Leave the Hero's Ex-Girlfriend Alone! - Chapter 7
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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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Leave the Hero’s ex-girlfriend alone!
EP07
I couldn’t bring myself to abandon the cat I’d brought home while drunk, so I decided to raise it.
Simba was sprawled across the sofa, sleeping lazily in the warm afternoon sunlight.
All that jet-black fur reminded me of someone.
“This is all my own karma… Ugh.”
The problem was that I hadn’t prepared a single thing.
And this was my first time raising an animal.
“So what do I need?”
I picked up my phone and searched for the supplies I’d need.
“Food, litter, a bowl, treats… Why do I have to buy so much?”
I dropped onto the sofa with a thud and checked my bank balance.
XX Bank
123-45-******
Account balance
304,800 won
Before automatic transfers
Ten days left until my next payday.
“Just watch. I’m never picking up another stray again.”
* * *
Sure enough, since it was the weekend, the mall entrance was already crowded with people.
The moment the automatic doors slid open, the familiar chill of air conditioning mixed with a rush of perfume and cosmetics, all hitting me at once.
Shadows of shoppers moved briskly across the polished marble floor, while classical music drifted through the air and softly filled the space.
“Please, let today pass without any trouble.”
I stood in the lobby, glancing around the interior of the mall, and thought to myself.
That was when it happened.
“Excuse me…”
When something tugged lightly at my arm, I turned to find a small child barely reaching my waist, gazing up at me.
His black hair was slightly tousled, and his white sneakers were dusted with dirt.
“Do you work here, by any chance?”
His tone was extremely careful.
“No, I’m just here to shop.”
“Oh… I see…”
His small shoulders drew in a little. He lowered his gaze to the floor and went on quietly.
“I think I lost my mom.”
“Oh… really? Since when?”
“Just a little while ago. When I looked back, she was gone.”
Reflexively, I glanced around.
Maybe his mother was searching for him.
But no one showed any sign of looking for this boy.
The people nearby were busy checking their phones or chatting with one another.
“Then let’s go to the lost child center together. To find his guardian, we’ll need to-”
“No.”
The small hand gripping my arm tightened, and it trembled.
“Can’t you help me find her?”
He kept looking up at me with bright, earnest eyes.
“I really miss my mom…”
Those words stirred something in my chest. His wish to see his mother pressed deep into my heart.
I knew this was strange. I really did.
Common sense said I should take him to the lost child center…
And yet, somehow, refusing this boy’s request was not easy.
“…Fine. Let’s look for your mom together.”
I gently stroked the head of the worried boy.
He smiled brightly, looking relieved.
“Hmm… by the way, what’s your name?”
“Eunho. Seo Eunho.”
“Right, Eunho, I’ll definitely find your mom for you.”
And so, with Eunho in tow, we began making our way through the shopping complex.
That’s when a café came into view.
“Sis, they’ve got a new menu! The peach cream latte looks so good.”
“Oh, does it? But finding your mom comes first, so let’s come back later.”
Eunho nodded, clearly disappointed.
We were just walking past the café.
“You picked up something weird again, didn’t you.”
At the sound of that familiar voice, I jumped so hard my body shot up.
“Jeez, you scared me! What are you doing here?”
When I turned around, Alpha was standing there with his cap pulled low over his face.
“I came for the scanner equipment inspection on the Association side.”
I looked Alpha up and down.
Anyone could see he’d just rolled out of bed and sauntered out in whatever he had on.
Above all, it was hard to believe the Association would send a top-tier talent to do something as trivial as an equipment check.
Well, whether that was true or not, it wasn’t any of my business.
“Do your equipment check well. I’m busy, so I’m off.”
Alpha’s gaze slid past me to Eunho, who was hiding behind my back.
“…Don’t tell me you’re—”
“No, I’m not.”
I could see exactly what he was about to say.
I readjusted my grip on the little boy’s hand and spoke to him.
“This kid says he lost his mom. So we’re looking for her together.”
He seemed to hesitate for a moment, then opened his mouth.
“Oh? Then should I help?”
He glanced back and forth between me and Eunho as he went on.
“I was just about to head out now that the inspection’s done… Honestly, it’d feel awkward to just leave. It’s a kid looking for his lost mom, and having a few more people look would probably speed things up.”
“It’s fine. I can—”
“Besides, you’re hopeless with directions. You might get lost before you find his mom.”
“…I can’t exactly deny that.”
“Right?”
Seemingly pleased with my answer, Alpha curled up one corner of his mouth into a cocky smirk.
Truth be told, the shopping complex was so vast that I’d been wondering whether I was even searching in the right places.
And so, the Mom-Finding Grand Operation began, with the three of us.
Eunho held my finger tightly in his small hand as he walked, while Alpha kept pace beside us, arms folded across his chest.
We decided to start with the food court.
After all, the kid might have lost track of his mom while shopping for groceries.
Eunho didn’t let go of the finger he was clutching.
A thin film of sweat had gathered on his small palm.
“Do you remember where you were with Mom last?”
“It was in front of the candy shop. The sign was green, I think…”
Alpha reacted right away.
“A candy shop… Then it’s the end of the food corner on the second floor. Let’s go.”
We moved on, trying to calm Eunho down, but the floor was already packed with people.
We stopped for a moment and looked around.
“Do you see her?”
“No…”
“It’s okay. We’ll find your mom for sure.”
As we ventured deeper into the food court, Eunho suddenly stopped in his tracks.
His gaze was fixed on a corner off to one side.
Along with soft music, the scent of vanilla and chocolate drifted through the air.
‘Ice cream?’
Following Eunho’s gaze, what we came upon was an ice cream display counter.
Inside the glass display case, ice creams lined up like colorful jewels, glinting under the bright lights.
“Do you want some?”
I crouched down to meet Eunho’s eye level.
Like any child his age, he seemed embarrassed to have his feelings found out, and he kept busy avoiding my gaze.
But unable to hold back, he hesitated, then finally spoke up.
“I want some…”
Smiling faintly at Eunho’s honest words, I rose to my feet.
“Alright, good. You have to eat to keep your strength up so we can keep looking for Mom.”
We stepped over toward the ice cream shop.
At the display case, the clerk greeted us with a bright smile.
“What can I get for you?”
I turned toward Eunho.
“What flavor do you want, Eunho?”
“Hmm… strawberry and vanilla!”
“Strawberry and vanilla, double scoop, please.”
The clerk carefully piled the two flavors Eunho had picked into a cup with the scoop.
“And one chocolate single cone, please.”
“Here you go.”
I handed the double cup I’d just received over to Eunho first.
“Wow! That looks so good!”
Eunho clutched the spoon, eyes sparkling.
The moment he scooped up a spoonful and popped it in, his cheeks puffed right up.
He looked so happy that, for a moment at least, he seemed to have forgotten about Mom.
“Here, you too.”
I offered the single cone I’d received to him with studied nonchalance.
“I’m not eating it,”
“Why not? You love this flavor.”
It was his usual favorite, so I was caught off guard.
Had his taste changed in the meantime?
Just then, Alpha abruptly grabbed my wrist and pulled.
“Hey!”
Before I could even react, Alpha brought the ice cream I was holding straight to his mouth.
He took a bite and lifted his head as if nothing had happened.
“This is enough.”
I stood frozen, cone still in hand, and awkwardly looked away.
The feeling lingering on my wrist bothered me in a strange way.
I cleared my throat unnecessarily and glanced around.
“Shall we find a place to sit and eat? Ha-ha-ha…”
Even I could hear how forced that laugh sounded.
Eunho held my hand tight and took the lead with a cheerful, “Okay!”
We found a small round table tucked to one side of the food court and sat down.
Eunho smeared cream all over his lips as he munched away, and I bit back a laugh as I watched him.
“Oh my, you’re getting it all over yourself.”
I pulled out a tissue and wiped the corners of Eunho’s mouth.
Then Alpha, seated across from us, plucked up the tissue I’d set down and said calmly,
“You too.”
Before I could ask ‘What?’, his thumb brushed lightly across the corner of my mouth.
“Ice cream.”
Watching him fold the tissue neatly with a perfectly unbothered expression, I could feel the blood rushing to my face.
I hastily lifted the cone and took another bite, looking away.
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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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