Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: From Pity to Envy
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The air turned icy in an instant. I slowly raised my lowered eyes and looked at the one responsible for this atmosphere.
It was Ahn Si-hun, the gathering's organizer and my former class president.
His skin was pale and smooth in a way that didn't suit a guy, his hair neatly combed, his shirt and pants impeccably crisp.
He looked like someone had tended to him with the same care as nurturing a precious orchid.
'Come to think of it, he was like that even back in middle school.'
The epitome of a model student, the kind whose parents would call the school if even one assignment score slipped, grilling the teachers—that's the rumor I'd heard.
He used to wear round-framed glasses back in school, but ditching them had made him look much sharper.
Someone said he went to a top university. He'd always been a straight-A student since middle school.
He had that picture-perfect goody-two-shoes vibe, but the smile in his eyes held clear hostility toward me.
"Huh? Just kidding~."
As everyone's stares converged on him, Ahn Si-hun tossed it out casually, like a pro.
Then some clueless guys nearby chimed in.
"Ah, come on. It's true, though. Woo-yeon, you're the boss, right? Your treat, boss!"
"Yeah, exactly. We're all students, so you should foot the bill, no?"
Ho ho. Check this out.
Ahn Si-hun had dangled the bait just right and slipped to the back, letting the hangers-on swarm in and do the attacking for him. Once the mood was set, no one bothered to voice dissent against the majority opinion.
Instead, they just stayed quiet, watching to see if any crumbs might fall their way.
If he treats, great; if not, whatever. But he's loaded, right? That was the extent of their thinking.
'Was he always like this?'
In my memories, Ahn Si-hun was just a model student. But now, much older and wiser, I could see right through his little scheme.
It might fly with peers, but to a battle-hardened adult like me, it was amateur-hour manipulation.
"Hey! Guys, why are you doing this~."
"Yeah, don't put Woo-yeon on the spot."
As the silence dragged on, sharp-eyed girls picked up on the cue and jumped to my defense. Once Kim Si-ah and Bae Yu-kyung stepped in, the others visibly hesitated.
"You think she knows how much this place costs? Enough to cover the whole tab? Forget it, Woo-yeon. You don't have to."
"Yeah, splitting the bill evenly is just a few bucks per person."
"Nooo~. We were just saying..."
Even as the situation wrapped up like that, Ahn Si-hun added nothing. He just smiled innocently from the back, like he had no part in it.
"Alright, alright. Don't ruin the vibe—let's talk about something else. The guy's as oblivious as ever, just like middle school."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean!"
"You're clueless!"
A nameless guy and Bae Yu-kyung started bickering playfully, and the tension melted away naturally. Everyone around burst into laughter, teasing the two of them.
"What are you two, anyway? You sync up like pros."
"Tell me about it."
"What's the deal, huh~?"
As the conversation shifted to ganging up on them, the awkward air from moments ago vanished like it was never there.
Slurp.
I took a sip of my beer and subtly eyed Ahn Si-hun. He was chatting effortlessly with the crowd.
'...Was it just an offhand comment?'
That's what I was thinking when someone piped up to him.
"But man, Ahn Si-hun's been a total player since middle school, right? Smart, decent-looking, and killer at soccer too?"
"Yeah, he was good. Whenever we played against other classes, he'd score and the girls would go nuts..."
"We never did that! Ridiculous."
"Hey, hey, he went to Korea University. Jealous much?"
"No way! Si-hun, you went to Korea University?!"
As attention focused on him, Ahn Si-hun nodded bashfully.
"Yeah. But it's not that big a deal. I got lucky."
"Bull, luck my ass~. Everyone knows you aced everything. Even in high school, he was always top of the school, getting awards on stage~."
A guy who'd gone to the same high school as Ahn Si-hun kept piping up from the side.
He looked oddly proud, even though it wasn't his achievement.
The others went "Whoa~," full of admiration, and Ahn Si-hun just smiled shyly.
"So, what do you do now?"
Then someone jabbed enviously.
"No matter what, after graduation you're just a wage slave. Self-employment's the way to go~. Right, Woo-yeon?"
Why drag me into this out of nowhere.
It wasn't a topic I cared to join. I glanced at Ahn Si-hun and mumbled a vague reply.
"Well, everyone has their pros and cons."
"Aw~. But you make way more than any salaryman!"
"Depends on the case..."
"See?! Man, going to college is pointless. Korea University or not, we'll all end up working under guys like Song Woo-yeon after graduation~."
The extreme generalization soured the mood again.
I could tell without asking—the guy who said it had an inferiority complex about credentials.
Playing the victim with "we're all just wage slaves after graduation," lumping himself with Ahn Si-hun.
'Ahn Si-hun's not the type to let that slide.'
Anyone with pride couldn't stay silent, especially at this age when college was their biggest brag.
'Sure enough.'
Ahn Si-hun smiled like a nice guy, but his grip on the glass was white-knuckled.
I glanced at him, and our eyes met head-on.
"!"
I whipped my head away instinctively. No guilt on my end, but my name had come up in dragging him down, and it felt awkward.
"Totally~. Must be nice, Woo-yeon."
Ahn Si-hun turned to me smoothly.
Why? What now?
As unease crept in, he added casually.
"Maybe I should've skipped studying and gone into business."
"..."
That was a blatant dig.
You could laugh it off or take offense—perfectly worded to irk the listener, and he knew it.
I gave a wry smile.
'I remember him as the guy who looked out for me.'
Before my regression, at the reunion, he'd mediate when others crossed lines and was the only one to text me to get home safe when I bolted.
But now he was stepping up to take shots at me.
Sure, someone else started it this time. The "treat us" bit earlier, and now splashing sparks my way.
He clearly harbored some resentment toward me deep down. He hadn't acted like this before regression.
The only change...
My social standing.
'You pitied me back then, but not anymore, huh.'
Cheap pity is easy when you're looking down. Just condescend from above.
But looking up? Not on your life, apparently.
Should I be thrilled or bitter? Hard to say.
Yeah. Back then I was just some pitiful high school dropout, no threat. Now? Different story.
'This should piss me off, but I'm almost proud.'
Plus, staring at that baby-faced fuzz made any annoyance fade. Trading barbs seriously with fresh high school grads was kinda funny anyway.
'Right. At their age, it's prime fighting time...'
Even that detachment let me respond like this.
"Yeah. You're smart—you'd pick up the ropes quick. If you're interested, tell me. I'll hook you up with a manager."
I'd meant it as a friendly offer, but something rubbed him wrong—his face twisted.
Why?
As I tilted my head, reactions came from the side.
"Ooooh~. So cool! Total boss vibes~."
"A manager! So you have employees under you? Do they call you 'boss' to your face?"
"......? Yeah?"
I didn't get what was wrong with employees calling the boss "boss," but they all cheered "Wooow~!"
Was I too old inside? Couldn't keep up with kids these days.
Ahn Si-hun replied in a tone suppressing irritation.
"Wow. Didn't expect you to think that highly of me. Thanks, Woo-yeon."
"No problem."
"Frankly, didn't think you'd even show up. Not as busy as I figured?"
"I can spare a day. Morning meeting ran long, so I was late. Sorry about that."
"Nah~. Appreciate you making time. I don't know the details, but the others talked you up a lot. Said you're totally self-made."
"Yeah? Take it with a grain of salt—mostly hype."
"Hahaha. Seemed a bit exaggerated."
Weird.
Conversation flowing fine, but why's his face hardening?
"My parents run a business, so I know how tough it is. Income's unstable, and the stress is brutal."
"Yeah, it's rough~."
"Right? Watching them struggle, I wouldn't dare. They say steady paycheck's the most stress-free... Though I might end up taking over their business after some corporate stint."
Got it.
But why tell me this?
No clue, but dumping all this personal stuff felt off.
I stared blankly, and he seemed even more pissed.
"Ha."
He let out a hollow laugh, masking his annoyance.
"If you ever have questions about running a business, hit me up. I have my parents to lean on, but you had no one—must've been rough with all the trial and error."
"......?"
"Oh, sorry. No malice. Just figured you went through a lot struggling solo."
His smiling face oozed smug superiority.
Ho ho.
Think I'm a pushover just 'cause I'm dealing with a kid?
No matter what, I wasn't magnanimous enough to let the parents jab slide.
'You picked the wrong target.'
I curled one corner of my mouth.