* * *
As Roran finally snapped and got angry, the shaman rummaged through their robes and pulled out a large folding fan.
The shaman wasn’t ‘Doraemon’, but with all the strange things popping out of their robes, it sure felt like a magic trick.
Roran began to seriously question whether this person was a fraud.
“You’re completely possessed. Deeply.”
Clicking their tongue, the shaman shook their head.
“What do you mean? Explain it in a way I can understand.”
“For free?”
The shaman scoffed, as if the idea were laughable.
Roran wasn’t sure if this person was a scam artist, but he was the one in need, so he grudgingly pulled out his wallet and handed over a ten-won coin.
The shaman threw more salt at his face in response.
“No sincerity at all. Just ten won?”
“Are you even a real shaman? You’re not a con artist?”
“Believe what you want. Evil spirit, begone!”
The shaman aggressively waved her fan, signaling Roran to leave. Roran, glaring at the shaman, pulled out a 1,000-won bill this time.
But once again, she was met with a faceful of salt.
She spat out the salt that had gotten into her mouth, cursing under her breath. “Damn it.”
While Roran was being salted by a suspicious shaman in real life, Yeongdeok was at Jihoon’s house.
The two well-built men sat across from each other at the living room table, discussing a recorder.
Jihoon seriously explained as he covered all the holes of Yeongdeok’s pink recorder.
“Watch carefully. When you cover all the holes like this, it plays a C note.”
“I see.”
“And when you only cover two holes with your middle and thumb fingers, it plays a higher C note…”
Jihoon, after explaining how to play from low C to high E, handed the recorder back to Yeongdeok.
Yeongdeok fiddled with the holes before bringing the recorder to his lips.
A clear, songbird-like sound filled Jihoon’s house.
Jihoon marveled at how Yeongdeok handled the recorder so skillfully, as if he had practiced for at least a year.
“You’re really good at anything after just one lesson, aren’t you? I didn’t expect you’d catch on this fast.”
Yeongdeok, playing a classical tune he had learned on the flute as a child, took the recorder from his mouth and replied to Jihoon’s comment.
“Isn’t it more strange not to get it? You shouldn’t lower the intelligence of the whole world just because of your standards.”
“I teach you something and you start mouthing off again. Anyway, does this mean I’ve paid off that favor from last time?”
The “favor” Jihoon referred to was when Yeongdeok had taught him English.
Without responding, Yeongdeok brought the recorder back to his lips.
Just as the high-pitched sound filled Jihoon’s house again, the doorbell rang.
“Who could that be? A delivery?”
But they hadn’t ordered anything. Jihoon stood up, puzzled, while Yeongdeok remained focused on his recorder, indifferent to the bell.
Maybe it was Park Junseo.
That brat won’t get ignored like the last time if he comes back.
A self-satisfied smirk curled at the corner of Yeongdeok’s lips.
“Who is it…?”
As Jihoon opened the door, he saw a man pulling an absurd face.
Recognizing him, Jihoon quickly tried to shut the door, but the man hastily wedged his hand into the gap, preventing it from closing.
“Hey, Seo Jihoon, why are you closing the door so fast? You’re acting suspicious.”
“Suspicious? What’s suspicious about me? Kim Dalsu, what are you doing here?”
At the sound of the bickering, Yeongdeok finally lowered the recorder and turned toward the door.
“I heard you’ve been asking your old classmates for gift ideas for Christmas? You even turned down drinking plans. I’m here to investigate if you’ve got a secret girlfriend.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
Flustered, Jihoon glanced towards where Yeongdeok was sitting.
When their eyes met, Yeongdeok slowly got up and walked toward the door.
Standing in the hallway was a man Yeongdeok had never seen before—one who had the sly and petty face of a scheming court official from the Joseon era.
“What’s going on here?”
“Oh… is this your boyfriend? Jihoon, you’ve got quite the taste!”
The man whistled, eyeing Yeongdeok up and down.
Annoyed by the man’s insolence, Yeongdeok crossed his arms and stiffened his jaw.
“How rude…”
“He’s not my boyfriend. Get lost.”
Before Yeongdeok could say anything, Jihoon shoved the man’s face away with a firm push, but Dalsu resisted, laughing slyly and refusing to leave.
Damn it.
‘Why do so many unwanted guests come to my house? Is this place cursed?’
Just as Jihoon was easing his grip, the man seized the opportunity, yanked the door handle, and stepped inside.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
“When did I say you could come in?”
Jihoon’s protest fell on deaf ears as Dalsu pretended not to hear him.
Watching the chaotic pair, Yeongdeok thought, ‘They must be friends. Birds of a feather… loud and annoying.’
As Dalsu looked around the room, his gaze landed on the pink recorder on the table. He let out a small chuckle.
“What’s with this recorder? It’s so cute. I haven’t seen one in ages.”
Just as he reached for it, Yeongdeok slapped his hand with a sharp, resounding smack.
Dalsu’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t touch other people’s things so carelessly. It’s rude.”
“Oh… is this yours? I thought it was Jihoon’s.”
Dalsu awkwardly scratched the back of his neck before sneaking another glance at Yeongdeok.
The man’s sharp features and the cold air he exuded made him seem unapproachable.
‘How is someone like him friends with Jihoon?’ Dalsu thought.
Their personalities seemed worlds apart, which made their relationship all the more puzzling.
“By the way, who are you? You look familiar…”
As Dalsu leaned in, examining Yeongdeok’s face, Jihoon yanked at Dalsu’s collar, pulling him back.
“Hey, how long have you known him to be calling him ‘hyung’? You don’t even know how old he is.”
“And who exactly are you?”
Yeongdeok motioned with his chin for an introduction, and Dalsu laughed before politely responding.
“My name’s Kim Dalsu. Jihoon and I are classmates from university.”
Dalsu emphasized their friendship by pulling Jihoon into a tight side hug.
Jihoon, annoyed, swatted him away.
“Damn it, are you crazy? Get off me.”
“So, who are you, ‘hyung’? What’s your relationship with Jihoon?”
Eyes sparkling with curiosity, Dalsu eagerly awaited Yeongdeok’s answer.
‘Such a frivolous attitude and an annoying voice.’
Not to mention that face, which looked like it would stab you in the back.
Though Yeongdeok had only just met Dalsu, he was certain they wouldn’t get along.
Normally, he would’ve ignored him, but recalling ‘PetitRolang’, he kindly replied.
“I’m Cha Yeongdeok. That guy and I are neighbors.”
“Oh, Yeongdeok hyung! Even your name is as handsome as you.”
Jihoon side-eyed his friend, sensing the fake flattery. ‘What a load of crap.’
Dalsu, now intrigued, studied Yeongdeok from different angles.
When Yeongdeok’s expression started to sour, Dalsu asked another question.
“But, hyung, are you interested in group blind dates?”
“Group blind dates? What do you mean?”
Yeongdeok immediately thought of work-related meetings, but sensing Dalsu’s intent wasn’t professional, he asked in confusion.
“Hey, what are you even talking about?”
Jihoon, clearly annoyed, tried to stop Dalsu, but he persisted in explaining to Yeongdeok.
“There’s this 4-on-4 blind date, but these selfish jerks canceled a week before the event. We need more people, but this stingy bastard, Jihoon, keeps saying no. So, I figured, maybe you’ve got a lover?”
“What lover? Quit spouting nonsense.”
“Then what about what Lee Seonju said? Didn’t you ask for restaurant recommendations for a Christmas date?”
“Shut up!”
Jihoon felt like he wanted to sew his friend’s mouth shut.
While Jihoon and Dalsu were bickering, Yeongdeok tried to interpret Dalsu’s rather unfriendly explanation. So, to put it simply:
“You mean you can meet people if you go to that group meeting or whatever it is?”
Yeongdeok asked, recalling that although he had returned to this life quite a while ago, he still hadn’t made any friends.
* * *
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More salt!
You might need to bury him in salt before that evil creature dies.
Jajjajja me lo imaginé ahogándose en una tina de sal ,✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧
It’s not about making friends lol
Thanks for the chapter 😁
I SMELL YEONGDEOK GETTING A LOVE INTEREST IN THIS BLIND DATE HAHA
Nooo Yeongdeok has no idea what he’s getting into…I feel bad for Jihoon
Lowkey getting weird vibes from that guy…
I need U to lock that author in a box full of salt 😔🧂 Also eyyo I need to see our MC on that blind date fr
Lol……poor writer
they are gonna need more salt than that
poor baby jihoon
Blind date 😮😮
Salt salt
Give him a frienddd