episode_0170

170.

“….”

So-yeon’s lips curved up in a gentle smile, but there was an inexplicable chill in her gaze.

Her warm, golden eyes now held a coldness that sent shivers down my spine.

For a brief moment, she stared intently at my face.

Her gaze was reminiscent of a lover catching their partner in an affair(?), making me itch with discomfort.

Ah, was that metaphor a bit strange?

Anyway.

“What’s going on here…?”

With my arms crossed firmly, I explained the situation to So-yeon, who was glaring at me disapprovingly.

How much time had passed?

So-yeon listened to my story in silence, her lips starting to twitch.

“Phew. I’ve heard enough of your story.”

So-yeon let out a brief sigh and rolled her golden eyes, looking at Bai Yurin.

“Yurin, I’m truly sorry that you were kicked out of your house.”

It was honestly a bit pitiful to hear that she was ostracized by her family.

“And I understand why Jinhak is employing you as a bodyguard and offering help.”

Her voice trembled with unease.

“I understand… but…”

She suddenly raised her head.

And her eyes met mine directly.

It was a rather displeased look.

Was the slight chill in her gaze due to her piercing eyes?

“…So, are you two planning to live together?”

So-yeon’s chin trembled like a leaf.

“Of course, I know I have no right to interfere with your actions. But Jinhak…”

So-yeon took a step closer to me, her lips twitching.

“I confessed that I like you, and you agreed to give me an answer later, right?”

She took another step forward.

“In that situation, regardless of the circumstances, isn’t living with another woman a bit too much?”

“Only until we hire other security guards. And she’s Bai Yurin, Bai Yurin. Surely nothing will happen, right?”

“Even so…”

We were now face to face.

Isn’t it a bit too close, staring at each other like this?

Honestly, it’s quite uncomfortable. Can we take a step back?

“Two adults living together without a guardian? With a pretty girl like Bai Yurin?”

“That’s…”

Indeed, she was a heavenly beauty based on looks alone.

Although she was quiet and expressionless, unlike So-yeon who was popular with the opposite sex, many people secretly liked her.

For guys, as long as the face is pretty, that’s all that matters.

“Jinhak, I’m just worried. You’re famous these days, right? What if the fact that you’re living together with academy trainees gets leaked to the public through the paparazzi?”

Well, it could be a problem for ethical reasons.

Union Academy is the most prestigious academy in Korea, so the rules are strict.

It might not look good to others.

“So, why not ask Seolhyun for help and stay with her for a while…?”

“Jin So-yeon.”

Suddenly, Bai Yurin spoke up.

She looked back and forth between me and So-yeon.

“Why?”

“I don’t know the exact nature of your relationship, but you’re not dating each other, right…?”

“Oh, well, that’s…”

So-yeon hesitated for a moment, biting her lip softly, and Bai Yurin continued.

“If you’re just casually seeing each other, it’s not like you’re in a relationship, right? So interfering to this extent… isn’t it a bit much…?”

At Baek Yurin’s bold words, Soyeon swallowed a gulp.

“And Jin Soyeon.”

Baek Yurin paused for a moment and then opened her lips.

“There’s no need to worry too much. Even if I spend time with Lee Jinhyuk… nothing you’re worried about will happen.”

“Hmph. How do you know what I’m worried about?”

“Well….”

Baek Yurin seemed to think for a moment, then one hand formed a circle, while the other pointed straight out, poking each other.

That hand gesture is commonly known as a poke… no, is it?

“…Me and Jinhyuk.”

“Hey, hey!”

I quickly covered Baek Yurin’s mouth.

Baek Yurin looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Why?”

“Please don’t say strange things. Please respect the boundaries.”

“Is that so…? It wasn’t really a strange thing to say. Se-”

“I said don’t say it?”

I reached out and covered Baek Yurin’s mouth, and she just made noises like “Hmm? Hm? Hmm….”

“Phew. Seriously.”

“…”

“Uh, Soyeon?”

“Uh? Oh, no! I didn’t have any strange thoughts!”

Soyeon, who suddenly fell silent, was so startled when I called her quietly, as if she had been caught red-handed.

I blinked suspiciously.

“…? Why are you acting like that when I just called you?”

“Hmph!”

Soyeon turned her head slightly, blushing her cheeks, and coughed awkwardly.

“Just because you suddenly called me, I was a little, startled.”

“…”

Although Soyeon said it was nothing, her slightly reddened face suggested that she might have had strange thoughts after hearing Baek Yurin’s words.

But I didn’t pry into it.

I didn’t want the conversation to turn in that direction for no reason.

“Oh, anyway! Living together with the two of you is out of the question. It would be better to find another solution. Maybe it’s better to bring Yurin to our house?”

“Then I’ll be defenseless until I move to another place?”

The reason I originally hired Baek Yurin was to prepare for possible attacks by bad people.

“Then you’ll have to rely on Yuseolhyun for a while.”

Once again, Soyeon seemed to have no intention of agreeing.

Well, that’s understandable.

If I were in Soyeon’s shoes, I would never have agreed.

So I had to compromise here.

Honestly, I didn’t want to say this kind of thing from the beginning, but there was no way the situation had turned out like this.

“Soyeon.”

“Uh, yes?”

“How about you staying at our house too until I move?”

“!”

Soyeon looked quite surprised.

“Me, too?”

“Yes. That way, I’ll feel safer, and you’ll feel less anxious. Isn’t that right?”

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Of course, there are conditions.”

I said in a calm voice.

“If you get permission from your mother.”

“That’s…”

“Yurin and I don’t have guardians, but you do, right? If you get permission from your mother, you can stay with us for a while.”

I raised my finger.

“In return.”

I looked at Soyeon.

“If your mother doesn’t give permission, I won’t interfere with this matter anymore. How about that?”

“…”

“Well, if you’re not confident, forget it.”

“Hehe.”

Soyeon suddenly smiled as if everything was going well.

What’s with her?

“I mean it. Jinhyuk, you better not say anything weird later.”

“Hmm?”

“Then wait a moment, I’ll make a call.”

Soyeon seemed quite confident.

Soyeon called her mother who was overseas.

Does she really think her mother will give permission?

But logically speaking, isn’t there a good chance she will?

No matter how much I say that we’re just childhood friends, what parent in their right mind would easily accept a situation where a young man and woman live together under one roof?

And on top of that, it’s Soyeon’s stepmother.

Soyeon’s mother has been raising Soyeon with great difficulty since she was young.

There’s no way she would allow a child who doesn’t even hurt the eye to stay at a man’s house…

“Okay, I got permission.”

“Huh?”

“If you can’t believe it, you can talk to my mother yourself.”

“….”

Watching Soyeon smirk and tap on the phone, I reluctantly took the phone.

“Hello?”

“Oh. Jinhyeok, how have you been?”

“Oh, yes. Madam. It’s been a while.”

Madam must have heard all sorts of explanations from Soyeon, but she greeted me warmly.

“So, you heard the story, right?”

“Of course~. Soyeon and I are getting along well, right? Hehe. Can I breathe a sigh of relief?”

“Excuse me?”

“Jinhyeok, I don’t want to become a grandmother already, so you need to use contraception properly, okay?”

“Um, excuse me? Madam? What are you talking about?”

I couldn’t hide my confusion at Madam’s sudden words.

Wait, Madam?

What are you talking about right now?

“Look at this kid. He knows everything. Jinhyeok, this madam approves. But since you’re still a student, you shouldn’t make her a single mother until you graduate from the academy, okay?”

“Um, Madam? I don’t know what Soyeon told you, but Soyeon and I are not in that kind of relationship.”

“No need to be too embarrassed. This madam knows everything. Soyeon always talks about you.”

Wait, what are you saying, Jinsuyeon?

“And Jini, you’re quite famous these days, right? You defeated an evil person named Yoo Dahee and received love calls from various top clans, made a lot of money from stocks… Oh, should I stop here? I’ve said too much. Hehe.”

“….”

“Anyway, I’ll go now. Take care~.”

“Madam? Wait a minute?”

The call was abruptly cut off.

I lost my words to say.

Why did she approve so easily? Don’t parents usually oppose this?

Wait a minute.

Come to think of it, Madam knew that I have money and that I’m famous these days, right?

If I marry Soyeon, she will be welcoming someone who is not lacking in money, ability, or support.

Also, since I have no parents or siblings, Soyeon doesn’t have to worry about living with in-laws, or about property distribution, and she will always visit my relatives on holidays like New Year’s or Chuseok.

…Thinking about it, I’m not a bad groom, right?

“….Jinhyeok? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing. Just…”

I scratched the back of my head at Bai Yurin’s question.

“It feels like I’m making an irreversible decision.”

In fact, living with a beauty like Soyeon does make my heart flutter a little.

But on the other hand, Soyeon is currently eyeing me very closely(?) and I wonder if something will really happen if we continue to live together.

What if she suddenly attacks me?

Ah, as a man, it’s kind of funny that I’m worried about this.

“Well, it’s okay. It’ll work out somehow.”

It’s not like I dislike Soyeon anyway.

From the start, I really didn’t have any intention and if I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t have brought up such a proposal.

***

That night.

4:34 AM.

Near Lee Jinhyuk’s residence.

“Hehe. Today is the day I’ll put an end to you, Lee Jinhyuk.”

A strange man was lurking around Lee Jinhyuk’s residence.

He was once known as the Fog Sorcerer, the villain Choi Woo-yoon.

Having followed Yoo Da-hee, who had emerged as a new villain, he held a grudge against Lee Jinhyuk for killing Yoo Da-hee.

“Lee Jinhyuk. No matter how strong you are, there’s nothing you can do while you’re asleep.”

His strength was proven by defeating Yoo Da-hee, so he couldn’t face him head-on, but what about when he’s asleep?

No matter how strong you are, there’s nothing you can do while you’re asleep.

Oh, of course, he’ll be on guard in his own way, but it’s useless.

He’s the Fog Sorcerer.

He can turn his body into fog.

So, he could easily infiltrate anywhere without triggering the security devices set up by Lee Jinhyuk.

“Well then, let’s begin.”

He transformed his body into a mist-like fog and infiltrated Lee Jinhyuk’s mansion.

He had already surveyed all the surrounding CCTV cameras and security devices.

Now, let’s sneak into Lee Jinhyuk’s room.

As he momentarily released the fog to survey the surroundings, he transformed his body again.

‘Lee Jinhyuk, I’ll kill you and avenge Yoo Da-hee… huh?’

“….Who?”

A voice of a strange young girl was heard from behind.

Could it be that she was awake at this hour?

Even if she was, why is she in the yard?

She must have avoided all the CCTV cameras and security devices.

“Unlucky, little one… huh?!”

“Shh.”

As he tried to use the fog, a sharp blade pierced through Choi Woo-yoon’s shoulder.

“Uh, uh, what?!”

“Quiet… it’s nighttime, you know…?”

Crazy! He got stabbed?! Who the heck is it!

Struggling in pain, he turned his head slightly and realized that a beautiful girl with a dry expression was looking at him from the darkness.

Who is that girl?

It’s Baek Yurin, who was praised as the top genius of the Baek family.

Wait, why is she at Lee Jinhyuk’s house?

“Yurin, what if you suddenly stab someone with a knife?”

“!”

Another beautiful girl was slowly walking towards him.

She had jet-black hair that reminded one of the night, but her eyes were icy cold.

“Blood is dripping in the yard.”

The girl with cold eyes stared at him.

There was an unsettling atmosphere about her.

Although Choi Woo-yoon had some skills as a villain, he had no confidence in winning against that girl.

It felt like… similar to Yoo Da-hee?

“Damn it.”

Retreat!

In an instant, Choi Woo-yoon used the fog.

As his whole body turned into mist, he quickly floated into the air.

“Where did the man go?”

However, Jin Soyeon casually reached out and pushed Choi Woo-yoon away.

“Huh?!”

She caught the intangible fog?

What is this?

“You seem more like a villain than a thief. What business do you have at Jinhyuk’s house?”

Jin Soyeon said as she stepped on the fallen Choi Woo-yoon.

“It’s better to choose your words carefully from now on. You don’t like pain, right? Isn’t that so?”

“Heh, heek!”

Overwhelmed by Jin Soyeon’s aura, Choi Woo-yoon could only writhe in pain with a bluish face.

Watching his struggle from a distance, Lee Jinhyuk thought.

Wow.

With Baek Yurin and Jin Soyeon here, I feel really secure.

A house with a High Ranker and a Single Ranker or more? This is pitiful for any villain who tries to break into this house.