Chapter 171: Maintenance Time (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 171: Maintenance Time (4)
It was the same during the Break Line incident.
Come to think of it, that was also a day I was working overtime to recruit heroes.
I had stepped out for a quick meal before heading back when a man who had been lurking in front of the clan office approached me in a fit of rage.
He had thrown a hysterical tantrum before storming off alone. I thought Han Ju-hee had broken up with him then since she didn't even try to stop him, but it turned out they were still dating.
Why on earth couldn't a woman like Han Ju-hee break up with a guy like that?
He had a clean, decent enough face, but his foul personality was enough to make anyone sick.
Back then, he had spoken rudely to me, which had made Han Ju-hee snap.
Even so, he had left without a single word of apology, acting as if he hadn't done anything wrong.
Does everyone have different "trigger buttons"? Did he just happen to look like a madman that one time?
"You, I told you to stay away from Ju-hee, didn't I? I’m going to expose you on the internet as a guy who leads women on. I bet your fans will love that."
Even if that were the case, just looking at that smirking face made me lose all respect for him.
Is Han Ju-hee a saint or something?
"Hwang Do-hoon! What do you think you're doing?"
"That’s my line! Are you having fun using overtime as an excuse to hook up with this guy?! You’re just like all the other women, damn it. You see a pretty face and you’re dying to get into his pants."
I wish Han Ju-hee would actually do that.
She’s the type to draw a clear line even when we’re close, so despite being the person I’ve known the longest, our relationship remains exactly the same.
"Do-hoon, I told you it’s not like that. And since I’m in charge of Black Unicorn’s affairs, Yeon-woo is practically my boss."
"Oh, sure, sure. 'Yeon-woo.' That’s how 'office husbands' are made. You’re practically glued to him under the guise of work."
What the hell is an "office husband"?
At Hwang Do-hoon’s words, Han Ju-hee let out a hollow laugh, looking utterly dumbfounded.
"You think Yeon-woo works with me? Yeon-woo is a busy man just with his hero activities; you’d know that if you just looked at the internet. Don't talk nonsense about an 'office husband.'"
Wait, is he talking about an "office wife"?
Maybe it’s because I’m used to the terms from my previous world, but the phrasing didn't quite roll off the tongue.
Hwang Do-hoon sneered with an infuriating expression that made me want to punch him.
"Oh—if he’s so busy, shouldn't he be out there hunting monsters? Why is he hanging out with someone irrelevant like you? Can't you see your logic doesn't hold up?"
There it is—the classic "insisting he's right" move.
The media has been buzzing about Black Unicorn recruiting members, and since he’s her boyfriend, he should know exactly what Han Ju-hee’s job entails. So how am I irrelevant?
To say Han Ju-hee’s words lack logic... at this point, I have to question his intelligence.
Han Ju-hee just stood there, her mouth agape in disbelief.
It seemed she had lost all confidence in trying to persuade him since he refused to listen.
"You think I’m just going to sit back? Once I go public with this, you’re finished."
"Stop pointing your finger at Yeon-woo."
"You won't even take your boyfriend's side, just 'Yeon-woo, Yeon-woo.' You’re making a fool of yourself. Did you sleep with him?"
I wish.
You should realize how lucky you are to have a girlfriend like her. And maybe show some gratitude.
At Hwang Do-hoon’s question about whether she slept with me, Han Ju-hee’s expression turned ice-cold.
Hwang Do-hoon flinched for a moment under her gaze, but his big mouth started flapping again soon enough.
"Caught red-handed and you still won't apologize. Do you even love me?"
However, Han Ju-hee’s face remained cold.
After staring at Hwang Do-hoon in silence, she began to speak in a calm voice.
"Why on earth do you doubt me? We cleared up all the misunderstandings back then."
"It wasn't a misunderstanding."
"Yes, it was. Did you think I didn't know you’ve been sneaking around the clan office to spy on me leaving work?"
Whoa, that’s actually creepy.
Hwang Do-hoon, who had committed such a spine-chilling act out of what seemed like pathological jealousy, widened his eyes in panic.
"W-when did I ever... You’re just changing the subject because you’re losing."
"Should I show you the CCTV records? This is Square Garden. Did you think security wouldn't be tight? Do you have any idea how many times I’ve had to bow my head and apologize to the security guards?"
At the mention of evidence, Hwang Do-hoon shut his mouth, his eyes darting around nervously.
"Even when you snuck around the clan, even when I had to apologize to the guards, I endured it. I thought it would be okay as long as you cleared your misunderstandings that way. And what’s the result of your spying for over half a year? Today? I’ve worked with the hero I’m in charge of for over six months, and we’re going to eat together once, and this is what you call an 'office husband'?"
Han Ju-hee went on a long explanation.
I'm sorry, I'll make sure to have a company dinner with the staff soon.
For some reason, her words made me feel guilty enough to lower my head too.
However, Hwang Do-hoon didn't seem to feel guilty at all, as he tilted his head back defiantly.
"You probably hid it well because you knew I was coming."
Seriously, if I weren't a hero, I would have decked this guy.
Isn't there a villain passing by? I’ll look the other way for a second, so please just kick him in the shins.
It was truly impressive how he insisted he was right until the very end, refusing to back down.
If it were me, I’d be too embarrassed to even speak, yet he stood there with such a confident face.
Taking a deep breath, Han Ju-hee gave me a polite bow.
"I’m sorry, Yeon-woo. Could we do dinner another time?"
"Yes, that’s fine. Don't worry about me."
"I’m truly sorry about today. I’ll have a proper talk with Do-hoon... Sigh... with that guy, so don't worry about the photo he just took."
"I’m not worried. I don't care if he posts it on the internet. Don't worry about me and take care of your own situation, Ju-hee."
Ignoring Hwang Do-hoon, who was still shouting in the background, I finished the conversation and left the area.
...That piece of work.
When I looked back while walking away, Hwang Do-hoon was staring at me with a cocky expression as if he had won.
You really did meet a great girlfriend.
Because if it weren't for Han Ju-hee, your shinbone would be snapped by now.
*
The next day, as I was about to head to the clan office, I received a message from Lee Yu-na.
[Yeon-woo, please check the internet.]
She sent a link along with it, but I knew what it was without even checking.
After staring at the message for a moment, I clicked the link, which led to an online community.
[My lover is having an affair with a hero]
I’ve been dating my girlfriend for about three years.
We’ve lived together for about a year, and I’ve been supporting her while preparing for employment.
My girlfriend always comes home late because she’s busy with work,
But I stay at home, cleaning for her and being considerate and understanding.
...?
You’re the one preparing for a job, but you’re the one supporting her?
His concept of "supporting" seems to be different from mine.
After that, he went on and on, explaining in detail how hard he works for his girlfriend—no, for Han Ju-hee.
But if he’s freeloading at Han Ju-hee’s place, shouldn't cleaning or taking out the trash be a matter of basic courtesy?
The fact that he wrote about doing the recycling as if he were incredibly proud of himself made it obvious what the rest of his behavior was like.
But it turns out she wasn't actually busy with work.
She lied about working overtime every day
And was meeting a famous hero everyone knows.
While telling me she was working overtime lolololol
I had my suspicions every time she came home late,
But I trusted her.
Still, when I’d get too anxious and ask her gently,
She’d just brush it off and say it wasn't true.
How could she be so shameless lololol
Turns out they’ve been seeing each other since they were in Clan B.
Now they’re in Clan S, doing very well for themselves.
But she only moved there to follow the hero she’s cheating with.
I’m so speechless lolololol
Well... I think I’ve read enough.
How did he write such a long-winded piece of fiction?
As I scrolled all the way down, he posted a photo, claiming to expose a hero who wears a mask of kindness in front of people while leading women on behind their backs.
What else could it be? It was the photo taken yesterday when I was going to eat with Han Ju-hee.
At least he had the decency to blur Han Ju-hee’s face since she’s his girlfriend.
He’s determined to hold onto Han Ju-hee while screwing me over.
Since this is a world where people believe men should be modest and virtuous, I expected something like this might happen, but I didn't expect to be accused of stealing someone else’s lover.
I scratched my head and headed into the clan office.
As soon as I arrived, people I ran into asked me if it was true.
Fortunately, the atmosphere wasn't bad.
Instead of whispering behind my back or spreading rumors among themselves, they came right up and asked me.
The fact that they asked me directly meant they trusted me more.
"That’s Ju-hee. We were working so late on recruitment yesterday that we went to grab a bite, and her boyfriend misunderstood."
"Oh? You’re right. I didn't realize because the face was blurred, but looking closely, it is Ju-hee."
"The boyfriend was way too hasty. But we should probably do something about this before it gets out of hand."
The clan members nodded in understanding as soon as they heard it was Han Ju-hee.
People who know me don't fall for posts like that.
Han Ju-hee has a good image, and since I get along so well with everyone, if a photo of me just being with someone was enough to incite people, there would already be hundreds of such posts.
I get along with fans, members, clan staff, and even the neighborhood elders like a friendly neighbor without any ulterior motives.
There are already thousands of photos of me alone with various people on the internet.
Still, I should probably do something as they advised.
In the Black Unicorn strategy room, which still lacked furniture, the members gathered to talk.
They already knew it was Han Ju-hee and had even identified that the photo was taken yesterday based on my clothes.
It was a bit scary how they had already analyzed the photo and grasped the entire situation.
"Surprisingly, there’s been no call from the Clan Leader."
"Unni doesn't interfere in private matters."
Is that so? If this were Break Line, things would be in total chaos by now.
No matter how private it is, if a hero’s image takes a hit, the clan suffers too.
No matter how I look at it, they’re definitely just leaving it be.
"Before we decide what to do, let’s get one thing straight."
"Did you sleep with Han Ju-hee?"
Since all the members here have slept with me, it was a valid suspicion.
When I shook my head, Yoon A-young surprisingly believed me easily and nodded.
Should I be glad she trusts me, or should I be embarrassed that she thinks I’m the type to be open about it and therefore wouldn't lie?
"Should we take action at the clan level? At this rate, only Yeon-woo’s image will suffer."
"Aren't we overreacting?"
"No. Analyzing the comments, we’ve confirmed organized movements where the same IDs are moving between articles to leave malicious comments."
Lee Yu-na shook her head, informing us of the severity of the situation.
Does Hwang Do-hoon have the ability to mobilize people?
"It’s probably Hanseong Group. Tarnishing your image could give them even a slight advantage in the trial."
"And Oppa has a lot of enemies."
Those were points I couldn't argue with.
Now that they’ve caught a scent, they’ll cling to it no matter what.
"I’m on Leader’s side."
Anna cheered me on with her clear eyes.
Aw, how cute. I patted her head while continuing the conversation with the other two about what to do.
We talked a lot, but in the end, it seemed the only options were a clan-level explanation and legal action.
"Is this the time to be on social media?"
Lee Yu-na scolded Kwon Ye-jin, who hadn't said a word and was just staring at her smartphone.
Come to think of it, why was the girl who should be the loudest being so quiet?
Kwon Ye-jin lowered her phone with a relaxed expression and smirked.
"I’m an influencer."
"You mean Black Unicorn is. And what does that have to do with anything right now?"
"Influencers have their own way of fighting."
"...Wait, what did you just do? You should have consulted us before starting something. What are you doing?"
Startled, Lee Yu-na grabbed Kwon Ye-jin’s hand to check her phone.
After scanning the screen with wide eyes, Lee Yu-na’s face turned serious, and she silently began to scroll down.
What is it? Let me see too.
Sensing the change in atmosphere, Yoon A-young also got curious and leaned in to look at the phone together.
"This... might actually work."
"Right? I was getting annoyed by all the messages coming to my account, so I tried posting once, and everyone loved it."
Kwon Ye-jin looked at me with a smile.
"Master, you’re having an affair with me too."
"...What are you talking about?"
"Then you’re having an affair with me as well."
Lee Yu-na giggled as she started fiddling with her own phone, and Yoon A-young quietly picked up hers too.
Hey, tell me what’s going on before you do it.