Chapter 128

In the kitchen, Kang Jin prepared food while talking to Yeongsoo.

“There’s soda in the fridge, so help yourself.”

Following Kang Jin’s words, Yeongsoo got up and brought out some drinks from the refrigerator. As he watched the kids, Kang Jin carried bowls of cooked rice along with various dishes.

First, he placed steamed eggs, spicy chicken feet, kimchi, and fried tofu in front of Kim Sohee.

“I made this kimchi recently. Please have a taste.”

Kim Sohee nodded as she eyed the kimchi.

“Thank you.”

“Enjoy your meal.”

Kang Jin then turned around, set more dishes on the table for the children, and retrieved a bottle of soju from the refrigerator.

“Would you like a drink?”

“Us?”

Yeongsoo’s surprise at Kang Jin’s suggestion made him chuckle.

“If you were alive, you’d already be of legal drinking age.”

“That may be true, but…”

“And who would say anything about ghosts drinking?” Kang Jin glanced subtly towards Kim Sohee, and the kids followed his gaze with nods.

Kim Sohee was enjoying makgeolli while eating chicken feet. Based on her appearance alone, she looked like a middle schooler. Seeing that even Kim Sohee could drink alcohol, there was no reason for them to abstain.

As the children nodded slightly, Kang Jin placed shot glasses in front of each one and poured soju.

Glug, glug!

Kang Jin filled their glasses, then also poured himself a shot.

After pouring soju for himself as well, Kang Jin raised his shot glass.

“Cheers.”

The children cautiously lifted their glasses at Kang Jin’s toast. After lightly clinking their glasses together, Kang Jin took a sip, prompting the kids to follow suit while glancing at each other.

Gulp!

Yeongsoo downed his shot quickly, unlike Lee Yerim and Choi Ga-eun who merely touched it to their lips. Their faces scrunched up immediately.

“Ew! It’s bitter.”

“Why do people drink this stuff?”

Kang Jin chuckled and patted Yeongsoo on the shoulder.

“At least you’re handling it well, Yeongsoo.”

“It just tastes bitter, that’s all.” Yeongsoo nonchalantly replied, but his face was already flushed red.

Kang Jin gestured towards the food.

“Let’s eat.” At Kang Jin’s cue, everyone picked up their spoons and chopsticks and started digging in. Watching them grab at the dishes they had requested, Kang Jin reached for some chicken feet himself. It wasn’t his favorite food, but seeing how much the girls enjoyed it tempted him to try some.

As he sucked on the chicken feet, pulling off the meat before setting down the bones, Lee Yerim giggled.

“You don’t know how to properly eat those, old man.”

“It’s not old man, it’s bro.”

“What?” Kim Sohee scolded her.

“That’s rude.”

Lee Yerim hastily bowed her head toward Kim Sohee.

“I’m sorry.”

“You should apologize to the person you wronged.”

Lee Yerim turned toward Kang Jin and bowed her head. “I’m sorry.”

Kang Jin chuckled at Lee Yerim’s obedient reaction before turning his attention back to the chicken feet.

“Is there a proper way to eat this?”

Lee Yerim glanced at Kim Sohee for approval before picking up one of the chicken feet.

“You hold it like this with your thumb under the footpad.”

Crack!

The bottom part split open along its tendon.

“And then, you put it in your mouth and chew.”

She popped the chicken’s foot into her mouth, chewed, and swallowed without missing a beat. Kang Jin watched her, surprised.

“But…there are bones in there!”

“You just have to chew them together.”

“So I’m supposed to eat these bones?”

While chicken feet do have cartilage, they also contain small bones, yet Lee Yerim insisted he could simply chew them up.

“Why bother picking out such tiny bits when you can just eat it all?”

“But…is that okay to do?”

“My dad used to…”

Lee Yerim stopped mid-sentence, but Kang Jin understood what she was about to say without her needing to finish.

Her father must’ve eaten it like this.

And since her father ate it this way, so did Lee Yerim. Without further ado, Kang Jin picked up a chicken foot and inserted his thumb between its toes.

Krrrk!

As the foot split open, Kang Jin placed it in his mouth and started chewing. Although he had to crunch through some cartilage, tendons, and even a few bones, it wasn’t unbearable.

Krrrk! Krrrk!

“Tastes good.”

In response to Kang Jin’s comment, Lee Yerim briefly paused before picking up her shot glass and downing it.

“Cough! Cough!”

After coughing from taking a straight shot of soju, she drank some water, put another chicken foot in her mouth, chewed, and then said:

“My room is still as it was.”

“Really?”

Lee Yerim nodded at Kang Jin’s question while chewing on the chicken foot, then chuckled.

“But…something strange happened with my dad.”

“Strange? How so?”

“When I went home, he was playing games in my room.”

“In your room?”

“I don’t know how he figured out my game ID and password, but he was using my character.” She paused momentarily, chewing on the chicken foot, before continuing.

“He even bought virtual clothes for my character, went hunting with guild members…”

Lee Yerim paused and sighed heavily. “Why is he doing this? It’s so annoying.”

Kang Jin discreetly glanced at Kim So-hee after hearing Lee Yerim’s complaint. He wondered what her reaction would be to such negative remarks. However, Kim So-hee wasn’t overly traditional or judgmental; she silently took another sip of makgeolli without commenting.

Relieved, Kang Jin breathed out softly and looked back at Lee Yerim. Despite her annoyance, tears welled up in her eyes.

Of course, her father didn’t play the game simply for enjoyment. His reason was likely to remember and cherish memories of his daughter through her character.

‘Is Yeongsoo using his mother’s phone, and Yerim’s father playing with her character as ways to cope with their grief?’

Kang Jin murmured to himself as he refilled Lee Yerim’s empty shot glass with soju.

Glug!

“So what will you do from now on? Will you return home?”

In response to Kang Jin’s question, Lee Yerim looked at Kim Sohee.

“Miss said she would stay by my side until I learn how to live as a ghost.”

“And your home?”

“I wanted to remain there constantly… But Miss mentioned it’s not good for a ghost to linger too long near living people. So, I’ll visit occasionally.”

Hearing this, Kang Jin nodded and advised her, “There are many nice virgin ghost sisters here. Try getting close to them.”

“Virgin ghosts?” Yeongsoo, rather than Lee Yerim, seemed surprised.

Kang Jin chuckled, “Are other virgin ghosts scary to you?”

“Not these ones, but…” Yeongsoo hesitated, subtly glancing at Kim Sohee before admitting softly.

Yeongsoo cautiously glanced at Kim So-hee before replying, “A bit scary.”

Kim So-hee’s eyebrows slightly furrowed as she sensed his unease. “It’s not because I look frightening; it’s due to our differing energies that you feel scared.”

Her reaction suggested she didn’t appreciate being perceived as scary based on appearance alone.

Hastily responding to her concern, Yeongsoo said, “I’m sorry.”

Kim So-hee looked at him and continued, “The energy of Incubus Ghosts is completely opposite to that of Virgin Ghosts.”

“I am aware,” replied Yeongsoo.

“Since we’re on this topic…what do you plan to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“As we all died together, despite having contrasting energies, we don’t repel each other. However…”

Then Kim Sohee looked at Kang Jin, “As my master said, there are many kind and good virgin ghosts. However, with you around, they can’t approach Yerim and Ga-eun.”

“Does this mean other ghosts won’t befriend them because of me?”

“During our journey here, did any ghosts approach you except for me?”

Only virgin ghosts approached virgin ghosts, and only incubus ghosts approached incubus ghosts. There were no approaching ghosts unless it was someone like Kim Sohee, who had risen to prominence among Dynasty ghosts.

Lee Yerim’s face hardened as she responded to Kim Sohee, “We don’t intend to part ways with Yeongsoo.”

Choi Ga-eun nodded in agreement with Lee Yerim’s words, stating, “We will stay together.”

As they observed each other’s reactions, Kim Sohee spoke while lifting her cup to drink.

“It’s nice to be with friends.”

Seeing this, Lee Yerim and Choi Ga-eun exchanged glances before starting to eat their food. Kang Jin noticed their actions and promptly served them more drinks and dishes.

Around 12 o’clock, Kim Sohee put down her chopsticks and looked at the children.

“Did you enjoy your meal?”

“Yes,” replied Lee Yerim.

Kim Sohee then addressed all the kids.

“The Underworld Restaurant, run by our master, attracts various ghosts besides us. However, due to the presence of virgin spirits like me and the Incubus Ghost, ordinary ghosts cannot enter. From now on, when visiting the restaurant, don’t linger too long; once you’ve had enough to eat, please make way for others.”

“Understood.”

With a nod at their response, Kim Sohee stood up.

“Let’s go.”

Upon hearing Kim Sohee’s words, the children hastily finished their food and stood up. Kang Jin observed them while glancing at Kim Sohee.

“Young lady!”

Kim Sohee turned to acknowledge Kang Jin’s call.

“What is it?”

“Please bring these kids here often.”

Kim Sohee nodded after considering Kang Jin’s request.

“I’ll do my best.”

Shush!

As Kim Sohee left the restaurant, the high school ghost spirits bowed slightly to Kang Jin before quickly following her.

Kang Jin was seated with Lim Ho-jin at a coffee shop located on the first floor of their company building.

“What kind of person is Mr. Yoo Seong-tae?” asked Kang Jin.

Lim Ho-jin took a sip of his coffee before responding.

“He’s a good-hearted man.”

“A good-hearted man…”

Kang Jin pondered for a moment before asking:

“In both positive and negative aspects, right?”

“True. He’s not stupid, but his kindness often leads to losses,” Lim Ho-jin replied after taking another sip of coffee.

“A person being too kind isn’t beneficial in business.”

Lim Ho-jin nodded at Kang Jin’s observation. Running a company with kindness…that would be ideal, naturally. However, businesses thrive by accumulating wealth from others. Consequently, excessive kindness could only lead to financial setbacks in such endeavors.

“By the way, I heard Yoo Seong-tae has an older sibling?”

“He emigrated abroad.”

“To which country?”

“I’m unsure as he didn’t share that information.” As they continued their conversation, Lim Ho-jin raised his hand.

“Over here!”

Following Lim Ho-jin’s gesture, Kang Jin turned towards a middle-aged man approaching them with a smile.

They said he was a good-hearted person…and indeed, he seems very approachable.

Yoo Seong-tae had a genuinely amiable demeanor.

Yoo Seong-tae approached them with a smile and extended his hand to Lim Ho-jin.

“How have you been?”

Lim Ho-jin stood up, shook Yoo Seong-tae’s hand, and responded gratefully, “Thank you for coming on such short notice.”

“It’s no problem; I had some errands nearby anyway.”

“Can I get you something to drink?” As Lim Ho-jin gestured towards the seat across from him, Yoo Seong-tae took out a thermos from his bag while sitting down.

“I’ll just have this.”

“What is it?”

“My wife noticed I looked tired lately, so she prepared me ginseng-infused tea. Would you like a cup?”

“No, thank you.” Seeing Lim Ho-jin decline with a smile, Yoo Seong-tae poured himself a cup of the ginseng tea before continuing.

“You’re here regarding my father, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I knew that since he mentioned your visit back in December.”

“So, did you speak with him as well?”

“I didn’t bother contacting you because I could guess what your father told you.”

Seeing that Yoo Seong-tae had already surmised why he was there, Lim Ho-jin got straight to the point.

“The business proposal you presented me with ten years ago… Are you still interested?”

Yoo Seong-tae looked puzzled at Lim Ho-jin’s question.