Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 118

Hyung, Am I Cute? 118

The teacher tilted her head and asked,

“Siha, why?”

“Pee!”

“Pee?”

“No.”

Siha put his index finger to his lips.

“Shh!”

“Huh?”

“Secret.”

“Ah! Siha, a secret with the teacher?”

“Ah ah.”

But Seungjun heard the word secret and said,

“Siha, I want to know too!”

“No.”

“Tell me the secret too. I won’t tell. I’ll only know.”

Siha started to worry.

The teacher was dumbfounded.

‘No, Siha. You shouldn’t be worrying about that,’ she thought.

Then Hana stepped forward.

“Hana too! Hana too! Si-hyuk oppa’s [older brother/male friend] secret!”

Hana? How did you come up with the idea of Si-hyuk oppa’s secret?

“Ah?”

Siha started to worry again.

‘Does Si-hyuk have a secret?’

The teacher became curious without realizing it.

“Ahem.”

She coughed and came to her senses.

The director, who had been watching from the front, had a face like a half-folded seed pancake [a thin, sweet Korean pancake].

“Then this mug is…”

Then Jaehwi trembled and raised his hand.

“Teacher. Actually, Jaehwi did it.”

“Huh?”

The children looked at Jaehwi.

The teacher stroked Jaehwi’s hair.

“Really? Thank you for telling me honestly. But Jaehwi.”

“Yes…”

“Actually, this was already broken! In fact, the culprit was the teacher!”

Actually, it wasn’t Jaehwi who did wrong.

The teacher was wrong to put it where the children could reach it.

So, she turned the blame towards herself.

As if it were a game of finding Hana’s culprit.

The children got excited and pointed at the teacher.

“Found you. Culprit!”

“It was the teacher!”

“But the handle was attached, right?”

The teacher smiled brightly.

“The teacher had attached it! That’s why I told you not to touch it. Everyone did a good job in this culprit-finding game.”

“Wow!”

Jaehwi stroked his chest as if he was relieved.

Siha looked at Jaehwi and held his hand tightly.

“Jaehwi.”

“Uh-huh.”

“It’s okay. It’s okay.”

“Uh-huh. Thank you.”

An honest answer is not always forgiven.

Because what Jaehwi hid was the truth.

But isn’t it a bit harsh to give a child who is reflecting and courageous a harsh environment?

Also, we must avoid things that cause great harm even though they did not do it themselves.

This is the only time you can learn this.

This is the only time you can be forgiven.

Because when you become an adult, you have to take responsibility for your actions.

“Then, now that we’ve found the culprit, shall we have some delicious snacks?”

“Yes!”

The children’s minds were all consumed with thoughts of snacks.

***

-Office.

Alisa was deep in thought, trying to catch the culprit behind the negative comments.

The first comments that were posted.

The comments that stirred up the discord.

They actually bought the clothes and left reviews.

“At least I need to know who the enemy is.”

Hena, who was diligently packing next to her, asked a question.

“How?”

“If they lied for money, they will tell the truth for money in reverse.”

“Hmm? Are you going to give them money?”

“No? Of course, I have to trick them. Or give them money in a different way.”

“It doesn’t seem easy?”

“It’s not like we signed a contract. Those kinds of people, I know them well. They’ll do business for a few pennies.”

“I see. But what are you going to do if you find out?”

“I need to know so that there won’t be a backlash later, right?”

“Hmm. But if we approach them as Parang Mall, won’t they be wary?”

“I have to trick them first. Don’t worry about that. I’m better at lying than these people.”

Alisa smiled confidently.

She had to show something as much as Si-hyuk was showing.

To do that, she will do what she can now.

“Where’s the phone number of the people who received those clothes?”

“Ah! Here it is.”

“Thank you.”

Alisa called the number she received via messenger.

Ring ring ring.

The ringing tone went on for a long time, and someone answered the phone.

A rough and low voice.

Alisa automatically started recording.

「Hello?」

“Yes. Hello. Is this Kim Byung-soo?”

「Yes. Speaking. Who is this?」

“This is HS Shoe Store. I was introduced to you and contacted you. I heard you leave very go~od reviews.”

「Ah…! That’s right.」

She was worried about what to do if it wasn’t, but he really manipulated the reviews.

Alisa was very angry inside, but it didn’t show on the outside.

Only Hena, who was listening next to her, thumped her chest.

“I heard you did a good job this time. At Parang Mall.”

「Haha. That’s right. The pay was quite good.」

“This time, we’re going to give you 100,000 won [approximately $80 USD] for shoes in the same industry, is that okay?”

「Of course. Anytime.」

“But I’m asking this to confirm.”

「Yes.」

“I want to know if you worked with the company I introduced you to.”

「Yes! I was asked by Aruaru.」

“Ah! That’s right. You were asked to leave a review for Parang Mall, right?”

「Yes. That’s right.」

Finally, she found out the culprit’s name.

Everything was led by Aruaru.

She doesn’t know why.

“Then that’s for sure. I understand. Oh, by the way, where do you live?”

「I live in Gyeonggi-do [province surrounding Seoul].」

“Ah-ha. You live in Gyeonggi-do. Then can we meet and talk? I’ll support your transportation expenses too.”

「Meet?」

“Yes. There are quite a few review requests. If you come to Busan, I’ll give you about 1 million won generously.”

「Where in Busan?」

“Let’s meet at Haeundae Station. This Saturday would be a good time… Let’s meet around 1 p.m. and talk.”

「Okay. Then I’ll see you then.」

“Yes~”

Alisa ended the call and put her phone on the desk.

Hena, who saw her face with all the laughter gone, trembled next to her.

“Alisa. Your face is so scary. But are you really going to meet him?”

“Why would I? I’m just going to spend the travel expenses and come back empty-handed.”

“Huh?”

“I have to pay back what I’ve been through. If I give this recorded file to the lawyer, will I be sued together?”

“Maybe? I don’t really know?”

“Well, I’ll ask and if it doesn’t work, I can’t help it.”

“Wow. But you’re making him do a dog training all the way to Busan.”

“Dog training?”

“Yeah. In Korea, they call that dog training [making someone go through a lot of trouble for nothing]. Wow. He’s going to get a good training all the way to Busan.”

“I’m going to try a few reviews later and make them do dog training together.”

“Wow. Scary. You’re going to spend all the money you earned on travel expenses.”

Alisa shrugged as if that wasn’t a big deal.

The problem wasn’t that.

Aruaru.

A slightly known clothing brand.

In fact, only people who know it know it.

It’s not that great.

It was a children’s clothing store where you could only feel the impression that it was quite stylish.

“But why did Aruaru do that?”

“What? Is it a check or something?” [slang for being paid off to do something]

“No. I don’t even know the CEO there.”

“I see. If they ordered this kind of thing, the CEO would have done it. That’s weird. Really.”

“That’s right. I want to ask them why they did that.”

“Hmm. No way. They wouldn’t attack like this without knowing anything. Try to remember well.”

“What, don’t you have any pictures or anything?”

“Um… Should I try to find out through someone I know? I think I can find out about pictures.”

“Please.”

“Okay!”

Hena playfully made a circle.

Alisa smiled slightly at the sight.

Then Si-hyuk called.

A call to announce the success of a new contract.

***

After announcing the contract, I came to the office and gathered everyone to explain.

Alisa already knew the content, but listening to the heroic story was another story.

I briefly said only the main points and everyone agreed.

I don’t know what will happen to this business in the future, but it doesn’t seem bad as a start.

“Alisa. I think I need to go on a business trip to the United States. I need to go there and look around the factories and build relationships with the clients….”

“Yes. I’ll do that. I think I can do well.”

“At least I won’t be blocked by the language. This is something I can’t do.”

“Yes. Thank you. I’ll meet them personally.”

“There’s a Guns domestic competition tomorrow, so we can talk while having a meal around the time it ends.”

“I should.”

Alisa will probably do well.

There was no need to worry.

Because I can’t do everything.

Getting close to clients, seeing the factory’s methods.

These are areas I can’t do.

‘Because I don’t know that well,’ I thought.

The higher the knowledge of the professional field, the more jokes will work and the more fun it will be when talking about work.

And Alisa knows a lot about American culture, so there was no problem getting close to each other.

Especially, the better thing is that she won’t be discriminated against.

It was a perfect choice with the least risk of meeting people.

“Then I’ll go now. I think I’m done with what I have to do.”

“Ah. Just a moment.”

“Yes.”

“I finally found the culprit in Korea.”

“Ah. Really?”

“Yes. It seems like a place called Aruaru is the culprit, and the CEO there probably did it.”

“Why would the CEO there do that?”

Alisa pondered and shook her head.

“Actually, I don’t really know either. Hena unnie [older sister/female friend]. Did you get the picture?”

“Yes. Here.”

Alisa’s face hardened when she received the picture.

“This person…….”

‘What is it? Is it someone she knows?’ I wondered.

“Why, Alisa? Is it someone you know?”

“I don’t know them well… But I’ve seen them before.”

“Really? Where?”

Alisa put her arms around her and started tapping her fingers as if she was remembering.

“There was really nothing special at that time…….”

“Don’t make me curious and tell me quickly. Even a small clue is good.”

“Maybe when Soo-hyun and I went to the motor show…….”

“Ah. That time?”

“Yes. I said I was going to start Parang Mall at that time. It was a time when I was roughly drawing a picture.”

“So?”

“But when the shopping mall story came out, that person suddenly jumped in.”

A stranger suddenly jumped in.

It seemed very rude.

Of course, it can be different depending on the situation.

It could be someone who is having a friendly conversation.

But hearing it in the current situation of being attacked, it felt negative.

“What did they say?”

“I don’t remember well… I think they were bragging about themselves. I’m such a great person. Isn’t it amazing? What kind of feeling?”

“They’re a person with excellent self-expression.”

“Because they succeeded. That’s why they showed the stubbornness that their words are right. If you do this, it will work. I just accepted it roughly.”

Hena was furious next to her.

“You shouldn’t have accepted that.”

“I was just going to accept it appropriately and leave. Soo-hyun was next to me, so…….”

“Oh, my.”

It seemed like she was trying to deal with it appropriately.

I would also listen to it appropriately without cutting it off sharply and then make an excuse to get out.

I also put my arms around me and asked.

“Is that the end?”

“At the end, they gave me their business card and asked for my contact information, so I refused. That’s all there is to the story.”

“Ah…. What is it?”

I couldn’t guess anything.

I think it’s strange, but I can’t know the reason.

Alisa seems to think so too.

It feels like I received a problem with an ambiguous answer.

Then Hena slammed the desk.

“Ah. Could it be?!”

“Unnie. Did you think of something?”

“Could it be that they’re doing this because I refused to give them my number?”

“Eh. No way…….”

“Haha. Right? There’s no way that could happen. But if you listen to it, that’s all there is, right?”

If you listen to it up to this point, it sounds plausible.

Because the world is so big.

“Anyway, the CEO will have to pay the price later. Because it will be like that.”

“Right?”

“Yes. I’m not responding now, but if there’s evidence, even if it’s just an article, the impact will be huge. This is a place where the Internet world is all about sales. Compared to that, we have another merit.”

“Ah! If the US business goes well, there will be clothes that are supplied regularly, right?”

“That’s right. Just like supplying agricultural products to schools is good for farmers.”

“Ah…. I didn’t think that far. Ah! Is that why you told me to look around the US factory?”

“Yes. I think it would be good to proceed by passing on the design or pattern to our side. If we make it here and send it, there will be a lot of tariffs, so the price of clothes you want to buy locally will be expensive.”

“That’s right? That’s why my role in getting close to them is important…. I didn’t think about taxes.”

“Because I don’t know how the FTA [Free Trade Agreement] between Korea and the United States will be in the future. It’s better to use a local factory. Actually, I don’t know well either.”

I shrugged and smiled.

“I have to study hard from now on.”

Alisa clenched her fist.

Looking around, there were employees who were making faces that said, ‘I didn’t know that?’

Maybe they understood what I meant by going to the United States.

There was nothing to worry about for this Parang Mall.

Everyone was just inexperienced because it was their first time, but they were smart friends.

I believe they will do well.

“Then I’m really going?”

“Yes! Thank you for today.”

As I was about to leave, Alisa received a call.

Alisa waved at me and answered the phone.

“Yes. Hello.”

I packed my bag.

I have to go see Siha now.

“Yes…. Yes? The CEO of Aruaru?”

Stop.

This is really a call I can’t help but stop for, right?

Everyone’s eyes were focused on Alisa.