Chapter 17
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 17: Regret (1)
It was the second year of high school.
Ha-rin at that time was immature.
Although she still is now, back then it was a time when she looked at others like dogs.
A bully chaebol that could appear in a webtoon.
If only there hadn't been pressure from home, Ha-rin would have acted out recklessly to that extent.
Men pant like dogs when they see her.
Women blindly follow her.
Of course, there were women who were secretly jealous, but.
Educating those bitches properly with money was Ha-rin's bad hobby.
She was always the "Top" (dominant), always standing above.
Because that was what a chaebol was.
Therefore, it was unavoidable that Do-hyun remained in her memory.
'Look at this kid?'
How can he look at her with such crooked eyes?
A gaze that some women send her, a man is sending it.
Almost all men usually glance at her face or the huge lumps of fat below and then avert their gaze abruptly.
What man would refuse a beautiful chaebol woman with lots of money and big breasts?
Men trying to flirt somehow to get on her good side was all Ha-rin had seen.
However, Seo Do-hyun was different.
Do-hyun's pupils were rotten like a dead corpse, and the eyes directed at her exuded a strange hostility.
Curious.
Want to play with him, then dismantle him.
Having everything she wants is a chaebol's virtue.
From that day on, Ha-rin made Do-hyun her toy.
And Do-hyun.
"Make an acrostic poem with Kim Dun-cheol."
"You mean the 2nd-year math teacher?"
"Yeah."
"Give me the letters."
"Kim."
"Kim-ssi come here."
"Dun."
"Dun-bu (Buttocks) let me touch a bit."
"Cheol."
"Cheol-cheoreom (Like iron) it's hard. My zipper area that is! Zehahahaha!"
"Ahah, Ahahahahahaha!"
He was the funniest among all men she had seen in her life.
How can a person be funny so creatively?
There hasn't been a man who ruined himself to this extent for money until now.
That ugly appearance of throwing away even minimum dignity and rushing like a dog at the pocket money she throws.
Ha-rin even felt a strange pleasure in making the man who first looked at her with hostile eyes kneel with money.
Up until then, Ha-rin saw Do-hyun as a simple clown.
Proper education is over, now there is only one curiosity left.
Why he disliked her, why he risked his life for money like that.
When she finished background checking him using the chaebol family's connections.
Ha-rin felt cold sweat flowing from her forehead.
"So Do-hyun's father has 3 criminal records, was indicted for domestic violence and divorced once, is currently unemployed, and uses up all child support to drink alcohol?"
"Yes."
"His mother left home and already finished preparing for remarriage and set up a new household."
"That is correct."
"His younger sister has ongoing depression, and is even being bullied at school?"
It wasn't proper education, it was an abyss.
"I'm fucked."
For a moment, the future where the atrocities committed against Do-hyun were reported in the media and she got kicked out of the house flashed through her mind.
What do I do... have to do something.
"About that sister... does Do-hyun know?"
"He knows but seems to be under great stress recently because he can't help."
"Why can't he help?"
"The student's father had an 'Enjo-kousai' (Compensated Dating) with the bully perpetrator's older sister. They are using that as a weakness to torment her."
Just when she wondered if they were filming a soap opera, her attendant suggested.
"Are they crazy?"
"Regarding that matter, I intend to take measures, is that okay? If we make them owe a debt, wouldn't that student be quiet too."
"Good idea?"
Making them owe a debt.
She was a new attendant so less trustworthy, but she was a more capable woman than thought.
"Additionally, it seems their financial situation has improved recently. The pocket money Milady sprinkled seems to have been a big help."
"...Really?"
"Yes well. With this much, you probably don't have to worry about Milady's atrocities being exposed somewhere."
Baek Ha-rin, who sighed in relief inwardly, puffed out her chest triumphantly.
"I did sprinkle some money."
"Come to think of it, the Director asks why you withdraw so much cash attending school."
"What did you answer?"
"I answered that you got a boyfriend."
"What? Really?"
"It's a joke. I made up an excuse appropriately so you can rest assured."
Too many jokes is a minus.
Ha-rin pondered deeply then asked.
"...Why do you think he dislikes me?"
"That would be inferiority complex."
"Inferiority complex?"
"He was born under terrible parents in a house with no money and lives suffering painfully, but right in the next class, there is a woman living a life opposite to his. It's natural to dislike her."
"Usually wouldn't they think, I'm envious, I should earn money and live a life like that too, or wouldn't my situation improve if I date a woman like that?"
"How can a person pushed to the limit think such thoughts? Usually, kids whose lives went to the abyss to that extent have their self-esteem destroyed too, so they don't even dare to make eye contact with a chaebol 3rd generation."
"Is that so?"
The attendant added words.
"Honestly, doesn't Milady act recklessly in school too? Making kids run errands day in and day out and ignoring them... then how can they view you favorably. Please grow up a bit."
"I could tell Dad and fire you, you know."
"For reference, the Director said he would entrust discipline of this level to me. The Director is on my side."
"Tch."
Baek Ha-rin clicked her tongue and thought of Seo Do-hyun.
A man who is fun to be with and doesn't get boring.
Creating funny jokes with an expression showing not a single worry, but his inside was already on the verge of rotting and crumbling.
"...How should I treat that kid?"
Having heard this story, her conscience pricks her to make him a laughing stock while making him run errands.
To Ha-rin's question, the attendant answered.
"Do as usual."
"Can I do that?"
"Clumsy sympathy is rather rude. The moment Milady, who doesn't live diligently, treats that male student who lives diligently with pity, it would be better not to think of seeing his face ever again. Or help him from behind without showing it."
As the attendant said, the relationship between Ha-rin and Do-hyun didn't change particularly.
At least subtle consideration increased compared to before?
"Hey, heard you made an acrostic poem with teachers? Can you try that?"
To give an example, usually when friends sticking next to Ha-rin gave orders, she watched from the side and threw money, but.
"I will roll it right now, give me the lette..."
"Don't do it."
"Yes?"
"You're my toy right? You should only listen to me."
Now she didn't make him act like a clown unless it was just the two of them.
"Milady, is that the consideration you thought of at best?"
"How is it? Doesn't it show at this level?"
"The problem is it really doesn't show at all."
There is another example.
"Senior, there are two 50,000 won bills?"
" giving it because you worked hard. Accept it sweetly."
She raised the unit price by about two times.
"No wonder I thought the money spent this month increased significantly."
"Giving lots of money is help in the end. Isn't it?"
"Truly a mindset befitting a chaebol."
This was unexpectedly real big help, so the attendant passed without saying much.
The last help is the part-time job Do-hyun is doing usually.
"Buy that convenience store."
"Milady, that is a category beyond the allowance the Director permitted to Milady so it's not easy..."
"It's okay. My dad can't win against me."
Borrowing the financial power of her daughter-fool father, she drastically increased the part-time pay given to Do-hyun.
Of course, strictly hiding the fact that it became a convenience store owned by her.
"Do-hyun's Ethnic Delivery, Order!"
"Yes, yes! Senior. What should I buy?"
"...Your eye rims are hollow especially today?"
"No, I am full of energy!"
But he became more tired.
"It seems he increased working hours further as the hourly wage increased. I saw him holding the counter until dawn yesterday."
It's forbidden for a high school student to do that, but it was possible because the employer was Baek Ha-rin.
Ha-rin wondered.
"No, I shoot donations, increase part-time pay, then shouldn't the time to rest increase?"
"Normally that is correct, but recently the male student's biological father started gambling..."
"Daughter has depression and son works without sleeping, does that make sense? Is he human?"
"Milady. There are truly all sorts of people in the world."
Perhaps because she was born under parents who cherished and loved her.
Baek Ha-rin absolutely could not understand such parents.
"What should I do to help more?"
To the pondering Ha-rin, the attendant asked.
"Didn't you make him a toy with the intention of screwing that male student over in the first place?"
"Right. Why am I doing this."
The attendant tried to say her conduct is exactly like a wife supporting secretly from behind, but swallowed her words thinking this crosses the line too hard.
Instead, she gave other advice.
"Since the Director gave a special order to reduce spending money, it seems impossible to raise the unit price further. Wouldn't there be things that help even if it's not necessarily money?"
"You told me not to give clumsy sympathy?"
"No, for example indicting the father's side."
"Indictment?"
More than 90% of all Seo Do-hyun's problems come from his father.
"Ongoing child abuse, illegal gambling, even compensated dating. There are plenty of cases."
"But Do-hyun isn't doing it?"
"Because there is affection of flesh and blood. Waiting believing he will change."
"Still, isn't it too much meddling? Touching family affairs."
"Milady finally grew up."
If only this attendant wasn't uselessly capable, she would have been replaced long ago.
Ha-rin ground her teeth.
"If you really don't feel like that either, there is one last resort."
"What?"
"This is something the Director would oppose foaming at the mouth, though..."
What kind of method is it.
The attendant paused and said.
"It is dating that student."
"Are you joking with me now?"
"Listen. Sympathy of a chaebol woman who sees him as a clown? It's a nuisance. But is 'Is it okay?' from a pretty chaebol girlfriend who takes care of pocket money?"
Uh?
"Hmm."
It's persuasive.
At Ha-rin's appearance seriously reviewing words said as a joke, the attendant suddenly felt a chill.
"Milady?"
"Huh?"
"You aren't really thinking of doing it, right?"
Seo Do-hyun.
A man fun to be with.
Originally a toy, nothing more nothing less, but thoughts changed recently.
He lives diligently.
There would be no one in this school living more diligently than Do-hyun.
He could have dropped out, but he attends school steadily and listens to classes regularly.
Most of it is missed dozing off due to lack of sleep, but considering most Genius High students abandoned studying, it's a commendable thing.
Is it only that? Becoming a boy breadwinner at a young age, earning money, doing housework.
At the very least his personality is good.
No, is his patience good?
Enduring well is being kind. Ha-rin thought so.
"Shall I try it once?"
"Milady?"
"No, I thought about it, but it's strange not to date even once when I'm a high school student. I'm still a 'forever solo' too."
"If you are doing it out of sympathy, I think it's better to quit."
"It's not because of that, thinking about it I quite like the kid. He's funny and kind, right? His looks aren't bad at that level either."
"...Even so, the family background."
"Ey what era is it to decide whether to marry looking at the partner's family. Chaebol political marriage is words coming out only in dramas. Our Baek family isn't to that extent."
"...."
"...Is it to that extent?"
"For now, I will speak well to the Director."
However, Baek Ha-rin's plan never happened.
Because Seo Do-hyun was taken away by the police.