Touch Me and I Bite.
Maybe it was because I'd just seen the actor Han Seo-jun.
Seeing Kim Ha-neul's puppy-like face arrive next made me feel a little soothed.
"Si-yoon!"
"Uncle Kim, hi~"
The actor Kim Ha-neul. Like Dad, this guy's background is spotless too.
Guys like that ought to be that clean-living, even if they're a little ugly.
Uncle Jang Seong-man had personally reached out to sign him, but Kim Ha-neul politely declined, saying he had to keep his loyalty to the agency that raised him.
Kim Ha-neul is the type who'll have a long career unless he personally chooses to quit the entertainment business.
Once I went around greeting everyone except Han Seo-jun with a hug, Han Seo-jun's gaze stopped following me.
Lately Dad had been going fishing nonstop with Lee Jin-seok, so there'd been nothing but old guys around him.
Then, while I was briefly looking the other way, he started chatting with a girl group around my age.
Looked like he was doing most of the talking with the one who seemed to be the leader.
I'd heard JSM was secretly raising one huge rookie, and I figured that was probably them.
I walked up to Dad and jabbed him firmly in the back.
"Aht? Si-yoon?"
"What is it, what is it?"
Trainees hitting me with formal greetings...
Seeing those crisp right angles, this felt like I'd misjudged the situation.
I dropped my head to a perfect ninety degrees and fired a greeting right back. When I asked their ages, all but two of the members were younger than me.
To lighten the mood, I pointed at the one who looked like the leader.
"Don't tell me she's going to be my mom?"
"Hey!!"
I cackled and ran back to where the actors I was close with were.
The person I'd just pegged as the leader.
Seriously, she was so pretty she looked superhuman—dead-on for the current trend. JSM's future is bright, I see...
I glanced at the middle-aged man who'd just come in and was sitting off in the distance.
The reigning king of noir right now.
The actor Hwang Jeong-hun.
He'd starred in two of my favorite films from this Korean life of mine.
If I've watched a movie more than twice, that pretty much says it all.
One was called New World, a movie with a slight bromance vibe.
He turned a blind eye to the fact that his own little brother was a rat.
He nearly got purged by a guy in the same organization who was in a rival faction.
The downside was that the fights in the movie were absurdly pathetic.
But considering how bad Korea's real fighting skills were back then, I guess that was just realism.
Even so, the elevator scene stuck with me.
The way he asked, already dying and knowing full well who had given the order, but still asking like there was just a chance.
And the way he kept his nerve even after getting stabbed full of holes—that pulled something out of me.
Kyaa... a man's gotta have guts.
Maybe it was because it reminded me of how I was right before I died, but I really enjoyed watching it.
And then, what I consider the highlight of the film.
Hwang Jeong-hun is fatally wounded in the elevator and rushed to the hospital.
The scene where he delivers his last words to his little brother, who'd been the rat, is unforgettable.
His little brother tries to save him, but if by any chance he survived, the brother, the rat, would be killed. So it's the scene where he chooses his own death.
I understood that feeling one hundred percent—I even dreamed about it while I was asleep.
The second I saw the actor Hwang Jeong-hun, I grabbed a piece of paper and went over.
"Hello."
Hwang Jeong-hun looked startled when he saw my face.
Unlike in the movie, he had a slightly gentle, soft impression.
"Oh? Pleased to meet you."
"I really, really enjoyed your latest movie—could I have an autograph?"
"Wow... could there be a greater honor? Would it be all right if I asked you for one as well?"
"Of course~"
I took a photo with Hwang Jeong-hun, then looked over at the actor Yoo Su-a, who was sitting right there.
"I was in it too, you know..."
"Uncle, you ruined the whole vibe in that movie."
"...Tch."
Before I knew it, Uncle Jang Seong-man had gone up on stage and started emceeing.
The Next-Door Hyungnim members, led by Kang In-seong, arrived a little late,
but Dad and I had to get ready for the stage ourselves, so I just said a quick hello and slipped back.
We had already finished the rehearsal, but now, out of nowhere, Dad wanted to lower the final note at the end.
"Why? You think it's kind of off after all?"
"Hm... I'm not sure, honestly..."
"Yeah, I'm not sure right now either. Maybe raising it is better after all?"
"You decide, Dad. You know your daughter's capable, right? Even if you signal me in the middle of the song, I'll handle it."
"Okay, got it."
Aunt Ji-su and the actor Yoo Su-a took their places in front of Uncle Jang Seong-man.
Even while I was thinking that this was how my first love in this life was walking away, Dad and I went up onto the stage right on cue.
We sang a congratulatory song, and we came back down to applause.
Once the wedding ended, we all headed off to eat.
Since there were elders present, the variety of food was huge, but out of all of it, I grabbed a bowl of janchi-guksu.
Aunt Ji-su looked at me eating the noodles.
"Why not? Have some meat."
"I can just eat Dad's."
"Aha?"
The noodles here are amazing.
I used to think janchi-guksu was just janchi-guksu no matter how good it was, but the broth was incredibly clean and hit the spot for me.
Dad sat beside me, cutting steak and popping it into my mouth.
"Where are you going for your honeymoon?"
"One week in Korea, then about twenty-one days traveling the world!"
"Gonna borrow a plane from Uncle Jang Seong-man?"
"...No, that's using it for something way too personal."
"Hey, how is that personal? That's employee benefits. And the biggest shareholder of JSM is sitting right here, you know?"
We both looked at Dad.
"......Why?"
"Hurry up and lend them the private jet."
"That's not mine... I shouldn't be the one deciding something like this..."
"You're married, though?"
"...I'll ask."
Unable to withstand the combined stare from me and Aunt Ji-su, Dad eventually went up to Uncle Jang Seong-man.
And even though he felt bad asking and approached it cautiously, Uncle Jang Seong-man clapped a hand on Dad's shoulder like he couldn't fathom why he'd even agonize over it and readily gave his permission.
Yoo Su-a had been listening in on the side, gauging the mood, and promptly canceled his plane tickets.
Apparently, since they had already planned to travel around Korea by car for about a week anyway, they had plenty of time.
"So, want me to lend you my Spotted One?"
"If I drove that around, I feel like I'd stress myself out being constantly on edge."
"Come on, you think I'd say anything over a little scratch? You just fix it and it's done."
"No... I don't want to drive it."
I had fully expected Aunt Ji-su to say of course she wanted to drive it.
Seems like getting married made her grow up in a hurry.
Aunt Yua, who was busy giving unsolicited advice to the girl idol JSM was training—she'd probably still say yes even after getting married...
Under the white glow of a streetlamp.
Son Hyeong-min, drunk, loosened his necktie, leaned against a utility pole, and called someone.
"Hey! We landed the Mokichi deal!!!"
"Yeah, you son of a bitch. Said he wants to see the boss's face, you know? Dumbass, we're world-class now!"
"You prick, I know you're happy inside even if you talk like that. He said he wants to meet this Friday. You good?"
"Hey, asshole, 'low quality'—if we're gonna split hairs like that, then what are we, high quality? People in this line of work are all the same."
"Different, my ass. So I'm locking in Friday? What's this about being careful—people in our line are joining forces, that's what. All right. Let's just drink it up thick."
Son Hyeong-min hung up and stared up at the murky sky.
"The smell of money is thick! Keuh~ A man's gotta drive a hypercar at least, forget a supercar!"
Da-yeon had definitely told me she'd start having fun once she was in college.
But Da-yeon, with her personality, half-assing things? Yeah, that was never going to happen.
I rang Da-yeon's doorbell, and Kim Seon-hwa answered.
—"Who is it~?"
"It's me."
Just as I thought, Da-yeon was studying for exams.
I pulled Kim Seon-hwa, who opened her arms wide for me, into a tight hug, then plopped down onto the living room sofa.
"Is Da-yeon really busy?"
"You didn't tell her I was here, did you?"
"I figured as much. Wouldn't it be better to mention that I came over to hang out?"
"It's fine~ Nobody likes being interrupted when they're focused. If Da-yeon comes out, we'll just hang out then."
I lay sprawled on the sofa for a bit with my legs crossed, and Lee Jin-seok kept stealing glances at me.
"So... Si-yoon?"
"Huh?"
"Sitting and waiting might be..."
"You want me to leave?"
"Come on... you think I'd say something like that..."
"Why are you always home, anyway? Not busy?"
"......"
"Phew, our dad must have it rough. His only friend is his friend's dad, huh?"
My fifteen years of not-quite-teaching-assistant hit Lee Jin-seok dead-on.
With this family, nearly everything I did was forgiven.
Especially the older I got.
Lee Jin-seok hesitated a moment, then nodded.
"More importantly, Si-yoon, about Ga-yeon..."
"Did he cause trouble?"
"Well... lately he seems to be running around with a bad crowd again..."
"A middle schooler? What could a fifteen-year-old be doing for fun that makes it so bad quality?"
"I heard he's been drinking."
"Hm. Aren't you leaning on me a little too much here?"
"Well... you know he listens to you incredibly well."
"What's Jeong-yeon doing about it?"
"Before, he tried to bring it up and nearly grabbed him by the collar."
I scratched at my calf through my stockings with my toes, then got up.
"Oh? Seriously? That gentle, soft-spoken big brother?"
"He wasn't messing around. Cut off all his allowance and kicked him out of the house."
"Whoa... I always thought he was lenient with his younger siblings. It was probably because you spoke to him directly that it happened."
Lee Jin-seok nodded.
And I hit the speed dial for 121.
—"Big sis!"
"Ga-yeon, I just heard something pretty interesting."
—"...What kind...?"
"Did you have a fun little party with your friends?"
—"......"
"You want to have a fun little party with me, too?"
—"I'm sorry..."
"Next time I'll come in person~"
—"...Okay."
I flopped back down onto the sofa and rolled around.
"Right. Would you let me take Da-yeon to a club?"
""Absolutely not.""
"Whyyy~"
"You know perfectly well Ji-ho won't allow it either."
"Oh... you think you know our dad pretty well, huh?"
"Yeah. Obviously."
"Honestly, Da-yeon was born with a gorgeous figure like that—it'd be a waste if she doesn't go flaunt it, don't you think?"
I started working on Kim Seon-hwa.
"Come on, like Mom didn't go clubbing all the time when she was young."
I remembered how Kim Seon-hwa had been seriously overjoyed the last time I called her "Mom," so I switched the term of address.
""Ahem...""
Da-yeon came out for a moment to grab a snack and discovered me arm-wrestling with Lee Jin-seok.
"Si-yoon! You should've said something if you were here!"
"Hang on, he said if I win he'll buy me clothes."
As for how this whole thing came about, Kim Seon-hwa had mentioned she was worried because Lee Jin-seok wasn't taking care of himself at all.
She said the most he ever did was jump on the treadmill for a bit and then come back down.
So I figured, how about I give him a proper dose of shock therapy, and that's how we ended up arm-wrestling.
"Come on. You really think you won't lose an arm wrestle to me?"
"I'm not that far gone..."
"Wanna bet? If I win, hm... how about the new Chanel collection?"
"Oh my! Si-yoon, did you see it? I was thinking of getting it for you as a gift since it seemed like it'd suit you~"
Lee Jin-seok looked at me with a serious expression.
"And if I win?"
"One month of free Ga-yeon attitude-correction service."
"Bet."
And now, the present moment.
Lee Jin-seok and I had our hands clasped, staring at each other.
Lee Jin-seok looked a bit taken aback by my solid grip strength.
That firmness, contrasting with skin as soft as if it still had baby fuzz, must have felt like holding the hand of a man with small hands.
And then the gaze that drifted toward my forearm.
At a normal glance, you'd think 'it's slim,' but compared to other women, my arm is noticeably thick.
"No regrets?"
Meanwhile, Lee Jin-seok's arm, hidden now under a dress shirt, had so little muscle that it sagged so much you'd hardly call it a man's arm.
I had figured his pride would have made him go for a wrist hold, but I guess he thinks Ga-yeon's attitude correction really is necessary.
There was just one thing he'd overlooked.
I could beat Dad at arm wrestling even though he was in his forties and packed with muscle.
With my muscle density being on a different level from other people's, I applied just a little force when Kim Seon-hwa, acting as referee, gave the start.
"!!? What the..."
Lee Jin-seok, who had put in a burst of strength, was horrified when my arm didn't so much as budge.
"Looks like I win?"
Smiling so he'd feel the full humiliation of it, I slowly, very slowly, forced Lee Jin-seok's arm down.
To lose to a woman in her twenties, not even half his age.
The shock must have been bigger than I had thought, because Lee Jin-seok, realizing how bad things had gotten, resolved to start going to the gym.
I went into the room together with Da-yeon, who had been watching from behind.
"So... I didn't have anywhere else to study but here..."
Da-yeon brought up the fact that she had been studying as cautiously as if she had committed some kind of crime.
Even though right next to her sat a top-of-the-line computer and gaming consoles she could kill time with.
The sight of her with a book spread open left an impression.
"Hey~ More studying never hurt anybody~ They say it's good mental exercise, too."
"Yeah, yeah. Right—lately Yoon-seo's been looking totally down..."
"Fighting with her boyfriend a lot?"
"Really?"
"Of course. Having a boyfriend isn't all sunshine."
"I see..."
"Which is why you've gotta pick carefully."
I rolled around on Da-yeon's bed for a while, then turned on her Nintendo.
Da-yeon booted up Debtor's Forest and started decorating her island.
Unlike my island, which was aligned to a crisp grid, Da-yeon's island was more on the sentimental side.
And she had put nearly every male animal in a maid costume.
The sight of a huge rhino, its chin full of pencil lead, wearing a maid outfit that I personally designed, was really something...
"......"
"Cute, right!?"
"Y...Yeah. Super cute..."
