NOVEL WEB #005
#005
“Shall we have lunch together again today?”
As class ended, Kim Shin smiled brightly beside me. I shook my head. He was always smiling in the webtoon too—faithful to his character. Despite saying he never came to lectures before, this guy had been occupying the seat next to me since the first class today. I could concentrate well enough when sitting next to Sun Woo, but this Kim Shin… did he have a certificate in annoying people? He kept talking and staring, and it was driving me up the wall.
When I gathered my books, Kim Shin didn’t follow. It seemed like an unwritten rule among people around Ha Jin not to do things he said not to do. Considering Ha Jin was a crazy person who could nearly kill someone if he was in a bad mood, it made sense to avoid crossing him.
Thinking about where to go, I remembered a place from the webtoon where no one ever went. I headed toward this perfect spot for a hideout. After a short walk, I opened the door, and the rusty hinges made a loud creaking noise. Even with the lights on, the room wasn’t very bright, as several fluorescent bulbs were burnt out. An A4 paper with “Business Administration Department” printed on it was drearily stuck to the wall.
As the sign indicated, this was the Business Administration department room. The university’s Business department was known for its wealthy students. Maybe that’s why you never saw anyone hanging around here. During breaks, everyone either drove off somewhere or went to exclusive social clubs. Nobody wasted time in this room filled with cheap, worn-out furniture.
Sitting on the old sofa with my feet propped up on the table, I contemplated whether I could skip lunch for a month. Suddenly, the creaky iron door opened, and there stood the protagonist who originally used this room as his hideout. I waved cheerfully and greeted him.
“Hi, Sun Woo!”
I didn’t expect him to return the greeting, but he didn’t have to show such obvious distaste. Upon seeing me, Sun Woo frowned and stood there, holding the door without stepping inside. He probably wanted me to leave, but sorry, protagonist. Let’s share this space.
When I continued to sit there smiling, Sun Woo sighed, closed the door, and left.
“At least return the greeting,” I mumbled.
I pulled out my books, clutching my hungry stomach, and hoped that something would sink in if I kept reading. I made good use of the department room. The next day, I went there again, and like clockwork, Sun Woo appeared at lunchtime. But upon seeing me, he closed the door and left once more. And then again, the day after that.
Watching Sun Woo repeat this behavior—opening the door, confirming my presence, and leaving—for several days, I started wondering if he was some kind of macro program. After a week, on the first day of the new week, Sun Woo appeared at lunchtime just like always.
“Just come in. There’s no rule saying only one person can be in the department room. What’s wrong with sharing the space?”
At my words, Sun Woo finally seemed to give in and stepped inside for the first time.
“Hi, Sun Woo,” I said.
Still, Sun Woo ignored my greeting. No wonder Ha Jin had lost his temper and caused such a scene before. Clicking my tongue internally at Sun Woo’s personality, I leaned back, propping my feet on the table and clutching my book, trying to ignore the gnawing hunger that came with my current state of hardship.
Peeking over my book, I noticed Sun Woo taking out a triangle kimbap. As he unwrapped it and took a bite, I gulped involuntarily. He frowned at my reaction, but I couldn’t help it. I was starving! A 21-year-old guy with a high basal metabolic rate, skipping lunch every day—how could I possibly stay calm in the presence of food?
Forgetting my dignity, I found myself staring blankly at the triangle kimbap in his hand.
“What are you looking at? Never seen one before?”
At Sun Woo’s cold voice, I realized I must have been staring way too intently.
“Huh? Isn’t that triangle kimbap?”
“A rich kid knows about triangle kimbap?” Sun Woo’s sarcasm was razor-sharp. Still, I figured this might be my chance to score some food.
“Is it good? You’re eating it like it’s the most delicious thing in the world.”
“…,” he stayed silent, visibly annoyed.
“Can I try just one bite? I’ve always wondered what it tastes like.”
I must have looked desperate because Sun Woo’s expression turned into one of extreme irritation.
“You can’t eat this. It’s expired,” he said.
“Why expired?”
“It’s past its sell-by date.”
I wasn’t asking because I didn’t understand the word expired—I was questioning why that even mattered. Waving my hand dismissively, I tried to brush off his concern.
“Hand it over. It’s not like I’ll die from eating it.”
Give it here! Even if it was expired, it probably only passed its sell-by date by a few hours. I figured Sun Woo must work part-time at a convenience store, bringing back expired food, still quite poor at this point in the story. Desperate, I held out my hand, pleading for the triangle kimbap.
With an exasperated look, he tossed one to me, as if he were giving alms to a beggar.
“Thanks. I’ll buy you a proper meal next time,” I said, even though we both knew I was broke.
“Never mind. Just eat and stop talking nonsense,” he snapped.
I quickly unwrapped it, maybe too skillfully. Sun Woo stared at me like I was some kind of strange creature. I gave him a sheepish grin and happily devoured the kimbap, finally soothing my growling stomach. As I ate, I made sure to flash a grateful smile at Sun Woo, the provider of my daily bread.
“This is delicious!” I exclaimed, but Sun Woo didn’t offer any more food. With enough conscience not to steal more of his lunch, I turned my attention back to my book.
Damn, eating so little just makes me hungrier…
The next morning, I rummaged through the kitchen, taking out lunch boxes and stuffing them with rice and side dishes. The housekeeper noticed and approached, curiosity evident on her face.
“What are you doing, Ha Jin?”
“I’m… thinking of packing lunch for school,” I replied.
She looked at my attempt, unimpressed. “You call this packing lunch? It looks like you’re collecting food waste. Why pack lunch? Don’t you eat at school?”
I hesitated. “Well… I don’t have money.”
She sighed. “Oh dear, that’s what happens when you cause trouble.”
She must’ve remembered the situation with my suspended cards and the strict instructions not to give me any cash. Clicking her tongue, she took the container from my hands, pushing me aside.
“If you don’t have money, just get food from your friends. Why act so shabby, packing lunch like this? There’s a school cafeteria, you know.”
“Housekeeper, I… don’t have… friends,” I admitted.
Her expression softened, and she looked at me with pity. “Go get ready for school,” she said, resigned. “I’ll pack the lunch for you.”
“Housekeeper,” I said gratefully, walking up behind her and wrapping her in a big hug.
“Ha Jin, I’m holding a knife.”
“Ah, yes,” I quickly let go.
* * *
Sitting in the department room, I started second-guessing my decision to bring a lunch box. It felt awkward to take out an elaborate, homemade meal in front of Sun Woo, who probably only had a simple triangle kimbap again. Even though I didn’t want to care, I couldn’t help but be conscious of him, especially since he’d shared his food with me yesterday. If I started eating this lavish lunch box after he’d been generous, he might think I was mocking him.
That’s exactly the kind of assumption Sun Woo would make.
But I couldn’t just not eat either, so I wracked my brain for a solution. Maybe he wouldn’t come today… but, like clockwork, the door creaked open, and Sun Woo appeared. Ah, why does he look even more handsome today?
He glanced at me once, still without greeting me, and then sat down, taking out his food. After hesitating for a moment, I gathered my courage and called out to him.
“Sun Woo.”
Without answering, Sun Woo just stared at me, a guarded expression on his face. Undeterred, I held up my lunch box and tried again.
“Let’s eat this together,” I offered with what I hoped was a friendly smile.
Sun Woo’s expression clearly said, What’s with this guy?
“No thanks. This is enough for me,” he replied, pointing to his simple triangle kimbap.
“I brought a lot of food,” I insisted, trying to sound casual.
“You eat it,” he said, his tone as firm as ever.
“I’ll get in trouble if I don’t finish it,” I added, hoping to appeal to his sense of reason.
“Next time, pack the right amount,” Sun Woo shot back, rejecting me perfectly and decisively.
Feeling a little foolish, I mumbled, “Ah, um, okay,” and opened my lunch box. The moment I saw its contents, I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. The intimidating housekeeper had packed it with adorable decorations, like I was a kindergartener on a field trip. There were octopus-shaped sausages and heart-shaped rolled eggs, all arranged cutely with character picks.
“Pff,” I snorted, trying to stifle my laughter. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Sun Woo glancing at me, his brow slightly furrowed. Embarrassed, I lowered my head, my shoulders shaking as I tried to contain my giggles. When I finally managed to look up, I found Sun Woo’s eyes fixed on me for a moment before he looked away, his expression as cold as ever.
He’s really something else. If it were me, I’d at least ask why I was laughing.
From that day on, I made it a habit to offer my lunch to Sun Woo first, and he made it a habit to reject me each time. Then, feeling somewhat awkward but amused, I’d eat it myself.
—
Meanwhile, in the online world, the webtoon fandom was having a field day:
[The Lives of the Gold Spoons]
– Ha Jin’s Banned List 2: No washing except with the sunflower showerhead.
└ What? But you need a cobra showerhead to clean thoroughly!
└└ Keeping a cobra is allowed.
└└ Wait, why are we suddenly talking about keeping a cobra? lololol
└ What about washing your face? Can’t give up the splish-splash face washing.
└└ Splish-splash lololol who even washes their face like that?
└└ My dad does the splish-splash face wash lololol.
└└ Ha Jin doesn’t wash his face. He only showers.
└ Crazy lolol this is series part 2 lolol.
└ Then can I brush my teeth with Pororo strawberry toothpaste while using the sunflower showerhead?
└└ Strawberry toothpaste lol, of course not!
└└ Ha Jin doesn’t brush his teeth. Death penalty for drooling toothpaste foam.
└└└ But you’ll get cavities if you don’t brush!
└└└└ Light novel characters have magic teeth. Cavities don’t exist!
└└└ lolol Ha Jin dies again while brushing teeth.