Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Eyes Look Strange
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-Hello. I'm Kim Se-ah, Jiwon-i's close older sister. Mind if I call you oppa?
-I'm Park Hyun-joo, her other close older sister. I wasn't expecting much, but damn, you're handsome!
They had thick, heavy makeup and outfits that were way too provocative for college girls.
On top of that, their cleavage was on full display, and just a slight dip of the head would've shown their nipples.
Normally, I'd be thinking, 'Score? Maybe I can hook up tonight?' with some dirty fantasies running through my head.
But hey, position shapes the person.
Today, I was here to meet my hometown little sister Jiwon-i, so I wasn't thrilled about her friends showing up like this.
"Hello. I'm Jiwon-i's hometown oppa."
-Oppa, that outfit you're wearing—isn't it super expensive?
-Totally! And that watch... no way it's a fake, right?
Ha...
I had no idea if these girls were just rude or if all college students these days acted like this.
Was I getting old?
I let out a short sigh and unstrapped the watch from my wrist.
"Want to check it out?"
-Whoa! Bold! Hand it over!!
I was just pretending to hand it over casually, but Kim Se-ah snatched it right out of my hand.
Park Hyun-joo giggled beside her, looking thrilled.
Smooth.
I snuck a glance at Jiwon-i.
Unlike her two friends in their provocative getups, she was wearing a pink cardigan, white t-shirt, and jeans.
Simple and modest, no question.
How does she even hang out with these girls?
It was like a famous high school delinquent rolling with the class president.
Thankfully, Jiwon-i seemed embarrassed by her friends and kept her head down, staring at the ground.
As I sized up the situation with a sidelong glance, Kim Se-ah shoved the watch back at me and spoke up.
"Yep, definitely an expensive watch."
'Like you'd know just from staring at it.' The retort tickled the back of my throat, but since they were Jiwon-i's friends, I couldn't be rude. I forced another insincere smile.
"Haha! Appraisal complete? Anyway, are you guys Jiwon-i's seniors in her department?"
-Yep!
-Yeah, we're in Media and Communications too.
They'd clearly come prepared with questions, and I didn't miss the flicker in their eyes...
But against expectations, they answered without hesitation.
Seemed like they really were her department seniors.
"Got it. I hear college life is tough these days. You all holding up okay?"
-We hit the clubs on weekends to blow off steam!
-Speaking of which, wanna come clubbing with us sometime? I know a guy who's an MD there.
Even back when I was in college, there were students like the ones in front of me now.
The occasional stress-relief benders were one thing, but the real problem was the late bloomers.
These girls screamed the latter.
Whew...
Truth is, there's no right answer.
Why not graduate, land a flashy job, and enjoy it later?
Maybe, but could you really?
Even if you could party then, you wouldn't have that reckless youthful energy.
I sure didn't—went straight into marriage with no room for fun.
That said...
My ex-wife was the trash one; marriage itself isn't bad.
People adapt to their situations.
If married life is your main gig, find happiness there first.
Bottom line: enjoy what you can, just don't overdo it.
Of course, no matter how much I lectured them now, it'd just sound like nagging from some old dude.
I scratched my head awkwardly at the club talk.
"Only been to a club once or twice with friends back in the day."
-You're such a pure soul under that face!
-Oppa, you into fortune-telling or something?
The random chit-chat dragged on.
I traded a few words with Jiwon-i here and there, but nothing useful.
Hmm...
Recalling Jiwon-i's mom's worried face from when she saw me off, I wanted to help, but these friends made it impossible to talk privately.
Grilling my long-lost hometown sister after eight years would just make things awkward anyway.
This was going nowhere productive, so I shifted in my seat and spoke up.
"I've got plans today, so I gotta head out soon. Friend's waiting."
"What!? Already? Bring your friend too!"
"Ah, his parents are there too. Anyway, let's all grab a meal sometime."
Kim Se-ah gasped dramatically, covering her mouth with a smile.
"For real? We eat fancy—you sure that's okay?"
"What can I say? Gotta break the piggy bank for Jiwon-i and her friends."
"...Huh?"
No way—these kids take a light joke so seriously? Making me feel bad?
Was I coming off too old-man-ish?
A bead of cold sweat trickled down my back.
"Haha! Just kidding."
"I-It's fine! You're hot, so we'll let it slide."
I didn't even get a proper goodbye with Jiwon-i before heading out of the cafe.
The moment I stepped outside, my phone rang—an unknown number.
-Hello?
-Han Haeseong? Right number?
A familiar elderly voice.
-Yes, it is. Who's this?
-Junseok's grandpa.
-Ah! Hello. I was just about to meet Junseok.
-What'd you tell him?
I blinked in surprise.
Couldn't exactly say I lured him out with booze and girls.
Hesitated to tell the truth.
-...Just said let's meet up and grab food.
-I see. Thanks. Guess you two really are close.
Life's full of surprises.
When do you ever hear "thanks" from a massive corp chairman?
I chuckled to myself at Seo Geon-chang's gratitude, then my eyes lit up.
-Grandpa, mind doing me a favor?
-If it's you asking, of course.
Jiwon-i's situation was still murky.
We'd set a meal date after all the hassle, but next time, it'd probably be the same—Se-ah and Hyun-joo dominating the talk.
I needed max info before then.
-One favor, then.
-Shoot.
I'd considered asking Junseok, but going straight to the chairman might yield more.
I just wanted to ease Jiwon-i's mom's worries from the funeral—even a little.
-A hometown auntie asked me to check on her daughter in college up in Seoul. Says she's been acting weird lately.
-Weird how?
-She was always cheerful on calls, but suddenly she's quiet, even cried once. Won't say why, so she asked me.
-Hmm. Got it.
-Came up to Seoul today and met her, but after eight years, couldn't pry properly.
A brief silence, then Seo Geon-chang's voice came through.
-What do you need from me?
-Her name's Jiwon-i. She showed up today with some department seniors. Their outfits were sketchy, and something felt off.
-Friends a problem?
-Possibly. Could you look into what Jiwon-i and her friends get up to?
-Send me the university and basic info via message.
-Thank you. Heading to meet Junseok now.
Click!
I hung up, chuckling again at asking a mega-chairman for this.
Guts were growing.
The call ran long, so I quickly texted Seo Geon-chang her info and the Star Talk ID from the girls, then bolted to the parking lot.
Sure enough, Junseok was fuming in front of my car.
"Junseok! I'm here!"
"You psycho! Just send a parking spot and make me wait ten minutes? No car today either, nowhere to chill."
"Sorry, chat dragged on."
Junseok scowled, then squinted slyly.
"You covering lunch then?"
"Whoa... the chaebol son preying on us commoners."
"I-I'm not the chaebol! My family's the chaebol. And I'm disowned right now."
Heh!
If that's the issue, maybe it'll get fixed today.
I stifled a laugh and continued.
"Twenty-eight and runaway—proud of that?"
"Asshole..."
"So why run away? Drama-style secret birth secret?"
"Nah. The older I get, the more expectations pile up... it's heavy."
"First-world problems."
Junseok thumped his chest in frustration.
"You get the pressure of inheriting the business?"
"Nope, not a chaebol kid."
"It's about responsibility for tons of people!"
"Weight of the crown and all that."
"Ugh, why bother talking to you?"
"See? Looking down on us peasants."
"Crazy bastard..."
Junseok shook his head like I was hopeless.
"Anyway, where'd you stop that made you so late?"
"Ah! That favor from my hometown auntie. Nothing major."
"Whew! Meeting girls at lunch hour? Tight schedule if we hustle."
I'd asked the chairman a favor too—my turn to keep promises.
I opened the car door and jerked my chin.
"Let's roll?"
I climbed in and gripped the wheel, but a KakaoTalk ping stopped me.
Hesitated, then fished my phone from my pocket with one hand.
A new photo popped up.
What the—?
My eyes widened.
It was from Kim Se-ah—one of Jiwon-i's seniors I'd just met.
No clue when she took it, but it was a mirror selfie in the bathroom, her upper body fully exposed.
She was groping her breasts with her palms, lips pursed seductively.
What the hell is this...?
I gripped the phone, face a mask of shock.
Breath caught—then another ♪ KakaoTalk as a message followed.