Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze is Strange
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"Shall we have a drink?"
In the awkward atmosphere, I lifted my glass, and Yerim glanced back and forth between me and Junseok before speaking up.
"But... did something happen?"
"...Huh?"
"The vibe feels off."
'That's because you showed up out of nowhere.' I barely swallowed those words and forced an awkward smile.
"Haha! Junseok and I were just having a serious talk earlier, so the mood got a bit weird."
"What serious talk? Something I can't hear?"
"Nah... just chatting about our futures."
I brushed it off vaguely, but Junseok shot me a look and mouthed something.
As if reading minds, he'd been mouthing 'Sorry' nonstop since earlier. I gritted my teeth and spoke up.
"Junseok... you're not drinking?"
"Ah, my stomach's not feeling great."
"Yeah? What's wrong with your stomach?"
Then Yerim took a sip of her drink and fixed Junseok with a cold stare.
"Must be because I'm here—it's twisting your gut, right?"
Junseok's face twisted in frustration at her words, and he raised his voice.
"Hey! You know whose fault it is that my head's pounding?!"
"Why are you blaming me? You just tripped out of nowhere."
Junseok had flung open the front door without a second thought at the knock, assuming it was me. But when Yerim popped up unexpectedly, he got such a shock that he toppled right over. That's why his head still hurt from the fall.
"Is your head okay?"
At my question, Junseok rubbed the back of his head and stood up.
"I'm dizzy, so I'm gonna step out for some air."
With that, he headed out the door. Suddenly, it was just Yerim and me alone.
'Hey, you're sorry, but then you bail? Come on.'
Anyway.
Isn't she busy?
Junseok might be the spare heir at home, but Yerim's supposed to take over the company someday... yet here she is, casually drinking in the countryside?
'...Have I watched too many dramas?'
In dramas, heirs in line for the top spot are always swamped with successor training. Sure, they squeeze in some romance with the heroine, but I'd always thought that felt disconnected from real life.
Smoothly, I tilted my head up to look at Yerim.
She definitely looked healthier than last time. I slowly raised my glass.
"Another round?"
"...Sure."
Clink—
With Junseok gone, the awkwardness thickened. After a couple silent exchanges, Yerim spoke first, slowly.
"I heard you're starting a business?"
"Oh... right, Junseok said you saw me in Seoul?"
"He must've told you."
"Junseok and I don't keep secrets from each other."
Yerim pouted a little before lifting her head.
"Those women... business associates?"
"Yeah. It was sudden, though."
"But they're funny."
"How so?"
"Why call you to a host bar?"
Yerim seemed extra curious today. Maybe because I basically saved her life, she was worried?
I crossed my arms heavily and gave a faint smile.
"Yerim."
"Yeah?"
"You wouldn't get it."
"...Get what?"
"Yeoksan Group doesn't need to kiss up to anyone."
"......"
"For other businesspeople, getting called to a place like that is normal. It was just an entertaining spot anyway."
Yerim looked a bit shocked at my words, took a shot of soju, and continued.
"Still feels off. Their intentions are too obvious."
"What intentions?"
"Trying to make a move on you."
"If they were making a move, would they call me to a host bar? They'd pick somewhere more discreet."
"...So where'd you go after getting in the car?"
"They dropped me home. I hadn't brought my car that day."
"You just went straight home in their car?"
"Yeah."
Yerim let out a short sigh, pursed her lips like she was deep in thought, then turned her gaze back to me.
"Can I ask what kind of business?"
"...Huh?"
"It's not illegal or anything you can't tell me, right?"
"W-Well, yeah."
"Then spill."
It was reasonable for her to worry, so I organized my thoughts and spoke carefully.
"Nothing's set in stone. I just went to talk about potential business ideas."
"...When are you coming to Seoul next?"
"Why Seoul?"
"I'll hook you up with a job."
"Haha... I'm good."
"Does it hurt your pride if I find you work?"
I adjusted my posture at her words and continued.
"It's not that. I plan to stay here and work."
"Not hard."
"...What?"
"Anyway, contact me when you come up next time."
I wanted to politely decline, but her gaze made it impossible. She really wanted to repay the favor. With a short sigh, I reluctantly nodded.
"Got it. But it's okay if I call out of the blue?"
"Fine by me."
"...But I'm not staying in Seoul long-term?"
"I'll find something that works for that."
Jobs don't just fall from the sky—what's with the confidence? Well, Yeoksan Group could probably create a position out of thin air...
"You're not saying join Yeoksan Group, right?"
She hesitated at my words, narrowing her brows slightly at me.
"Does our Yeoksan Group seem that sloppy?"
"No, I just thought since you sounded so sure, it'd be something tied to Yeoksan."
"You can't commute to our company every day from here."
"...True."
"I'll handle it, so don't worry—just call. If you don't..."
She trailed off, then met my eyes clearly to finish.
"I'll keep showing up at your house."
She seemed like the type who couldn't sleep if she didn't repay a debt. That photo in Seoul could snowball into a butterfly effect. Better accept for now. That way, she wouldn't pull more stunts to "repay" me.
"Okay."
I nodded, and she lifted her glass, satisfied.
Clink—
After that, conversation dried up. Only the occasional clink of soju glasses echoed in the living room. To cut the awkwardness, I forced a soft smile.
"By the way, aren't you gonna ask?"
"Huh?"
"I figured you'd ask how I exorcised the ghost."
"Oh... thanks again for that."
"Didn't ask for thanks."
"I know. You're not the type to brag."
Bzzz.
Bzzz.
As I was about to continue, a short notification pinged from my phone on the table. I picked it up absentmindedly. KakaoTalk message from Junseok.
Seo Junseok: Head's spinning too much, can't do this. Heading back to Seoul first. Sorry.
'Son of a bitch!'
Before I could mutter it aloud, I shot up from my seat. Soju splashed onto my knee from the glass, but I didn't care. Ignoring Yerim's startled reaction, I bolted to the entrance, shoved on my shoes roughly, and burst out the door.
'He really left...?'
It was already dim evening outside. Streetlights glowed brightly along the road, but Junseok's car was gone from the alley.
I took a step, then two, scanning left and right. Nothing.
Rubbing my forehead, curses slipped out.
"Ha... fuck... crazy bastard?"
I wandered into the middle of the road, looking around, then stopped in futility. Catching my breath, I pressed a hand to my chest.
'Hurt guy's driving...?'
Only Yerim was left inside now. And we'd both been drinking—no way either of us could drive.
'No way...?'
Suddenly, Junseok's words came back. That insane promise to hook me up with his little sister no matter what. I'd laughed it off then, but was he serious?
'Ha... this is insane.'
I called him a few times, then headed back inside. Yerim, arm on the table, turned to ask.
"What? Something wrong?"
Still breathless, I scowled, veins bulging in my neck.
"That crazy bastard Junseok said his head hurt and took off to Seoul! Won't even pick up."
For a split second, Yerim's eyebrow twitched. Her expression froze briefly, but I caught the subtle shift. Her shoulders tensed slightly, and her fingers trembled on the glass.
'Yerim's uncomfortable too, huh?'
No matter that she was a friend, we were still a man and a woman alone. Costly, but maybe call a designated driver.
'Wonder how much that'll run...'
As I stepped forward to suggest it, Yerim took a deep breath, slowly raised her head, and looked at me again.
"...So what?"