Chapter 65 (1) - The Mysterious Art Museum


    <i>2/2 Bonus chapter thanks to everyone on Ko-fi</i>


    What would you feel if 90% of the passersby on the street turned to look at you and yourpanions?


    If you enjoy attention, you would relish the stares.


    If you are introverted, the gazes of the pedestrians would be overwhelming.


    But what if every look was mixed with envy, respect, and admiration?


    Even thetter would probably feel good.


    That''s exactly how I feel right now.


    "Wow, it''s like being a celebrity."


    Ikseon dong, Jongno.


    Even though it''s a weekday afternoon and not crowded,pared to other downtown areas, many people walking here, inside cafes, and in clothing stores, are all looking at us.


    Isn''t it obvious?


    Even Monica alone would draw attention, but she''s apanied by the Ice Beauty, the Snow Queen.


    Monica is morous.


    She exudes the pinnacle of dazzling beauty, as if a Hollywood actress had descended.


    Irina, on the other hand, is theplete opposite.


    Cool, calm, and emitting a beauty that seems untouchable.


    If the French artist, Auguste Rodin, had sculpted a beauty out of ice, would it feel like this?


    Of course, I, stuck in between, must look like a celebrity manager to them, but some men look at me with eyes mixed with envy and jealousy. I don''t mind such aggressive stares.


    "Over here."


    I led them to thest ce we visited, shocked by the brunch prices, but Monica stopped at a different store.


    "Junghoon. How about this ce?"


    ".........."


    It''s the same cafe I visited earlier.


    The one that was terribly rude and gave me a seat near the bathroom for being alone.


    "Ah, that one."


    Monica sticks to the cafe door, peers inside, and widens her eyes.


    "Wow, it''s really pretty. Built in a Hanok style."


    That''s exactly why this cafe is famous.


    Realistically, how good can coffee taste in Korea, a country not known for coffee?


    Many Korean cafespete more with interior design than taste.


    As seen earlier, the younger generation frequents expensive cafes not for the taste of the coffee, but to take pictures in a stylish interior.


    Monica, too, seems to like the elegant Hanok-style interior, sticking to the cafe door. Irina looks inside with simr interest.


    At that moment, the employee who seated me near the bathroom earlier freezes as she looks out the window and sees Irina and Monica. Even though she''s a female staff, she looks more shocked than the male passersby.


    Men''s gazes are always on women.


    But women''s gazes are always on other women.


    I''m a man, so I don''t understand why.


    The fact that female fans dominate the fanbase of girl groups is also honestly beyond myprehension. But that''s just how the world works.


    As the two beautiful women linger at the cafe entrance, suddenly, people start to crowd around.


    The cafe is still rtively quiet inside, but the entrance is bustling like a crowd watching a drama shoot. Reluctantly, I agree to enter if that''s what they want.


    I open the cafe door, saying, "Actually, this is one of the most famous ces in Ikseon Dong. It''s just a bit unfriendly."


    Monica widens her eyes and asks, "Unfriendly?"


    Our conversation is in English, so few understand, but since I speak with the door open, it''s audible inside. Furthermore, as the goddesses outside seem to be entering, the cafe customers'' attention also focuses on us.


    I briefly exin what happened earlier.


    Irina frowns first. Monica looks upset and res at the dazed employee inside the cafe before closing the door again.


    "No matter how pretty, I won''t visit a shop that doesn''t appreciate its customers. Let''s go somewhere else."


    Hmm, should we?


    Just as we were about to turn back to our original destination, the cafe door opened and the same staff member ran out. She approached me, the only one who looked Korean.


    "Wee, we have a window seat avable with a good view."


    "..............................."


    Ah, I almost swore.


    Okay, I get that they would offer us a good seat since we are three. I can even understand giving me a two-seater when I was alone. But running out to solicit customers now? When earlier, they didnt even greet me when I was by myself?


    Frankly, my feelings were more about indifference than actual displeasure, but they plummeted even further now.


    I twitched my eyebrows stiffly and said,


    "Do you not remember me?"


    "Excuse me?"


    "I was here a few hours ago, alone."


    "............................"


    She genuinely seemed not to remember.


    Huh, I thought I wasn''t that forgettable.


    I red at the bewildered employee and said,


    "I hade here earlier to scout out ces to bring thedies. There was no greeting, no ''enjoy your meal''."


    Honestly, I was upset about the seating, but that wasn''t entirely the employee''s fault, so I made up another excuse. After all, the employee had indeed been unfriendly.


    The employee looked visibly panicked, ncing around frantically.


    Ah, I spoke in Korean.


    As I also looked around, I saw the crowd that hade to watch us now murmuring among themselves. Well, it''s a business after all, I shouldnt make it worse.


    "Monica, Irina. Let''s go."


    As I red at the employee onest time and was about to leave, someone in the crowd shouts.


    "Irina! Yes! The world-famous pianist Irina Sevanova! I knew I recognized her!"


    "Wow, really? I''ve seen a video of that too!"


    "She''s a genius pianist! And she''s so pretty!"


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