Ch.123Red Snake 3

I came down to the first floor of the apartment with the Vice Chairwoman.

While she smoked a cigarette, I headed to the recycling area first.

As expected of an elegant apartment, the first-floor exterior was beautiful.

The residents’ appearances were also quite remarkable.

Indeed, befitting residents of a luxury apartment, nobility dripped from their outward appearances.

Especially the woman heading to the recycling area with me.

With her hair tied to one side, she was fully dressed up despite being near home.

A woman who glanced around furtively as if she didn’t want others to see her throwing away trash.

I followed her into the recycling area.

“Well… I’ve thrown away the regular garbage, now let’s sort the recyclables…”

Glancing at the recycling area, I noticed the woman carelessly picking up trash with just her index finger.

My brow furrowed the moment I saw this.

She was just tossing cans and plastics into the cardboard box without separating them.

Bothered by her behavior, I separated the cans and plastics for her.

The stench of rotting food from the containers that hadn’t been properly cleaned assaulted my nose.

Since growing fox ears, these smells have become more intense, making it unbearably painful.

But my ordeal didn’t end there.

The woman began carelessly shoving styrofoam into the plastic bin.

Unable to bear watching this, I mustered up the courage to speak to her.

“Excuse me…”

The woman looked down at me indifferently.

Taller than me, she asked with what seemed like a condescending gaze.

“What is it?”

I forced a smile despite her intimidating look.

And advised her as politely as possible.

“Styrofoam should be disposed of separately outside…”

“…”

Normally when someone hears such advice, they’d say, “Oh, is that so? Thank you,” and dispose of it properly.

But instead, she crossed her arms haughtily.

“Why is that any of your business?”

“Pardon…?”

I thought I’d misheard.

I had assumed residents of such a sophisticated apartment would naturally be courteous.

Instead, I received a rebuke.

“Even if we throw things away carelessly, the security guard will sort it out anyway.”

She shrugged as if this were perfectly normal.

Since when did security guards become janitors…

“Shouldn’t we clean up properly to make things easier for them?”

“Ha, isn’t that what they’re paid to do?”

What?

This was truly a perspective I hadn’t anticipated.

Her absurd statement left me dumbfounded.

Thinking she had gained the upper hand, the woman suddenly thrust her face close to mine.

“Or do you feel some kind of kinship with them because you’re a maid too?”

What did she say…?

A maid?

“I-I’m not a maid.”

“Then what are you?”

She continued to look down on me while wiggling her fingers.

I noticed a sparkling diamond ring.

“I’m just staying at an acquaintance’s place temporarily.”

“Staying temporarily… well, that’s obvious then.”

“Excuse me…?”

“You know, an office girl.”

Office girl?

No matter how superior she thinks she is…

Isn’t this going too far?

“Excuse me! That’s going too—”

I almost shouted in anger.

But the sight of the Vice Chairwoman appearing with a cardboard box left me speechless.

“What are you doing?”

She peeked her face between the boxes.

Upon seeing her noble countenance, the woman immediately dropped her arrogant expression.

And hastily began showing respect.

“Vice Chairwoman, you’re out?”

“Oh, nice to see you. But who are you again…?”

The Vice Chairwoman smiled gently at the woman’s greeting.

But she apparently couldn’t remember who she was.

“I’m the wife of Han Jun-seok, department head at Ilshim Pharmaceuticals. We met at the party before…”

“Ah, that friend! Wears glasses… tall…”

“He doesn’t wear glasses and he’s actually short, but I’m grateful you remember at all.”

She was the complete opposite of the cynical person she’d been with me.

In front of the Vice Chairwoman, she was the most respectful woman imaginable.

“My goodness… you’re even taking out the trash yourself…”

She seemed shocked seeing the recyclable garbage I had handed her.

“Don’t call me that outside. We’re all neighbors here—”

Nahyun laughed heartily.

Then she began sorting the recyclables with me.

The woman looked at me with a bewildered expression.

Throwing away trash together… does that mean I’m living with the Vice Chairwoman?

Oh no, that would mean I’m the Vice Chairwoman’s “office girl.”

The thought alone makes me laugh.

“Um, if I may ask… what is your relationship with this person beside you…?”

The neighbor woman cautiously asked who I was.

I was about to get my revenge immediately.

However, the Vice Chairwoman suddenly put her arm around my shoulder and answered for me.

“She’s my daughter-in-law.”

“Daughter-in-law…?”

The woman was taken aback by Nahyun’s words, as she looked at most to be in her late twenties.

In response, the Vice Chairwoman made a snake-biting gesture with her fingers.

“You know Team Leader Han? The Red Snake. This is his wife.”

“Ah… oh my! I see—”

She covered her mouth with the back of her hand while staring at me.

I must have looked like a completely different person now, as she bowed respectfully.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t greet you properly…”

She tried not to tremble, but my fox ears could hear her teeth chattering.

I couldn’t help but laugh softly.

It’s amazing how much her attitude changed just because of the Vice Chairwoman’s presence.

Even rich people aren’t so special after all.

“It’s fine.”

I casually patted her shoulder.

Then whispered quietly.

“Let’s be more careful with each other from now on.”

“We’re ‘neighbors,’ after all.”

The woman’s legs wobbled at those words.

Leaving her there, we left the recycling area.

“Vice Chairwoman, please go in first. I’ll go grocery shopping.”

“Groceries?”

She interlaced her fingers behind her neck.

After pouting her lips briefly, she answered me.

“Then I’ll go with you. I’m my daughter-in-law’s knight in shining armor—”

I glanced back.

Left alone, the pharmaceutical department whatever’s wife looked dumbfounded at hearing the Vice Chairwoman call herself my knight.

I responded with a slight smile.

Then pointed at the recycling area.

‘Dispose of it properly right now.’

The woman, turning pale, hurriedly got up.

And began picking up her improperly disposed trash with her bare hands.

She no longer showed disgust for the trash she had created.

She had transformed into a diligent environmentalist.

I couldn’t stop laughing all the way to the supermarket, knowing I’d taught her a good lesson.

But…

That laughter soon disappeared completely.

It was extremely difficult to move forward due to the queen-like Vice Chairwoman’s popularity.

She greeted everyone we met, and naturally introduced who I was.

Each time, the Vice Chairwoman branded me as her daughter-in-law.

At this rate, rumors will spread throughout Ilshim!

And that wasn’t the only problem.

Inside the supermarket, thanks to my heightened senses, I began to see things that weren’t visible before.

In the food section.

In the beverage section.

Even in the bathroom!

Hunters in black suits were watching us.

When I noticed them, the Vice Chairwoman laughed casually and reassured me.

“Don’t worry. They’re my guards—”

“Didn’t you say before that you didn’t need escorts?”

“That’s only within the complex. When I go outside, Dad always assigns them to me—”

She clapped her hands in the air demonstratively.

Immediately, a woman who appeared to be the head guard appeared before the Vice Chairwoman.

Where did she come from?

Judging by her movements alone, she’s almost on par with Anna.

“Black Snake, say hello. This is Team Leader Han’s wife, Miss Siho.”

“Pleased to meet you.”

A sleek, slender physique.

A long ponytail braided to one side.

Black hair and black eyes.

A visual appearance truly befitting the name Black Snake.

She glanced up at me.

Is eye contact a hiring requirement at Ilshim…?

Feeling intimidated like when I first met Red Snake, I forced a smile and greeted her.

“Hello… I’m not his wife yet, just a close friend.”

I extended my hand for a handshake.

But she didn’t take it.

Instead, she glared at me fiercely, then coldly turned her head away.

“Vice Chairwoman, may I speak with you privately for a moment?”

“Of course.”

The Vice Chairwoman gestured to me and walked a distance away with Black Snake.

Soon, Black Snake bent down and respectfully whispered to her.

“Vice Chairwoman, we are elite personnel assigned solely to protect you.”

“That’s right.”

“Therefore, I don’t understand why we should be protecting an ordinary person like her.”

“Someone as capable as you would naturally be curious.”

The Vice Chairwoman looked up at the sky with her hands behind her back.

Then she looked at Black Snake with a serious expression befitting her rank.

“Do you remember when Red Snake worked solely as a killer?”

“Yes… he seemed very unstable then.”

“Assassins live their lives consumed by guilt over the bloodshed. When their minds eventually collapse, they end up self-destructing.”

I made eye contact with the Vice Chairwoman standing at a distance.

She gave me some kind of mischievous look.

Ugh… why is she looking at me like that?

“That girl is the one who saved him.”

“Han Team Leader regained his human gaze after meeting Siho.”

Nahyun smoothed out Black Snake’s crooked tie.

Then whispered softly.

“Plus, she has the talent of an exceptional buffer.”

“A buffer…?”

“See that thing on her neck? Like a choker.”

“Yes, I see it. An unpleasant tattoo.”

“That’s Counter Park Shin-ae’s mark. A curse created to steal that girl’s buffing ability.”

“Are you saying her abilities are that significant?”

“Yes, it’s unstable now, but if properly nurtured, she’ll be a great asset to our company.”

She cleared her throat and glanced at me.

Then waved her hand as if nothing had happened.

“Understand? That girl is Red Snake’s perfect match. We need to keep her from leaving.”

“I understand… I’ll return to my duties now.”

“Good, I’m counting on you today.”

The Vice Chairwoman gently patted Black Snake’s shoulder.

She nodded slightly, then suddenly vanished from sight.

Afterward, the Vice Chairwoman approached me with a grin.

As if nothing had happened.

“She’s naturally a bit brusque. But she has a good heart, so please understand.”

“Ah, yes…”

The Vice Chairwoman narrowed her eyes and looked around.

Then whispered quietly in my ear.

“Actually, that girl admired Team Leader Han. She’s been like that ever since rumors spread about you two dating.”

So that’s why…

Her gaze was so hostile…

“Don’t worry about it. She’s young, so her tastes will change quickly. She’ll find a new ideal type soon.”

She said while dragging the shopping cart like a toy.

I looked at the Vice Chairwoman with half-closed eyes.

You’re only in your late twenties too, Vice Chairwoman…

Sometimes you really talk like an old person.

“Oh, how about this?”

She said, waving a crab-shaped snack.

It says “aged kimchi flavor.”

“I’ve never seen aged kimchi flavor before…?”

She looked down at the snack like a child.

I take back what I said about her being like an old person.

“Put that down, Vice Chairwoman.”

“Huh? It’ll take a while to cook a proper meal anyway.”

“Snacks will ruin your appetite.”

I lightly snatched it and put it back on the shelf.

Nahyun looked glumly at the snack section the entire time we walked away.

“Okay, got the soup ingredients…”

I picked up two packages of seaweed and looked at them alternately.

This one is 500 won cheaper, I wonder if there’s a big difference?

While contemplating between the two seaweeds, I suddenly felt a piercing gaze.

Black Snake, peeking out with just her head from behind the curry display.

She was glaring at me as if she wanted to kill me.

Why is she acting like this toward me…

“Um, Ms. Black Snake…? Do you need something from me?”

“No.”

“Then why are you looking at me like that…”

“I’m guarding you.”

That doesn’t look like the gaze of someone who’s protecting me!

I smiled awkwardly and avoided her gaze.

I sighed deeply, hiding my face behind the two seaweed packages.

I’ll be seeing her often while staying here…

Is there any way we could become friends?