turn.
I turned to the others with a greeting, and they nodded back.
"I'm planning to go to that party..."
"Me too."
"I'll go."
"Me as well."
"..."
The others jumped in right after me, all wanting to join.
"Good. Clothes... figure it out yourselves?"
They pondered my words.
"...Fine. I have a good eye for clothes anyway."
Song Arin grumbled curtly.
"I'll buy mine."
Jang Chaeyeon nodded,
"Yeah."
Eileen nodded.
"..."
And Yoo Daon awkwardly smiled, avoiding my eyes.
"...I'll... um..."
"Daon, come with me."
Right. Yoo Daon wouldn't know about this stuff.
At my words, the others stared at me blankly.
What? Yoo Daon probably never worn a dress before.
Song Arin clicked her tongue, Jang Chaeyeon stared at the floor, Eileen sighed.
"Daon, if you're free now, want to go look with me right away?"
"Oh, sure?"
"Good."
Tired as I was, better rip the band-aid off.
I got out of the car, and Yoo Daon followed.
"Then I'll head out first."
"See you later!"
I bowed slightly, Yoo Daon bowed after me.
As Jang Chaeyeon moved to get out, Song Arin grabbed her thigh tight and waved at me.
"Yeah. Talk about white hair with me later."
"Ah, sure. Whatever."
Wonder what they're gonna say.
Must be awkward with me and Yoo Daon around.
I slowly closed the door.
"Hey, you crazy bitch."
I could've sworn I heard Song Arin's voice through the door.
Nah, must've misheard.
*
"..."
"..."
I walked to the department store with Yoo Daon.
"..."
"..."
Silence.
I didn't know what to say, and Yoo Daon kept walking with an unreadable expression.
How long did we walk?
"Jaeheon."
Yoo Daon called me quietly.
"Yeah?"
"...Um..."
She looked at me with a troubled smile.
"What's up?"
What could it be.
"To you... um..."
Yoo Daon trailed off.
"...What is love?"
"...Love?"
"Yeah."
Was she curious about what Jang Chaeyeon said?
Her words suddenly popped into my head, and I shut my mouth, unsure what to say.
The emotions she'd given me felt overwhelmingly heavy all at once.
"I... don't know either."
Family love, sure. But romantic love? Never really thought about it.
Especially with Jang Chaeyeon suddenly saying that... well, not suddenly. Still.
"..."
Yoo Daon looked at me.
"You don't know either, Jaeheon?"
"...Yeah."
"Not yet?"
"Huh?"
Not yet?
I looked at Yoo Daon in confusion, and she smiled faintly.
"Don't worry about it."
Then she inspected my clothes.
"You know, Jaeheon, your clothes have too much dust. Keep going straight from here, that's your place, right?"
"Uh, yeah."
Straight ahead was indeed my house.
"Then hurry home!"
"Huh?"
"Go on!"
Yoo Daon smiled and pushed my back.
"Come on!"
"Wait, Daon...!"
She shoved me into the crosswalk, then waved smiling.
"Rest well!"
"What about the dress!"
"I'll handle it!"
She waved like shooing me away, telling me not to come back.
"..."
Ah, whatever.
I'm tired too. Fine by me.
I sighed and headed home.
-Shraaala!
The manual unfolded.
[How to Kill an Impudent Woman]
1. First, shave her head bald—
-Slap!
Cut the crap.
*
A few days later.
"..."
I arrived at the place the Branch Chief mentioned, and quite a crowd was chatting in tuxedos and dresses.
I scanned around in my awkward tuxedo.
Never done this before.
As I awkwardly looked around,
A murmur rose from afar.
"...What the hell is that?"
"Are they fighting...?"
"Wow, but she's pretty..."
Pretty while fighting?
Something felt off.
I slowly headed toward the crowd.
Three women were causing a huge scene.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Yoo Daon and Jang Chaeyeon glaring expressionlessly at each other, and Song Arin puffing her cheeks while grabbing Jang Chaeyeon's shoulder and glaring at Yoo Daon.
"..."
Better pretend I don't know them and slip in.