CHAPTER 187: ROLE MODEL

YEJUN was kicked out of the house.

Well, Wonhee’s first mission into helping him recover had always ended. Hence, they had no more reasons to sleep together.

But that wasn’t the reason he was kicked out.

[Wonhee hates me now...]

Yejun clutched his chest tightly.

[It hurts...]

"Son, is that you?"

Oh.

Yejun raised his head before he stood up and bowed his head. "Welcome back, Abeoji."

Yes— the person who found him sitting pitifully in front of the huge gate of his parents’ house was his father.

"Why are you waiting here when you don’t even need a key to enter our house?" his father asked worriedly. "Are you hurt? Did something happen..." His father trailed off, and then he gently patted him on the shoulder. "Let’s come in first. Have you eaten yet?"

Yejun followed his father inside the house. "I have no appetite, Abeoji. Where’s Eomma?"

"Your mother went to APA to give a report since APA demands to know where we have been for the past few days," his father said, heading straight to the kitchen. "I came home first because, you know, I don’t get along well with Kwon Jiwoong. Seeing his face makes me feel the urge to punch... something."

"Kwon Jiwoong’s face looks like a punching bag, indeed."

His father coughed to hold back his laughter. "Sit down, son. I’ll make kimchi fried rice for you. You like my kimchi fried rice, don’t you?"

Yejun sat down on the chair before he answered. "I’m sorry, but I don’t remember anymore, Abeoji."

Even before he snapped, he already had a slightly estranged relationship with his parents.

[It’s because I was always raiding dungeons alone.]

"Then this is the perfect opportunity for me to remind you how much you like my kimchi fried rice, son."

Oh.

Yejun was relieved when his father didn’t get offended by what he said. "Okay, Abeoji."

While his father was cooking fried rice for him, he made some coffee for himself.

He did ask his father if he wanted a cup, but his father declined.

"Son, when did you learn to drink coffee? You only drink water and soju."

Yejun actually didn’t like coffee before, but Wonhee was obsessed with it. Hence, he soon found himself turning into a caffeine addict like she was.

["Even if Korea freezes because of the cold, I’ll still have my iced coffee."]

That was Wonhee’s life motto.

Yejun couldn’t help but smile after he remembered it.

"You looked like a kicked puppy earlier, but now you’re smiling," his father said while setting the table. "Did my question earlier remind you of someone?"

"Wonhee loves iced coffee, Abeoji."

"Ah, so you were influenced by her."

His father quickly prepared a plate full of kimchi fried rice for Yejun, and his father also put a fried egg on top of it.

"Thank you, Abeoji," Yejun said. "Are you not going to join me?"

His father sat on the chair opposite his before he opened his mouth. "Your mother and I had lunch together earlier, so I’m still full. I have to feed your mother before I send her off to APA to lessen the chance of her lashing out at Kwon Jiwoong."

"Abeoji and Eomma really get along well even after being married for almost thirty years. I envy you."

"You get along well with Wonhee, don’t you?"

"She hates me now, Abeoji."

"What did you do?"

"Abeoji, I’m your son. Why are you taking Wonhee’s side right away? Not that I’m complaining."

"Well, Wonhee has to have the patience of a saint to get along with you. A person like that doesn’t usually ’hate’ another person unless they are really hurt."

Yejun avoided his father’s questioning gaze. "I can’t tell Abeoji the details. But I hid something important from Wonhee and she caught me. She asked me why I hid it from her, and I said I did that because I wanted to protect her."

"Aigoo. You messed up big time, son."

He turned to his father. "Wonhee already explained to me why she was mad. But can you tell me why you think I messed up, Abeoji?"

"Protecting someone doesn’t mean you take away their right to decide for themselves thinking that you know better," his father said, sighing. "Son, I understand that you like Wonhee so you want to cherish her. But don’t treat her like a flower— she’s a person capable of thinking for herself. You need to be more supportive than protective. That’s how it should be."

"Just like Abeoji and Eomma?"

"Have you ever seen me treat your mother as if I was looking down on her?"

Yejun paused for a moment, the vague memories of his family in his head starting to get clearer now that he was thinking about them.

His mother had a weak constitution before the Outbreak.

[That’s why I’m an only child— my mother couldn’t handle another pregnancy.]

But even if his mother was physically weak before, Yejun didn’t remember his father making a fuss whenever his mother would drop things because of her trembling hands.

His father would let his mother pick up the stuff she dropped.

[But Abeoji would silently watch Eomma, and then secretly let out a sigh of relief once Eomma was done.]

Of course, there were times his father would lose his composure.

[Every time Eomma faints in the past, Abeoji would panic and burst into tears while rushing Eomma to the hospital. But whenever Eomma wakes up, Abeoji would act like he didn’t cried while begging the doctor to save his wife.]

When his mother awakened, her constitution had improved greatly.

[And Abeoji remains the same— he still respects Eomma and never made her feel inferior.]

Ah.

[I think I get it now.]

"Abeoji, did I look down on Wonhee?"

His father nodded carefully. "I don’t know what exactly happened, but I can tell that you treated Wonhee like a fragile glass. There are times that you must step up in order to protect your partner, especially if they are in danger. But don’t forget that your partner is your equal."

An equal.

[That’s right— Wonhee is my equal, so I disrespected her when I chose not to tell her the things she ought to know just because "I know better."]

"Abeoji."

"Yes, son?"

"I’m sorry, but I think I’m a bad son."

"Why?"

"If Eomma and Wonhee were both drowning and none of them could swim for whatever reason, then I’d save Wonhee first."

"Naturally."

"Huh? You’re not mad at me, Abeoji?"

"Your mother is my wife, and my wife is my responsibility— not yours," his father said, scoffing at Yejun’s question. "I’m sure your mother would be disappointed if you chose her over your wife. She didn’t raise you a mama’s boy."

"Abeoji..."

"But Wonhee isn’t your wife yet, so rein it in or you’ll scare her."

"Abeoji, Wonhee is the one— I want to marry her."

His father suddenly burst out laughing. "Why are you telling me that? Go and confess to Wonhee. But don’t propose to her yet— she’ll reject you."

"Wonhee likes me back, Abeoji."

"But not enough to marry you right away."

"Then what should I do first?"

"Beg for Wonhee’s forgiveness, son."

Oh, right.

"But first..." His father pushed his plate closer to him. "Eat first, son."

Yejun smiled and nodded, his appetite returning. "I’m famished."

***

FIFTEEN MINUTES.

Yool was embarrassed to admit that he spent fifteen minutes making out with Song Moonho.

He was afraid Graham would break down the door, but it didn’t happen.

[I think Ahjussi created a barrier so we wouldn’t be interrupted.]

And, after that...

[He left— just like that.]

Song Moonho didn’t say anything to Yool, and Yool didn’t say anything either.

[Because I feel like Ahjussi would disappear completely from my life had I said anything.]

But why...

[Do I not want Ahjussi to disappear when he’s nothing but a headache to me?]

"Yool-ah!"

Oh.

To say that Yool was shocked to see the door of the hotel penthouse burning down would be an understatement. "Graham-ssi, did you just burn down the door?"

"That doesn’t matter," Graham said dismissively while pouring some potion that extinguished the fire that he created. "I was trying to break down the door for ten minutes straight. Damn that old bastard and his sturdy barrier."

Ah, as expected.

[Ahjussi really put a barrier around the room.]

"Are you okay..." Graham trailed off, and then his face darkened when his eyes landed on Yool’s lips. "Did that old bastard force himself on you?"

Oh.

[My lips must still be swollen.]

Yool’s face burned when he remembered how Song Moonho kept on nibbling on his poor lips.

[And how I moaned into his mouth...]

Argh.

That was so embarrassing.

"Don’t worry, Yool-ah— I’ll hunt down that bastard for you."

"Forget it," Yool said dismissively. "Ahjussi didn’t force himself on me— I kissed him willingly."

[I even kissed him back as fervently as he did.]

Because he wasn’t a loser.

Anyway...

Why did Graham look at Yool as if he betrayed him, though?

***

THE LUCKY STAR.

Wonhee already knew that she was born under a Lucky Star, but she didn’t really understand what it meant.

She dismissed it before.

[But now I want to know everything behind my birth.]

"Before we talk more about your potential, can you tell me how you feel after taking a sip of my fruit shake, Wonhee-ya?"

"I feel refreshed," Wonhee said, turning to Bitna. "Like my Mana Tank is being refilled... oh."

Bitna smiled triumphantly. "That’s what we’re going to use to replace the Guides, Wonhee-ya."

’That?’

Wonhee looked at the glass in her hand, and then at Bitna. "Food?"

"Yes, food," Bitna said proudly. "It’s about time for the Culinary Hunters to make food that could replenish a Hunter’s Mana."

***

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