Living Dangerously with a 999-Year-Old Gumiho – Chapter 88

After finishing the cleaning, Hyun organized the leftover food and dishes on the dining table one last time.

“All done! Now, shall I tackle the dishes—”

There was a sense of satisfaction in his voice.

As Hyun started washing the dishes, Yoonhwa and Seojin settled comfortably on the sofa, kicking back in front of the TV.

Seojin held the remote, flipping through channels while glancing at Yoonhwa.

With a smile, Seojin said to Yoonhwa, “Let’s watch a cartoon~..”

Yoonhwa nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“Yes—! This will be so much fun~!!”

Delighted by Yoonhwa’s reaction, Seojin quickly scrolled to find the cartoon channel.

The screen lit up with characters engaging in amusing antics, enhanced by lively background music and sound effects.

Yoonhwa was completely captivated by the vibrant scenes and the characters’ joyful adventures on the screen.

She got lost in the show.

With each episode, she laughed, gasped, and occasionally squealed with excitement.

“Haha, this is so funny..!!”

“That guy is totally awesome—!”

Yoonhwa pointed at a mischievous character on the screen, grinning ear to ear.

Meanwhile, Seojin, who was watching the cartoon beside Yoonhwa, felt his eyelids growing heavy.

The washing sound from afar mixed with the cartoon’s soundtrack softly lulled him, bringing a cozy sense of calm.

The gentle sound of washing and the characters’ dialogues merged like a lullaby, slowly guiding him into the realm of sleep.

Eventually, Seojin couldn’t keep his eyes open any longer and quietly drifted off.

His steady breaths and Yoonhwa’s occasional laughter filled the living room with a warm atmosphere.

Engrossed in the cartoon, Yoonhwa had no idea Seojin had fallen asleep beside her.

Still under the influence of alcohol, she focused solely on the characters’ lively dialogue and antics, bursting into laughter and gasps.

“This is insane!, too funny! Seojin, look here—!”

She yelled at Seojin, but he was deeply asleep, unresponsive.

In the meantime, Hyun finished washing dishes in the kitchen and returned to the living room.

Wiping his hands, he entered and noticed Seojin sprawled asleep on the sofa, letting out a quiet chuckle.

“This guy really conked out, huh.”

Hyun tiptoed over, gently adjusting Seojin into a more comfortable position and lightly covering him with a blanket.

After that, when Hyun looked at Yoonhwa, she was still engrossed in the cartoon, eyes glued to the screen.

“Yoonhwa~, Seojin is asleep.”

“Let’s not be too loud.”

Hyun spoke softly.

Yoonhwa startled and turned to Seojin.

Seeing him asleep took her by surprise, and despite still being under the influence, she began to act cautiously.

“Oh my, he really fell asleep—?!?”

“I—I didn’t know!”

With a slightly flustered expression, she exclaimed.

Deciding to give Seojin more space to sleep comfortably, Yoonhwa moved aside from the sofa.

Carefully, she lifted Seojin’s body, easing him into a more comfortable position on the couch.

Even tipsy, she did her best to be gentle for Seojin.

While adjusting Seojin, she felt a bit heavier due to the alcohol, but she mustered her strength for her friend.

“Phew, this must be… more comfortable…?”

After settling Seojin down, Yoonhwa whispered quietly.

Despite her efforts, Seojin remained deeply asleep.

His peaceful face and steady breaths showed just how comfortably he was snoozing.

Yoonhwa tucked the blanket around Seojin so he could sleep soundly.

Once she had settled Seojin comfortably, she looked at Hyun and gestured him over.

With the alcohol still buzzing in her system, her face lit up with the desire to laugh together while watching the cartoon.

“Hyun, come here… let’s watch the cartoon together!!”

Yoonhwa tugged on Hyun’s hand, inviting him to sit on the floor beside her.

Hyun laughed, surprised by her sudden action.

Pulled by Yoonhwa’s energetic insistence, he sat next to her on the floor without much choice.

Her tipsy strength was surprisingly strong, making him momentarily off-balance.

The two of them settled on the floor, gazing at the TV as the cartoon unfolded.

Characters on screen were embarking on lively adventures, and Yoonhwa was completely absorbed in every moment.

Hyun, influenced by Yoonhwa’s joyful energy, started to focus on the cartoon as well.

Laughter and enjoyment exchanged between them, filling the living room with lively energy once more.

Amidst Seojin’s peaceful snores from the sofa, the sound of Hyun and Yoonhwa’s laughter resonated throughout the room.

With each hilarious scene in the cartoon, Yoonhwa nudged Hyun’s shoulder, sharing her reactions.

Suddenly, while an amusing cartoon was airing on TV, the screen cut to an advertisement.

Upbeat music accompanied various products introduced on screen.

When the commercial came on, Yoonhwa stared vacantly at the screen, feeling an increasing buzz from the alcohol.

The speedy transitions and flashy visuals of the TV advertisement seemed to lag behind her tipsy mind.

Observing Yoonhwa as her drunkenness escalated, Hyun felt a bit concerned.

He rose and went to the kitchen to fetch a cup of water, handing it to Yoonhwa.

“Yoonhwa, here’s some water. Drink a bit to sober up.”

Hyun’s voice was gentle and caring.

Yoonhwa accepted the water but struggled to hold the cup steadily, her hands trembling.

“Eh, why’s this happening—..?”

She mumbled, looking flustered.

After handing Yoonhwa the cup, Hyun kept a close watch to help her drink properly.

After taking a sip, Yoonhwa set the cup down, and Hyun sat back beside her, waiting for the cartoon to resume.

A moment later, Yoonhwa suddenly stared directly into Hyun’s eyes.

Though her gaze was a bit hazy from the alcohol, it held some sincerity.

Hyun was momentarily taken aback by her sudden gaze, struggling to find his words.

About five seconds of silence passed between the human and the nine-tailed fox.

The silence was broken by Yoonhwa’s bright laughter.

Seeing Hyun’s flustered expression, Yoonhwa smiled brightly.

“Hyun, I really like you~!”

“Every day because of you… I’m so happy…!”

Her voice was slurred from the alcohol, but her feelings were clear.

Yoonhwa’s tail swayed joyfully, mirroring her feelings, revealing her content heart.

Caught off guard by Yoonhwa’s sudden confession, Hyun hesitated briefly, then remembered she was under the influence and responded cautiously.

“Uh—yeah, Yoonhwa, you’re really a precious friend to me too…!”

“Thank you so much…”

He responded warmly, wearing a sincere smile at Yoonhwa’s words.

Yoonhwa gazed at Hyun with a warm smile, still buzzed from the alcohol.

Her movements were slow and clumsy until suddenly, they changed radically.

Yoonhwa gently cupped Hyun’s face with her palms and pulled him closer to her.

Hyun was momentarily flustered by her sudden move, without any chance to react before her face got close.

Yoonhwa’s eyes were partially closed, and a faint scent of alcohol wafted from her.

In that moment, the space between them seemed to shrink rapidly, as if time had slowed down.

Hyun’s heart raced, filled with thoughts of Yoonhwa’s actions.

Just as their lips were about to meet—

*

“Is it time yet?”

“Nightmare”

*

Just as their lips were about to touch, a charged silence filled with tension and expectation enveloped them.

Before that tense moment could linger, a tiny snore escaped Yoonhwa’s lips.

Holding Hyun’s cheeks, Yoonhwa slowly dozed off.

Before her gentle snores could even cease, she suddenly fell backward.

Hyun startled and reached out to support Yoonhwa.

He felt her weight and quickly steadied himself to keep her from falling.

“Y—Yoonhwa??”

Hyun’s voice was filled with deep concern, but Yoonhwa lay completely unresponsive in a peaceful slumber.

In his arms, she breathed softly, continuing to snore lightly.

Hyun attempted to move Yoonhwa to a bed but struggled with the heavy nine-tailed fox.

After a moment of hesitation, he thought of a different approach.

Before carefully laying Yoonhwa on the floor, he checked around for her comfort.

He spotted a soft pillow on one side of the living room and picked it up.

Hyun gently placed the pillow under Yoonhwa’s head to keep it from touching the hard floor.

His touch was delicate and considerate, ensuring she was positioned comfortably.

Next, he took a thick blanket from the sofa and covered Yoonhwa.

Spreading the blanket out, he snugly wrapped her up, making sure the cold floor didn’t chill her.

The soft fabric enveloped Yoonhwa, and Hyun hoped she would have sweet dreams.

Hyun finished making sure Yoonhwa could sleep comfortably.

After confirming she was breathing peacefully under the warm blanket, he carefully turned off the living room light.

As darkness filled the room, only the soft breaths of Yoonhwa and Seojin, along with the sound of the nighttime breeze slipping through the slightly open window, filled the space.

Hyun stood for a moment in the dark living room.

After checking on Yoonhwa’s safety and savoring the quiet night’s peace, he slowly walked over to the desk in one corner of the living room.

There lay the diary where he recorded his thoughts and daily life each night.

Arriving at the desk, Hyun switched on the lamp carefully.

The gentle light illuminated the desk, highlighting the diary and pen he used every night.

Hyun slowly sat down in the chair and opened the diary.

With the sound of pages turning, he searched for a blank page.

[February 8, 19xx]

[Today, Yoonhwa couldn’t sleep well due to coffee in the morning and had to go to the hospital.]

[I’m glad she recovered. We had a great time eating jajangmyeon with friends.]

[The fun performance I had with Yoonhwa will be an unforgettable memory.]

[Yoonhwa drank a lot with her friends.]

[Quietly reflecting on today’s events while writing in the diary, I realized there’s nothing as precious as laughing and enjoying moments together.]

[These ordinary yet valuable moments enrich my life.]

[I look forward to what will happen tomorrow and what precious memories we will create.]

[Thanks, friends.]

Hyun finished writing in the diary and stood up, stretching.

Glancing at the clock, he noticed it was close to midnight.

It was late, but he still had one task remaining.

“I should do the laundry too…”

He muttered to himself. After carefully surveying the living room where Yoonhwa and Seojin slept, he gathered their outfits and took them to the bathroom.

Before starting to wash by hand, he adjusted the water and chose the appropriate detergent for the fabric.

His movements were cautious and systematic, gently scrubbing each piece according to its unique qualities.

Once finished, Hyun gathered the damp clothing into a basket and stepped outside into the yard.

The night sky glittered with stars, and a gentle breeze occasionally ruffled the laundry. He carefully hung each piece on the line, one by one.

The clothes fluttering in the night breeze painted a serene, everyday scene.

After confirming all the garments were securely hung, Hyun returned inside, smiling with satisfaction.

Feeling the night deepening, he patted himself on the back for a job well done. It was time to prepare for a cozy sleep.

After washing up and changing clothes, Hyun laid out a warm blanket and lay down in the living room.

He gazed at Seojin, who was sleeping on the sofa.

Seojin was peacefully breathing, lost in his dreams. Hyun wished for him to find peace there too.

Suddenly, a tiny groan came from beside him.

He turned, startled, to see Yoonhwa.

Her face scrunched up as she shifted uneasily. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she made anxious sounds as if trying to wake from a bad dream.

Hyun realized she must be having a nightmare, worry swelling up in his chest.

After a moment of hesitation, he carefully approached her and gently shook her shoulder to wake her.

Hyun shook Yoonhwa’s shoulder gently, but she remained deeply asleep, showing no sign of waking.

Her face was still twisted in anxiety, and faint groans continued escaping her lips.

“Yoonhwa-, are you okay? Wake up…”

Hyun’s voice was soft, yet it seemed to go unheard.

He stared at her face for a moment, wondering what nightmare she was having and how he could help.

But he couldn’t wake her.

As time passed, Hyun began to feel weary too.

His eyelids grew heavy, and sleepiness washed over him. He tried one more time to call Yoonhwa, but no words came out.

Ultimately, Hyun carefully lay down beside Yoonhwa and drifted off himself.

The living room grew quiet, and Yoonhwa, Hyun, and Seojin on the sofa fell into deep slumber.