Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Suspicion of Collusion
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Gu Min-jeong—she belonged to the Emergency Response Committee.
She had been stunned by the mention of her name in the text message, left speechless for quite a while.
Her committee, along with herself, had publicly declared support for Kang Hyun?
It was utterly ridiculous.
How shocking this was.
If this text had truly circulated, it was blatant illegal electioneering, and to any ordinary person, it screamed clear internal collusion.
This was no small matter. It couldn't be brushed off lightly. Such issues had never arisen in past Korea University elections or those below it—this was an unacceptable, incomprehensible situation.
Kang Hyun and Gu Min-jeong exchanged awkward, uncomfortable glances.
Was it Kang Hyun's doing? Or the Emergency Response Committee's? Or perhaps a trap set by a third party?
Could they trust Kang Hyun? Or not? Conversely, could they trust Gu Min-jeong? Or not?
"...Kang Hyun?"
Holding the phone displaying the illegal election text toward him, she peered into his face.
But he remained calm, his expression unchanging, as if this was something he had expected all along.
"Kang Hyun?"
"Yes."
"...It seems like the text went out to all students, professors, and related parties at the school..."
"Yes. That's what it looks like. I got it too."
"By any chance..."
She hesitated, unsure where to even begin with her questions.
From Gu Min-jeong's position, she had no idea if Kang Hyun had ordered the texts to be sent and it had backfired, or if this was a trap. She had warned him to be careful, but she hadn't anticipated this.
However, Kang Hyun showed no intention of explaining himself. He merely gave her a brief greeting and turned to leave.
"Thank you for your concern. And please take care of the rest of today's candidate speech event. I'll be off now."
He bowed politely.
"...Kang Hyun, what about this text?"
She tried once more to get to the bottom of it, but Kang Hyun replied with a serene expression.
"I don't think I'm in a position to discuss that right now."
"Pardon?"
"I'll stay out here for a bit and make my own way to the lounge later. I know where it is."
"You're still going ahead with your speech as planned?"
Kang Hyun bowed his head again in response and began walking back down the hallway he had come from.
Step by step.
Gu Min-jeong stood there blankly, watching him walk away.
She couldn't bring herself to say anything more to him.
* * *
-What the hell is this...?
-This is internal collusion, right?
-Kang Hyun's totally busted.
-How's his image gonna recover?
Murmurs filled the air.
Kang Hyun watched the situation in the audience from afar and let out a sigh.
For now, whether it was Gu Min-jeong or anyone else, he couldn't trust anyone not explicitly on his side.
Trapped as he was, he needed to stay calm and make swift decisions.
'Should I cancel?'
He stared blankly at the brightly lit podium.
He even considered postponing the schedule to mitigate the risks.
But that would be self-destructive. It might just amplify the rumors and create a snowball effect.
And that was likely what the trap's architects wanted.
Kang Hyun clenched his fist.
"Hoo..."
His phone already had several missed calls.
Dan Cho-rok, Lee Myung-hwan, Yoon Chan-rim, Woo Si-hyung.
And Yoon Haneul.
'She must be worried.'
Step, step.
At that moment, a man approached Kang Hyun from behind the stage.
"Hello, Kang Hyun."
Dressed in a sharp suit with a polite smile—Kang Hyun recognized him immediately.
He had a face similar to Yang Bo-hyun, currently under investigation, but with a slightly more youthful look.
It was Yang Hee-chan.
Kang Hyun murmured his name under his breath. The man chuckled softly and stepped closer.
"I'm Yang Hee-chan. Honored that you recognize me. I wanted to greet you first, even though we'll see each other at this speech event. I was curious about you—a non-Business Administration major running for Student Council President, and such an impressive figure at that."
He extended his hand.
Kang Hyun eyed him coldly, glaring at the hand with clear hostility.
'It must be you.'
He knew full well about Kang Hyun's predicament yet pretended otherwise, coming to gauge his reaction in person. Kang Hyun had no desire to shake such a brazen hand, so he just stared silently. Yang Hee-chan withdrew it.
"Haha, guess we're not in a handshake mood, huh?"
He shrugged and took another step forward.
The shadows behind the stage shifted perfectly, revealing his expression clearly.
It was blatant.
A mocking face saying you were no different from us. An expression that found the situation amusing.
Of course, Kang Hyun couldn't be certain it was Yang Hee-chan's doing. But he was clearly enjoying it.
"You seem tense."
He asked in a mocking tone.
Kang Hyun felt anger rising but held it back and said,
"Let's cut to the chase."
"Oh."
Yang Hee-chan touched his forehead and chuckled. Shaking his head, he looked almost sleazy, but when Kang Hyun remained expressionless, he spoke as if granting a favor.
"Fine, if that's how you want it. You must be worried about that text."
"No need for unnecessary concern."
Yang Hee-chan continued regardless of Kang Hyun's response.
"It must be awkward for you, but I'm in a tough spot too. We were supposed to fight fair and clean to elevate our Business Administration department's prestige... but you're voluntarily withdrawing."
"...Voluntarily withdrawing?"
"I heard internally that you've already decided to step down from the candidacy."
Kang Hyun gritted his teeth.
It was a second blow after the first.
"..."
He ground his teeth.
Should he declare there would be no withdrawal? Or deny all suspicions outright?
A bit of confusion stirred in his mind.
Meanwhile, Yang Hee-chan put on an innocent, fake expression and said,
"Then this stage is pointless, isn't it? Consider canceling the rest of the schedule. You seem troubled—should we start with the lower-ranked candidates? "
"...Go ahead."
"Thank you. Facing boos on stage would be suffocating, so wise choice. We need you focused instead of worrying. If you go first and things go south... well, it might mess up my speech too."
"..."
He couldn't let himself get dragged into the sarcasm.
Kang Hyun nodded, exercising utmost patience, and said,
"I think that's enough conversation."
"Sure. See you."
Left alone, Kang Hyun felt a creeping sense of helplessness.
"Hoo."
Standing in the corner behind the stage, he closed his eyes.
He needed to think.
How to escape this trap, and how to fight and win.
In this situation, he could only trust himself. If he hadn't brought this on himself, there was always an escape from any crisis.
"Hoo..."
One minute, two... five, ten...
Time kept passing.
More people began gathering.
Amid it all, time flowed on until the bell signaling the event's start echoed through the auditorium.
Ding-dong-dang.
Tap-tap.
-Ah, ah! The Korea University Student Council President election speech event will begin shortly. Please take your seats.
The announcement boomed, but the angry voices and shocked murmurs didn't subside.
They grew louder.
-Kang Hyun's a scary guy, huh?
-So he lobbied internally?
-How'd he hack the system to text the whole school?
Condemnation.
The first true vilification Kang Hyun had ever faced—not mere criticism or rebuke.
A moment that could stop anyone's breath. Tension hammering the head and heart like a mallet, dizziness from fear of the future gripping the nape.
The horror of realizing unknown enemies lurked everywhere.
Kang Hyun began to focus.
He closed his eyes calmly, steadying his breath, simply waiting for the moment.
"..."
He opened his eyes, resolved.
He had to concentrate on the speech.
It had turned into a press conference-like ordeal, but he needed to use this time to find a way.
Finding the enemy could wait—focus now was paramount.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but in this instant, Kang Hyun's eyes shone brighter than ever.
And so, he could step out confidently from the shadowed backstage.
By now, the Emergency Response Committee chair and election committee officials were taking the stage one by one, greeting the audience.
Polite applause.
The seated audience quieted, focusing fully on the stage.
"...Korea University Student Council President candidates' speech event. We will first welcome candidate Yang Hee-chan. Please give him a big round of applause."
Unlike the announcer's words, weak, sparse claps floated in the air. It was backlash for Kang Hyun's absence, the one they'd expected.
The audience now doubted Kang Hyun. In this moment, Yang Hee-chan had sprouted wings.
Entering boldly, he began his speech with a resounding greeting.
"Hello, fellow Korea University students. I'm Yang Hee-chan. It's an honor to have this chance to explain my candidacy to you."
His speech grew more outrageous as it went on.
Student council direction? School policy changes? Their efforts? He showed no interest.
It was all attacks on Kang Hyun, spotlighting the text scandal.
"...Our school is in great external and internal crisis right now. Let me confirm one fact about that unfortunate text sent to you all."
Pure negative campaigning.
To rise by crushing the opponent: elevate yourself first, then tear them down.
The latter compensated powerfully for low name recognition.
Direct attacks on the rival candidate. Yang Hee-chan executed it mechanically, systematically, as if fully prepared.
"Public concern about candidate Kang Hyun is growing daily. He, who never participated in student council activities, rode a halo from a few coincidental incidents to point his gun at us!"
Passionate gestures, a resonant, impassioned voice.
His words twisted from lies into truth.
From backstage, Kang Hyun listened and thought.
What was needed to shatter their view of him in one blow?
Volume control, gestures, emotional delivery, fervent appeal?
None of that.
He shot to his feet from his seat.
He hadn't given up yet.