Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 11

“What’s all the commotion?”

CEO KI appeared.

He looked at the gathered employees and scolded them.

“What are you all doing instead of working? Get back to your stations immediately.”

At his words, the other employees dispersed, though some glanced back at me with lingering regret.

The CEO turned his attention to me.

“Ah! Mr. Si-hyuk?”

“Yes.”

“I apologize for our employee’s rudeness. It was unacceptable.”

“Why are you apologizing, sir?”

“Well, the employees are my responsibility. If you have any grievances, I hope you’ll resolve them today.”

“Thank you.”

“Manager Hong, could I see you for a moment?”

Hong Jin-soo clapped me on the shoulder.

“You came to observe our work today. Would it be alright if Si-hyuk also listened in, as long as it’s not confidential?”

“It doesn’t matter. Come quickly. It’s urgent.”

*Is it really okay for me to hear about work like this?*

*Well, they wouldn’t have invited me if it wasn’t appropriate.*

I called Si-ha over.

“Si-ha, let’s go.”

“Aah.”

Si-ha toddled after me.

We entered the CEO’s office.

The CEO began,

“How did the contract with Teacher Taek-soo go?”

“Yes, it went well. I even had the pleasure of tasting Teacher’s homemade kimchi for the first time in a while. He even packed some for me to take home.”

“No loyalty, just eating it yourself?”

As I listened to their exchange, a piece of information suddenly surfaced in my mind.

Song Taek-soo.

The martial arts novel he published in April 2000 had swept through Korea.

People in their 40s and 50s still held onto that nostalgia.

I knew he had completed the 15-volume novel and then disappeared without a trace.

It was a well-crafted novel that evoked a strong sense of that era.

I remember reading it all night long, my heart pounding with excitement…….

*Where did this memory come from?*

I was startled by the sudden, vivid recollection.

“Ah!”

When I made the sound, Si-ha echoed me.

“Aah.”

The CEO and Hong Jin-soo turned to look at me.

“Our Si-hyuk knows Teacher Taek-soo?”

“Since when did he become ‘our Si-hyuk’?”

“From today. He will be joining KI as the head of the editorial department from now on.”

“You should just be the CEO then. Go for it.”

“Should I really start one?”

“Ha!”

Seeing the CEO and Hong Jin-soo playfully banter back and forth made me chuckle.

“Writer Taek-soo is quite famous. I’ve heard older fans asking why he hasn’t released any new works.”

“Ah, that. He’s farming.”

“Pardon?”

“He’s a born farmer.”

“Ah, I see.”

To think he would abandon writing novels to become a farmer.

He was a man of strong convictions.

I guess he’s pursuing what truly makes him happy.

“I used to be close with Teacher. I was surprised when he mentioned he was writing a novel again.”

“Wow, really?”

“Yes, he said he had something he wanted to write again.”

I don’t know why my heart is racing.

“Hyung.”

“Huh? Ah, right. Our Si-ha doesn’t know what martial arts is, right? It’s fighting with swords. Like this. Swish, swish.”

Hong Jin-soo and the CEO chimed in from the side.

“Not only that, but they can also project energy from their hands.”

“It’s like Power Rangers.”

“Oh my, CEO. The Power Rangers era is long gone.”

“I know, right? It’s Kamen Rider [a Japanese superhero franchise] or something these days.”

“That’s already passed……”

The CEO glared, and Hong Jin-soo quickly shut his mouth.

“Ahem, well, if the contract went well, that’s good. That’s not what I wanted to discuss. You know how we talked about publishing our contracted books overseas in English?”

“Ah, that. I looked into it, and only one person stood out. I’m going to vet them thoroughly first.”

At those words, I perked up my ears.

English translation was also a field I was interested in.

I don’t know how far this mysterious ability will go, but I’ve gained confidence since shaking up KI Media.

“We need to try it out once and get it reviewed.”

“I will. If it’s truly not good, there’s nothing we can do. I’ve already received the sample. It looks promising to me.”

“Really?”

The CEO flipped through the sample.

“Can I take a look too?”

“Oh, sure.”

Hong Jin-soo sent the file to my phone, and I checked it.

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

“I see something that needs to be fixed.”

“Huh?”

“Here, when they ask again, they say ‘sorry?’ But considering the situation, this person is trying to be polite.”

I pointed to the Korean sentence on my phone.

“When speaking politely, they usually say ‘pardon’ rather than ‘sorry?’ It seems they lack local experience.”

I regretted saying that much.

*Did I overstep with my unsolicited opinion?*

But the eyes of the two men were shining brightly.

It was as if they had discovered a hidden gem.

“Ahem, I should be going now. I think I’ve taken up too much of your time while you’re working.”

“No, no. Our Si-hyuk, feel free to do whatever you want. That’s not it. Just a moment, the employment contract and… where is it? Isn’t it in the president’s seat?”

“That’s right. That’s right. It’s tucked away in my drawer.”

I grabbed Si-ha’s hand and stood up.

“Si-ha is getting bored, so I have to go now. I really enjoyed observing your work today. Let’s keep in touch via text. Goodbye.”

When I bowed my head, Si-ha also bowed his head.

I quickly slipped out of the CEO’s office before I got caught.

This is when I use Si-ha as an excuse.

I almost got hired on the spot.

I left KI Media and said to Si-ha.

“Thanks to Si-ha, we got out of there. Everyone looked so tired; we can’t let them miss out on playtime with our Si-ha. Right?”

“Aah.”

Then I heard a voice from behind.

“Our Si-hyuk! I’ll contact you. Be careful on your way!”

We received Hong Jin-soo’s enthusiastic send-off.

***

On the way home.

“Si-ha.”

“Aah.”

“Hyung earned some money, you know. The contract fee.”

“Aah.”

“Shall we go eat something delicious today?”

I shouldn’t be spending money like this, but it felt like my first paycheck, so I wanted to buy something for Si-ha.

Unfortunately, the parents I wanted to treat were no longer with us.

Instead, I have Si-ha.

“Let’s eat something really delicious. What do you want to eat? Just say it. Of course, I might have to reconsider top-grade Korean beef. No, I can buy it even if Hyung has to starve.”

Shake, shake.

Our kind Si-ha can’t bear to see his Hyung starve.

But does he even understand?

“Or should I cook?”

“Hyung.”

Si-ha grabbed my leg and pulled.

“Huh?”

I wondered if he had something in mind, so I followed Si-ha’s lead.

I walked down a familiar road.

The straight road that led to KI Media.

Si-ha stopped at one place and pointed to a store with his finger.

[Gamjatang Even in Antarctica] [Gamjatang is a spicy Korean pork bone stew]

It was a gamjatang restaurant with a unique name.

I could understand why Si-ha chose this place.

There was a penguin that Si-ha liked drawn on the door.

Holding gamjatang…….

“Uh…….”

I didn’t know where to begin pointing out the problems.

Let’s go inside for now.

“Hyung. Hyung.”

“Okay. Let’s go in.”

Right now, Si-ha wants to go to this penguin house.

When I went inside, there were surprisingly many people.

“Welcome. How many people?”

“Two like this.”

“Oh my, the baby is so cute. Come this way. And there’s also a playroom over there, so please use it.”

“Thank you.”

“Please call us when you’ve decided on your menu.”

I picked up the menu so Si-ha could see it.

“Si-ha. What do you want to eat?”

The names of the menus were also unique.

[Hot Pot Boiled with Antarctic Glacier]

[Gamjatang that Penguins Like]

*Does this kind of thing actually work these days?*

That’s what I thought.

“Aah.”

Si-ha chose ‘Gamjatang that Penguins Like.’

It was served in a hot pot, so it seemed very hot.

“Here’s your gamjatang. Uhm. Two?”

I don’t know if I can eat it all.

If I leave it, there’s nothing I can do.

“And please bring an empty bowl so the baby can eat.”

“Yes.”

I took out Si-ha’s bib from the prepared bag and gave him his exclusive spoon.

Soon, the hot gamjatang arrived.

“Si-ha. Hyung will blow on it and give it to you. Okay?”

“Aah.”

I started to debone the meat.

Hooh, hooh.

After touching it to my lips once and making sure it wasn’t too hot, I put it in Si-ha’s empty bowl.

Si-ha moved his spoon diligently and put it in his mouth.

Sauce was smeared on his cheek, but even that was cute.

“Hyung.”

He must have gotten a little on his hand, so he’s asking me to wipe it off.

Our Si-ha is a very clean man.

But why doesn’t he ask me to wipe his face?

As I was diligently feeding him, I saw a mother in front of me.

“Oh my, our Jun-i should eat too.”

“No.”

Flick.

“Look at that baby over there. Doesn’t he eat really well?”

I nodded at those words.

Munch, munch.

It would be perfect if it weren’t for the fact that he’s eating with his face covered in it.

He’s still young, so it can’t be helped that his face is covered.

“Hyung.”

Si-ha held out his hand.

Okay. You’re the king. King.

I gloriously wiped his hand like a butler.

“Look at that baby over there. He’s eating so deliciously? Let’s eat too, Jun-i. Huh?”

“Woong.”

The baby in front of me hesitated and looked at Si-ha.

Looking at the meat again.

“Okay.”

“Okay. Our Jun-i is eating well~”

Only then did the child named Jun start eating diligently as he was given food.

At that time, I made eye contact with the child’s mother, and I saw a gesture of gratitude.

I also bowed my head in greeting.

Somehow, a sense of camaraderie suddenly surged.

Is this the telepathy you feel while raising a child?

“Hyung.”

“Yes.”

I snapped out of it and diligently served the meat.

***

After taking a two-shot of Si-ha in a penguin suit and penguin gamjatang, we returned home.

“Si-ha, let’s change clothes.”

Dodo, do.

Si-ha took off his shoes and ran away.

To think that energy would still be left.

But today I have bait to catch Si-ha.

I’ve grown in this area too.

“Look, this is a picture I took today.”

When I took out the album on my phone, Si-ha stopped in his tracks.

Upright.

He naturally turned his body and stuck to my leg.

“Hyung.”

He stretched his arms up, wanting to see it too.

I quickly grabbed his jumper and lifted him up as he was.

I also unbuttoned it and took off the penguin suit in one go.

Si-ha naked except for his diaper.

Now I left the phone in Si-ha’s hand to get the clothes to change into.

Thud.

Si-ha hit his head on the phone to see the picture.

“Your eyes will get bad if you look at it that close. You have to move your head back to see it properly.”

“Aah.”

Si-ha moved his head away and started looking at the phone.

It was a picture of Si-ha and the older sister he met today looking cute.

He nodded, as if he liked it.

“Okay. Let’s change clothes.”

I quickly changed his clothes while he was distracted.

He diligently put his arms in, not taking his eyes off the phone.

It’s a very submissive reaction.

But is that picture that interesting?

*I did tell her to make an Instagram account called Siha.*

Seeing that picture reminded me of what the woman said.

I didn’t really plan on posting it.

I didn’t plan on posting it on YouTube or anything like that, which is popular these days.

*I don’t know about Instagram, but videos are a bit much.*

If I did, it would be good to disable comments.

No one would swear at a child.

The world is so diverse that there might be someone who says strange things.

Posting videos feels like a means of making money, so I feel repulsed.

I don’t know what other people think, but that’s how I feel.

I want Si-ha to do what he wants to do.

I don’t want Si-ha to be unnecessarily criticized.

If there is such a person…….

*I’ll never let them get away with it.*

That’s how I shook off my thoughts.

“Hyung.”

“Huh?”

Si-ha pointed to my phone.

“Hyung.”

“Ah! Hyung’s picture? You wanted to see a picture with Hyung after all?”

Nod, nod.

“Hyung.”

“Yeah. You like Hyung’s picture more than this older sister’s picture, right?”

“Aah.”

“I knew it.”

I flipped through the pictures and looked for the pictures we took.

The two of them making a V-sign in the same pose.

Si-ha smiled slightly, as if he liked it, and then it disappeared.

“Huh?”

The phone was in Si-ha’s hand.

I had no choice but to keep that image in my heart.