Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze is Strange
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"No, if Junseok isn't here, it'll just be the two of us—"
"Doesn't matter. It's better if he's not."
With those words, Yerim suddenly sat up.
She pulled two cans of beer and a bottle of soju from the fridge, then quietly made her way back.
Her movements flowed as naturally as water.
As if she'd done it a hundred times before—familiar and practiced, like she'd planned it all along.
"What are you doing...?"
I asked cautiously, and Yerim just waved a hand dismissively.
"Now that the nuisance is gone, time for a little mood booster."
"...Huh?"
Yerim poured the canned beer into a glass, then gripped the soju bottle and twisted her wrist.
No idea where she learned it, but she spun the bottle a few times before popping the cap with a crisp crack.
She filled the glass to the one-third mark with soju, then briskly wiped her palms clean.
"Perfect."
Yerim muttered to herself.
Her eyes were different from before.
The quiet vibe had vanished, replaced by a spark of life—maybe that's how to put it?
A mischievous glint played across her face, and the corners of her mouth curved up just a touch.
'She's not drunk already, is she?'
I tilted my head and studied her face more closely.
Her eyes were too clear for that.
I ventured carefully.
"Why the sudden somac...?"
Yerim pushed the clear glass toward me.
"The intruder's gone."
"Intruder?"
"Being around him makes it hard to breathe."
"Still, he was really worried when you were sick."
"...If he gets sick, I'll worry about him then."
It really felt like they were fraternal twins.
This was straight out of some drama or movie—the picture-perfect sibling dynamic.
"You two are like family."
"Family? What do you mean?"
"You act like you're ready to devour each other most days."
"That's just because we're biologically siblings."
"...Isn't that the same thing?"
"No!"
Thud!
Yerim slammed her glass down on the table.
I flinched and pulled back.
"D-Did I say something wrong...?"
"You did."
"What?"
"Family doesn't act like they're about to eat each other."
Was she drunk?
I couldn't keep up with her conversation at all.
I shook my head to clear it, tilting it in confusion.
"You and Junseok are family, right?"
"Siblings."
"Aren't siblings family?"
I made a face full of question marks, and Yerim downed her somac in one gulp before speaking.
"Do you know who the man I despise most?"
"No idea."
"A guy who badmouths his wife after they get married."
"...Huh?"
"Especially one who says he doesn't sleep with her because they're family."
"Ah... 'It's not something families do' kind of thing?"
"Yeah."
"But what does that have to do with our conversation?"
Yerim looked me straight in the eye.
"To me, family means people who cherish and love each other."
I had no clue.
Whether Yerim was drunk or just always a bit off-kilter mentally.
But I got the gist.
Her idea of 'family' was pretty different from mine.
"So Grandpa's family?"
"He is."
"Junseok's your brother?"
"Sibling."
"And you're drunk?"
"...I'm not."
"Haha... just kidding."
"Not funny."
Chatting with Yerim had my throat parched too.
I tossed back my somac in one go and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.
"...I'll cover the designated driver fee."
A brief silence.
Yerim's hand froze, her expression hardening in an instant.
"Why?"
"Well, with Junseok gone, staying over alone might feel—"
"...Afraid I'll eat you alive?"
"Th-That's not what I meant..."
"Then what did you mean?"
Yerim gripped her glass, eyes locked on mine without flinching.
I couldn't predict how she'd take any explanation.
I took a deep breath and continued.
"It could just feel awkward, you know? A guy and a girl alone together."
"...So you see me as a woman?"
"Do you look like a guy? Obviously you're a woman."
Her expression froze at those words.
Then a flush crept over her still face.
Her cheek tips warmed first, spreading from her earlobes down her neck and across her cheeks.
"...Kang Jua."
"K-Kang Jua?"
"Why'd you marry her?"
Where was this conversation even headed?
The sudden mention of Kang Jua had me blinking in surprise.
"Why ask that?"
"Just curious. Why you ever thought of marrying her."
"Well, I loved her back then, so I did."
"...No lingering feelings now?"
"None. Not a shred."
Yerim suddenly clutched her glass and lifted it without a word.
She didn't sip—didn't even take two.
She threw her head back and drained it completely.
"...I don't usually drink soju, but it's sweet tonight."
"Should've prepped some wine?"
"How'd you know I like wine?"
"Junseok mentioned it once. Said you play classy at home sometimes, sipping wine alone."
This time, her face reddened differently—flustered, she coughed repeatedly.
"Ahem! Anyway, no driver."
"Why?"
"Driver fees are a waste of money."
"...What?"
I couldn't believe my ears.
She'd definitely said 'waste of money'.
'The Yeoksan Group heiress... pinching pennies on a driver?'
Heir to a household name.
The kind who could shampoo with champagne and not blink.
And she's skimping on a driver fee?
'What the hell? A joke?'
I stifled a disbelieving chuckle, keeping my face neutral.
No need to upset her over nothing.
"I said I'd pay for it."
"Your money's still money."
"True, but..."
"Plus, didn't you say you're job hunting? Seoul's a haul from here—driver fees add up."
She'd been rambling nonsense about family earlier, but now she was sharp as a tack.
I sighed softly, eyeing her.
"Sigh... Even if I don't have as much as you, I can swing a driver fee."
"And in this scary world, you'd send me off alone with some random driver to Seoul?"
I rarely lost arguments, but somehow, I couldn't counter this.
I leaned back in my chair.
"Do whatever."
"Smart choice. Better to let me crash than regret it forever if something happens."
"Fine, got it."
I gave up and raised my glass.
After three more somacs, Yerim's words grew short and slow, her eyes glazing over.
'Time to tuck her in.'
Her body slumped against the chair.
A far cry from the relentless barrage she'd unleashed moments ago.
I stood, draping her arm over my shoulder, and carefully lifted her up.
"...Where? You said no driver..."
"No, just walking you to your room. You look beat."
Relieved, Seo Yerim went limp.
Still light as a feather.
One shoulder was enough to carry her whole frame.
"Lights out!"
I laid her gently on the spare room bed and turned to leave.
'Whew...'
Was it the high difficulty of today's chat with Yerim?
Back in my room, lying on the bed, I felt exponentially more exhausted than usual.
Anyway.
What kind of job was she planning to hook me up with?
She'd already set it up, so backing out would be awkward.
Best to play along, then bow out if it didn't fit.
"Oh! Right!"
I sat up abruptly, locking the bedroom door.
Yerim wouldn't barge in, but ever since that Fairy of the Law incident, it was habit now.
Thud.
My head hit the pillow, the blanket's edge tickling my cheek.
Faint fridge hum from the living room, wind brushing past the window—my eyelids slowly drooped.
'Finally, some peace...'
Yerim's image flitted through my mind.
Her flushed face, awkward smile, voice griping about driver fees.
The more I thought, the more I chuckled.
She's one of a kind.
Wears a mask but can't hide her feelings.
'Still... sweet dreams.'
With that, I slipped into sleep's embrace.
Eyelids heavy, consciousness blurring.
But.
♬♪♬
The doorbell echoed through the living room.
My eyes snapped open in shock.
Still groggy.
Half-rising from bed, kicking off the covers, reality finally sank in.
Glancing at the clock—it was morning already.
'Who at this hour...?'
Rubbing my eyes, I headed to the living room.
The intercom screen blinked; I touched it, and a fuzzy camera feed appeared.
One familiar face.
'Seo Junseok?'
I narrowed my eyes at the screen.
Frowning deeply, eyes tinged with irritation.
'Worried about his sister after all, huh?'
Blood's thicker than water.
Grinning at his face, I opened the front door.
"Back already? Missing your sis or—"
I'd cracked a joke mid-sentence when shock glued my mouth open.
He wasn't alone.