Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: It's Fake, You Idiots!
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An unexpected reunion with the members.
We decided to move to a café for now and catch up.
It was also a good chance to introduce Rinne-chan properly.
"Unnies, let me introduce her first. This is Rinne-chan, the Verdi-chan everyone knows from Prism Company."
【I'm Linnea Rondstrum. Nice to meet you all, Blue LUV members.】
Following my introduction, Rinne-chan smiled and gave her name.
The three who couldn't speak English—everyone except Ji-ah unnie—gave awkward smiles and greetings.
"He, hello…."
"N-Nice to m-meetchu."
"B-Beaut, beautiful."
So naturally, Ji-ah unnie took charge of introducing the members and giving a proper greeting.
【Great to meet you, Ms. Rondstrum. Quick intros: starting here, I'm Yuna as Yuki, Chae-yoon as Lilith, Ra-hee as Lucrezia. And I'm Ji-ah as Ellin.】
【Oh, you're Ellin. I've heard a lot about you. Da-jeong kept praising you as a reliable big sis.】
【R-Rinne-chan…! You don't have to say that stuff.】
Earlier at dinner, when we'd been chatting about the members.
I'd gotten carried away babbling without realizing it, and now recalling that made me blush as I tried to stop Rinne-chan.
But true to form as the most my-pace person I'd ever met, she ignored me completely.
Uu….
O-Of course, it wasn't anything bad.
But getting caught for spilling so much behind her back was embarrassing enough.
"She did? Da-jeong praised me that much, huh."
"Y-Yeah… a little."
Ji-ah unnie, on the other hand, looked somehow pleased.
She rested her chin on her hand, nodding with a fond smile.
Under that gaze, my chest started to tickle for some reason.
Our eyes met awkwardly, and I looked away without thinking.
"More importantly, what were you all doing there anyway?"
"……!"
Then I tilted my head, finally asking the biggest question.
The atmosphere among the members suddenly grew hectic.
They exchanged glances, the air thick with hesitation.
"And earlier, at the restaurant and collab café, I think I saw someone dressed like Ra-hee unnie… Was that another member?"
"Gasp!"
As I added the question, piecing together my memories.
They all gaped in unison, swallowing hard.
So it was true.
I hadn't been seeing things.
And then someone provided decisive proof for my guess.
【Probably right, Da-jeong. Earlier, Ellin… Ji-ah, was it? Our eyes met at the restaurant. Right?】
【Y-Yeah. That's true….】
Rinne-chan had even locked eyes with Ji-ah unnie.
But unlike me, she didn't know the members' faces that well.
Just from photos, so she couldn't be sure.
"So you were following us from the start…?"
I stared at them with disbelieving eyes, driving the point home.
The members, who'd been fidgeting and looking down, all snapped their heads up.
Our eyes met, they flinched, exchanged looks, then spoke at once.
"Y-Yeah."
"Sorry, Da-jeong…."
"We've got nothing to say, even with ten mouths."
"The unnies were wrong."
Watching that, I took a sip of my just-arrived frappuccino.
I calmed my startled heart and replied.
"…Huh? Wrong about what?"
"………Huh?"
I couldn't understand why they were suddenly apologizing.
Instead, they blinked at me like my ears were the problem.
What? Did I say something wrong just now?
"You didn't do anything wrong, so why are you all apologizing?"
"Huh? W-Well, because we tailed you…."
"It's basically stalking… Of course you're upset, right?"
Chae-yoon unnie and Ra-hee unnie explained.
But I still didn't get it.
Stalking?
What were they talking about?
Stalking's a crime—malicious, obsessive behavior toward someone you're fixated on.
Why would my members do that to me?
That'd be pure overthinking.
Besides, I already knew why they'd followed me.
"No way. I know you all came to watch over me because you were worried."
"Wha…?"
"W-Worried…?"
I cleared my throat, puffed out my chest, and declared it confidently, like I had it all figured out.
The members blinked for a long moment, glanced at each other.
Then they nodded vigorously and turned back to me.
Definitely like, 'Busted, so let's come clean.'
I'm sharp, after all.
"Y-Yeah! Totally! We were all so worried about Da-jeong!"
"How could we not worry about our maknae!"
"Right, as unnies, we have to look after our little sis."
"D-Didn't expect you'd catch on so quick? Da-jeong's amazing."
Hehe.
Ji-ah unnie's praise made my shoulders lift proudly.
I'm not that oblivious—I can spot the members' kindness!
"Thank you so much. Hehe, good thing I didn't cause any real worry!"
"Of course, our maknae's plenty sharp."
Ra-hee unnie reached across the table to pat my head.
I'm not a pet or anything.
But somehow, getting petted by the unnies always makes me grin.
"Should've just invited everyone to hang out. If I'd told Rinne-chan ahead, she might've said yes…."
"N-No, it's fine! We interrupted your rare alone time. Our bad."
I felt a twinge of regret saying that.
Chae-yoon unnie waved it off, looking a bit guilty.
Our members are just too nice.
【Da-jeong, all good now?】
As the mood warmed up fast.
Rinne-chan, who couldn't follow Korean well, must've gauged it from the vibe.
She asked cautiously.
Realizing I'd unintentionally left her out, I gave a small apology.
And nodded energetically.
【Yeah! Turns out the members followed because they were worried. I'm such a troublemaker.】
【Doubt that's the reason… but if that's what you think, whatever.】
Rinne-chan gave a strange look but affirmed it.
She scanned the members quickly.
Then smirked and pulled my shoulder close.
【Don't worry too much, Blue LUV. I wouldn't do anything bad to my fave. No need to fear I'll eat her up.】
At that baffling line.
The only one who understood English, Ji-ah unnie, widened her eyes.
Then she smirked too and tossed back another cryptic remark.
【Sorry. She's our precious maknae, so we got scared.】
【I get it. With such a cute girl by your side, it's natural to worry she'll get stolen.】
Wh-What?
Why are you all chatting over my head?
And precious maknae? Cute girl?
Saying that to my face just embarrasses me…!
Ca-Could it be?!
Some advanced teasing to deal mental damage?!
If so, it's working—stop!
"By the way, Da-jeong, where'd you go in that claw machine shop earlier? We followed right in but didn't see you at first."
Then Yuna suddenly piped up, curious.
Tilting her head about the claw machine place.
Oh yeah, they did seem to be searching hard for someone.
Guess that was me.
"Rinne-chan wanted sticker pics together, so I was in the photo booth."
"Sticker pics…?! No way, you two took some?"
"Yeah, like this…."
No idea why she's so shocked.
But I showed the evidence: our sticker pics.
Whoosh—
The second I set it on the table.
Like hyenas spotting prey, the members crowded in.
"What?! Da-jeong's too cute…!"
"Look at that pout…!"
"Such a seductive maknae! Showing your true colors at last!"
"E-Eh…?!"
And suddenly they started scolding me over the photo.
Why…?!
"D-Da-jeong. Can unnie have just one?"
"Me too, me too…!"
"Cash for it!"
"I'll take the cat ears one…!"
I wondered if they hated it.
But they're begging for copies, so no.
Problem is.
I only have one of each. Can't give 'em away.
Planning to stick one somewhere as a memento, stash the rest in my treasure box.
【Da-jeong, something wrong?】
Rinne-chan put a hand on my flustered shoulder, asking what was up.
【The unnies want the sticker pics… but I only have these.】
【Oh, that? I got you. I pulled a bunch earlier.】
【H-Huh? Really?】
I fidgeted, pouting in reply.
Rinne-chan gave a thumbs-up, cool as ever.
Hard to believe she had extras, so I glanced down….
【Here, extras if you want 'em. Take some, everyone.】
Rinne-chan actually pulled spares from her bag.
Laid out two of each kind on the table.
Ji-ah unnie aside, they couldn't read English.
But her actions made it clear.
The members dove in, each grabbing a fave.
"Wooow!"
"Verdi-chan, you're the best!"
"Thanks, Verdi…!"
"What a great person…."
Boosting their favor just with sticker pics.
Amazing, Rinne-chan…!
【Hehe, they say thanks, Rinne-chan.】
【Yeah? No need. I'll collect my due plenty.】
【Huh? Th-There's a price?】
Thanking her on the members' behalf.
Rinne-chan flashed a villainous grin, mentioning "due."
Surely not charging money? As I gawked.
Grab—
【Fun meeting you. Blue LUV! I'm off to spend a cozy night at the hotel with Da-jeong. See you next time!】
【R-Rinne-chaaaan…?!】
Like snatching prey, Rinne-chan scooped me up.
Waved sudden goodbyes to the members and bolted from the café.
Wh-What?
Hotel?
We were gonna crash together tonight, sure!
But at my place, right…?!
"Da-jeongaaaaa!"
"Unnieeees!"
Being kidnapped to the hotel.
I reached out toward Chae-yoon unnie, who'd dashed out after us.
Clunk—
【Good, let's go.】
【Yes.】
Before I knew it, we were in some mystery car.
Being whisked away.
Yeah.
No clue what's wrong….
But something's definitely gone really wrong.