Chapter 351: Self-reflection
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 351: Self-reflection
Slurp.
Slurp.
Slurp.
“Ugh, stop making those damn slurping noises, you guys.”
We were huddled around a table in the cafe. Since college students often come here to work on group projects, there were several large tables available. Thanks to that, all ten of us could sit together at once.
For the record, the girls hadn't arrived yet.
“Why aren't they here yet?”
“It’s a power play. They’re pretending to take their time on purpose.”
“A power play even after they saw Chan-woo’s face?”
Just look at them, sipping their coffee and acting all restless. Every single one of them had their eyes glued to the cafe entrance.
“On the house.”
Just then, Senior Ju-hee brought some cake over to us. Since finals were over, she said she helps out here occasionally on weekends.
“On the house?”
“Oh, Ju-hee, thanks!”
“Thank you, Senior.”
She didn't say much. She just stared at me with a strangely cold gaze.
“Ahem, is something wrong?”
“No.”
When I asked cautiously, she just brushed it off and walked away. She had gone over to the other girls' table earlier, too. She must have heard what today’s gathering was all about.
“Ahem.”
I felt a pang of guilt for no reason.
The girls were sitting by the window. Since our large table was in the center of the cafe, there was a bit of distance between us, but they were still clearly visible.
Right on cue, Seo Ye-rin caught my eye and gave me a bright, subtle wave.
Man, I just want to go sit over there.
The urge to ditch these guys and go sit with the girls was surging within me. Why was I stuck here among these sweaty slaves to their libidos instead of being with them?
“Hey, honestly, I’m not usually the type to ask this kind of thing,” I said, looking at the culprit, Ahn Hyun-ho. “Did you really break up with Gyu-a? I was dragged all the way here, so I think I deserve to know that much.”
Everyone else must have been curious too, as they all glanced at him.
“Sigh… we haven't officially broken up yet.”
“Then what?”
“But I saw her shopping with another guy.”
“Oof.”
“Tsk.”
“It’s okay, man. Let’s just go to the military together.”
Was that supposed to be a consolation? Not that any comfort would have actually helped him at this point.
It could be a misunderstanding, but…
Given Lee Gyu-a’s track record, I could understand why Ahn Hyun-ho was acting like this.
Just then, the group of girls walked in. The moment he saw them, Han-gang stood up with a grin.
“Hello! Over here!”
Students from Chungsim University. I’d heard they were dance majors, and they certainly lived up to the reputation—every single one of them was graceful and striking.
Chungsim University… I have some history there.
That was the school Choi I-seo’s friend, Jung Min-ji, attended. I still remembered wrecking Min-ji’s ex-boyfriend who went there. Back then, I never imagined I’d become this close with these idiots.
The conversation moved quickly. They introduced themselves, exchanged greetings, and chatted about this and that. Kang Han-gang took the lead in the conversation, and the girls, naturally, showed the most interest in Jeong Chan-woo.
However, the others weren't exactly eyesores either, so instead of a cutthroat battle over Chan-woo, it turned into a pleasant time of getting to know one another.
That’s unexpected.
The most surprising part was that they didn't seem to know who I was. I thought I’d become somewhat famous, but they showed almost no interest in me. In fact, it was more like they were avoiding looking at me altogether.
Because of that, I could see the guys secretly shooting me mocking smirks.
Well, I don't really care, but…
Still, it did sting my pride a little. If it was going to be like this, was there even a point in me coming?
“Chan-woo, have you ever modeled? I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere.”
“Ah, yes. I do some part-time work as a fitting model.”
“I knew it!”
“What should we have for dinner? Is there anything you’d like to eat?”
“For starters… maybe some drinks?”
“Drinks! Drinks sound great!”
Man, these guys were having the time of their lives.
While I was sitting in the corner just sipping my coffee…
“Excuse me?”
A woman approached our table. It was Seo Ye-rin, possessing the kind of beauty that naturally commanded everyone’s attention. Especially since she had dressed up so elegantly today, she drew the gaze of everyone who entered the cafe.
She addressed me politely and then subtly held out her phone.
“Could I have your number?”
“…Pardon?”
I was wondering what on earth was going on when she continued.
“I really like your look. You’re exactly my type of handsome, and you have such a fresh vibe about you.”
“…”
When I glared at her as if to ask what she was doing, she just gave me a playful wink. The other guys were staring blankly, trying to process the situation, while the Chungsim girls just watched warily.
In truth, it was a very rude thing to do, but Seo Ye-rin’s appearance was so overwhelming that no one could bring themselves to stop her.
“Um, I’m actually in the middle of a meeting right now.”
“Oh, I see. I’m sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt.”
As if there was anyone here who didn't know this was a meeting.
“Well then, if you don't find a match by the time you’re finished, please give me your number then.”
“…”
With that, Seo Ye-rin made a cool exit. We all just stared at her back with blank expressions.
*
“How was I? Was I amazing? Did I totally boost his ego?”
Returning to her seat, Seo Ye-rin asked the other two with a smirk.
“It was good.”
“As expected of Seo Ye-rin’s face.”
Choi I-seo and Yoo Ah-rin gave her a thumbs up in praise.
“Sigh, we really are the only ones who look out for Woo-jini’s pride, aren't we?”
Kim Woo-jin was being sidelined in the meeting with the Chungsim girls. At first, they had jokingly toasted with their drinks, but as they watched it unfold, they started to feel strangely annoyed.
“Do those girls really have no eye for men? This is ridiculous.”
“I know, right! No matter how you look at it, Woo-jini is the best-looking one there.”
“That’s a bit…”
Choi I-seo spoke with an awkward smile, but the other two immediately fired back.
“What do you mean, ‘a bit’? Honestly, Jeong Chan-woo looks so scrawny and frail. I’ve known him since high school, so I know.”
“Who in that group is better than Woo-jini? Explain it to me using the five Ws and one H, Choi I-seo!”
“…Fine, Kim Woo-jin is the best.”
They say falling in love makes normal thinking impossible. Their rose-colored glasses were thick indeed. Choi I-seo decided it was better to just stop talking and sipped her drink through her straw.
“Hey, but don't those girls watch Neutube? It should already be known that Kim Woo-jin is the youngest son of Uju Group.”
“Exactly. Honestly, I thought there would be girls approaching him just for his money!”
“Guys, they’re still college students. They’re not at the age to approach someone just for money.”
“What are you talking about? College students can definitely be gold diggers.”
“Besides, there are so, so many reasons to approach Woo-jini other than money!”
“Sigh, I didn't want to have to say this.”
Feeling like she finally had to take charge, Choi I-seo spoke up.
“I think you guys are a little too obsessed with Kim Woo-jin.”
“Whatever. That might apply to Seo Ye-rin, but not me.”
“It applies to me! I can only see Woo-jini’s good points!”
While that’s understandable between people in love, there was definitely a need for some moderation. Seo Ye-rin tended to go off the rails even when she knew better, and Yoo Ah-rin, while pretending otherwise, was surprisingly soft on Kim Woo-jin.
Choi I-seo first directed her advice toward Yoo Ah-rin.
“Ah-rin, you just go along with whatever Kim Woo-jin wants to do. That’s why he has no brakes.”
“Ha! That’s funny. What exactly do I ‘go along’ with?”
“Coming here was your idea in the end. You wanted to spy on his meeting. Doesn't that mean you ultimately permitted the meeting in the first place?”
“…”
“And besides, what happened at the Taekwondo dojo last time… I heard from Yun-ji what you guys were up to.”
“No, that was—!”
Yoo Ah-rin tried to say something but ultimately shut her mouth. It wasn't like I-seo was wrong. Memories of times when she could have refused but didn't naturally came to mind. In fact, deep down, she had actually wanted him to be a bit forceful, and Kim Woo-jin, knowing that well, had acted exactly as she wished.
“Ooh, what did they do?”
Seo Ye-rin, who was eating cake, asked with her fork still in her mouth. She was the only one who didn't know what had happened at the dojo.
“It’s nothing.”
“Nothing much.”
“What is it?!”
The two chose to keep their mouths shut. If she found out, there was no telling what Seo Ye-rin would do or where she would do it.
That girl is a loose cannon.
Let’s not provoke Ye-rin.
Seo Ye-rin huffed and quickly finished off her cake. Choi I-seo’s target now shifted to her.
“Ye-rin, don't you think you’re being a bit much?”
“Nope.”
“…”
It was an incredibly confident answer. Yoo Ah-rin immediately jumped in to support I-seo.
“You should. If you’re that easy, he’ll get tired of you faster, you know?”
A partner who is too devoted can often lead to boredom early on. It was a common cliché in dramas and movies.
However…
“Heh.”
With a scoff, Seo Ye-rin confidently placed a hand on her chest and asked back.
“Tired of me?”
“Damn, that’s hard to argue with.”
“I do love that confidence.”
Seo Ye-rin’s response—asking who could possibly ever get tired of her—was truly arrogant, yet also strangely persuasive.
“Besides, Woo-jini isn't the type to get tired of anyone. You guys know that.”
“…”
“…”
This time, both of them had to stay silent. They knew all too well that as long as they didn't leave him, Kim Woo-jin would continue to be with them.
Feelings might not last forever, but they could strangely and easily accept that he would stay true.
“How much longer are you guys going to stay?”
Just then, Min Ju-hee approached and asked as she collected their empty cups.
“Pardon?”
“Huh?”
“Ah…”
Before they knew it, the meeting members were leaving the cafe. The three of them quickly got up and headed outside. Everyone else had left, and Kim Woo-jin was standing there all alone.
“…Guys, am I really that bad?”
A dejected Kim Woo-jin had been rejected by all five of the girls today.
“I mean, I wasn't really interested either, okay? But when they said they were going for a second round, they suddenly told me not to come.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“They said I’m not their type. They said they don't feel any masculine charm from me. They said being around me was actually a bit unpleasant. All five of them said the same thing.”
Haha, hahahaha!
Kim Woo-jin laughed, utterly dumbfounded. Seo Ye-rin and Yoo Ah-rin each took one of his arms.
“Our Woo-jini! Let’s go eat something delicious today!”
“Hey, you idiot! You’ve got goddesses far more beautiful than those girls on both your arms, so what are you talking about?”
“Guys…”
“Those girls have absolutely no taste! How could they possibly like Senior Han-gang or Hyun-ho over you?!”
“Jeong Chan-woo and Pyo Jin-ho are the same! Anyone can see those guys are all show and no substance! Honestly, people who dress up halfway like that always have weird taste!”
Watching Seo Ye-rin and Yoo Ah-rin comfort him from both sides, Choi I-seo chuckled. Honestly, they were all far too obsessed with Kim Woo-jin.
I’m the only one who needs to keep a level head.
She felt the need to keep a bit of distance and observe. As Choi I-seo was thinking that…
Vibrate! Vibrate! Vibrate!
Her phone began to ring. She took a step back and answered the call. It was her roommate, Min-ji.
— I-seo, is it over?
“Yeah, they all went to dinner. He’s the only one left here.”
— Jeez, why did that guy even join a meeting?
At Jung Min-ji’s grumbling, Choi I-seo looked at Kim Woo-jin’s back and smiled.
“He just wanted to help out his few friends. I couldn't exactly stop him.”
— But it all worked out, right?
“Yeah, thanks.”
— You’re buying Yeop-tteok tomorrow, okay? I worked so hard threatening and persuading those dance majors.
— It’s a good thing Kim Woo-jin is famous. Once I warned them never to touch him if they didn't want to be blacklisted by Uju Group, they were absolutely terrified.
“I know.”
Choi I-seo quietly approached Kim Woo-jin as she hung up. The smile on her lips hadn't faded.
“Good job.”
“Hmm?”
Who was she talking to? Kim Woo-jin? Or Jung Min-ji? Whatever it was…
“Let’s go. Have you decided what to eat?”
It’s always the quiet ones you have to watch out for.
“This guy wants to eat stir-fried pork.”
“Ugh, Woo-jin! Stir-fried pork is a bit much!”
“Weren't you guys just saying you’d comfort me?”
“Stir-fried pork? Hmm, sure. I’m in.”
Just as Choi I-seo had said in the cafe, even the most rational person can have their judgment clouded when it comes to love.
And Choi I-seo was no exception.