Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 71

Am I Cute, Hyung? – Episode 71 (71/500)

-Inside the car.

Daniel chuckled, looking out the window from the back seat.

The secretary next to him spoke.

“You seem to be in a good mood because of this contract?”

“Of course. I met such a welcome face. The contract is just a bonus.”

“It’s not a small contract, though.”

“Well, yes. Still, isn’t it interesting? In this wide world, people who are meant to meet, do meet.”

“Are you perhaps talking about that young man from earlier?”

Daniel chuckled.

Seeing Lee Si-hyuk was truly a coincidence.

He had acquired information that one of the themes of the Meltz exhibition had been changed by one person, and he had visited out of pure curiosity.

He never expected to meet Lee Jang-hyuk’s son there.

“I’ve met many people, but only a few remain in my memory. Do you know why?”

“Because they weren’t special?”

“Exactly. More precisely, there weren’t many who left a strong impression. But I saw him again this time.”

“A strong impression?”

“No. An impression that was brought back to mind. I owe his father a bit.”

“He was just an interpreter, wasn’t he?”

“Yes. You might think so. Especially since there are many people who speak the language in Singapore now.”

In fact, Singapore used English as its official language.

It was adopted as the primary language of schools in 1987, which greatly enhanced the competitiveness of the international city.

Singapore, with its bilingualism, was a stroke of genius, almost like a second upheaval.

Daniel said,

“But he was a bit different. It was before the language had properly taken root among the people. There was an incident once.”

“What happened?”

“The government officials and engineers got into a fight.”

“A common occurrence.”

“Indeed. But the engineers were French, and due to cultural differences, their perceptions differed, leading to bad feelings.”

“It escalated into a battle of pride?”

“Yes. But the interpreter mediated it well.”

The secretary’s eyes widened.

He didn’t know what had happened, but most interpreters were just good at conveying language.

The secretary asked, curious,

“How did he do it? Did he start by explaining the cultural differences?”

“No. He wouldn’t teach them that in that situation. The explanation would be too long.”

“Then how?”

“His storytelling was good. He talked about the figures each country idolized, using turtles as a metaphor. He talked about the time it took to reach them.”

“Hmm.”

“That eased their feelings, and things went well. Those engineers were actually provided by our company, as part of a Singaporean national project.”

Daniel’s eyes became wistful as he recalled the memory.

“I was there at the time. I made a good offer, but it was rejected.”

“Is that what you regret?”

“Of course, I regret it. I really regret it. You know how important it is to have contracts with foreign companies in the international community. I felt like I could rely on him if he was there.”

“Singapore was changing a lot at that time.”

“So, we needed a lot of talent. Moreover, it’s not easy to coordinate and make things run smoothly like that. Thanks to him, we formed a strong relationship. We still use it well.”

“Then why did he reject the offer, even though the Vice Chairman made a good proposal?”

“Well, I never heard the reason. I lost contact with him afterward, so I couldn’t find out.”

“Hmm.”

Daniel recalled Si-hyuk leaving the motor show.

“Looking at his son, he seems capable too? He even has a child already.”

“Ah, that baby? He was cute.”

Si-ha was Si-hyuk’s younger sibling, but they didn’t know.

“But he didn’t seem to have a car. Now that things have turned out this way, get him a car through a corporate lease. I should repay Lee Jang-hyuk’s debt a little like this.”

“Understood.”

“It would be even better if we could get a contract. Don’t rush it too much.”

“I’ll prepare for that as well.”

“Good, good.”

Daniel knew.

The father and son are different.

But strangely, he felt that the son wouldn’t be inferior to his father in terms of ability.

***

A red Meltz car gleams before my eyes.

It would cost over 70,000 to buy this.

Si-ha next to me is touching the car door with sparkling eyes.

His fingerprinting skills were already impressive.

That’s not right.

「Huh? Huh? What is this?」

The person who brought the car gently placed the car key in my hand.

「This is a gift from Vice Chairman Daniel.」

「So, why are you giving this to me?」

「It’s a corporate lease vehicle, so you can drive it comfortably. It saves you money, doesn’t it?」

「No. That’s not the problem. Why are you giving it to me?」

「It’s a gift for the successful contract, thanks to you. Please drive it comfortably.」

「I’m not comfortable at all.」

At that moment, Si-ha imprinted his fingerprints on the car five times and looked at me.

“Hyung, Si-ha’s car!”

“Yes, Si-ha. Not Si-ha’s car yet. Okay?”

Sullen.

“Not mine?”

“Yes. Not yours. So, just a moment.”

I looked at Daniel’s secretary again.

I wasn’t bold enough to receive such a car.

I hadn’t made any special contracts, but I wondered if there was something else going on.

‘But what do I have?’

Thinking about it, is there any value in trying to win over someone like me?

Especially since he’s the Vice Chairman.

The secretary smiled gently at me.

「We’re really sending it out of goodwill. If I had to say, Si-hyuk, we’d appreciate it if you could consider a contract with us later.」

「So, this is a bribe? Is that what you’re saying?」

「Yes. That’s right. And as you can see, we didn’t buy anything too expensive.」

Well, it might not be an expensive car for such a *chaebol* [family-owned conglomerate].

But looking inside roughly, it seems to be fully optioned…….

“Ah, Hyung!”

I looked at Si-ha.

Is there nothing to hold back, and can I accept it?

It would be convenient to take Si-ha to various places in the future.

「I’ll think about the contract. I’m still a college student.」

「We would appreciate it if you could think of it positively.」

「But if you’re hiring an interpreter, there will be many good talents coming in…….」

「Ah! They want to put you not only in interpretation but also in the overseas contract team.」

「Excuse me?」

「You can think of it as the sales department.」

That sales department with strong manpower?

No, I’m just an ordinary college student, but am I getting a scout offer like this?

Is it all thanks to being good at English and German?

Suddenly, my head was spinning.

This was the first time I had received such an offer.

I felt proud to be recognized.

「Thank you for seeing me in a good light.」

「Haha. You have a track record, so we have to see you in a good light.」

「Excuse me?」

「Never mind. Then, goodbye.」

The secretary bowed and drove away.

I looked at the car key in my hand.

‘I never thought I’d have a car like this.’

I didn’t expect it at all.

I was just thinking of asking Liam from Meltz to give me a discount later…….

“Hyung.”

“Huh? Ah! This is not the time. Si-ha, you have to go to daycare.”

“Ah.”

I was flustered by this morning’s events, but it was important to go to school first.

I put the penguin bag on Si-ha and opened the car door.

There was already a baby seat in the passenger seat.

What great sense.

I sat Si-ha down, fastened his seat belt, and got into the driver’s seat.

“Ah! Hyung! Si-ha’s car!”

“Do you like it?”

“Ah.”

Si-ha was completely excited, as if he really liked it.

“It’s been a while since I’ve driven. Right?”

“Ah.”

“Then let’s go.”

“Ah!”

I drove the red car to daycare.

***

Si-ha arrived at daycare.

He got out of the car and took Hyung’s hand.

But strangely, people around him were glancing at Hyung.

Why?

Si-ha didn’t know, but the red car stood out a bit.

And even a Meltz car.

It wasn’t a sports car, but there weren’t many college or graduate students driving foreign cars these days.

The person getting out looked even younger, so it was enough to arouse curiosity.

“Ah? Hyung.”

“Huh? Why?”

“No.”

Si-ha turned his head again.

“No. Why? Did you just want to call Hyung?”

“Ah.”

“Anyway, what am I going to do with you liking Hyung so much?”

“No.”

“Huh? You don’t like Hyung?”

“No. Like.”

“Did you just say like? Keu.”

Si-ha held Hyung’s hand tightly.

He didn’t want to lose Hyung to the people glancing over there.

He didn’t know why, but he thought they must be interested in Hyung.

“Hyung. Protect!”

“Haha. Thank you. Hyung will protect Si-ha too.”

“Ah.”

Before he knew it, Si-ha had arrived at daycare.

He left Hyung and entered the class with the teacher.

Seung-joon and Hana found Si-ha and ran over.

“Si-ha~”

“Si-ha~”

Si-ha waved at the twins.

“Seung-joon. Hana.”

“Si-ha, look at this. I brought a toy today.”

The toy Seung-joon brought was ‘Black,’ one of the popular Power Rangers heroes these days.

Hana also showed Si-ha her toy.

“Hana too. Hana too. This!”

Hana’s toy was ‘Pink.’

Seung-joon took out another one and gave it to Si-ha.

‘Red,’ one of the Power Rangers heroes.

Si-ha liked blue very much, but he also liked red.

Si-ha’s car, which he rode in today, was also red.

“Ah!”

“Si-ha, this is called Red! Let’s protect the Earth together.”

“Ah.”

Si-ha liked Red.

He didn’t know what protecting the Earth was.

“Let’s defeat the villains!”

“Hana will defeat the villains too!”

“Ah! Defeat!”

The three searched for villains.

Seung-joon’s eyes first caught the teacher.

She was a villain who always made naptime, cutting off the flow when they wanted to play.

“The villain is over there!”

“The teacher is the villain?”

“Ah?”

Seung-joon said logically.

“I don’t want to take a nap, but she makes me take a nap!”

“That’s right. Hana also wants to play more!”

“Ah?”

Si-ha couldn’t agree with that.

Because he liked taking naps.

It was a sweet nap when he climbed on Hyung’s stomach in a warm blanket.

“Anyway, let’s go!”

“Let’s go!”

“Ah. Go!”

Si-ha participated because he wanted to be with his friends.

The three attacked the teacher with their toys.

Poke. Poke. Poke.

The teacher’s feet were attacked.

“Ah, what are you guys doing? It tickles!”

Seung-joon said to the teacher.

“Teacher can’t move her feet anymore.”

“Can’t move!”

“Ah.”

The teacher said as if she was in trouble.

“I have to work, but what should I do if I can’t move? Someone please heal my feet.”

“Teacher is a villain. So, I can’t heal you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

The teacher pondered and then collapsed.

“Ugh. I’ve been attacked!”

It was a line that wouldn’t come out these days, but the kids liked it.

Just as they were about to celebrate their victory, the teacher smiled gently.

“Hey kids, do you know what? When a villain falls, that’s not the end.”

Si-ha didn’t know what she meant, but Seung-joon and Hana realized.

“Ah! No!”

“No!”

The teacher smiled gently and exaggeratedly raised her body.

She emphasized that she had grown bigger than before by lifting her heels.

“I’ve become bigger than the house!”

It was the giant transformation that always comes out in Power Rangers.

Seung-joon said as if he was in trouble.

“Ah. I didn’t prepare a robot…….”

The teacher stretched her shoulders as if she had won.

But children know how to overcome in unexpected ways.

Seung-joon said,

“I should stop now.”

The teacher was flustered.

“Uh, uh? You can’t do that.”

Seung-joon pulled Hana and Si-ha’s hands.

“Let’s find another villain!”

It was a great method.

That tremendous technique of only finding opponents they can win against.

It was an unexpected turn.

The teacher blankly watched the three children leave.

And Jong-soo was staring at that scene.