VDN Ch 71

Three days passed in a blur. Nam-woon watched Seo-oh’s every move at home every day, but Kwon Sang-moon’s call never came. When is he going to contact me? Lost in thought, Nam-woon passed by Namnam Supermarket and climbed the alley.

Just then, a message arrived.

[Bring cucumbers on your way home.]

Nam-woon, who’d been about to enter the house, turned back toward the yard instead.

“Ma’am, I’m here to get the cucumbers!”

“Ah, look at me forgetting. Hold on a moment.”

Auntie Soon-i, who’d been sitting on the bench watching a drama on her phone while plucking grapes one by one, went inside. When she returned to the yard, she held a large plastic bag stuffed with oddly shaped cucumbers.

“Don’t mind the looks, they grew really well. So, making stuffed cucumbers?”

“Yes. Seo-oh said he wanted to make it.”

“Do you know how to do it?”

“YouTube is great these days.”

Auntie laughed and said she also watches YouTube and cooks these days. Seo-oh had been trying to make lettuce kimchi for a few days. That’s why he used up all the lettuce in the garden. In fact, he even borrowed some from Auntie Soon-i’s house to make the side dish. Once, Nam-woon, who was watching from the side, offered to do it himself, but he was only given a warning to stay still.

Soon-i asked curiously.

“But Seo-oh seems to have taken a liking to cooking lately? He’s trying a lot of new foods?”

“That’s right.”

Se-han’s dining table, which used to revolve around kimchi, has become more diverse. Seo-oh has been diligently experimenting with new recipes inspired by the YouTube channel “Harmonious Family, Warm Table.”

“Why the sudden interest? Did something happen between you two?”

“Us?”

As Auntie Soon-i’s eyes sparkled and she nodded, an inappropriately vivid memory of him and Seo-oh flashed in Nam-woon’s mind. He quickly shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

With the cucumbers in hand, Nam-woon headed straight home. He soaked them in the sink, scrubbing them thoroughly, wanting to prep all the ingredients before Seo-oh returned.

Is rinsing with water enough?

Seo-oh had not yet returned from his part-time job after school, and Se-han had not returned from the Taekwondo gym. He was probably busy. Recently, Se-han had been playing dodgeball or soccer with the older classmates at the dojo after Taekwondo.

Where is Jin Hae-geon, anyway?

Nam-woon frowned and brought up a topic he had kept in the back of his mind. In fact, he didn’t really want to think about Jin Hae-geon. He didn’t even know his face, but thinking about the main character, who was clearly much better than him, didn’t make him feel good.

Do I really have to meet Jin Hae-geon? Can’t I just live like this…

He’d been indifferent at first, but now, picturing Jin Hae-geon standing beside Seo-oh made his chest tighten as if he’d truly become the villain Seok Nam-woon. According to the novel, Kwon Sang-moon would be found by Jin Hae-geon. If he and Seo-oh failed to find Kwon Sang-mun, they’d inevitably need Jin Hae-geon.

Seo-oh needs Jin Hae-geon. Not me.

Nam-woon, feeling a bit down, picked up a knife and was cutting the cucumbers when the door opened. Seo-oh’s hands were full of bags, perhaps from stopping by the supermarket on the way. Nam-woon quickly took the bags from him and placed them on the floor.

“If you’re going to the mart, take my card.”

“It’s fine.”

Seo-oh, having put his backpack down against the wall, approached the sink. He glanced over at the counter, his expression darkening as he looked back at Nam-woon.

“Hyung, I told you I was going to make cucumber kimchi.”

“Uh? Yeah.”

“Then what did you do to them?!”

Nam-woon looked down at the cutting board. The cucumbers were sliced into thin, round pieces, as if for a facial mask. When did I cut them like this? As he hesitated in confusion, Seo-oh frowned.

“Just stay still. Don’t touch anything else.”

“Okay…”

As Seo-oh heads toward the bathroom, Nam-woon calls after him.

“Hey, Seo-oh.”

Nam-woon hesitated and asked quietly,

“Um, have you heard from your dad?”

…No, why?”

“You asked the errand center to take care of something, just in case.”

“No contact.”

Seo-oh answered with a slightly sullen face.

“Tell me if he calls. Ah, and—”

Nam-woon paused, then cautiously added.

“By any chance, is there someone at your school named Jin…”

[! WARNING! Mentioning the main protagonist violates Fair Play rules. Character recognition may fluctuate. (Initials or alternative phrasing are also prohibited!)]

The system, making a rare appearance, lectured about “Fair Play.” It was absurd—the concept of “fair play” clashed with the system like oil and water. Realizing he couldn’t ask directly about Jin Hae-geon, Nam-woon tried rephrasing

“Is there anyone good-looking at your school?”

At those words, Seo-oh scrunched up his face.

“I told you not to be interested in the kids at school.”

“I was just curious.”

“So, why are you curious?”

Seo-oh tilted his head sharply. The atmosphere shifted abruptly, taking on the vibe of a back-alley thug shaking someone down for money. Nam-woon chose his words carefully:

“I was just wondering if there was anyone as good-looking as you.”

“…As good-looking as me?”

Seo-oh’s expression turned strange. He pouted, stared at the floor, sighed, and then finally spoke:

“Am I good-looking?”

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Nam-woon stayed silent. Seo-oh pressed him.

“Why aren’t you answering? Or am I ugly?”

“No, you’re good-looking!”

Nam-woon replied hastily, but Seo-oh’s expression wasn’t good, as if he thought Nam-woon was just saying it to appease him.

“Fine. You think I’m not good-looking.”

“What? Why do you think that?”

“You said it last time. You said my face was just so-so.”

Did I ever say that? I don’t even remember saying it, but he remembers something like that? Nam-woon chuckled and replied,

“Ah, nonsense. I think you’re pretty—”

“Huh?”

“…….”

Shit. The words that slipped out before he could stop them were aimed at Seo-oh’s sulky face. Worse, he’d said “pretty,” not “handsome” since when did guys call other guys pretty? With the system silent after the level-up, no one intervened to save him. Burning with shame, Nam-woon screamed internally. Seo-oh stared at him wide-eyed before blurting

“Pretty?”

“…….”

Since it’s already like this, let’s go all in. If I pretend I said it wrong and try to correct it, the atmosphere will get even weirder. Nam-woon, as usual, tried to play it off as a joke.

“What’s so surprising? Anyone younger than me is just cute.”

He deliberately pivoted to the safer, more universal term “cute.”

After all, Kwon Seo-oh was a main lead of course he was exceptionally attractive. Handsome and pretty, tall with great proportions. He had it all. Nam-woon’s words made Kwon Seo-oh’s face turn bright red. He was trying to lighten the mood, but his reaction made it even stranger. Instead of lightening the mood, Seo-oh’s face flushed crimson.

“…Hyung likes pretty things?”

“Who doesn’t?”

He did his best to act as if it wasn’t an issue. Seo-oh then asked.

“So you like pretty and big, then?”

Is that how it works? Nam-woon gave an awkward nod.

Suddenly, Seo-oh covered his mouth with his palm and bowed his head. For a split second, Nam-woon thought he heard a muffled “That’s me.”

A moment later, Seo-oh lowered his hand. Avoiding eye contact, he stared at the floor and spoke rapidly.

“Hyung’s really greedy. With such high standards, what’ll you do? No ordinary person could ever satisfy you.”

“Guess so.”

It really was a big deal, just as he said. After living with Seo-oh and Se-han every day, it seemed like his standards had naturally risen. It would be too sad if he didn’t meet anyone in the future, just as he hadn’t met anyone before. Then, Seo-oh said,

“Just don’t think about meeting other people.”

“Why?” 

Nam-woon stared at him, and Seo-oh added.

“Just don’t think about meeting someone else.”

Is he cursing me now? Nam-woon stared blankly. Seo-oh added.

“Trying to find someone at your level would just waste your time. You’d end up with someone who doesn’t measure up and break up right away.”

“Why? What’s my level?”

“Do I really have to spell it out?”

“I’m decent, aren’t I?”

“That’s what you think. And don’t do blind dates either. They say it’s hard to meet your ideal type even after a hundred blind dates.”

Nam-woon hadn’t even considered blind dates. When Nam-woon didn’t reply, Seo-oh pressed him.

“Huh? Got it, Hyung?”

“Seriously. Hey, then you shouldn’t either. You can’t tell me not to date and then go on blind dates yourself—that’d be so disloyal if you…”

“Fine. I won’t either.”

Seo-oh cut him off before he could finish. Nam-woon instantly regretted it. Did I just accidentally forbid him? This mutual policing felt strange. Still, it was better than Seo-oh sulking.

Seo-oh turned his back, his face red, and said he would go wash up, but then he turned around and added,

“Hyung, just so you know, there’s no one at school more handsome or prettier than me. I’m the best. I’m also the tallest.”

It was a self-promotion full of incredible confidence.