Chapter 152

“Mmm! Delicious.”

“Sis, this is really… It tastes amazing!”

“I know, right? Hey! Even if I sip soju with it, I won’t get drunk easily.”

As Kang Jin watched the virgin ghosts enjoy their yukgaejang stew, she glanced at her watch.

‘She’s late.’

Kim Sohee, who had gone to meet Lee Taewoon, was running behind schedule. Just as Kang Jin thought about this, the door opened, and Kim Sohee entered.

Whoosh!

Kang Jin hastily stepped aside as Kim Sohee transformed back into her demure girl form while passing through the door.

“Please have a seat,” said Kang Jin.

Kim Sohee nodded and took her place at the table where a pitcher of makgeolli and cups were set. Smiling, Kang Jin picked up the pitcher.

“I prepared makgeolli since you were looking for it earlier.”

“Thank you.” Kang Jin poured makgeolli into Kim Sohee’s cup and said, “I’ll bring out the food shortly.”

“No rush,” replied Kim Sohee as Kang Jin bowed his head and headed to the kitchen. He ladled some yukgaejang soup and stir-fried chicken feet over high heat before transferring them onto plates. As he placed the dishes on the table, Kang Jin quietly asked:

“So, where is Hwanggu…?”

“He went with his family.”

“Family? Oh! You mean Mr. Lee Taewoon.”

Kim Sohee nodded at Kang Jin’s words.

“Taewon…did something foolish.”

“Foolish?” In response to Kang Jin’s question, Kim Sohee picked up the teapot and looked at him.

“Let me pour you a drink.”

Following her request, Kang Jin brought two small cups for makgeolli.

As Kim Sohee poured makgeolli into Kang Jin’s cup, he discreetly turned his head away while drinking and then set down the cup. This time, he picked up the pitcher to pour some for her.

Glug!

Kim Sohee watched as her cup filled with makgeolli and spoke thoughtfully.

“It seems like they sent Hwanggu because they felt guilty about leaving him behind… But from Hwanggu’s perspective, it must feel like abandonment. How could that be beneficial for him?”

“You’re right. In tough times, being together is what defines family,” Kang Jin agreed, nodding.

“It’s good to hear that. I was concerned earlier; after Lee Taewoon left, Hwanggu kept staring at the door, looking quite disheartened.”

Kim Sohee nodded at Kang Jin’s words and took a sip of makgeolli while surveying the dishes.

“These are Taewon’s favorite foods.”

“He mentioned these were your favorites, Miss Kim.”

“They certainly are my favorites…but they taste slightly different from how I usually have them… Did he not want to bother me by asking for this style?”

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

“Taewon liked these dishes, but he also enjoyed Bokrae’s cooking.”

“Is that so?”

“Whether it’s marinated meat stir-fried or grilled over fire, even though the flavors differ, aren’t both equally delicious?”

“That’s true.”

As Kang Jin watched Kim Sohee pick up a piece of chicken feet and take a bite, she subtly turned away. Knowing Kim Sohee often drank alone, Kang Jin wanted to give her space to enjoy her meal comfortably.

As Kang Jin turned away, she heard Kim Sohee’s voice behind her.

“Do you know why I always hang out alone?”

Kang Jin glanced at Lee Hye-sun while turning around. Previously, feeling pity for Kim Sohee’s solitary nature, Lee Hye-sun had asked about it:

—“It’s because of loneliness.”

— “If you’re lonely, shouldn’t you spend time with others instead of being alone?”

—“Over five hundred years, my acquaintances and ghosts disappeared one by one, whether ascending to heaven or fading away… Sis Sohee chooses to be alone precisely to avoid further loneliness.”

Having witnessed numerous friends, both human and ghostly, either dying or ascending, Kim Sohee decided not to form attachments anymore. Each loss brought sorrow and loneliness anew.

In response to Kim Sohee’s question, Kang Jin softly replied:

“May I join you?” Kang Jin asked politely.

Kim Sohee gave a small nod. Although they had shared drinks several times before, it was always at separate tables, and she never allowed him to sit with her. However, this time, her invitation indicated…

She needs someone to talk to.

Kang Jin took a seat beside her and spoke gently, “Miss Kim, you’ve been living here for quite some time. Over these years, those to whom you grew attached either passed away or ascended to heaven… It must have become increasingly difficult for you to form emotional bonds.”

With a sigh, Kim Sohee nodded in agreement. “That’s true.”

As he watched her sip her makgeolli, Kang Jin continued, “But let me share my perspective.”

Kim Sohee playfully nudged Kang Jin. He continued, undeterred by her gesture.

“Isn’t it too lonely to avoid forming attachments altogether for fear of getting hurt? We don’t know how long your current lifestyle will last…but wouldn’t it be better to focus on enjoying the present rather than worrying about the future?”

“Focus on the present…”

“Do you find it uncomfortable spending time with Yerim and Gaen?” asked Kang Jin.

Kim Sohee glanced at the two girls chatting with the ghostly companions while eating, then slightly shook her head.

“A little bit… But they’re adorable.”

For Kim Sohee, interacting with other ghosts after hundreds of years was a significant change. Even if it was at the request of the owner of the Underworld Restaurant, where she frequented, she wouldn’t have accompanied them if she truly disliked their company.

Initially, she would have entrusted them to Lee Hye-sun and left, but now she accompanies them under the guise of teaching them etiquette.

“Miss Kim.”

Kim Sohee looked at Kang Jin when he addressed her.

“I hope you’re comfortable here.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Yes, indeed.”

Kang Jin’s response puzzled Kim Sohee as he poured more makgeolli into her cup. He then filled his own cup and raised it.

“Cheers!”

Kim Sohee squinted at Kang Jin’s gesture. Having observed human customs during her time as a ghost, she knew what ‘cheers’ meant. However, clinking cups together was not considered proper behavior for a noblewoman. As she hesitated, Kang Jin asked:

“Do you find this uncomfortable?”

Kim Sohee glanced at him, shook her head slightly, and lifted her cup.

“Not at all.”

As Kim Sohee raised her makgeolli bowl, Kang Jin forcefully clinked his against hers. The sound of metal bowls colliding caused the makgeolli to slosh violently within them.

Slosh! Slosh!

The liquid spilled over the edges and dripped down Kim Sohee’s hand, making her eyebrows twitch slightly. With a small sigh, she opened her mouth.

“It is uncomfortable.”

In response to her cool tone, Kang Jin hastily handed her a tissue.

“Please wipe yourself.”

Kim Sohee took the tissue from him, wiped her hand, and reiterated, “I understand what you’re trying to say… but it still feels uncomfortable.”

“My apologies,” Kang Jin offered.

Kim Sohee glanced at him and replied, “It’s alright. I know you mean well.”

“I appreciate your understanding.”

Kang Jin’s use of “comfortable” was meant literally, urging her to live freely without adhering strictly to the rigid norms expected of a yangban lady during the Joseon Dynasty era.

She meant for Kang Jin to live comfortably without worrying about the strict etiquette expected of a noblewoman during the Joseon Dynasty. Kim Sohee looked at Kang Jin’s response and said,

“I understand what you’re trying to say. However…”

Kim Sohee paused momentarily before smiling wryly.

“I lived this way when I was alive, and now even in death, it remains unchanged. Just as one can grow comfortable in uncomfortable clothing over time, isn’t it similar with my lifestyle?”

Her words held truth. As commonly said, whether it’s picking teeth against a power pole or digging ears, it all depends on personal preference. While her lifestyle might seem inconvenient to Kang Jin, as a young lady from a noble family in the Joseon Dynasty, she found it familiar and comfortable.

“I see,” replied Kang Jin.

Kim Sohee nodded in agreement and took a sip of makgeolli, prompting Kang Jin to do the same.

I should consider sharing dishes as progress.

Kang Jin muttered to himself while glancing at the side dish. It was fried tofu served with makgeolli… Having already taken several sips without any food, his eyes kept drifting towards it.

Miss Kim might feel uncomfortable if I use my chopsticks on her portion, right?

Kang Jin quietly pondered and licked his lips. Sharing from the same bowl felt slightly awkward.

Should I move somewhere else? I really want some of that tofu.

Just earlier, he had asked Kim Sohee if she felt uneasy, but now Kang Jin found himself more uncomfortable than her.

Drinking alcohol is best enjoyed with someone of lower rank.

Feeling overly cautious about drinking makgeolli in front of Kim Sohee made him extremely uneasy.

On Friday morning, Kang Jin entered the government office.

Today is the last day.

It was Choi Donghae’s final day as an intern. Upon entering the government office, Kang Jin noticed that Choi Donghae had arrived before him, which was unusual since Kang Jin typically came in first.

“You’re early.”

“It’s my last day here.”

“Are you sad?”

“A little bit.” As he spoke, Choi Donghae glanced around the office and then smiled slightly. “But I’ll be back after shedding some pounds.”

Kang Jin nodded at Choi Donghae’s words.

“Going to the cram school tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

Following his internship, Choi Donghae planned to enroll in a cram school located in Gangwon Province, just as Kang Jin had suggested earlier. He was determined to lose weight seriously by maintaining a disciplined routine there—eating only provided meals while exercising regularly.

Of course, there would be vending machines at the cram school and he could drive to nearby villages for food, but Choi Donghae was determined to resist temptation.

“Then meet me at my shop by 9 o’clock tomorrow morning. I’ll give you a ride,” Kang Jin suggested.

Choi Donghae shook his head. “I can get there myself.”

“You sure?”

“There’s a bus service, right?”

“It might still be tough for you. You have to wake up early to do some cleaning, eat with the other students during meal times, study when they go back to their books…”

Kang Jin outlined what Donghae’s daily routine would look like at the cram school.

Although Choi Donghae planned to lose weight while attending the cram school, he wasn’t paying tuition fees. Instead, he agreed to work part-time doing chores such as cleaning in exchange for room and board.

The cram school provided room and board as part of his compensation for working there as a janitor.

“The staff there have good personalities, so they won’t overwork you while you’re on duty. But if it gets too much, give me a call. Your workload should be equivalent to one month’s worth of room and board fees. If they ask more than that, call me immediately, understood?”

“If I work hard, maybe I’ll lose some weight,” Choi Donghae joked with a smile.

Kang Jin shook his head at this remark. “You do work for money. Never volunteer your labor just because it’s ‘good’ or ‘helpful.’ Limit your workload based on what you’re paid.”

Choi Donghae nodded firmly after Kang Jin’s reminder. “Understood.”

As they chatted, more employees started trickling in.

“All right, everyone! Today is Lee Kang-jin and Choi Donghae’s last day with us. Let’s take this opportunity to share any stories we’ve been meaning to tell them or give them some words of encouragement.” Lim Ho-jin addressed his team using formal language out of respect for all present.

“And you two, did you plan on having dinner with the other interns tonight?”

“No, sir.”

Kang Jin had briefly bonded with one of the popular interns during their evaluation but hadn’t bothered cultivating that relationship further beyond occasional hellos. Choi Donghae felt similarly, as he wasn’t close enough with anyone else to warrant separate goodbyes.

Lim Ho-jin nodded at Kang Jin’s response.

“We should keep tonight’s team dinner light.”

“How about at my restaurant—”

“You need to drink today, so we can’t go there. I’ll gradually increase your sales going forward, but for tonight…” Lim Ho-jin trailed off and looked at Lee Sangsub, who immediately responded:

“I’ll gather everyone’s input and pick a place by this evening.”

“And please check on Donghae’s work once more.”

“Yes, sir.”

Lee Sangsub had already taken over Choi Donghae’s duties two days ago and wrapped everything up neatly, but he acquiesced to his boss’s request anyway. Lim Ho-jin was fully aware of this, but it served as a reminder to finish things properly.