Chapter 520: Anonymous 160
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 520: Anonymous 160
"How's college life?"
Even as the words left my mouth, I felt like I’d missed the mark.
We were eating at the student cafeteria, but the way I opened the conversation felt more like a professor or an old relative than a peer.
Perhaps it was because of our unique relationship—I wasn't just a senior, but her sister's husband.
Surprisingly, Choi I-hyun answered without much awkwardness.
"It's great. Really fun. I think I've eaten more meals bought by my seniors than meals I've paid for with my own money."
"..."
It felt like the kid was growing up in a slightly concerning direction.
Since she was in the Department of Architectural Engineering, which was overwhelmingly male, I expected her to be treated like royalty. But if she picked up bad habits because of that...
"Don't worry. My sister's been lecturing me like crazy about it. I already planned to treat my seniors back later."
As if reading my mind, Choi I-hyun spoke while popping a piece of kimchi into her mouth.
"I mean, I keep saying I'll pay, but they insist on buying. It's actually kind of uncomfortable."
"Hah, you're like the Seo Ye-rin of the Architectural Engineering department."
"Huh? Ye-rin? Ah..."
Choi I-hyun let out a chuckle at my comment.
"I guess so. It must have been even worse for her. Honestly, I used to think, 'Where else could you find someone as pretty as my sister?' I figured people on TV just looked like that because of makeup and lighting."
She had a surprising amount of pride in her sister. I felt my own shoulders square a bit—likely because I shared that same pride in my wife.
"But Ye-rin really is stunning, isn't she? I'm not saying my sister is lacking, but it's like... if the maximum score on an exam is 100, she's the type who somehow gets a 110."
"That's a great way to put it."
It felt like a perfect description.
Anyway, hearing my wife being praised put me in a good mood, and I continued enjoying my meal.
"Yawn."
Oh Yun-ji sat down in the seat next to me, letting out a long yawn.
We were originally supposed to eat together, but her lecture had run late, so I had started without her.
"Cheese pork cutlet? That doesn't really fit your image, Yun-ji."
"Hmm? Really? I love cheese pork cutlet. Someone kept feeding me pork cutlets every single day, so I ended up liking them too."
"Ahem."
I was a bit obsessed back then.
I used to rotate through a 'Holy Trinity' of stir-fried pork, pork cutlets, and gukbap. Oh Yun-ji had actually gotten into a fight with me once because she was sick of following me around to those places.
"But what exactly is Yun-ji's 'image' that makes pork cutlet not fit?"
"...Good question."
Oh Yun-ji tilted her head, curious as well. Choi I-hyun answered without hesitation, as if she had been waiting for the question.
"You look like the type who only drinks wine and only eats steak. You have that... high-class vibe?"
"Heh, Choi I-seo raised her sister well. She's a good kid."
"..."
Oh Yun-ji did have a sophisticated look, especially with her glossy red hair.
But if I told this kid about her hometown or what she was like during our early college days, she’d probably be horrified.
Stomp.
"Just eat your food, okay?"
Oh Yun-ji stepped on my foot under the table while smiling. It was a clear warning not to shatter the fantasy this kid had of her.
"Oh, right. Woo-jin. I checked the Bamboo Forest earlier, and that person impersonating you is still at it."
"I blocked them."
I answered dismissively, but then suddenly realized Choi I-hyun was sitting right in front of us.
Our eyes met and widened. I glanced at her, but she didn't seem to find anything strange about the conversation. Instead, she spoke up irritably.
"Right? That's an impersonator, isn't it? There are so many weird people in this world."
"Exactly. Who impersonates a chaebol? It's not like you're a celebrity."
"A real freak. Sigh, there are so many strange people on the Bamboo Forest."
It was a university community, but all you ever saw were lunatics.
Sometimes, looking around the campus, it felt chilling to think that some of the people walking past might be the ones writing those posts.
"I-hyun, if any weird seniors in your department hit on you, tell Chan-woo. He'll pass the word to me."
"Got it! It's reassuring to have you here. My sister told me never to become a CC, though."
"..."
"Pfft."
We were a 'CC' that ended up getting married...
Beside me, Oh Yun-ji couldn't hold back a snicker, her lips curling upward.
*
After finishing our meal, I decided to buy them coffee, fulfilling my role as both a boyfriend and a brother-in-law.
"I'll have a Cafe Mocha!"
"I'll take an Americano."
While the coffee was being prepared, the two of them headed to the cafe's restroom. Left alone, I stood there scrolling through the Bamboo Forest on my phone.
"S-S-Senior Kim Woo-jin."
"Hmm?"
I turned my head to see a girl wearing glasses standing there.
She had a few friends behind her, and her face looked vaguely familiar.
"Hello. I'm Seo Da-mi, a freshman in the English Department."
"Ah, so you're in English."
I thought I'd seen her somewhere; I must have passed her in the halls. I gave her a friendly smile.
"I'm a terrible senior. I didn't even recognize my own juniors."
"N-No, not at all!"
Seo Da-mi shook her head vigorously, her face turning bright red. Seeing that the atmosphere was good, the other juniors behind her stepped forward, bowed, and introduced themselves.
'Wow, things really have changed.'
I'd heard that the university landscape completely resets after you return from military service, and it was true.
In my freshman year, I had caused all sorts of trouble and gotten into countless fights. Of course, I had managed to clean up my act to some extent later on, but the negative perception of me had never truly vanished.
Back then, many students—including Lee Gyu-a, who was a freshman at the time—avoided me because of the rumors spread by seniors.
But now that I was back from the military, it seemed the rumors had faded with time.
I was feeling sentimental, thinking I might finally have a normal college life, when...
"S-Senior. Are you... by any chance, buying coffee?"
Seo Da-mi asked shyly and cautiously, while the other English majors' eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Huh?"
Buying them coffee wasn't a problem, but being asked so bluntly was a bit off-putting.
Seeing my hesitation, Seo Da-mi hurriedly held out her phone. On the screen was a post by 'Anonymous 160' saying they would buy coffee for anyone who found them.
"T-This... it said you'd buy coffee if we found you."
"Ah."
I scratched the back of my head and laughed awkwardly.
"You didn't see the comments, did you? I already said that was an impersonator."
"A-Ah! I-I see?! I'm so sorry."
Seo Da-mi bowed deeply.
The other students looked flustered and tried to apologize, but I waved them off.
"It's fine. Since my juniors went through the trouble of finding me, I can at least buy you some coffee. Pick what you want."
"T-Thank you so much!"
"Wow! You're the best, Senior!"
"Thank you!"
"We'll enjoy it!"
The juniors rushed to the counter to pick their drinks.
Even though Anonymous 160 was a nuisance, this wasn't a bad outcome since it helped me get to know my juniors. Honestly, buying a few coffees wasn't a big deal.
Just as our drinks were ready, Choi I-hyun and Oh Yun-ji returned from the restroom.
I was about to hand them their coffee and ask them to wait a moment while I paid for the juniors' drinks, when...
"Wa-Waaa! Waaaah! No way!"
Suddenly, Seo Da-mi came hopping over from the counter and closed the distance in an instant.
With trembling hands, she pulled out her phone and asked pleadingly.
"Y-You're Senior Oh Yun-ji, right? The CEO of Star Studio! The one who manages broadcasters like Popo, Milenne, and Jik-maen!"
"U-Uh, yeah... that's me."
Oh Yun-ji looked flustered. She had appeared on Popo's broadcasts a few times, but she had never met someone who welcomed her this enthusiastically.
"I-I'm sorry, but could I take a picture with you? Please."
"Oh, well... sure. Should we take a selfie together?"
"No! With Senior Woo-jin!"
"Eh?"
"Huh?"
Both Yun-ji and I asked in confusion at the same time.
Usually, people want a selfie with the person they recognize, or just a photo of that person. Asking for a photo of the two of us together was unexpected.
Regardless.
Oh Yun-ji stood beside me.
As we stood there holding our coffees, Seo Da-mi asked tentatively.
"C-C-Could you... maybe link arms?"
"Hmm? That's easy enough."
Oh Yun-ji naturally linked her arm with mine. I felt a bit self-conscious about the people around us, but I figured we should just get it over with quickly.
Click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click.
"What the hell?!"
Startled by the rapid-fire shutter, I barked out a question. Seo Da-mi pushed up her glasses and answered firmly.
"The settings were wrong, so it went into burst mode. My apologies."
She gave a quick bow and practically fled the scene.
"Wh-What a strange girl."
Oh Yun-ji, also looking bewildered, awkwardly unlinked her arm. Choi I-hyun was just sipping her coffee, watching the whole thing unfold.
"Is it that easy to get into Gahyeon University these days?"
"You still need decent grades to get in."
We headed out of the cafe.
I muttered that it felt like the school was full of weirdos, and Oh Yun-ji agreed. Choi I-hyun grumbled loudly about how hard she had worked to get in here.
"Whatever. At least they like you."
"Is there any reason for a junior to like a senior that much? I really don't get it."
I tilted my head, but a lingering sense of unease remained.
It was a strange feeling—like I had missed something crucial in the middle of that whirlwind situation.
"What is it..."
On the way to the lecture hall.
Choi I-hyun had left, and I kept muttering to myself as I walked down the hallway with Oh Yun-ji.
"What? Are you worried I'll tell the kids? I won't. I know you don't see them that way."
"No, it's not that. Ssh, wait. Let me re-enact it for a second."
"Huh?"
Standing in the hallway, I cast Oh Yun-ji in the role of Seo Da-mi and retraced the flow of the conversation.
"What are you doing?"
The one grumbling while drinking coffee wasn't Oh Yun-ji, but Seo Da-mi.
'She came up to me and said hello. The other juniors followed and said hello too.'
'She asked me to buy coffee. She showed me the post by Anonymous 160 and asked if it was me.'
'So I told her it was an impersonator and bought the coffee anyway—'
"Aaaah?!"
I realized it.
I realized why I felt that sense of dissonance.
"What now?!"
Oh Yun-ji frowned at my sudden outburst. I grabbed her shoulders and shook them as I shouted.
"I forgot because I'm the Manager! I've never been blocked myself!"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Blocking! If an account gets blocked, all the posts they've ever written are hidden and processed so they can't be seen until the block is lifted!"
"...Right?"
"But she showed me the screen where Anonymous 160 had posted!"
And I had already blocked that account during lunch.
Anonymous 160.
That was the moment I found my impersonator.