Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 482

Extracurricular 57: Vacation (11)

I refused Seo Su-hyeon’s offer of a card.

Even if it was her offering, using a card felt like cheating, and a simple finger heart [a small gesture of affection] seemed insufficient.

Cold-hearted Lee Si-ha waved goodbye to Seo Su-hyeon, as if her business was concluded and she was ready to leave.

“Hyeoni noona [older sister/female friend]. I’m leaving now.”

“Already? You haven’t even had a drink yet? And there are desserts too.”

“But I don’t have much money, so if I buy these, I’ll quickly become a beggar.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the expression ‘become a beggar.’

Where did she learn that from?

She was right.

If we ordered a drink and a dessert, the measly 15,000 won [Korean currency, approximately $12 USD] we had might be cut in half.

No, 10,000 won would disappear in an instant.

The cost of living in the world seemed too high.

Or maybe it was just that I felt it so keenly because I was using a limited amount of 10,000 won.

Seo Su-hyeon held up five fingers.

“Then I’ll give you a 50% discount.”

“It’s okay. I’ll come to buy it after this is over.”

“Can’t you do it today? Can’t you do it even if noona asks you like this?”

“No. Not even if noona does a handstand.”

“I wasn’t even going to do a handstand?”

I wondered what this conversation was even about.

I thought we should wrap it up now. There was still one more place to sell the drawing.

“Su-hyeon-ah. I’ll come again later.”

“I have no choice then. When you come next time, you have to buy a lot of desserts.”

I ran my hand from left to right across the desserts in the case.

“I’ll just buy everything from here to here later.”

“Wow. Cool.”

“Put some saliva on your lips before you say that. You have no soul.”

She actually put saliva on her lips and answered.

“Wow. Cool.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Seo Su-hyeon’s absurd behavior.

“Was I sexy?”

“Who?”

“Me.”

“I don’t know about sexy, but you were just funny.”

“This oppa [older brother/male friend] is really… trying to tease me again.”

“No. I really thought it was funny.”

“Go quickly.”

“Okay. I’ll contact you.”

“Yes.”

I took Si-ha’s hand and left the cafe.

I got in the car and started driving again.

The next house we’re going to is…

“Hyeong-ah [older brother/male friend].”

“Yeah?”

“How much should I get for this?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you think the art teacher will like it?”

“I think she’ll like it. She’ll like it a lot.”

“I hope so.”

The next house we’re going to is the art teacher’s house.

I think I chose the people to sell to really well.

Targeting people who have no choice but to buy.

Especially Bae Sang-hyeon, he has no choice but to buy Si-ha’s drawing, right?

Si-ha held the drawing she had prepared in a file, hugging it tightly.

“I’m rich now.”

“I guess so.”

If we sold it for about 10,000 won more than the 15,000 won, it would be 25,000 won, so I guess she was right.

The initial capital was 10,000 won, but it had increased by 2.5 times.

It was an achievement I could brag about anywhere.

“We’re here.”

“Yeah!”

“I told her we were coming in advance, so she’ll come out when you ring the bell.”

“Yeah!”

We rang the bell in front of the door.

The door opened quickly, and Bae Sang-hyeon greeted us.

“Welcome. Si-ha-ya. Hello.”

“Hello, Art Teacher!”

“Yes. You said you had something to say to the teacher today?”

“Yes. This!”

Si-ha showed the drawing that was in the transparent file.

Bae Sang-hyeon looked at the drawing with surprised eyes.

“Is this me?”

“Yes. It’s Art Teacher. A caricature.”

“You drew it well. Did you come here to give me this?”

Bae Sang-hyeon reached out his hand to take the drawing.

The moment he was about to touch the file, Si-ha slightly stepped back and took the drawing away.

A question mark appeared above Bae Sang-hyeon’s head.

“Huh?”

“I can’t just give it to you.”

“Why?”

Bae Sang-hyeon’s face had more diverse expressions than ever before; now he looked like he had lost his country.

Si-ha shrugged her shoulders and said.

“I came to sell it today.”

Here was a confident person who drew it without being asked and came to sell it.

But is this how you originally sell drawings?

Didn’t you used to call a painter to draw a self-portrait and pay the price?

What’s happening is that the painter draws it first and then forces you to buy it because she drew you, but is this right?

Has the way of selling changed in modern times?

I felt this when I sold it to Seo Su-hyeon earlier, but I really wondered if this was okay.

Bae Sang-hyeon’s expression brightened.

I guess it’s okay.

“Okay. How much is it?”

“Give me the price that Art Teacher likes.”

Si-ha used the ‘you first’ tactic.

The effect seemed to be great.

“First, don’t just stand here like this and come in.”

That’s right. I don’t know what we’re doing without even going in at the door.

“I’ll go find my wallet.”

It seemed like we were going to successfully sell it this time too.

We went inside and sat on the sofa.

Bae Sang-hyeon was about to bring his wallet but fell into 고민 [a state of worry/consideration].

“Um. I’ll be back for a while.”

I asked curiously.

“Do you have something to do?”

“I don’t have enough money, so I have to go to the ATM.”

“Huh?”

“I only have 10,000 won in my wallet……”

“10,000 won is enough?!”

How much are you trying to withdraw?!

Bae Sang-hyeon shook his head with a serious face.

“That’s a painting that’s worth at least 2 million won. I’m a painter, so I know the value objectively.”

“It’s not objective, it’s very subjective?!”

Who would spend 2 million won on a caricature?

No matter how much I think Si-ha is great, 2 million won for that drawing is too much.

Bae Sang-hyeon sighed.

“If I had known this would happen, I would have made cards at several banks. There’s a limit to how much I can withdraw in cash. Ah! Can I do a bank transfer? If that’s the case…. No. Installments…….”

“How much are you trying to give me?!”

“I have to give you about 5 million won.”

“That’s too much?!”

It’s not a joke; it’s scarier that he seriously thinks that way.

No. Seo Su-hyeon bought it for 10,000 won, but 5 million won is too heavy. That heart is too heavy.

Then Si-ha said.

“Art Teacher. I drew Hyeoni noona too, but I sold it for 10,000 won.”

Si-ha’s conscience declaration.

That’s right. Good job. The price has already been set to some extent.

No matter what, it can’t be that much money.

Bae Sang-hyeon said.

“Hyeoni noona, are you talking about Seo Su-hyeon?”

“Yes. My girlfriend you saw then.”

“If you’re going to buy that too, it’s 10 million won…….”

“What are you trying to buy that for!”

Is he a tycoon who’s trying to buy all the paintings by famous painters?

That’s the feeling.

I wonder if he’s going to buy all the drawings Si-ha makes later.

Si-ha said.

“Art Teacher. If you only have 10,000 won, I’ll sell it to you for 10,000 won.”

“No. I can’t do that. You have to get the right price for the painting.”

“I don’t know. I’m going to sell it for 10,000 won. And Art Teacher also took me to the PC room.”

Oh. Good logic. Lee Si-ha.

Bae Sang-hyeon 고민 and then nodded.

Was that something to 고민 about?

“Then I have no choice. Thank you. Si-ha-ya.”

“Hehe. Yes.”

I don’t know why the person who’s buying it is saying thank you.

Well, I don’t know if he doesn’t know how grateful he is that Si-ha drew this for him.

On the surface, it’s strange, right?

Why is the person who’s selling it trying to lower the price, and the person who’s buying it is trying to raise it more expensively?

Was selling paintings originally this difficult?

Since the form of selling was strange from the beginning, the form of buying was naturally strange too.

Bae Sang-hyeon carefully received the drawing in the file and gently stroked it.

“I should get it laminated and keep it in a frame.”

That much?!

“You seem to be in a very good mood today.”

“Hahahaha. Of course.”

Bae Sang-hyeon smiled brightly.

It was such a bright smile that I had never seen before.

I had only seen him smile gently, but he was smiling like a child who had received a gift for the first time.

Is he that happy?

I felt like my heart was buzzing for no reason.

Bae Sang-hyeon continued.

“It’s the best.”

Si-ha shook the 10,000 won she received and said.

“Hyeong-ah. I’m rich!”

Yeah. You’re rich. Our Si-ha.

The happiness of 10,000 won.

***

Before I knew it, it was past lunchtime. 1 o’clock.

It was time to be hungry enough.

All we had for breakfast was egg rice.

“Si-ha-ya. Shall we eat now?”

“Yeah! I have a lot of money.”

“I guess so.”

I only had 9,000 won.

“Shall we eat at home? Or shall we buy something to eat?”

“Hyeong-ah. Let’s buy something to eat.”

“Okay. Let’s do that. Then there’s a cheap and delicious place.”

“Where?!”

“The market!”

Saying that the market is cheap might be a thing of the past, but if you look carefully, there are still many cheap and delicious things.

Of course, it might be very tight to split 10,000 won and use it.

Squeak.

I had already set the direction to the market, so we arrived already.

I’m hungry, so I have to find a place where the food is cheap.

“Let’s go in.”

“Yeah!”

I took Si-ha’s hand and went into the market.

Delicious side dishes were visible. They were rice thieves [side dishes so good they make you eat more rice], but I’ll skip them today.

“Hyeong-ah. Chicken gangjeong [sweet and spicy crispy chicken].”

“I guess so.”

4,000 won for a cup.

Um. It’s expensive. I currently have 9,000 won, but if I buy it, it would be cut in half.

“Shall we look at something else?”

I wanted to eat something that would fill me up, even if it was the same 4,000 won.

Isn’t the best price bunsik [Korean snack food]?

I’m aiming for market tteokbokki [spicy rice cakes].

As I was passing by, I saw a toast that was 갑 가성비 [a slang term for excellent value for money].

1,000 won.

“1,000 won?”

One toast in a paper cup.

The list of things to buy today was visible.

“Si-ha-ya. Shall we eat toast?”

“Yeah!”

“Auntie. Please give me two toasts.”

“Yes. I understand.”

She quickly put the freshly baked toast in a paper cup and gave it to us.

I handed over 2,000 won.

We held the paper cups and took a bite of the toast.

The sweet taste spreading in my mouth made me feel good.

Maybe it’s because I was hungry, but it was very delicious.

“Hyeong-ah. It’s delicious.”

“Yeah. Hyeong-ah also thinks it’s delicious. It’s really cheap that this is 1,000 won.”

“Yeah. It’s really cheap.”

Isn’t this the taste of coming to the market?

I believed that there was affordable food!

The sweet and sour taste of ketchup, the savory taste of vegetables, and the crispy texture of bread.

I felt like I was full to some extent after eating one.

The taste of eating food on the street while walking was special with memories.

But I don’t think I can eat two.

“Hyeong-ah. Tteokbokki!”

Si-ha urged me because she wanted to eat tteokbokki too.

“Yeah. Let’s go. Let’s go.”

Before I knew it, I arrived at a house that sells market tteokbokki.

I sat on a chair and looked at the 어묵 국물 [fish cake soup] that was rising.

If you eat market tteokbokki, it’s 어묵 [fish cake].

It would have been better if I had eaten it when it was cold.

Unfortunately, it was still the end of August, so it felt hot.

Fortunately, there was a seat inside the bunsik restaurant, so the heat subsided.

I liked sitting on the plastic chair outside.

It felt old-fashioned and good.

“Hyeong-ah. It’s very cheap.”

Si-ha looked at the menu and was surprised.

That’s right. The bunsik here is also the end plate king of 가성비 [excellent value for money].

1,000 won for 1 serving of tteokbokki. 1,000 won for 1 serving of sundae [Korean blood sausage].

Buchujeon [chive pancake] and kimbap [seaweed rice roll] are also 1,000 won.

Maybe it’s because the price is cheap, but there were also a few students sitting there.

Was it because they were students who hadn’t had lunch yet even though it was past 1 o’clock?

That’s what I thought.

“저 사장님 [Excuse me, ma’am/boss]. Please give me 2 servings of tteokbokki and 1 serving of sundae. Si-ha-ya. Do you want to eat ramen too?”

“No. I want kimbap too!”

“Please give me one kimbap too.”

The aunt nodded as if she knew and quickly prepared it.

The food came out quickly and looked really delicious.

Si-ha took a fork and poked the tteokbokki and handed it to me.

“Hyeong-ah. Ah.”

“Ah~!”

As expected, Lee Si-ha. You learned well. Taking care of adults like this first.

I don’t know whose sibling she is.

Who’s going to take our polite sibling?

Of course, she sometimes does 펙폭 [brutal honesty], but that’s inevitable.

I quickly received and ate the tteokbokki that Si-ha gave me.

“Um. It’s delicious.”

“Is it very delicious?”

“Yeah. It’s very delicious. Si-ha, try it quickly too.”

“Yeah.”

We were eating tteokbokki and sundae amicably when the aunt came to cut the kimbap.

She looked at Si-ha once and asked.

“Did you say your name is Si-ha?”

“Yes!”

“Aren’t you the kid who appeared on TV?”

I was about to put the sundae in my mouth but froze for a moment.

I never thought there would be anyone who would recognize me.

If you say you were on TV, are you talking about the [Talk On Quiz] program?

Si-ha nodded.

“Yes. I’ve been on TV before. On Talk On Quiz there.”

“Oh my. I knew it. I was wondering where I saw you. I happened to be watching it.”

She was watching it now?

I raised my head and Talk On Quiz was being broadcast on TV.

Rebroadcast.

I knew that program rebroadcasts a lot, but why are we here today?

My face is there?

“The aunt is a fan of MC Kim Yu-han. So I often turn it on. Wow. It’s really amazing.”

“I think it’s amazing too.”

What’s amazing, Si-ha?

Is it amazing that someone recognized you?

But then I felt the students looking at us.

They looked back and forth between the face on TV and our faces.

I just felt awkward for no reason.

I’m not a celebrity, so I don’t think I’ll get used to being recognized like this.

Why is that being rebroadcast today?

The aunt said.

“Eat a lot. This is a service.”

She brought 1 serving of 계란만두 [egg dumplings].

This is a profit?

Si-ha said.

“I can’t get it for free.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m playing a game where I live on 10,000 won today.”

“Huh? Hahahaha. It reminds me of an old program.”

“Hmm. Then I’ll draw a picture for you as a service. Let’s exchange.”

At that, I secretly looked at the price of 계란만두.

1,500 won.

Cough. 1,500 won for one drawing?

Ah. I have to think of it as an exchange of hearts, but I unconsciously thought about the price.

Si-ha-ya. Hyeong-ah is sorry.

I guess hyeong-ah is an adult too.

I apologized to Si-ha in my heart.