novelraw Chapter 274 : Chapter 274
Chapter 274 : Chapter 274
Chapter 274: Christmas (3)
After pondering for a long time with her head resting on the sofa, Ji-an suddenly raised her head.
A light bulb seemed to appear above her head.
“This is it!”
She shot up from the sofa and went to her room.
No, she tried to go.
But before she could, So-hee quickly snatched Ji-an’s wrist.
So-hee, who had been struggling to find a suitable gift, asked in a subtle tone, hoping to get a small hint.
“What are you going to do?”
Ji-an, as if intoxicated by victory, puffed up her nose proudly.
“Hmm. Should I tell you, or shouldn't I?”
“It would be troublesome if we overlap. We should at least share that much.”
It was a plausible enough reason, so Ji-an nodded.
Of course, she found it hard to believe So-hee would come up with the same idea as her, but you never know.
She bent down and whispered into So-hee’s ear.
A perfect plan, and a gift.
Ho-cheol would surely be moved to tears of joy... maybe not tears, but he would certainly love the gift.
She was that confident.
However, So-hee’s expression upon hearing the gift was not good at all.
Her face twisted subtly, and she sighed.
Then, she tapped the spot on the sofa where Ji-an had just been sitting.
“If that's the best you can do, I don't know, but if not, worry about it more.”
Ji-an, who had been smiling triumphantly just a moment ago, flinched.
“I-is it bad?”
“Should I answer with a wrapper on it, or should I answer honestly?”
“Both...”
So-hee pressed her forehead with her fingertip.
“The answer with the minimum wrapper would be, Are you crazy— And if I answer honestly, This is insane— roughly.”
“They’re the same thing!”
“Because it was so crazy that even the minimum wrapper was impossible.”
It was such a bizarre taste that her head began to throb just from hearing about it.
Ji-an cried out as if wronged.
“What’s wrong with a necklace!”
Fortunately, the sign on Ho-cheol’s door was not just a simple sign; it possessed the Trait of sound absorption, so even if she raised her voice considerably, he wouldn't hear it.
“It's not just a necklace. No, it's not even a typical jewel. To insist on setting it with a jewel made of coagulated blood... I find it strange that I even have to convince you.”
Where should she even begin to point out the flaws?
No, pointing them out felt wrong in itself.
“Since Mister has unique tastes, wouldn't it match him too?”
“Absolutely not.”
So-hee was certain.
While Ho-cheol’s tastes were far from ordinary, he merely pursued extreme practicality and refrained from unnecessary consumption.
His aesthetic sense or taste was absolutely not as warped as Ji-an's.
She sighed repeatedly at Ji-an, who was still fixated on the blood jewel.
In truth, if Ji-an prepared a ridiculously foolish gift, there was a high chance that her own relatively sensible gift would be highlighted.
She had been harboring a slightly malicious thought to use that difference to score points with Ho-cheol.
But this was too much.
“Absolutely not. It needs to be practical, simple, not extravagant, and feel sincere. That is the best approach, and this doesn't apply to any of those criteria.”
At best, she might get some points for sincerity, but it was obvious that she would lose points in other areas beyond that.
Ji-an pondered for a moment, then struck her palm with her fist.
“How about a marriage registration form that just needs Mister's seal? It's the best gift: extremely practical, simple, and not extravagant!”
“Haa.”
So-hee sighed again.
It was embarrassing enough that she, too, had the same thought for a very brief moment, only to be mocked by Ji-an's immature idea.
And the fact that this was Ji-an’s level of thinking was humiliating.
“Anyway, that’s not it.”
“Ing...”
After that, she came up with a few more ideas, but all were shot down.
She had no choice but to fall back into deep contemplation.
After more time had passed, Ho-cheol opened his door and came out to the living room.
No matter how obsessed he was with preparing gifts by staying cooped up in his room all day, he wasn't the type to skip meal times.
He flinched when he saw Ji-an lying upside down on the sofa and So-hee lying horizontally, using Ji-an’s belly as a pillow.
“...What’s going on?”
Why are they suddenly like this?
Surely they weren't this depressed just because he hadn't shown his face for a few hours, were they?
Feeling a strange sense of guilt, he scratched the back of his neck.
“What about dinner?”
“Ah. Dinner.”
Only then did the two realize Ho-cheol’s presence, barely lifting their heads to look at him.
However, only their gaze was directed at him; their minds were clearly preoccupied elsewhere.
“Well. Let’s just eat anything.”
Ji-an nodded at So-hee’s unenthusiastic mumble.
“Alright.”
Ho-cheol replied, looking puzzled by their unprecedented reaction.
This is a new move I haven't seen before.
What is that?
Are they scheming something else again?
“Did you cause trouble?”
“No. Just. It's nothing.”
Ji-an shook her head at Ho-cheol's question.
How could she answer, We’re just agonizing over gifts, Mister?
“Really? Well, anyway, clear your schedules two weeks from now. Wednesday and Thursday. About two days.”
Both their bodies flinched simultaneously.
Two weeks from now.
They didn't even need to think about what day that was.
“You don't have any prior engagements or schedules, do you?”
Both shouted with bright expressions, without waiting for the other.
“Ah, well, I have nothing to do then, so it’s fine.”
“Me too! My schedule is open too!”
Ho-cheol let out a hollow laugh at their response.
While So-hee, who was constantly working for the Association, could appropriately use the phrase clear their schedules, did Ji-an, who was essentially a complete freeloader, need to specify that her time was open?
“Alright.”
***
Two weeks of superficial peace passed, and finally, Christmas Eve dawned.
Ho-cheol took the steering wheel after a long time.
There was a brief battle of wills over who would take the passenger seat, but they eventually agreed that So-hee would take it on the way back, so Ji-an took the seat next to Ho-cheol this time.
“So, where are we going? What are we going to do? How far are we going?”
Ji-an chattered, clearly showing her joy.
“It's nothing grand. I just thought it would be nice to spend some meaningful time with you guys, since it is a somewhat special day.”
“That's so, so nice!”
Since Ho-cheol, whose expression was quite dry despite his sincerity, was talking like this, not only Ji-an but So-hee couldn't help but show considerable anticipation in their eyes.
Where on earth were they going?
A fancy restaurant?
A splendid hotel?
A street for couples with a large Christmas tree?
They thought of all sorts of special places one could only enjoy on Christmas.
Although it was a slight disappointment that it wasn't just the two of them, Ho-cheol had chosen them for Christmas, after all.
The place they arrived at after driving for a long time was...
“...Ah?”
“This is...”
It was a place both So-hee and Ji-an remembered.
And it was a completely unexpected location.
The building and the sign visible in the distance.
It was the foster care facility where the Twins were staying.
“Why here?”
At Ji-an’s confused question, Ho-cheol unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the car door.
“I told you. We’re going to spend meaningful time.”
Ho-cheol motioned with his chin, looking at the two who were completely frozen.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and get out.”
Taking the two slumped individuals, they entered through the back door.
Hye-jin, who had been contacted beforehand and was waiting, welcomed them.
“Professor. You really came!”
“Do I call and say I'm coming as a fake? Besides, I promised I would come once more before the year ends.”
He had promised the Twins and the children at the facility that he would definitely come once more before the year ended, and he had come to keep that promise.
And if possible, it was more rewarding to come with several people than alone.
He definitely did not bring them as scapegoats because he found it hard to handle all the children by himself.
“...Truthfully, even when people promise to come again, most of them never show up.”
Hye-jin muttered with a slightly wistful expression.
But she quickly returned to her naturally gentle tone and welcomed So-hee and Ji-an, who were standing behind Ho-cheol.
“Welcome.”
“Hello.”
“Yes.”
They forced a smile.
Of course, they were disappointed, but they weren't so inconsiderate as to overtly show that emotion in front of Hye-jin.
Following Hye-jin’s guidance, they secretly entered the Director’s Office, avoiding the children’s sight.
He pointed alternately at the crimson and light brown clothes hanging on the coat rack.
“We have two outfits here: a Rudolph outfit and a Santa outfit. The two of you figure it out and wear them.”
Beyond simple volunteer work, costumes appropriate for the Christmas concept were also prepared.
So-hee narrowed her brow and asked Ho-cheol, as if challenging him.
“...Then, are you seriously going to wear nothing, Ho-cheol Mister?”
If Ho-cheol insisted on wearing his ordinary clothes, there was no reason for her to wear that uncomfortable Santa outfit.
“Me...”
Ho-cheol gave a wry smile.
I'd rather take those two.
“Christmas or not, I’m stuck with the Dinosaur Outfit.”
When he first came, he wore the Dinosaur Outfit without thinking much, and now he was properly hooked.
In the letters the children sent last time, Ho-cheol’s name was absent; they all addressed him as Dinosaur Uncle—or Dinosaur Older Brother.
The two people simultaneously reached for the Santa outfit.
So-hee tightly grabbed both of Ji-an’s shoulders, forcibly twisting her lips into a smile.
“I yielded the passenger seat earlier, so why don't you yield the clothes?”
“We agreed to switch when we return. Noooo!”
Both instinctively realized that wearing the Rudolph outfit would lead to a bad time, so a struggle broke out over the Santa outfit.
Eventually, So-hee was the winner.
The Rudolph outfit, due to the critical problem that the chest area was too tight for So-hee, meant that Ji-an, who was relatively smaller-sized, had no choice but to wear it, shedding tears of blood.
Ho-cheol followed, donning the Dinosaur Outfit and heading toward the playroom where the children were staying.
In one hand, he dragged a heavy gift bundle.
Since it was Christmas, he had naturally prepared gifts.
“...Didn't you say you didn't have money?”
“I found a way.”
With his already tight financial situation, he had no choice but to dip into the tribute money from his organization, which he normally had no interest in.
The operating funds of the Villain organization were essentially the Boss’s personal stash.
Ho-cheol subtly checked the inside of the playroom through the window on the door and asked Hye-jin with reluctance.
“It’s Christmas, but the kids’ atmosphere is like a funeral house.”
“Christmas isn't exactly a welcome sight for these children.”
Hye-jin had tried to create an atmosphere by preparing a Christmas tree and other things for Christmas, but the reality was colder and harsher than winter.
Since they had never experienced or could empathize with the joyous and happy families and ordinary routines constantly broadcast in the media, Christmas was simply a cold day for them, where only the snacks were slightly more abundant.
“...That is. Quite unfortunate.”
Indeed, the tree set up in the corner was alone, blinking its little lights, with no one around it.
Only then did So-hee and Ji-an look inside the window with pitiful expressions.
They felt a little ashamed of themselves for complaining just moments ago that they weren't happy for a single moment, despite having happiness every day.
If they continued like this for a few years, they would become so emotionally dry, like their past selves, that they would even forget Christmas existed.
Ho-cheol found that state of affairs unacceptable.
Although he couldn't create the best Christmas every year.
He should at least make this year one they would never forget.
Having resolved this, Ho-cheol stepped back one pace.
Bang—!
He roughly kicked the door open, making it sound like it would fall off, and strode inside through the opened space.
The children, who hadn't yet understood the situation, merely stared at Ho-cheol with wide, round eyes.
At their reaction, Ho-cheol let out a small snort.
“Why is it so quiet? I came wearing the Dinosaur Outfit because you whined so much for me to come.”
He lifted the heavy gift bundle.
“I have gifts too.”
The children, who finally understood the situation, one by one got up and rushed toward Ho-cheol, cheering.
However, they weren't greeting the gifts.
Well, they were gifts, but not the gifts Ho-cheol was holding.
Ho-cheol's visit itself was the best gift.
He organized the swarming children, crouched down, and handed out the gifts.
It was normally the job of Santa to give out such gifts, but since he bought them with his own money, he figured he could take this much credit.
So-hee looked surprised upon seeing the gifts taken out of the bundle.
“The gifts are surprisingly sensible?”
She had expected Ho-cheol to activate his typical old-man sentimentality and buy a bunch of old-fashioned tops, tangrams, puzzles, or wisdom rings.
Surprisingly, they were branded toys that modern kids would like.
Ho-cheol turned his gaze backward and grumbled.
“Is my image really that bad?”
“Because your tastes are that old.”
“Not old, classic. And those kids will understand later when they get older. Those specific character toys you press are all fiction.”
Contrary to his expectation that everyone would happily take their gifts and play, they barely unwrapped the packaging, left the gifts where they were, and rushed toward Ho-cheol again.
The children already clinging to his arms, and the endless line behind them, made Ho-cheol feel only terror.
He hastily turned around and pointed at So-hee and Ji-an.
No, at Santa and Rudolph.
“Now, some of you go play by tormenting those two.”
He had no intention of dying alone.