Living Dangerously with a 999-Year-Old Gumiho – Chapter 106

Hyun sipped his coffee, watching Nomi and Yoonhwa engrossed in the TV, and fell into a moment of contemplation.

Worries about the time ahead occupied his mind.

Observing the quiet atmosphere, Hyun carefully approached Nomi and Yoonhwa.

“Yoonhwa, you’ll be leaving home in a year…”

“When will Nomi stay with us…??”

Yoonhwa felt a sudden heaviness in her heart upon hearing Hyun’s question.

She knew that her life with Hyun and Nomi would eventually come to an end, but as the question came closer to reality, her feelings became tangled.

She looked at Hyun and Nomi, responding with a slightly sad gaze.

“That’s right… once I turn 1000 and become a nine-tailed fox, I won’t be able to be with you anymore.”

Nomi’s eyes widened in surprise at Yoonhwa’s words.

Used to the warm glances exchanged between Yoonhwa and Hyun, Nomi felt confused by the sudden possibility of separation.

“Why? Why can’t we live together??”

“What changes when you turn 1000, Yoonhwa unni?”

Nomi’s voice was filled with pure curiosity, though a hint of worry lingered in her eyes.

Hyun paused, taking a moment to think about Nomi’s question.

Her innocent inquiry offered him a fresh perspective.

He leaned closer to Yoonhwa and cautiously asked, “Yoonhwa, what really changes when you become a nine-tailed fox?”

“I haven’t heard the details…”

Yoonhwa hesitated at Hyun’s question, a touch of sadness in her eyes.

“To be honest, I don’t really know…”

“My parents haven’t shared much detail…”

“And then I left home…”

“But I do know that when I become a nine-tailed fox, I can make a wish with the Fox Orb.”

“And it’s said that I’ll become much stronger.”

A bright smile spread across Nomi’s face.

She couldn’t hide her excitement after hearing Yoonhwa’s explanation.

“Then, even if Yoonhwa unni becomes a nine-tailed fox, we could still live together?!”

Her gaze sparkled with hope, pure joy shining on her face.

Nomi, holding Yoonhwa’s hand tightly, continued, “If Yoonhwa unni can wish with the Fox Orb, then you can wish for us to be together longer!”

Yoonhwa hesitated for a moment, looking into Nomi’s innocent, hopeful eyes.

She already had a wish in mind for when she became a nine-tailed fox.

But it felt delicate to share that with Nomi and Hyun.

Taking a deep breath, she cautiously shared her thoughts, “Well, um… my wish is already decided…”

From Yoonhwa’s cautious response and gaze, Hyun felt that there was a deeper story hidden within her.

Seeing her hesitation, he wanted to relieve her burden, gently placing his hand on her shoulder.

“Yoonhwa, it’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.”

“Everyone has secrets they can’t share,” Hyun said softly.

“When you’re ready, it’s alright to tell us slowly.”

Nomi listened to the conversation between Hyun and Yoonhwa, but her pure heart remained filled with hope.

“I’m okay too! Even if you turn 1000, we can still live together!”

Yoonhwa felt deeply touched by Nomi and Hyun’s warm words.

Nomi’s innocent hope and Hyun’s understanding nature lifted the heaviness in her heart.

She looked back and forth between their faces, feeling genuine gratitude.

“Thank you so much, Nomi, Hyun…”

Yoonhwa’s voice trembled with emotion, resonating with gratitude.

In this moment, Yoonhwa gained confidence that with Hyun and Nomi, she could overcome any hardship.

—

Click—

The sound of a door opening announced the entrance of a student who looked about a first-year high schooler.

His steps were cautious as he entered the Chairman’s office with his head slightly bowed.

Though his eyes appeared a little nervous, a hint of confidence crept in, which he didn’t want to reveal before his parents.

“I’m back from school…”

His voice was timid, wavering slightly, filled with worries that always arose during reports to his father.

He wore neat school uniforms, presenting himself properly.

The atmosphere in the room was grand and solemn.

As classical music filled the air, his father, the master of this palace-like house, sat with his legs spread wide in a large chair.

His demeanor exuded authority, caution, and dignity.

The father’s gaze shifted to his son, and his voice carried weight as he spoke calmly.

“Come here and sit.”

With a gesture, he pointed to a nearby chair.

The son carefully sat down as instructed.

The father stared at his son for a moment before speaking.

“Today, I received a call from your homeroom teacher.”

“What happened at school?”

The seriousness in his voice carried gravity as his question weighed heavily on the son.

He watched closely for his son’s reaction as he brought up school violence.

“School violence… what on earth does that mean?”

The son hesitated but eventually opened his mouth under his father’s authoritative gaze.

His voice still trembled as he began to explain the incident.

“A friend… didn’t know the subject, so I just… gave him a little nudge.”

His words sounded cautious, attempting some self-justification.

Standing up, the son carefully rolled up the hem of his school pants.

His calves revealed distinct red wounds and bruises.

His hands trembled, and tears glistened at the corners of his eyes.

“The homeroom teacher… hit me…”

A blend of resentment and indignation laced his voice.

His display of injuries revealed the pain and fear he had endured at school.

The father fell silent for a moment, taking in the sight of his son’s wounds and his story.

A slight flicker of anger crossed his face.

He had his son pull down his pants as he gestured at the secretary who stood in the room.

“Secretary.”

His tone was calm yet commanding.

The secretary promptly responded to her master’s call.

“Yes, Chairman.”

The father issued a clear directive.

“Contact the homeroom teacher and have this matter addressed.”

“It seems fitting that proper measures be taken against someone who dared to lay hands on our son.”

Immediately after receiving the Chairman’s orders, the secretary acted without hesitation.

As she exited the Chairman’s office, she began planning how to handle the situation in her mind.

Closing the office door behind her, she strode quickly down the hallway.

Her steps were resolute, seeming to head straight towards her target.

She made her way to the office and, upon arrival, immediately contacted the homeroom teacher.

She powered on the computer and searched for the homeroom teacher’s contact information.

As soon as she found it, she picked up the phone and tried to reach the homeroom teacher.

“—Hello?”

Upon hearing the homeroom teacher’s voice on the line, the secretary spoke with calm, courteous clarity.

“Hello, I’m the secretary of Chairman Carro.”

“Teacher, we received a serious report stating that our young master was assaulted by you at school.”

“The legal process is currently underway regarding this issue.”

“If you could apologize, the situation might be resolved more amicably.”

“We would like to meet with you directly to discuss this matter.”

“If you agree, we can send a vehicle to you.”

There was a brief pause as the homeroom teacher hesitated on the other end of the line.

In that moment, the teacher must have realized that their ordinary day was about to take an unexpected turn.

“C-Complaining…?”

“W-wait, I was just in the process of educating the students…”

Surprise and confusion filled the teacher’s voice.

After a few seconds of silence, the teacher continued, “Understood. W-where should I go?”

The secretary carefully listened to the teacher’s reactions.

She could clearly sense the shock and confusion in the teacher’s voice.

“Teacher, I understand.”

“Thank you for your cooperation in resolving this matter.”

“We will send a vehicle to you immediately.”

After a brief pause, the secretary added, “Could you provide the address of your current location, please?”

“We’ll have our driver go directly to you.”

The homeroom teacher nervously stammered out the address.

The secretary quickly noted down the information.

“Our car will pick you up at 5 PM.”

“We’ll contact you once the driver arrives.”

The secretary moved on to the next step right after hanging up the phone.

She quickly reached out to the driver team.

Her voice remained calm.

“Driver team, this is the chairman’s secretary.”

“We need to pick up the young master’s homeroom teacher.”

“Please head to the specified address by 5 PM.”

The driver team’s representative immediately responded to the secretary’s directive.

“Sure, I’ll have it ready~”

Pleased with their response, the secretary relayed the homeroom teacher’s address to the driver team.

She clearly gave instructions on every detail.

“Make sure to treat the teacher with the utmost respect, and be careful not to tarnish the company’s image.”

The driver team understood the secretary’s requests well and assured all preparations were in order.

“Don’t worry~”

After finishing her call with the driver team, the secretary moved back towards the Chairman’s office, confident that her task would be executed perfectly.

Her steps were still firm and determined, but this time she was wrapped in a sense of satisfaction for a job well done.

Arriving in front of the chairman’s office door, she paused for a moment to gather herself.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door.

Knock.- Knock.- Knock.-

“Come in.”

The Chairman’s voice resonated from inside. The secretary quietly opened the door and entered.

The atmosphere in the Chairman’s office remained solemn and calm, with the classical music providing a backdrop.

Standing respectfully in front of the Chairman, she bowed her head.

“Chairman, I’ve finished the call with the homeroom teacher.”

“We’ll send a vehicle to the designated address at 5 PM to pick him up.”

Standing in front of the Chairman, she reported the conversation and follow-up actions regarding the homeroom teacher.

Her tone remained calm and precise, conveying the report thoroughly.

The Chairman listened to the secretary’s report, then fell into thought for a moment.

His gaze shifted to the chair where his son had sat, now empty.

It seemed the son had already slipped away to his room amidst this situation.

“This matter needs to be resolved in front of my son.”

“When the teacher arrives, ensure to pass him directly to me.”

The Chairman’s voice was firm.

With a decisive gaze, the secretary clearly understood his intention.

“Yes, understood, Chairman.”

The Chairman aimed for his son to learn an important lesson through having the homeroom teacher apologize.

“You may go now.”

She bowed her head respectfully, quietly exiting the Chairman’s office.

The Chairman pressed the thumb of his hand on the lighter’s lid, pushing it open.

Ding!

With the cheerful sound of the lighter opening, he ignited a flame at the end.

Thick smoke began to rise from the cigarette’s tip.

Taking a deep breath, he paused in thought.

The view outside reflected the grandeur and splendor of this house.

The vast yard showcased an elaborately maintained garden, where several caretakers diligently tended to the landscaping.

They carefully managed various flowers and grass, striving to beautify the place further.

After taking another deep drag from his cigarette, he turned his gaze back to his desk filled with documents and plans waiting to be addressed.