Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 102

Hyung, Am I Cute? Episode 102

I pulled Lee Hwi aside and sat him down.

“So, what’s going on?”

“Well….”

The situation was this:

The boss had fired Lee Hwi due to staff reductions.

But later, it turned out they had hired another Korean part-timer.

He had already been paid for the work he did, but from Lee Hwi’s perspective, it was unfair.

He felt it was discrimination and appealed, saying he never expected to experience such a thing.

“I was so upset…. I couldn’t stand it if I didn’t argue.”

“Is it perhaps because you urgently need money?”

“It’s not urgent, but…. Honestly, I don’t want to rely on my parents….”

“I understand that feeling.”

Food expenses, rent, tuition—they all add up.

Many people rely on their parents, and many take out loans.

Some people work part-time because they don’t want to burden their parents once they become adults.

And shouldn’t college students dress up a little?

Buying a few clothes suitable for the season, and the money disappears in an instant.

‘It’s not like you can earn hundreds of thousands of won at once….’

Once the semester starts, you can’t earn as much as during vacation.

You have to study, hang out with friends, and buy textbooks.

There are many times when money just seems to vanish.

“So, what are you going to do now?”

“I have to look for another job. But experiencing this kind of thing is a bit scary. I’m afraid it will happen again.”

“There are more good people than bad.”

“I know. But will people hire me? There are many Koreans, so why would they hire a foreigner?”

I felt a little sorry for him.

I was also angry at the boss for making him have this experience.

Of course, it wasn’t directly my business, but it could happen to me too if I went to work in another country.

And I also felt sorry as a fellow Korean.

“It’s been over a year since you came to Korea, right? Are you good at reading and writing? I don’t know how much progress you’ve made since then.”

“Yeah. I’ve improved a lot. I can read books pretty well now.”

Lee Hwi turned on his phone and showed me the books he had read.

He was really reading Korean books diligently.

Well, to study here, speaking is important, but reading and writing skills might be even more crucial.

At least until undergraduate, you have to write papers in Korean.

“Then shall I introduce you to a job?”

“Huh? Is there a good job?”

“Of course. Um… It’s a bit difficult, but I think Lee Hwi can do it.”

I smiled.

KI Media was looking for a Chinese translator.

Honestly, I hadn’t intended to take on the Chinese translation of Song Taek-soo’s novel.

I could do it, but there was a possibility that I would also be in charge of translating Chinese novels into Korean.

That novel with many episodes wasn’t attractive to me.

“What is it?”

“Martial arts novel translation.”

“Wow! Really! I read a lot of those!”

“I know. I saw you reading martial arts novels when you showed me what you read earlier.”

Lee Hwi looked at me with a worried face.

“But can I do it well?”

“Let’s try it out first. If you don’t like it, you can terminate the contract. That’s not my responsibility.”

“That’s… right. Anyway, thank you! I’ll try my best.”

“If you do that, you’ll have a fixed income at least. It’s not bad to balance it with your studies.”

“Wow~ I’ll repay you later!”

“You have to repay me a lot, you know?”

“Yeah. Don’t worry. My father will…!”

Lee Hwi suddenly screamed, so I turned around without realizing it.

There was no one there.

“Why did you suddenly scream?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. Anyway, if you ever go to China, be sure to contact me!”

“Haha. Okay.”

What was that about?

Is he perhaps going to let me stay at his house?

That would be nice. I could save on accommodation fees.

***

Meanwhile, an employee of NM Game Company was listening intently to the conversation.

In fact, he didn’t know exactly what they were talking about because they were speaking Chinese.

He had received the autograph and missed the timing to leave, so he was listening for a while when he received a text message from his colleague.

-Hey! Hey! Hey! I’m in big trouble!

-What is it?

-You know we’re having an exhibition match with a Chinese player tomorrow, right?

-Yeah.

-But the interpreter had an accident and is in the hospital, so we’re screwed.

-Find someone quickly!

-I want to find someone, but there’s no one who meets the requirements.

Tomorrow, a match will be held to mark the start of the domestic e-sports competition.

It is natural to need an interpreter there.

They weren’t just looking for any interpreter.

They needed an interpreter who could catch things quickly and show good agility.

It’s the same in other countries, but there is no one who speaks like an announcer.

In China, there are various accents such as Dongbei accent [Northeastern accent] and Sichuan accent, and it becomes difficult if you can’t understand them.

-That interpreter is an integrated interpreter.

-Exactly!

The interpreter who had the accident this time was a really capable interpreter.

She was excellent in terms of ability, not to mention that she knew the game well.

You could say she was like an integrated translation codec.

A person who can interpret any accent.

She was witty and had a pretty face, so it was good to have a two-shot of her and the player on the screen.

-Look carefully.

-Hey! Hey! Don’t you know any interpreters? It doesn’t matter if they are male or female, as long as they have a neat face.

-Why are you looking at the face? The face!

-But they say a face that looks good on the screen is good for broadcasting! From above! If they tell me to do it, I have to do it!

-If I had such a handsome interpreter connection, I wouldn’t be your colleague.

-Huh?!

The employee shook his head and tried to turn off his phone, then raised his head.

‘Hmm?’

There were two people in front of him who were speaking diligently in Chinese and then switching to Korean.

When he listened, he found out that they were capable people who were good at translating novels.

‘SihaPePe is good at everything…. If it’s a novel, he’ll be good at proofreading too. And he has a decent face. He has everything. Wait a minute.’

Chinese interpretation, a warm face when the screen is on.

It would be better if it was a woman, but that’s not bad, is it?

As the story was about to end, the employee carefully spoke to Si-hyuk.

“Excuse me….”

“Ah! I’m sorry. I treated you too carelessly because it’s a friend’s business.”

“No. No. I just missed the timing to get out. But Si-hyuk.”

“Yes.”

“Do you understand all the various accents in China?”

Si-hyuk nodded without hesitation.

“Yes.”

The employee smiled slightly and said.

“Would you like to try interpreting for a while tomorrow?”

At the same time, he sent a text message to his colleague.

-Hey! Hey! I found a handsome interpreter acquaintance.

-?!?!?!?

***

Gun Slayers.

It is an online game called ‘Guns’ for short.

To put it simply, dealers [damage dealers], healers, and tanks exist as a team of four, and two teams fight each other.

It can be a battle to destroy the occupied territory, or a battle to win by increasing the number of kills.

It was a game that was actively dealt with in e-sports [electronic sports].

There are many domestic and foreign game competitions, and there are many team activities.

It was really a coincidence that I got to work here as an interpreter.

‘Actually, I was going to refuse, but he looked so desperate….’

The desperate voice of the event match manager who contacted me still tickles my ears.

800,000 won [approximately $600 USD] just for interpreting.

It was a decent income compared to the time commitment.

I’m definitely not hooked on money. Absolutely!

With this money, I thought I would buy Siha toys, delicious food, and new clothes.

But I’m definitely not hooked on money.

I just wanted to help and experience it.

“Siha, do you know this game?”

“Huh?”

“You don’t know the game well, do you? Is it too early to play yet?”

“Game? Bad game!”

“Oh…. That’s right. A bad game is also a game. That’s right.”

“Jenga!”

“Oh. That’s right. Jenga is also a game.”

When do ordinary children start playing games these days?

When I was seven years old, I went to my friend’s house and played games by plugging the pack [game cartridge] into the game console.

‘It was fun back then.’

Maybe it’s faster these days.

Because young babies are already holding pads [tablets] in their hands and watching YouTube.

Even though I know it’s not good, there is no better equipment than this to soothe a crying child.

Honestly, I understand when I think about the difficulties of parenting.

“I’m going to a game competition tomorrow, what are you going to do, Siha? Are you going with me?”

“Ah ah.”

Siha nodded as if it were natural.

“Can’t you just stay at Seung-joon’s house for a while?”

“No. Hyung. Together.”

“Really? Then I can’t help it.”

Knowing this would happen, I talked about going together in advance.

But I couldn’t take care of him alone, so I had to bring one more person.

Who should I call?

Baek Dong-hwan has to go to work at the broadcasting station, so that won’t work…….

‘Someone who has time…….’

It was then.

There was a ding-dong sound, and Baek Dong-hwan waved his hand.

“What’s going on?”

“Hyung! I’m sad. Do I have to have a reason to come over?”

“Aren’t you here because you’re curious about whether you received the zombie doll?”

“No. I came because I’m curious about the contract.”

“The contract went well. Is it a new puzzle game? It’s being released there.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Then goodbye.”

When I was about to close the door, Baek Dong-hwan slipped his foot in.

“Uh-uh? Is this trespassing?”

“Hyung! There’s more than that!”

“What is it? Where did you hear it?”

Don’t tell me you’ve planted a spy around me?

Or is he just testing me?

“Hehe. My friends were there.”

“Wow. You’ve planted a spy now?”

“What are you talking about? I just overheard my friends talking about an incident at the cafe. But as I listened, I heard stories I knew. I thought it was Hyung.”

“Ah…….”

“The kids didn’t hear everything, but they heard the word Guns event match this time. I heard Hyung is interpreting? If it’s interpreting, you’ll also interpret for Well, the pro gamer.”

“Huh? What did you just say?”

“Well. Well. Don’t you know? He’s a top-tier pro gamer from China. In Guns.”

“Oh…. Is it someone I know? Or is it a homonym [same-sounding name]?”

Baek Dong-hwan blinked.

“Don’t tell me it’s someone Hyung knows?”

“Wait a minute. Let me check.”

How would I know a Chinese pro gamer?

I don’t even know Korean pro gamers well.

I know the game, but I don’t know the pro gamers well.

I just know the names roughly?

I checked Well’s face on my phone.

“Wow! That’s right.”

“What is it?”

“Ah. The Chinese person I talked to by chance at the beach last time. That person said he was Well.”

“The person Hyung was talking to next to him was Well?!

“Didn’t you know either?”

“Who would have thought Well was in Korea? I didn’t look closely either….”

I scratched my cheek.

He said he was just traveling, but he must have come here for work.

No. Did he travel while working?

Well, I thought it was strange for him to travel abroad alone because of his complicated feelings, leaving his pregnant girlfriend behind.

‘It was work?’

He must have also had time to sort out his thoughts.

Well, I hope that part is resolved well.

“Still, it won’t be awkward to interpret because we talked.”

“That’s right.”

“Then you can go now. Move your feet.”

I tapped Baek Dong-hwan’s feet standing at the door.

Baek Dong-hwan got angry and pulled the doorknob.

“Oh?”

“Wow! I didn’t see Hyung like that, but you’re cold-hearted. But why are you so strong?”

“You shouldn’t say that, should you?”

“Ahem. Hyung, please take me with you just once. I’ll take care of Siha and do well.”

He’s volunteering for work on his own.

That’s good for me.

But it’s human nature to push back once here.

“Didn’t you say you’re going to work tomorrow?”

“That was actually a lie. It’s my day off until today. Who knew you’d only be at the beach for one night and two days?”

“Then rest at home for another day.”

“Ah, Hyung. I really want to watch the competition live once.”

“Yeah. Good work.”

“What do you want?”

“I saw you had a Nintendo Wii at your house last time. The one that connects to the TV and plays games. Lend me that.”

Baek Dong-hwan said with a dumbfounded expression.

“Hyung. You’re just going to borrow that and have this fight?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded proudly.

Actually, I was just joking a little, but Baek Dong-hwan is offering to give it to me on his own.

“Ah, and promote SihaPePe emoticons to the senior voice actors. Got it?”

“…….”

“The door is closing.”

“Okay. I’ll brag hard!”

“Okay. Let’s go watch the game live with Siha tomorrow. Come in.”

“Thank you. It’s getting really hard to enter Hyung’s house.”

Baek Dong-hwan wiped the sweat from his forehead with his hand.

Siha was watching that in the hallway.

“Baek Dong!”

“Yeah. Siha. Hello.”

Siha stared blankly and pointed to the bathroom with his finger.

“Shower~”

“Oh…. Thank you. Do I smell that bad?”

“Smell~”

Siha grabbed his nose with his hand.

But Siha, where did you learn the dialect ‘smell’ from?

Anyway, Siha seems to be having fun teasing Baek Dong-hwan too.

‘He shouldn’t learn this from Hyung…….’

We laughed happily, stopping Baek Dong-hwan from going to shower with a shocked expression.