Ranker's Return

“Come out quickly, you jerk. Styling yourself here where no one will know? We will be flying on the plane for more than 10 hours anyway, stupid bastard,” Hyeonu scolded Yeongchan who continued to spread something on his face and touch his hair.

It took approximately 14 hours to travel from Incheon International Airport to JFK (John F. Kennedy) International Airport.

That wasn’t a short period of time.

It was naturally impossible for Yeongchan to maintain his current status for 14 hours.

‘It means Yeongchan’s risking himself for useless things.’ Hyeonu frowned when he saw that Yeongchan was still looking in the mirror. “Ah, do it quickly, you jerk. We’re going to be late. Do you want to miss the flight?”

Hyeonu’s continued nagging prompted Yeongchan to move.

He pulled his suitcase and left the room. “I know. Okay. I’m done. Now we can go.” 

As Yeongchan spoke, he scanned Hyeonu’s appearance from head to toe. ‘Look at this jerk?’

“Are you going like this? Hey, dude. It’s America. There is someone who is going to meet you. Aren’t you dressed too casually?” Yeongchan asked.

Hyeonu’s attire worried Yeongchan.

He knew that Hyeonu originally had a casual style, but this was going too far.

“I will go there and then change. Think about it. Think. Right, it must be the first time for you.” Hyeonu hit Yeongchan lightly on the head.

Then he pulled the suitcase and left the house first.

‘It’s my first time...?’ Yeongchan, who was left alone, understood Hyeonu’s meaning and struggled with embarrassment. “Uwaaah! Gang Hyeonu!”

However, it only lasted for a short moment. Yeongchan quickly left the house with his suitcase.

“This jerk, maybe he’ll throw me away.”

He slammed the door shut roughly. “Let’s go together!”

*** 

Hyeonu stood in front of his red Panamera, Hope, with his suitcase. Then he handed the car keys to Yeongchan. Yeongchan didn’t understand and cocked his head. “Why are you giving this to me?”

“Didn’t you want to drive it? Drive to the airport,” Hyeonu said with a smile. 

Yeongchan laughed. He had been whining about it since the day Hyeonu obtained the Panamera, wanting to drive it just once. Even though he had asked numerous times, Hyeonu had never allowed it. Now the opportunity had arrived for Yeongchan to test drive this Panamera.

‘Indeed. He isn’t a bad person,’ Yeongchan thought.

“Then I’ll put in my bag first.” Hyeonu opened the trunk and loaded the suitcase. Then he naturally opened the back door of Hope and entered.

Yeongchan didn’t see it because he was putting away his suitcase. He only realized it after sitting in the driver’s seat and starting the car.

“Hey, why are you sitting there?” He asked.

“Hey, Driver Kwon. Drive smoothly and do it well. Understood? I am going to sleep. Wake me up when you get there.”

“I’m not your driver. You fu...”

However, Yeongchan couldn’t leave the driver’s seat. He didn’t know when he would get another opportunity to drive this car.

Hyeonu knew this and slept casually.

‘Stupid jerk. Bad jerk. Damn jerk.’ Yeongchan only repeated some unspeakable words in his heart.

*** 

-Passengers, our flight has just arrived at JFK, John F. Kennedy International Airport. Until the seat belt sign is turned off...

Yeongchan heard the attendant’s announcement of their arrival and woke up the sleeping Hyeonu. “Hey, we’ve arrived. Get up.”

“Already? Hasn’t it only been five minutes?” Hyeonu spoke in a hoarse voice.

‘Are we already in New York?’ Hyeonu rubbed his eyes and stretched.

He had slept deeply for the first time in ages. 

“First class is definitely different, isn’t it?” He remarked.

Hyeonu and Yeongchan hadn’t booked their tickets to New York. Nike had sent them tickets directly, and the tickets were naturally for first-class seats. It was a treat worthy of the name ‘Alley Leader’.

“You know that I have never been on a plane. Isn’t that right?” 

“Are you upset?”

“No?”

“Ah, you are completely upset.”

Hyeonu and Yeongchan were no different than usual despite their special situation of being on the flight. They fought childishly like they were 10 years old. There weren’t any other passengers in first-class apart from the two of them, but they were still being a nuisance. It didn’t take long for the two of them to realize it.

“Let’s stop.”

“Yes. It is embarrassing.”

Hyeonu proposed a ceasefire, and Yeongchan accepted.

‘Where are the white pants?’

In the meantime, Hyeonu opened his suitcase and started looking for clothes. The base was a white shirt and white slacks, and on top of that was a beige round neck knit sweater. Like that, Hyeonu’s style was completed.

“By the way, where are we going?” Yeongchan asked Hyeonu because he was already dressed up and had nothing to do except touch his hair.

Yeongchan knew nothing. He had received the invitation, but he hadn’t listened to Nike’s explanation because he was going with Hyeonu.

Hyeonu answered, “I was told that Nike Management will meet us. We just need to follow their guidance.”

Yeongchan and Hyeonu soon got off the plane according to the flight attendants’ instructions. Then they went through immigration and headed to the arrivals hall. In the arrivals hall, a familiar blond man was waiting for the two people with a sign that stated Hyeonu’s and Yeongchan’s names.

“Kale, you must be busy. Is it okay for you to come in person? Aren’t you the planning director?” Hyeonu greeted the blond man, Kale.

“Shouldn’t either my boss or I come to greet Alley Leader? Besides, when else would I have time to rest? It is an official break,” Kale responded.

“I see. Yeongchan, say hello. This person is Kale. He is the planning director of Nike Management.” Hyeonu introduced Kale to Yeongchan. Yeongchan seemed unfamiliar with talking to foreigners, so the usual chatterbox didn’t open his mouth.

Hyeonu commented, “I don’t think Argon is shy. Maybe he is tired because it was his first time on an airplane.”

Kale didn’t take Hyeonu’s words as putting on a false image but as fact. He didn’t know the individual, but he was aware of the streamer Argon. Argon was a streamer with a flowing pace. So, Kale truly thought the reason Argon couldn’t speak was because of tiredness.

“Then we’ll stop by the hotel first. We will go to the company later,” Kale said.

Hyeonu nodded at Kale’s words. It seemed that Yeongchan should stay at the hotel first.

“Yeongchan, rest at the hotel. I’ll get an interpreter somehow. Until then, waste time on your smartphone or laptop,” Hyeonu said.

“I know. I’ll wait at the hotel.” Yeongchan nodded. It was really hard for him to talk to foreigners. However, it wasn’t that he didn’t speak English at all. It was just that he spoke it very sparsely. He didn’t have the confidence, so he didn’t dare speak it at all.

Therefore, Hyeonu’s words were like a rope from Heaven.

“First of all, let’s get the car.” Kale led Hyeonu and Yeongchan to the parking lot.

*** 

Kale and Hyeonu took Yeongchan to the hotel and then moved toward Nike Management.

“Mister Gang, are you okay? Are you tired from traveling all the way to New York?”

“Isn’t first-class very comfortable? I slept well for the first time in a long time.”

“I’m glad. You know that you’re probably going to talk to the boss today, right?”

“It is already scheduled. How can I not know? It seems to be a pretty interesting occasion. Same with the party tomorrow. For example, Kowloon will be there. Isn’t there a lot to talk about?”

“That’s right. The boss and I have a lot of expectations for the party tomorrow. I think there will be a pretty big difference in quality from last year’s party. It will be fun when it is released to the media tomorrow, especially in comparison to Adidas.” Kale’s face was already full of anticipation. He was really looking forward to the party tomorrow.

“Is it so different from last year?” Hyeonu asked.

He had no information about Nike’s party last year. It couldn’t be helped. At that time, Hyeonu was fulfilling his military duties and had no interest in Arena.

“The biggest thing is you, Alley Leader. Now everyone recognizes you as Arena’s top streamer. Your recent streams have also been very popular—the ones in the East Continent.”

It was as Kale said. The biggest difference between last year and this year was Hyeonu’s presence. Hyeonu was the reason for the variables of the party. For example, there were Kim Seokjung and Gang Junggu of New world and Liu Shei of Kowloon. It was unimaginable seeing them in New York even just a few months ago, let alone at last year’s party.

“We’ve arrived. Let’s get off,” Kale said.

The black Maybach arrived in front of a building in Times Square. Then a staff member appeared and opened the car door. Hyeonu and Kale got off in turn.

“This is Nike Management. How does it feel?” Kale asked.

“It is big, gorgeous. It is a good fit with Nike.”

It was as Hyeonu said. Nike Management’s building was one of the largest in Times Square. There was no other building that could compare to it in splendor.

“Let’s go in. The boss is waiting.” Kale smiled as he headed inside Nike Management with Hyeonu.

*** 

The moment Jamie heard that Hyeonu had arrived, he stopped working and started moving around the office. A short time later, Jamie was very welcoming when Hyeonu showed up with Kale. It was to the point that Kale felt pity for Jamie when he saw the scene play out.

“Mister Gang! It has been a while,” Jamie greeted.

Hyeonu shook hands while feeling bewildered by Jamie’s excessive hospitality. “Yes, we met a while ago. It has been a long time, Jamie.” 

“Please sit down. There is a lot to talk about,” Jamie said. The three of them sat on the chairs and sofa in the center of the office. Then he continued, “I wanted to thank you. Thanks to Alley Leader, I received a lot of compliments from the boss.”

“No need. Why is it because of me? Jamie, you’re the one who did a good job.” Hyeonu was burdened by Jamie’s greeting.

‘Why is he thanking me?’ Hyeonu honestly didn’t understand it. The favor he bestowed them was really small. In fact, it wasn’t a favor at all. He just streamed hard and treated Nike sincerely. 

Kale saw that Hyeonu’s expression showed he was full of pressure and changed the topic to the main reason why Hyeonu came to New York. “If you say so... Then I’ll get straight to the point. What are you going to do at the party tomorrow?”

They started talking about the party.

“Regardless of my identity, I think I should use a mask when entering. I think it is too early for my face to be revealed to the outside world,” Hyeonu said.

“It is entirely up to Mister Gang. Then next...” Jamie was about to continue when his phone started ringing. He frowned when he saw the name on the LCD screen. “Please excuse me while I answer the call. I’m sorry. Hello? Why did you call? No, why are you deciding so recklessly? Don’t you know that we have a schedule? What? It isn’t something that can be allowed just because of insistence!”

Jamie tried to hold back as much as possible, but his agitation didn’t subside at all. He hung up and opened his mouth with an apologetic expression. “There is an uninvited guest...”

The moment Jamie opened his mouth, the door opened, and a man appeared.

“Hey, Brother!” It was Kim Seokjung, the master of New World.