Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 68

Hyung, Aren’t I Cute? 68

Choi Ma-jun thought Lee Si-hyuk looked young when he first saw him.

Too young, in fact.

Usually, to start as an interpreter, you’d be in your late twenties or early thirties.

‘What’s this? Did he get in through connections?’

That’s what he couldn’t help but think.

Honestly, he didn’t like it.

He had gone through difficult interviews, beat out competitors, and finally got the job.

But someone got such good connections and was sitting here with an innocent face, seemingly unaware of the world.

Frankly, it made him feel twisted inside.

‘I’m struggling to build connections, but someone already has them from birth.’

The world is always unfair.

That’s why he tried so hard to go to good universities and graduate schools.

But the young man in front of him, Si-hyuk, seemed to be born with a silver spoon.

‘Still, I went to a better university.’

In Korea, Kangin University was quite well-known in Seoul, but he didn’t think it matched the reputation of Korea University.

To boost his self-esteem, he subtly mentioned it to Lee Si-hyuk.

His own hard-earned specs [specifications], connections, and even advice from a superior.

Perhaps intimidated, Si-hyuk’s responses gradually decreased.

In the end.

“I guess so. Shouldn’t we focus now? We have to interpret.”

He even avoided him like this.

He was so sensitive to a little advice from a senior in life.

A hothouse flower.

That’s exactly what he was.

Choi Ma-jun snorted inwardly, responded to his words, and focused.

He had worked hard for this opportunity.

He had gone to study abroad like everyone else and seized the chance.

This one line on his resume would definitely be a valuable asset.

‘Should I prepare too?’

He put on his headset and brought the microphone close to his mouth.

The meeting began.

***

Consecutive interpretation.

After speaking a sentence or two, the presenter would deliberately pause.

A consideration for the interpreter.

The meeting proceeded in this way, with the presenter using a lot of technical jargon.

It was only natural.

Interpretation isn’t just about being good at the language of that country.

‘There are many expressions they only use.’

Even if there’s an official term, it’s common to shorten it or use a different word in the field.

Of course, they would refrain from doing so as much as possible in a meeting like this, but the language that came out was inevitable.

‘That’s why interpreters need a lot of knowledge.’

It’s not like a new employee being taught while working at a company.

Like an experienced employee, you’re immediately thrown into the field and expected to interpret.

No matter how much you study, there will always be gaps.

Successfully performing consecutive interpretation in this meeting required a great deal of personal competence.

Not to mention simultaneous interpretation.

“Here, Meltz’s safety technology is incorporated. By further developing ESP [Electronic Stability Program] and ECU [Engine Control Unit]…….”

I conveyed the words there as they were.

Simply put, when there’s a risk of collision, the sensors detect it and automatically secure the occupant’s body.

A system that prepares for a collision in advance.

Meltz, which values safety, shows its strength in the sensitive parts of these sensors.

‘This is very easy.’

German came out of my mouth effortlessly.

I spoke clearly and delivered accurate information.

Occasionally, to lighten the mood, I slightly changed my voice to convey the nuances of the humor.

The voice modulation I used when recording as a voice actor last time.

Not many people would pay attention to these details, but I just did it.

From my previous experience, I became quite interested in audiobooks and tried to do something similar.

I don’t know if people will like it.

‘I’m starting to feel relaxed?’

I was a little nervous at first, but now I was even looking around while interpreting.

Not looking around a lot, but I was curious about how well Choi Ma-jun was doing.

‘Hmm?’

He seems to be stuttering a lot for someone who boasted so much.

I couldn’t hear it, but I could tell from his flustered expression and the shape of his lips.

‘What? Isn’t he good?’

I couldn’t see where his experience of living in Germany was being demonstrated.

I quickly lost interest and focused on the meeting again.

‘I feel sorry for the Germans he’s in charge of.’

About two hours passed like that.

I showed off my skills a bit.

After the meeting, I stretched.

Then I saw the expressions of the people leaving the conference room.

Half of them had slightly stiff faces.

Half of them had satisfied faces.

Among those with satisfied faces, one person approached me.

“Your interpretation was great.”

“Thank you.”

“You were very witty? The people in the front were laughing, and you quickly translated, so we didn’t miss the timing. Haha.”

“Actually, I expressed it a bit more humorously.”

“That’s why the meeting atmosphere was a bit better, I think.”

Another person gave me a thumbs up, so I also gave them a thumbs up.

We communicated through gestures.

On the other hand, Choi Ma-jun next to me had a dazed expression.

And I heard some unpleasant comments as well.

“Who hired that interpreter?!”

“Seriously. I only understood because there was a PPT [PowerPoint presentation]…….”

“He left out a few technical terms. I had no idea what he was talking about.”

“Seriously. He got stuck with the wrong interpreter.”

“There were a lot of people. It couldn’t be helped.”

“Exactly! The other people over there were bursting with laughter at the funny jokes, right?”

“I asked the person next to me what the joke was. Why is he being so stiff?”

“That’s how interpretation is, I guess.”

“Then what about the interpreter next to him?”

Everyone was complaining about Choi Ma-jun’s interpretation.

Choi Ma-jun’s face turned red as he heard those words.

He was looking down.

‘Well, it can’t be helped.’

Even if you do well in the interview, you often can’t perform in the actual field.

Especially in a meeting like this.

Usually, business-related meetings are a bit easier, but meetings with specialized technology like this are not easy even if you study in advance.

‘Will I not see him next time?’

Interpreters are contract workers and freelancers.

If their skills don’t meet the requirements, they can be fired in an instant.

But from what I heard, he only made a few mistakes, and he seemed to understand the general content.

Is this the power of PPT?

I patted Choi Ma-jun on the shoulder next to me.

“Good job.”

“Ah, yes. Good job.”

“But I don’t think I can introduce you.”

“Yes?”

“Judging from the reaction, it doesn’t seem like you did a really, really good job.”

“Ah, yes. I guess so.”

“I was introduced based on my skills. Then, let’s meet again with a good connection next time.”

As I was about to leave, Choi Ma-jun said from behind.

“It seems you interpreted well because you have connections in this industry and heard a lot about it.”

I turned around and looked at Choi Ma-jun.

“Having connections doesn’t mean you have field knowledge. Especially with the latest technology.”

“That’s…….”

“I think you’re misunderstanding something, but skill is everything here. Whether you have connections or not. I was praised because I have skills, and you were criticized because you lacked skills. Okay?”

Choi Ma-jun bit his lip.

He didn’t seem to accept it, so I just laughed.

“If I’m not mistaken, you seem to see me as a naive kid who doesn’t know the world. That’s right. I don’t know the world very well. I haven’t had much social experience. But I think you know even less than me.”

With those words, I left the room.

I want to see Siha, who is waiting outside.

***

Siha, who followed Hyung, was waiting patiently, drawing.

Along with Moon Do-hwan, who came with him.

They were waiting at a table in the Meltz company’s first-floor cafe, but Siha couldn’t draw.

Because the female employees of the company, who were taking a break, were making a fuss about how cute Siha was.

“Oh my. The baby is so cute.”

“He’s really cute. What’s his name?”

Moon Do-hwan, who had never experienced this before, smiled awkwardly and told them Siha’s name.

“His name is Siha? How old is Siha?”

“Ah ah.”

Siha held up three fingers.

Everyone looked at him with a pleased expression, saying that even that was cute.

“The child is so cute. You must be happy to have such a cute son.”

Moon Do-hwan laughed heartily and shook his head.

If he let them misunderstand like this, he wouldn’t have a chance.

“Actually, I’m just taking care of a friend’s younger sibling. He’s not my child. I don’t even have a girlfriend, let alone being married.”

It was information that the women didn’t really want to know.

They said.

“Oh, really? I wish I had a younger sibling like that, whoever he is.”

“That’s right. Wow. The baby can already draw? Amazing!”

“Can you show your aunt what you’re drawing?”

As the two women said that, Siha hugged the tablet tightly.

It was a firm refusal.

The two women looked disappointed.

Moon Do-hwan smiled gently and spoke.

“Why don’t we have coffee at the same table? Siha seems to like the older sisters too.”

“Ahaha. Older sisters? There’s a big age difference…….”

“Hey. I’m called Hyung by Siha too.”

They looked at each other and moved their seats.

They just moved to the next table.

That gave Moon Do-hwan confidence.

They would have refused if they didn’t like it.

So the four of them had a lively conversation.

Of course, their eyes were fixed on Siha.

“Siha. Are you good at drawing?”

“The aunts saw it earlier, and you were drawing a very cute picture? What is it?”

Siha glanced at them and said softly.

“Pepe.”

What Siha was drawing was a penguin.

Since he came to the cafe, he was drawing it drinking coffee.

Moon Do-hwan explained as if it was an opportunity.

“Pepe is actually a penguin nickname that Siha made.”

“That’s really cute. A nickname.”

“Right? Siha is good at making up names like this.”

At that time, Siha looked at Moon Do-hwan.

“Mundo.”

“See? He even made a nickname for me, Mundo. Do you know League of Legends? The character’s name in it is Mundo…….”

Moon Do-hwan quickly took Siha’s nice assist.

The women seemed to know the character Mundo well.

Could it be that they’ve played League of Legends [a popular online multiplayer game]?

If so, he had no choice but to liven up the atmosphere even more here.

‘I like that woman.’

The woman wearing a suit and a short haircut.

He wanted to make her, who looked cynical, smile.

Could this be his chance to make a girlfriend?

Even if a man can’t eat, he has to go for it [a Korean expression meaning to take a chance even if the odds are against you].

Equipped with that confidence, Moon Do-hwan opened his mouth.

“Do you know Ezreal in League of Legends?”

“Yes? Ezreal?”

“The character with yellow hair who uses AD carry [Attack Damage carry, a character role in the game].”

“Ah! I know.”

“Do you know where Ezreal lives?”

“Where is it?”

“Pyeongtaek City ‘Vision 2 Dong’ [a play on words using a skill name from the game].”

“…….”

The reaction was cold when he said ‘Vision Move,’ which is the name of the skill that the character Ezreal has.

The smooth-sailing atmosphere from before was already gone.

All that remained was people awkwardly fiddling with their straws.

Moon Do-hwan realized his mistake, but it was already spilled milk [an idiom meaning it’s too late to fix something].

At that time, Siha glanced at Mundo.

He had seen that expression on Mundo’s face many times.

The face he made when he threw the jelly toy on the floor.

It was similar to that time.

Hyung said that he looked ugly when he frowned like that.

So Siha said.

“Mundo! Uglily!”

At those words, the women ‘pfft’ laughed.

Because Mundo-hwan’s really stiff expression was ugly.

Siha raised the corners of his mouth with his hands.

“Ah ah. Mundo. Smile!”

“Okay. I’ll smile. Is this okay?”

Mundo smiled awkwardly.

Siha still saw him frowning.

So confusion came to his mind.

“Ah? Uglily?”

The women burst out laughing one more time.

Because it sounded like he was saying, ‘You laughed, but why are you still ugly?’

Of course, what Siha meant was, ‘You’re still frowning.’

“Siha.”

At that time, Si-hyuk appeared, calling Siha.

“Hyung!”

Siha welcomed Si-hyuk with open arms.

Si-hyuk smiled gently and picked up Siha.

At the same time, their expressions softened as well.

Because the brothers’ hug was so beautiful.

Moon Do-hwan had different thoughts as he looked at their expressions.

‘As expected, is the answer the face [good looks]?’