Chapter 405: Solving It (5)

Chapter 405: Solving It (5)

The situation for the orphanage kids changed drastically.

They began experiencing similar events as Han Jin-Seong. The changes were so extreme that Han Jin-Seong started worrying about the orphanage kids growing skeptical about their fellow human beings.

Fortunately, though, it seemed Han Jin-Seong was a unique case among the children. Uniquely filled with negative energy, that was. Once he realized that about himself, his worries no longer seemed necessary.

Maybe other children were still too young and immature to understand, or they never had any expectations from their fellow men in the first place? Either way, they weren't perturbed by the drastic changes in the attitude of their peers.

“Jin-Seong hyung, I think you're still stuck in that eighth grader syndrome phase.”

“...!” Han Jin-Seong was gut-punched by that reply from one of the younger orphanage kids. Even though he was asking them out of concern for their mental health, how could they...!

What Han Jin-Seong had been most worried about was cleanly dealt with... Just like that. He thought this kind of method wouldn't adequately deal with the girls' problems, but...

'How the hell did the girls' problems get handled even cleaner than the boys?'

After comparing 'hyungs' to the boys with 'unnies' to girls, Han Jin-Seong rapidly realized that women could be so much more frightening. Someone once told him that scary unnies from the past used to stick razor blades in gums and spit them out, and well...

However, once Han Jin-Seong began accepting this situation, he immediately ran into another, more fundamental, problem.

Seriously!

Just from where!

Where did all these people appear from?! It was so weird to hear about how every 'chew and spit gum in class' thug attending the orphanage kids' schools would obey the orders from some random 'hyungs' showing up out of the blue!

Even worse still...! An even bigger problem soon reared its ugly head.

***

“...This can't be right. Anyone?” Han Jin-Seong asked while glancing at his companions with a worried face. Unfortunately, no positive reply returned his way. Han Jin-Seong faltered slightly. “But... But why?”

One of the orphanage boys helplessly called out to him. “Jin-Seong hyung.”

“Y-yeah?”

“It'll be easier for you if you just give up.”

“...”

Han Jin-Seong shuddered at the sight of Bang Jin-Hun approaching him and the other orphanage boys. How could he not, though? Especially when Bang Jin-Hun was smiling like a sinister villain?

With a face like that, Bang Jin-Hun really had no need to use his fists! If he worked as a debt collector, Bang Jin-Hun would probably make a fortune in no time. After all, who would dare lie to that face and say they didn't have the money?!

“Fufufu, you little brats. Did you enjoy your extended break?” Bang Jin-Hun cackled ominously.

“...It was only two days, though?” Han Jin-Seong cautiously piped up.

“Two days are more than enough for your body to fully recover. Yes, more than enough, I tell you. Indeed...”

Han Jin-Seong's hunch was right. Being a debt collector suited Bang Jin-Hun to a T!

Words weren't getting through to Bang Jin-Hun. He didn't even pretend to listen to excuses, so what other job would suit him as much as collecting debts?! Exactly!

“So! Everyone, are you ready to sweat again like men today?”

“Excuse me!” Han Jin-Seong hurriedly raised his hand.

Bang Jin-Hun tutted. “You can save your questions.”

“Can I ask this one question, please? I mean, my question is incredibly fundamental in nature, you see?”

“Oh? Very well. I'll answer one question, then. However, the time spent answering your question will not count toward the overall exercise hours.”

“S-sure...”

“So, what's your question?”

“No matter how much I think about it, is there a need for us to continue exercising like this? When our situation seems to be more or less taken care of?”

“Listen to yourself, brat. Tsk, tsk...” Bang Jin-Hun loudly tutted while staring at Han Jin-Seong with open disdain.

Sensing that he had just unknowingly committed a terrible mistake, Han Jin-Seong hurriedly shrunk into his spot.

Bang Jin-Hun scanned the boys. “More or less taken care of, you say? What is? Were you thinking of asking other people to step up again when something similar happens to you in the future?”

“...No, sir.”

“If you're a man, learn how to protect yourself! Didn't you see what the 'hyungs' paying a visit to your schools look like?”

“Y-yes, sir.”

How could you grant that woman the power to?enchant?and manipulate other people!

And no, Choi Yeon-Ha hadn't just captivated the girls. She had also captured the hearts of the caregivers, teachers and volunteers by performing miracles (?) of replacing all the old appliances during her first visit, then installing aircon units in every room during her recent visit.

Such was Choi Yeon-Ha's sway over the orphanage that her fingerprint had been registered in the front door lock, too!

That was practically the same as Choi Yeon-Ha receiving a lifetime free pass to enter the orphanage whenever she felt like it.

In such a situation, the only reward Han Jin-Seong would receive for carrying out the lonesome resistance was... a bunch of cold shoulders.

Not only that, but...!

“Noona! It's great to see you!”

“Noona! I've brought you a glass of water.”

“Goodness, Unnie! Don't drink that filthy water! Hey, you! Take that thing away! Don't you know we bought coffee specially for Unnie?!”

“Unnie, I'm so happy to see you! Why are you late today, though! We have so many things to tell you, you know!”

'You rotten little...!'

Han Jin-Seong didn't have siblings or any other family members, either. So, he always considered other orphanage kids as his family. He firmly believed their trust and affection toward each other would never be betrayed.

Unfortunately, he was the only one thinking that way.

While watching the other kids urgently run around like loyal servants welcoming their queen after Choi Yeon-Ha had made her entrance, Han Jin-Seong began wondering if these kids were really the same brave warriors of the Seongsim Orphanage. He truly couldn't recognize them at all!

'You bunch of traitors!'

Choi Yeon-Ha glanced at Han Jin-Seong. “Mm? Why do you have such a sour look on your face?”

“...It's nothing, Noona.”

“Are you unhappy about something?”

“N-no. Not really.” Han Jin-Seong, finally brought to his knees by the cruel reality, swallowed back his tears and cautiously asked Choi Yeon-Ha. “By the way, Noona?”

“What is it?”

“Why don't you help us with?that?”

“That? What do you mean?”

“I meant that,” Han Jin-Seong pointed at the girls.

Choi Yeon-Ha finally realized what Han Jin-Seong was on about and began snorting derisively. “Oh? So, you wanna know why I'm not helping you look better. Is that it?”

“Yes, Noona.”

“Ohohohohoho!” Choi Yeon-Ha threw her head back and laughed uproariously before staring at Han Jin-Seong with a serious look on her face. “Yes, I know how to improve someone's looks. But that's limited to humans, you see? I've no idea how to improve a squid, unfortunately.”

Han Jin-Seong began shuddering from anger. “S-s-squid?! Who is a squid here, Noona!”

“Haven't you seen yourself in a mirror before? When I first came here, I thought I stumbled into a seafood market by mistake, you know? You should just forget about it, Jin-Seong. Getting a good job will be better for you. Your problem can't be solved by nicer clothes and hairstyle, you know? After all, a squid will always be a squid no matter how much you pretty yourself up.”

Having devolved successfully into an invertebrate against his will, Han Jin-Seong began tearing up as he yelled at Choi Yeon-Ha. “How can you say that without even trying first!”

“A squid will still be a squid, though?”

Han Jin-Seong finally lost himself to anger. “What the heck?! Yes, I admit it! I admit that I'm a squid, okay! But I'm not asking you to transform me into Won Bin, okay?! I just wanna have a better chance while competing against other squids! I mean, isn't a cleaned-up squid better to look at than a freshly-caught one?!”

“...!” For the first time since Choi Yeon-Ha came here, she began making an apologetic face. “...I don't have any excuses if that's how you feel, Jin-Seong. Okay, got it. I'll try to help you as much as I can, so please stop berating yourself like that, okay? Being born with an ugly face isn't your fault, after all...”

Even a hint of panic began setting in on Choi Yeon-Ha's face.

“I didn't know you'd be this hurt by the truth about your looks. Please forgive me, Jin-Seong.”

“D-don't apologize!”

Just how far are you willing to go to make me feel miserable?!

Warm tears trickled down Han Jin-Seong's eyes. And other squids sympathizing with the plight of their chief representative squid also began shedding tears.

The heavens were crying, soon joined by the ground below.

Choi Yeon-Ha seemed to have steeled her resolve as she reached out to the squids.

“I will help you. However, I have a condition.”

“What condition?”

Everyone stared at Choi Yeon-Ha.

1. Won Bin (real name Kim Do-Jin) is a South Korean actor and a heartthrob.