Gender Reversed Geum Taeyang - Chapter 79

Chapter 79 – Two Extremes

Lee Junhyuk didn’t act as badly as Ari had imagined.

Of course, while it wasn’t as severe as expected, his behavior was still unreasonable all the same.

The day after receiving Ari’s breakup notice, Junhyuk denied the current situation.

He started knocking on Ari’s door early in the morning, waited there until evening, and finally realized that Ari’s text saying she wouldn’t be home was true.

It was fortunate that Ari’s next-door neighbor was away. Otherwise, he might have been reported and driven away.

That evening, after returning home, he lay face down on his bed in a daze.

Though he hadn’t eaten anything all day, this wasn’t the time to think about such things.

He created anger towards Ari who had dumped him.

Naturally, he didn’t reflect on his own actions that had upset Ari. If he had been the type to think about that first, he wouldn’t have been known for being inconsiderate.

He was unconsciously denying his own mistakes.

He buried his face in his pillow, crying and resenting Ari.

Claiming that he was ultimately her last priority. That she had time for joint broadcasts with other men but no time for him.

The joint broadcast Junhyuk saw was from after their argument, when they weren’t in contact, but that didn’t matter to him.

He cried until exhaustion put him to sleep. Junhyuk felt wronged.

This was during the time Ari was enjoying a movie with Yuhan.

. . .

-Ari please answer one phone call
-Really just answer once I have something to say
-I’m not going to say anything weird
-I want to apologiiize

Junhyuk found this situation strange.

Why won’t she answer my calls? She could at least answer once. We’ve known each other for years, yet she can’t even take one call?

He wanted to apologize. He had already thought about what words would make Ari happy.

Though he had never felt it before, based on what he experienced this time, he judged that Ari seemed to have strong pride, so his unconditional apology was necessary.

Junhyuk was ready to give up everything. He was prepared to yield on all fronts considering Ari’s pride.

If he could just change Ari’s mind, that was a price he was willing to pay.

He stares at his phone.

The number 1 next to his chat message. A sign that Ari hasn’t checked this KakaoTalk message yet.

He could give anything. He could grant any request.

Even if she wanted his body, he wouldn’t mind. Although Ari had low libido for a woman, no woman would dislike a man’s body.

After all, he liked Ari too, and he knew well enough that she had a good figure.

There was nothing to lose. Even if there was, he didn’t care anyway.

He kept touching the screen to prevent his phone from turning off and waited for a long time.

After several dozen minutes passed, finally the number disappeared.

Ari had checked his message.

-Ari were you busy?
-Sorry my timing must have been bad
-Ah if KakaoTalk is inconvenient should we talk on the phone?

He sent KakaoTalk messages as quickly as possible during this opportunity.

But there was no reply.

Is she planning to send a long message? That would be difficult. If it’s too hard, we could just talk on the phone.

He had hopeful thoughts, but even after waiting longer, still no response.

Only after several dozen more minutes passed did Junhyuk realize. That Ari was deliberately not responding to his messages.

He didn’t even have the energy to get angry. He was just depressed.

This was when Ari was eating the American breakfast that Yuhan had made for her.

. . .

After being depressed for a while, Junhyuk thought.

It felt like the possibility of reversing the breakup would decrease the more time passed.

He felt he needed to contact Ari somehow and convey his words.

Ari still couldn’t be reached.

When KakaoTalk didn’t work, he tried calling directly, but the first few calls were immediately disconnected, and after that, he only got the voice message saying her phone was turned off.

In truth, it didn’t matter whether time passed like this or not, and there were no other options left, but.

Even in this situation, Junhyuk thought of another method.

He thought of something that was embarrassing to even call a method.

Junhyuk picked up his phone again and.

Started calling Ari’s family members.

###

During Yuhan’s cosplay broadcast. While Ari was getting excited watching Yuhan.

At Ari’s family home, they were having dinner.

The three family members gathered around the table set by their housekeeper, chatting casually.

“Honey, when can you make soybean paste stew for us?”

“Hm? Wouldn’t it be better to ask the housekeeper? My skills have gotten rusty too.”

“No, just… how should I say this. His cooking definitely tastes good, but it lacks that… homely taste.”

“Haha! What’s that? You’re saying that because of Yuhan’s cooking from last time, right? Yuhan’s cooking was delicious.”

Although some time had passed since meeting Yuhan, everyone still became talkative whenever he came up.

Ari’s family liked Yuhan’s intimidating appearance that contrasted with his innocent personality.

They also liked his humble cooking, learned from NewTube, which was different from the refined food they usually ate.

It felt like tasting ‘home cooking’ that they couldn’t have because everyone was busy, and especially for Ari’s mother, it reminded her of her difficult childhood, making the taste even more special.

Jihun, Ari’s younger brother who enjoyed playing with Yuhan.

Ari’s father who had cooking conversations with Yuhan.

Ari’s mother who was impressed by Yuhan’s polite manner and unique friendliness.

They all wished he would come visit their home again.

Of course, he wasn’t the only topic during dinner.

“Oh right. I heard noona broke up with Junhyuk hyung?”

“Hm? Jihun, how did you hear about that?”

“He kept calling earlier while I was studying. Asking me to help him contact noona.”

“Really? He called me during an important class. I answered thinking it might be important, but he only talked about Ari…. That’s not like Junhyuk.”

“Well, he was always a bit tactless. He kept calling while I was meeting with other council members. He’d call again right after I hung up.”

Everyone was surprised when they first heard about the breakup. Considering how long Ari’s family had known Junhyuk, their reaction was rather bland.

If this had happened in the past, everyone would have taken the situation seriously and tried to mediate between the two.

But now, Ari’s family only grew more resentful of Junhyuk for disturbing their busy schedules with personal matters.

They just found Junhyuk pathetic for involving the other person’s family in something that adults should resolve between themselves.

No matter how much they cared for Junhyuk, they couldn’t care for him more than their own family.

Moreover, knowing both couples’ usual personalities, they couldn’t think that Ari was at fault.

“Noona isn’t someone who would do something without thinking.”

“That’s right. If he can’t reach her by phone, he should wait, not keep calling us.”

“He’s a good kid, but just immature.”

The atmosphere was completely different from when they used to talk about him at the dinner table before.

Since they had been close for a long time and the families had interacted frequently, they wouldn’t speak more negatively than this.

But somehow, this pathetic man named Junhyuk no longer held an important place in their hearts.

And naturally.

Completely different from Junhyuk. Incomparable to other men.

Someone who lived diligently with a kind heart despite difficult circumstances.

Someone who confidently maintained his appearance with dyed hair and tanning, without caring about others’ views.

Someone who treated Ari kindly and showed domestic qualities.

Someone with a warm personality who even gave Jihun pocket money despite his own tough life.

And someone infinitely polite and agreeable to adults.

They started thinking about one superior man.

“Oh right Dad, Mom. Do you like red ginseng?”

“Hm? Well, it would be nice to have… Why?”

“Yuhan hyung won some kind of event at the mart, and he sent me a gift certificate for red ginseng extract? He said to give it to Dad and Mom.”

“What…? Jihun, send that right back. We can’t accept things when we haven’t given anything in return.”

“No, well…. Yuhan hyung actually told me to pretend I bought it myself…. He said you might not accept it if he sent it directly. But since it’s a gift, shouldn’t we accept it?”

“No, haha…. That kid really….”

A mindset of thinking of others first. A conversation that warms the heart.

With this unexpected gift, Junhyuk had already disappeared from everyone’s minds.

The pleasant atmosphere continued.

“Then…, could you tell him we’d like to have a meal together sometime? Write that we don’t want to just receive things.”

“Yes, Jihun. Honey, how about that restaurant we went to last time? The fine dining restaurant?”

“Good idea. Young men would like that even more.”

“Um…. Yuhan hyung actually likes soup rice….”

“Jihun, stop joking around.”

“No, it’s true!”

A couple living happily together and a harmonious family.

Only one man was unhappy.

(End of chapter)

T.N. Man, I now feel a bit bad for Junhyuk.