Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 42

Brother, am I cute? 42

My first impression of Nicold was a bit sharp.

I think it was because of his eyes.

But his impression changes when he smiles.

The sharpness disappears, and his eyes curve like a crescent moon.

Perhaps this good impression helped him in negotiations?

Well, that’s just a feeling.

‘It feels like he’s testing me…’

I felt confident I could answer Nicold’s questions well.

Since planning this, I’ve been studying the basics of textiles and fashion little by little.

Specifically, I borrowed materials from the library and speed-read them.

The problem is professional English terms.

I didn’t bother looking up English dictionaries for that.

I searched for English documents by inputting information in advance.

So, I could confidently say:

「I know a little about the basics. Really basic things.」

「Is that so? That alone should allow us to communicate to some extent.」

「Yes. I’m confident I can use professional terms to some degree. But I don’t think that’s all there is to an interpreter’s ability.」

「Haha. I suppose so. Still, shouldn’t you have some common sense to communicate?」

「You don’t have to worry about that. Most fashion terms are already in English or Japanese anyway.」

「Korea may have been heavily influenced by Japanese, since it’s right next door.」

Perhaps because of a painful history, there might be a lot of influence.

I threw out my question first.

First, I need to prove that we can communicate.

「Can you tell me what preparations you are making for this fashion fair? Even a rough overview would be fine.」

「Well, Habinis has prepared clothes with a total of four materials and the corresponding textile technology. We will also participate in the textile expo that accompanies the fashion fair, and the seminars there as well.」

「Four materials…」

It seemed like they had prepared more than I thought, so it wouldn’t be easy.

「Yes, that’s right. But before I tell you, can I ask you something in return?」

「Yes, go ahead.」

「Pattern making is important for clothes. Taking pictures of the actual pattern-making process is usually prohibited.」

Usually, patterns are divided into two main categories.

First, the patterns *on* the clothes.

For example, stripes, leopard print, flower patterns, etc.

Second, the *shape* of the clothes.

This refers to the sewing method and order, or the design of clothes that are decorated in various ways, not just plain t-shirts.

Nicold was referring to the second one.

I hadn’t asked the question yet, but I felt like I knew what he wanted to say.

「I know about the classification of fabrics. Are you trying to talk about fabrics woven with circular knitting machines, or wovens woven with looms?」

「That’s right. The material inside is important. This time, we licensed German technology and applied it to the fabric.」

Nicold held out a tablet with some data.

「This is the material we will use for the seminar. Can you understand it?」

The screen read:

[Latest Nano Viper Technology]

It was a name I had never seen before.

I don’t even know what kind of technology it is.

Should I steer the conversation another way?

No. This was a test of understanding.

*Can* I understand this word? If so, can I explain it to the buyers?

That’s what he’s asking.

He says I can study, but if that’s the case, he wouldn’t hire me specifically; he would hire another interpreter.

‘Interesting.’

It was fun.

Somehow, this exchange and conversation where we were testing each other felt a bit mysterious.

At that moment, Siha snuggled into my arms.

“Brother.”

“Huh? Oh, Siha. Are you done eating?”

“Ah ah.”

Siha stared intently into my eyes.

There’s nothing special there, so why is he staring like that?

「Just a moment.」

「Yes. Make yourself comfortable.」

“Siha, why?”

“Ah ah. Brother.”

Siha pointed to my eyes.

‘What is it?’

What is Siha trying to say?

“Are you very tired? Do you want to sleep in Brother’s arms?”

“Ah ah.”

He shook his head.

Siha pointed to the pad again.

It seems like he’s curious about the clothing patterns attached to the PPT [PowerPoint presentation].

“Do you want to see this?”

“Ah ah.”

I smiled gently and handed him the picture.

And quickly racked my brain.

Something flashed and hit my head hard.

Translation materials flooded my mind and surfaced.

Among them, what came to mind were the technologies added to medical equipment.

[Inorganic Ultra-Thin Film Coating]

It was no different from the technology using nanowafers written here.

Even one of the German technologies.

I smiled with satisfaction.

I had a feeling that this conversation would end very well.

I looked at Nicold, who was eating sashimi [thinly sliced raw fish] during the brief pause in the conversation.

「Nicold.」

「Yes.」

「You’ve included good technology. Coating clothes with an inorganic ultra-thin film. That’s good.」

「Oh. Do you know this technology?」

「Even if I look young, I’m quite knowledgeable. Eco-friendly nano-coating agent. It’s a technology that’s currently widely used in the medical industry.」

「Oh.」

「Germany has strict procedures. It takes a year to publish even one translation. The fact that one clothing company in Germany has obtained a license is something that will appeal to buyers.」

I flipped through the materials.

Quickly showing Siha the patterns while racking my brain.

「Looking at this, I can guess one of the four materials. An eco-friendly material. It must be clothes that use super-hydrophobicity to target Korea and China, which have fine dust and yellow dust [seasonal dust storms from the Gobi Desert] problems. Isn’t it?」

I showed my ability by inferring the material, environment, and target audience.

My answer was asking Nicold this:

*Do* you still think I’m not qualified?

「Haha. That’s really great.」

Nicold’s eyes began to sparkle.

Beyond interest, greed seemed to be in his eyes.

「Actually, I just thought it would be enough if you could communicate a little… This is beyond my expectations.」

Before I knew it, I had flipped through all the materials and was only showing Siha the letters of the last Q&A.

Now that he had lost interest, Siha got out of my arms.

It was as if he knew it was all over.

Nicold said.

「Seeing this, I really want to hire you. I look forward to working with you.」

Nicold reached out his hand.

I didn’t take his hand.

This guy still thinks it’s over.

That’s not how you do business.

「Nicold.」

「Yes.」

「So, how much are you going to pay?」

Now the situation has changed, right?

You want me.

A successful interpreter wouldn’t need to do this, but I’m a newbie.

I’ve already proven my ability.

The position has been reversed, and now I’m on the negotiating table.

So, I asked again.

「How much are you going to pay?」

Nicold laughed loudly.

「Hahaha!! Amazing. It’s not easy after all. Isn’t that right, Tude?」

Tude also smiled softly.

「Si Hyuk. This is my job from here on out.」

I can’t take away the agent’s job.

I shrugged and held Siha in my arms.

「It was a good meeting. Then I’ll be going.」

「Me too. I hope we meet again.」

「Well, depending on Nicold’s generosity, maybe we will?」

「Haha. I can’t beat you.」

Nicold let out a pleasant laugh.

That’s how we parted ways.

***

Nicold and Tude had another drink in the place where Si Hyuk and Siha had left.

“It’s fun. It’s very fun.”

“Do you think you met him for nothing? Si Hyuk’s value has increased a lot.”

“Haha. Is that so?”

“That’s right. He has a good portfolio now.”

Tude showed a video.

Nicold made an absurd expression.

When on earth did you take that?

“It’s a violation of portrait rights.”

“I got permission for everything?”

“My portrait rights.”

“I knew you’d say that, so I only filmed Si Hyuk and Siha.”

“Ahem.”

“If you go through editing, there’s no problem.”

“Ahem.”

“There are many companies. Let’s see, the companies that have requested models from our agency…”

“Geez. Why are you in such a hurry?”

“Isn’t time money? We don’t have that much time.”

“That’s true.”

Nicold racked his brain.

Si Hyuk was a great talent.

Looking at it, it seemed like he would become a great interpreter in the future.

You never know when such a global talent will become a connection.

And that excellent ability.

Speed reading that allows you to see data incredibly quickly!

Even so, Nicold couldn’t do that.

Nicold, who didn’t know Korean, didn’t know that Si Hyuk quickly flipped through the pictures to show Siha.

So, he thought he was speed reading incredibly fast.

‘He only ate a few pieces of sashimi, but he read it all.’

It was a misunderstanding.

Nicold realized an even more amazing point.

His judgment and reasoning skills are considerable.

For example, his sense.

And the composure despite the sudden meeting.

Even the attitude of knowing how to trade at the end.

You had to have that much ability to trade smoothly with buyers.

‘He even figured out the market we’re targeting this time.’

Korea and China.

And another country was India.

The goal this time was to enter the Asian market and secure contracts.

An opportunity to get closer to global companies and promote the brand in next-generation fashion and textile technology.

“Hmm. How about this much?”

“Hmm.”

Tude pondered.

“Haha. Isn’t that too much?”

“Instead of that, how about this? Give an incentive when the contract is successfully concluded.”

“Oh. That’s an interesting option.”

“I think Si Hyuk will do well. Of course, you have to provide this much as a base salary. That way, my commission…”

“In the end, isn’t it because you want to receive more, Tude?”

“Haha. It’s a win-win situation.”

“Okay. Let’s do that. We’ll draw up the contract here. I’ll sign it and send it to you tomorrow.”

The glasses of the two who had finished negotiating clinked.

***

On the way home with Siha.

My steps are light.

Even Siha, who is fast asleep in my arms, felt light.

I knew it was a kind of illusion, but I was happy.

‘Was it a little thrilling?’

I recalled the situation.

A sense of tension as if something had been blown open in my heart.

I felt a sense of adventure.

I realized for the first time today that I had this emotion.

Suddenly, I wanted to see Siha’s face while walking.

‘Siha.’

I readjusted Siha and looked at his face.

How did you see your brother today?

What did he look like?

Did I show you a reliable back like a father?

Or was it just the image of a cool brother?

I don’t know if I replaced my father’s back and my mother’s embrace.

Maybe that’s impossible forever.

But I want to believe that if I try, I can get closer and reach it.

Just like humans reached the moon far away.

‘Pretty.’

It was a really pretty moon.

I think canary yellow is prettier than gold.

I started walking again.

I need to lay Siha down at home quickly.

As I was walking like that, I ran into someone.

“Huh? Alisa?”

“Si Hyuk.”

Hair that was yellower than the moonlight fluttered before my eyes.

Amber eyes were staring straight at me.

“What brings you here?”

“Hehe~ I came all the way here while humming a song.”

“Your humming is amazing these days.”

“Actually, I came all the way here because I was worried.”

“Really? What are you worried about? Oh, thank you for today! Thanks to Alisa, I gained basic knowledge. I’ll treat you to a meal later.”

“Can’t you give me something else instead?”

“Pardon?”

Alisa came closer to me.

Suddenly, the wind blew, and her hair hit my cheek.

Slap.

“Ouch! My eye.”

“Ah! Are you okay? I’m sorry. The wind suddenly blew.”

Alisa quickly came to my side.

I rubbed my eyes while holding Siha in one arm.

Even in the midst of this, Siha rubbed his face slightly in my arms.

So cute.

‘No. That’s not it.’

I looked at Alisa.

“So, what *can* I give you?”

Alisa hesitated slightly, then turned her head and twisted her hair.

“Take me home too.”

“Pardon?”

What does this mean?

At that time, Siha opened his eyes.

“How much. Do you pay?”

*How much do you pay?*

Those were the words I said to Nicold.

Oh my, Siha.

When did you learn those words?

It seems like Siha saw his father’s money rather than his father’s back.

This is why education is important…….

Alisa said.

“4 dollars?”