Chapter 405
Chapter 405
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 405. Chilly
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"Uh, um."
"...Um."
"Hmm."
I stared at the Branch Head, wondering how the hell I was supposed to respond to this.
She wasn't even trying to hide her age in the first place, was she?
Anyone could see she was over two hundred, and she was shouting it from the rooftops.
There was someone we needed right now.
Namely...
"...Uh, why is everyone looking at me?"
As if on cue, all our eyes turned to Yoo Daon, who pointed at herself in bewilderment and tilted her head.
"Is there something I need to do?"
Why is she so oblivious at a time like this?
In the end, it looked like I was the only one who could critique the Branch Head's lunch.
I let out a deep sigh and opened my mouth.
Still, I should break it to her gently so she wouldn't get hurt.
"Our grandma back home wouldn't even eat something like that. Impressive as always."
"...Do I really look that old? I even packed the latest trendy lunch."
The Branch Head pulled a sulky face at my words.
"This is what 'latest' means."
Let me see. Whose should I call the trendiest?
"This one's the most modern lunch, at least."
Fried stuff, tons of sauce anyway...
I pointed at Song Arin's lunch, and she puffed up with pride.
"Can't be helped. I'm the youngest, so it's a generational gap, right? Sigh. Those two are so old they've—"
"These days, trendy means over-the-top spicy and stimulating enough to kill you."
"Hey!"
I stepped back from Song Arin as she yelled and glanced at the Branch Head, who frowned at her food.
"Kids these days eat this stuff? Oh my. That'll destroy your stomach. To live long and healthy, you need veggies, light seasoning... fried food's a bit much."
Then the Branch Head took a bite of Song Arin's food and frowned even harder.
"Oh dear. So salty. And why is this so spicy? Ugh."
...
Song Arin, hearing that, was glaring at her like she could kill with her eyes.
Having critiqued Song Arin's lunch like a nagging mother-in-law, the Branch Head turned to Jang Chaeyeon's.
"Now, let's try Jang Chaeyeon's lunch."
"I'm gonna kill you."
"You can't."
I watched the Branch Head head toward Jang Chaeyeon's lunch while soothing Song Arin, who was grinding her teeth with a flushed face.
She reached for Jang Chaeyeon's lunch and started eating.
"But even if that granny taste knows good food, how good can it be?"
"Respect your elders. Just let it slide."
"I can hear you."
The Branch Head cut into our conversation and began eating Jang Chaeyeon's lunch.
"Mm... Mm..."
She closed her eyes to savor it.
"...Mm."
Soon, she opened her eyes and looked at us.
"It's good. No, it's delicious?"
...
Jang Chaeyeon shot us a smug look.
Not surprising—she was a good cook.
The Branch Head nodded as she ate each item with enjoyment.
"But the seasoning's too strong."
Eats it fine, then gets picky.
I wasn't the only one thinking that; Jang Chaeyeon was giving her a similar look.
"Especially these soy sauce-based dishes—they're all a bit too sweet?"
The Branch Head muttered and nodded to herself before turning to Yoo Daon's food.
"Alright, next up is Yoo Daon..."
"But since when did you start casually eating our lunches like it's no big deal?"
"You gonna eat all this, Kim Jaeheon?"
"...No."
"I'm not eating much—just a bite from each. What's the problem?"
The Branch Head replied shamelessly and dug into Yoo Daon's lunch.
"Mm. Mm!"
She nodded in satisfaction as she tried each one.
"This is seriously good! Perfect for my taste!"
The Branch Head gave a thumbs-up and kept nodding eagerly as she explained.
"The seasoning's light, healthy—like hospital... mm... food..."
Her expression soured the more she spoke.
"...No, not like that."
Then, uncharacteristically, she started sweating bullets and waved her hands.
"It's delicious. Wow, the seasoning's perfect—totally my flavor, seriously so good!"
At that point, even Yoo Daon would catch on.
With that thought, I picked up the Branch Head's lunch.
"Let me try a bite."
"Oh, sure."
She nodded and stared intently at the lunch.
Seriously...
"It looks healthy."
"It's not just looks—it's healthy."
Yeah, figures.
With that thought, I ate some of the Branch Head's lunch.
Sesame leaves slathered in miso, salted whole radish, and... dry barley rice...
"Arin, quick, your lunch."
"Huh? Oh."
Song Arin handed hers over at my words, and I used her food to wash it down.
"...Not really my taste."
"Sigh, you'll die young like that."
No matter how long I live, I doubt I'll outlast the Branch Head. I shook my head.
"What's the point of living long and healthy if the food tastes like crap?"
"Then when you end up in the hospital, you'll think, 'Damn, I lived wrong.'"
Curse her out, curse her out.
As I glared at the Branch Head with that thought, she picked up her lunch, sighed, and stood.
"Fine. I'll go hang out with someone else."
"Who?"
Her gaze landed on one person at my question.
An Sanghyeon, munching on his balled-up rice.
"Hahaha!"
He met her eyes and waved at me boisterously in greeting.
"It's always fun watching the drama, but when the sparks fly my way, it gets tiring! I'll be off then!"
Then, curling up like one of his rice balls, he rolled away down the hall and vanished.
...
The Branch Head watched him go, sighed again, and headed elsewhere.
"Fine. I'm going back to the office."
No way she's sulking just because we said her lunch sucked, right?
But bad is bad.
With the Branch Head gone, I looked at the other four.
"Let's eat."
"You're heartless sometimes, you know that?"
Song Arin shook her head at me, and I stood up.
"Shall we wrap up? Branch Head—"
"Argh!"
Song Arin grabbed my arm in horror.
"Fine! I won't!"
"Good girl."
Why give with a fist and take with words? She into that?
With that thought, I finished the meal.
Grinding my teeth the whole way.
For real. Bracing for a hunger strike until tomorrow lunch, I emptied every last container.
"If it was good, should I pack more tomorrow?"
"Cut the portions, please."
Stuffing like this till tomorrow might actually kill me.
With that thought, I barely held down the food rising to my throat and sighed.
*
In the end, I decided to go for a walk that night.
God, even antacids wouldn't settle it—had to.
Dressed comfortably, I stepped out and walked.
The cool night air tickled my cheeks, and it felt a bit better.
"...Whew."
I sighed deeply and looked up at the sky.
Yoo Daon, Jang Chaeyeon, Song Arin.
"...Headache."
Each had confessed to me, after all.
They weren't the type to nag me for staying still...
...
Ignoring it all and coasting was easiest, but was that really right?
Lost in that thought as I walked, someone jogged past me.
"Huff... huff..."
Petite build, dull blonde tied up high.
Her running form was solid despite her size—back straight, looked like a pro.
"...Eileen?"
I called her name, and Eileen turned to look at me.
"...What're you doing here?"
Her eyes lit up happily, and I stared back, deep in thought.
...
Eileen might be good for advice, right?
"I have something bothering me."
"...Yeah."
She came closer at my words, and I began.
Three women confessed to me, and I had no idea what to do.
I watched her face as I explained, and...
...
She stared back with a sour expression.
"...W-Why?"
"Sigh, idiot."
She let out a deep sigh.
"...Here's my take, anyway."
Then she spoke slowly.
"Better to think it through and answer properly than half-ass it."
"...Right."
"Or just date all three."
"That might've flown in your era, Branch Head, but not now."
Illegal in modern society, isn't it?
As I looked at her, Eileen smirked.
"Yeah? I wouldn't know."
What?
I gave her a look, and she stretched.
"But it might not be just three."
"Huh?"
"If I say I like you too, that's four, right?"
"...Huh?"
What the hell? I stared at her, and Eileen flashed a bright smile before jogging off again.
"Think it over."
"Wait, Eileen!"
I called, but she kept going until she disappeared into the distance.
...
Why dump more problems instead of helping?
So this situation...
*
"Die, you punk. Die."
"Ah! Team Leader! Ow! My head hurts, Team Leader! Ah!"
-Thwack! Thwack!
The Team Leader, done smacking my head with the file folder, caught her breath and spoke.
"Don't ever say that shit to anyone else. You'll get stabbed."
"I only said it because it's you, Team Leader."
"Take another hit."
-Thwack!
"Ow!"
As I clutched my head, the Team Leader spoke.
"...Can't be helped. I was a hotshot once too..."
...
Hard to believe, but I listened closely.
...
Her mouth opened slowly.