Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze is Strange
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Before long, the barbecue joint was buzzing with after-work crowds, the ceiling thick with meat smoke.
I gripped the tongs in one hand, flipping the meat while trying to play the gracious matchmaker.
"This is my little sister from back home, Ye Jiwon. She's in college in Seoul right now."
At that, Jiwon-i nodded politely and spoke up.
"Oh, let me introduce my friend too. This is Yang Yujeong. We got close recently while working on a group project. She's someone I really lean on here in Seoul these days."
Yang Yujeong had a kind face.
Her eye smile was clear and bright, her eyes innocent like any twenty-year-old's.
She bowed naturally.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Han Haeseong."
"Oh, hi... Um, is it okay if I join you today?"
"Just think of it as crashing for some free meat. That guy's covering the bill anyway."
I pointed at Junseok with my chopsticks, and Yujeong gave a soft smile.
I turned my gaze to Jiwon-i right away.
"This guy's Seo Junseok, a college buddy of mine. FYI, he's the nicest out of all my friends."
Junseok raised his glass with a sly grin.
"Introducing myself in front of such pretty ladies has me shaking already. Haha! I'm Seo Junseok. Haeseong and I've been tangled up since college."
Seo Junseok was overdoing it again.
I pinched his thigh lightly and whispered low.
"Go easy on the drinks tonight."
"Got it."
Just then, Jiwon-i caught the vibe quick and smiled as she said,
"You two seem really close. Anyway, Oppa, you just got back today?"
"Yeah, up for work for a bit."
"Work?"
Junseok slung his arm over my shoulder and raised his voice.
"Yujeong, right?"
"...Yes?"
"This guy shot a print ad with actress Cha Seola today."
"R-Really?"
"He's my friend, but I've always been jealous of how handsome and built he is. Hearing he did an ad with Cha Seola? My stomach's in knots!"
I stared at Junseok blankly.
No wonder the guy's still single.
What man hypes up his friend at a meet-cute?
To keep the mood from shifting my way, I looked at Jiwon-i and spoke.
"You know I got divorced, right?"
"Yeah..."
"After that, I got social anxiety and started dodging all my friends on purpose."
"R-Really?"
"But Junseok showed up at my dad's funeral without a word—even though I hadn't reached out—and stuck around till the end."
"Wow... He's a really good friend."
I'd joked earlier about 'me playing too,' but tonight was clearly for Junseok and Jiwon-i.
Time to shine as the matchmaker.
"Alright, everyone—cheers?"
Clink—
Five empty soju bottles littered the table before we knew it.
A faint buzz tickled my neck, laughter spilling from our table across the whole shop.
"Oppa, I'll grill these."
Jiwon-i shot up and grabbed the tongs.
Normally the type to just watch and pour water or drinks, but with some booze in her, she was surprisingly bold tonight.
I chuckled and opened my mouth.
"Nah, I've got it."
"It's fine. I like grilling. You get better with practice."
Jiwon-i flipped the meat like a pro and turned to Junseok.
"Junseok Oppa, what cuts do you like? Fatty ones? Or lean?"
"I go with whatever the grill master's serving."
"...Pardon?"
"Anything you grill will taste amazing."
Junseok's usual flirt was so familiar it didn't even faze me anymore.
But seeing Jiwon-i laugh for real at it made my chest tickle oddly.
The air between them felt cozy, and if the vibe held, tonight could be a great memory.
Smooth.
Meanwhile, Yujeong was quieter.
Still, she timed her reactions perfectly, flowing with the group, flashing a faint smile whenever our eyes met.
"I... need the bathroom."
"Sure."
As Yujeong stepped away, Jiwon-i leaned toward me like she'd been waiting.
"Oppa, what do you think of Yujeong?"
"...Huh?"
I froze solid.
My chopsticks halted mid-air, the meat chunk dangling forgotten.
"What do you think of Yujeong?"
"...Out of nowhere?"
I blinked, and Jiwon-i giggled, pouring me a shot with her free hand.
"Just... Yujeong's a great girl. I think she'd suit you..."
"She's nice, sure... But tonight's for you and Junseok."
Jiwon-i glanced at Junseok, her face flushing, then back at me.
"Guess you're not looking to date yet, Oppa."
I peeked at Junseok—he was pinching his thigh to stifle a laugh.
Having seen me in a threesome with women, his reaction made sense.
I shoved the meat in my mouth and chewed fast.
Needed a fake cough to play it off.
"Ahem! Nah, everyone finds love in their own time."
"Yujeong's popular at school too. Though she thinks most guys are meh."
"Why?"
"Guys our age seem immature to her, I guess."
"Ah... Yeah, that happens."
"But she kept smiling at you, Oppa. That's rare for her."
"...Am I that funny-looking?"
I scratched my head and grinned awkwardly; Jiwon-i sighed long.
"Sigh... You're hopeless. If now's not the time for you, nothing I can do."
I let my gaze drift, then slowly lifted my shot.
Time to settle my gut with alcohol.
Dating, huh...
Honestly, my ties with fairies, ghosts, even the Jade Emperor felt different from real romance.
Meeting someone properly through an intro? Still daunting.
If it worked out, it'd mean 'responsibility.'
Am I a trash for thinking that?
No qualms about hookups, but commitment? Nah.
Kang Jua's scars must still run deep.
I straightened up with a grin.
"Look at you, Jiwon-i—all grown up, looking out for Oppa."
"Th-That's not—"
"But more chatting with Junseok tonight might be better than worrying about me?"
I shrugged, and Jiwon-i's face went tomato-red.
Junseok, who'd been listening quietly, rubbed his cheek.
"Honestly? I like this side of Jiwon-i."
"Oh ho, taking her side already?"
"She's got your back."
"...True enough."
"Drink?"
"Yeah."
Clink—
Yujeong returned just as I downed a shot.
She wiped her hands with a wet wipe and sat carefully.
That's when Jiwon-i rubbed her belly and said,
"Ah, I want chocolate milk."
Random chocolate milk craving from Jiwon-i.
Junseok jumped up like he'd been waiting.
"I-I'll get it!"
I blinked at his sudden move.
"...You? Getting chocolate milk?"
"It's cool. Need to clear my head anyway, get some air."
She really caught his eye?
I smiled warmly, and Jiwon-i stood from her seat too.
"I'll go with you, Oppa!"
With that, they headed side-by-side to the door.
I stared blankly at their backs until the door clicked shut, snapping me awake.
Table held half-empty soju bottles, a few dried-up meat scraps.
And awkward air.
"Oppa... you were the matchmaker tonight, right?"
"Kinda... But they're hitting it off, so nothing left for me to do."
"Ah, I see."
"I'm not the type to force the mood anyway."
"Mm, still—thanks to Jiwon-i, I got to meet you. She always tells me to make new connections."
I crossed my arms heavy and spoke.
"At your age, meet lots of people."
"Sure, but managing them all sounds like a hassle."
"Already?"
"What? Don't I seem weird to you, Oppa?"
"Everyone's got their style, but meeting more now hones your eye for people later."
"I can tell good from bad without meeting tons."
Yujeong sipped her soju nonchalantly.
A fresh twenty-year-old talking like she'd seen it all? Just cute.
"Am I a bad guy?"
"Pfft, we've known each other two hours—how should I know?"
Talking to Yujeong felt less awkward than expected.
Or maybe just easier than at first?
A few eye contacts, light jokes—words lingered even without laughs.
Bzzz.
Bzzz.
My gaze dropped instantly.
As I reached for my pocket phone, Yujeong's handbag buzzed at the same time.
She glanced at me, opened her bag, pulled out her phone.
We both bowed over our screens.
One new message, lit up right away.
From Seo Junseok.