Not A Regressor-Chapter 247: Celebration Party (3)

A celebration party for becoming a Seven Star, huh.

“Sure, sounds good. Want to order food for dinner or something?” Kwon Oh-Jin asked.

He hadn’t given it much thought, but had already planned to treat Isabella to a nice dinner to mark their reunion after a few weeks apart. It didn’t make much of a difference if they added the excuse of a celebration party on top of that.

“What are you even saying right now, Mr. Oh-Jin?”

“Huh? Oh right, you don’t like ordering food.”

He recalled how Isabella once scolded him, calling it junk food.

Isabella jumped up and planted her hands firmly on her hips. “That’s not the problem! First off, I’ve already found a five-star hotel on Jeju Island. We’ll rent it out for a full day and invite some famous chefs—”

“Whoa, whoa, hold on.” Kwon Oh-Jin shook his head in shock as the scale of the party ballooned out of control.

Rent out a five-star hotel for a party?

“Let’s not. Oh-Jin doesn’t like things that flashy.” Song Ha-Eun clicked her tongue and shook her head. Her tone suggested that she couldn’t believe Isabella didn’t know this basic fact.

Isabella narrowed her eyes. “Maybe that’s just because he’s never experienced anything like it before?”

Isabella also knew that Kwon Oh-Jin had lived in extreme poverty in the past. According to Song Ha-Eun, he used to wear clothes from donation bins and survived on cheap protein bars.

“I want to give him a life he’s never had before.”

Kwon Oh-Jin had long since escaped poverty. Rather, he was wealthy now and well beyond just comfortable. However, perhaps out of habit, his lifestyle hadn’t changed much. He spent more freely than before, but not extravagantly.

To Isabella, who was born into nobility and used to all the luxuries money could buy, Kwon Oh-Jin’s frugality felt oddly tragic.

Kwon Oh-Jin awkwardly smiled as Isabella looked at him with fiery resolve like she would give him her liver and kidneys to make him happy.

“I really appreciate it, but like Ha-Eun said, over-the-top stuff like that doesn’t suit me.”

“But—”

“Let’s just do something simple at home.”

It wasn’t just about preference. His public image was also at stake. The Avaricious Wolf’s death sent Korea into chaos. Throwing a lavish party at a five-star hotel right after becoming a Seven Star would be outrageous.

People would lose it.

Public backlash against displays of wealth hadn’t changed one bit over the years. Even if it was his hard-earned money, flaunting it would only invite scorn.

Politicians always went around eating street food or riding the subway during election season for a reason. Even when it was obviously performative, people were influenced by what they saw.

“Alright.” Isabella pouted, and her shoulders drooped.

Watching her, Song Ha-Eun shrugged with a smug little grin.

Isabella bit her lip in frustration, but Song Ha-Eun was right this time.

“Then, can I at least be in charge of cooking?” Isabella asked.

“If you’re up for it, I’d love that. Are you sure you’re not too tired? You just got back,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

“I’m fine,” Isabella said brightly and rolled up her sleeves.

She had been working day and night for weeks, but just thinking about making food for Kwon Oh-Jin made her energetic again.

“Then, I’ll help—”

“Nope. You helping means staying out of the way,” Kwon Oh-Jin cut in.

“You’re so mean!” Song Ha-Eun squealed.

Honestly, Kwon Oh-Jin didn’t want to eat some weird mix of burnt stew and questionable deep-fried squid if they were throwing a party.

“How many people are we inviting?” Isabell asked.

“Let’s see.”

Vega and Riarc were a must.

“Let’s invite gorilla man too,” Song Ha-Eun suggested.

“Han Jun-Man?”

“Yeah. He helped us a lot while guiding you through the tournament.”

“True.”

He owed a lot to Han Jun-Man.

As for Lee Woo-Hyuk...

Ever since inheriting Lee Shin-Hyuk’s recent memories, just thinking of Lee Woo-Hyuk made Kwon Oh-Jin uncomfortable.

I should still invite him.

Regardless of personal feelings, maintaining a good relationship with Lee Woo-Hyuk was important. He didn’t want to judge someone based on their family either. Just because Lee Shin-Hyuk was a nightmare didn’t mean Lee Woo-Hyuk had to take responsibility for that.

“Should we invite Allen and that sassy little brat too?” Song Ha-Eun asked.

“Sassy little brat?” Isabella asked.

“Her name is Rebecca.”

“Rebecca as in Phecda?”

“Yup.”

Isabella was at a loss for words, hearing Song Ha-Eun casually call Phecda a brat.

“Alright, let’s go with that for now,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

“Okay, should I prepare nine servings?”

“We’ll probably need more.”

Considering Riarc and Han Jun-Man’s appetites, nine servings wouldn’t be enough.

“I’ll go make a few calls.” Kwon Oh-Jin picked up his phone and headed to his room.

***

—I apologize. I already have plans with Deneb today, so I don’t think I’ll be able to attend.

“Oh, I see.”

—I’ll make sure to visit separately next time. Congratulations on being named Alkaid.

“Thank you. I’ll see you next time, then.”

After contacting everyone, Allen stated that he had other commitments and wouldn’t be able to make it.

It is his busiest time right now.

Still, except for Allen, everyone else gladly agreed to attend.

“Well then, should we go grocery shopping?” he asked.

“Ah, it’s okay. I already asked Roberto to prepare the ingredients.”

As soon as she said that, the doorbell rang.

Outside, Roberto and Melissa were carrying boxes full of ingredients.

“We’ve brought only the finest ingredients.”

“Thank you, Roberto.”

Melissa set down a large box in the living room, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Is that Sir Alkaid?”

Kwon Oh-Jin cocked his head at the unfamiliar face.

Isabella stepped in to explain. “This is Melissa. She works for our family.”

Melissa bowed deeply and greeted him energetically. “Nice to meet you! I’m Melissa, Miss Isabella’s personal maid!”

“Nice to meet you,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

“Hehe, feel free to speak comfortably!”

“Ah, um... okay.” Kwon Oh-Jin nodded at Melissa’s bright smile.

She looked old enough to be in high school and radiated a fresh charm.

“I’ll help with the preparations, Miss Isabella!”

“Oh my, would you?”

With that, Isabella and Melissa carried the boxes into the kitchen.

Roberto watched Isabella’s beaming smile for a moment before turning to Kwon Oh-Jin with a gentle expression. “I am Roberto, the Colgrande Family’s head butler.”

“Oh, yes. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“This is my first time officially introducing myself.” Roberto bowed politely.

“Ah! You’re the gramps who sent those Cuban cigars, right?” Song Ha-Eun asked.

“Haha, yes, that was me.” Faint veins appeared on Roberto’s wrinkled forehead. “I sent you the cigars from my personal collection... that I’d been saving for years.”

“Ah...” Song Ha-Eun flinched at the gloomy energy emanating from the elder.

“D-Don’t worry! I didn’t smoke that much! I’ll return the rest, Gramps!”

“It’s alright. I can always collect more later.” Roberto shook his head with the serene look of a man who had transcended worldly concerns.

“More importantly...” Roberto looked at Kwon Oh-Jin. “Thank you.”

Once again, he bowed deeply to Kwon Oh-Jin. The sincerity of his gesture left Kwon Oh-Jin feeling a bit awkward.

“I don’t think I’ve done anything worth being thanked for.”

“In all the years I’ve served Miss Isabella, I’ve never once seen her truly smile like this.” He continued with a bittersweet smile. “Not until she met you. It’s thanks to you that she’s able to smile like that.”

“She’s helped me a lot too.”

“Haha, I’m glad to hear that.” Roberto warmly looked at Isabella, organizing ingredients in the kitchen, like a grandfather watching over his granddaughter. “Please continue to take care of her.”

“I will.”

“Oh, and one more thing.” Roberto leaned in and whispered softly, “Our young lady... she’s still growing lately.”

Growing what?

“Hahaha! Looks like we’ll need to order her some new clothes soon!” He cheerfully twirled his mustache with a satisfied grin. “Oh, and did you know?”

“What now?”

“Among Italian nobles, it’s still common for men to have more than one wife.” Roberto patted Kwon Oh-Jin’s shoulder and gave him a cheeky wink.

The once-gentle image of a refined old man shattered completely. Kwon Oh-Jin rubbed his forehead as if nursing a headache.

Around thirty minutes later, Isabella and Melissa returned to the living room after finishing all the preparations.

“Well then, we’ll take our leave now,” Roberto said.

After chatting with Roberto about cigars for thirty minutes, Song Ha-Eun cocked her head and asked, “Why don’t you eat with us?”

“Haha. This doesn’t really feel like the kind of setting we should join.”

“Still...”

“Then, at least have a cup of coffee before you go,” Kwon Oh-Jin suggested.

“Well, if it’s just that much.”

Roberto and Melissa nodded and took a seat.

Kwon Oh-Jin opened the cupboard and pulled out some instant coffee sticks.

I’m not sure if this will suit the tastes of people who work for a noble family.

He poured some hot water, stirred the coffee with one of the empty stick wrappers, and prepared five cups of coffee in the blink of an eye.

Melissa’s eyes sparkled as she tasted the sweet coffee. “Oh, wow! This tastes delicious!” 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

“It’s one of Korea’s greatest inventions.”

“Wow, I can’t believe coffee can be made this easily.”

“I’ll give you a few boxes as a gift. Take them with you.”

“Really?” Melissa beamed with a cheerful smile.

Kwon Oh-Jin nodded and handed her some instant coffee boxes from the cupboard.

“Hehe. Sir Alkaid is such a kind person.”

Kwon Oh-Jin chuckled softly and sat down. “It’s nothing, really.”

Melissa fidgeted with her fingers and cautiously said, “Um, there’s something I’d like to ask.”

“What is it?”

“How did you two start dating?”

“Huh?”

Kwon Oh-Jin and Song Ha-Eun made eye contact.

Song Ha-Eun scratched her cheek awkwardly. “Well, Oh-Jin and I go way back—”

“Hmm? What are you talking about?” Melissa cocked her head at Song Ha-Eun in confusion.

Isabella’s eyes suddenly widened as if recalling something. “M-Melissa!”

She tried to stop Melissa in a panic.

“Isn’t Mr. Oh-Jin dating Miss Isabella?” Melissa’s innocent eyes sparkled brightly. “I’ve been curious how the two of you started dating!”

“What?”

A heavy silence fell over the living room. Song Ha-Eun and Kwon Oh-Jin looked at Isabella.

Flustered, Isabella stumbled over her words.

“S-So! Um, the thing is...!” She desperately looked around, shut her eyes tight, and pointed at Kwon Oh-Jin. “M-Mr. Oh-Jin! He confessed first!”

“Excuse me?”

I did? When?