I am not a Yandere chapter 57

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Even though it was January 1st and a holiday, Yeongdeok still had to open the store.

Just like any other day, he went to work, frying chicken all day long, when suddenly, Jihoon called to him from the kitchen.

“Hey, some customers are asking for you.”

“Who?”

“The ladies at table five. They specifically requested you to take their order.”

After finishing up the batch of chicken he was frying, Yeongdeok approached the table Jihoon mentioned.

Waving at him were two familiar faces: Gwakdupal and DaerimdongFist.

“Yeongdeok Chicken!”

Yeongdeok thought it was impressive they managed to get into the store, considering how long the line must have been outside.

“What are you doing here?”

“We wanted to surprise you! But your reaction is boring.”

When the two women booed at his lackluster response, a crease formed between Yeongdeok’s brows. How was he supposed to react?

Was he supposed to foam at the mouth and fall over backward?

As he crossed his arms in discontent, Gwakdupal fished out her ID from her wallet.

Yeongdeok looked at her blankly, not sure what to make of it.

“We can finally buy alcohol now! It’s been our dream to flash our IDs and buy beer!”

Gwakdupal, now twenty, grinned, overjoyed at fulfilling her long-time wish.

DaerimdongFist also took out her ID and handed it to Yeongdeok.

“So, we’d like one fried chicken and two glasses of beer, please.”

“Got it.”

It was a long-winded introduction, but that was the gist of their request.

After taking their order, Yeongdeok told Jihoon, who was wandering around the hall.

“The ladies from earlier ordered two glasses of beer.”

“Got it.”

Jihoon quickly prepared the beers and delivered them to Gwakdupal and DaerimdongFist.

Then he returned to the kitchen where Yeongdeok was.

“Do you know those girls?”

“They’re from that group I mentioned before.”

“Those are the girls?”

Jihoon glanced back at Gwakdupal and DaerimdongFist.

They still looked very young, barely out of their school uniforms.

“They look even younger than I imagined.”

“They are young.”

“They came all the way here just to see you? Seems like you’ve gotten pretty close with your group.”

“No chance of that.”

After the short conversation, Yeongdeok took the perfectly fried chicken over to Gwakdupal and DaerimdongFist, overhearing their discussion about the beer.

“Why do adults spend money on something this gross?”

“Coke would’ve been way better.”

They grimaced as if they’d just tasted something disgusting.

“Your fried chicken is here…”

“Yay, chicken!”

Their sour expressions instantly brightened at the sight of the greasy chicken.

As Yeongdeok turned to leave, Gwakdupal called out to him.

“Is he your employee?”

She was referring to Jihoon. Yeongdeok nodded.

“Yes, he is.”

“Wow, he gives off major ‘social butterfly’ vibes.”

“Social butterfly? What does that mean?”

“He seems really popular with people.”

“That guy?”

To Yeongdeok, Jihoon was just a pathetic guy.

Though, he had to admit, Jihoon had his uses.

“And it seems like you two get along really well, unlike someone else we know.”

“Looks like Seonwoo has some work to do.”

At Gwakdupal’s remark, DaerimdongFist nodded enthusiastically.

“Maybe we should give Seonwoo a hand.”

“Ooh, that sounds fun!”

DaerimdongFist clapped her hands in excitement.

Seeing the two of them giggling with faces full of mischief, Yeongdeok left them in their own world and walked over to the counter.

That’s when he noticed a white envelope sitting on the counter—something that didn’t belong in a chicken shop.

It hadn’t been there before.

“Seo Jihoon, what’s this?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Jihoon, holding a plate in both hands, glanced back at Yeongdeok.

Thinking it was silly to bother him while he was busy, Yeongdeok opened the envelope.

As soon as he looked inside, his face turned cold.

“You’re invited.”

The letter was an invitation to a party celebrating Yeongdeok’s grandfather, Cha Heeseok’s, birthday on January 18th.

The only person who could’ve left this here…

“What is it? What’s in it?”

Having finished serving, Jihoon approached Yeongdeok, peeking over his shoulder curiously.

“Did Ha Wonjin come by?”

“Ha Wonjin? Who’s that?”

“You know…”

Yeongdeok began to explain about his former secretary but shook his head instead.

“I told him if he came around again, I’d report him to the police. Persistent, isn’t he?”

“Hey, there’s a note attached to it.”

Inside the envelope was a yellow post-it note.

It read, “Happy New Year.”

Jihoon clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“What’s with this guy? Should we report him?”

Yeongdeok stuffed the invitation back into the envelope, briefly lost in thought.

January… the old man’s birthday was just around the corner.

---

[Sinjuhye: I’m sorry… I already have someone in my heart ㅠ]

[Sinjuhye: It’s uncomfortable chatting one-on-one with you like this…]

Haemin was about to ask, “Who’s that person?” but instead, he reluctantly replied that he understood, adding a forced laugh at the end.

As he gripped his phone tightly, ready to break it, a new message notification popped up at the top of the screen from another chat room.

[Kim Dalsu: I’m lonely! This is miserable! So boring! I want to spend New Year’s with a girlfriend too!]

[Kim Dalsu: (Crying Emoji)]

[Lol]

Haemin halfheartedly replied to Dalsu, who was making a fuss, and then checked the members of the meeting chat room.

Jihoon’s profile popped up, showing a picture of rice cake soup. Haemin squinted at it.

“What’s so great about this boring guy anyway?”

Clicking his tongue, Haemin threw his phone onto the bed and flopped down on it himself.

The mattress bounced violently under his weight.

---

The day of the meeting arrived, and Yeongdeok dressed in a crisp, black suit, hoping to make a clean and intellectual impression on the people he was meeting for the first time.

It was the same sharp suit he had worn on the first day he went to the “Beautiful Life” gathering.

After finishing his preparations and opening the front door, Jihoon came into view.

“It’s not even a big event, but you’re all dressed up in a suit…”

Jihoon’s gaze traveled from the top of Yeongdeok’s head to his feet.

Seeing the stiff, formal attire, like he was going to an official event, Jihoon let out a hesitant sigh.

“Is there a problem?”

“No… compared to the bizarre outfits you used to wear, this is much better.”

Jihoon recalled Yeongdeok’s previous bizarre fashion choices, like a hot pink hoodie and pants with arabesque patterns.

Compared to those atrocious clothes, the suit was a massive improvement.

“If there’s no issue, let’s go.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Drawing out his words, Jihoon answered and followed behind Yeongdeok, who had already begun walking ahead.

When they arrived at the meeting spot, Dalsu waved excitedly and shouted toward them.

“Seo Jihoon! Yeongdeok hyung! Over here!”

Dalsu, bouncing up and down with boundless energy, was as hyper as ever.

Next to him stood a well-dressed man whom Yeongdeok recognized from Dalsu’s chat room profile picture.

Unlike the boisterous Dalsu, the man greeted Yeongdeok calmly.

“Hello, Seo Jihoon. And you must be Cha Yeongdeok?”

“You must be Park Haemin.”

“Yes, nice to meet you. I’m Park Haemin.”

Haemin extended his hand with a playful grin.

Sensing a certain slyness in Haemin’s neat appearance, Yeongdeok couldn’t help but notice a resemblance to Seonwoo.

With his hands stuffed in his pockets, Yeongdeok looked at the outstretched hand before reluctantly shaking it, reminding himself that he had come to make friends.

“Alright, nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure is mine.”

Watching this ordinary exchange of greetings, Jihoon’s jaw nearly dropped in shock.

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