Chapter 161

Munhyeok High had advanced to the quarterfinals of the Sejong Tournament by defeating Cheolwon First High in the fourth round.

Though it was just a one-game difference from the third round, the level of attention was worlds apart.

"Yeah, the quarterfinals are where you really feel like, 'These are the true powerhouses.'"

"You can carry a regional up to the round of 16 with one insane pitcher or hitter grabbing everyone by the collar, but beyond that? No dice."

The quarterfinals of the Sejong Tournament were a stage you couldn't even dream of reaching ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠without well-balanced pitching and hitting across the board.

This year was no different—the teams there were all formidable, schools that wouldn't yield an inch to Hancheong High, where Munhyeok High had fought a brutal semifinal bloodbath in the spring tournament.

Even casual baseball fans were saying things like, "Eh, too much hassle—I'll start watching from the quarters."

With Munhyeok High reaching that iconic round, the stars of the team were now experiencing unprecedented popularity at school.

"Whoa, that's Seok Un-gang sunbae!"

"Su-yong oppa! Photo together, please...!!"

"Hey, there's Choi Adam! He's running away!?"

It was so intense they could barely walk the hallways without demands for autographs or pics.

The hype had been big even for making the tournament, but now they were being treated like actual celebrities.

Even the baseball team's youngest members, Hassan and Lee Tae-kyung, had to sign and pose just to take a single step down the corridor.

With that level of buzz, related articles were pouring in.

Articles covered every angle of high school baseball, from general news to balanced takes on both teams. But this matchup—Munhyeok High vs. Bujeon High—had everyone hooked, and the obvious reason was Geum Seong-muk.

Public opinion on the Geum Seong-muk saga was split.

Sensing a scoop, reporters had even shown up at Munhyeok High to dig.

"Geum Seong-muk!"

"...Yes?"

A reporter had barged into the school out of nowhere.

A mic was thrust in his face.

"Geum Seong-muk, why did you abandon Bujeon High and transfer?"

"Many say it's ungrateful to stab in the back a school that even gave you low-income scholarships!"

"Was there some trouble with Bujeon High?"

"Please give us your honest, unfiltered answer!"

"……."

Seong-muk's brow twitched.

Things had been quiet until now, but with the head-to-head looming, they needed juicy bait.

Recalling Bujeon High's past misdeeds, Seong-muk was the clear victim here.

Spilling it would flip Bujeon upside down.

He gathered his thoughts and opened his mouth.

"That is—."

"Man, nice weather."

A refreshingly cool breeze blew across the rooftop, uncharacteristic for summer.

Seong-muk, lounging lazily in the shade, heard footsteps approaching.

Spotting who it was, he asked curiously.

"Oh, what's up? What brings you here?"

"……."

It was Seo Ye-bin.

She approached with a somewhat cold expression.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

She looked like she had something to say.

"There's something I wanna ask you, Seong-muk."

"Yeah?"

"You heard from Tae-gang about what went down at Bujeon High, right?"

"Yeah, I did."

Hwang Tae-gang had laid out all the injustices Seong-muk faced back then during their national team stint—deliberate benchings, injury neglect, bad coaching, the works. He'd apologized for not noticing at the time and promised to back him as an insider if he went public.

'Intentional exclusions, ignoring injuries, shitty coaching...'

Seong-muk hadn't recalled the details beyond the Seo Ye-bin parts, which stuck out vividly while the rest blurred by, but it sounded pretty bad.

"Couldn't you have spilled when those reporters showed up earlier?"

"Hmm."

It was a tough spot for a high schooler to handle.

Especially since one of the main culprits was starting this matchup.

'Bujeon High ace, Cheon Ji-uk.'

The guy had looked at Seong-muk like a bug, full of disgust.

Once the coach gave the green light, he'd sown discord to isolate him from the team—only Hwang Tae-gang stuck around.

Back then, Seong-muk was just another pitcher, and with Cheon Ji-uk being some big-shot exec's son, he'd swallowed it quietly. But not anymore.

Bujeon was probably on edge about him talking. Dropping this bomb would bring moral backlash they couldn't dodge, and it'd rattle Cheon Ji-uk's game.

But he didn't.

He just faced the reporters calmly and said:

A clean interview leaving no room for controversy.

The reporters bought it and left satisfied.

Seong-muk's reason was simple.

"Sure, it happened to me, but I don't remember it at all."

"…!"

"Honestly, it feels like someone else's story. All that past stuff."

"………."

Ye-bin's chest ached like a stab.

This short exchange revealed Seong-muk's attitude toward his past.

'Yeah, he's right, totally right, but...'

Even memories that deserved revenge were now shrugged off by the man himself—like they were nothing. Would treatment of other memories really differ?

It was a cruel truth for Ye-bin.

She'd steeled herself to return to his side, but her heart still stung.

"Sigh, got it. If you're fine with it, nothing I can do."

Ye-bin let out a deep sigh.

As she turned with sad eyes, Seong-muk's voice stopped her.

"That's one thing, but it's also for your sake."

"Wh-what?"

She whipped back around in shock.

Blinking, she stepped closer to him again.

"For my sake? Why?"

"If I spill, the fallout hits you too."

"……!"

Geum Seong-muk was now a heavyweight in his own right. Even big media couldn't fully silence someone of his caliber.

Yujin Group was already under fire after Seo Mu-jin—prime heir apparent—landed in prison; reporters were circling for dirt.

The second this blew up, they'd rake Yujin over the coals, dragging Ye-bin in as family.

And if they dug deep enough, her role in sending her own dad to jail might surface.

Realizing that, Ye-bin hung her head, her body trembling.

"Seo Ye-bin?"

Seong-muk peered at her face, wondering what was up—and saw tears rolling down her flushed cheeks.

'Huh?'

Was this something to cry over?

For her, it was overwhelming.

'He forgot, but his core hasn't changed.'

Always seeming tough, yet quietly watching her back.

Even changed, he was still Geum Seong-muk.

Feeling behind the other girls around him lately, she'd been anxious—but this felt like rain on parched earth. She'd have fuel to keep going for a while.

"You okay? Why the tears all of a sudden...?"

"No, just some dust in my eye."

She wiped them away.

Flashing a grin, she turned.

"Anyway, I get it! Rest up, and I'll definitely be at the game."

"Cool, head on in."

Seong-muk waved her off.

She descended the stairs in high spirits when her phone buzzed.

"Who... oh."

Ye-bin's face soured.

Another unwanted text.

"………."

Ye-bin scowled.

Cheon Ji-uk had hounded her relentlessly since her freshman year.

He'd pulled out all the stops after "love at first sight," but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she'd blocked him without a second thought.

He wasn't bad-looking—handsome in a refined way, all-around athlete, top of the school academically, powerful political family.

They weren't even dating Seong-muk back then; it could've been casual. But she just instinctively hated him.

'My gut was spot on.'

He ruthlessly exploited weaknesses.

It showed in his play style too—zero interest in anyone he deemed beneath him. He'd even isolated Seong-muk further in the club.

She knew he was a jerk but refused to date one. Desperate, he'd tried leveraging his family.

Her own father, Seo Mu-jin, had pushed her toward him instead of Seong-muk.

She'd bolted to England at the mere mention. Her disgust hadn't faded.

"...Fuckin' hell, wouldn't trade Seong-muk for a truckload of you."

Game outcome aside, her heart was set.

Then, a wicked idea crossed her mind.

Cheon Ji-uk, the sly bastard who dug into weaknesses with his pitching.

Munhyeok High might flinch against him.

What if she slapped some chains on him?

'...Tell him to face Seong-muk head-on and win fair. He'd have to.'

That'd make it easier for Seong-muk. But she smirked and shook her head.

"He'll win without that."

She had absolute faith in his skills.

So she texted Cheon Ji-uk back.

With glee.

"Ahh, refreshing."

Her chest felt wide open.

Ye-bin couldn't wait for the game.

Especially to see Cheon Ji-uk's wrecked face after Seong-muk stripped him bare.