Chapter 88

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 88

Chapter Title: Furniture Shopping and Fan Backlash

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Teacher Mi-yeon didn't lead me to a department store, but to a furniture shop near Hyuksan High School.

"Department stores are nice too, but for furniture, you can't beat a furniture shop."

She said it was the place she always used when buying furniture herself. I had zero sense for this kind of thing, so I couldn't tell if their stuff was particularly good. Still, it was nice and quiet with hardly any people around.

"Hmm... This one's pretty good, but... No, maybe this one? The price seems better here too..."

Teacher Mi-yeon got down on her knees to touch every inch of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠furniture, checking for defects, gauging quality for the price, even sniffing it up close because the smell mattered too. She was picking out my furniture with total dedication.

It was touching to see her choosing them as if they were for her own home.

And maybe that's why?

Everything Teacher Mi-yeon picked caught my eye.

"What do you think of this?"

"Yeah, looks good. I'll take that one."

"This dining table seems nice too..."

"Sure, let's get this."

"How about this chair?"

"Yeah, we'll go with that."

"Hmm... This table would look great in the living room."

"Right, let's buy this too."

"Tae-hyun..."

"Yeah...?"

"Are you actually thinking about these? It feels like you're just saying everything's good..."

Teacher Mi-yeon's lips pouted as she looked at me.

She must have thought I was giving half-hearted answers.

I had to fight back a grin at the sight.

"Why overthink it? You picked them. That's good enough for me. Just keep picking whatever you like, like you have been."

"...Really?"

"Yeah, for real. I'm saying everything's great because it really is. What can I do? I love everything you're choosing—I can't say otherwise."

"Hehe... Yeah, right! Good thing our tastes match."

Teacher Mi-yeon beamed and dove back into shopping. About two hours later, most of the essentials were on the list.

All that was left...

"Just need a bed now, I think."

"Yeah... Beds... Beds are important."

Teacher Mi-yeon strolled slowly, scanning the beds for a long time before stopping in front of one.

Her eyes lit up, mouth slightly agape—it was clearly her pick for today.

"Hmm... Tae-hyun, what do you think of this one...?"

Hmm... It's flashy, looks super plush, everything seems fine.

"Uh... Isn't this a bit big? Doesn't look like a single size."

"Well... your place is pretty spacious."

"True enough."

Teacher Mi-yeon nodded vigorously and kept going.

"So... you know, with a big house, you need big furniture or it looks empty... And plus... yeah! Bigger size isn't a bad thing, right? You can stretch out full starfish style! I wanna try that too... And..."

"And?"

Teacher Mi-yeon's face flushed bright red in an instant, and she suddenly bowed her head and flopped onto the bed.

Then she patted the spot next to her.

"...You have to lie down to know if it's a good bed."

A silly laugh bubbled up again. I held it in, lay down beside her.

No doubt about it—this was a great bed. Just lying here filled me with bliss?

After savoring that bliss for a bit, I sneaked a glance at Teacher Mi-yeon.

Her ears were beet red, head turned the other way.

A brief silence passed before she whispered softly.

"...Y-you know, just in case something comes up where two people might lie down together..."

Hmm, as expected.

There's something different about trained actresses.

I hadn't even thought that far.

"Shall we get this one? I like it."

"Yeah, I like it... Huh? Yeah?"

Teacher Mi-yeon whipped her head around, staring at me like she'd misheard.

Seeing that made me even more playful.

"Since it looks good, let's go with this."

"N-no, it's your bed..."

"Nah, I like it too."

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I chuckled as I said it, and Teacher Mi-yeon's face turned fully ripened tomato red.

"Damn... My solar plexus still hurts from that crazy bastard's punch... Just how strong is that monster? This whole team's full of psychos, fans and players alike."

While Cha Tae-hyun was enjoying his happy time, Eric Wood stormed out of Sajik Stadium, still fuming, and hailed a taxi.

The matched taxi was number 7098.

He waved at the approaching 7098 taxi, and it pulled up.

-Clunk.

"What...?"

Eric Wood yanked the door handle to get in, but it was locked.

He scowled and tried the front passenger door—locked too.

'What the hell is wrong with this guy?'

As he cursed inwardly, the window rolled down, revealing the driver.

"Hey! Open the door! Let me in!"

Eric Wood snapped irritably, but the driver sneered and shot back loudly.

"Knew I recognized you from somewhere—you're that punk! Screw you, you trash! You mess with our Cha Tae-hyun? Think you can just grab a cab outta Sajik? You idiot."

'What... the hell?'

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Before Eric Wood could even turn on his translator, the driver unleashed another barrage of curses and sped off.

Of course, with his poor Korean, Eric Wood had no clue what was said. He could only guess the driver was pissed.

"Damn! Not a sane person in Busan."

Eric Wood opened the app again and called another cab, but...

"Yankee go home! Fucking racist bastard!"

"What...? When did I ever—"

"Shut up! Trash!"

A driver suddenly accusing him of racism.

"Take this. Fuck you."

The guy rolled down the window, flipped him off, rolled it back up, and drove away.

After nearly an hour of getting verbally demolished by cabbies, Eric Wood gave up and headed for the subway.

But as the saying goes, no paradise for fugitives.

"Wh-whoa...? Y-you're that prick... hic... Eric... Wood, right? Hic! It's your fault, asshole! I was... having a good time drinking with friends... and you ruined it! Perfect timing, urp!"

"What...? You crazy fuck, where are you puking!? Get off me! Ugh! The smell! Fuck... what the hell did I do to deserve this!?"

Boarding the subway only to get vomited on by a wasted old man—probably a memory he'd never forget...

I woke up after a nap at 7 a.m.

Even on vacation with my alarm off for some rare extra sleep, my body clock wouldn't let me.

[Shin Si-woo: Dude lmao 😂 saw how the fans went crazy over your suspension?]

First thing I see is a text from Shin Si-woo. Rough start to the day.

[Wasn't it two games? What reaction for that?]

I figured I'd get suspended, obviously.

Grabbed the guy by the collar and full-power solar plexus shot—he milked the groan for all it was worth.

Two games felt lucky, but apparently fans saw it differently?

[Yeah… fans are pissed af, check this link lmao]

Two games...?

I tilted my head and tapped the link—realized Si-woo wasn't exaggerating.

[No way, Cha Tae-hyun's suspension dropped...?]

2-game benching damn...