Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze is Strange
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"Is the food to your liking?"
"...Yes, it's delicious."
"Eat slowly."
What the hell is this situation?
I have no idea either.
I'd put on an Oscar-worthy performance at the birthday party at Seo Yerim's request.
After weathering Jang Seohee's scrutiny, I was thrilled at the thought of savoring a victory feast...
So how the hell did it come to this?!
Swish—
I picked up the spoon again and cautiously lifted my head.
There was Seo Yerim, wearing an expression like she was sorry enough to die, and across from her, the old man seated in the chair, gazing intently at me.
It was Seo Geonchang, the famed chairman of Yeoksan Group.
Ha...
No wonder his face had seemed oddly familiar—he looked exactly like the one I'd seen on the news since childhood.
How had he ended up at Jang Seohee's birthday party?
And how had I ended up following him all the way back to his house?
My discomfort must have shown, because Chairman Seo cleared his throat and fixed his gaze on me once more.
"Have you finished eating?"
No, was this old man going senile or something?
How could anyone look at my plate and think I'd finished?
Though, granted, the atmosphere was so suffocating I hadn't even thought about filling my stomach.
I set down the spoon and mustered an awkward smile.
"Yes, thank you for the meal."
"...So, you're Junseok's friend?"
"Yes. After Junseok asked me to, I attended the party with Yerim."
There was no reason to hide the truth.
Since I'd already gone to the party and upheld my end of the deal, and spinning some flimsy excuse to Chairman Seo might just invite unnecessary misunderstandings.
"I heard you and Yerim are college classmates... Did you know that Junseok and Yerim are family?"
"I only found out recently that Yerim and Junseok are twins."
"I see... So, what do you do? I noticed earlier you're driving a car that doesn't quite match your age."
At Chairman Seo's words, Seo Yerim jumped in surprise and raised her voice.
"Gr-Grandpa! He's just a friend."
"Are you saying I can't even ask a question like that of my granddaughter's friend?"
"That's not it... but it might put my friend in a tough spot."
"Ha... This is why they say doting on grandkids is pointless."
"That's not what I mean..."
It felt like I was a shrimp caught in a whale fight, my back about to burst.
The car I'd impulsively bought to shove it in Kang Jua's face had sparked curiosity, of all things.
If I told the truth, I'd probably get called a lunatic.
And brushing it off like I had with Junseok—something vague about making money in stocks?
With the look in Chairman Seo's eyes, he'd grill me on every stock, every trade method.
"I've quit my job and am living back in my hometown. The car was a stretch, that's all."
"So you're helping with your father's business?"
"No. My father passed away recently."
"Ah... My condolences."
"It's fine. As a grandfather, it was a perfectly reasonable question about your granddaughter's friend."
I glanced at Chairman Seo's face after answering.
Fortunately, his stern expression seemed to soften a bit.
"Even if you're close with Junseok, it must have been hard to agree to such a request..."
Of course it was hard.
If I hadn't been blackmailed by that assassin-for-hire gig, I wouldn't have had to get that ridiculous haircut and makeup for a chaebol's birthday party.
Not to mention the heel-boosting shoes.
Just as I was thinking he had sharp instincts befitting the head of Yeoksan Group, Chairman Seo continued from where he'd trailed off.
"No matter how I look at it, you must really like our Yerim."
Forget senility—he was clearly losing his marbles.
I frantically waved my hands in denial.
"Haha! Don't misunderstand. Yerim and I are just friends."
"Where's the such thing as friendship between men and women? It's the first time in my life I've seen a man by Yerim's side. Do you think this is just my misunderstanding?"
"No, what I mean is—"
"Yerim's turning twenty-eight soon. In the old days, she'd have two kids by now and no one would bat an eye. What do you say? If you're willing, I could lend a hand."
What the hell was he spouting without even taking a breath?
At this rate, he'd be setting a wedding date.
I looked to Seo Yerim for help, but for some reason, she had her head bowed low.
Damn it!
I'd starved all day, figuring I'd at least gorge on fancy food to make up for dragging myself to that unwanted party, only for this sudden dinner with a mega-corp chairman—and now he thinks I'm her secret crush...
'Whew!!'
If this kept up, things were really going to go south.
I took a long, deep breath to steady myself and straightened my back.
"Actually, I got divorced not long ago. I'd appreciate it if you didn't misunderstand, Chairman."
He seemed pretty shocked at the idea of a young guy like me being divorced—his eyes went wide.
Then he nodded, as if it all made sense now.
"Aha... So that's why you like her but can't say it?"
After all that, this reaction? It wasn't even worth responding to.
Fine, whatever. When would I ever see Chairman Seo again?
One of the busiest men in Korea, after all.
With a resigned blink, I shrugged.
"Think whatever makes you comfortable, Chairman."
"Kehahaha! Hiding nothing—manly and refreshing."
Now all I could do was pray for this hellish dinner to end soon.
I wolfed down the coffee and cake dessert in seconds, waiting for Chairman Seo to rise.
But.
Thinking it was over? Pure delusion on my part.
"Yerim, your grandpa has something to say to this young man. Mind stepping out for a bit?"
"Gr-Grandpa..."
"I won't say anything unnecessary, so don't worry."
I shot her a desperate don't go look, but she just mumbled something and bowed her head again, shuffling out.
Before I could grab her, Chairman Seo straightened up and spoke.
"I have a favor to ask you."
"...Yes, go ahead."
I had zero intention of agreeing to anything.
My head was full of excuses to slip away...
"I'm holding my seventieth birthday banquet in a week. Persuade that runaway Junseok and bring him back."
"J-Junseok?"
"Didn't you say you're his one and only friend?"
"That's true, but..."
"I know it's forward for our first meeting, but I don't have much time left."
"Are you... ill?"
"I could drop dead any moment."
Haa...
Who could ignore that?
Chairman Seo's once-sharp eyes now looked pitiful after hearing his story.
The annoying old codger vanished, replaced by the feeling of chatting with a close friend's grandpa.
I gripped my water glass and nodded slowly.
"Got it. I'll talk to him."
"He won't listen if you just talk, so trick him if you have to."
"Tr-trick him? Even so, how could I..."
"This old man is begging you."
I was about to say it didn't sound like a lie when memories flashed through my mind.
Who was to blame for today's ordeal?
That damn Junseok.
If he hadn't pitied me at the class reunion, I wouldn't be in this mess.
In the end, it all traced back to that guy.
Fine.
Since things had come to this, I'd drag the runaway chaebol heir home.
He might curse me for the deception at first, but when he inherits a mountain of wealth later?
He'd be thanking me and tossing me some crumbs.
Swish.
I lifted my head.
Chairman Seo waited anxiously for my answer.
I set my glass down and curled my lips into a wicked grin.
"I'll make sure to bring Junseok to the banquet!"
*
"Did it go well?"
After a brief private chat with Chairman Seo, I rushed straight to the bar where Junseok was.
I wanted to deck him on sight and spin his jaw, but I held back for next week's banquet.
A gentleman avenges himself even after ten years— what's a week?
"Thanks to you sorting out the family tree for me, it wrapped up perfectly."
"No slip-ups?"
"Of course not."
"Good, you did great."
I'd already looped in Seo Yerim, asking her to keep quiet about me meeting Chairman Seo.
The guy was too perceptive; I had to be extra careful.
Mid-reach for a snack, I feigned sudden recollection and lit up.
"Oh right, Junseok, whatcha doing next week?"
"Next week when?"
"Saturday free?"
"Outta nowhere?"
"Made plans to meet a girl I know in Seoul that day. Wanna join?"
"H-how many?"
"Just two, that's why I'm asking."
"No way Soeun's coming too?"
"Nah, different girl. And Soeun lives in the same neighborhood now—no need to go all the way to Seoul."
As expected, Junseok's eyes sparkled.
Thrilled, he bounced his shoulders without a hint of suspicion.
"Count me in!"
Yeah, that's right.
No matter how suspicious or sharp you are, your weakness is too glaring.
♬♪♬
As I clinked glasses, savoring secret glee, Junseok's phone rang.
"Hold up, gotta take this."
"Sure."
He exchanged a few short words with whoever it was.
Then, hanging up, his face hardened instantly.
"Something wrong?"
Worried by his sudden change, I tilted my chin and asked.
He glanced around once, then leaned in and whispered low.
"The stuff in our drinks... it's an aphrodisiac."?