Guide Me If You Dare
Chapter 63: IS IT A DATE?

Chapter 63: IS IT A DATE?

"THAT PUNK is not even handsome," Ki Gayoon said, stabbing the filet mignon on his plate with his steak knife. "But he seems to be popular among men and women."

"To be fair, Guide Noh Yuno-ssi is objectively good-looking, Boss," Baekho, who was now sitting on the chair next to Gayoon, said while slicing his steak. "According to my previous investigation, Guide Noh Yuno-ssi is popular among older women and younger men."

"That’s oddly specific."

"Older women find Guide Noh Yuno-ssi cute because of his gentleness towards them, while younger men see him as a "pretty hyung" that they can depend on," Baekho said, raising his head only to meet Gayoon’s death glare. That was probably why he suddenly choked, grabbing the glass of water and drinking it in one gulp. "Boss, you’re scaring me."

"Because you keep talking shit."

"Boss, I’m just speaking the truth."

Gayoon scoffed.

Noh Yuno is cute? Pretty? Reliable?

Hah!

What part of that punk was cute or pretty?

He’s pretty annoying, and that’s it.

"The noona that the punk mentioned earlier," Gayoon said, almost bending the steak knife in his hand. "Do you know who it is?"

Baekho nodded politely. "Guide Noh Yuno is probably talking about Writer Youngji— the person he often works with, according to the information I got when I ran a background check on him before."

***

IT WAS true that Yuno had an appointment later.

But he still had to open the HoneyMoon Convenience Store.

Manager Lee Haerin will switch me later because I have a lunch appointment.

He opened the store earlier than normal, so he left the house early.

That was why Yuno only had an almost-expired onigiri and banana milk for breakfast.

I kind of miss the food that Gayoon Hyung’s chef makes.

"Excuse me..."

"Welcome, customer-nim..."

Oh.

Both Yuno and the customer stopped talking when they recognized each other.

It’s Esper Lee Sarang, the #2 Esper in the country.

Lee Sarang was wearing a cap and a hoodie, but Yuno still recognized her since they were standing face-to-face with each other.

Plus, I recognized her voice.

"Is there a particular item you’re looking for, customer-nim?"

Yes, Yuno didn’t say Lee Sarang’s name out loud because there were a few customers in the store.

"I need some Guiding Pills..."

Guiding Pills?

Why would a natural S-Class Esper with an exclusive Guide need HoneyMoon Guiding Pills?

Who was Lee Sarang’s exclusive Guide again?

Oh, right.

Mo Hanjin— that lazy dude who’s always playing games on his phone.

"M-My Guide is busy," Lee Sarang said frantically. "That’s why I need Guiding Pills..."

Bullshit.

No matter how busy a Guide is, if they’re not dying, they should come running when their Esper needs them— especially if their Esper is on the verge of a Rampage.

Yuno could tell that Lee Sarang was on the verge of a Rampage since he was a Guide.

The poor woman was pale, her eyes were reddish, and she looked disoriented.

Moreover, Lee Sarang’s Mana was seriously unstable.

But it’s none of my business, right?

"I’ll give you our HoneyMoon Guiding Pills with the highest dosage. You’re a natural S-Class Esper, so you can handle it," Yuno said in a low voice. "But please get some Guiding from your Guide as soon as possible, customer-nim."

"I will," Lee Sarang whispered back while nodding. "Thank you, Yuno-ssi."

***

"SORRY FOR suddenly disappearing on you, Yuno-ya— I just got out of prison."

Yuno almost choked on his creamy garlic rosé pasta after hearing what Writer Youngji said.

He waited to see if she was just joking or not, but she didn’t take it back.

Damn, she’s serious.

"Noona, you were in prison?"

"Only for a few days," Writer Youngji said casually, smiling brightly as if she didn’t drop a "bomb" on Yuno. "I beat up my younger brother, and he’s a pretty big shot, so they put me behind bars."

"Noona’s younger brother is Esper Bae Taesan, an A-Class, right?"

A-Class Espers were VIPs while S-Class Espers were worshipped as if they were gods.

Hence, Writer Youngji wasn’t wrong when she said her younger brother was a big shot.

"Yes, that bastard," Writer Youngji said. She just cursed, but her face looked bright and her voice sounded sweet. This noona had a bright and warm aura overall, so it still sounded soothing even though she was cursing. "I caught that perverted bastard doing the unspeakable to his Guide, so I beat him to a pulp to knock some sense into him."

"Are you okay, Noona?" Yuno asked worriedly. "Your younger brother is an A-Class Esper, so he has a sturdy body."

"Aww, thank you for worrying about me, Yuno-ya. But I’m fine. I spent all my life savings to buy an S-Grade Item that can do damage to S-Class Espers. It’s an iron baseball bat with spikes."

Pfft.

Writer Youngji was a twenty-nine-year-old woman with a face that fit the Korean Beauty Standards. She was also petite and good-mannered— two qualities that made her look fragile, someone that just evoked anyone’s protectiveness.

So, it was funny to imagine the gentle noona holding an iron baseball bat (with spikes!) while beating up an A-Class Esper with it.

That just goes to show that you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Writer Youngji wasn’t a fragile glass.

"Yuno-ya, it’s been a while since we last talked in person, right?" Writer Youngji said carefully. "I was surprised when I saw the news about you being Esper Ki Gayoon-nim’s exclusive Guide."

"I’m sorry for not telling you that I’m a Guide, Noona," Yuno said regretfully. "I was in a situation that I couldn’t reveal it before."

"Oh, no. You don’t have to apologize to me," Writer Youngji said while waving her hands. "I just wanted to ask if you’re okay, Yuno-ya. I know I shouldn’t judge a person I don’t personally know, but I can’t help but worry. Actually, I met Esper Ki Gayoon-nim once a few years ago. Let’s just say I understand why people fear him after that brief encounter."

Right.

It was a known fact that Ki Gayoon was rude, after all.

"Noona, I admit Gayoon Hyung is a real jerk. But he knows how consent works," Yuno assured the older woman. "The bar is in hell for Espers. Still, I appreciate that Gayoon Hyung respects my boundaries. He hasn’t forced me to do anything against my will. If he does, then I’ll sue him for sexual harassment."

"Oh, right. I saw it on the news: you sued the two Espers who tried to sexually assault you," Writer Youngji said, lowering her already soft voice. She was probably being careful even though there were no customers occupying the seats next to them. "It’s a shame that they died in a plane crash after trying to escape the country."

Yes, the US embassy already released an official statement that the plane crash that killed the two American Espers was an accident.

And there’s no local news framing Gayoon Hyung for it.

"But, even if the case ended like that, I’m sure you inspired your fellow Guides who have experienced the same thing," Writer Youngji said, smiling. "In fact, I encouraged my younger brother’s Guide to sue Bae Taesan for sexual abuse if he wants to. I also said I’ll support him if he decides to sue."

"Really, Noona?"

"Yes, and it’s all thanks to you, Yuno-ya."

Being praised by a beautiful and kind noona made Yuno blush. "Noona, do you remember when I asked you why you don’t include rape and dub-con in your novels? Those horrible things are so normalized and romanticized in BL. Even your former producer told you your novels wouldn’t sell because "rape sells.""

It was stupid and disgusting, so Yuno was proud of Writer Youngji for proving that bastard wrong.

And yes, that producer was kicked out of the company.

Unfortunately, that producer was a woman.

She’s the kind of "BL fan" who fetishizes male-to-male relationships but doesn’t support queer people in real life.

"Yes, I remember," Writer Youngji said while nodding carefully. "And I remember telling you that I’m writing wholesome novels because I want to teach my younger brother how to be a decent partner to his Guide. But, clearly, I’m failing."

"Don’t give up, Noona. You’re doing well," Yuno encouraged the older woman. "I also won’t give up until I encourage my fellow Guides to stand up to their Espers if they have to..."

He trailed off and didn’t get to finish his touching speech because of the customers who just entered the restaurant.

The person leading the group was familiar to him.

Dark hoodie, big headphones, and a game console in his hands.

That handsome face with huge bags under the eyes.

Yuno knitted his eyebrows.

Guide Mo Hanjin-ssi, I thought you were too busy to guide Esper Lee Sarang-ssi?

***

IT WAS totally a coincidence that Yuno got "lost" when finding the exit of the restaurant. And, as a result, he ended up in the smoking area.

Plus, it just so happened that his legs suddenly felt tired at that moment.

Fortunately, there were chairs and tables on the front porch— just beside the smoking area. That space was actually meant for smokers.

I don’t like inhaling secondhand smoke, but what can I do?

Yuno was tired.

Ahem.

"Dude, are you sure you don’t need to go to your Esper?"

Aigoo.

What a coincidence that I’m hearing this conversation.

"Gaming is more important."

That was Mo Hanjin’s lazy ass voice.

"Let’s go back to gaming now we’re done eating— that woman won’t die even if I guide her later."

Yuno clenched his hands tight.

Esper Lee Sarang-ssi is already on the verge of a Rampage, and he doesn’t care?

***

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