Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Actress Jeong Soyul (3)
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I headed to the school cafeteria with Jung So-yul.
Walking alongside her drew stares from everyone around us.
Men and women alike gawked openly as they passed by.
"Isn't that Jung So-yul?"
"Who's the guy next to her?"
"Her manager? I heard managers these days are all ex-gangsters."
"Guy's built like a tank, though."
"Yeah, gotta be that size to fend off all the guys hitting on her at school."
To them, we didn't look like regular students—just a celebrity and her bodyguard.
Gazes of admiration poured toward Jung So-yul.
Envy and jealousy from the girls.
Desire and excitement from the guys.
Men and women alike fixed their eyes on one person.
I could see why she was called a top star.
Not many people in the world could pull in stares just by standing there.
In the crowded cafeteria full of Yeonsung University students, she was the only one shining brightly.
Even with her sunglasses on, they couldn't hide her beauty.
No—in fact, being the only one in sunglasses made her stand out even more.
A few whipped out their phones to snap pics of her face.
Videos, photos.
People didn't care—they just wanted to capture this moment.
This is fucking uncomfortable.
Doesn't she have to watch her image even off-camera?
Suddenly, I recalled what she'd said when she sat next to me in the lecture hall.
-Don't get the wrong idea just because I sat next to you. I'm not interested in you.
-I just didn't want to sit by someone freaking out over me being a celebrity.
Now I understood why she'd chosen the seat next to me, the guy who'd ignored her.
These stares must be overwhelming.
I'd lose my mind too if they hit me every day.
Someone who didn't even glance her way must've felt like a safe haven.
Of course, it had led to a bit of hassle.
"…"
Sure enough, the center of attention was furrowing her brow, clearly uncomfortable.
"Haa."
A deep sigh followed.
This was a far cry from when she'd fished for attention, asking if I liked her.
Her expression showed real disgust at the stares.
It was such a subtle shift, I wouldn't have noticed if I wasn't standing right there.
Top-star face control in action.
I stared at her openly.
Feeling my gaze, she cleared her throat and shrugged her shoulders.
"...Sorry. As you know, people can't help staring."
She raised her voice artificially, trying to mask her unease.
"See? That's my popularity for you. You were just too indifferent to me."
Her voice brimmed with fake cheer.
Anyone else might've bought it, but I saw right through.
The uncomfortable air settling around her was crystal clear.
When she'd called me over before, asking if I knew her, I'd pegged her as a massive narcissist.
Figured she'd love this attention.
But here in the cafeteria, she looked bothered by the stares.
Standing beside her, taking the stares myself, I got why she hated them.
Some were blatantly sleazy and lingering.
Not just uncomfortable—downright repulsive.
I turned toward the source of one such gaze.
My eyes met a group of guys.
They hurriedly looked away from me, but their eyes quickly scanned Jung So-yul's body.
I let out a sigh as I watched her.
Looked like eating in this student-packed cafeteria was a no-go.
Damn, and today's spicy pork stir-fry was supposed to be killer.
Yeonsung's version was so famous, even kids from other schools came for it.
Oh well, nothing to be done.
"Ah, I hate all this noise. Ruins my appetite."
"Pardon?"
I said it loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.
She blinked in surprise.
I glared at the sleazy group.
"What's the big deal about a celebrity eating? Why the hell are you staring?"
The guys averted their eyes guiltily.
Punks.
No balls to own up, just leering from afar.
I approached the one with his camera out.
"Knock off the filming. It's burdensome."
"S-Sorry."
The guy pocketed his phone.
Others followed suit, one by one.
Of course, that didn't make the place eatable.
Atmosphere was already wrecked.
I grabbed Jung So-yul's wrist.
"Come on. We'll eat somewhere quiet."
"W-Wait a sec."
I pulled her out of the cafeteria, wrist in hand.
Stares still followed.
A few even trailed us out.
The sleazy guys from before.
They stuck to our heels all the way from the cafeteria to the nearby convenience store.
Ah.
Now I got why she was pissed.
Top stars had no such thing as privacy.
Not even for a simple meal.
"Um, excuse me..."
Did she sense it too?
She called out to me cautiously.
I glanced back at the trailing pack.
Not friendly stares by any means.
"Got business with us?"
The guys addressed Jung So-yul.
"Could we get an autograph...?"
"We're fans."
No.
Didn't look like autograph fans.
I remembered their cafeteria stares.
Sleazy, desire-filled eyes raking her body.
Openly creepy.
Clear they just wanted to chat her up and sneak some skinship.
Real fans wouldn't have followed after seeing her discomfort.
"Ah..."
Seeing her unease, I sighed.
"Why the hell should she?"
"Huh?"
"Celebs gotta do whatever you ask? We couldn't even eat thanks to you assholes, and now you're following to piss me off more?"
"H-Hey."
"Beat it if you don't wanna get hit. We're trying to eat."
"Y-You."
"What? Gonna cry to some reporter about the celeb throwing her weight around? Go ahead. I've got your faces memorized—good luck with what's coming."
They all shut up.
"Y-You're not her manager? Her agency's gonna take heat if their star gets scandal from her manager, you know?"
One brave soul yelled.
Haa.
Threatening with her public status.
Guess that's why celebs always smooth things over instead of fighting.
But hey.
"I'm not her manager."
"What? Then..."
They looked like they wanted to say boyfriend.
"Her cousin. You fuckers."
Doesn't work on me, assholes.
"Business done? Scram. If news hits about Jung So-yul's cousin bitching out, I'll tear through your departments to find you. Don't try anything stupid."
"…"
The guys glaring at me bolted when I stepped forward threateningly.
Watching them go, Jung So-yul asked worriedly.
"Y-You okay?"
"What?"
"What if they really tell reporters..."
"They won't."
"Huh?"
"Guys like that treasure their own hides more than anything. Crybabies who bawl over a stubbed toe. Don't worry. And..."
There was a solid reason too.
"I'm kinda famous around Yeonsung."
"…"
The Mad Dog of the Korean Lit Department.
Why I'd never made a single friend here.
The nickname that spread after the freshman welcome party in my first year.
I'd even delayed returning until all the rumor-mongers graduated.
Guess it'll spread to other departments soon.
Whatever. Let 'em know.
No worries here.
"Sorry. My fault."
"Doesn't suit you."
"Huh? What doesn't...?"
"That cowed look. Not your style."
"I-Is that what you say now? I'm worried this blew up because of me..."
"No need. Handled it fine."
"…"
Jung So-yul fell silent.
"Why say cousin sister, though? Cousin brother would've been way more convincing..."
"You're a year older."
She stared at me, dumbfounded.
"Th-That face looks y-younger?"
Hey, face-shaming now?
That kinda hurts.
Already self-conscious about looking old.
"Do I look that ancient?"
"O-Obviously older than me by a year or two... N-Not an alum?"
At least she thought late 20s. Silver lining?
Still stung hearing I looked my age—or older.
"Third-year Lit major, thank you very much."
"Th-Then why talk down to me? If I'm older, you should..."
"You started it. Pissed me off first, so I switched to casual. Been that way since."
"Ugh."
"Talk casual back then."
"D-Don't call me 'you'! I've got a name—Jung So-yul."
"Soyul likes being called by name, huh?"
"D-Don't use my name!"
What the hell does she want?
"Anyway, drop the small stuff. Let's eat."
Starving.
"This isn't small—it needs settling..."
I grabbed her wrist mid-nonsense and dragged her along.
"Your new cousin sister's gonna show you a quiet spot. Just follow."
"…"
I led her to the campus convenience store.
"Convenience store?"
"Planned fancier grub, but too crowded. Plan B."
"…"
I grabbed cup ramen, triangle kimbap, fish cakes, and some dumplings.
Drinks to go with.
At the register with Jung So-yul.
Not pricey, even loaded up.
18,700 won.
I nodded at the counter for her.
"Got it. I'll pay."
She pulled out a black card.
"Black card?"
"Only one I brought. And it's not that fancy. For someone my level..."
"Sure, sure."
Scratching a black card for 18,700 at a conbini? Surreal.
Knew that, I'd have gone upscale.
Damn.
Regret.
But even there, no quiet meal without a private room.
There was that Chinese spot by the main gate.
Didn't wanna take another girl there, though.
With our conbini feast ordered, I microwaved the stuff, bagged it, grabbed the ramen cup, and led the way.
"Let's go."
The rooftop bench of Yeonsung Hall, where no one ever came.
The building everyone called the central club house had a few small benches up top.
Great view of the whole Yeonsung campus, but hardly anyone visited.
No elevator—just stairs mandatory.
Not many willing to climb six flights for a rooftop.
"Haa, haa. R-Really eating here?"
Panting from the climb, Jung So-yul trailed behind me.
She hesitated at the dusty bench.
With pants worth millions, fair reaction.
"Don't like it? Starve."
I ignored it and popped the ramen lid.
Slurp.
Damn good.
Told you it's a treat.
Slightly overcooked noodles from the trek up were a nitpick, but ramen enjoyed solo with this view had a unique savor you couldn't get downstairs.
The slurping echoed across the roof.
At my nonchalance, she bit her lip, then plopped down beside me with a whatever shrug.
"Thanks for the food."
She clumsily scooped noodles.
Foo, foo.
Her red lips blowing on the steam drew the eye oddly.
Slurp.
She took a bite.
"...Tasty."
Wonder if quiet meals with company had been rare lately.
A faint smile graced her lips after one slurp.
"...Thanks."
"For what?"
"Helping earlier."
"…"
"Without Jinwoo stepping in, those guys would've hounded me forever. Ended up with an unwanted autograph session, then bashed online for being arrogant if I refused..."
Looking at me, Jung So-yul smiled with her eyes.
The earlier discomfort had mostly faded.
"You fixed it in one go."
"Wasn't helping you. I was hungry."
Even grumbled, her smile lingered.
"Misjudged you as weird, but I was wrong."
"I'm weird."
"Real weirdos don't admit it."
Hm.
"Was shocked by the handjob thing at first meet, but knew you weren't serious."
It was serious, though.
Guess I'd caused a misunderstanding.
And as that thought crossed my mind, a new system window appeared.
It was hashtags.