Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze is Strange
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Creaaaak.
A vast garden unfolded before us as the wide front gate slid open automatically.
The trees were neatly trimmed, and instead of grass on either side of the garden, white pebbles were laid out, giving the feel of stepping into some exhibition space.
"Phew!"
We pulled up in front of the entrance, and before I could even press the intercom, the door swung open on its own.
"Come on in."
I followed Junseok inside, slowly, as he nodded toward the door with a calm smile.
The interior was still impeccably clean and quiet.
Famous paintings hung here and there, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows stretched all the way up, amplifying the sense of space.
It felt less like a house and more like an art gallery.
"Who would've thought the day would come when I'd invite you to my place."
"Didn't I come over because of Yerim before?"
"That was because she was possessed by a ghost at the time."
"And now I'm here because of a ghost too?"
"...Huh, when you put it like that, yeah. Wanna sit and talk anyway?"
They say the setting shapes the person.
Junseok was in comfy training clothes, but today he had this refined young master vibe.
I sat on the sofa opposite him and glanced up at the ceiling.
"Your house never gets less unreal, no matter how many times I see it."
Junseok smirked and slid a teacup he'd prepared toward me with his fingertips.
"What, you keep forgetting I'm a chaebol heir?"
"Yeah, 'cause you're such a pathetic mess around girls."
"Wha—me? Pathetic how?"
I leaned back against the sofa leisurely and continued.
"How's it going with Jiwon?"
"...We're still just getting to know each other."
"You still haven't asked her out?"
"Relationships are supposed to start slow!"
"What if another guy snatches her up in the meantime?"
Junseok swallowed hard at my words.
"Ugh... I'm planning a proper confession soon anyway."
"You're so damn frustrating. You've even met her parents—shouldn't you have confessed ages ago?"
"She's in college. That's why I'm taking it slow—"
"Jesus, you idiot. College means she's an adult. Bet Jiwon thinks you're dragging your feet too."
Junseok set his teacup down gently on the table and ran a hand through his hair.
"I'm just being cautious, that's all."
"Cautious about what?"
"Jiwon's connected to you. Makes me extra careful."
"Idiot... then you shouldn't have started anything in the first place."
Junseok crossed his legs and tilted his head back.
"I'm going nuts from how frustrating it is."
I let out a small chuckle at that.
Then I took a sip of my tea, quietly scanned the room, and asked.
"Anyway, where's Yerim?"
Junseok shrugged both shoulders at my question.
"Beats me."
"You don't live together anymore?"
"We do. She's not home, so probably at the office."
"Bro's unemployed while lil' sis grinds away?"
"U-Unemployed? I'm just on a short break!"
"Might as well learn the business now. Help lighten Yerim's load a bit."
Junseok leaned forward, his face turning serious.
"Staying out of it is how I help her."
"Why?"
"If I jumped into management, it'd stir up all kinds of drama at the company."
"So you're stepping back for Yerim's sake?"
I tilted my head skeptically, and Junseok crossed his arms heavily before speaking.
"That's the excuse I've come up with so far."
"What's the real reason?"
"It's a fucking hassle. Why bust my ass at the company just for more inheritance? I don't wanna burn out and die old."
I gaped at Junseok.
"You're something else."
"Would you take over if you were me?"
"Nah, I hate hassle. That's why we're friends, right?"
"See? We get each other."
We both burst into hearty laughter.
Seemed like a prime example of birds of a feather flocking together.
"Still, she's your sister. Look out for her a bit."
"How am I supposed to do that? If you're so worried, you take care of her."
"I'm not family."
"Become family then."
"...Didn't you give up on that?"
"Can't give up on your misery as a friend."
Junseok waggled his eyebrows playfully.
I shook my head and kept going.
"Marrying Yerim would be less horrifying than becoming family with you."
"You psycho. Anyway, you dating Yujeong?"
"Kinda seeing her right now."
I curved the corner of my eye, and Junseok gave me a dumbfounded look.
"Kinda?"
"Turned out I had zero reasons not to."
"Sounds pretty casual."
"It is for now, but if we click, it could get serious?"
Junseok clapped and let out an impressed whistle.
"Whoa... you've changed, man."
"I've always been like this."
"Not when you were with Kang Jua."
"Why bring her up? Ruining the mood."
"Whatever. Yujeong's friends with Jiwon, so if you're gonna date, do it seriously."
As we chatted about trivial stuff, the tea went cold, leaving just a few cookie crumbs on the table.
I popped one in my mouth and changed the subject.
"Tell me that story again."
"What story?"
I paused mid-chew, locking eyes seriously as I continued.
"The one about seeing a ghost."
Junseok started to laugh but caught the unusual glint in my eyes and straightened up.
He glanced around cautiously, his movements a bit exaggerated but laced with real tension.
"So yeah... I've been really into cooking lately? Joined a cooking class, and there's this one female student."
"And?"
"Her looks don't make sense. Thought she was just normal at first, but the more I looked, the more it hit me—this ain't human."
"Her looks are so unreal she's gotta be a ghost...?"
Junseok waved his hand and spoke quickly.
"There's more! She seems so pure and speaks all soft and quiet, but it feels... contrived? Like she's forcing it?"
I narrowed my eyes and pursed my lips.
"That's it?"
"...Yeah."
"You fuckin' asshole, you serious?"
"I'm dead serious!"
I let out a small sigh.
Closed my eyes in exasperation, rubbed my forehead, then shook it off.
"Wasted my time. Since I'm in Seoul anyway, let's grab drinks."
I slowly rose from the sofa and brushed off my pants with my palm.
Less dusting myself off, more shaking away the remnants of this ridiculous conversation—a little protest.
"Hey! If you saw her yourself, you'd get what I mean!"
"The way you describe it, every female celeb's a ghost."
"She was way prettier than any celeb!"
"Then hit on her yourself."
"She actually asked me out for drinks."
I froze at Junseok's words, then quietly walked back and plopped down on the soft cushion.
I tapped the table with my finger and asked again.
"Hold up. A girl prettier than a celeb... asked you out for drinks? Alone?"
"Wh-Why're you suddenly so serious?"
"'Cause it's weird."
Junseok frowned in confusion.
His lips twitched down slightly, eyebrows knitting together just a bit.
His eyes even seemed tinged with self-loathing.
"Sigh... Yeah, even I thought it was off."
"So? What'd you do?"
"Just felt sketchy, y'know? Said next time and just swapped numbers."
He stroked his jawline gently with his fingertips as he went on.
"Hmm... A drop-dead gorgeous girl asking you out alone? Gotta be either a scammer or a ghost."
Junseok's face crumpled the second I finished speaking.
His eyes darted wildly as he glared at me, then he clutched the cushion with both hands.
"...Wanna die? Cut it out."
His face was a mix of light embarrassment and frustration—exactly as expected.
I couldn't help but snort with laughter.
"You maniac, can't even take a joke?"
"Sigh... I was being serious."
"Anyway, you two still texting?"
"Y-Yeah..."
"Fuckin' explains why you haven't sealed the deal with Jiwon."
"No, you psycho! And get this—the cooking class had four guys including me."
"Yeah?"
"Went yesterday, and all three quit outta nowhere. Weird, right?"
It was definitely weird.
Forgetting the drinks invite for a sec, three guys dropping the class at once?
If it was a fairy seducing humans, the pieces fit.
I nodded heavily.
"...Yeah, that's suspicious."
Bzzz.
Bzzz.
Junseok's phone rang right then.
He checked the caller ID and whipped his head toward me.
"I-It’s her! That girl’s calling!"
Could be pure coincidence, but we had to check.
I stared down at the ringing phone, then looked at Junseok.
"...Hey, ask her to meet up now."