Chapter 88
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Club Recruitment Rush
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Song Ha-na and Lee Cheong-ha sat on either side of me, sandwiching me between them as they smiled and chatted away.
Why were they acting like this today of all days?
Even Lee Cheong-ha, who loved food more than anything, was turning down her meal and trading sparks with Song Ha-na.
By the way, why were those two staring at me like that again?
Moon Woo-hyuk and Woo-sik's glares weren't exactly casual either.
Were these guys seriously ganging up on me today?
I tried to avert my eyes from Woo-sik and Moon Woo-hyuk, who were glaring at me with eyes burning fiercely enough to be scary, and finish my meal.
“How about it, Do-hyun? Wanna join the music appreciation club?”
Lee Cheong-ha asked with a gaze that was hard to ignore.
…Let’s at least hear what she has to say.
“Music appreciation?”
“Yeah. They go see musicals sometimes too!”
I paused, my chopsticks freezing mid-air.
They go see musicals? That was a pretty sweet perk.
Did the school cover it?
I’d been struggling to catch shows during the semester anyway—if the club went as a group, that was a huge win for me.
“With the volunteer club, you can go see musicals a few times a week. They get the most funding for club activities, right?”
I see.
The volunteer club was impressive too.
Both options sounded solid.
Still, kids, let me eat in peace.
I’d think about clubs later.
I nodded vaguely and buried my face in my tray, but the four pairs of scorching stares showed no signs of letting up.
Ugh, what am I supposed to do?
“Haha. Guys, the food’s getting cold. Eat up.”
It was Kim Sun-woo, as expected.
Thanks to his mediation, I finally shook off their attention.
Now I could focus on my lunch in peace.
By the way, did the nutritionist change for the second semester?
The food tasted even better than during break.
***
Shortened classes on account of the opening ceremony.
Thanks to that, classes wrapped up early, and Huh Ji-woong came in for homeroom while the hallway outside grew noisy.
“Why’s it so loud out there?”
Huh Ji-woong didn’t hold back—he flung open the front door and bellowed down the hall.
“Quiet down!”
The hallway went dead silent in an instant.
Huh Ji-woong casually shut the door again.
And picked up right where he left off, like nothing happened.
“Anyway, clubs will proceed as I mentioned earlier. Any questions? Song Ha-na.”
Huh Ji-woong looked at Song Ha-na as if it were a given routine now.
“Nope.”
Song Ha-na replied calmly, as if she’d given up getting mad and just adapted.
Huh Ji-woong nodded in satisfaction.
“Alright, dismissed.”
He clapped his hands sharply.
The kids rushed out, and the hallway exploded into noise again.
“Who’s Lee Do-hyun?”
“Hey, first-year! Where’s Lee Do-hyun?”
“Outta the way! I got here first!”
The murmurs from outside left me puzzled.
Did I hear that right? Lee Do-hyun? Why were they calling my name?
Wondering what was up, I slowly packed my bag and headed out.
Then three people suddenly blocked my path, sticking their faces in to check my name tag.
“These guys.”
“This is Lee Do-hyun.”
“You decided on a club yet?”
Choir club, huh.
Out of nowhere, asking about clubs.
Clubs, clubs—damn clubs all day.
I was so sick of it after being hounded nonstop that I even considered skipping them altogether, like in my past life.
“Who are you?”
At my question, the three finally introduced themselves—belatedly.
“We’re the presidents of the broadcasting, choir, and cheerleading clubs.”
Their name tag colors marked them as third-years.
The third-years who’d swarmed in were presidents of the broadcasting club, choir club, and cheerleading club.
All three were popular clubs with serious clout at school.
But why had they come looking for me?
Third-years were usually winding down, not super active as presidents.
Were others getting this too? I glanced around, but the rest of the class was just watching me.
Seemed like I was the only one being grilled.
“Anyway, decided on a club or not?”
“No… not yet.”
I answered, flustered by the aggressive third-years.
Kids these days were bold.
A year’s difference felt huge in high school, but to me, they all looked like kids.
Still, with three of them surrounding and pressuring me, their presence was no joke.
“Join our broadcasting club. You know how many celebs come out of ours—no need to explain.”
“Choir club’s perfect for your portfolio. Tons of stage opportunities.”
“Portfolio? That’s cheerleading. We do stuff you can’t get anywhere else.”
It was a bit overwhelming, but I got the picture.
First-years picked clubs after first-semester grades came out.
That’s when the standouts started taking shape.
Prestigious clubs naturally wanted the promising ones.
Clubs meant a lot more at Cheongyeom Arts High than people thought.
And I was the first-semester top student.
I’d gone up on stage at the closing ceremony—everyone knew.
In my past life, I had no idea club scouting was this intense.
Top student perks were hitting home.
Being number one was exhausting.
“Hold on a sec.”
They’d come to recruit me, but now the three were growling at each other.
My single word stopped them cold.
“So, how about you each explain one by one, in turn?”
I’d sized up the situation—no need to panic.
I’d been dreading researching clubs myself. Them offering explanations was convenient.
And from top school clubs—no need to look elsewhere.
“Wow, Lee Do-hyun. Got guts.”
“Did he just… tell those seniors ‘hold on’? Insane.”
Whispers rose from the kids watching us.
No surprise—the third-year club presidents who’d come to the first-year musical department were school heavyweights.
Hence their positions.
“Uh… yeah. Gotta explain, right?”
The third-years seemed a tad flustered by my words, but it wasn’t wrong.
“How about we talk inside the classroom?”
“Sure.”
I headed back into the classroom to hear about each club properly, but—
Huh? Parting like the Red Sea.
The packed crowd of students split in half, and one girl walked through toward us.
170cm tall.
Slender, without an ounce of fat.
Long straight hair framing a cat-like face packed with delicate features—like a model.
Striding through the parted crowd, it was a full runway moment.
The approaching figure was Cheongyeom Arts High’s biggest celebrity—the students’ own idol.
The lead who’d stolen the spotlight at the Cheongyeom Arts Festival.
“Chae Si-hyun…?”
Cheongyeom’s top idol, the rookie musical star Korea’s scene was watching.
Chae Si-hyun, the third-year musical major who’d claimed top spot for three straight years.
She had a laundry list of titles, backed by insane talent and stunning looks—a genius among geniuses.
After graduation, she’d sweep even bigger ones as a full-fledged star.
Me and the three club presidents who’d approached me—all froze in place.
Everyone in the packed hallway stared at Chae Si-hyun.
Same thought in every head:
Why was Chae Si-hyun here on the first-year floor?
But… was Chae Si-hyun heading straight for me?
No way.
“Hmm.”
Before I could process, Chae Si-hyun stood right in front of me.
Even in front of my 180cm-plus frame, her presence didn’t shrink.
In my past life, working in musicals, I’d seen her from afar—and yeah, she already radiated star aura in high school.
Gulp.
But why was she right in front of me?
“Yeah?”
“I haven’t said anything yet?”
Oops.
Her aura was so intense, I’d blurted out without thinking.
“Oh, haha.”
I gave an awkward little laugh.
“Cute.”
Huh?
What’d she say?
“Here.”
No time to process—Chae Si-hyun thrust a sheet of paper at me.
Still dazed, I took the paper she offered.
Club application form.
“You haven’t joined one yet, right?”
Chae Si-hyun tossed out the single line, no more.
The three earlier presidents’ faces crumpled in dismay.
Chae Si-hyun’s arrival had sunk them—that was their look.
My name was already filled in on the form.
She wanted me to join here.
Wasn’t this the club for rich kids only?
Did she usually scout personally like this?
“Not yet, no.”
“Good. Bring it by tomorrow.”
Her face was her calling card—Chae Si-hyun stated it like it was obvious, no explanations.
That was her confidence.
“Hold on.”
She turned back primly at my call.
Why was I thinking this?
Too lazy to bring it tomorrow?
Secretly wanted the volunteer club?
Or charmed by Chae Si-hyun?
Probably all of it.
In a split second, the thoughts tangled, and words slipped out unbidden.
“I’ll fill it out now. Just wait a sec.”
I darted back into the classroom.
Grabbed the nearest desk standing up and quickly filled out the form.
Chae Si-hyun followed slowly, standing behind me to wait.
“Done.”
I straightened up and handed her the freshly completed form.
Chae Si-hyun took it, eyes still locked on me.
“No second thoughts?”
She asked, lightly shaking my form.
Hadn’t she told me to bring it without even waiting for an answer?
“I’ve wanted to be a social worker since I was a kid.”
At my reply, Chae Si-hyun let out a cold snort.
Chae Si-hyun thought this cocky newbie was funnier than expected.
“Fine.”
She turned and walked away.
“Phew—”
As Chae Si-hyun vanished from sight, sighs erupted from all around.
Her mere presence had everyone holding their breath.
In my past life, even spotting her from afar made my heart race for no reason.
Totally get it.
At Cheongyeom Arts High, Chae Si-hyun was that overwhelming of a presence.
“Hey, Lee Do-hyun!”
Right on cue.
Woo-sik, who’d watched the whole thing, burst forward and grabbed my shoulders.
Lee Cheong-ha stuck right by his side.
“You little…!”
“The music appreciation club…”
Why were they like this?
Woo-sik was hyped up, nostrils flaring, shadows under his eyes—like King Kong.
Still, I felt a twinge of guilt toward Lee Cheong-ha.
“You traitor. Meeting Chae Si-hyun senior alone like that.”
Oh, that’s the issue.
Woo-sik looked genuinely pissed, then whipped around and bolted.
Something splashed down just now, I think.
But we’d see each other at the dorm anyway.
“Traitor!”
Lee Cheong-ha spun away too.
Her “traitor” carried a different vibe, though.
Gonna have to figure out how to smooth things over with them again.
“Ha-na, looks like you got your wish.”
Kim Sun-woo grinned at Song Ha-na.
Kim Sun-woo, Song Ha-na, and Moon Woo-hyuk too.
The three had watched the whole scene from the classroom.
They were already in the volunteer club.
Song Ha-na had pushed me to join it, but her face didn’t look thrilled.
“Wish, my ass.”
Do-hyun had joined the volunteer club as she’d wanted, but she couldn’t hide her pout.
He wouldn’t give her a straight answer, but Chae Si-hyun says the word, and he jumps?
She knew it was unavoidable because it was Chae Si-hyun, but that didn’t stop the bad mood.