Ch.223223 – The Little Prince and the Roses 4

# 223 – The Little Prince and the Roses # 4

In my mind, Kim Geonho had always been fixed as a tall, broad-shouldered guy with a square jaw and masculine features.

Back in high school, he seemed like someone who couldn’t control his overflowing masculinity, bullying others and showing off.

When I heard he became an MMA fighter after graduating high school, I thought he’d found his path in life.

And now this same guy had become the owner of a nail art shop at twenty-five.

*Ding-a-ling-*

As I opened the door, a cheerful bell sound rang out. The large-framed owner sitting in the shop greeted us warmly.

“Welcome…”

“…”

It was Kim Geonho.

To think that this hulking guy was really the owner of this petite nail salon. What kind of change had come over him? He seemed like a completely different person.

Could he have obtained the “Power of Creation”?

“Look at these. Fake nails. They’re pretty.”

Dahui became interested in the fake nails displayed throughout the shop. Kim Geonho, who had been quite tense about our visit, said:

“I made those.”

That was unexpected. Kim Geonho, who I thought only had talent for breaking things, was capable of such creative and artistic work.

Can people really change this much?

Kim Geonho spoke:

“Ha Yeongwon, this is who I am now. I was surprised to see you. To be honest, I’ve been avoiding you. Whenever I see you, I’m reminded of those frightening times. It was scary.”

“Really?”

I had no idea Kim Geonho had been avoiding me. I just thought we hadn’t met because our lives had taken different directions. While the women were looking through the nail art catalog, Kim Geonho spoke as if gathering great courage:

“The fear inside me. I thought it was something weak and feminine. So to shake off that fear, I climbed the Himalayas and even became an MMA champion.”

“That’s impressive.”

“I wanted to prove my masculinity. But the more I showed off my manliness, another desire grew inside me. That fear was actually the real me.”

What was he talking about? Was he saying he realized he wasn’t actually manly and was a fearful person?

“I have feminine and delicate aspects inside me too. And this is the path I’ve chosen for myself. You can laugh if you want.”

“No, I don’t feel like laughing. I’m just surprised that someone can change this much. Why did you suddenly open this shop? Did you get your hands on something?”

I narrowed my eyes, imagining what power might have taken root in Kim Geonho. I was also concerned about Lim Huiyeon saying Kim Geonho was acting suspicious.

“According to Lim Huiyeon, you’ve been acting very suspicious and strange lately. If you’ve picked up something that doesn’t belong to you, I’d like it back. It’s actually mine.”

“I haven’t gotten my hands on anything. But did Lim Huiyeon really say that? That I’m suspicious?”

“Yes.”

Honestly, he still seemed very suspicious.

A large former MMA fighter wearing an apron and running a nail salon?

Kim Geonho soon let out a sigh.

“I was thinking about proposing to Huiyeon since I’ve opened my own shop with my money. But I’ve been hesitating because I can’t seem to find the courage.”

I see. So Kim Geonho and Lim Huiyeon were dating.

“I get nervous just confessing to one woman, but you have multiple girlfriends. You’re truly a man among men. I respect you.”

*Swoosh-*

Kim Geonho grabbed my hand. His hands were warm and soft, not what you’d expect from a former MMA fighter. Even his nails were neatly trimmed!

“I heard you’re throwing bouquets at your wedding! I heard that bouquet is the ‘Bouquet of Happiness’ that brings happiness to couples? Can I have one? Please?”

Two bouquets were already reserved for Jin Seoyeon and Bong Jiyeon. The third bouquet didn’t have an owner yet, and somehow Kim Geonho knew about it and seemed to want it.

He must really be serious about wanting to marry Lim Huiyeon.

“Jeong Sojin was eyeing that one too.”

Surprised by his intensity and feeling somewhat uncomfortable, I quickly pulled my hand away from his grip.

# # #

In the end, Kim Geonho had nothing to do with the Power of Creation. I felt slightly frustrated as my investigation plunged back into uncertainty.

I had hoped to resolve this quickly, but it seemed like I needed to take a longer view. What started as a week-long investigation might stretch into a month, a year, or even a decade.

“So what do you think?”

We visited Teacher Hong Miri’s home. Teacher Hong Miri lived in a fairly spacious penthouse with her twin sister Hong Yeri, the very definition of a gold miss.

By the way, Teacher Hong Miri’s age is… eternally twenty years old. Though her appearance truly does radiate that youthful energy.

“Do you think I’ll just tell you everything when you ask like that?”

“You’re our teacher.”

Teacher Hong Miri was well-connected and would explain things we didn’t know, just like a real teacher. She narrowed her eyes at my story.

“Actually, I have noticed something. My twin Hong Yeri has been acting very suspicious lately. She comes home late and often stays out overnight. She never used to do that.”

“Maybe she got a boyfriend?”

Yu Dahui asked.

Teacher Hong Miri laughed, “Hong-hong-hong-“

“That’s impossible. What man would date someone with a personality as bad as Hong Yeri’s? She’s picky about men’s money, looks, blood type, and even their MBTI.”

I had no idea Hong Yeri’s standards for an ideal type were so strict. I always thought she was just the drink server who would come running whenever I said “water” at school.

Anyway.

Hong Yeri was a person of interest who had once operated as “The Woman in Red” in the Nightmare Corridor. If someone like her was acting suspicious, there was a high probability that something truly suspicious was happening.

We decided to track Teacher Hong Yeri.

Fortunately, I knew her location.

“According to foundation policy, all Yeongji Foundation teachers must wear tracking devices. The foundation has this policy because the chairman wants it.”

By the way, I’m the chairman. Just saying. After tracking her for a while, we found Hong Yeri at the famous bakery “Jeongsim-dang.”

We hid and watched the suspicious woman’s suspicious behavior, and saw Hong Yeri packaging a large cake.

Seeing this, Kwon Sua shouted:

“She’s buying a cake! That’s suspicious!”

Buying a cake. It was indeed suspicious.

Afterward, Hong Yeri looked at bags and shoes at a nearby department store’s luxury section. Very suspicious behavior.

She also carefully wrapped all the items she purchased in beautiful paper.

Buying gifts for someone… Hong Yeri, who was known for being rude, buying gifts for others? Is that even possible? This was definitely strange.

“Hand over my property right now!”

I jumped out before Hong Yeri could escape in her red sports car. She was loading items into the back seat of her car in the parking lot and fell back in surprise.

“Oh my!”

She blinked repeatedly.

Soon her eyes focused on me.

“Ch-Chairman!”

“Hong Yeri! You’re hiding something!”

“I-I wasn’t really trying to hide anything…!”

“Let’s beat her up so she can’t resist!”

Dahui raised her clenched fist high.

Soon Kwon Sua and Yang Juhui joined in, punching Teacher Hong Yeri. Teacher Hong Yeri screamed and finally shouted as if she couldn’t take it anymore:

“Alright! Alright! I’ll tell you! Geez, I was trying to keep it a secret. I bought some gifts because our birthday is coming up soon! Our birthday is coming up!”

Birthday? Whose birthday? After pondering for a while, Teacher Hong Miri pointed at her own face with her index finger.

“Our birthday?”

“Yes!”

“So it was our birthday.”

“This is for you.”

Teacher Hong Yeri took out the cake and wrapped gifts from the back seat. The reason she had been acting suspiciously was because she was planning a surprise party and buying gifts for her twin sister’s upcoming birthday.

“I’ve been so busy I didn’t even realize it was our birthday.”

Teacher Hong Miri laughed, “Heu-heu-heu-” while scratching the back of her head.

Then Kwon Sua commented:

“When you get older, birthdays just become sad days when you age another year.”

“What are you saying! I’m eternally twenty years old! Even after my birthday!”

We celebrated the twins’ birthday on the spot. Hong Yeri said to her younger sister Hong Miri with a slightly embarrassed feeling:

“Miri, we’ve had our differences, but how about we get along well from now on?”

“No.”

“…”

“But if you do all the laundry, dishes, and cleaning every day, I might consider it.”

We shared the cake. It was delicious. I used to prefer chocolate cake, but maybe it’s because I’m getting older that fruit cake tastes good too.

So Hong Yeri was another dead end. Just as I was thinking this might become a long-term investigation, Teacher Hong Yeri, who had heard about our situation, snorted.

“If that’s what you’re looking for, it’s Gu Hyena. Gu Hyena picked up something strange recently. It looked like some kind of golden arrowhead. I thought it wasn’t an ordinary object.”

It seemed that Gu Hyena and Hong Yeri, who had both guarded the first floor of the corridor, had maintained their relationship. So Gu Hyena, who was busy with her entertainment career these days, had picked up a “Golden Arrow”?

Kwon Sua trembled.

“The identity of the object that transforms people into better beings… it must be the Stand-manifesting arrow! Anyone pierced by the arrowhead becomes a Stand user!”

I had no idea what she was talking about.

Sometimes Kwon Sua’s stories were too deep. Nevertheless, thinking this might finally be the answer, we decided to go meet Gu Hyena.