Chapter 1241. Reconsidering (1)

Chapter 1241. Reconsidering (1)

‘What’s this?’

Park Yu-Min’s eyes opened wider after stepping inside the Seongsim Orphanage. Although he wasn’t 100% sure, something about this place seemed to have changed.

Jo Mi-Hye greeted him first. “Oppa! You’re home.”

“Yeah, Mi-Hye. I’m home.”

“Your work must’ve been hectic, oppa. Seeing you come home so late at night and all.”

“Yeah, kinda.”

Park Yu-Min roughly scratched his head.

If he was being honest, though, his situation had gone way past the level of ‘hectic’ some time ago.

He might not fully appreciate the implication of what he had done, but the entire esports industry was treating his triumph as an unprecedented event unlikely to be repeated ever again.

Gaming journalists thirsting for a hot story were only too eager to sell this historic event. And the league, starving for attention-grabbing headlines, seized this opportunity with both hands. Which meant Park Yu-Min had been inundated with numerous interview requests and invites to countless events.

‘I’m gonna die at this rate.’

Park Yu-Min sighed under his breath. Giving out interviews and attending these flashy events would always be difficult for him. Chatting to strangers was one activity Park Yu-Min still found far too challenging for him, after all!

Yet he still bravely attended these events. Because he knew every one of such events could rekindle people’s interest in esports or even bring in new fans.

A veteran shouldn’t just obsess over their achievements all the time. One of the duties of a veteran should be to increase the size of the so-called pie for their juniors to share in the future, after all.

Jo Mi-Hye asked, “Are you going to stay the night, oppa?”

“No, I was stopping by to...

Eh

?”

Before Park Yu-Min could finish his reply, he noticed something.

Whiiiir...

That something was lazily getting closer to Park Yu-Min.

“...?”

He could only stare in a daze at this strange object seemingly making a beeline toward him. It was flat and roundish. Small, too. In a way, it could be called a bizarrely cute little thing.

“...Mi-Hye, what’s that?”

“

Ng

?” Jo Mi-Hye looked behind her when Park Yu-Min pointed at the incoming object. She grinned softly. “It’s a robot vacuum.”

“Okay, I can see that. But why is there a robot vacuum in here?”

That was when Park Yu-Min realized it wasn’t just a robot vacuum. Something large and white was spinning around by the corner of the living room, too.

“And what is that?”

Jo Mi-Hye casually replied, “An air purifier.”

“

Huh

?”

Park Yu-Min’s eyes opened even wider than before. Did a super-wealthy donor stop by at the orphanage recently?

Before he could finish his train of thoughts, though, the door to one of the rooms was abruptly yanked open, and a figure of a familiar person waltzed outside.

“...”

Her hair was tied up in a bun. Meanwhile, eye-catching flower patterns dotted her track pants. And there was an open packet of crisps in her hand, too.

“...Miss Yeon-Ha?”

Indeed, that person was none other than Choi Yeon-Ha, currently kitted out in probably the world’s most comfortable attire! She also discovered Park Yu-Min and cheerily waved her hand.

“Hey, Mister Yu-Min. You’re home.”

“...!”

Park Yu-Min’s eyes powerfully quaked. Why was that woman walking out of that specific room? While dressed as if this was her own home, no less?

“W-what are you doing here, Miss Yeon-Ha?”

“Oh, I thought I’d crash here for the night. It’s kinda boring at home, you see?”

Crash here for the night? Here??

More questions mushroomed in Park Yu-Min’s mind, but judging from her expression, Choi Yeon-Ha didn’t seem to be in the mood to explain herself.

Beeeep! Beeeeeep!

Park Yu-Min sobered up when he heard sharp beeping noises coming from the laundry.

Choi Yeon-Ha yelled loudly. “Hey, everyone! The laundry’s done!”

That yell prompted the doors to her left and right to yank open, and a crowd of kids rushed outside.

Park Yu-Min dazedly stared as the kids ran to the laundry and carried large piles of freshly laundered clothes outside.

“Woah, this is so warm.”

“Look how fluffy it is, too!”

“Hey, now. Hurry up and sort the laundry out already.”

The kids brought the washing to the center of the living room and sat in a circle around it before folding them into neat piles.

Choi Yeon-Ha nodded in approval. “That’s right. People should take care of their own things. How dare little punks like you ask the caregiver aunties to handle your laundry and laze around in your rooms? From now on, you are all responsible for your own laundry. Got that?”

“We do!”

“Also! If you don’t open the windows and let the air out once in a while just because you now have the air purifier...! If I ever catch you doing that, Imma take your laundry and hang them outside in the freezing weather, okay!”

“Yes, unnie!” Jo Mi-Hye instantly replied, her attitude full of discipline.

Park Yu-Min continued to observe this situation in a daze. His earlier questions of what had changed in the orphanage had been finally answered—things looked so much cleaner in here now.

Since dozens of kids shared this living space, it’d always have the hints of messiness no matter how many times it was cleaned. But now? Even those hints seemed to have completely disappeared in the matter of days!

Choi Yeon-Ha glanced at Han Jin-Seong next. “And you, Mister Exam Retaker.”

“Hang on a sec! I still haven’t decided on that, you know!”

Han Eun-Sol cried out as if he had been unfairly accused of a crime, but Choi Yeon-Ha coolly brushed his complaints aside.

“It’ll be better for you to give up on useless dreams, Mister Exam Retaker.”

“Argh, gimme a break...”

Choi Yeon-Ha tutted. “In any case! Isn’t it about time you move to the self-reliance wing?”

“It is, noona.”

“If the self-reliance wing looks like a pile of dogsh*t, your face will also turn into dogsh*t, okay? Keep that place spotless, got that!”

“...I will, noona.”

Park Yu-Min dazedly stared at Choi Yeon-Ha before chuckling helplessly. Anyone unaware looking at this scene might think Choi Yeon-Ha had been living here for at least a decade. She fit in here so naturally that even Park Yu-Min couldn’t find anything wrong!

‘That is amazing, alright.’

Actors, especially actresses, would inevitably care deeply about how others perceived them. Even a pro-gamer like Park Yu-Min felt a little self-conscious if people recognized him on the streets while wearing shabby clothes. Since that was the case, how much worse would it be for Choi Yeon-Ha?

Even then, she had no problem acting this way. Which could only mean she didn’t see these kids as strangers.

‘And that’s why these kids are obeying her like this.’

These orphans had been learning to read the room for at least a decade or so. They had become preternaturally good at seeing through people’s smiles and analyzing how the other party really felt about them.

However, Choi Yeon-Ha was not pretending. There was no facade here at all. Her actions and her thoughts were exactly the same!

Maybe her words or attitude could come across as abrasive and even forceful. Even then, she was doing it for these kids’ sake.

Most importantly, though, Choi Yeon-Ha clearly felt comfortable around these kids. No wonder the orphans could trust her.

Park Yu-Min took his shoes off and entered the living room, then asked Choi Yeon-Ha. “Where is Jin-Ho, though?”

“Sorry?”

“Didn’t you come with him?”

“No. He should be at home.”

In other words, she came here alone. Which made this situation even more remarkable in Park Yu-Min’s eyes.

He grinned brightly. No wonder she could handle someone like Kang Jin-Ho with such ease.

Park Yu-Min felt this gentle warmth seep into a corner of his heart just then for some reason. Unfortunately, though...

It seemed Choi Yeon-Ha’s emotion was a little different from his.

“Mister Yu-Min? You don’t seem all that interested in the orphanage’s situation these days.”

Park Yu-Min blinked his eyes. “I’m sorry?”

“Isn’t that why this kid here is re-taking the entrance exams?!”

Han Jin-Seong yelled back. “Argh! I told you, I haven’t decided on that yet!”

“You be quiet!” Choi Yeon-Ha easily crushed Han Jin-Seong’s rebellion with a sharp rebuke. “Just how bad were you at studying that you gotta retake those exams?”

“Hah?! What about you, then?! Which university did you go to, noona!”

“Me? I didn’t go to one.”

“...”

Choi Yeon-Ha struck a proud superhero pose and smirked. “Stuff like university degrees only mean something to people who need them to survive.”

“Holy cow... You haven’t even gone to a university. So what would you know?”

“Yup, I haven’t, because I don’t care. But you want to, and that’s why you’re retaking the exams!”

“

Argh

, stop it!”

Choi Yeon-Ha spouting that was already so painful, yet Han Jin-Seong being unable to deny it made this situation even more painful!

Then again, why would Choi Yeon-Ha need university degrees? When her looks were Mother Nature giving her all the degrees she’d need in life!

Park Yu-Min scanned the living room. “Where are the caregivers, though?”

“I sent them home.”

“Sorry?”

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Choi Yeon-Ha replied dismissively.

“Looking after little kids is a big job, you know? Aunties need time to rest up, too. I told them to go home since I’d be spending the night here.”

Park Yu-Min dazedly nodded away. How should he put this...?

This boldness and drive seemed to prove that she really was Kang Jin-Ho’s girlfriend.

Choi Yeon-Ha glanced at the kids. “You guys prefer that too, right?”

“Of course, unnie!”

“You staying with us is the best!”

Not just the girls, but even the boys nodded in agreement. They had no idea why, but being with Choi Yeon-Ha put them at ease.

“Be honored, you brats. I’m only here because my schedule has opened up a bit. Once I get busy again, spending the night here like this will become a pipe dream.”

“If that happens, we’ll come and visit you on the set instead.”

“Right! We’ll just hang out while you shoot your scenes and stuff!”

“Hoh-oh? You’re smarter than how you look, aren’t you?”

Choi Yeon-Ha smiled in satisfaction while patting Jo Mi-Hye’s head. The girl giggled like a happy little puppy.

“

Hmm

, how about this?” Choi Yeon-Ha curiously asked. “Before things get too hectic for me, how about we all go on a vacation together?”

“Really? To where, though?”

“How about... a ski resort?”

The eyes of the kids began sparkling brightly.

“A ski resort? And everyone will go together?”

“Yup. It should be fine since we have the caregiver aunties, right? Do you know how to ski, though?”

“Nope!”

“...I’ve never ridden one before.”

“Hah, what a bunch of pathetic fools.”

Choi Yeon-Ha loudly tutted.

“What about you, unnie? Are you good at skiing?”

“Nope. Never tried before.”

“...”

“...”

Park Yu-Min was now convinced that being this shameless was a talent in itself.

“Isn’t this great? Let’s all learn how to ski together! When does your school vacation start?”

Jo Mi-Hye quickly replied, “At the end of this month, unnie!”

“Great! Once the vacation starts, let’s all head to a nice ski resort together,” said Choi Yeon-Ha, before glancing at Park Yu-Min next. “You too, Mister Yu-Min. And Mister Jin-Ho, too.”

Park Yu-Min faltered slightly. “Ah, I’m... My schedule is...”

“Are you busy, Mister Yu-Min?”

“A little bit, yes.”

“Busier than me, though?”

“...!”

Park Yu-Min’s eyes powerfully quaked.

Of course he was busy. However, no matter how busy he was, would he be busier than Choi Yeon-Ha? Probably not.

Choi Yeon-Ha tutted again, this time much more loudly. “This is why you can’t trust a black-haired animal, kids. You heard him, right? Mister Park Yu-Min is too busy to spend time with you all. What can we do, though? We should be more understanding of his plight, right?”

“H-hang on! I’ll go, okay! I’ll find time somehow!”

Park Yu-Min raised the white flag before the glares of criticism could mercilessly stab him.

“

Hnng

~.” Choi Yeon-Ha chuckled softly. “I was just kidding. You don’t have to force yourself to go.”

“No, I want to go with you all. I’ve never been to a ski resort before, you see?”

“What’s this? Why is everyone so inexperienced in fun things?”

Park Yu-Min almost blurted out,

But you also haven’t been to a ski resort, Miss Choi Yeon-Ha!

“Ah, that’s right. The end of this month isn’t gonna work for me. I must compete in a tournament, you see.”

Choi Yeon-Ha nodded. “I see. Tell us when you have some wiggle room in your schedule. We’ll try to work something out.”

“Thank you.”

Park Yu-Min smiled brightly.

Wasn’t this weird? He lived his entire life in the orphanage. But it felt like Choi Yeon-Ha cared more about the orphans than he did.

‘Jin-Ho has a lot of good people around him, doesn’t he?’

Park Yu-Min felt his heart at ease when that realization dawned on him.

Choi Yeon-Ha scanned the kids in the living room. “Alright, everyone! Time for bed!”

“Already?”

She furrowed her brow at the chorus of whining.

“You know what the secret to maintaining good looks is? It’s sleep, okay? Go to bed early and wake up early too if you want to become good-looking. It’s the same story for studying, too. Idiots who study till dawn won’t get good grades. I mean, look.”

Han Jin-Seong groaned deeply when Choi Yeon-Ha pointed at him. “Yes, I’m so, so sorry. My crime deserves death.”

Choi Yeon-Ha ignored him and addressed the orphans. “Getting a good night’s sleep is the ticket to getting good grades. If you wanna play, do that in the morning, okay? For now, time to hit the sack, everyone.”

“Yes, unnie!”

“Let’s quickly finish folding the laundry and go to bed!”

The orphans carried their own laundry and returned to their rooms. Choi Yeon-Ha observed this scene, then nodded in approval.

“Mister Yu-Min?”

“Yes?”

“I’m going to bed now, too. You can see yourself out, yes?”

“...”

“Don’t forget to lock the door when you leave.”

“Oh, uh... Of course.”

“Okay. See you next time.”

Choi Yeon-Ha stepped back inside her room, the crisps packet still in her hands.

Park Yu-Min could only stare dazedly at the doorway to the girl’s room closing shut behind Choi Yeon-Ha.

Han Jin-Seong chuckled helplessly. “It’s gotten really lively, hasn’t it? Hyung?”

“...Yeah, it sure has.”

“Still,

mm

...” Han Jin-Seong sheepishly scratched his cheek. “I’m grateful. At Yeon-Ha noona, I mean.”

“Yeah, me too.”

Park Yu-Min had to nod in agreement.

The number of people stopping by to help out occasionally in the orphanage was surprisingly high. However, those who kept showing up without expecting any reward were far, far rarer. Even more so, if that person was at the level of Choi Yeon-Ha’s dedication.

‘She really is a good person.’

It almost felt like Park Yu-Min was looking at Kang Jin-Ho from a few years ago, back when he kept showing up at the orphanage and looked for something to do despite not getting anything in return for his troubles.

Although their methods weren’t the same, Choi Yeon-Ha was also a kind-hearted per—

That was when the door to the girls’ room suddenly flew open, and Choi Yeon-Ha began shouting.

“Hey, Mister Exam Retaker! Go to bed already! Or do you want to take the exams for the third time?!”

“

Aaaaaahk

! Stop it, noona! Stop! Seriously!”

...Maybe she wasn’t a kind-hearted person, after all.