Boss, It's My First Time Being Your Resident - Chapter 52

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 52. Venice on a Spring Day (2)

“……Why?”

At the urgency in Ha Tae-heon’s voice, A-gang stared at him with a bewildered expression.
She had no idea what he meant.

“We said we’d go at three, so there’s still time.”
“No. Absolutely not.”

The European Concept Village?
For the first time, Ha Tae-heon felt heat crawl up the back of his neck.

He couldn’t bring himself to say aloud that this place was actually the Riverside Motel District—a sanctuary for affairs and furtive rendezvous.

His hands on the steering wheel began to sweat.

There was supposed to be a street with scenic riverside restaurants nearby, but he’d clearly taken a wrong turn, distracted by A-gang sitting beside him the whole time.

If only he’d scouted the area beforehand.

Ha Tae-heon let out a rehearsed cough and composed his expression.

“Look! That place sells pork cutlets!”

A-gang’s fingertip pointed to a small restaurant’s neon sign flickering precariously between the motel buildings.

Her brightened expression was as if she’d discovered an oasis in the desert.

[Venice Live Cafe
Lunch Special: Pork Cutlet 15,800 Won]

“No, no. Let’s go somewhere else. I’ll take you somewhere better.”

Ha Tae-heon hastily shifted into reverse.

“But I want to try that pork cutlet. I’m hungry, and…… honestly, it’s embarrassing to admit, but I’ve never been to a Live Cafe before. Everyone else must have gone to one,…”

No, that wasn’t it.

She was clearly misunderstanding something fundamental.
Not everyone goes to Live Cafes.
Especially not ones in places like this.

Ha Tae-heon sat there, perplexed, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.

“Come on, let’s just eat and go! Please?”

A-gang’s voice reached him again, tinged with pleading.

Ha Tae-heon turned to look at her.
Her eyes were moist with anticipation, gazing up at him as though she’d been waiting for this moment her whole life.

Her innocent insistence made Ha Tae-heon’s head spin. One look at those bright, hopeful eyes, and his throat tightened.

He couldn’t bring himself to say anything that would disappoint her, so he simply gave a short nod.

“Fine. Let’s just grab a quick meal and leave.”

A-gang’s small face bloomed into a radiant smile before he’d even finished speaking.

If you’re happy, that’s what matters.
Even if we do walk in and get a shock.

Ha Tae-heon removed the keys from the ignition, watching A-gang leap out of the car and hurry ahead with eager steps.

What was making her so excited?

Was she finding paradise in a place like this because she’d been cooped up in the on-call room at the hospital, working shifts?

Or perhaps, raised in a gilded cage, she’d never seen such a shabby motel district before, and it struck her as exotic.

The Live Cafe was operated alongside the motel, nestled in one corner of an ornate building shaped like a medieval castle and labeled “Venice Castle.”

Water spouted refreshingly from a small fountain beside the motel entrance, which was decorated with arched columns.

“Wow, this place is so kitschy!”

A-gang murmured to herself, standing transfixed in front of the fountain for a long moment.

As if enchanted, she reached out to touch the lion’s head, then suddenly jerked her hand back.
Her face showed surprise at the unexpected texture.

“These days, even sculptures like this are made with 3D printers, aren’t they? That’s why it’s so light. So cool!”

No, A-gang.
It’s just cheap styrofoam.

Watching her eyes sparkle with genuine admiration as she spoke earnestly about cutting-edge technology, Ha Tae-heon rubbed his eyebrows in resignation.

“Could you take a photo of me, please?”

A-gang rushed over to him, holding up her smartphone.

“A photo?”
“When else will I come back here? I want to keep a memento.”

She scurried back to the fountain, leaned her shoulder gently against the lion’s body, and struck an adorable pose with a half-heart shape pressed against her cheek.

Ha Tae-heon, unexpectedly handed the phone, went through the motions of taking a breath.

A-gang, you don’t see that billboard behind you? The one in huge letters advertising “Cozy Atmosphere, Discounted Room Rates”?

“Hurry, my arm’s getting tired!”

Ha Tae-heon stood frozen in that position for a moment, then released a short breath and looked at A-gang’s image on the screen.

Why did she look so beautiful today?

It was common knowledge throughout Seyeon Hospital that A-gang was strikingly beautiful.

But in a fresh yellow cardigan and white pants—not the blue scrubs she wore daily or the loose athletic wear—she embodied spring itself.

Her smile directed at him was as radiant as spring sunlight.

Ha Tae-heon crouched slightly, angling the frame this way and that.

If only he could zoom in on just the fountain and hide that tacky room-rate sign.

“One, two, three. Done!”
“And one with you too!”
“No. Absolutely not.”
“Why not?”

At his firm refusal, A-gang’s eyes widened, then dimmed.

Her eyebrows sagged into a downturned arc as her spirits fell—that signature look of disappointment that was unmistakably A-gang.

Transparent A-gang, unable to hide her feelings.
A-gang, clear as glass.

Ha Tae-heon stared at her for a long moment, then let out a hollow laugh.

“……Did I overstep?”
“It’s not about overstepping. Why would we take a photo here?”
“I’m going back to the PS next month. I wanted to keep a memento. As your junior.”

A memento? Here at the motel?

Ha Tae-heon found it absurd and let out another hollow laugh.

“The reason you don’t take photos with your junior is…… because of your girlfriend……?”
“It’s not like that.”

Faced with her earnest plea for just one photograph to remember, he had no more strength to refuse.
Ha Tae-heon gave in and moved toward her.

“But you have to look at it alone. Never show it to anyone.”
“I won’t! I promise!”

The camera shutter sounded, capturing both of them in a single frame.

A-gang’s face lit up with a smile as bright as sunlight.

She was like a spring blossom just beginning to open. A-gang was.

***

“I’ve never been to a place like this before.”

A-gang spoke first, her slender fingers toying with the faded checkered tablecloth.

Her eyes were busy scanning the surroundings with undiminished curiosity.

The Live Cafe was designed to resemble the interior of a cruise ship, packed with nautical décor.

Red life preservers, an enormous compass, vintage sail-shaped ornaments, and wooden ship wheels with peeling paint.

A stage stood in the center of the hall, lined with an electric piano, drums, and sound equipment, while a multicolored mirror ball rotated slowly from the ceiling, casting scattered light.

“You must come to places like this often, don’t you?”
“……Me?”

Before Ha Tae-heon could answer, A-gang continued.

“Actually, I haven’t had many chances to go on drives. This area is my first time here too.”
“Your first time?”
“Yes. I had an accident when I was young, so my parents didn’t let me go out much.”
“An accident?”
“Ah…… there was a fire with my brother…… anyway, after that I went overseas.”
“Is it hard to talk about?”
“I’ll tell you when I get a chance.”

Ha Tae-heon couldn’t push further as she trailed off.

He wanted to press her for every detail.
What fire? What accident in childhood?

He couldn’t understand why he was so desperate to know everything about A-gang.

“I lived in France for a few years starting at age twelve, then came back when I entered high school. During the school year I just studied, and during breaks I went abroad. So I haven’t traveled much domestically.”
“I see……”
“That’s why I’m so happy today. To be able to come to a place like this. It’s so fascinating and fun……!”

Ha Tae-heon gazed directly into A-gang’s eyes.
They were brimming with excitement.

No.
Could the mere word “excitement” truly capture everything reflected in her pupils?

“Thank you, senior. For driving me today. For bringing me to such a wonderful place.”
“Ah? Uh……”

This wasn’t a wonderful place.
They’d simply taken a wrong turn and ended up in a run-down Live Cafe tucked away in a motel district.

What could he possibly say to a woman expressing her gratitude so sincerely?

Faced with A-gang’s transparent affection, Ha Tae-heon found no adequate words and simply held her image in his gaze.

“I’m so glad you’re my senior.”
“……”

The word “senior” falling from A-gang’s lips pierced his chest with unexpected sharpness.

He no longer wanted to confine A-gang within the boundaries of being his junior.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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