Chapter 533
Chapter 533
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 533
Chapter Title: Team Project and Camping Dilemma
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A mandatory major course that all first-years had to take. When the time came for his classmates to gather in the lecture hall, Park Siwoo moved first.
But the room was already packed—and surprisingly, Jinni... no, Lee Yu-jin was chatting away with them.
Insa types really were quick on the draw. Thanks to that, his plan fell apart right from the start.
He had to act friendly first to make a strong impression...
Damn, he'd been too complacent.
"Yu-jin, mind if I call you that? Why didn't you come to the after-party yesterday?"
"Yeah, the seniors were looking for you."
"Ah... sorry. I had something important come up."
"Something important? What was it? Part-time job?"
"Or a boyfriend? Wait, you have a guy?"
"......"
"Come on, spill."
"Do... do I have to tell you everything?"
"""......"""
Oh no, this is bad.
She might look like an insa at first glance, but Lee Yu-jin—no, Jinni—was a true outcast just like Siwoo. All she had to do was be honest, but instead, she put on this pointless tough act. And lies breed more lies. Under the insas' sticky, relentless grilling, she finally snapped in disgust. He couldn't help but grimace himself.
The lecture hall froze solid.
All eyes turned to Jinni.
"......Could you move?"
She bolted out in a panic.
"Whoa, did I mess up? It's normal to ask a classmate, right?"
"Let her go. She's too good for us anyway."
Gossip started flowing naturally.
It was still just a misunderstanding for now—something a drinking session this week could fix. But whether that would actually happen was anyone's guess. It was regrettable all around. Should he step in to clear things up? But Siwoo didn't have the guts for that either. All Park Siwoo could do right now was comfort her on SNS.
Not sure if the comforting worked...
-Creak
"......"
At least she came back looking a bit more spirited. That was a relief.
"......Sorry. I must've been on edge because of some personal stuff."
"Huh? ...Oh, you mean earlier?"
"......Yeah."
"Ah, whatever. Were you stressing over it the whole class?"
"Ahaha, it's fine, Yu-jin! Happens to everyone!"
"......Thanks for understanding..."
"So, you coming today?"
"You know we've got meetups all week, right?"
"......"
"You can't be busy the whole week!"
"Yeah? Coming today, right?"
"......Sorry. It's my parents' health."
"Ah... I see."
"Can't help that, yeah..."
It had been going so well, really well... but she slipped up at the end again.
Drinking parties were still too much for Jinni.
She could've gotten close fast just by showing up. Did she see herself as a loner? It was a shame all around, but at least apologizing was huge progress. Park Siwoo felt proud. Even if bringing up her parents' health out of nowhere was a bit odd.
But looking back... it wasn't all that pride-worthy.
Unlike his original plan, he hadn't exchanged a single word with the real-life Lee Yu-jin.
How was he supposed to CC her—or even just become friends—like this?
As Park Siwoo pondered, he headed to the next building for his liberal arts class.
"......Ah."
And there he spotted Lee Yu-jin.
This was his chance to finally get close to her.
He glanced around—no familiar faces anywhere. Perfect... He could use that to approach her. No hesitation. He strode to the back row, caught his breath, ran a mental simulation, and spoke to her in the softest voice he could muster.
"Mind if I take the seat next to you?"
"......Pardon?"
"Is this spot free? Was gonna sit here."
"Ah...... Yeah, it's empty."
"Huh? Why the formal speech?"
"......Pardon?"
"Economics, Lee Yu-jin, right? Park Siwoo, your classmate."
"......Ah!"
Acting overly buddy-buddy would've backfired—he'd seen that today. Better to just stamp himself on her radar like this. Casual hellos at first. But seeing each other day after day would build familiarity, right? In a lecture hall full of strangers, a classmate would be a lifeline. Park Siwoo aimed for that.
"Hey, eaten yet?"
"......Yeah."
A quick greeting, then he focused on class.
"See you next week... Nah, we'll see each other in major class anyway."
"Uh...... Yeah, right."
A goodbye wave, and he left the room.
Act indifferent, but classmates deserve basic manners. That chipped away at her guard. And Park Siwoo knew her SNS. He gave her what she wanted without overwhelming her—like chatting about assignments.
"How was last week's homework? Brutal, right?"
"Yeah... tough."
"This class feels a bit much for first-years."
"......Yeah."
Thanks to that, they'd gotten to waving when they bumped into each other on campus.
This was over a month after starting classes together.
"Next up is a group project."
-Murmurs
"You've got two weeks—form your teams by then."
And finally, the moment arrived.
The perfect chance to get closer to Lee Yu-jin: team project.
Park Siwoo hesitated briefly before cautiously speaking up.
"Wanna team up?"
".........Huh?"
"It's two-person teams—might as well do it with a classmate."
"......Yeah, true."
"No rush—let me know by next week."
"...Okay, got it."
No immediate yes, but no need to worry.
Park Siwoo sent her a DM.
Woosiwoosi—Park Siwoo—had counseled her multiple times since that first comfort session. So this time too, he pretended to listen while nudging her his way. His conscience stung a bit, but this was his shot to get close to Jinni... to Lee Yu-jin. He had to team up with her somehow.
College life was way more boring than expected. He'd thought escaping high school meant a flood of new experiences... What new experiences? It was booze, booze, booze every day. Everyone was obsessed with drinking. Too many insas.
He wanted to game together, watch anime, join events...
Even check out the comics club...
But was there one? Just looking scared him.
So he clocked in at Cafe Hyto every day.
The one place that felt like real college life. A private cafe he'd never dreamed of in high school. Coming here made him feel like a pseudo-insa, which was nice. The owner always welcomed him warmly, and the familiar regulars. They were all mature adults, making him feel grown-up too. That's why he loved it here.
-Creeeak
-Ding ring
"Welcome... Oh, Yu-jin?"
"Hello, boss."
"Hey, Yu-jin. Been a while."
"Ah... Su-a unnie. Hi."
But sometimes the unnies overwhelmed her.
Actually, often.
Su-a unnie now, Ji-hye unnie last time, and... Ji-a unnie, Hye-jin unnie... Too many women? All regulars, all gorgeous. Models or actresses, from what she'd heard. Hard not to feel intimidated. Even jealous, as a fellow girl.
Being around them turned her into total kid treatment...
"Yu-jin, want cake?"
"Wow, unnie! Thanks!"
It was nice sometimes, but often left her wistful.
Wasn't she pretty lively herself...?
Not bragging, but she'd gotten confessions.
To them and the boss, she was just a kid.
"......So Ji-a probably can't make it."
"Sigh... So sudden."
"You know how their work is, oppa."
"I know, but... Yeah, nothing we can do."
"Right? So for next week... pretend it didn't happen or just us two—you decide, oppa."
"Got it. I'll text when I do."
"Okay. Gotta go. Bye, Yu-jin."
"Ah, bye unnie."
But... what was going on?
First sigh from the boss in a month. She shot him a questioning look, and he nodded back, then—sounding a tad excited—made an offer. Wanna go camping...? A thrilling yet risky adult invitation.
"......Pardon?"
"Was supposed to be me, Ji-a's couple, and Su-a—four of us. But Ji-a got slammed with work suddenly. I wanna go, but two's awkward. Don't want Su-a's boyfriend getting ideas, and it'd feel weird just us."
"Ah, yeah..."
"So... interested?"
"Ah, haha..."
"Nothing big. Just mountains, grill meat, chat, sleep."
News to her.
The boss was the camping club's president. Regulars were members. Explained why they were all buddy-buddy—similar jobs. But... asking her to come...? Hmm, what to do? Super insa invite. Exciting, but worrying.
Su-a unnie too, but still with the boss.
What if something bad happened...?
Aaah, what now?
Unlikely, but you never know.
Could turn disastrous.
But the boss seemed trustworthy...
Wouldn't happen. And Su-a unnie's coming.
She wanted to trust him.
And even more, try something new.
So after agonizing, she sought help.
Woosiwoosi gave spot-on advice again.
Yeah, better than rotting at home.
Thanks to Woosiwoosi, she mustered courage.
"Um... S-so, what'd you decide?"
"Huh? About what?"
"The, uh, team project."
"Oh... Yeah, let's do it."
"For real? You're in?"
After boring liberal arts, she headed straight to Cafe Hyto.
Told the boss she'd go camping—he hooked her up with freebies.
Her heart was already racing.