Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: I Hate Mondays
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"I hate Mondays♪ Hate 'em! I love the To~s~u~day night with my sexy girl!"
Patrolling the outskirts of Greenhouse Academy.
As the sun began dipping low in the late afternoon, Chae So-yeon hummed a cheerful tune, her steps bouncing lightly along the route.
"I hate Mondays♪ Hate 'em! I love the To~s~u~day night with us hotshots!"
"Haa."
Ahn Su-ho let out a deep sigh at her complete lack of focus on the patrol.
Sunday had dragged on with him wrestling his increasingly tangled thoughts after meeting Kang Ha-neul and Ji Ye-won. Now it was Monday.
Already in a foul mood, Ahn Su-ho's irritation skyrocketed the moment he arrived at work and found his partner whining about not wanting to do any.
It had improved somewhat now that quitting time was near, but earlier, she'd been like a tantrum-throwing kid. Of course, even this "improved" version still grated on his nerves.
"Chae So-yeon. We're on patrol. Once this is done, we clock out. Can't you take it seriously for just a bit?"
"What? I am taking it seriously."
"Yeah, real serious, my ass."
"You don't get it! This is all a ploy to make any lurking enemies drop their guard!"
No way in hell would showing off that level of idiocy make enemies let their guard down.
That's what Ahn Su-ho thought, but upon reflection, if he were a villain committing crimes at Greenhouse Academy, he'd probably relax seeing Chae So-yeon.
'Even a broken clock is right twice a day.'
Ahn Su-ho looked at his partner—whose stupidity wasn't just a loose screw but practically a head full of nothing but loose screws—and gave a wry smile that somehow felt comforting. If there was one redeeming quality to Chae So-yeon's innocent... no, feigned idiocy, it was how it made anyone watching forget their worries for a moment.
"...You clocked out, right?"
"Yup~"
"Nothing left behind?"
"Nope~"
"Any unfinished work... I handled it all before we left for patrol, yeah."
"Yup~"
Security Force members whose shifts overlapped with quitting time usually headed straight home after patrol. With no issues, a quick phone report sufficed—less than a minute. No point trekking back across the vast grounds for that; it was standard courtesy from the Force.
Naturally, anyone on duty at this hour finished all checkout prep before patrol, and Chae So-yeon was no exception.
"Ahn Su-ho! What're you up to after work?"
"Grabbing dinner with Ye-won."
Ji Ye-won was leaving for Yongin tomorrow. They wouldn't see each other for a while, so this was just a last goodbye of sorts.
"Cool! Mind if I tag along?"
"Why the sudden interest?"
"Ji Ye-won’s heading out for the Team Leader's mission, right? Gotta say bye before she goes!"
It was a pretty pushy request, but Ahn Su-ho didn't refuse.
If safehouse life had brought him and Ji Ye-won closer, the same went for Chae So-yeon. Proximity breeds affection, even after their rocky start. The two had become genuine friends before they knew it.
'With Chae So-yeon there, no worries about the mood tanking. I wanted Ye-won to spend her last night smiling anyway. This works out.'
Chae So-yeon was a solid mood-maker despite appearances. With her around, both he and Ji Ye-won could set aside heavy thoughts and enjoy the evening, Ahn Su-ho figured.
"Sure. Let's grab some drinks on the way."
"Drinks? Booze?"
"It's kinda like a send-off. Gotta have drinks. Can't overdo it since we've got work tomorrow."
"Beer should do it then! Oh, dinner—what're we eating? Ye-won cooking? Or delivery?"
"She said she'd make it. Learned some Mexican dish, apparently. Wonder if it pairs with beer."
"Nothing doesn't pair with beer!"
"? Pretty sure there's tons that don't."
Finishing patrol, they bantered idly about beer-friendly foods as they passed through the main gate.
"Huh? What's that?"
Chae So-yeon pointed to a black limousine parked by the roadside. The kind of ride only for the ultra-rich, with a stunning woman in a crisp suit standing primly in front. It was straight out of a drama; passing students whispered and stared.
The pair was no exception. The limo blocked their path directly. As they drew nearer to it and the mystery woman, Ahn Su-ho muttered softly.
"...Han Winter?"
Among Greenhouse contacts in his mind, only Han Winter drove something that flashy. The original story even mentioned her using a dedicated limo for school commutes.
"Han Winter? That rude chaebol brat?"
"Rude...?"
"What? She is rude. Remember the cafe? She got all uppity with me. Some snot-nosed kid daring to sass an adult—"
"You weren't exactly adulting yourself then."
"Whatever! Point is, next time I see that brat—Winter or Summer or whatever—I'm gonna teach her some manners...!"
Just then, as Chae So-yeon swung her fists emphatically, her eyes met the woman's by the limo.
'Did she hear that?'
Ahn Su-ho thought, and the suited woman clicked her heels toward them. Chae So-yeon gulped and instinctively stepped back half a pace.
"Excuse me."
The woman stopped before them, speaking politely. Her heels made her tower nearly 30cm over Chae So-yeon. Looking up at the intimidating figure, Chae So-yeon paled slightly.
"I-I dunno what you heard me say, but that's not who you think it is, it's someone else—"
"Are you Ahn Su-ho of the Security Force's Special Countermeasures Division?"
"Huh?"
"Me?"
Suddenly singled out, Ahn Su-ho blinked before nodding slowly.
"Yes, that's me...?"
"My lady wishes to speak with you briefly. It won't take long—could you spare a moment?"
"Your lady... Han Winter, the student?"
Figured it was Han Winter's people. But the woman shook her head gently.
"No, not Miss Han Winter."
"Then who... ah."
Not Han Winter's hire, yet using honorifics for her—Ahn Su-ho instantly knew who she meant.
"Forgive the late introduction. I'm Shin Ah-young, personal secretary to Miss Han Summer."
"Han Summer?"
Chae So-yeon tilted her head, a question mark practically hovering. But Ahn Su-ho had no attention for her.
'Why would Han Summer want me?'
Maybe the Han Winter stuff? He thought, then dismissed it.
The Han Summer he knew was Han Winter's sister but largely indifferent to her. More like she resented wasting time on Winter-related matters. No way that Han Summer sought him out over Winter.
'But what else could it be?'
Han Summer was a recurring character with some weight in the original, but at this point, her connection to Ahn Su-ho was near zero.
Regardless, her secretary seeking him meant something substantial—Han Summer despised wasting time on frivolities.
"Miss Han Summer wants to talk to me, you said."
"Yes."
"I have plans after this, but... any idea how long it'll take?"
"As I mentioned, not long. At most 20 or 30 minutes."
"20 or 30 minutes..."
That wouldn't derail his meetup with Ji Ye-won.
"Chae So-yeon."
Ahn Su-ho called her casually.
"Yeah?"
"Looks like you'll have to grab the booze solo."
"Uh, got it."
Clueless as ever, Chae So-yeon nodded vaguely. Leaving her behind, Ahn Su-ho followed Shin Ah-young's lead into the limo's back seat.
"Huh?"
And there.
"Hello?"
Han Summer greeted him with a faint smile, her sleek legs crossed elegantly under her suit skirt.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
-Vrooooom.
The limo pulled away with a deep rumble. Whether due to its luxury build or the skilled driver, it glided smoothly without a bump.
Ahn Su-ho eyed Han Summer awkwardly.
At a glance, she resembled her sister Han Winter. But closer inspection revealed stark differences.
Hair first: Han Winter's deep crimson versus Han Summer's murkier red-gray. Eyes too—Winter's pure red, Summer's with a bluish tint.
Features were beautifully sculpted like Winter's, but the vibe differed sharply. Winter was sharp-edged and venomous; Summer softer, more refined. Her downturned eyes and long lashes exuded a mature, seductive allure.
Yet her piercing gaze—like peering through him—and faint chill made her seem sharper than Winter. Not a porcupine's quills, but a honed blade's edge.
"...I figured you'd be waiting somewhere, but I never dreamed it'd be inside the limo."
Gauging her, Ahn Su-ho spoke first—crisp and formal.
"I hate wasting time."
Han Summer matched his formality, but with an air of leisure. That alone highlighted their disparities.
"Better to meet here than make you wait elsewhere—saves time. Plus, no prying eyes or ears."
To Ahn Su-ho, it sounded like a warning: what came next required secrecy. He glanced uneasily at the driver and Shin Ah-young up front.
"Don't worry. Those two have tighter lips than anyone I know. Nothing we say here leaks through them."
It eased him somewhat; he nodded, trusting her word.
"So, Miss Han Summer... why did you seek me out?"
"Because I like you."
"Pardon?"
Ahn Su-ho's shocked tone and face contrasted her serene one.
"Something sparked a tiny bit of interest in you. I looked into you, and the more I learned, the more I liked what I found. So I set this up to chat."
"Miss, please refrain from misleading statements."
"And I have a proposal for you."
Ignoring Shin Ah-young cleanly, Han Summer eyed him sidelong.
"A proposal...? Wait, you investigated me? Out of interest?"
"Yes. You must have some inkling why."
Even so, Ahn Su-ho couldn't fathom why. Han Winter-related? Was this world's Han Summer more invested in her sister than he thought?
But Han Summer's next words shattered that.
"Iliana Faust."
One name did it.
"Academy fourth-year like me. Not famous here, but renowned among those in the know as a top detective and investigator. I commissioned her to look into you—specifically your actions during the recent double dungeon incident."
Her eyes narrowed like crescent moons. In that instant, Ahn Su-ho sensed a familiar aura from her.
Ah.
This woman gave off the same vibe as Min Chae-ryeong.
"Impressive that she nailed the job in one day, but you? You're just as remarkable."
The black limo cruised the road with fluid grace.