episode_0045

After congratulating us on our birthday, Yoon Ji-chang finished a bottle of sparkling wine by himself and then collapsed.

“Hey, come here.”

Leaving the guy behind, I was dragged by Si-woo to the rooftop of my studio apartment.

The sky was clear. The moon was shining brightly.

“Why, why?”

“….”

Si-woo stared at my skirt in silence, then hesitantly spoke as if hesitating to say something.

“You. Don’t wear skirts from now on.”

“Huh? Why? I don’t like that…”

“You’re a man….”

“No. I told you. I wear skirts not because I like them, but because they look pretty. Honestly, you like it too, don’t you?!”

Thanks to accidentally showing Yoon Ji-chang my underwear earlier, Jung Si-woo gained one lecture he could use for a lifetime.

“If you’re going to keep wearing it, behave more modestly.”

“I’m already trying my best to be careful. You don’t know. How empty it feels between your legs when you wear a skirt.”

“I don’t want to know….”

Anyway, since this time it was my mistake, I had to finish it off appropriately and move on.

“I’ll be careful.”

I chuckled as I lifted the hem of my skirt slightly with both hands.

“But skirts are nice, right? They’re pretty. You don’t know how many times you looked in the mirror before coming out today.”

It was dark, so his expression wasn’t clear, but Si-woo was probably smiling.

Just as I was satisfied after checking in the mirror multiple times, he couldn’t help but admit it.

“Just stand still for a moment.”

“Here?”

Si-woo, who had taken a few steps back, hesitated as if he had something to say, then returned to my side after a while.

“What did you want to say?”

“The same thing as you.”

Normally, I would have answered, ‘This thought?’ But this time, I couldn’t understand Si-woo’s true feelings, so I just tilted my head in confusion.

“Well. Whether you see me from afar or up close, am I still pretty?”

The answer was delayed by a beat.

Avoiding my gaze, Si-woo mumbled.

“You look good.”

Huh. It seems like my answer was wrong.

I definitely thought something else.

“Wait. Stop.”

I blocked him as he tried to go back to the stairs.

“What.”

“What were you thinking? I really don’t know, so I’m asking.”

Then Si-woo avoided my gaze again.

What’s wrong? Why is he avoiding me? What was he thinking?

I naturally pushed him aside and grabbed his wrist as he tried to head towards the stairwell.

“Ouch.”

Did that momentary pull hurt his ribs?

I was surprised and let go of his wrist, leaning closer to him.

“Oops. Sorry. Does it hurt a lot?”

Si-woo’s face, which was hard to see in the dark, was clearly revealed by the sensor light installed in front of the iron gate leading to the stairwell.

“….”

His face looked gloomy overall. Like a ripe white radish.

“Please don’t push your face against mine like that just because I asked.”

“Uh, what… okay.”

Sighing softly, Si-woo mumbled as he went down the stairs.

“I don’t want to force you, but please, realize what kind of person you are right now. And also think about what kind of person I am.”

I pondered over the words I just heard, watching him go down the stairs in a daze.

‘So, don’t seduce me?’

I reconsidered whether I had seduced Si-woo today.

All that came to mind were ‘Don’t differentiate between Chaewon and you,’ ‘I can’t order anything because I’m anxious,’ ‘It’s burdensome,’ ‘Don’t seduce me.’ It was all just nagging.

‘… I can’t help it. I’m not doing this because I want to.’

Revealing that I am Jung Si-woo was just an accident.

I was just planning to live pretending to be Chaewon. And I still have no intention of changing that.

However, isn’t there a mission as important as saving Jung Si-woo, as requested by Chaewon?

I should never stray too far from Jung Siwoo. Whenever I get the chance, I should engage in various activities with him within safe limits.

Starting with “ham” and ending with “lock,” I need to complete the word.

“You’re not trying to seduce me, so don’t be overly self-conscious, okay?”

I’m sorry, me from three years ago.

“Go back to the way you were. It’s burdensome.”

Because I believe you won’t let me down. I will do my best.

So please endure. Yoon Jiyu will fall, and I will help you overcome the obstacles.

“I’ve said it many times. I just want to see the lovely Min Chaewon.”

As Jung Siwoo turned his head and looked at me with a displeased expression, he said, “… Fine. Well, nothing can be done about that. I understand.”

Resignedly, he turned his head sideways and walked down.

Good. Keep holding on like that. Don’t lose to your instincts.

Just endure for three years. Until the day 0 comes back to us.

“It’s cold, so hurry down.”

Closing the rooftop door, I followed behind Siwoo in a hurry.

How did he know? The wind was cold between my skirt.

***

The next song to be uploaded on the Aclerct channel is ‘Seventeen’ by Bamnori.

The character featured is dressed in a sporty style, carrying a railgun that looks like it could be in Cyberpunk 3077.

With short hair, earrings, and accessories that give off a combat feel.

There were many parts, including a wig as Sung Seonghyuk mentioned, so each one had to be attached and confirmed with a photo.

The overall outfit had vibrant neon colors, giving off a futuristic vibe when the lights were turned off.

“So that’s why the lights were deliberately turned off in this video.”

As I walked the path Chaewon had taken, I realized that the devil is in the details.

It’s impressive how they incorporated elements that could easily be overlooked as part of the visual beauty.

“Great. Keep it like this.”

“Thank you for the confirmation. I’ll finish the work and send it by this Friday.”

“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”

All I had to do was stand in for the mannequin.

Thanks to that, I stood for a few hours and then left the costume studio.

“Why wasn’t any of my opinions considered…?”

“You left it all to me in the first place.”

Perhaps Sung Seonghyuk was not an alpha male, but a good slave.

It’s no wonder Chaewon wonders why this guy is doing things she could do herself.

“It’s more convenient but… from now on, can my opinions be considered?”

“What’s gotten into you?”

“Uh… just? The weather is nice. I don’t know?”

It was a quick-witted response that wouldn’t be easily caught, but perhaps Chaewon was definitely a bit of a free spirit in front of Sung Seonghyuk.

“You’ve been like this for a while now. Do as you please.”

Vroom.

The white convertible beckoned me to hurry up and get in.

As I opened the door and got into the passenger seat, Sung Seonghyuk pushed his upper body forward towards me.

“Hey, hey. Hey!”

“The door didn’t close properly.”

“Just say it… you’re scaring people.”

“What’s the big deal?”

Thud. After properly closing the car door, Sung Seonghyuk turned back with a snort.

Although his image had improved a bit since the last incident.

He’s still a guy who can’t be figured out.

The car smoothly left the parking lot and entered the road.

As I sat back comfortably in my seat, watching the scenery passing by, I realized how much pollen was flying around after the end of the yellow dust season.

I wish I could open the hood and run like before. Too bad.

The car stopped at a red light for a moment.

Sung Seonghyuk glanced at me and quietly asked, “Did you not receive a call from Professor Baek Joongeon?”

I was about to brush it off with a vague answer, but a familiar name came up, and I sat up straight.

“Why did Professor Baek Jung-eon ask about me?”

“It seems like he saw the video through the violin and senior. He asked if I knew you, so I pretended not to know for now. It seemed like he was planning to contact you soon.”

The violin and senior. Yoon Ji-yoo.

He even talked to professors from other departments. Could it be that our professor has fallen for it too?

“Why me?”

“It’s not because I’m genuinely curious, is it?”

Honk.

The car behind us honked softly, as if it had been waiting for a long time.

Looking around, our car was the only one in the lane.

Song Sung-hyuk gently pressed on the accelerator pedal and asked, “Professor Baek Jung-eon seems to have a strong desire for students like you.”

I never expected to hear that from your mouth.

It seems like Song Sung-hyuk is telling all sorts of stories in front of Choi Won.

“The professor has marked four freshmen, including me, and he wants to raise one more. Can you believe it?”

Not long after, we encountered another traffic light. As the car slowly came to a stop, Song Sung-hyuk continued, “I wonder what’s in store for this year. Normally, someone who raises at most two students a year is now aiming for four.”

I thought he was a 4-dimensional being who didn’t care about reality as long as he could play the piano.

It turns out he was surprisingly interested in the stories going around him.

He claims his Korean is poor, but it’s not that bad. Maybe he just saves words because he’s uncomfortable speaking.

“Hasn’t the Hansung University entrance exam ended? It’s already mid-April.”

“Foreigners start in August. If we want to bring them over then, we need to start working on it now.”

Working on it. The professor’s choice of words is a bit off.

More importantly, how do I apply for the foreign student admissions?

I need to make sense.

“….”

Song Sung-hyuk furrowed his brows and stared at me intently.

Just like before, another car honked as the signal changed, and the convertible moved forward.

Looking straight ahead, Song Sung-hyuk spoke to me as if coaxing a child, “Min Chae-won. What’s your real name?”

“Astrid?”

“Right. What’s your nationality?”

“Uh…no, Austrian.”

Ah. I’m Austrian.