Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 170

I scan the crowd, searching for Charlie among the many faces that seem so similar.

It’s a difficult task. Like picking out one specific detail in a confusing, overwhelming picture.

The concept of the book is quite clever, I think.

What is Charlie thinking as he hides?

Perhaps Charlie is observing us, the ones searching for him.

But we can’t know for sure. Is he watching us, or is he smiling at our confusion?

Maybe he’s enjoying the game, feeling like he has us all in the palm of his hand.

One thing is certain: he’s looking at us just as intently as we’re looking at him.

‘You have no idea,’ I muse.

I’ve been intrigued by CEO Kim Jun-yeop ever since he arrived.

It seems he is too. If he needed someone for the job, he could have simply called an employee. Why meet me in person to hire me?

I sensed that something unusual was about to happen to me.

I had a feeling from the moment I scheduled the first appointment.

It wouldn’t make sense if I didn’t have this much intuition.

‘But I didn’t expect him to order food.’

He seemed a little clumsy, like he didn’t have much experience with this sort of thing.

But that clumsiness seemed to lower the president’s guard.

I didn’t plan it, but it worked out well.

‘Ninehearts.’

I organized my thoughts as the president mentioned Ninehearts and the side dishes were neatly arranged on the table.

To be honest, I don’t know much about the company.

Why are they doing me this favor?

I know it has something to do with my father. But did he do something that would warrant this much consideration?

Maybe he did.

The world of interpreters can be quite dynamic.

Especially those who coordinate opinions or defuse anger to facilitate deals between people from different countries.

Top-tier interpreters like that have many connections and are incredibly valuable.

Like now.

The president sitting across from me wants something from me.

So, I need to make a strong impression.

I’m someone he needs, not someone he can underestimate.

And the impact seems to have been significant.

“What should I offer you?”

“You need me for smooth communication, to refine the narrative. But that’s where my usefulness ends. You need to prepare a real weapon separately.”

“Hmm.”

“You have to offer them something tempting enough to make them act, right?”

“We don’t like losing money.”

“Yes, I suppose so. You were attacked, so of course you have to retaliate. You can’t back down and make peace after being hit.”

“Haha, that’s amusing. So, a countersuit?”

“Yes, that’s what I mean. First of all, we’re not at fault either. Announce a strong response with a countersuit. Make the issue bigger. We aren’t actually at fault, are we?”

The president nodded.

He seemed amused, wondering if he understood my point.

“You’re suggesting we make a big show of things and then try to negotiate peace. But what if it backfires and things escalate?”

“Well, maybe they want that too.”

“Of course, since they’re the ones who made it so big.”

He gave me a look that seemed to say, ‘What are you talking about?’

But I was aware that I was stating the obvious.

“Making things bigger would only burden Ninehearts. After all, they’re not going to sit still and take it.”

“That’s… that’s right.”

“Of course, you might fail to negotiate and lose in court. That’s the worst-case scenario. There are many cases like that.”

There were even instances where companies lost their technology.

But that doesn’t mean you can just sit back and accept it.

What they want is the technology, after all.

“If they want the technology, you have to give it to them. What’s the point of lower-level employees fighting when you’re not even number one anyway? Still, Garam Semiconductor will get something out of it.”

The president looked at me, amused by what I said.

“Patent license agreement.”

“Exactly. Weren’t you already considering ending things with that as much as possible?”

“Hahaha, that’s the best outcome.”

“They’ll probably have to accept it.”

“You seem quite confident. Even the strategy team isn’t sure.”

“If I didn’t know, I wouldn’t say anything. If I know something, I have to use it. I’m a little lucky. I know that person a little too well.”

He seemed to understand that I was referring to Vice Chairman Daniel.

To be honest, what do I really know?

But I knew he had good intentions towards me.

And one more thing.

‘He had an expectant look. And…’

He was looking for traces of my father in me.

If I interpreted it correctly, a negotiation meeting could be arranged.

And he seemed like he would listen to my story.

Of course, I’m just conveying the message.

‘Even if I fail, there’s no risk. Well, I’ll know when I see it.’

A relationship that ended more than 10 years ago.

Daniel’s choice will reveal how fondly he remembers it.

I smile, feeling 괜히 [without reason] excited.

“What is your relationship with Vice Chairman Daniel?”

“It’s just an old acquaintance.”

That’s all I said.

I don’t know what he thought, but the president smiled contentedly at my answer.

‘Well, it’s not a lie.’

It is an old acquaintance, isn’t it?

***

I wrote the contract.

I’m not getting that much money. Three million won [approximately $2,200 USD].

That includes labor costs and introduction fees.

In fact, I stopped him from offering more. If you take too much from a company like this, you’ll get 체하는 [indigestion, but metaphorically, it means you’ll get sick of it or it will cause problems].

But if I don’t take anything, what I did would be too much.

So, I added an option. If I successfully complete this task, give me 50 million won [approximately $37,000 USD].

Court battles and media fights.

It’s going to be a fight that costs hundreds of millions of won, so this much is reasonable, right?

Actually, I was asking for a lot in my own way.

You know how it works, right? The basic principle of starting high and then negotiating down little by little?

Anyway, I thought I could get 30 million won, but then…

He immediately agreed.

If I had known that would happen, I would have asked for 100 million won 통 크게 [generously, with a big heart].

Who knew he would accept so readily?

So, I added another option.

If I succeed, can I be hired as a full-time employee whenever I want?

He said he understood. However, it’s a bit difficult to put it in the contract, so it’s only a verbal agreement.

Well, I think I succeeded to this extent.

I’ll have to negotiate my salary well later. Still, with this much achievement, I should get a big company salary.

‘I might not even go.’

Maybe a better opportunity will come along.

That’s why I specified when I want it.

I feel somewhat relieved about employment. There are so many people who want me here and there, so I can just pick one.

“Siha, hyung [older brother or male friend] is going to Singapore.”

“Ah? Singapo?”

“Oh! That’s right. It’s Singapore. Hyung will be back soon if I have time. I want to take Siha with me, but I’m not going for fun.”

“Ah?”

“Um. So, you probably won’t see hyung for about a day.”

Siha’s eyes widened at my words.

He shook his head quickly.

“No. No. Siha too. Siha too.”

“Hehehe. What should I do? I want to take hyung with me too…”

“No. Siha too. Siha go. Hyung. Siha too.”

Siha put his hands together and made a pleading expression.

I found out that the direct flight to Singapore takes six hours.

Twelve hours round trip.

I had no choice but to be away from Siha for a day.

I’m going to leave him with Seungjun’s mom.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be back as soon as I’m done with work. I’ll be back really soon.”

“…”

Siha stuck to my leg with a crying face.

My heart ached when I saw that expression.

“Hyung. Siha gachi [together]…. Siha gachi…”

“Ah…”

“Don’t go. Don’t go.”

Siha rubbed his face on my leg.

I don’t know what to do either.

“If you sleep with Seungjun and Hana for one night, hyung will come back. Is that okay?”

“Don’t go.”

꽈악 [Tightly].

The hand holding my pants is 힘이 들어간다 [getting stronger].

I don’t know when he got so strong. I think I took it too lightly.

Siha is doing so well in daycare.

I thought it would be okay to be apart for a day.

‘Stupidly. What are you doing?’

I had no choice but to blame myself.

Siha is still young. Even his parents are gone. No grandmother or grandfather either.

The only safe place where he can open his heart is with me.

I realized that, for him, the meaning of family is only me, through Siha’s actions.

It’s different from just sleeping at a friend’s house for one night.

It’s about not spending a day with me.

“Hyung…”

“I’m sorry. Hyung was stupid.”

“No. Hyung not stupid.”

“Hahaha. Yeah. Shall we go to Singapore together?”

“Siha too?”

“Yeah. Siha too.”

Before I knew it, tears welled up in Siha’s face.

I was also 감응해 [touched] and my eyes became 촉촉해졌다 [moist].

I’m a 똥멍청이다 [complete idiot]. Why am I telling a three-year-old to 참으라고 [endure]?

It’s just a matter of not having to 참지 않아도 [endure] like a fool.

He’s at an age where he can be 철없이 [immature] and 어리광부려도 [act spoiled].

Knowing that I’m the only one who can accept it, why didn’t I realize that?

Why! Why! Am I a 멍청이 [idiot]?

I’m usually so quick-witted, but I couldn’t understand Siha’s feelings and made him cry like this.

“Hyung! Siha go!”

“If you cry and laugh, you’ll get hair on your butt.”

I throw out a stupid joke because I think I’m going to 울컥 [choke up] even more.

Siha thinks it’s real and stretches his pants out to look at his butt.

“Hyung. Siha hair no.”

“푸흡 [chortle]. Of course not.”

I wiped his eyes with my thumb.

Tears like chicken poop almost fell.

I’ll have to be more careful in the future. Even if I don’t teach him anything, Siha will learn how to 참는 [endure].

Like I did.

That there are no parents. That there is no one to lean on. That the environment is like this.

Everything 키우게 the child [raises the child].

Until I know that 홀로서기 [standing alone], just 철없이 [immaturely]. Just stay 철없이 [immature].

I hope he 실컷 부리길 어리광 [spoils himself to his heart’s content] to me.

I hope he says honestly that he wants to be with me like this.

Please don’t 참지 [endure].

Because I lived too much 참았으니까 솔직함을 [enduring, so I want him to be honest].

“Then shall we go get a passport tomorrow?”

“Ah?”

“It’s called a passport, and it can be made so you can ride a plane. It takes quite a while for adults to 맞춰 [coordinate] to make time because everyone is busy.”

Siha tilted his head as if he didn’t know what was going on.

You don’t have to know yet. Just listen to me like this.

“Hmm. Then I’ll need someone to follow me?”

No matter what, it’s good to take Siha, but I need someone to take care of him when I work.

If this happens, it’s good to 풀고 여독 [relax and recover from the trip] a little and go.

But I don’t think I can ask Seungjun’s mom.

Can you go to Singapore with me?

If I say this, Professor Oh Sang-hwan will throw his smartphone with a 도깨비 [goblin] face.

Saying, ‘Taste some semiconductor [sarcastic threat related to his field].’

While I was having such 헛생각 [useless thoughts], the bell rang 띵-동- [ding-dong].

“Huh?”

“Ah?”

My brothers said at the same time, approaching the front door.

“Who is it?”

“Who?”

In fact, there is only one person who would ring the bell at this time.

Baek Dong-hwan. He came.

“Hyungnim [term of respect for an older brother or male friend]. It’s me. You know it. Haha!”

“Yeah. I know. Siha, it’s Baek Dong. Shall I open it?”

“No. Baek Dong. Password. Password.”

Baek Dong-hwan laughed, saying it started again. He was clearly enjoying it.

“The password is 2626!! Take off take off! Let’s go to the meeting place.”

“What are you talking about? You’re talking about takeoff.”

“Ah, Hyungnim. Don’t you know the pager code? Siha will know.”

“No, how does Siha know?”

Siha shouts ‘No. No’ in front.

Baek Dong-hwan 고민하다가 [ponders] a little and 튕긴다 [flicks] his fingers as if he knew.

딱 [snap].

“Sihapepe!”

“No. Baek Dong.”

“Then what is it?”

“Baek Dong gachi [together]. Singapo gachi ga [go to Singapore together].”

“Huh? Singapore? Haha. Me to Singapore?”

“Anya [no]?”

“Haha. If you open this door, I’ll go with you.”

“Aaa.”

I opened the front door.

He’s probably thinking he negotiated well. You’re 착각이야 [mistaken], 임마 [term of endearment, but can be rude depending on context].

“Do you have a passport?”

“Yes? I do…”

“Do you have 연차 [paid time off] left?”

“I left it…? Hyungnim. But why are you asking that?”

“You’re going to Singapore, right?”

“Yes? Are you really going?”

Then I’ll really go. Shall I go 가짜로 [fake]?

Let’s go with us for just a day or two.

He looks like he won’t get into a fight. He’s perfect as Siha’s bodyguard.

It’s a place where people live, so there’s no way that face and body won’t work.

Baek Dong-hwan slightly opened his mouth and made a face saying, ‘Why did this happen?’

Why did it happen like this? Because you 함부로 [carelessly] promised Siha.

Let’s not 함부로 [carelessly] make promises in the future.