NOVEL NEXT Chapter 44
“What’s up with that dog?”
“Bok-sil?”
“Yeah, you never mentioned raising one.”
I gestured toward the yard.
It’s cute, but why suddenly a dog?
“Since the only child doesn’t come home, they brought in a new one.”
“Pfft!”
“Hey! You little brat!”
Water spewed from my mouth onto the table.
“Come on, you can’t just say that out of nowhere.”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“But calling your daughter ‘kid’?”
“Then are you a ‘fellow’?”
Well, technically speaking…
“Anyway, make sure you get along with Bok-sil. If you two fight, the eldest daughter who doesn’t come in will have to go out again.”
“Am I lower than that dog?”
“Bok-sil ranks higher than your dad.”
“Ugh…”
So the household has really turned chaotic.
“I’m bringing it inside, so get to know each other.”
With that, Mrs. Jang headed to the yard, picked up Bok-sil, wiped its paws with a wet towel, and set it down.
“Pant!”
“Hmm…”
Bok-sil’s little button-like black eyes were staring at me while panting.
Am I liked?
“Is it neutered?”
“Yep, all vaccinated too, so no worries.”
Good, no nuts left.
That’s supposed to be healthier anyway.
I gathered up the now-neutered Bok-sil in my arms.
Surprisingly hefty for such a fluffy pup.
“Cute, isn’t it?”
“Yeah… kind of cute.”
Who would say that isn’t cute? Just holding it makes me glad I came home.
But now, I wonder if this feeling was something I always had or if it was part of Kim Soo-hyun’s disposition. A question I’ll never know the answer to.
“By the way, do you want to see your room?”
It was Mrs. Jang’s offhand comment that broke my train of thought.
“My room?”
“Yep.”
A room… I suddenly recalled what Kim Soo-hyun’s living space looked like.
After a moment’s thought, it all came back.
It was the largest room aside from the master bedroom, spacious with a pink bed and a large desk, and everywhere…
“Let’s go look now.”
I immediately jumped up.
My room was adjacent to the living room, so I reached the door in just a few steps and opened it.
“Whoa, why the rush?”
I ignored the voice from behind and was relieved to find my room looked just as I remembered.
“Phew… nothing’s been thrown out.”
“Of course not, I’d destroy the house if I did.”
Luckily, the goods that were stuck or displayed around the room remained intact.
I would have been bummed if those were tossed out, after all.
They were things that Kim Soo-hyun had bought with her pocket money, so…
They’re kind of symbolic.
“Wow, you really have a lot. You should throw some away.”
“No way.”
I retorted to Mrs. Jang, but seeing it in person, I had to admit it felt like a lot.
Posters, figures, it was a true otaku room.
No wonder I was always on high alert whenever relatives would visit.
Good that I’m a girl, or it would have been an open display and turned into a playground for the nephews.
“My stuff hasn’t changed at all, has it?”
It’s all nice and clean, not a speck of dust, which was a bit surprising.
“Yeah, I want to throw everything out each time I clean it, but I hold back.”
“Haha… I should get going soon.”
I’ve seen all I need to, and it’s time for me to head out.
“Are you leaving already? Have dinner before you go.”
“Nah, I have things to do at home, and I’m bringing stuff tomorrow.”
Most of what I do at home revolves around broadcasting anyway.
“Okay, just make sure to check out the moving company.”
“Don’t worry. There’s not much I need to take.”
“That’s quite boastful.”
Since I had gotten a fully furnished studio apartment, all I needed to bring were my broadcasting equipment and some odds and ends.
The rest, though disappointing, would have to be tossed out anyway, since my family home already had a desk and bed.
After saying goodbye to Bok-sil, who wouldn’t let go of my leg, I finally made my way back home after a long time away.
*
When I got home and checked my phone, I found a message.
(Hyeon-su): “Sis, can I talk about you on the variety show?”
It was a text from none other than Hyeon-su.
That little brat… he’s going on a variety show now?
Looks like he’s really about to become a proper celebrity.
(No way): “Yeah, just don’t overshare.”
I figured he wouldn’t be clueless enough to spill everything, so I replied casually, confident he had some sense.
Speaking of which, I didn’t tell him about the new song… Well, he’d probably catch on when it’s released.
After sending the message, I began preparing for the move.
Things like this should be dealt with while I still have some time; once the busy schedule for song preparation kicks in, organizing all this wouldn’t be easy.
I pulled all my clothes from the closet and decided what to toss and what to keep.
It turned out there were quite a few things to take since I spent more than a year here.
What can I say… It feels too small to hire a moving company, but too much to carry in a taxi alone…
It’s an awkward amount.
But if it’s hard to do alone, can’t I just call someone for help?
I picked up my phone quickly.
Fortunately, I had the perfect person to call for such a time.
The next day.
“… What’s this?”
“Pre-meal exercise?”
“Hey!!”
Hyejeong, who rushed over with the promise of beef, looked at the pile of boxes in the living room and sighed dramatically.
“I thought something was up…”
Feeling the weight of her gaze, I subtly avoided eye contact.
“…Are you going to help me?”
“And if I don’t help, what happens to the beef…?”
“Bok-sil at my house will eat it.”
“What the… What’s up with that dog?”
Instead of saying anything like “In our house, it’s ranked second—higher than Manager Kim,” I kept it simple.
“It’s a dog we’re raising at home.”
“You raise a dog?”
“Yeah, I saw him for the first time yesterday.”
“Ugh… I’m so jealous.”
Hyejeong stretched as if resigned, approaching the stack of boxes.
“Well, there’s not much here. Let’s finish up quickly?”
Considering she specializes in a physically demanding dance, she was probably confident in her strength.
… I, on the other hand, am not.
Isn’t that right?
Kim Soo-hyun has just been a shut-in otaku in her room.
Sure, I’m tall for a girl, but I’m not built big; I’d even say I’m on the skinnier side.
So how am I supposed to handle physical tasks?
“Huff… huff! Ack!”
“What? You can’t even lift that?”
The answer is very pathetic.
At first, I didn’t realize, but living here made it obvious.
Why do I end up sweating so much more than others after a little walking? Why do I complain of fatigue after a few rounds of an FPS game? Why do I only manage two hours of broadcasting?—And so on.
The answer leads back to one simple conclusion: I have no stamina.
And strength.
I’d probably lose even arm-wrestling against a middle school boy.
“Ugh, what a waste!”
Therefore, I’m still a minor.
Yeah, I should be treated with care.
The reason I’m squatting in the corner watching Hyejeong carry the boxes isn’t because I’m barred from interfering, but because it’s a crucial process where the adult Hyejeong, with a fitness level lower than that of a minor, is protecting me.
That girl… she’s grown up to be quite the adult…
Thinking of that, I proudly watched as Hyejeong, like an ant, sweated herself moving boxes down to the first floor.
These things will be going to our house via taxi, and while there will be more labor required once we get there, as long as it ends with a nice meal, who cares?
As my income isn’t meager, I plan to treat her generously.
This will be a farewell gift to Hyejeong, who managed to maintain some semblance of humanity despite spending so long in my little corner of the world.
It’s not a permanent goodbye, but if I’m heading back home, we might not meet for a while.
I resolved to treat her to a truly delicious meal while I mentally curated a list of restaurants.
During this, Hyejeong called out, “Oh? What’s this?”
She picked up an album from a box.
“Fantasia? It has a signature too?”
“Oh, that one?”
It was the album that Hyeon-su signed and sent me when it was released.
“The song you played at the café the other day? That’s it.”
“Ah, that… wait.”
After some thought, Hyejeong narrowed her eyes and glared at me.
“How did you get an unreleased song?”
She marched over and pinched my cheek.
“And what’s your intention asking me to guess?”
“Oww, hey…”
*Pinch!*
“Aow! Don’t just mess with my skin!”
Hyejeong kept stretching my cheek like a mochi before finally releasing it.
“Ow…”
“So, how did you get it?”
I pointed at the album and said, “I drew that.”
“Oh, this cover?”
“Yeah, I think so… but it’s my work…”
“Wow, I knew you were good at drawing, but…”
Hyejeong admired the album as she held it.
“So, have you really seen Slim Gold in person?”
“I have.”
“Isn’t he dreamy?”
“Huh? You know what he looks like?”
I didn’t find anything about him when I first searched.
“Are you living under a rock? He’s all the rage on YouTube Shorts these days!”
She pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, and showed me.
“Oh… it’s real?”
Titles calling him a 19-year-old genius singer were popping up everywhere.
Hyeon-su… is really turning into a celebrity.
No wonder he mentioned the variety show.
“So, how does he look in person?”
“He’s just the same as in the videos.”
“Ah, so he’s good-looking, huh? I want to see him too.”
“I’ll get you tickets when he has a concert someday.”
“Really? You’d do that for real?”
When Hyeon-su has a concert, surely I could snag a few tickets, right?
I’d just give them to her then.
“By the way, you really have to treat me to something delicious today, huh?”
Hyejeong pointed towards the back of the living room.
The boxes that had been piled up just a while ago were now down to only a few.
“Don’t worry, I’ll treat you to beef omakase.”
“Really? I can’t wait!”
What’s so hard about treating someone? Just go home, move everything, and then head out for beef.
What could possibly go wrong?
*
“Hey~ Hyejeong, is that you? Come have a meal!”
“Ahaha! I’d be very grateful!”
“Mom, Hyejeong says she’s going for beef omakase with me, so she doesn’t want to eat home-cooked food!”
“Oh really? Then go, but save the galbijjim for later to have with your dad.”
“A, no! No! I wanted to eat home-cooked food! Be quiet, Soo-hyun!”
…What do I do about this?