LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 85: Dinner Plan
Dinner Plan
Liliana mentioned she needed to sort out the ecology of Hell and retreated to her room. Is she thinking about what to do in Hell after ten years? Well, she’ll figure it out on her own. Whatever.
I proceeded to sift through my backlog of messages on EveryDay. They hailed from various guilds, spanning from unfamiliar ones to prominent, large guilds. Amidst the mix, one message stood out.
[Yejimi: Lee Hoyeon. You know I’ve been trying to get in touch with you since before you became famous, right? I sent a message to the contact number you provided, but I didn’t receive a response, so I’m trying here again.]
“Huh? I received a message?”
I glanced at my smartwatch. “Oh… I had it on silent, so I didn’t notice.”
I’d turned off notifications for numbers that weren’t in my contacts because I was tired of getting all sorts of disaster alerts, spam, and messages from unknown numbers. That’s why I didn’t see this message.
[Hello, Student Lee Hoyeon, isn’t it?^^ I’m Min Yeji from the Iron Blood Guild. Please reply when it’s convenient for you.]
This message had arrived on the same day they shared the contact information, and when I didn’t respond for two days, they followed up with another message.
[Lee Hoyeon, are you busy? You’re online on EveryDay, but you’re not replying.]
This message arrived on a Friday. When I didn’t check it over the weekend and until Monday, yet another message landed in my inbox yesterday.
[This is the final attempt to contact you. If you don’t respond today, we’ll assume you’re not interested in working with us. Please reply to this number or contact Min Yeji from Iron Blood Guild.]
And just moments ago, another message arrived.
[It’s Min Yeji. Please disregard the message I sent yesterday. Could you at least make a phone call? I was the first to recognize your talent. Instead of hastily joining another guild based on offers, Iron Blood Guild can acknowledge your true abilities and assist in your growth…]
Summing up that lengthy message, it’s basically saying, “Come to our guild, the one that supposedly spotted your potential first.” As much as I have no real desire to join a guild… I guess I should reply, just to be polite.
[Hi, Min Yeji. I’ve just set my messages to make a sound, so I’ve only seen this now. I’m sorry, but I don’t have any plans to join a guild at the moment. I’m reaching out as a courtesy.]
Right after sending the message, I got a response.
[So, how about a business proposition?]
Business? What’s that even supposed to mean? I’ve never heard of Min Yeji, but I’ve certainly heard of the Iron Blood Guild. They’re one of the top guilds in Korea. Being part of a place like that probably means you’re riding high, but whether it’s Iron Blood Guild or whatever, I can’t just jump in headfirst.
Anyway, my main goal is to woo with the heroines at the academy… I’m wary of getting tangled up in guild contracts and any potential complications. It’s not a personal thing; it’s just that public matters are a waste of my time, and there are too many strings attached.
[What exactly do you mean by “business proposition?”]
After that, no further responses came. I saved Min Yeji’s phone number and powered off my smartwatch.
Ring!
“Damn it, who could it be now?”
The sender was Soorin Noona. As soon as I saw the name, I quickly opened the message.
[Soorin Noona: Hoyeon, do you have any plans for dinner tonight? I’ve got something to talk about.]
[Me: Of course! Should I head out right away?]
[Soorin Noona: Nah, hehe. I need to get ready too, so once I’m all set, I’ll give you a shout.]
[Me: Sounds good!]
The reason Soorin Noona messaged me at this hour was pretty obvious. The Chairman clearly said, “I’ll send her next time,” so he’s probably trying to compensate me for bringing Baek Ahyeong to the academy.
I grabbed my neatly folded school uniform and gave my face a quick once-over in the mirror.
“Not too shabby.”
Well, my face is never really in bad shape. I just ran my fingers through my hair, got ready, and lounged on the couch. Then, a message popped up.
[Soorin Noona: Are you all set?]
[Me: Yep! Ready to go?]
[Soorin Noona: Yeah, but I’m not a fan of crowded places… I’ll send you the address, so meet me there.]
[Me: Sure thing.]
Moon Soorin soon sent an address from a spot outside the academy’s shopping area.
“I’m heading out.”
“Okay~”
I bid farewell to Liliana and headed outside.
***
The evening air was surprisingly chilly. Despite the daytime warmth, a sudden chill had settled in for the night, making it a bit challenging to decide on the right attire.
“I should’ve dressed a bit warmer.”
I found myself regretting my choice of just a thin sweatshirt. The restaurant was quite a distance from the academy, so I had a bit of a walk ahead.
“Where on earth is this place…?”
Consulting the map on my smartwatch, I navigated my way to the restaurant. It was located at the end of a street in the shopping area. There was no sign, leaving me uncertain if this was the correct spot. However, once I stepped inside, I discovered a restaurant in full operation.
“Uh… Hello.” I greeted one of the nearby staff members as I approached.
“Welcome. May I have the name under which you made a reservation?”
“By any chance, has Moon Soorin arrived?”
“Ah, you must be with Ms. Soorin. Let me guide you to room 205 on the 2nd floor.”
“Alright.”
A staff member in traditional Korean attire led the way as we ascended to the second floor. Upon reaching the top, I noticed that all the seating areas were individual rooms. From the outside, it was impossible to see who was inside. That explained why she suggested this place.
“Have a pleasant time.”
“Thank you.”
Knock, knock.
“I’m here, President.”
Just to be sure, I didn’t call out Moon Soorin’s name.
“Come in.”
I swiftly opened the door, entered, and closed it behind me. Moon Soorin sat alone in a room exuding an upscale atmosphere.
“You’re here early. Did you leave as soon as you got my message?”
“Yes. It’s a meal with Soorin Noona, so I couldn’t afford to be late. I prepared in advance and was waiting… huh?”
Moon Soorin, in casual attire, remained stunning. Platinum blonde hair, sharp facial features, and fair skin. From her elegantly protruding chest to her well-defined hip line and toned thighs, she radiated beauty from head to toe… and she wasn’t wearing glasses. The beauty that had been concealed behind those old-fashioned horn-rimmed glasses was now revealed, momentarily leaving me speechless.
Our clear gazes met, and her cute lips curved into a slight smile.
“Is it weird…? I wore these lenses to change my appearance.”
★ Heroine Status Window
[Moon Soorin]
[Affection: 63]
[Lust: 25]
[Appetite: 50]
[Fatigue: 73]
Current Status: Maybe I went a bit overboard… I should have brought my glasses after all.
“Oh, no, it looks really nice, noona. It’s amazing.”
“Hehe, why are you exaggerating so much? Hoyeon, take a seat quickly.”
“Yes, sure.” My heart was racing.
What’s come over me? I’ve seen plenty of beautiful people before, but Moon Soorin had a unique charm. I could finally empathize with the Chairman’s feelings. How could someone not confess their feelings looking at that face?
“I just ordered what I like to eat… Is there anything you can’t eat?”
“Of course not… I can eat anything.”
When dining with Soorin Noona, I could even enjoy burnt rice crust with a smile, just like a true gourmet.
“If it’s a meal with you, I can even savor burnt rice crust.”
Oops, I let it slip unintentionally.
“Really? Thanks. Anyway, I’ll convey my thanks to my grandfather on your behalf. Thanks to you, we gained a lot when the Saint came to the academy. So—”
“Soorin Noona,” I interrupted her, who was about to dive into work before our meal even arrived.
“Yes?”
“We agreed to have a meal together first, didn’t we? Let’s discuss work after we’ve eaten.”
“…Is that so?”
I couldn’t stand to see her beautiful face marred by fatigue any longer. Moon Soorin seemed slightly touched by my words.
“Of course. I went to the infirmary earlier today after training. Professor Kim Jinhyuk told me that…”
“Heh. That professor is still the same, huh?”
“That’s right. Plus, the Modern Hunter Studies professor changed to Dr. Kang Hyorin…”
I tried to steer the conversation towards everyday topics unrelated to work. Throughout the meal, Moon Soorin couldn’t help but smile.
***
“Wow… this is really delicious.”
I had a rough idea that it was a Korean restaurant from the moment the staff in traditional Korean attire arrived.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. It was a bit difficult to make the reservation.”
“Really? Well, the food is so delicious, it was worth it.”
It was the first time in my life that I had tasted Korean food so delicious that I questioned what I had been eating all this time.
“Shall we move on to work then?”
“Sure.”
I adjusted my posture, ready to listen attentively.
“As I mentioned earlier, it’s thanks to you that the Saint came to the academy… so I’ve decided to show my gratitude.”
“Well, I did it all for you, Noona, so some compensation would be nice.”
“Hehe, I value your sentiment. Since I’m not sure what you’d like, I’ve prepared a list. Would you like to see it?”
Moon Soorin handed me a piece of paper.
[Millennium Ginseng] – One root.
[Public Hearing Oil]
[White Sand Powder] – 100g
.
.
.
“Wow…”
The list was filled with names of elixirs I had only heard of.
“This… I’ll need some time to mull it over.”
“Sure thing. If you ever need anything else, feel free to let me know.”
“Okay.”
We sat in a brief moment of silence.
“So, Noona, I guess that wraps up our work talk?”
“Yeah, right? Should we head back now?”
“If you’re up for it, Noona, we can keep chatting a bit.”
She took off her glasses. While it was nice to see her beautiful face, it was actually a bit worrisome. Moon Soorin removing her glasses was an event that happened when her affection for Lee Hoyeon was very high or when her stalker tendencies got a bit too intense…
★ Heroine Status Window
[Moon Soorin]
[Affection: 63]
[Lust: 25]
[Appetite: 50]
[Fatigue: 73]
Current Status: Well, Hoyeon is definitely a nice man.
Her affection level was still in the early 60s. She had some affection for me, but it wasn’t love. So, the reason for this was the latter.
“Remember when I said it gets tough when someone becomes too famous?”
“Of course, I remember.”
She had expressed concern about me getting close to Professor Im Sol in the past.
“Now that you’re famous too… do you kind of get what I meant?”
“Noona…”
“Sorry if I’m being too much like a celebrity? Hehe…”
Moon Soorin had a complex expression. Regret, misery, disappointment, and sadness. It seemed like all the negative emotions were surfacing.
“I’ve always told you.” I stood up, looking her in the eyes. I firmly grabbed her delicate shoulders.
“Ho-Hoyeon? Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”
“Noona, I’ve been saying it all along. I’m always on your side. The mage Lee Hoyeon, who can turn the world upside down, is on your side. Don’t worry, stand tall. If anyone dares to bother you, I’ll take care of them.”
“This is all so sudden; I feel… embarrassed…” Moon Soorin blushed and glanced around at my unexpected actions.
★ Heroine Status Window
[Moon Soorin]
[Affection: 75]
[Lust: 35]
[Appetite: 50]
[Fatigue: 73]
Current Status: Ho-Hoyeon, does he like me? Well, maybe it’s not too bad…
Affection level 75. At this point, it’s a score where confessing might work. It hadn’t reached the level of affection where she would confess to me, but I should be satisfied for now.
“Noona, if things ever get tough, just talk to me. Alright?” I concluded with a final declaration.
“Um… okay.” Moon Soorin nodded, her expression reflecting the impact of my determination.
In difficult times, I need her to turn to me rather than her family. From this point onward, I have to build that trust.