Chapter 18

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 18

Chapter Title: Sweet Hangover and Tender Moments

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"Ah, I'm not drunk. Gimme more."

I held out my empty glass, my words slurring together.

Dojin yanked the bottle back with a snicker.

"No can do. You're wasted, Sea."

Dojin was pretty smashed himself, his speech all tongue-tied as he burst out laughing.

"Ah, gimme it. Seriously, I'll hit you."

"Do some aegyo and maybe I'll give you some. Say 'Oppa' cute-like."

"Hey, you nuts? Aegyo?"

"No aegyo, no booze."

"This is ridiculous. Fine! Watch this."

If I were sober, I'd have grabbed him by the collar and shaken him silly.

But the booze-fogged buzz in my brain whispered that this was my chance to charm the guy right in front of me.

I narrowed my eyes sleepily and clasped my hands together.

"Oppa, Sea wants~ some bokbunja so bad~"

The bottle in Dojin's hand froze mid-air.

He gaped like he'd seen something he shouldn't have, jaw practically on the floor.

"Pfft! You psycho, you actually did it."

Dojin doubled over, clutching his stomach as he rolled with laughter.

"Oppa~ Hurry up and gimme some. Sea's throat is so dry. Huh?"

To seal the deal, I even tilted my head and batted my eyes.

Dojin was choking on his own breath, wheezing hard.

He slammed the table repeatedly, losing it completely.

"How's that for my killer move! Take that, you eunuch!"

"Kuhaha! You're insane. Hey, you're really thirsty for booze, huh?"

"Gimme! Hurry!"

"Alright, alright. Here, drink up."

I snatched the glass he filled and downed it in one go.

The sweet liquor slid down my throat, and a goofy grin spread across my face on its own.

"Hehe... Tasty."

Not a bad feeling, all in all.

The next morning.

My head throbbed like it was splitting open.

The moment I opened my eyes, last night's memories flashed by like a panorama.

[Oppa, Sea wants...]

"Uwaaaah!"

I kicked off the blanket and screamed.

I'm crazy. Han Sea, you've lost it. Totally lost it.

Damn booze, my eternal enemy.

How am I supposed to face Dojin now? Mortifying.

I buried my face in the pillow and thrashed my legs around.

But the embarrassment faded quick.

Let's think rationally. This wasn't a mistake.

Yeah, call it a... 'gap moe' strategy.

Dojin lost his mind laughing at my aegyo yesterday.

There was definitely a reaction.

'Wait, isn't that the wrong kind of reaction?'

Replaying it in detail, the guy just rolled on the floor like he was dying.

"......"

In a way, he's impressive.

I'm Han Sea.

Even I know I've got a pretty face and a killer body.

Bathes with me in the tub. Lets me drink his booze. Shares bokbunja.

And now aegyo on top...

The more I think, the more insane he seems for holding out.

From the vibe, if I confessed, he'd fold in a second...

But that's something that can never happen in this universe.

I'll make him confess first, no matter what.

Until Yoon Dojin is bawling his eyes out, begging, "Please love me, Mistress."

I won't utter a word first.

Until then, I'll torment him until his bones melt away, utterly miserable.

Our doors swung open at the same time.

I locked eyes with Sea, her hair a total mess.

After the chaos last night, an awkward tension filled the living room.

"Oh, you're up."

"Y-yeah."

We ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠averted our gazes in sync and scattered to the bathroom and kitchen.

Getting ready for school was just a cacophony of clattering noises.

I chugged a glass of cold water and spoke up.

"Think you could reach out to your dad for me?"

Sea, mid-lotion at the vanity, turned her head.

"My dad? Why?"

"Gotta meet him and clear up the misunderstanding. Better to talk in person when he's free."

Sea glanced at me in the mirror for a sec, then grabbed her phone.

"Got it. I'll call."

Before the ringtone even finished, a stiff, mechanical voice came through the speaker.

"Where's Dad?"

Sea furrowed her brow slightly.

"Then could you tell him to call me back later?"

Click.

The call ended abruptly after the bare minimum.

"He's working, I guess."

"Yeah... Guy's super busy from early morning."

I pulled out a dining chair, sat down, and sank into thought.

This wasn't just busy.

Whatever his game was, it was clear the Chairman had set this whole thing up using me.

He had no intention of meeting us right now.

"Anyway, that political marriage guy we talked about before."

"Uh, yeah?"

"You don't wanna marry him, right?"

Sea nodded, looking away.

"Obviously. No way in hell."

"Then let's keep up the fake engagement for a while."

Sea's eyes went wide.

I rested my chin on my hand and stared straight at her.

"Sorry about deceiving your dad a bit."

"......"

"But it's not like we're forcing you into a marriage you hate. It's your life."

Her expression softened in a weird way at my words.

"You cool with that? Getting tangled with me might make school awkward for you too."

"Me? I'm just living it up here—good food, good bed, luxury life."

She chuckled at my teasing and tied her hair back.

"Alright then. Guess we keep living together."

Cool agreement.

We grabbed our bags and headed to the parking lot.

Sea's car glided smoothly through the school gates.

Her hands on the wheel looked lighter than last week.

"Way fewer reporters than last week."

She muttered, peering out the window.

The pack that had swarmed the entrance had thinned out noticeably.

Silver lining, at least.

We got out and walked side by side.

Naturally, our steps turned toward the business building.

"Hey, aren't you engineering? Classrooms are the other way."

Sea asked, puzzled.

"Walking you there. Gets some exercise in too."

I played it casual.

Even with fewer reporters, the stares still bugged me—didn't wanna send her off alone.

Then a soft, heavy warmth pressed against my arm.

"Got it, darling."

Sea linked arms with me like it was on purpose.

I froze for a second but cleared my throat and looked off at the distant hills.

Right, eyes are watching.

Had to sell the fiancé act thoroughly.

Whispers from nearby students buzzed in my ears, but not as aggressive as last week—no one trailed us openly.

Business ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠building entrance before we knew it.

Sea unlinked and waved.

"Listen good in class. No sleeping."

"You too. Exams start this week, you know."

"Shut up. I'm going."

She vanished inside without looking back.

I watched until she was out of sight, then turned away.

My destination: the engineering hilltop, Building 7.

By the time my lungs burned, the rundown structure appeared.

Stepping into the lobby hit me with stale air worlds apart from the business building.

Zombie-like students shuffled in corners, remnants of all-nighters everywhere.

This was my reality—nothing like the flashy chaebol fiancée life.

I pushed open the computer engineering lecture hall door.

Typing sounds filled the room.

'Midterms' scrawled in the board corner.

Major required courses this semester were no joke.

Chaebol heir or not, exams were an engineering student's apocalypse.

I sat at an empty desk and opened my laptop.

'Gotta keep the grades up. Screw up GPA now, and I'm done for.'

Dense code popped up on screen.

Time flew mercilessly amid the frenzy.

My nose was to the grindstone.

Fake engagement or whatever—right now, my grades mattered more.

I adjusted my glasses and placed hands on the keys.

"Alright. Let's do this."

Tap tap.

The lively keyboard clacks echoed through the room.

My shadow stretched extra ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠long across the campus ground.

Hard to believe just last week we'd been stuck together causing a scene.

Exams this week—we lived under one roof but like total strangers.

Even shared dinners were mostly silent.

Dojin chewed with his nose buried in textbooks.

He was turning into a zombie, vitality draining away.

Some time before next class.

My feet dragged me like a magnet to the central library reading room.

Quiet air thick with page-turning sounds.

In a dim corner, a familiar back of the head caught my eye.

Dojin was passed out, face-planted on the desk.

Probably coded all night—no sleep, exhaustion dripping off him.

Dark circles down to his jaw, easy to picture.

I stopped short of approaching.

Waking him might kill his study groove.

Feeling bad, I was about to slip away quietly.

That's when it happened.

"Hey, don't wake him. Just slip it in his shirt pocket."

A whisper grated on my nerves.

"But doesn't he have a fiancée? That Hanul girl..."

"Pfft, who does engagements anymore? I called dibs first, then some vixen swooped in."

One girl was slyly trying to stuff a note in Dojin's shirt pocket.

'Dare touch my man? You crazy bitches, begging to die.'

Blood rushed to my head.

I crept up behind them, heels muffled.

They startled at my presence and looked up.

I stared them down and mouthed clearly:

[Get lost.]

They freaked at my murderous glare and bolted.

I sighed.

I slipped off my cardigan and gently draped it over Dojin's shoulders.

AC was chilly.

Seeing his peacefully sleeping face stirred up complicated feelings.

What if he dated a normal girl instead of a hassle like me.

Easy dating, chill dates.

Ugh, just imagining it turned my stomach.

No way. I'd die before letting that happen.

I brushed back his messy hair lightly.

That's when.

"Mmm..."

Dojin mumbled in his sleep and grabbed my hand tight.

Then he started rubbing it against his cheek.

Like a puppy craving its owner's touch.

"...!"

Panicking, I tried to pull away, but his warm body heat tingled through my fingertips.

Couldn't wrench free.

He clutched my fingers like he never wanted to let go.

I gazed down at his sleeping face.

Damn, Yoon Dojin. Why are you this adorable?

I checked around and slyly lifted the corner of my mouth.

'You're the one who started this.'

I gently stroked his cheek, deciding to bask in that warmth for a bit.