ReLife Player

Chapter 98

Chapter 98

[ Trap]

Pyeongchang-dong.

It is one of the affluent neighborhoods where high-ranking officials of the Korean political world reside.

To the north, Bukhansan Mountain blocks access to the monsters, while to the south lies Jongno-gu, considered the center of politics, administration, and economy.

Pyeongchang-dong is also a short distance away from Cocoon and the Korean Mana Management Organization, which are installed in the Jongno District.

Other neighborhoods include Hannam-dong, Seongbuk-dong, Hyehwa-dong, and Itaewon-dong.

The day when all of Gangnam-gu, including Apgujeong, Samseong-dong, Cheongdam-dong, Dogok-dong, and Daechi-dong, would be developed into neighborhoods was still a long way off.

In about 10 years, Hannam-dong and Itaewon-dong would be ruined.

Until the future when the monster army starts from the Han River and wipes out the entire Gangbuk area.

Eunha snapped out of his reminiscence as he looked at the Pyeongchang-dong area, which was considered a wealthy neighborhood even in the future.

However, the entire Pyeongchang-dong wasnt an affluent neighborhood.

Nothing is different now or in the future as far as I know.

Eunha took a ride in the car picked up by the Sirius Group and looked around Pyeongchang-dong.

Strange streets where rich and poor coexist.

On the left side of the road, buildings glowed brilliantly in the dark, while on the right side of the road, there was only an occasional glimmer of light.

In that light, women peeked out of alleyways in half-naked dresses.

But that wasnt all. There were areas entirely covered in dull red, like a dark crimson, and on the other side, there were gangsters smoking cigarettes or sitting on the ground, drinking alcohol.

Eunha, want to switch seats with Mom?

Ah, sure.

Eunha, who was sitting on the right side of the back seat, looked up.

His mother was smiling down at him.

Do you want to take Eunae with you?

Yeah.

Oppa, give me a hug.

Eunha took Eunae from his mothers lap.

His mother leaned over and covered the car window.

Eunha didnt say anything, but shifted his gaze to the left side of the road where Eunae was looking out.

Opaa, its shiny!

It is, isnt it?

Pretty.

The world was destroyed once, and in the destroyed world, different sides coexisted in close proximity.

Looking at the poor, looking at the rich, I could see how bright the citys splendor was.

This is Sirius.

It wasnt long before we arrived at the mansion where Sirius president, Han Bong-sik, and president-elect, Han Do-young, reside.

The grounds of the mansion were vast. There were no tall buildings or residential areas around the mansion.

The only sounds were the occasional breeze, sprinklers watering the lawn, and walkie-talkies of security guards standing guard in inconspicuous places.

The mansion didnt need to be described.

My mom, who usually never let her emotions get the better of her, stood frozen in place, staring up at the mansion for a long moment.

Are you nervous?

Dad, on the other hand, did not look nervous.

Hed been in and out of the Sirius household a few times before, and hed even greeted the courteous guide.

Im not weird today, am I?

Youre the most beautiful.

Come on, are you sure its not weird?

Shes the prettiest, isnt she?

Yes, I didnt know Mr. Noh had such a beautiful wife.

My mom bowed her head deeply.

She wasnt used to hearing the words beautiful or wife.

She hadnt come to any of the parties that Sirius Group had organized for its affiliates to socialize.

It was her first time, and she was nervous.

Oppa, what is that? Its so beautiful!

Its called a fountain.

I want to go in there!

No, no. Eunae, you have to be strong today. Why dont you hold your sisters hand just for today?

Yeah, but will you hold my hand?

Eunae, who was much smaller than Eunha, puffed out her cheeks.

Even though she had attended the holiday party twice before, she couldnt keep up with Eunhas manners.

In the end, she pouted her lips and took Eunhas hand.

Come to think of it, she was holding her older brother with her hand.

There was no reason to pout.

You too, Father.

Yes.

Father shrugged his right shoulder.

My mom approached and hooked her arm, glancing at the guide.

Is the president inside?

Chairman Han is not inside as he has a prior engagement.

Thats a relief.

Yes, it is.

Why is it a relief for you, Eunha?

Its awkward.

Well, thats true.

Dad and I nodded at the same time.

Meeting the chairman of the Sirius Group made him extra cautious.

Even for someone who had once been involved with chaebols, it was hard to be formal.

However, there was no one else but my father and myself who could do it properly.

I cant believe they actually sent an invitation, by the way.

He sighed as he remembered what had happened a month ago.

Last year, at the Sirius affiliates year-end party, the president-elect, Han Do-young, had said that he was inviting Eunha to his mansion.

On the day, after he mentioned the invitation, he didnt just let it go.

Not long after the semester started, an invitation was sent home to have dinner at his mansion in Pyeongchang-dong a month later.

For the whole family.

So his mom and Eunae would also be entering the Sirius familys mansion.

Come in, please.

Welcome.

After a few minutes of waiting in the parlor, Han Do-young greeted them.

Next to him was a woman wearing a luxuriously textured dress.

This is Choi Sobin. You must have had a difficult time getting here?

Han Doyoungs wife, Choi Sobin.

She was the one who would become Sirius hostess on the day Han Do-young became Sirius chairman.

Eunha had never met her in person before the regression.

But he knew the rumors about her.

Choi Sobin was said to be someone who didnt take things lightly.

It was even said that she had brought him to his knees, telling him that while she would allow him to have an affair, she wouldnt forgive him if he brought a child from outside.

She even put up a fuss, saying she wouldnt allow such a thing even if the wind allowed it.

Wow, your skin is really smooth. You look so beautiful.

Thank you. Youre also very beautiful, Madam.

Why are you calling me Madam as if I look much older? We are of the same age, so lets call each other by our names, okay?

Choi Sobin treated mom kindly. It was an attitude that kept a suitable distance while also showing some leniency.

I cant tell if its because of our dad or because of our mom. Eunha looked at his parents again.

My dad is trusted by the next president, and my mom is favored by the hostess.

He wished nothing but good things for his parents.

But Eunha was caught off guard.

The Sirius familys favor was not limited to his parents.

Hello. Im Seoyeon Han. Im in my first year of middle school.

Im Noh Euna. Im the same age as you, Seoyeon!

Really? Thats great. I dont have many friends my age, but Ill be able to play with you from now on, Euna.

I heard youre attending a player academy. Isnt it hard?

Its hard, but its okay. I dream of becoming a player.

Seoyeon, where do you go to middle school?

I go to Kyungshin Comprehensive Middle School.

Isnt that near my neighborhood? Isnt that where all the good students go?

No. You just have to apply, right?

Eunas friendliness was amazing.

Seoyeons sociability was equally impressive.

Due to their similar age, the two of them talked without being conscious of other peoples gazes.

To be precise, if Euna was leading the conversation, Seoyeon was adjusting the bends of the conversation.

She would restrain or moderate the conversation so that it wouldnt be too formal, allowing Euna to have a loose conversation.

Our sister is amazing.

Unlike Seo Hyun, Seo Yeons poker face wasnt perfect.

There were glimpses of her keeping her distance from Euna.

Nevertheless, you could tell that she liked Euna.

The problem was me.

Hi.

.

How are you?

.

Hello? Didnt I tell you to call me comfortably?

What am I supposed to do!

Dad, mom, and Euna went off on their own conversations, leaving me and Seo-hyun alone.

Eunha couldnt help but say hello to ease the awkward atmosphere, but Seohyun just stared at him with a fat face.

Even her brusque appearance was eye-catching wherever she went.

Today, she wasnt wearing a party dress.

She was wearing a one-piece dress that showed her legs below the knees, and she was wearing a pink, sparkling jeweled hairpin.

Not bad.

What?

Seohyun stared at Eunha for a long moment, then shook her head.

Eunha couldnt see what she was referring to as not bad.

Yeah, hello. Come on in.

Seohyun greeted him belatedly.

It wasnt a friendly greeting.

Eunha didnt care.

It was none of his business whether she was happy or not.

Then, it happened.

Sister! Hel-lo!

Eunae, who had been quietly observing people exchanging greetings, followed suit in a burst of energy.

And she did it to Seohyun.

Just like Euna confidently approached Seoyeon, Eunae came out of nowhere and forcefully tried to hold her hand.

It was a disaster.

The conversation was cut short.

His parents could not hide their embarrassment.

Euna realized that shed been so engrossed in the conversation that shed let go of Eunaes hand.

Hel-lo!

Eunae greeted again in a loud voice. She vigorously waved the hand that had held onto Seohyun.

Seohyun showed no reaction, remaining motionless like a statue.

She simply looked down at Eunae, who was smiling brightly at her.

The prolonged silence made others uneasy.

Sorry, Eunae can be a bit bothersome. Shes still young, thats why.

If this goes on, Seohyun might explode in anger.

Knowing her, it was entirely possible.

In order to protect his only younger sister, Eunha decided to separate Eunae from Seohyun.

He attempted to hug Eunae from behind to take her away.

If only Seohyun hadnt let go of her hand.

Why are you like this? Cant you see Im still greeting people?

Seohyun raised her eyebrows in a prickly tone.

Looking down at Eunae, who was half-hugging her, she shook the hand that Eunae had been holding.

Hello.

Im Eunae! No! Eun! Ae! Who are you, Unni?

Im Han Seohyun.

Seoyeon Unni?

No, Seohyun.

Seohyeon Unni?

Just call me comfortably.

Thats the scariest thing she said.

Eunae, dont believe those words. Its a trap, you know?

Trap?

Eunha whispered into Eunaes ear.

Be careful. That Unni is a scary one.

It seemed like the sound reached her.

Say it again. Whos the scary one?

Huh? Who? Did I say anything?

You did, you.

Eunha evaded the situation with a puzzled look.

Instead of bowing his head apologetically to her, he pretended to act like he didnt understand.

There was no evidence anyway.

Sigh.

A blatant sigh from Han Seohyun.

As expected, she didnt take the bait.

The Han Seohyun he knew wasnt one to waste energy on meaningless arguments.

Father, are you going to keep holding the guests?

Instead, Seohyun completely interrupted the flow of introducing each other.

She considered the situation of having a conversation while standing in the reception room as impractical.

At that moment, Doyoung, who had been watching Seohyun and Eunae with a content smile, suddenly came to his senses.

Ive been holding on for too long. Shall we continue the conversation over dinner? Maybe we can get to know each other better then?

Tonight, our chef at home will show off his skills. Its going to be delicious.

Doyoung and Sobin guided the family members to the dining room.

The cocktail served as an aperitif was a Sweet Martini.

Mom wasnt someone who enjoyed alcohol. Whenever she drank soju, she would scrunch her face, unable to handle its unique taste.

But the Sweet Martini served as a pre-meal drink had a different effect. The sweetness of the vermouth neutralized the bitterness of the gin, and she faintly smiled.

This cocktail has a surprisingly high alcohol content. Dont underestimate its taste; you might get drunk quickly.

Fortunately, Dad took care not to appear too excessive with Mom.

How is it?

Its delicious.

Theres a bar downstairs. We can make almost any kind of drink. I was getting bored drinking alone at times, so come to the house occasionally and be my drinking buddy.

Sobin gently smiled and suggested.

Mom, flipping her hair, glanced at Dad and replied that she would definitely come next time.

Yes, if I have time, Ill call you. You must come, right?

What about you, Eunha? Do you like the food?

After finishing the conversation with Mom, Sobin switched her conversation partner to me.

Only an empty plate sat on the table in front of him. He liked the canapes with horseradish and finished them all.

Its really delicious.

Is it? Do you want more?

Sobin asked.

Behind the friendly smile, there was a sharpness hidden, like that of a predator.

Eunha couldnt miss that gaze.

While she appeared to have a comfortable conversation on the surface, she was testing him internally.

However, he couldnt figure out what she was testing him on and what she was expecting.

Even though I dont know the reason, being evaluated like this is unpleasant.

At that moment, he made eye contact with Seohyun.

For a moment, there was a hint of intrigue in her eyes as she looked at his empty plate.

As if expecting some interesting reaction.

It wasnt just Sobin and Seohyun.

The entire Sirius family in the dining room was waiting for his response with expectant eyes.

Even though I dont know what they expect, I dont want to play along with them.

The Orduve was merely an appetizer to whet the appetite.

It wasnt appropriate to fill his stomach with Orduve when the main course hadnt even been served.

So, the ideal answer would be to politely decline.

Of course, Eunha knew what the ideal answer was, but he didnt want to respond the way they wanted.

But then again, it was not appropriate to respond by saying he would eat more Orduve.

His interlocutors were the Sirius family. They were not people he could easily deal with.

To interact with them, he had to familiarize himself with their manners.

Even though he was younger, he didnt want to be seen as a child who hadnt learned proper manners, causing his parents to be embarrassed.

Then, wed all end up in a mess together.

Before regression, now, and in the future.

He detested being placed on someone elses chessboard.

He wanted to be the one setting the board.

Even if he couldnt set the board, he could mess it up or overturn it.

Eunha looked at Seohyun and slightly smirked, discreetly, without anyone noticing.

What about Seohyun ?

Huh?

There was a change in Subins expression. Some of her hidden sharpness emerged.

She directed a cold gaze at him.

Eunha didnt answer the question but changed the topic instead.

What about Seohyun noona?

Whats there to compete over with a mere gaze.

Eunha kept his composure and persistently asked emphasizing the word noona until Seohyun furrowed her brows in response.

Yeah, its good.

What Eunha was doing now was disrespectful to Sobin.

He was inviting her to join him in his behavior.

So Seohyun spoke up in an unpleasant tone of voice.

Caught red-handed.

Eunha inwardly smiled, feeling he had successfully stirred up a reaction.

He had gained a slight advantage in disrupting the conversation.

Without saying a word, Eunha kept his eyes fixed on Sobin, who was also looking back at him.

Seohyun noona tastes good too. I feel full eating it alone, so Ill have it with her.

You are being!

Seohyun started to object but then held her tongue.

She couldnt use a tone as if she were shouting at a marketplace.

After all, she was a member of the Sirius family and was currently in a position to treat the invited guests with politeness.

She couldnt raise her voice as if she were on a marketplace floor.

In the end, all she could do was shoot Eunha a fierce glare.

Eunha didnt care. He had already expected that Sobin, who was becoming the hostess of Sirius, would keep an eye on him.

So, this was his plan to deal with it.

He couldnt bear to hear only complaints about his lack of manners.

If that was the case, he could force others into an embarrassing situation and share the embarrassment with them.

He had no intention of dying alone.

I want more too!

Me too!

Eunhas predicament was not lost on Euna.

Above all, as someone with great sociability, she couldnt let it end like this.

Seoyeon, what about you?

Huh?

The canapes are really delicious! Shall we share them?

Seoyeons eyes widened. She had been observing the situation with an amused gaze as if it were someone elses business.

Now she assessed the situation.

Eunha knew what was coming.

The Seoyeon he knew was not only an excellent businessperson with a keen sense of trends but also an investor who enjoyed doing things outside common sense.

If she genuinely wanted to befriend Euna and found this situation interesting, there was no way she wouldnt take Eunhas side.

My prediction was correct.

Good. I wanted another one too. Seohyun, wont you have one too?

In her head, she must have already calculated something.

Whatever she had calculated, she had to drag Seohyun into it, who was openly displeased.

Mother, what about you?

And Sobin, too.

This was unexpected.

The flow wasnt bad.

Subin probably didnt expect that her previous question would come back like this.

Well, then, Ill have one too. What about Eunas mom?

Yes, Ill have one too.

Hahaha!

At that moment, Han doyoung burst into laughter. He didnt hesitate to wipe his eyes with his fingers and hold his belly while laughing.

Well then, shall we all have one more?

The future chairman of Sirius made the final decision himself.

Seoyeon joined in. She revived the atmosphere that had settled down.

She glanced at me, making sure I could see her.

You know you owe me, right?

There was no way I couldnt read her intentions.

I didnt think of it as a debt, but I had to acknowledge the help she offered.

But this is a loss.

Although I avoided embarrassment, I still ended up in a situation that felt like I owed a debt.

In a way, I could say I fell for it.

Since the Sirius family wouldnt suffer any losses, they just incurred a debt.

I can simply not repay it.

Of course, I had no intention of repaying favors.

Then he saw Seohyuns mouth twitch.

Do you want to cause trouble?

Eunha avoided her gaze.

I dont have to repay it.

Whatever.