RE: Player again

306

[Chapter 098] [Even Sibling Complex Can Be Too Much]

Luminous Sweets Viking.

The new service Luminous Sweets was trying was being provided to some customers.

When he first heard the news, Eun-ha eagerly awaited an invitation to the Luminous Sweets Viking to arrive at his home.

But unexpectedly, receiving an invitation didn't happen.

Rather, when he heard that an invitation had flown to the Julietta couple upstairs, he doubted his own ears.

The Julietta couple were regular customers, while he was registered as a VIP customer.

You don't know how much resentment he felt towards Luminous Sweets' random draw.

What would I have done without Ha-yang.

Who knew she would have so many invitations.

Fortunately, Jung Ha-yang who was acquainted with Luminous Group's precious jewel had several invitations.

Thanks to that, Eun-ha was able to attend the Luminous Sweets Viking accompanied by his family.

It was a flaw that Eun-a wasn't there.

She was still in the middle of her internship.

Did the other kids say they weren't coming today?

Ha-yang had distributed invitations to friends and club members too.

Most friends seemed to be attending with club members.

Ha-yang also seemed unable to attend today.

But there was no time to be bored.

He didn't even notice time passing just tasting the new cakes and snacks Luminous Sweets had brought out.

Above all, he had to watch over his siblings because Eun-ae and Avenir were so energetic.

"Oppa, have you tried this? The rusk isn't that hard so it's easy to eat. It's just like bread!"

"Noona, me too, just one bite. Okay?"

Eun-ae who became a 2nd year elementary school student this year. And Noh Avenir who entered Do-an Kindergarten this year.

The big baby bear clinging to Eun-ae kept whining for her to give him rusk too.

Eun-ae who found Avenir cute put rusk from the plate into his mouth.

"You two. You should be quiet in a place like this. Understand?"

""Yes!!""

Eun-ha cautioned his siblings who were running around laughing.

Siblings who only answered well.

It's fortunate Parang hyung didn't come.

If Parang hyung was here too, I would have had to manage three people...

Eun-ha sighed watching his siblings disappear with new plates.

The Luminous Sweets Viking was held at YH Hotel in Yeouido.

So people wearing somewhat formal clothes could be easily seen.

Among them, people he had often met at parties also stood out.

Some people quietly approached trying to build connections with him.

Because rumors about him kept spreading in politics and business circles.

Simply exchanging pleasantries could be answered with empty words.

The problem was that Han Seo-yeon's protection had disappeared, and children from politics and business circles were subtly approaching him.

Especially girls.

"Eun-ha, do you like soufflé cake too? Unlike the rumors, you have this side too. Isn't your reverse charm too much?"

"Eun-ha, this was delicious. Want to try some? Ah, you know who I am right? I'm..."

"Are you oppa Noh Eun-ha? My mom said to get close with oppa..." "Hey! When did I say such a thing? Hoho... I'm sorry. But Eun-ha, did you only come with family today? Do you not have anyone you're dating now?"

He frowned when a child about Eun-ae's age came pushed by her mother.

He who wanted to eat delicious food ended up having to be surrounded by those approaching him not long after entering the hall.

It was a point where he finally realized why Jung Ha-yang said to go together.

But it was already too late.

Jung Ha-yang who could save him wasn't here today.

So by another method─

─Dad! Get me out of here!

Eun-ha, I'm sorry. I'd like to, but I'm in this state too...

Eun-ha sent a look of salvation to his father.

His father who happened to meet officials by chance was looking at him with a bitter smile.

Salvation from his father couldn't be expected.

Rather, his father looked even more troubled than himself.

Strictly speaking, that was because of Eun-ha too.

After the new year, his father called him separately and secretly told him.

'Eun-ha, do you perhaps have any thoughts of getting engaged?'

'...What?'

'No, well... People have been asking lately if you'd get engaged to their daughters. I've been refusing each time, but I thought I should hear your opinion...'

'Yeah, I have no thoughts of engagement or anything.'

'I see, alright. We don't want you to have a political marriage either, so don't worry too much.'

Engagement proposals.

You don't know how surprised he was when he heard that from his father.

It was something he had never experienced in his previous life.

But in this life, it was somewhat understandable.

His family background and abilities weren't a problem.

To people in politics and business circles, he had enough value for a political marriage.

It wasn't that he hadn't thought about political marriage...

But I don't have any thoughts yet.

His parents hoped he would marry someone he liked.

They hoped he would form a family and live peacefully without getting caught up in political strife.

However, Eun-ha was willing to endure a political marriage if necessary.

That he would gladly endure it if his political marriage helped Ha Baek-ryeon.

But not yet.

Currently, he didn't feel the need to bring in anyone through a political marriage.

All groups were still favorable to the Fairy government for now.

If the future rolled along well like this, there would be no need for him to have a political marriage at all.

Ah, but I hope noona and Eun-ae don't worry about such things.

I hope they just meet good people.

Eun-ha blankly thought about Eun-a and Eun-ae while ignoring the words the girls were throwing at him.

From what he had seen so far, there wasn't a single decent man around.

It was questionable whether Eun-a and Eun-ae would be able to get married.

Perhaps because the world was destroyed once, there were no decent men.

This was a point his father seriously agreed with last time.

Especially guys popular with women are no good, definitely.

For example, like Yoo Do-joon.

Soon Eun-ha looked to one side with a blank face.

There was someone approaching him with girls in tow from far away.

It was Yoo Do-joon.

Yoo Do-joon who usually receives cold treatment from direct descendants of prestigious chaebol groups.

But in a place where people of various statuses gathered, he was attracting the attention of many of the opposite s*x.

For instance, while the girls gathered around Eun-ha had obvious shallow intentions, the girls gathered around Yoo Do-joon were expressing romantic interest in him.

Ah, the snacks taste bad now.

Eun-ha's mood somehow sank.

So he frowned sharply at the swaying Do-joon while chewing on a financier.

Regardless, Do-joon spoke to him in a friendly manner.

"Eun-ha, were you invited here too? Amazing, it wasn't easy to get an invitation here." "How did you get one then?" "Me? Of course I bought a scalped ticket."

"Yeah, good for you."

Yoo Do-joon who said he bought a scalped ticket so proudly.

Eun-ha just let out a hollow laugh, fed up with his shamelessness.

"Ah, I succeeded in recruiting all the kids you told me about before. What should I do from now on?"

"Really?"

Eun-ha exclaimed briefly.

Because Yoo Do-joon's skills were faster than expected.

He had inwardly thought he would accomplish it within the year, but he finished before even one semester had passed.

Then there was a need to move on to the next step.

Before that, Eun-ha first decided to shake off the people gathered around.

There might be those watching Yoo Do-joon's actions among them.

It was better not to reveal his relationship with him if possible.

"So? What information can you give me?"

The two asked while putting snacks on plates with shoulders touching.

As if choosing what would be delicious.

At that time, Eun-ha glanced around.

It seemed true that Yoo Do-joon had completely drawn in those he had pointed out before.

Looking around, the appearance of students standing guard around Yoo Do-joon caught his eye.

He could only wonder how he gained their loyalty in such a short time.

"...How did you persuade those guys? It must have been difficult to persuade them..." "Just fulfill what they want. There has to be give and take, right?"

"It seems other successors could do that much too..."

"Those people didn't give trust. But I just showed it in action right away. And I'm about the same age as them, right?"

"Well, there's a point." "So continue what you were saying."

Madeleine and éclair.

Eun-ha who was pondering what to choose soon continued speaking while putting an éclair topped with strawberry chocolate on his plate.

"You have shares in Myeongwang Clan too, right?" "There's what mother left me. About 3%?"

"Don't try to sell that no matter what happens." "Isn't that obvious? Myeongwang Clan is the clan receiving sponsorship from Eternal Group, how could I sell that?"

Yoo Do-joon who couldn't understand quickly snatched the crepe Eun-ha was about to choose while retorting.

But Eun-ha nonchalantly turned his gaze to other sweets.

"That's right. Selling Myeongwang Clan's stocks would be stupid. It would also mean not properly treating Myeongwang Clan."

"Then why are you saying such things?" "Because your enemies will stupidly sell Myeongwang Clan's stocks within the year."

Girls were quietly chasing from far away.

Eun-ha shooed them away with a hand gesture then sat in an empty seat.

Yoo Do-joon who sat right next to him for a secret conversation was waiting for him to continue as if asking how he knew that.

But Eun-ha who wiped off the cream on his mouth didn't resolve his doubt.

How could I say Myeongwang Clan will lose in the clan war without any basis? The judgment is up to you, Yoo Do-joon.

Eun-ha was just telling Yoo Do-joon a future he had experienced once.

Myeongwang Clan will soon be defeated in the clan war. The story of an S-rank clan in Korea being defeated by a regional small-scale clan alliance resulted in Myeongwang Clan's stock price falling.

However, Yoo Do-joon kept holding onto his shares to the end while other successors were selling Myeongwang Clan's stocks.

Even when other successors said they would reduce the scale of sponsorship for Myeongwang Clan, only he secretly sponsored Myeongwang Clan from behind.

Thanks to that, Myeongwang Clan supported Yoo Do-joon after recovering.

Eun-ha intended to help Yoo Do-joon gain more benefits in the future he would move towards without intervening himself.

"When Myeongwang Clan's stocks are released to the market, you buy them all up. It would be good to secure control over Myeongwang Clan while buying cheaply, right?"

"If such a situation comes, it would be good as you say, but only if such a situation actually comes."

"It will come. Don't believe me if you don't want to." "No, I believe you. I said I would believe anything when I made a promise with you. But how do you know the trigger for Myeongwang Clan's stock price falling in the future..."

"Don't forget to secure funds by then, then buy stocks while sponsoring Myeongwang Clan." "Ugh... okay, I got it."

Yoo Do-joon gave up questioning in detail.

Because he sensed Eun-ha wouldn't tell him anyway.

"Ah, that's right. I have one piece of information to teach you too."

"Why? What is it?"

Eun-ha asked with an indifferent face.

While maintaining his gaze on him, his hand reaching for a raisin sandwich.

He was feeling a bit stuffy in his throat after eating only sweet things.

Just then, there was a drink bar in a close position.

He who approached to drink some cool coffee brought a glass to where ice came out.

With a tinkling sound, ice poured out.

"You know my big uncle's second wife's daughter turned 3 this year? I hear your engagement with that child is being pushed." "...What...?"

Ice poured out.

He should pull out the glass now.

Eun-ha was so dumbfounded that he kept pressing the lever even as ice fell to the floor.

"You're just so outstanding, Eun-ha. From what I hear from the Gangnam matchmakers, you're the #1 engagement prospect these days? Man, I'm really envious, so envious. Getting engaged to a girl 12 years younger and all." "Do you want to die? Who said I'm getting engaged?"

Ha Baek-ryeon was 3 years old now.

Getting engaged to a child he thought of like a daughter.

Eun-ha couldn't imagine it.

He thought the parents of the daughter said to be pushing for engagement must be crazy.

"Dad will block it all anyway." "What's the use of blocking it? These kinds of things will keep coming to you in the future... The business groups in the top 10 are probably watching to see when your drug wears off, but if you keep succeeding like this, someday engagement proposals may come from direct descendants too?" "Ha..."

Yoo Do-joon's joking words didn't seem entirely false.

Eun-ha turned his head.

He met eyes with the girls.

Girls around his age were waving their hands while smiling shyly.

Surely there must be snakes coiled up inside them.

Eun-ha shuddered.

The fact that he was receiving attention in the world of politics and business was now clearly coming to him.

"Is there no way to avoid it?" "There are two ways."

"What are they?"

"One is for you to get engaged. Those people have pride too, so they won't think about trying to be a second wife unless it's really necessary." "Rejected. What's the other way?" "Hmm, proudly declare at this place. Say that you like men. Well, the downside is that men will flock around you from now on... There are many people with diverse preferences here originally. But why are you pointing a fork at me?"

"I thought if I stabbed once, I'd get an answer whether you're teasing me now or sincerely telling me."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa... Friend, when have you seen me joking?"

"Then why are you splitting up?" "When my friend is popular, shouldn't I smile happily as his friend?" "I'll just stab...!"

"Hey, hey, hey... wait. Don't you see those guys looking at us now? But why are their faces red? Is a man holding a fork their preference?"

Eun-ha frowned.

He who sighed deeply soon put away the fork.

Trying to match jokes with Yoo Do-joon would just end up wasting time.

"Hey, Eun-ha."

"What now?" "But isn't that your younger sister?" "Huh?"

Just then.

Eun-ha turned his gaze to where Yoo Do-joon suddenly pointed.

Eun-ae and Avenir were running around excitedly holding food.

The two running around as if playing tag.

Then Avenir who was running away from Eun-ae ran backwards and ended up colliding with a boy wearing a tailcoat.

Food jumped into the air.

Avenir couldn't be seen, perhaps fallen face down on the floor, an

"Oh, damn it...!"

Eun-ha cursed as he witnessed what happened while he wasn't paying attention.

He had cautioned his siblings so much.

Yet they ended up causing trouble like this.

"Noh Eun-ae! Avenir!"

Eun-ha called the two children.

Avenir was sniffling, while Eun-ae was fidgeting anxiously with tears welling up in her eyes.

Seeing that made Eun-ha's heart ache unnecessarily.

So scolding his siblings would come later.

First, he needed to apologize to the boy covered in food Avenir had spilled.

Given the evidence of wearing a tailcoat, and being surrounded by people until just now, he seemed to be a child from politics and business circles.

Since they were generally tyrannical, he needed to protect his siblings.

"Hey. Wait a moment."

"What? Didn't you see that just now? Are you telling me to wait while knowing what might happen to the kids?"

"It's okay. Look."

At that moment, Do-joon grabbed the arm of Eun-ha who was about to rush over hurriedly.

Yoo Do-joon, with a calm face unlike Eun-ha, slowly moved his steps while pointing at the other party.

The boy who got up with support from those around was reaching out his hand to Avenir sitting on the floor.

Soon after helping Avenir up, he examined Avenir with a kind touch.

"That hyung isn't the kind of person you're thinking of, Eun-ha. Unlike others, he treats me kindly too."

It was a face Eun-ha was seeing for the first time.

Conversely, Yoo Do-joon was speaking familiarly.

From what Yoo Do-joon knew, he could tell he was a direct descendant of a quite prestigious group.

Who is he?

Now Eun-ha moved his feet as fast as possible at a normal pace so as not to look urgent.

The voice of the boy worrying about the children grew closer.

"You're really not hurt anywhere, are you?" ""No...""

"Still, you shouldn't run around in a place like this. You know you did wrong, right?"

""...We're sorry.""

He was quite handsome.

Eun-ha searched his memory.

Though the face seemed familiar from somewhere, no information about him came to mind from his memories.

But only after hearing Yoo Do-joon who squeezed out from among people did he realize why he couldn't know.

"Yu-cheon hyung, what's with that appearance?"

"Oh, Do-joon, you were here too? You should have said something earlier." "Even if I wanted to speak, I stayed quiet because people kept crowding around you. Ah, I'll introduce you. This is Eun-ha. He's my academy classmate. Noh Eun-ha."

"Noh Eun-ha? The Noh Eun-ha who tricked Jin-woo hyung?"

The boy tilted his head.

Do-joon naturally introduced Eun-ha and his siblings even in this situation.

"Eun-ha, this is Yu-cheon hyung from Luminous Group. He's a year older than us." "Hello. I'm Lee Yu-cheon." "Yes... nice to meet you."

A sudden meeting with Luminous Group's direct descendant.

Lee Jung-in's eldest son, who didn't exist in his previous life, reached out his hand to him.

Eun-ha grasped that hand in a daze.