Chapter 104

Kim Sohee smiled after eating Gamhongro and stir-fried pork belly.

“It’s delicious.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Kang Jin then looked at Lee Yerim who was hastily devouring tteok-bokki (rice cake).

“Is it good?”

“I haven’t had this for several years… It really…”

Lee Yerim paused momentarily with a smile on her face.

“When I come back with my friends, please make it again.”

“If they visit, try omurice next time.”

“Yes.” As she ate the omurice, Lee Yerim couldn’t stop smiling due to Kang Jin’s suggestion.

When Kang Jin cooked ramen before, it tasted fantastic. However, the food he prepared now reached another level entirely. Consequently, Lee Yerim eagerly anticipated meeting her friends soon so that she could share these delectable dishes with them.

Observing Lee Yerim’s delight, Kang Jin chuckled while watching both girls enjoy their meals.

Of course, Kim Sohee was there for alcohol rather than food. She seemed to enjoy Gamhongro and pork dishes immensely, as evidenced by her continuous sipping and eating with a smile on her face. Kang Jin noticed this and retrieved another bottle of soju from the refrigerator.

Gamhongro might be quite expensive.

Kang Jin decided to stock up more bottles later while placing the drink in front of Kim Sohee.

“This liquor is potent.”

“Back then, drinks were either strong or weak,” replied Kim Sohee, nodding at Kang Jin’s remark.

He then stepped back, allowing her to continue uninterrupted. As usual, her drinking session ended swiftly. Knowing that other ghosts wouldn’t approach if she was present, Kim Sohee quickly finished her drink and stood up. Typically, her sessions lasted no longer than 20-30 minutes.

Sip!

After about thirty minutes, Kim Sohee stood up from her seat.

“That was delicious.”

“Just a moment.” Kang Jin returned with apples from the kitchen. “I got some really good ones this time.”

“Apples indeed.”

“Please try at least one slice.”

As he spoke, Kang Jin took out a knife and started peeling an apple. He placed the peeled fruit on a plate, prompting Kim Sohee to sit back down while watching him.

“Well then, I’ll have a slice to appreciate your gesture.”

Clack!

Kim Sohee stabbed the apple with her fork, put it in her mouth, and chewed.

Crisp!

A smile graced her lips.

“These are apples from Balser’s Hell.”

“Huh? You recognize them?”

With a grin, Kim Sohee swallowed the apple before responding to Kang Jin’s question.

“Kang Doochi occasionally brings them for me.”

“You know Mr. Kang Doochi?”

“He’s a kind-hearted soul,” replied Kim Sohee.

Observing her fondness for Kang Doochi, Yerim asked, “Does Mr. Kang call you ‘Miss’…?”

“She mentioned you as her ‘sister’… Are you close with her?”

“She’s like a little sister to me.” Kim Sohee wiped her mouth with a tissue and then turned to Lee Yerim, who was mixing omurice with tteok-bokki sauce.

“Eating food…by combining them is not ideal.”

“Huh? Oh.” Confused, Lee Yerim looked at her bowl. The sauce had already been mixed with the omurice; she couldn’t undo it now. Not knowing whether to continue eating or stop altogether, she felt trapped.

Kang Jin chuckled at the sight. “Food preferences are personal, right? Shouldn’t how one eats be up to individual taste?”

Kim Sohee shook her head. “One should appreciate each dish for its unique flavor—”

“It’s disrespectful to mix them together. Omurice should be enjoyed for its unique taste, and tteok-bokki for its own… Mixing foods is not courteous to the chef who prepared them or the food itself.”

Kang Jin glanced at Lee Yerim after Kim Sohee’s comment.

“Why are you being so rude? Why do you mix your food?”

“But now…”

Kang Jin cut her off with a look.

“Separate your dishes properly. Don’t mix them.”

“They’re already mixed…”

“Separate them.”

Lee Yerim frowned at Kang Jin but quietly started dividing the food with her spoon. After she carefully separated and finished eating, Kim Sohee spoke up:

“These apples are quite special; please take one.”

“Thank you.” Polite and courteous, Lee Yerim picked up an apple slice and popped it into her mouth.

Crunch!

Her eyes widened with delight.

“Woah! Amazing.”

Kim Sohee frowned at Lee Yerim’s muttered exclamation.

“Tsk!”

As Kim Sohee clicked her tongue disapprovingly, Lee Yerim hastily bowed her head.

“I’m sorry.”

“Words reveal your character. Good words make you appear virtuous, while bad words cast you in a negative light. Are you a good child or a naughty one?”

“A…good child.”

“Then what kind of language should you use?”

“Good…language.”

Kim Sohee nodded approvingly at Lee Yerim’s response. This reaction made Kang Jin inwardly chuckle.

Kang Jin suppressed a laugh internally.

It’s not that bad of a word.

He muttered to himself and then turned toward Kim Sohee.

“Would you like another apple?”

Kim Sohee shook her head at Kang Jin’s question.

“We should start heading back soon if we want to reach this child’s hometown today. Let’s save the apples for later.”

Swoosh!

Kim Sohee rose from her seat and started walking away.

“Let’s go,” she said.

At those words, Lee Yerim hastily stuffed the remaining apple slices into her mouth. Watching her, Kang Jin called out:

“When you meet your friends, make sure to come here again.”

“I will! Bye-bye, Kang Jin!”

With that, Lee Yerim hurriedly followed Kim Sohee through the door.

Kang Jin chuckled at her enthusiasm. “Yeongsoo would be thrilled.”

On Saturday morning, Kang Jin walked around Nooncheon with Bae Yongsoo tagging along.

“Why bother looking for him?” asked Bae Yongsoo as they strolled together.

“I’m just worried about him,” replied Kang Jin on the move.

“If anything happened to Yeongsoo, it’d have to involve ghosts…”

At Bae Yongsoo’s grumbling, Kang Jin sighed and glanced over at him.

“I could’ve come alone anyway, so why did you tag along?”

“Well, I’m better equipped than you when it comes to finding ghosts.” Kang Jin nodded in agreement, continuing their walk.

They were here because Kang Doochi had reported seeing Choi Hocheol’s ghost in this area of Nooncheon. Although Kang Jin initially thought nothing much could happen to a ghost, he still felt uneasy not hearing from his friend.

Kang Jin initially thought Choi Hocheol could handle ghosts without issue, but his prolonged absence was concerning. As someone who had taken care of Kang Jin during their time at the orphanage, Kang Jin hoped Ho-cheol would at least come for a proper meal.

While walking through Nooncheon, Kang Jin spotted Bae Yongsoo.

“Ask the ghosts about Hyung Ho-cheol.”

“I should?”

“Aren’t you here to help with that?”

In response, Bae Yongsoo glanced around before questioning Kang Jin.

“You’ll wait here?”

“In one hour.”

“So, you want me to wander around for an hour?”

“If I find him earlier, I’ll return sooner.”

“Will you stay here?”

To Bae Yongsoo’s question, Kang Jin looked around and pointed towards a noodle shop nearby.

“I’ll wait over there.”

“But it doesn’t seem open yet?”

“I used to work here part-time,” Kang Jin explained.

Bae Yongsoo glanced at the noodle shop and asked, “How many part-time jobs have you done?”

“I’ve taken any job that paid well… I can’t even remember them all.”

“That’s quite impressive.” Bae Yongsoo scanned their surroundings before heading off elsewhere. “Stay put here. Once I get news, I’ll be right back.”

“Sure thing.”

Kang Jin waved goodbye as he walked towards the noodle shop.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been here.”

This was the most famous noodle shop in Nooncheon. During lunch hours, it was busier than a warzone.

It was a good place to work due to its decent pay and friendly staff. They always made sure there were plenty of side dishes available as well. Since he was already here, Kang Jin decided to greet them and opened the door.

The restaurant wasn’t open yet, but the doors were unlocked. Inside, several middle-aged women were preparing ingredients for today’s meals.

“It isn’t business hours…Kang Jinah!”

One lady waved enthusiastically at him with both hands, eliciting a warm smile from Kang Jin.

“Manager Lee!”

“How have you been?”

Lee Soon-rye, affectionately known as “the boss” in the kitchen, approached him, still wearing her rubber gloves.

“I’ve been doing well. You’re looking radiant as ever, Manager Lee.”

“You can always count on this boy for anything.” Lee Soon-rye smiled and guided Kang Jin to a seat nearby. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Would you like some coffee then?”

“I’d appreciate that, thank you.”

With a grin, Lee Soon-rye headed toward the vending machine at the entrance.

“Did you come here looking for part-time work?”

“I’m currently interning at a trading company.”

“Oh, an intern… That must be tough.”

Lee Soon-rye knew well what it meant to be an intern since her restaurant was the top choice among Nooncheon office workers during lunch hours.

“It’s hard, but they pay me, so I have to do it.”

“That’s true. Anyway, Kang Jin, you’ll excel at whatever you do. If any company doesn’t hire someone as dependable as you, they’re out of their minds.”

Kang Jin nodded with a smile at Lee Soon-rye’s encouraging words.

“What about the president?”

“He’s not feeling well lately, so he comes around lunchtime.”

“Is everything okay with him?”

“It’s just his age catching up to him.”

Kang Jin nodded at Lee Soon-rye’s words and glanced around at the other middle-aged women present. Apart from Soon-rye, they were all strangers to him.

“Hello.”

“Welcome back.”

“You used to work here as a temp, right?”

“Yes.”

After exchanging brief greetings with the ladies, Kang Jin turned to Lee Soon-rye.

“Did Jungnyeo quit her job?”

“She’s resting at home due to shoulder pain.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t greet her properly.”

“Don’t worry, you can do that next time.”

Kang Jin nodded understandingly before offering help.

“Since I’m already here, would you like me to assist with anything?”

“What assistance? Oh! Would you like some pickled vegetables?”

“If it’s not too much trouble, I’d appreciate it.”

Lee Soon-rye smiled and returned to her work area at Kang Jin’s words.

“Please sit down. I’ll prepare these vegetables quickly.”

“I’d like to help you too.”

“Just stay seated.”

Despite Lee Soon-rye’s insistence, Kang Jin stood up and inspected the trimmed vegetables set aside by the ajummas.

‘In this order…’

Having previously assisted them during his part-time job days, Kang Jin knew which vegetables were next for preparation. He promptly retrieved more from storage and brought them out while transferring the trimmed ones to the kitchen.

“You know what needs to be done without being told?”

The ajummas praised him for following their precise procedures. In response, Lee Soon-rye chimed in:

“He worked here as a part-timer for quite some time.”

“He looks like a college student?”

“You know Seosin University?”

“I know, right? It’s one of the best universities in our country.”

“Kang Jin attends there too.”

“That’s quite impressive.”

“She pays for her tuition and living expenses by working part-time during breaks while studying. She is truly diligent and a good kid.”

“Yes, she manages well on her own and is such a nice person.”

“Just how kind-hearted can she be?”

“Why don’t you consider her as your future son-in-law? You have a daughter, after all.”

Lee Soon-rye’s expression slightly hardened at this suggestion from another woman but quickly recovered with a smile.

“My child isn’t ready for dating yet.”

“But didn’t you say she’s already in her second year of university?”

“It doesn’t matter; she’s still young. Just a little girl. Hurry up with preparing those vegetables.” As Lee Soon-rye spoke, she started trimming cabbage herself. Meanwhile, Kang Jin, who was gathering ingredients from the kitchen, overheard their conversation.

Lee Soon-rye was well aware of Kang Jin’s circumstances. Despite her strong personality, she had a kind heart and often took care of him, whether it be preparing side dishes or ensuring he had enough time for his work. She even made special holiday meals for him. As such, Kang Jin felt like Lee Soon-rye was a loving aunt to him.

Lee Soon-rye also admired Kang Jin’s resilience amidst his hardships, but considering him as a potential son-in-law was another matter altogether, especially given his lack of resources and support. Hence, she quickly changed the subject. However, Kang Jin didn’t feel hurt by this diversion.

It is natural for parents to hope their child will find someone from a more prosperous and nurturing background.

Kang Jin himself wouldn’t want his child bringing home someone with a similar background. Moreover…he had met Lee Soon-rye’s daughter before and wasn’t particularly keen on becoming her son-in-law. She looked just like her mother, after all.

It’ll be awkward if I refuse when they try to set me up.

With a wry smile, Kang Jin grabbed a kitchen knife and joined them.

“I’ll help too.”

Lee Soon-rye smiled as he took a seat beside her.

“Do you know how to chop vegetables?”

Kang Jin chuckled while holding a carrot tightly.

“A little bit.”