episode_0107

107.

“….”

Jin Soyeon flinched.

She heard quite an unpleasant remark.

She glanced over at Yoo Seolhyun.

Yoo Seolhyun met her gaze confidently, as if asking why.

It wasn’t funny at all, saying such things.

“That’s why I don’t like Yoo Seolhyun.”

She sometimes picks fights like that.

No, it’s quite often.

It’s ridiculous to provoke by deliberately scratching at Jin Soyeon’s feelings.

If it had been completely wrong, she would have dismissed it as nonsense and ignored it, but it wasn’t completely wrong… Ugh, annoying.

“But what’s with saying I have a preference for guys, really. Why say it like that?”

She had never done anything strange enough to be described as having a preference for guys.

She had never dated anyone, never even had a first kiss, so why would she say something like that?

…Sure, she had hung out with guys, regardless of gender, quite a bit, but isn’t it too much to talk about having a preference for guys based on that?

And since confessing to Lee Jinhyuk, she hadn’t been alone with another guy or gone out with anyone else.

She had been careful in her actions.

She had been subtly concerned about the past, and yet why was Yoo Seolhyun so tactless?

If Jin Soyeon disliked her, did Yoo Seolhyun also dislike her?

If so, why did Yoo Seolhyun dislike Jin Soyeon?

There wasn’t really a reason to dislike her.

…Except for matters related to Lee Jinhyuk.

“Does Yoo Seolhyun really have an interest in Jinhyuk, or does she have a crush on him?”

She may say she has an interest, but there was a high possibility that she had feelings beyond just interest.

She had never directly expressed any liking, but…

“…How did you know that I like Jinhyuk?”

“I told you. It shows.”

Yoo Seolhyun shrugged her shoulders and chuckled.

“It seems like I’m hiding it, but if you look from the side, it’s obvious. Other people probably know too, right? I’m just not saying it.”

Oh, really.

It was all too obvious.

Despite Yoo Seolhyun’s efforts to hide it…

“Even Jinhyuk probably knows, but seeing that there hasn’t been any progress so far, oh, it’s not going well, huh?”

“Mind your own business.”

It was Jin Soyeon and Lee Jinhyuk’s issue.

Yoo Seolhyun was just a third party and had no business getting involved.

“Well, during the stalker incident, I tried to set you up with Lee Siwoon. You probably don’t want to get back together with me now.”

Yoo Seolhyun shook her head alone.

There probably weren’t many people who wanted to get back together with someone who went out with other guys like a girlfriend.

Lee Jinhyuk would probably feel the same way.

Although Jin Soyeon was acting quite modest now, old habits die hard.

From Lee Jinhyuk’s perspective, he probably didn’t want to get back together with Jin Soyeon and go through unnecessary heartache.

“Is that so?”

“….”

Jin Soyeon bit her lip.

Although Yoo Seolhyun’s reasons were slightly different, it was an undeniable fact that she had bothered Lee Jinhyuk for a long time because of their fake relationship.

That’s why she could fully understand why Lee Jinhyuk didn’t want to be tied down in a relationship with Jin Soyeon.

The words Lee Jinhyuk shouted on the rooftop during the stalker incident came to mind.

About wanting to let go of his lingering feelings for Jin Soyeon, about being able to let go of them by dating someone else, about setting her up with Lee Siwoon…

Maybe it wasn’t entirely sincere.

Jin Soyeon felt a wave of sadness wash over her.

Even if she had forgiven Lee Jinhyuk for the hardships he had caused her as a fake lover, she couldn’t help but feel guilty.

It was a kind of shackle and a stigma.

A chain born from an unbreakable sense of guilt and sin.

…But well, Jinhyuk wasn’t really bothered by it.

Ever since recalling memories from his past life, his rational affection for Jinsuyeon had somewhat faded, leaving him feeling a bit lost.

Of course, the memories of his past struggles hadn’t disappeared, but knowing from the original work that Jinsuyeon had absolutely no interest in any other man, he couldn’t help but feel a bit down.

“Because of that, Isiwoon seemed somewhat troubled. Well, at the same time, he seemed to somewhat understand it too.”

Understanding, understanding…

Isiwoon had felt a bit awkward for a while after being rejected by Jinsuyeon with a remorseful face, but now he was getting along quite well.

However, that didn’t mean he was completely giving up on his feelings for Jinsuyeon.

“Kang Daehan seems quite interested in you, don’t you think? Oh, did I mention this before?”

“Daehan…”

Certainly, after the ranking match, there had been an increase in the number of times he approached Jinsuyeon with comments like ‘Jinsuyeon, nice to see you again.’

Honestly, personally speaking, I didn’t think the great Kang Daehan would have any affection for Jinsuyeon, but maybe it was just a woman’s intuition?

Since the kidnapping incident, there had been a subtly sharpened sense whispering to Jinsuyeon about Kang Daehan’s interest in her.

That man Kang Daehan also seems to have some affection for you.

Jinsuyeon wasn’t the type to trust her own woman’s intuition.

After all, she hadn’t even noticed that her childhood friend, whom she had known for a long time, had a crush on her.

Therefore, Jinsuyeon couldn’t believe in her own woman’s intuition.

But considering that Jujuyeon, who liked Kang Daehan, had shown jealousy towards Jinsuyeon, there was some credibility to it.

And according to a story I heard once, Kang Daehan’s ideal type is a woman stronger than himself.

Since he easily defeated Jujuyeon, who was ranked 12th, in the ranking match, apart from Baek Yurin, Jinsuyeon seemed to fit Kang Daehan’s ideal type the best.

There were many controversies after the ranking match, such as luck, Jujuyeon’s carelessness, or Jujuyeon going easy on her.

But after the performance evaluations, mock exams, and final exams following the ranking match, she showed a strong performance throughout, dispelling the controversies.

Currently, Jinsuyeon was treated as one of the strongest within the academy.

Isiwoon, a strong figure comparable to Kang Daehan.

No, maybe even more.

Like Baek Yurin.

“It must be nice to be popular with guys…”

“Is your pride hurt?”

Jinsuyeon interrupted Yuseolhyun’s words.

“Pride? What would I have to be hurt about?”

Look at this.

Yuseolhyun was slightly offended.

Honestly, in the past, there wasn’t really that side to her.

Isiwoon, who had never shown any interest as a man before, suddenly fell head over heels for a girl he had never seen or heard of before.

It wasn’t that Isiwoon liked her, but didn’t women have their pride?

They had an unofficial engagement, even though they didn’t want it, but seeing Isiwoon fall for that girl so deeply left her dumbfounded.

At the same time, her pride was hurt.

But now, well…

“Jinhyuk doesn’t seem to be falling for her either.”

“Huh.”

Yuseolhyun subtly furrowed her eyebrows.

Jinsuyeon’s words had touched a nerve.

Jinhyuk, Jinhyuk.

He was a man she was quite interested in.

Whether to call it liking or interest, she wasn’t sure, but at the very least, there was a feeling of ‘affection.’

Money, abilities, intelligence, and even looks and family background… They might be a bit lacking in some areas, but overall, he wasn’t bad.

Moreover, he could communicate fairly well unlike other guys.

He was also quite decent as a business partner.

As a boyfriend, well, that remained to be seen, but he was someone you’d want by your side.

So, half-jokingly, I tried to tempt (?) him a bit, but there was no particular reaction from Lee Jinhyuk.

No, um…

Well, it’s not like I really like him or anything.

It doesn’t matter much whether he’s aloof or not.

It’s just… a little bit. Just a tiny bit.

I guess it hurts my pride a bit.

Back in the day, I easily won over some of the boyfriends of the girls who used to gossip about me by being a bit kind and flashing a smile, but with Lee Jinhyuk being so indifferent, it was an inevitable blow to my pride.

“Miss. The time…”

“Oh, goodness. Has it gotten this late already?”

As the bodyguard approached and spoke, Yoo Seolhyun checked the time.

“I think I should go first.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Hehe. Have a fun weekend, Soyeon.”

“…Coming from someone who was just scratching their back a moment ago, that doesn’t seem like the right thing to say?”

“Oh, me? Really? Did you take my words to heart? I’m sorry, I didn’t even realize.”

“Do you know you have a bad personality?”

With a subtle smile towards the grumbling Jin Soyeon, Yoo Seolhyun eventually walked away with the bodyguards, disappearing into the distance.

Jin Soyeon picked up all the books, let out a deep sigh, feeling even more down than before due to Yoo Seolhyun.

Ugh, really.

I really dislike Yoo Seolhyun.

Having to meet that person again during summer vacation.

And with Jinhyuk, too.

It’s the worst, really.

***

“It seems like you get along well with your friend.”

“Do we look like we get along? Maybe your eyesight has gotten worse.”

On the way back home.

One of the bodyguards Yoo Seolhyun had known for a long time was talking to her.

“Miss, you don’t often express your emotions so directly, especially not when it comes to fights.”

“We didn’t fight, it was just, you know, a conversation.”

“A conversation… I see.”

“What’s with that hesitation?”

“Nothing, nothing.”

Yoo Seolhyun glanced at the bodyguard for a moment and then turned her gaze towards the window.

“It’s just… fun, you know?”

“Fun, you say?”

“Yes. He reacts so noisily even with a little touch. Isn’t it fun?”

“Hmm.”

“And also…”

Yoo Seolhyun trailed off for a moment before continuing.

“…There’s something I want, but that kid is eyeing it first, so I feel a bit off.”

“I see. Well, Miss, you always have to get what you want to feel satisfied.”

The bodyguard smiled knowingly.

Yoo Seolhyun had always been the type to go to great lengths to get what she wanted. What could it be this time? Curiosity arose. So she decided to ask.

“What exactly is this thing that you’re arguing with your friend about?”

“…A thing? Hmm.”

“Miss?”

“Well, it’s not exactly a thing.”

“It’s not a thing, you say?”

“Yes, well… it’s a bit weird to call a person a thing, right?”

“Oh. A person.”

The bodyguard was slightly surprised.

Yoo Seolhyun, who usually had a lot of ambition and worked hard to bring various people under her wing, had never heard her express a desire for someone to this extent. And especially someone outside the clan. It seemed like one of the academy trainees.

“Who is this person?”

“There is a pretty talented individual at the academy. I would like to scout them for our clan before they graduate, but… I wonder if they will willingly join our clan.”

He was a man with exceptional abilities, possessing future foresight and not backing down even in a battle against Baek Yurin.

With that level of skill, he would have plenty of options besides the Gaon Nuri clan.

“…I don’t want to let him slip away if possible.”

“Miss.”

“Yes? Why do you say that?”

“You’re smiling. It seemed like it’s been a while since I’ve seen you smile so naturally.”

“Oh… Was I smiling?”

“Yes.”

At the bodyguard’s words, Yoo Seolhyun blinked.

She could realize that the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned in the reflection on the car window.

“It seems like you quite like him? If just thinking about it makes you smile like that.”

“No, it’s not like that…”

Yoo Seolhyun denied, then hesitated.

It’s likeable, huh…

Well, it is true.

It may not be in a romantic sense, but she did like him.

“Yes, it’s likeable. Thanks to that man, I’ve gained a lot. I’ll be indebted to him even during this summer vacation.”

“Oh, I see… Huh? A man? Was he a man?”

“Yes. But why?”

“Oh, a man. Well, you’ve reached that age too.”

“Jung Heecheol?”

“I thought you weren’t interested in men, considering there hasn’t been any progress with that handsome heir of the SL Group… But I guess I was wrong. Phew, that’s a relief.”

“Jung Heecheol. Don’t say strange things, that’s not it.”

Jung Heecheol nodded as if he understood everything.

“Everyone starts like that, Miss. A little interest turns into kindness, kindness turns into liking…”

“Jung Heecheol. Have you been too comfortable lately?”

“Oh, um. I apologize.”

In the cool smile of Yoo Seolhyun, Jung Heecheol quickly shut his mouth.

“Anyway, forget I said anything strange.”

Yoo Seolhyun sighed.

Leaning slightly against the car window, she thought.

The emotions she held towards that man were just a small kindness and curiosity, curiosity.

Well, she did feel a bit grateful as she had owed him her life a couple of times, but it was definitely not love.

…Definitely not.