Chapter 238: Mountain After Mountain
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 238: Mountain After Mountain
Since final exams were starting next week, the atmosphere in the lecture hall was naturally different from usual.
The people who used to play mobile games, the couples who used to flirt, and those who used to stare at the clock waiting for class to end—everyone was now of one mind and heart, focused intently on the professor’s words and gestures.
Perhaps the professor appreciated our newfound diligence. He continued the lecture with even more passion, occasionally dropping subtle hints about the questions that would appear on the exam.
However, even in the midst of this...
Seo Ye-rin wasn't focusing on the lecture at all.
I had heard that she was going to start filming during the break and would only put minimal effort into her studies. Still, I thought it was a bit much for her to be this checked out. Then again, I figured she’d have a hard time once she started memorizing scripts, studying her acting, and actually filming, so maybe she should get some rest while she could.
In fact, the way she attended lectures as often as she did now was quite impressive in its own right.
If I had to put it one way, I guess our efforts are just directed toward different things.
So, I decided to let her rest for now.
"Tsk."
My right hand, which had been gripping the pen, felt stiff, so I started massaging it with my left.
Seo Ye-rin, who had been staring blankly, reached out toward me.
"I'll do it for you."
"You don't have to."
I was a little worried it might hurt if I let her do it, since she still seemed a bit upset, but Seo Ye-rin looked even angrier when I didn't give her my hand.
"Here."
When I handed her my right hand, she pressed down on my palm quite earnestly. Seeing her do it so carefully made me feel bad for hesitating just a moment ago. Moreover, her expression brightened considerably.
"Ah, thanks."
The professor wrote something that looked important, so I tried to pull my hand away to jot it down quickly. But as soon as I did, Seo Ye-rin’s expression darkened again.
"..."
Her lips pouted slightly. Along with a sullen gaze, she even let out a small huff. It seemed she didn't like me pulling my hand away.
Is she mad or what?
I knew that usually, when couples fight or are angry, they try not to touch each other. I stealthily slid my left hand toward her under my right arm while I continued taking notes. I wondered if this was what she wanted, and sure enough, the moment she saw it, she snatched my left hand and grinned.
"Hehe, hmph."
She rested her chin on her other hand to hide the fact that the corners of her mouth were stretching wide, looking pleased again. I couldn't tell if she was easy or difficult to deal with.
It wasn't like we were doing anything intensely physical. We were just like a couple in a youth drama, dating in secret, holding hands under the desk where no one could see. That was all.
And I thought this was one of the charms Seo Ye-rin possessed.
She called her true self Anonymous 69 and was indeed very curious and interested in sexual matters, but that didn't mean the side she usually showed was entirely fake.
She probably thought that side of her was fake because the public's attention was so overwhelming it became a source of stress.
But every time I saw her like this, I couldn't deny that she possessed the pure charm that others saw in her.
"What?"
Seo Ye-rin asked softly when she saw me chuckling instead of taking notes.
"Nothing."
Did she know? That I had just discovered another one of her charms?
"I think I just ended up liking you even more."
When I said that slightly cheesy line with a smirk, a broad smile spread across her face, and she whipped her head away. Just like before, she covered her mouth with the hand she was leaning on to hide her laughter, but our hands remained clasped together.
Neither advancing nor retreating. We were simply enjoying that moment together.
* * *
"Let's go!"
As soon as the lecture ended, Seo Ye-rin linked her arm with mine, completely ignoring the eyes of those around us. She used to be somewhat restrained when people were watching, but now she was clinging to me passionately, as if she had broken out of her shell.
"Go where?"
I saw the students leaving the lecture hall whispering quietly, but I had already given up. My left hand was sweaty and my shoulder was stiff from holding hands until the very end of the lecture.
"To Woo-jini's room!"
Seeing that she had returned to her usual way of calling me, it seemed her anger had mostly dissipated.
"My room? Why? To take a quick break?"
I wondered if there was anything specific to do in my room, but Seo Ye-rin gave a devious smile, stood on her tiptoes, and whispered in my ear.
"We have to have sex, right?"
"..."
The time we had spent connecting through that innocent skinship felt like it had vanished into thin air. It felt as if that gentle emotion was merely foreplay to heat things up before the actual act.
"What? I thought we weren't doing that? You said yourself you weren't the kind of woman who's satisfied just by having sex."
"I did."
Seo Ye-rin stepped back and nodded. Perhaps because there was no one left in the lecture hall, her voice got a bit louder.
"But! If just holding hands felt that good, imagine how great sex will be!"
"How do you make such a leap from holding hands to sex?"
At her words that she was sufficiently satisfied just by holding hands, I felt relieved that the emotion I had felt wasn't a lie.
"I don't know. It's because Woo-jini is so hot. It's cheating. I'm not at fault here."
What is she even saying?
"You looked so sexy focusing on the lecture that I can't stand it!"
"You know I have another class after this."
Moreover, it was a class I was taking with Choi I-seo. I felt like this was exactly what people meant by "one obstacle after another."
"There's a two-hour lunch break. That should be plenty of time, right?"
"..."
To be honest, I was exhausted. It was because I had shared some rather intense love with Yoo Ah-rin last night, as her cat cosplay had struck a chord deep in my heart.
Sigh, what do I do?
The moment I hesitated, wondering what to do about my still-aching lower body...
Grab!
Seo Ye-rin's hand gripped my lower half as she pressed her chest firmly against mine.
"Don't tell me."
We were close enough to feel each other's breath. Looking up at me, Seo Ye-rin gave a faint warning.
"You're not going to say you can't do it because you did it too much yesterday, right?"
Suddenly, the term "obligatory defense match" flashed through my mind. I gripped Seo Ye-rin’s shoulders, fighting back tears.
"Le-Let's go!"
* * *
"Ye-Ye-rin, I'm heading to class now, okay?"
"Haa... haaa!"
Leaving behind Seo Ye-rin, who was sprawled naked on my bed, I stepped outside. Amidst a pain that felt like my dick was about to fall off, I somehow managed to drag myself toward my next lecture.
She looked completely spent, but in reality, it was more like I was the one who had been devoured. I was afraid she might bite me if I couldn't get it up, so I fought for my life to perform, and now everything felt numb.
I really need to find a way to make her show some restraint.
Even if final exams weren't important to her, they were to me. I needed to be as careful as possible during the exam period, but she just kept pouncing on me like that.
Then again, if you asked if I hated it, the answer was no.
Wait, do I smell like Seo Ye-rin?
Just in case, I was spraying deodorant I had packed in my bag at the dormitory entrance when Senior Ju-hee walked in, looking like a total wreck.
"Hello, Senior."
She looked quite sensitive due to the exam period, so I was just going to give a quick greeting, and she seemed like she was going to just nod and pass by, but then she stopped dead and stared at me.
"...Wh-What is it?"
It was a fresh sight to see her with such deep dark circles under her eyes. From beneath her white hat, her gaze landed squarely on me.
"Never mind."
She said she didn't particularly want to talk and just walked away.
What was that about?
I felt very uneasy, but since I was late for class, I hopped on my bicycle and headed straight for the lecture hall.
Tsk, it'll be fine, right?
Even as I rode, a sense of anxiety kept creeping up on me. I had somehow managed to satisfy Seo Ye-rin and appease her anger, but how was I supposed to appease Choi I-seo?
I trembled with fear, but I couldn't deny that this was the path I had chosen. I figured it was best to go and talk to her first.
I arrived at the lecture hall. The professor hadn't arrived yet, so I wasn't quite late, but the room was already packed. I had felt it during the last lecture, but the attendance rate was definitely much higher during the exam period.
I saw Choi I-seo right at the front. Look at her, taking a seat in the front row like the model student she is. At the same time, seeing her bag placed on the seat next to her to save it for me made me breathe a sigh of relief. At least it meant we were in a position to talk.
"Hey, I-seo."
I wondered if I should just greet her normally. Choi I-seo silently moved her bag and glanced at me. Just as I was about to offer the excuse I had prepared for her "tell me what happened" expression...
"...The previous lecture was with Ye-rin, wasn't it?"
"Huh?"
Choi I-seo’s eyes trembled slightly as she shot me a sharp look. I had a strong feeling I was already screwed, but I tried to play it off.
"Th-That's right. I had a class with Seo Ye-rin."
"Whew."
Choi I-seo took a deep breath and looked down at her textbook. She seemed to be debating whether to say something or not. After much deliberation, the conclusion she reached was a smile.
"Ah-rin last night, and Ye-rin during lunch?"
How did she know? I could understand her figuring out Yoo Ah-rin, but I thought I had hidden the Seo Ye-rin part well.
"How much deodorant did you spray, Woo-jin? It's stinging my nose."
"Th-That's because I had pork belly for lunch and the smell was really strong."
"Oh, is that why?"
It was a lie that wouldn't even fly. I knew I'd get caught as I said it, but I felt like I had to at least try. Of course, the result was disastrous.
"You sure live a busy life, Woo-jin."
I swallowed hard. I don't think I had ever waited for a professor this much in my entire life. Seeing me like that, Choi I-seo let out an incredulous laugh and pointed to her own neck.
"There's a mark, Woo-jin."
"...!"
Without thinking, I quickly raised my hand to cover my neck. When did Seo Ye-rin leave a mark?
I was already fucked. If that was the case, I just had to beg.
"I-seo, it's not that... well, it is, but I wasn't the one who started it."
"Aha, I see."
"I-I was going to have lunch, but Seo Ye-rin dragged me away. It really felt like an obligatory defense match...!"
Then, Choi I-seo took a hand mirror out of her bag and handed it to me. Looking in the mirror, my neck was perfectly clean, without a single mark.
Dammit. I'd been played.
"So you really did it."
Choi I-seo nodded as she put the mirror back in her bag. I clenched my fists and threw my final bargaining chip at her.
"I-I'll try to do it about two more times."
"..."
"Th-Three times?"
When I held up three fingers and gave an awkward smile, Choi I-seo smiled back. While I was breaking into a cold sweat and trying to read her expression, another female student timidly walked up to me.
"Ex-Excuse me. This is my seat."
"...Huh?"
I was about to ask what she meant, but Choi I-seo pushed my shoulder and made a cold declaration.
"Piss off, Woo-jin. This seat is taken."
"I-I-seo!"
I tried to make an excuse, but the professor entered the lecture hall. In the end, I had no choice but to sit far away from Choi I-seo.