Chapter 76 – Episode 76
“How can I help you…” “
“That… “
Hong Eun-ji suddenly becomes speechless after speaking up to that point.
After a pause, she smiled and said.
“It’s a secret.”
“Yes?”
Suddenly a secret?
“It’s a little embarrassing to tell you the method now… “I just tell you that you can trust us and leave it to us.”
“Uh… “
What should I say?
Nayu answered on my behalf as I was confused.
“All right. Please.”
“Please take care of me!”
Gahye joins in and answers.
“No, hey, you guys haven’t even heard of the method… “
“It’s okay.”
“What’s okay?”
“It’s okay, sister.”
“No, so what on earth…” “
“Fuhu, it’s fun.”
When Nayu and Gahye got in between and started talking about non-comic stories, Hong Eun-ji laughed when she saw that.
“All three of you get along really well. “I think he’s the nicest person I’ve ever seen.”
No, I want you to teach me how to do that.
“Then I will contact you again later. See you then.”
“Thank you, Eunji Hong.”
“Hehe.”
Hong Eun-ji smiled at Nayu’s greeting and left.
I wanted to hold her as she disappeared like that, but I couldn’t.
Now that Nayu has said it’s okay, she doesn’t even ask me how to do it anymore.
“Okay then, let’s go home.”
“Is it okay, really?”
“Yeah, probably.”
“Hey.”
Nayu laughs at my reaction.
“It’ll be okay, Hong Eun-ji, you’re a good person.”
“You, Hong Eun-ji, were very wary when we first met… “
“It’s not like that now.”
AC, you are being selfish.
“Junseok, are you upset~?”
Gahye asks while poking my cheek.
“No, what are you doing? I just… “
“If we both embrace each other, our hearts will be a little bigger.”
“The problem is not whether your heart is small or big… “
“Don’t sulk~”
Hey Mr. Lee.
Since both of them are like this, it’s hard to argue with them anymore.
“Okay, okay. Just trust it and leave it to me. I was just worried that Eunji Hong might do something strange to help us.”
“I don’t think he’s the type of person who would do anything harmful to us.”
“What if something happens between Hong Eun-ji and her uncle? Because of us.”
“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.”
After saying that, Nayu avoids my gaze for a moment.
Then she shrugs her shoulders once.
“I guess not.”
Yeah, I don’t know either.
I guess not.
I didn’t say anything more either.
“Let’s go home.”
“Yes.”
With Gahye’s words, we headed home together.
***
The next day, when I went back to work after the short weekend…
“Hello?”
〈Hello. Is this Lee Jun-seok’s cell phone? 〉
“Huh? Hong Eun-ji?”
Around lunchtime, I received a call from Eunji Hong.
“Why did you call me?”
〈I forgot something when we talked last time.〉
Hong Eun-ji, who had said that, changed her voice and asked.
〈Lee Jun-seok, are you confident in persuading Seok-ho? 〉
A serious question.
“Yes.”
So I was able to give a short answer quickly.
“… Uh, I’m still preparing.”
Even after giving a short answer, some hesitation follows.
But even after hearing that hesitation, Eunji Hong confirmed my answer.
〈I see. It’s good.〉
And Hong Eun-ji becomes quiet.
Anyway, this woman, why are you suddenly asking this again?
〈 Actually, I called you last time because I was worried that it might sound like I was going to do everything. I said I would help, and I feel sorry for saying this, but in the end, all I can do is help out. It can set the mood and make it easier to persuade, but…〉
“It’s up to me to convince my uncle. I know that.”
What is this woman?
Were you worried about this?
“I was really grateful and happy to hear that you would help me, but I know that well. It is my job to convince my uncle.”
〈…〉
“I am grateful that Eunji Hong is helping me.”
After hearing what I said, Eunji Hong became unable to answer.
It was quiet on the other end of the phone for a while, then a weak sigh was heard.
〈I’m sorry. I looked down on Lee Jun-seok too much. Sorry.〉
“I’m not looking down on you, that’s not it.”
Honestly, I’m glad they didn’t treat me like a weirdo even after finding out about the relationship between me, Nayu, and Gahye.
‘People at work treat me like a complete weirdo.’
The boss was okay, but after the last incident, my subordinates were looking at me strangely.
Half of you hate me, half of you make me great.
Neither of them had a normal view.
〈 I understand. Well, I’ve said everything I wanted to say… When do you have time later? It would be nice to see the three of us together with Seok-ho.〉
“To persuade?”
〈Yes. Even if it wasn’t just to persuade, last time I took Seok-ho and made him mess up, right? 〉
It was like that.
Hong Eun-ji took away my uncle who was surprised to see the three of us.
〈 But I thought it wouldn’t be a good idea to take a long time. 〉
“That’s right. Hmm… I think it’s possible anytime in the evening. After work hours… So after 6 o’clock.”
〈Okay. Then, I will make an appointment with Seok-ho and contact Lee Jun-seok.〉
“Yes, please.”
〈That’s enough.〉
Beep.
With those last words, Hong Eun-ji lost contact.
“Hmm…”
Hong Eun-ji said she could help.
But in the end, I said I had to do the persuasion.
And she also said that the three of us would need to meet up soon.
In that case, you should be able to convince her uncle right now.
‘I wish I had a little more time…’
I thought as I checked my balance on a banking app.
‘Well, I can’t help it. Things in the world only come at the right time.’
Ga-hye and Na-yu suddenly came into my life, and the fact that we started dating them wasn’t something I had prepared for.
So, since I am not good at persuading my uncle, I have no choice but to just try my best.
‘Let’s prepare our hearts.’
I came to a conclusion and turned my attention back to work at work.
***
And that day came upon me like a thief.
There was no contact from Hong Eun-ji for several days, and she was slowly losing interest in her uncle.
On the way home from work.
As I left the office and was about to cross the crosswalk, I saw my uncle on the other side in the distance.
“Huh?”
No, my uncle is coming to visit me so suddenly, without any contact?
While looking at me, my uncle took out his cell phone and played with it.
At the same time, the cell phone notification sound rings.
〉 Uncle: How are you?
〉 Me: Yes. What about your uncle?
〉 Uncle: Aren’t you going to get along well?
Well, since it’s the beginning of a relationship, it seems like honey is running out every day.
I approached my uncle, thinking something I didn’t intend to do.
“Uncle, what are you doing at the company…”
“Are you on your way home from work?”
“Yes… But…”
“You didn’t eat dinner?”
“Yes…”
An uncle who doesn’t listen to my answers and only asks his own questions.
Ah, this is the posture that uncle appears when he is in serious mode…
“Let’s eat.”
“Well, yeah…”
In times like this, I can’t disobey my uncle.
I nodded that I understood and followed my uncle.
‘I don’t know what happened, but maybe things didn’t work out according to Hong Eun-ji’s plan.’
As I followed my uncle, I quickly sent a message to Eunji Hong on my phone.
〉 Me: I just met my uncle
〉 Me: Did anything happen?
“What are you doing?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
A very serious uncle.
An uncle like this says, ‘I have something important to talk about one-on-one!’ It’s a mode.
If someone does something wrong next to you, you are in a state of not forgiving.
“Uncle, where are you going?”
“What do you like?”
“Would you like to go to an izakaya? I know a good place.”
“Yes.”
In order to take the initiative, I decided on a location of my own choosing.
〉 Me: Gangnam Umayyad
〉 Me: I’m going there with my uncle now
〉 Me: Please come if you can
At the same time, he left a message for Hong Eun-ji without his uncle knowing.
“Do you know that place well?”
“Oh, I’ve been there a few times and it was really nice. I wanted to go there with my uncle once too.”
My uncle didn’t leave me alone and started talking to me, as if he was displeased with me doing something else.
I stopped sending messages and just smiled and guided my uncle.
***
When we arrived in front of the izakaya, my uncle’s expression changed.
What is this?
The expression on his face looked as if he was saying that.
“This is…”
“Let’s go in.”
I knew what was going to come out, so I hung up right away.
“This place is expensive and there’s a child?”
“Yes, no.”
“No, just looking at it, it looks expensive, doesn’t it?”
“It’s okay.”
I nodded while looking at my uncle.
“Really.”
“Okay…”
My uncle saw my expression and followed me in despite hesitation.
First of all, the first operation, taking them to an expensive place, was successful.
Now that my uncle is a little intimidated, I can take the lead…
‘I can also appeal to my economic power.’
It’s a little childish, but since you came here suddenly, I guess I should appeal in this way.
“Welcome.”
“Irasshaimase~”
The store, which imitated a Japanese izakaya, even mixed greetings in Japanese.
It may have been done to brighten the mood, but my uncle was slightly shocked by that greeting.
‘A store that creates an atmosphere like this is quite expensive.’
My uncle knows that well, so he does that.
“Are there two of you?”
The waiter came and asked me, and I took advantage of the moment my uncle was busy and spoke so that he couldn’t hear.
“For now. But since a few more people may come, would you please give me a room for 4 people?”
“Yes, I understand. Then come this way.”
The waiter cheerfully guided me and my uncle.
Upon arriving in the room, my uncle looks around.
“This kid has such a fancy room.”
“I was wondering if your uncle might have something important to tell me. Oh, or would you like to eat at the counter over there?”
“No. The room is nice…”
It’s true that you came here to talk seriously.
I first handed the menu to my uncle who was sitting down.
“What is this…”
“Just order it, uncle. I wanted to eat somewhere like this with you.”
My uncle trembles when he sees the price written on the menu.
I pushed my uncle to just do it.
“Hey, I don’t know. You figure it out yourself.”
The attitude of not wanting to make a decision because it’s too expensive.
I nodded that I understood and called the waiter and ordered a menu.
“…”
“…”
The two of us soon become quiet.
I was just about to throw in another topic to kill time.
“Mr. Seok-ho!”
“Huh? W-what is it? Why is Eun-ji here…”
Hong Eun-ji came between us.
“It’s too much for you to come alone. I told you to go see Junseok together later.”
“Yeah, but I want to say something first…”
“I said that I wanted to do it too.”
Hong Eun-ji says that and looks at her uncle with pouting and pity.
Her uncle immediately breaks down with those eyes.
“Uh, okay, sorry.”
“Anyway, uncle, what’s going on?”
All the planning was laid, and all the psychological initiative was taken from her uncle.
Now is the time to start talking.
