Chapter 4
chapter 4
The Secret of the Popular Kid in the New Semester (4)
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Was it during the first year of middle school?
That was around the time Shin Ayoung began her ‘acting.’
The trigger wasn’t anything dramatic.
It was something more sticky and unpleasant than that.
It started with a video.
— [No matter how close they are, that’s just plain rude.]
A video of her father, Shin Jinseop, swearing during a phone call with a junior spread across the internet.
Because he had always maintained a kind and upright image, the backlash was even greater.
— [Ha… they kept saying he had a good personality and was a great actor, or that he had good proportions, and I thought
the whole country was pulling a prank on me. Guess it’s finally over…]
— [Shin Jinseop is just a case of good image-making. If not for that, he wouldn’t have made it this far. He just met a
good agency.]
— [He shows off all his volunteer work for publicity, and then behind the scenes he’s bullying his juniors lol]
“……”
Harsh comments directed at her father, ones she had never seen before.
Seeing them made Shin Ayoung’s stomach churn.
People tear you apart over a single mistake.
It doesn’t even have to be a big one.
As long as there’s a flaw, most people will try to drag you down.
“What are you doing, my daughter?”
Her father acted like nothing was wrong on the outside.
But the fatigue hidden beneath showed clearly under his eyes.
“…Nothing.”
Shin Ayoung hid her phone behind her back.
At the very least, she didn’t want to become a burden.
So.
‘Don’t show any weakness.’
There are too many people who will grab onto even the smallest flaw and drag you down.
She had managed to maintain that well until now.
But.
That brief moment of carelessness.
“…Ah.”
The moment she cursed, a sneeze was heard.
Following the sound, she found a male student hiding, holding his breath.
‘He heard. He heard. He heard.’
What should she do?
At that moment, Shin Ayoung’s mind went completely blank.
She couldn’t think straight.
This wasn’t just her problem alone.
A child reflects their parent. Her downfall would also damage her father’s reputation as an actor.
‘If I can just shut his mouth somehow.’
Fortunately, there were no other witnesses.
If she could stop it here, it wouldn’t turn into a big issue.
Having made her decision, Shin Ayoung acted immediately.
“…It’s a favor, but could you pretend you didn’t see what happened today? If you do, I’ll repay you—”
What should she offer?
Money, or something else—whatever she could do…
“Yeah, sure.”
At the unexpectedly easy answer.
“…Huh?”
Shin Ayoung’s composure broke again.
That made it twice today.
‘This easily…?’
Things were going far more smoothly than she expected.
“Class is starting. Let’s go.”
As soon as the bell rang, Lee Seungho returned to the classroom as if nothing had happened.
“……”
…Is that really enough?
Paradoxically, the fact that everything went so easily only made her more anxious.
What if he had other intentions?
Nothing in this world is free.
Her continued thoughts bred new anxiety and raised new possibilities.
Lee Seungho said he was eating, but she couldn’t be certain that was true.
…There’s no harm in being cautious.
‘I should keep watching him.’
After that, Shin Ayoung closely observed Lee Seungho’s actions.
Not just during class, but even during breaks.
She could feel the gazes of others, but she didn’t have the luxury to worry about that right now.
‘So far, it doesn’t seem like he’s trying to spread rumors.’
Lee Seungho’s behavior was extremely ordinary.
Aside from going to the restroom, he didn’t go anywhere. He just sat at his desk dozing off.
What does he want?
It feels like she might figure it out if she gets a little closer.
“For now, classes will be done through group assignments.”
Group assignments.
Pointless group time where students just gather and chat.
‘This is it.’
For once, the timing was perfect.
Shin Ayoung’s eyes lit up at the opportunity to closely monitor Lee Seungho.
“Ayoung, let’s do the assignment together.”
At the mention of group work, Jinu Ri approached immediately.
Shin Ayoung didn’t mind. If it was someone she was relatively close with, it would be her.
They had grown close last year while working together as class president and vice president.
“Sol, you too.”
“Huh? I don’t want to, you’re too strict…”
Lee Sol muttered while avoiding eye contact.
Jinu Ri narrowed her eyes at that.
“Stop being a burden to others and come here nicely, okay?”
“Ugh…”
Watching the two, Shin Ayoung made up her mind.
She should mention it.
No matter how close they are, if she’s going to bring someone into the group, she needs their consent.
“Nuri, there’s someone I want to bring in. Is that okay?”
“Huh? You?”
Jinu Ri tilted her head at the unusual request.
“Is it not okay?”
“No, it’s not that… sure, go ahead.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Convincing Lee Seungho wasn’t difficult.
He didn’t seem to have any intention of forming a group and was just sitting idly at his desk.
“Do you want to team up with me?”
“Huh?”
Lee Seungho looked slightly surprised.
Fortunately, he didn’t refuse.
‘Let’s keep watching him like this. I don’t know what he wants… but he’ll say something eventually.’
And that prediction soon became reality.
Lee Seungho approached her.
“Can we talk for a moment?”
So it comes to this after all.
Of course he wouldn’t just let it go.
Now the real ‘negotiation’ begins.
“……”
The two returned to the rooftop. The place where they first met.
This time, Shin Ayoung checked more carefully to make sure no one else was around.
Good. No one’s here.
She spoke first.
“…You want something from me, don’t you?”
Lee Seungho showed a completely unexpected expression.
A look of disbelief, almost dumbfounded.
“What the hell… ahem, what are you talking about?”
Is he pretending not to know?
She had no intention of backing down. She wanted to settle this here and now.
“I thought so too. It didn’t seem like you’d just keep it a secret for nothing.”
“Is that why you’ve been following me since earlier?”
Shin Ayoung’s shoulders flinched.
So he noticed.
Still, she quickly regained composure and acted calm.
“…I wasn’t following you.”
“Try lying in a less obvious way.”
That got exposed immediately too.
Shin Ayoung pressed her lips together slightly.
Other than her parents, had anyone ever seen through her acting this clearly?
Probably not.
It almost felt like he was reading her mind.
Lee Seungho asked calmly.
“And if I wanted something… were you planning to give me money?”
“If that would make you keep your promise.”
“…Oh, really?”
For a moment, Lee Seungho looked tempted.
But it didn’t last long.
He quickly snapped out of it and cleared his throat.
“…Forget it. What money? It’s not even your money.”
He seemed a little disappointed, but it wasn’t what he truly wanted.
That only made Shin Ayoung more confused.
What does he want?
“Then do you want something else?”
“No, I’m telling you, I won’t say anything about earlier.”
“Then what do you want? You’re not just letting it go for nothing.”
“Haah…”
He slightly raised his head, narrowed his eyes, and spoke.
“…Hey, you bastard. I said I won’t say anything.”
“??”
Shin Ayoung doubted her ears.
Did he… just swear at her?
“…Hic.”
A hiccup slipped out unconsciously.
She had never been directly cursed at like that before.
It was a bit… no, very shocking.
“Hoo…”
He let out a deep sigh.
Soon, Lee Seungho’s face returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
“That settles it. Now we’re even, right?”
“Huh?”
“If your rumors spread, you can just say I cursed too.”
“…What do you mean?”
Shin Ayoung couldn’t understand what he was saying.
Their positions aren’t the same.
There’s a big difference between losing a high social reputation and not having one to begin with—
“Look at you acting all high and mighty. What, are you some kind of celebrity?”
It was as if Lee Seungho had read her thoughts.
Shin Ayoung’s face flushed instantly.
“……”
Because he wasn’t wrong.
No, he was exactly right.
She had been trying not to show even a single flaw, as if she were a celebrity.
A real celebrity would need that effort.
But she wasn’t one.
She was just the daughter of one.
“…So in the end, you just can’t trust my promise, right?”
Lee Seungho said with a sigh.
“That’s… I mean…”
Honestly, that was true.
There’s no such thing as a cheap secret.
It would feel more reassuring if he wanted something in return.
“Yeah, I get it. In this day and age, trusting someone too much is risky.”
Lee Seungho nodded as if he understood.
“But think about it. Let’s say I spread a rumor. Who do you think people will believe? You or me?”
“……”
That was something she hadn’t considered.
Was she just too panicked?
Maybe the shock of her carefully maintained act being exposed made her anxious.
“……”
She thought about his words carefully.
Shin Ayoung understood her own position well.
Most people would probably believe her over him.
That was the conclusion she reached.
“See? Problem solved, right?”
“Uh… yeah?”
“I asked if it’s solved. Answer.”
“Y-yeah!”
Her head nodded stiffly.
Lee Seungho lightly patted her shoulder.
“Sure, it might look a bit cheap, but… everyone swears sometimes. Why care so much about that?”
Lee Seungho’s gaze was ordinary.
He didn’t look disappointed or surprised by her true self.
As if it was nothing.
He looked at her the same way he would look at anyone.
There was none of the usual expectation or subtle favor people showed her.
In front of him, Shin Ayoung wasn’t the daughter of an actor.
She was just herself.
“……”
And that was all it was.
For the third time today.
“H-ha, haha…”
Her act slipped once again.