novelraw Chapter 109 : Grandfather's Birthday Present (1)
Chapter 109 : Grandfather's Birthday Present (1)
"Calling people by their family name and given name is something I consider putting distance between you and the other person."
As Lee Yu-jin laid out her argument logically, Su-hyeon rubbed his chin.
"Hmm."
'This is just my speech habit.'
More precisely, it was a speech habit of the original Jeong Su-hyeon.
"I always call you Su-hyeon by your name."
"That's true."
But isn't it the case that she's not the only one who calls him by his full name?
'Hong In-hyeon does that too.'
Despite Su-hyeon's doubt, Yu-jin was determined to achieve her goal this time.
"We're in the same class, sit next to each other, have a Class President and Vice President relationship, and spar together frequently like this..."
Yu-jin's face became increasingly red as she listed various justifications.
'This is embarrassing. What if he thinks I'm weird?'
But that was one thing and this was another.
"Hmm."
"Is it difficult?"
"It's not really difficult."
Su-hyeon felt strangely awkward now that he was conscious of it.
"Everything is difficult at first, but once you do it, it's no big deal."
Yu-jin exuded a strange forcefulness.
"Go ahead. Why don't you try calling me Yu-jin?"
Feeling pressured, Su-hyeon stepped back slightly and stammered.
"Yu, Yu, Yu..."
Under her steady gaze, Su-hyeon scratched his cheek and avoided eye contact.
"...Unusually nice weather today."
"......"
Yu-jin's lips protruded in a pout.
"Fine. Su-hyeon can do whatever he wants."
"Hmm."
Su-hyeon cleared his throat.
"I'll try to work on it."
"...Okay."
Still, wasn't it nice that he was willing to make an effort for her?
A smile played at the corners of Yu-jin's lips.
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At that time.
Nam Tae-hoon, having roughly finished his training, headed to Paul Baguette as usual to kill his boring evening time.
"Oh?"
"What, you're here too?"
And there, he found Kwon Seung-yeon in training clothes ordering an Americano.
"Finished working out?"
"Yeah, just now."
"...But isn't Americano usually something you drink before exercising? As a booster."
"Ah, I did drink one, of course. I'm just here to drink another one."
"You can still sleep after drinking that much?"
"Try exercising with Su-hyeon. You'd pass out even after five cups."
Seung-yeon shuddered.
"Am I crazy? I absolutely won't."
Tae-hoon stuck his hands in his pockets and looked at the menu, then suddenly thought.
'He was super frugal at the beginning of the semester, but I guess he's become quite comfortable lately thanks to Su-hyeon.'
He thought that if it were Su-hyeon, he might have made such a suggestion knowing Seung-yeon's circumstances.
"Since Su-hyeon is done with you, he must be sparring with Yu-jin now."
"Probably?"
"Doesn't he spar with Hwang Ji-su?"
"Seems like he does occasionally. Same with A-yun."
"I see."
The two were classmates and also secretly business partners with Su-hyeon.
They had become comfortable with each other like male and female friends who bicker with each other.
"Want to sit for a bit?"
"Sure."
The two received their coffee and sat by the window.
"Su-hyeon has become really popular these days. When I walk with him, I can hear people whispering all the way from here."
At Tae-hoon's words, Seung-yeon shrugged as if it wasn't news.
"Hey, but Su-hyeon was always mentioned whenever girls talked about handsome guys, even before."
"Well, that's true."
If Seo Jun-seong had a sharp image with a flower boy feel,
Su-hyeon, with his taller height, broad build, and cool, handsome face, was popular for a quite different charm.
"Has he not received any confessions separately yet?"
Seung-yeon muttered to herself.
"When I saw him the other day, it looked like he was receiving one from someone in Class 2."
At Tae-hoon's following words, she was greatly shocked.
"What? Really?"
"I don't know, he didn't tell me the details. But that's how it looked."
"Wow. Well, well. They say the quiet cat climbs up to the stove first."
"But it doesn't seem like they're dating?"
"Oh, really?"
Seung-yeon, who had been strangely excited, became calm again.
"Why is your reaction so intense?"
"What, man. What. Shut up."
Thump!
Seung-yeon's elbow, sharp like a plow blade, grazed Tae-hoon's ribs.
"Ow!"
After feeling his side to check if it was broken, Tae-hoon slightly changed the topic.
"But have you never received a confession?"
"Since when? After entering the academy?"
"What? Do you react like that to this question?"
Tae-hoon shook his head, saying that popular people are different.
"Is it like you had a lot before and still have a lot now, something like that?"
"No, not to that extent."
Seung-yeon waved her hands, saying that while there seem to be some who subtly show interest, it's nowhere near being considered popular.
"What about you? Have you received any confessions since coming here?"
"Well, I've received countless."
Tae-hoon said.
"Huh, really?"
"You can't count zero..."
"Ah..."
Seung-yeon became solemn and quietly drank her Americano.
Slurp.
"By the way, that guy Su-hyeon, is it because his image is too cool? It seems like girls have a hard time approaching him."
"There is that feeling."
Seung-yeon nodded.
"He talks little, has no gaps, is cool. He has a kind of mysterious image, right?"
"But if you get to know him, he's actually quite quirky."
"......"
Recalling times when he would enter gym rat mode or start a smuggling business with overflowing eccentricity, Seung-yeon nodded again.
"That's true."
'And he has a ton of secrets too.'
Tae-hoon chuckled, saying he still doesn't know the limits of that guy.
"Is that the mysteriousness that attracts them?"
"What's with your tone just now, Nam Tae-hoon?"
"No, not me!"
Tae-hoon flared up.
"I'm saying this because there seem to be quite a few girls who have feelings for that guy."
"Hmm."
Seung-yeon folded her arms and rolled her eyes toward the ceiling.
"There's definitely something between him and Yu-jin."
"Right? Yu-jin's reactions are clearly different from how she acts with other guys."
"Doesn't Hwang Ji-su also show a lot of awareness of him?"
"Uh, well. That's true, but it doesn't seem like she 'likes him!' in that way?"
"Really? I think differently, but let's say that's the case."
Tae-hoon grinned.
"What about you?"
"Me? What about me?"
Seung-yeon unconsciously touched the corners of her mouth, wondering if her expression had wavered.
'Oh boy.'
Tae-hoon couldn't hide his bitter smile as he watched her.
'Jeong Su-hyeon, you're quite skilled.'
Perhaps the only fortunate thing was that there seemed to be no room for emotional exchange with Choi Mina.
'Wait. Come to think of it, didn't she thank Su-hyeon once this time?'
Even though it was just that much,
Tae-hoon was bothered by the inexplicable magic that Su-hyeon possessed.
'Huh? I'm getting angry...'
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The birthday of the Sword God Lee Un-hak was a big event where his entire clan gathered to celebrate.
On this day, when not only hunters but also members of the Execution Force, corporate heads, and high-ranking politicians would crowd in,
Lee Yu-jin, his direct granddaughter, naturally couldn't miss attending.
As a result, she was going to take a special off-campus leave on Sunday, which was allowed only three times per semester, provided there were reasons such as family events.
But before that, she had one thing to prepare:
"What kind of gift should I buy?"
She couldn't exactly go to her grandfather's birthday empty-handed.
"Grandfather wouldn't have anything he couldn't buy due to lack of money. Most common things have already been given every year, so they'd be duplicates. I don't know what to buy."
"Hmm."
Song Yu-ha, who had been listening to Yu-jin's concerns with her arms folded, had her eyes light up.
"This is an opportunity!"
At the sudden remark, Yu-jin tilted her head.
"What kind of opportunity?"
"Oh my, my poor friend."
Yu-ha thumped her chest as if exasperated.
"You've got a justification now, a justification!"
"Justification?"
"To go shopping together!"
At this, the swordswoman's eyes flashed sharply.
"I see!"
"Now you understand, my disciple."
Yu-ha nodded with satisfaction.
"You may descend from the mountain now."
"Thank you."
Yu-jin bowed her head and, like drawing a sword, deftly pulled out her phone.
-Su-hyeon
-Are you free this Saturday?
-I want to buy a birthday present for my grandfather but I'm not sure what to get
-(dog emoji with hands clasped and eyes sparkling)
'Perfect.'
After re-reading the message she sent, Yu-jin nodded with satisfaction.
"What did you send?"
Yu-ha, who read the message from behind Yu-jin, chuckled.
"Our Yu-jin has grown up, all grown up."
"Is it okay?"
"Yes. It's crisp, isn't it?"
The combined romantic experience of the advisor and the advised was zero.
"Hmm."
Su-hyeon, who received Yu-jin's message while resting, fell into thought.
'The Sword God's birthday, huh.'
In truth, the atmosphere in that household was not as entirely pleasant as others might think, in Su-hyeon's opinion.
'Though compared to Hwang Ji-su's household, they're angels.'
The Sword God's endless obsession and aspiration for the realm of the sword.
The expectations he held for Yu-jin.
These things had subtly pressured and pushed Yu-jin's self-identity since she was young.
'It's much better now, but the reason Yu-jin was considered weaker in improvisation compared to Hwang Ji-su was largely due to that.'
He needed to talk about that once.
'Most likely, Yu-jin will bring it up first after she comes back from there.'
Having finished his thoughts, Su-hyeon sent a reply.
-After morning training on Saturday, I do have a few hours free
-Let's meet then
As if she had been waiting, a reply came back immediately.
-Yes
-Thank you Su-hyeon
-(dog emoji bowing its head)
"Heh."
Su-hyeon chuckled, thinking she secretly likes cute emoticons.
"Hey, what's with you?"
Nam Tae-hoon narrowed his eyes seeing Su-hyeon like that.
"What."
"Who are you texting that's making you grin? A girl?"
"It's not like that."
"It's not? It totally is!"
Tae-hoon jumped up.
"Last time you were texting Senior Lim Eun-seo, and now? This guy is a total scoundrel!"
"That senior is just a business relationship."
Su-hyeon pointed out his relationship with Lim Eun-seo, who was helping the smuggling operation by renting part of her workshop as storage.
"Shut up! That's quite a plausible excuse!"
But it wasn't enough to quell Tae-hoon's outburst.
"Some people haven't even been able to text Mi, Mina yet!"
"You're all in the same group chat anyway, just send her a private message."
"How could I do such a shameless thing!"
Nam Tae-hoon, unexpectedly a man of pure heart.
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
And so, Saturday.
Having finished roll call and morning exercise, Su-hyeon was at the clock tower, dressed in neatly prepared civilian clothes.
"Su-hyeon!"
Yu-jin, who had put a lot of effort into her appearance in various ways, spotted him from a distance and ran over.
"Sorry, did you wait long?"
"No. I just got here too."
"That's good."
Then she cleared her throat.
"So, then."
"Shall we go?"
"Ah! Yes."
When Su-hyeon immediately started walking, Yu-jin quickly followed behind.
'That gentleman prefers something else.'
In fact:
Su-hyeon probably knew better than Seung-yeon what kind of gift the Sword God would like.
'Though he'd like anything his granddaughter gives him.'
Nevertheless:
He had specific items he particularly liked.
'Neckties with colors and patterns he hasn't seen before.'
The Sword God has unusually good fashion sense for a man of his age.
"I think something like a wallet, necktie, or shoes might be good."
"Yes, I guess that would be good?"
"Let's look around."
There was one tailor shop on campus that was mainly used by Instructors and assistants.
'I shouldn't find something too quickly.'
Yu-jin felt slightly troubled as she looked around.
Why hide it?
She had even worn Converse shoes for better mobility, prepared to walk around the entire campus today.
"Um, my grandfather also likes unexpected gifts."
Yu-jin offered this laboriously found justification, and Su-hyeon tilted his head.
"Really?"
"Yes. So I think it would be good to look around at various things before going to the tailor shop."
"...Okay."
Su-hyeon nodded without any suspicion.
"Ah, by the way, are you thirsty?"
"Thirsty?"
"Yes. Since we'll be walking a lot, I thought it might be good to have some coffee."
"!"
Seeing Su-hyeon's eyes light up, Yu-jin quietly clenched her fist.
'Good!'
"Should we? We do have some time anyway..."
"Yes. Then shall we go to Paul Baguette?"
"Sounds good."
As it happened, Paul Baguette was in the opposite direction from the tailor shop, which was certainly no coincidence.
[Got it? Drag out the time as much as possible by going around in circles. Sit on benches and rest a bit too. You know what I mean? Let's be like taxi drivers who take the long route to overcharge!]
'Yu-ha, I'll do well.'
Yu-jin's fighting spirit blazed.
'I need to do one more routine in the afternoon.'
Su-hyeon secretly checked his watch to gauge the remaining time.
Whose will would emerge victorious remained to be seen.