Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Housekeeper Saw It
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The housekeeper saw it all.
Dae-in and Seol-ah had planned to keep Seol-yoon company until she got drunk, just to gauge her tolerance.
They'd left the fine whiskey at home on purpose and stocked up on cheap soju instead, figuring it was the kind of stuff she'd run into at college anyway.
But there was one thing the two of them had overlooked.
Getting good at drinking wasn't something you trained for like a muscle.
A high tolerance and no blackouts? That was pure innate talent.
And Seol-yoon, with her ridiculously healthy body these days, had that talent in spades.
Yet the already tipsy Dae-in and Seol-ah failed to notice how strangely sober the little one remained.
The drinks kept flowing.
Until they confirmed Seol-yoon's limit.
"Auntie, could we get another bottle of soju?"
"What do we do, boss? We're all out of what we bought. Should I run and grab more?"
"No, no. We've got plenty at home."
The six bottles they'd generously stocked were gone.
Dae-in approached the whiskey cabinet and pulled out a high-end bottle he'd been saving like a treasure.
It was reserved for major occasions.
But wasn't this—their adorable youngest daughter's first real drinking session—a major occasion?
Dae-in fetched a tasting glass optimized for savoring the aroma.
Any whiskey aficionado would have a heart attack.
Chug premium stuff after cheap soju to top off your buzz? No way.
How could you even appreciate the bouquet like that?
But the already drunk Dae-in wasn't thinking straight.
All he wanted was to keep the party going.
Alcohol's something adults have to teach. Gotta protect Seol-yoon. The world's full of wolves out there. She needs to learn that. Yeah.
It was a truly pitiful sight.
The student who'd vowed to teach drinking was stone-cold sober, while both teachers wobbled like leaves.
Not that the self-proclaimed mentors noticed.
"It's not like I'm trying to do anything weird! Nobody gets me! Hic!"
"Our family's healthy, nobody gets sick, and it's not that your mom's a bad person, she just had it really rough, hic."
Both of them get chatty when they're drunk, huh. Bottling it all up until the booze loosens their tongues.
Two bottles of soju and four glasses of whiskey in, and the pair were gone.
Seol-yoon was still perfectly fine.
Her body broke down the alcohol faster than she could drink it.
They're so cute, both of them.
Truth be told, Seol-yoon already knew her limit.
She'd tested it in secret once.
Two shots of soju, wait five minutes, jot down how she felt in her notebook.
Two more shots, wait five minutes, note it down. Thorough as always.
Her conclusion? She didn't really have a limit.
Soju? She could sip it all night and stay clear-headed.
Her liver was just that overpowered.
A rare constitution, but it happened sometimes.
Gulp down something over 40 proof, and she might feel a buzz for a fleeting moment before it vanished.
But chugging enough to black out? That'd just kill her.
Alcohol still worked on her—it was just decomposed too well, too fast.
Overdo it, and she'd drop dead like anyone else.
Funny, right?
The person who handles booze best is also the most likely to end up in the ER.
I need to make us feel more like a real family.
Seol-yoon leaned in and whispered to Seol-ah.
"Sis, Dad's Dad, so it's fine to go hug him. You're his daughter, so you can act spoiled with him."
"Waaah, but I wuv you, not Daaad. Mommy hates meee."
"He's not like Mom. Dad's waiting for you to come spoil on him. Go on, time to be a good daughter."
"Weally?"
"Yeah. Filial piety time."
Precious Seol-ah perked up at "filial piety."
How could anyone resist this adorable, heartbreaking creature?
Seol-yoon supported her wobbly sister and guided her into Dad's arms.
"Huh?"
"Sis says she's been so lonely. She wants a big hug and some pats on the back."
Then she whispered to Dae-in.
His bleary, booze-narrowed eyes widened like saucers.
Our Seol-ah! Out in the world all alone, of course she was lonely!
"Seol-ah! I love you! Forgive this clumsy old man for not saying it enough! I'm sorry!"
Dae-in pulled her close and patted her back soothingly.
"Weally? Even though I don't work or go to school or do anything? You don't hate me?"
"Of course! My girl! Do whatever you want! Play your whole life if you like!"
"Waaah!"
In the past, Seol-yoon had hugged and comforted Seol-ah countless times.
But Seol-ah always slipped away like a haughty cat.
Being the "little sister" and a "girl" made it hard for her to relax into that embrace.
Even in this body, Seol-ah's pride wouldn't let her be babied by her "younger sister."
Seol-yoon felt a twinge of jealousy toward Dad.
The only grown-up Seol-ah could lean on.
If I were her big brother, would she cuddle up to me too?
It was heartwarming—maybe a bit embarrassing to witness up close.
As Seol-yoon watched, her eyes met the housekeeper's.
Seol-yoon pressed a finger to her lips: Shh!
"Keep this moment in your memory, okay? Don't bring it up after they sober up, or it'll get awkward."
The second miss really is so mature.
"Then who does Dad cuddle with when he's tired? There's no one more grown-up than Dad! Waaah! That's so sad!"
Seol-ah got it now.
Adults weren't invincible. They got worn out too.
She could cling to Dad, but who did he have?
"I'm fine, sweetie. Seeing you smile gives me all the strength I need."
"Don't act tough! How could that be fine?!"
Seol-ah knew all about it.
Pretending everything was okay, no matter what.
That's what had messed everything up.
Fooled their mom into thinking her eldest was unbreakable.
Normal people couldn't read minds.
If you didn't say you were hurting, lonely, or wronged, they wouldn't know.
The price for that foolish man's constant facade? When the mask finally cracked, Mom turned away.
Denial that her son could be like that, guilt for not noticing until it was too late.
So she ran—and she's still running.
She wasn't here at this table now.
That's why Seol-ah thought:
Someone had to notice Dad's pain too.
A man who never complained must be hurting like hell.
"As long as you're healthy, I'm not hurting at all. Seeing how well you've turned out, Seol-ah—I'm so proud, tears are coming."
"Liar. You're crying 'cause you're hurting."
"No, these are happy tears. I swear."
"Okay, then this time, Sis hugs Dad."
Seol-yoon wedged herself back in.
"It's not embarrassing. We're family—Dads can let their daughters hug them."
Seol-ah thought about it.
Yeah. I want to hug Dad.
So she did.
And then, like a human sandwich, Seol-yoon draped herself over Seol-ah.
"Huh?"
"Sis can hug her little sister too. Family, remember?"
"Oh, yeah?"
"Yep, there you go."
Seemed like it.
If the eldest could hug Dad, the little sister could hug the eldest.
Logically flawless.
Success.
Sis, who usually bolted from hugs, stayed nestled in Seol-yoon's arms for a good long while, buzzed on booze and the mood.
...And the housekeeper watching it all had a face red as a beet.
Why was she the embarrassed one?
How heartwarmingly wholesome was this family?
Everyone except one.
That was their homework to sort out.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "...Haa. Should've stopped while we were ahead."
Waking from the haze made her want to die.
If only she'd blacked out.
I remember clinging to Dad and bawling like a baby...
If she could bash her head against the wall to erase it, she'd do it in a heartbeat.
Girl stuff like this!
Her U.S. trip wasn't just for a clean identity slate.
She'd hoped America's cutting-edge medicine might have a cure.
No dice. Humanity's tech couldn't even touch it.
She'd live out her days like this. Grow old like this.
Do I even age?
Compared to three years ago, she didn't feel a day older.
Her little sister Seol-yoon had shot up, but why was she stuck at this height?
Before all this, she'd towered over 180cm.
Tall to short, short to tall—what kind of disease was this?
Incomprehensible.
Bottom line: she'd live as a woman forever.
But a lifetime of values, personality, self—they didn't flip overnight.
Picture it.
A guy over 180cm hanging off his dad's waist, ugly-crying.
Horrifying.
"What time is it...?"
Her phone—good for nothing but telling time—had a weird text.
Payment complete? Overseas proxy buy?
What the hell did she buy? Drunk shopping?
[Crossdressing/Cosplay Fake Boob Suit (G-Cup): 181,000 won]
What the—?
Did I buy this?
She thought her memory was intact, but apparently a chunk was gone.
No recollection of ordering it.
Where's cancel...?
But... this looks kinda perfect?
For a disguise addict like her—hoodie, sunglasses, mask—this was tempting.
Disguise to avoid eyes, but giant jugs draw them all in!
Hmm, but maybe that's the point? Total misdirection—no one suspects the real her.
As disguise gear, it'd be killer.
Fine, take delivery first.
If it sucks, toss it then.