Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Gift
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Looking at her face after her firm refusal, she was just wearing a mischievous smile.
"Ga-eul, money transactions have to be strictly business. Otherwise, they ruin relationships between people."
"Hmm... You're right. Can't I just not buy it then?"
"That won't work either."
"I don't have any money..."
"Ga-eul. Don't you like the gift from your sis?"
She was still smiling happily.
"It's just... it feels burdensome. This isn't a few thousand won—it's ten million..."
She pondered my words for a moment, then spoke up as if she'd had a great idea.
"How about you grant me one favor later?"
"A favor? What favor is worth ten million? Don't talk nonsense."
"You'll hear it later and decide. I guarantee you, the favor I'll ask of you will be worth more than ten million."
I felt bad keep refusing her good intentions, so I gave a positive response.
"Fine. But no matter what it is, if it feels like less than ten million, I'll pay you in cash."
"Okay, okay! Thanks!"
"I'm the thankful one. But no guarantees, okay?"
"Ehehe! Of course!"
As we talked, she let out her signature weird laugh, drawing stares from all the nearby staff.
Oblivious to it, she grinned at me like a kid, so I stepped closer and whispered.
"Sis, is it okay to grin like that? The staff are all staring."
"Oh... I'm doomed."
Hearing her tiny mutter, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Pffft-haha."
"Huh?"
"Ah... Ehehe. Guess your laugh's contagious."
"Fff-haha. This must be what positive influence is!"
"Ehehehe—no, how is this positive? That's totally different."
The sudden weird laughter spread even to the curious staff watching us.
"Sis, now the staff are laughing too."
"Nooo... It's because you laughed, Ga-eul! I'm doomed. How did I even manage my image?"
The laughing staff approached and said to her,
"We thought you were always so cool and aloof, boss, but you look so happy right now."
"Yeah! You were a bit scary before, but this is great!"
Words of approval poured from the staff.
"Ha... Since I'm young, I thought I had to stay sharp, so I kept my mood down on purpose. But it became a habit over the years, and now look."
Her words sparked even bigger laughter among the staff.
"Kyaa!! Boss sis is so cute!"
"Our boss is the best!"
Seeing the praise pouring her way, it was clear what her usual demeanor was like.
"Argh! Whatever. Company dinner tonight! Korean beef!! Fff-haha."
She pulled a card from her pocket, raised it high, and shouted about the dinner, drawing cheers again.
"Ga-eul, come too!"
"Why would I go to a dinner with you and the staff?"
When I refused, oddly enough, the staff chimed in.
"Boss, bring your friend Pinky!"
"Yeah! Pinky sis is so pretty! Those sunglasses are adorable!"
Her bright smile must've been contagious.
"Nah, it's fine. I have some dignity. As you all saw, your boss here gave me a mountain of clothes as a gift."
"Aww, why!! Ga-eul, come with! Pleeease!"
"No, what's with the pleading? You're not a kid—stop whining."
"Whaaa, come with meee!"
"Sigh... Cut it out!"
I gently coaxed her, who was now fake-crying from the whining.
"I have plans tonight anyway."
Her eyes went wide at that, and she started whining with a lispy voice.
"Huh!? Ga-eul has other friends!? I'm sad!"
"Ugh, true as that is, don't shout it."
"What is it!? Where!? Leaving me behind!?"
"I'll tell you outside."
"Hehe, okay!"
Only then did she stop whining, looking victorious. Image management was clearly abandoned.
We'd only met hours ago—did she really like me this much already?
"Anyway, how am I supposed to carry all this?"
A mountain of shopping bags towered before me, too many to count.
"I'll take you home!"
"Huh? No. I was gonna walk and get some air."
"Hmm... Okay? Then we'll deliver them."
"Clothing stores do delivery?"
I asked, puzzled, and she shook her head as she replied.
"Not the physical store. Our online logistics center handles deliveries."
"Then how—?"
"We deliver to loyal customers who buy a lot at once. We're not some big corp—we don't stick rigidly to rules. We run it flexibly."
"Oh? Then yeah, that'd be great."
I gave my address to a staff member, and they started carrying off the bags one by one.
As I watched blankly, she pulled me to a corner of the store.
"So, what's this evening plan?"
"Oh. I do streams. Know internet streaming?"
"What? You said you were jobless. Of course."
"It's only been three days. Still basically jobless."
"Hmm... Got it. Where do you stream? Aren't there a bunch of platforms?"
Hearing her question, I hesitated—my chat was full of degenerates; did I really want to say?
"Hmm... TripleNet. Search Han Ga-eul there."
"Oh? I'll check it out later!"
I panicked and told her not to, but she looked puzzled.
"My chat's pretty wild. Lots of swearing and sexual jokes. Wasn't my intent, but it kinda works."
"Oh? I like wild stuff!"
"Uh... yeah... It's not exactly that, but good is good. It's only day three, so who knows how it'll change."
"You're right! Good is good! How many viewers? Ten? Twenty?"
I grinned and held up two fingers.
"Two?"
I shook my head.
"What, twenty?"
"Peak of 2300!"
"Huh? How? You said three days. Were you a celebrity before?"
I chattered about what happened, and she nodded, listening with interest.
"Wow, that's wild. Makes sense though."
"That's why my chat's full of weirdos."
"Still, they seem nice? They like you, whatever."
"Uh... yeah?"
"Totally! You're cute and pretty with that lovely light pink hair swaying seductively, a sexy body, sweet-tart voice, and a peach-dessert face. Even when you curse in a way that doesn't suit such an adorable creature, I love it!"
"Ugh, is that praise or an insult?"
"Fff-haha! Praise. Gap moe? I love Ga-eul so much!"
"Enough already? Oh, right—teach me how to tie my hair."
"Suddenly?"
"Yeah. Guys really like seeing armpits and necklines when hair's up."
"What!?!?"
She raised her voice like she might faint, eyes bulging as she shot back.
"What!? Ga-eul's seducing guys? Who!? Which bastard!?"
"Why the overreaction? I stream, remember? 90% of Korean TripleNet viewers are guys."
"Oh, that? Hehe. Thought someone was stealing my baby girl."
"Who’s your baby girl?"
"Fhe-he."
She led me to a mirror, fiddling with my hair to show me how.
As she touched it, a pleasant tickle spread.
"Wow... Ga-eul's hair is so soft... Smells amazing too. Crazy. Made from peaches?"
"It's always been like this. Stop with the nonsense and teach me."
"I only tie it for meals anyway. I just add waves usually, so I'm not great at ponytails. Rough guide okay?"
As she started tying, I stopped her.
"Sis, not that low."
"Oh... right?"
"Guys love necklines. Tie it higher, expose a bit of neck."
"O-okay."
She fumbled awkwardly, readjusting midway, slipping off her wristband to tie.
"Add some baby hairs at the neck."
"Okay."
"Pull out a bit for bangs."
"Okay..."
"Tease the sides for a messy baby hair look."
"...Ga-eul..."
"Yeah?"
I thought I'd overwhelmed her with instructions, but her reflection looked serious.
"By any chance... do you have a lot of guy experience?"
"Huh? No. Zero. I'm a solo."
"Uh... didn't need details... Thanks. N-no, liar!"
Despite my honest answer, she yelled it was a lie.
"What lie? I am a solo."
"Th-then how do you know guys so well!?"
"Uh... watched a lot of porn."
My emergency half-lie sorta worked—her face turned subtly weird.
"Really...? Porn teaches that?"
"Uh... yeah. And those princess-prince stories? With kisses and stuff."
"Ahh..."
Her face was an unreadable mix.
"Done. Just tie it like this roughly."
"Thanks, sis. Can I use this band?"
"Hehe, I should thank you for letting me touch your soft hair~ I'll toss some bands in the bags."
"Thanks!"
As we headed to checkout, a weird sound came from behind.
"Hic... Hic."
"What? Sis, what's up?"
"No, Ga-eul, don't walk!"
"What? Don't walk?"
"Your ponytail swishing is too seductive!"
"Pffbt, what nonsense. I gotta go home."
Mentioning home, she stuck close and whined again.
"Can't you stay longer?"
"Plans tonight, remember? You miss me that much?"
Her head nodded so fast it blurred.
"Sigh. Da-rin sis, how long since we met and you're this attached? C'mere, hug."
"Hic."
I opened my arms, and the woman who'd teased about boobs and whatnot now acted shy.
Shy but approaching, she dove into my embrace.
"There, there."
I hugged her tight, stroking her back slowly.
"Mmm..."
Not sure what got into her, but her murmuring reminded me of a purring cat when petted.
"Sis, I really gotta go now. Any later and it'll be bad."
"Okay... See you next time?"
She asked like she wasn't sure, so I smiled.
"Of course! Come to my place next time. Not huge, but two rooms, rooftop with a yard for grilling meat."
"Kyaa! I'll go!!!"
"Yeah? I'll clean your ears too. I'm good at it."
"Hic... Definitely going!!"
"Alright. Come for sure. I'm really leaving now?"
"Yeah! Bye, Ga-eul!"
"Oya. Thanks so much today! See you next time."
Leaving the store, I glanced back to see her waving wildly in the air.