Ch.9494. Part-Time Job

“Huh…? What progress…”

“What? Weren’t you Hana’s boyfriend?”

“What?”

Suhyuk’s eyes widened in surprise.

Since when had he been Hana’s boyfriend?

“So you’re really not, huh?”

“I’m really not!”

“Is that so? That’s strange.”

The uncle’s gaze was quite burdensome, causing Suhyuk to instinctively shrink back.

“Um… may I ask why that’s strange?”

“Because Hana came to me and talked about a boy for the first time.”

Suhyuk blinked, as if wondering what the problem was.

“Even when I pestered her about dating after she went to college, she never said a word. But for the first time, she came and talked about you.”

Suhyuk turned his head to glance at Hana, who was organizing drinks in front of the refrigerator.

“What did she say?”

“She asked if there was someone she wanted to work with and if she could bring them in.”

“Is that so?”

Honestly, it seemed like an exaggeration to assume they were dating based just on that, but from the uncle’s perspective, it wasn’t.

He had practically raised Hana for almost six years in place of her busy parents.

Since she was born with such outstanding looks, the uncle had been teaching her how to choose a good man once a day since high school.

-Don’t go for guys obsessed with vanity who flaunt luxury brands. Nine out of ten are immature brats who leech off their parents.

-Don’t even look at kids who are disrespectful to adults. They’ll eventually be just as rude to me or your mother.

-Dating someone for their looks is like choosing food with one day left before expiration. It might seem good now, but side effects will come soon enough.

Whether they like it or not, words heard in childhood unconsciously shape children’s values.

Hana, who greatly respected her uncle, grew up to be an absolute ice queen.

No matter what guy was brought to her, there was never anyone who made her think, “Ah, it’s him!”

At least, none existed among those who approached her based solely on her appearance.

When she went to college and remained unusually quiet about her love life, her uncle secretly began to worry.

If Hana were to grow old single at this rate, part of the blame would surely be his.

He’d already been cursed out by his brother for “pickling the kid in the band,” and if this became an issue too…

After being in that anxious state for a year and a half.

The name “Lee Suhyuk,” the first boy to appear from Hana’s lips, was like a blessing.

[Uncle.]

[Yeah?]

[Can I have a friend work part-time at the store?]

[Which friend? Nayeon or whatever her name is?]

[No, not her. Someone from my university band.]

[One of those kids who performed here last year?]

[No. Someone who joined this semester, named Lee Suhyuk…]

Hana chatted enthusiastically about Suhyuk.

Despite being a generation older, her uncle seemed somewhat childish, giving her more of a friend vibe.

[Sure. If you insist that much.]

[Awesome! Really?]

[Yeah. But only on performance days.]

In reality, from a manager’s perspective, it was more profitable to work one person hard than to hire two.

[So can I tell him?]

[Sure. Tell him to come if he’s interested.]

Suhyuk, who was presumed to be Hana’s first boyfriend, had an image quite different from what the uncle had expected.

But it wasn’t disappointing or bad.

He seemed to dress neatly, and appeared respectful.

At least from what he’d seen so far, from an adult’s perspective, he seemed to pass the test.

Some might look down on his long hair, but for someone who was a band enthusiast like the uncle, that hairstyle was hardly an issue.

“Anyway, if you ever end up dating, treat her well.”

Suhyuk’s expression filled with shock.

How on earth had he noticed that Suhyuk was preparing to confess to Hana from those brief moments?

Is this what being an adult means…?

Is this what being a mature free spirit means…?

“Uh… ah… yes! I’ll work hard!”

Suhyuk bowed his head deeply.

His voice was so loud that it caught Hana’s attention.

“Uncle! You said something weird to Suhyuk again, didn’t you!”

“I didn’t. I just told him to clean diligently. Right, Suhyuk?”

The uncle raised one eyebrow, signaling to him.

“Ahaha. I guess my sweeping wasn’t very good.”

“Huh? You’re nitpicking about that?”

Hana, who knew her uncle’s personality all too well, didn’t believe it.

“Tsk. Give me the broom. You just go fill up the drinks over there.”

“Huh? But I’m fine with this.”

“No. That’s easier. Do that.”

In terms of difficulty, both tasks were at rock bottom.

“Finish what you’re doing, and both of you come to me 15 minutes before we start.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Okay.”

As preparations for welcoming guests were nearly complete,

a group of men entered the hall amid murmuring sounds.

“Oh.”

Suhyuk, who was at the counter, let out a short exclamation.

The band members who passed through the entrance were beings who ranked higher than female idols in Suhyuk’s eyes.

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“Can you give me that marker in the container over there?”

“This?”

“Yeah, that one.”

Taking the marker, Hana grabbed a sketchbook and hurriedly approached the men who were about to go on stage.

“Hello! I’m a part-timer here, but I’m a real fan. Could you possibly sign two pages for me?”

“Oh, of course, of course~”

It wasn’t a busy time with a performance in full swing, and there was no reason to refuse someone approaching as a fan.

Band music consumed in South Korea is really limited.

It’s inappropriate to compare it with mainstream pop, and now there’s an incomparable difference even with hip-hop music, which used to be considered in a similar category.

That’s why “fans” are extremely precious to bands.

There was absolutely no reason to be expensive to a consumer base that was already small.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you!”

“Enjoy the performance.”

“Of course! Heh. Good luck!”

Hana returned to Suhyuk, hugging the sketchbook.

“This might get crumpled if I tear it here, so I’ll hold onto it and cut it out for you when I get home.”

“…Thanks.”

“How is it? Pretty sweet part-time job, right?”

Apart from being able to get autographs and free drinks, the actual labor intensity wasn’t that high.

“Yeah. Thanks.”

Suhyuk smiled brightly.

It was strange.

Since being with Hana, Suhyuk seemed to be having many different experiences.

He had drunk beer at the Han River.

He had created his own song and entered a competition.

Now he was even getting autographs from a band he admired while working part-time…

Suhyuk before meeting Hana.

Suhyuk after meeting her.

He could clearly feel that he had changed.

Looking at Hana’s profile, Suhyuk couldn’t help but have even more expectations.

Where will you take me next?

If you become my girlfriend, how far could I go?

“Hey.”

Hana suddenly poked Suhyuk as if ambushing him.

“Huh?”

“Why do you keep looking at me?”

Honestly, Suhyuk had been staring at Hana so obviously that it was impossible not to notice.

“Ah. Just…”

“What? Is there something on my face? But I haven’t eaten anything, so there can’t be.”

A playful look appeared on Hana’s face.

“Tsk… Ah. In elementary school, a boy who said he liked me got caught doing exactly that.”

Suhyuk’s face flushed hot.

It was like the reaction of a child caught cheating.

“Lee Suhyuk.”

“…Yeah?”

Cute.

Hana thought Suhyuk, who was fidgeting beside her, was adorably maddening.

So this is what it’s like to have a crush. That’s what people do.

“You can look openly.”

“Huh?”

“Just look. It’s not like I’ll wear out or anything.”

What should he answer?

Suhyuk wished they could just start the ticketing work soon.

“Should I even strike a pose for you? Just say the word.”

“Ah. No, it’s not like that.”

“How about this?”

Hana stretched out one leg like a model.

He really thought she could have done well as a model.

“Guys, we’re opening now!”

The uncle, who had finished the final preparations, signaled to Hana.

“Hey. I’ll let them in, so do well like you said, okay? I’ll be over there.”

“Okay.”

No sooner had Hana turned around than crowds of people came rushing in.

Suhyuk steadily sold or received tickets.

“Han Na-eun. I made a reservation for two people?”

“Ah. Yes.”

Suhyuk scanned the list and neatly drew a diagonal line.

“You can go in now.”

After about 20 minutes of peak time, Suhyuk was finally able to focus on the music of the performing team.

…They’re good.

A professional world that couldn’t be compared to Suhyuk’s.

Since it was his first time seeing a live performance, Suhyuk watched their show with a reverent mindset.

“…Hey.”

Someone tapped his side while he was blankly standing and appreciating the music.

“Have a drink.”

In the dark backstage area.

The dim lighting illuminated her face.

Even in that darkness, her lovely smile shone.

Hana grinned and handed him a thin beer bottle she had secretly taken from her uncle.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.”