episode_0154

“Do you plan on dying with your younger sibling?! Is it such a big deal that I didn’t listen to your love story?!”

I express my annoyance loudly to my older brother, who almost swerved into the adjacent lane while looking at me.

Although I am his younger sibling, isn’t this something to be angry about, honestly?

“…Sorry.”

Even my younger brother, with his mouth shut after apologizing for his mistake, keeps his gaze fixed ahead.

“Wow, I thought we were going to die for real.”

Anyway, since there wasn’t an accident, it was fortunate.

– What’s going on?

A frantic voice from Yoo Arin comes through the phone.

It seems like my voice was still audible since the call hadn’t ended yet.

Arin, who is worrying, is rare, but I try to calm her down for now.

“It’s okay. We almost had an accident, but we’re safe. Phew, that was really dangerous.”

– I thought I was going to faint. It felt like a situation straight out of a drama.

“I know, right?”

“Hey… Woojin?”

My younger brother calls me again.

“What?”

As I glare at him suspiciously, my younger brother, still keeping his gaze forward, speaks.

“Can we talk on speakerphone?”

“Why? He’s my friend.”

“Please, I’m begging you.”

“I don’t want to.”

– What’s going on?

“Then let me make the call. Or should I turn my head again?”

Is he crazy?

He’s negotiating as if his life depends on it.

“Fine, just look ahead, please.”

Annoyed, I switch to speakerphone, and my younger brother immediately greets in a business-like tone.

“Hello, this is Kim Woon, Woojin’s second brother. Could we talk for a moment?”

– Huh? Woojin has a second brother? Wait, there’s another brother besides the vice chairman?

“Yes, there is one more.”

– I’m envious. I’m an only child.

But why is it that even though my younger brother started the conversation, it’s smoothly continuing with me?

Though my younger brother seemed slightly flustered by Arin’s nonchalant attitude, he wore a satisfied smile.

“Arin, do you watch internet broadcasts often?”

“Brother…?”

Only now did I realize what my brother was up to. Arin’s voice was indeed somewhat uniquely charming.

It seemed like my younger brother saw that as a selling point.

– Internet broadcasts? I don’t watch them.

“I see. Many people watch them these days. They are quite popular.”

– …Is it really Woojin’s younger brother?

Arin seems a bit wary, as if she suspects some kind of strange cult-like involvement. The tone and buildup were indeed somewhat peculiar.

“Oh, yes. Well, I am involved in nurturing internet broadcasters.”

– Are you suggesting we do a broadcast?

“Yes, yes! Your voice, Arin, is so appealing, and your personality seems easygoing. You would be perfect for internet broadcasting.”

– But I’m not keen on showing my face and all that.

“Oh dear! Nowadays, there are YouTubers who upload content using characters instead.”

– Hmm, is Kim Woojin beside you?

“Why?”

As he brings the phone towards me and asks, Arin whispers softly.

– Hey, did he get involved in some weird cult-like thing? Like a secret relationship with your younger brother?

“He can hear you!”

– Damn.

“He can hear that too!”

– Kim Woojin, you jerk, you should’ve turned off the speakerphone.

“He made the mistake.”

– Do you think I’d be good at doing internet broadcasts too?

Despite his appearance, my younger brother is surprisingly skilled at business negotiations.

Thinking it might work out, I somewhat forcibly propose scouting Arin, my friend.

After a brief hesitation, I answered honestly.

“Well, it might not be bad, right? But rather than being a YouTuber, it might be better to roast people’s faces.”

– Why?

“…Just feels like it would be better.”

– Say it. Or I won’t do it.

This guy always wants me to say what he’s thinking. With a sigh, I reluctantly responded in a hushed voice.

“You’re pretty.”

– Ugh, this guy always whispers those kinds of things.

“Our Woojin has very high standards, so if he says someone is pretty, it must mean Arin is an exceptional beauty!”

Honestly.

“Well, she is pretty.”

Though somewhat overshadowed by the aura emanating from Seo Yerin behind her, Yoo Arin was also a beauty to be envied.

– Hmm, let me think about it for a moment. Thank you for the kind offer.

“Oh, of course! Through Woojin, I’ll give you my contact information and business card! Please make sure to get in touch!”

Click.

After hanging up, Hyung immediately pulled into a nearby rest area and parked the car.

“Arin, do you happen to have a photo?”

“Are you serious?”

“Of course. Being a beauty is always welcome, not just for YouTubers but in general.”

“Sigh….”

I don’t usually take photos, so I show her my profile picture on KakaoTalk.

There’s a picture of Yoo Arin in a Goldwon uniform, and when I show it to him, he slams his hand on the steering wheel and exclaims loudly.

“Hey! Look at this! Our future superstar! She’s going to be a sensation, I’m telling you! Absolutely! Wow, Woojin! Where did you find such a gem!”

“….”

“She’s not only pretty but also cool and straightforward. In the entertainment industry, this style goes over much better than being overly polite. I’m definitely going to nurture her!”

“…But Hyung.”

“Take her business card, Woojin. Make sure to contact her. Or wait, was it beef? I’ll buy it for you, so come out right away…!”

“She’s one of the three.”

“….”

My words cause Little Brother, who was shaking his chin and spitting, to freeze.

Little Brother, who was staring blankly at me, took a deep breath and patted my shoulder.

“No dating allowed for our company artists.”

“What about sisters-in-law?”

“He’s the boss.”

* * *

– Seo Yerin: Hey, where are you?

What the hell is she talking about?

The beef restaurant we came to with Little Brother.

Suddenly, Seo Yerin’s text made me snap back to reality.

– Seo Yerin: (Photo)

She even sent a picture of the inside of my room. Is she really crazy?

– Kim Woojin: How did you get in there?

– Seo Yerin: The door was open?

– Kim Woojin: No, the dorm itself is off-limits to outsiders. How did you get in?

– Seo Yerin: I saw your X-to yesterday.

– Kim Woojin: What does that have to do with anything? If you don’t want trouble, get out.

Annoyed, I send another text.

– Seo Yerin: (Photo)

– Seo Yerin: Tucking myself in.

Seo Yerin sends a photo lying on my bed in white underwear. I felt a surge of excitement, but I am not the old Kim Woojin anymore.

I am the enlightened Kim Woojin now.

I won’t act like trash anymore; I will draw clear lines and find answers my way.

– Kim Woojin: Give me one more.

But it seems like my head and fingers aren’t communicating well.

– Seo Yerin: (Photo)

This time, Seo Yerin sends a picture as if she’s dominating me like a junior.

I wanted to grab her by the hips and shake her. This woman needed to grow some peppers.

She’s a genius at making peppers angry.

– Seo Yerin: Not coming in today?

– Kim Woojin: Probably not. So just go back.

– Seo Yerin: Fine, got it.

Phew.

Handled for now.

“Shall I ask where Arin is?”

Little Brother next to me looks anxious.

He hands me a wet tissue to wipe off the sweat.

“She said she’d be here soon. Let’s wait.”

If I say I bought beef, she’d follow even if a spy called.

After a few minutes of waiting, Yoo Arin, wearing a gray hoodie and sweatpants, enters the store.

Yoo Arin notices us and approaches confidently.

“Hello, I’m Yoo Arin.”

“Oh, hello! I’m Kim Wooni! Here’s my business card. I didn’t bring proof of family relationship, but I’m connected to Woojin and the tired older brother.”

“Oh, okay.”

Taking the business card, Yoo Arin sits down. Her eyes were already scanning the menu rather than the card, smiling at the prices. She seemed surprisingly easygoing.

“Woojin, I want to eat beef when I receive a proposal later.”

“Just order chicken at home.”

They exchange silly jokes and order meat.

“Oh my, you’re really beautiful in person!”

“Thank you!”

The person who buys the meat is a good person. He had already become a good person to Yurin because of the small gestures he made towards her.

Uwung!

A phone rings while they are talking.

– Choi Eiseo: (Photo)

– Choi Eiseo: ???

Choi Eiseo sending a photo was rare, so something seemed off. It was a picture of Seo Yerin, who was asleep in my bed in her underwear.

– Kim Woojin: ????

– Choi Eiseo: ?????

– Kim Woojin: ??????

– Choi Eiseo: ???????

‘…….’

I clearly said I was going home, so I don’t know why she fell asleep there. It’s not my responsibility if Seo Yerin gets scolded by her parents.

– Kim Woojin: But why are you there?

He stops the flood of question marks and asks.

Since Choi Eiseo isn’t a dorm student in the first place, I don’t understand how she ended up there.

– Choi Eiseo: I had a gathering with the 1st-year students living in the dorm. There’s a mentor-mentee program, so I came to explain, and it turned out well, so I came to see you.

– Kim Woojin: I see.

– Choi Eiseo: I see?

– Kim Woojin: I can’t go to the dorm today. I don’t know why she’s there either.

– Choi Eiseo: Alright, I’ll take her with me.

– Kim Woojin: Please do.

Since it’s Choi Eiseo, she’ll figure something out.

Yurin was being explained various things by her brother, but she was already fixated on the beef.

To have a further conversation, I decided that I should feed her first before engaging in more talk, so I leaned back in my chair, satisfied that Yurin seemed to be a perfect fit even though she was like that.

At that moment.

“We’re here.”

“…….”

Two women approached our table.

One of them was someone I hadn’t seen before.

Her hair was a mix of various colors, so flashy that it was clear she wasn’t an ordinary person.

And the other one was.

O Yunji, with fiery red hair.

“……Huh?”

Unconsciously, I glanced at my younger brother, who awkwardly scratched the back of his head and replied.

“I can’t decide alone. Ah! Honey! This is our youngest! Woojin, say hello! She’s your sister-in-law!”

“Hello, I’m Choi Eunbyeol. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“……Hello.”

We shook hands uncomfortably. My sister-in-law immediately greeted Yurin as well.

O Yunji, meeting my eyes, sighed and reassured me not to worry.

“I’m here to work today.”

She drew a clear line.

Yes, she’s definitely O Yunji.

As I relaxed a bit, the tension that had built up in my shoulders dissipated.

O Yunji extended her hand to Yurin.

“Hello, I’m O Yunji. We were in the same English department last year, but we didn’t get to talk much then, right?”

“…….”

“Since Woojin was busy all over the place, he probably couldn’t take care of other classmates.”

Yurin’s eyes widened slightly as she stared at O Yunji.

How could she.

‘Will she break a promise within 3 seconds.’

She had clearly distinguished between work and personal matters, yet O Yunji had already made the first move.

“Oh!”

However.

“So, you’re Woojin’s ex-girlfriend?”

Yurin wasn’t the type to just sit there and take it.