Chapter 3
Chapter 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: The Mock Exam Bet
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Can I eat some?”
“Yeah. I always pack extra. To share with the others.”
Kang Hyun, who always showed up to class right before or after being late, had no clue about her routine.
Anyway, when Kang Hyun nodded, Yoon Haneul immediately cleared a spot and sat down facing him.
Starting breakfast together like this made the awkwardness between them feel a little less strained.
“I’ll dig in.”
“Sure.”
Yoon Haneul took a big bite of the sandwich as she replied. She always put her all into everything, and eating was no exception—she shoved the sandwich into her mouth with gusto.
“She eats well.”
Kang Hyun watched her cheeks puff out cutely before returning to normal, then snapped out of it and took a bite of his own sandwich.
“It’s delicious…!”
Surprised by how much tastier it was than expected, Kang Hyun exclaimed.
With her mouth full of sandwich, she nodded vigorously as if it was only natural.
Munch, munch.
Kang Hyun devoured his sandwich just as eagerly as Yoon Haneul.
“I didn’t even realize how hungry I was.”
Something he never could have imagined before. Forgetting to eat because he was studying!
But once he took the first bite, his appetite—forgotten amid his focus on studying—surged back.
He glanced at the desk, wondering if he should have another.
“She ate… all of it?”
But somehow, the decent pile of sandwiches had vanished like smoke.
Kang Hyun felt a pang of guilt, wondering if he’d made her short by insisting on sharing.
Then he felt her gaze on him.
“…?”
Yoon Haneul, who had polished off several sandwiches in seconds, now stared at him with a perfectly clean face, as if she hadn’t just eaten.
“What…?”
“You’re studying?”
Her eyes had drifted to the book he had open.
Kang Hyun nodded in response.
“Yeah. Figured I’d give it a shot, even if it’s late.”
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she said,
“That’s surprising. I don’t know anyone like that.”
To her, it must have seemed odd that a guy who only goofed off was suddenly studying.
Not that he could blame her— he’d never seen anyone like that around him either.
“Desperate people have moments like this.”
“Desperate…?”
“Ah… no.”
He couldn’t exactly explain that studying had suddenly become ridiculously easy, so his attempt at vagueness slipped into the truth, leaving him flustered.
He debated explaining more, but when she nodded understandingly, he let it drop.
“Yeah, I get what you mean.”
She suddenly stood up and started packing away.
“Eat breakfast every day. You need it if you’re studying.”
“Got it, thanks. I had a great breakfast because of you. Oh, where’d you get these? I should buy some later.”
“These? I made them at home. I like cooking.”
With that, she headed off to wash her hands, and Kang Hyun muttered as he watched her go.
“She’s amazing…”
Getting up at dawn to study at school was impressive enough, but packing her own breakfast too? People really were all different, but seeing Yoon Haneul’s diligence at the crack of dawn made him realize just how lazy he’d been.
Anyway, their brief, slightly sweet moment alone ended quickly as students trickled in, filling the class, and the boring lessons began.
Of course, they weren’t boring to Kang Hyun. Every single thing the teacher said clicked perfectly, and even if something didn’t, a little thought solved it.
He briefly thought studying alone from a book might be more efficient speed-wise, but he realized hearing the gaps filled in class was pretty effective too.
“Mock exam tomorrow, so come prepared.”
And just like that, the bell rang, and the day was winding down.
“Ugh! Another mock exam. When does this boredom end?”
Min-su vented from the next desk, but Kang Hyun felt the opposite.
‘Perfect!’
He was itching to test how far he’d come in a real setting, his eyes practically sparking with determination.
He even planned to pull an all-nighter for last-minute cramming and dive straight into the exam.
The old him would have slept through it, but now even sleep felt like a luxury. What a change.
And above all, it was fun.
Whatever had happened, his life had flipped 180 degrees, and though he didn’t know how long it would last, it felt like it would keep going for now.
‘Studying is fun… I’ve really lost it.’
He hurried out of school.
His steps quickened at the thought of studying.
Heading home under the gradually darkening sky, someone suddenly scurried up and stood at a distance beside him.
It was Yoon Haneul.
“What? Something you need?”
The unexpected company made his words sharp.
“Ah… I have a question.”
Caught off guard by his defensive tone, she caught her breath, her red lips trembling.
“Tell me. What’s up?”
Kang Hyun asked more gently.
Only then did she relax into a smile—and it was so stunningly pretty that passing students glanced at Kang Hyun and Haneul.
“Wanna bet with me?”
“Huh?”
Stunned by the out-of-left-field question, he prompted her for more.
“You said you want to study, so I want to help… Betting on exams has helped before, from experience…”
“A bet?”
“Yeah, let’s bet on tomorrow’s mock exam! What do you say? I’ll even spot you a hundred points head start?”
She leaned in with a big grin, shrugging grandly, and Kang Hyun couldn’t help but marvel at how cute it was as he asked again.
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, seriously!”
Her confident declaration left puzzled Kang Hyun mulling it over.
Was this pity, curiosity about an experiment subject, or genuine friendship?
But…
“Sure, sounds good.”
Good things were good, right?
“Don’t give up no matter what! I want everyone to do well, but especially you.”
The “especially” from her shining eyes felt odd, but Kang Hyun brushed it off with a smile. She must have been struck by his study declaration somehow.
“Yeah, thanks. Appreciate you looking out for me.”
It was strange that someone with no real connection would go this far, but it wasn’t something to turn down.
“See you tomorrow!”
Satisfied with his answer, she flashed a pleased look and trotted off.
The mock exam flew by in a blur.
Surprisingly, Yoon Haneul showed up on time that day too, so they had no chance to talk, each absorbed in their own studying.
The guy who used to sleep all class was now tearing through problems with sparkling eyes, earning some weird looks from those around, but nothing else happened as time passed.
Finally, all the exams ended, and grading time arrived.
“Kang Hyun, hand ‘em over! Big bro’ll grade them. You really went hard this time—what record will you shatter? Your score’s my top curiosity!”
Min-su snatched up Kang Hyun’s test papers.
“Min-su.”
“Yeah?”
Kang Hyun looked at the grading Min-su with dead seriousness.
“Don’t freak out.”
“What’s with the attitude?”
Teasing Kang Hyun’s intensity, Min-su started grading.
“Whoa… this is freaky for real.”
Marking the Korean paper with a red pen, he finished and slammed it down.
“Guys! This dude blanked Korean! Didn’t even touch the test!”
“What? For real?”
“Kahahaha! Epic!”
The class erupted in laughter. Amid it, Yoon Haneul slipped out with a blank expression.
“…”
Kang Hyun didn’t really care if she was disappointed, but something felt off, nagging at him.
“Our resident slacker Kang Hyun. Must’ve dozed off with the paper open. Got plenty of sleep, so PC bang?”
“Nah. No more games for me.”
“What? Seriously? Shocked by the zero?”
Pushing off Min-su’s arm around his shoulder, Kang Hyun packed his bag. He planned to rush home and study more.
‘I definitely got almost everything right. The problems were too easy.’
In truth, his calm exterior hid a heart pounding on the verge of bursting.
He’d been so relaxed during the test that after marking, he double-checked the problems three times.
Min-su’s version of the paper had no answer marks, but those three checks confirmed they were all correct.
In just a few weeks, his skills had skyrocketed insanely.
‘Next week’s scores will tell. I’ll drill the parts I felt shaky on while practicing.’
This wasn’t a dream.
Now, his goal was a Korean university.
‘To get a scholarship, I can’t miss a single one from here on.’
Ace the exams enough for a scholarship into law, maintain minimum credits, then take the Judicial Examination right away.
Law school would be fine, but it took time and money he didn’t have—the old-school Judicial Exam path was still dominant.
Pass the exam quick, become a prosecutor ahead of the pack, straighten his shoulders, catch a breather. Pay off debts that way.
His plans unfolding, Kang Hyun’s face relaxed as he grabbed his bag and stood.
The door swung open, and students flooded the hallway for dismissal.
Friends eyed the new Kang Hyun strangely but pretended not to notice as they left.
‘No time to play. Even if they keep up, I’m starting late.’
Leaving the classroom, he spotted Yoon Haneul’s back and started to follow.
The bet had definitely helped, and he oddly wanted to explain he hadn’t blanked…
‘Where’d she go?’
She’d vanished into the crowd of students pouring out.
‘There’ll be another chance.’
Giving up on finding Yoon Haneul, Kang Hyun headed home, arriving at the subway station.
Clunk, hiss.
The off-peak afternoon was empty and quiet.
He found a corner seat, bag on his lap, and the sleep deprivation from all-nighters finally hit.
“Yes. No need to come today. I’ll take the subway.”
Finishing the call, Yoon Haneul frowned slightly into space, her feelings tangled.
Kang Hyun always seemed so relaxed and happy, no matter what. Maybe that’s why his sudden study pledge had tugged at her.
‘A zero, though…’
But if it was all talk, she felt fooled—and pathetic for suggesting the bet yesterday.
Rattle.
The subway doors opened, and she boarded, taking a seat. She nibbled on the bread she’d bought, munching while listening to music.
Riding home like this wasn’t bad when her head was cluttered; she did it occasionally.
But…
“…?”
Something felt off today.
The older man across from her seemed to be aiming his phone at her.
Uneasy, she shifted slightly—and sure enough, he was filming her nonstop.
“Mister!”
She yelled out sharply, having caught him.
‘Yeah, I’ve been wiped these past few weeks. Too hyped on studying to sleep.’
Kang Hyun woke quickly, lost in thought. His study schedule kept popping into his head, keeping sleep shallow.
A few minutes after closing his eyes to rest and letting the train’s sway take him…
Crash, clamor.
‘What’s that?’
Noise erupted from the next car.
Curious, he opened his eyes, craned his neck, and peered down the aisle…
“Yoon Haneul?”
A familiar face.
Remembering what he wanted to say earlier, he jumped up to go— but something was wrong.
Wasn’t she arguing with some old guy?
Whoosh.
The door opened, revealing Yoon Haneul thrusting out her hand and shouting.
“Hand it over, now!”
“Are you crazy, kid!”
“You were taking pictures! Filming me!”
Kang Hyun grasped the situation instantly.
That creep had definitely used his phone camera to do something to Yoon Haneul.