# Chapter 3
Yeomin had been working part-time at the PC bang in front of the university for a year now. Though he had tried various part-time jobs since he was a minor, he’d never found one as sweet as this.
He used to work jobs that required physical labor with much higher hourly wages, but after realizing that medical bills cost more than what he earned, he decided to earn less and spend less.
As Yeomin rubbed his stiff body, Manager Cha asked, “What’s wrong? Did you sleep badly?”
“I slept on the floor.”
“Why would you sleep on the floor? Does your place even have a floor?”
It’s already sad being poor, and now he’s making fun of me. What gives him the right just because he’s the manager?
“A junior from my department is staying at my place.”
“So people actually visit your place.”
Manager Cha, who had once come to Yeomin’s place drunk after a company dinner, was genuinely surprised.
“You never bring friends to your studio. You even kicked me out quickly.”
Yeomin snorted dismissively. “Why would I let you stay over, Manager?”
Yeomin was someone who clearly separated work from personal life.
“Anyway, hand things over properly when Mingyu comes in early morning. That kid is careless, so check everything carefully.”
“Got it. Go home now.”
“Let’s have a company dinner sometime next week.”
“Sure~♡”
Despite being indifferent the entire time, Yeomin became full of aegyo when it came to this.
“You really do love company dinners.”
“Of course. Free food, free alcohol.”
The thing Joo Yeomin loved most in the world: free stuff.
After Manager Cha left, Yeomin sat in front of the computer at the counter. It was particularly boring today with few customers.
‘Did all the elementary school kids go play somewhere else…?’
Checking KakaoTalk out of habit, Yeomin was startled.
[SJH: When are you coming home, hyung?]
What? A chat ID that wasn’t even registered as a friend. And the initials are SJH?
‘…No way, it couldn’t be.’
Yeomin replied with half-doubt.
[Who is this?]
[SJH: It’s Jiho]
So it really was him.
[Did you find your phone?]
[SJH: No, I logged in using your laptop]
[SJH: You said I could use it freely]
[Yeah… good job…]
But how did he know my KakaoTalk ID? Did he ask my classmates?
[SJH: When are you coming home, hyung? I’m hungry]
It feels like I’ve gained a freeloader at home. I have a junior I need to feed at home…
[I get off work after 10 today]
[There’s ramen, you can cook that]
[There’s also instant rice and seaweed in the cabinet]
[SJH: I’m not good at eating alone]
[SJH: I’ll eat when you come home]
He’s going to wait until then? Is he planning to starve? He probably hasn’t even recovered from his hangover.
‘This kid is really making me worry.’
After thinking it over, Yeomin sent a reply.
[ChaCha PC Bang at the intersection in front of school]
[Come over if you’re bored]
[I’ll make you fried rice]
Frozen fried rice, but still. Even if he sneaks some to eat, Manager Cha wouldn’t know anyway.
[SJH: Coming right now!!!]
The young master must be very hungry. Did I neglect my precious guest too much?
* * *
Jiho really showed up at the PC bang exactly 10 minutes later.
“Hyung!” He called out loudly as he entered, causing several customers to look his way.
‘He’s really good at calling me hyung. With a personality like that, why was he so shy at school until now?’
Jiho was wearing the training suit Yeomin had left out for him. It was quite large for Yeomin, but it was small for Jiho, which made Yeomin feel strangely annoyed.
This guy who usually wears ridiculously expensive clothes, now wearing my clothes…
‘Is he really a gold spoon?’
I’d believe it if someone said he was just a neighborhood bum.
“So this is where you work, hyung. That’s cool.”
Jiho looked around the PC bang with an interested expression.
“Play games if you’re bored.”
“I don’t play games.”
He doesn’t play games? That’s unusual.
Yeomin paid for a prepaid card with his own money. One thousand three hundred won. A real fortune.
“Then sit down and browse the internet or something. I’ll bring you food.”
“Hyung…”
“Save the grateful expression.”
Yeomin pushed Jiho’s back to send him to a seat.
Even among customers immersed in their games with headsets on, his handsome appearance stood out.
‘But why is he sitting in the smoking section like that?’
Yeomin brought the heated fried rice to Jiho’s seat.
When he peeked at what Jiho was doing so intently, he was watching dog grooming videos on YouTube.
Anyone would think he was checking stocks or something.
“Do you like dogs?”
“They’re cute, aren’t they?”
Jiho’s smiling eyes alternated between the dog on the screen and Yeomin.
‘Why is he looking at me like that?’
Yeomin deliberately put the bowl down roughly.
“You can stay until I get off work and we can go home together, or you can leave first.”
“Can’t I watch you work, hyung?”
What’s there to see about emptying ashtrays, wiping tables, and cooking ramen? Curious about how common people make money?
But Jiho looked at him so desperately that Yeomin couldn’t say ‘no.’
Well, it’s not like it costs anything.
“Eat first. Don’t leave anything. It’s a hassle to clean up.”
“Okay.”
He must have been really hungry, gobbling it down so pathetically. And look at him giving a thumbs up saying it’s delicious.
Jiho was making a big deal about how this was the most delicious food he’d ever eaten. Who would believe this guy is the son of the Ian Group? The golden spoon thing must all be rumors.
A little later.
Jiho, who was sitting idly at the counter with nothing to do, asked, “What are you doing, hyung?”
“Just breathing.”
“Do you always just sit like this?”
“I stay still when it’s not busy. And when it’s busy, it’s endlessly busy.”
It’s embarrassingly quiet today. Even the regulars who have dedicated their lives to gaming are nowhere to be seen.
Yeomin found Jiho’s constant chattering, like a question mark murderer, very annoying.
“How long have you been working here, hyung?”
“Let’s see. About a year, I guess.”
“Was working at a PC bang your dream, hyung?”
‘Like it would be my dream? Is he mocking me now?’
Yeomin felt irritated, but Jiho had a bright face, not even realizing what he’d done wrong.
Right… he probably grew up without any hardship or bitterness.
Yeomin decided that his bitter self should try to understand.
“It must be boring working alone like this every day. I’ll come visit often so you won’t be bored, hyung.”
“No thanks. Usually, I don’t have time to be bored. Today is just slow.”
I wish he would be quiet now.
I thought he was the quiet type when I saw him briefly at school, but his non-stop chattering is quite exhausting.
Yeomin opened his textbook, cutting off the conversation. Though nothing was registering, it was better than continuing to deal with Jiho.
Just then, a long-awaited customer walked in. It was a female regular who came almost daily.
“Long time no see, oppa!”
“Is it really that long?”
“Tsk, two days is a long time, isn’t it?”
Yeomin wasn’t particularly sociable, but after working for a year, he had a few customers he knew moderately well. This regular was one of them.
“I completely failed my exam. I’m feeling down, so I came to play for just an hour…”
I know she’ll stay until dawn. She always does.
The regular customer, who was choosing snacks from the shelf as soon as she arrived, suddenly gasped, “Huh!”
“What’s wrong?”
“Is that… a new part-timer?”
What’s with the sudden extreme honorific ‘part-timer-nim’? Yeomin laughed hollowly.
“Just a junior visiting.”
“No wonder the PC bang seems so much brighter today. I thought you had installed new lighting.”
“Hello. I’m the new lighting that arrived today~”
“Oh my. Handsome and witty too?”
What’s with these two? Why are they casually having this comedy routine?
Jiho even asked the customer friendly questions.
“Do you come to this PC bang often?”
“I’ve probably been coming here longer than Yeomin oppa!”
The sudden TMI party between the regular and Jiho. Yeomin felt tired.
They seem to have a lot to talk about, but I wish they’d go somewhere else to do it…
“So you call Yeomin ‘oppa’…”
“That’s right, but I’m younger! My face looks worn out because I play so many games.”
They seem like they’ll keep talking forever if not stopped. Yeomin forcibly placed a card in the regular’s hand.
“Then please go to your seat and enjoy your game, customer~”
Taking the hint, the regular disappeared to her designated seat with her bag of snacks.
It had been chaotic since Jiho arrived. Yeomin had planned to study for exams during work today, but that plan was completely ruined.
“Seol Jiho. If you’re bored, go to the school library and study for finals.”
“I don’t know what’s going to be on the test.”
This kid really does attend school just as a hobby. Is he the type with flowers in his head?
“You don’t know the test material?”
“Do I have to know?”
“…No. I guess you don’t have to.”
Well. If he lives as well as he does, it probably doesn’t matter if his head is not just a flower garden but an amusement park.
Yeomin suddenly envied Jiho, who could be so carefree without a thought.
Trying to focus on his book and ignore everything else, Yeomin could feel Jiho’s obvious stare.
“What are you looking at?”
“…I’m not allowed to look?”
Of course, his face won’t wear out from being stared at. But it’s still annoying.
Yeomin finally closed his book.
“Do something else if you don’t like games. Don’t you have any hobbies?”
“Hobbies? Hmm. Shopping?”
Right. Some people have spending money like water as a hobby. Though now he seems to be broke after losing his wallet and can’t enjoy his hobby.
‘But isn’t he trying to find his wallet? And what’s the deal with his parents? Did he leave home on his own, or was he kicked out?’
As much as he didn’t want to be curious, he couldn’t help it.
Yeomin sighed.
“At least do some online window shopping.”
“But watching you is more fun.”
“…”
Yeomin no longer felt it was worth responding. Does he always talk like this?
‘Maybe I shouldn’t have picked him up that day… He’s even more annoying than I expected.’
Yeomin thought about the watch carefully stored at home and endured.
“Uh, you’re not hurt anywhere, are you? Like your head…”
Yeomin probed. Jiho, who was sitting close to Yeomin, gently touched his own head.
“Well… it does hurt a little bit?”
“…”
“But I think it will get better if I hang out with you, hyung-“
Yeomin’s insides went cold at the smiling face.
This guy is definitely not an idiot. He’s probably a thousand-year-old fox.
Yeomin desperately wished that this brat would return to the warm and wealthy arms of his parents as soon as possible.
If it were up to him, he’d call a taxi right now to send him home.
