Chapter 72
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: First Kiss at the Freshman Welcome Party
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“No matter what, don’t drink at the freshman welcome party. Got it? Alcohol is the devil’s brew.”
“Come on, not even one drink? I’m an adult now, you know.”
“Hey! If I say no, then no. And you know it—adults besides Dad are all wolves.”
“...Yeah, got it.”
Im So-hye recalled her conversation with her dad from that morning.
He’d insisted alcohol was the root of all evil. He’d made her promise to politely decline any offers.
“Everyone, as we’ve gotten to know each other a bit through today’s orientation, this is the first step toward the college life we’ll build together. Let’s all cheer on each other’s dreams and passions as one big family, proud K University students. On this meaningful day, a toast to our health and friendships!”
“Ch... cheers...”
But for Im So-hye—who was born unable to say no to people and was painfully shy by nature—refusing a drink in this atmosphere felt harder than dying.
‘What if I say no and get on their bad side from day one?’
So she took her first-ever sip of soju.
“Gah?!”
Sweet, bitter, and fizzy.
Just one shot turned her mind into soft, mushy putty.
Unfortunately, she was a total lightweight.
The orientation wrapped up, leading straight into the scheduled freshman welcome party.
They’d rented out a resort in Gapyeong, and for Im So-hye—who’d never been to a drinking party before—it was a whole new world.
The college drinking culture she was experiencing for the first time.
Too many new faces.
Too much noise.
Too much information overload.
Of course, novelty might be fun for some, but for introverted So-hye, it was overwhelming stimulation.
‘I wanna go home... Dad!’
If she were more like Kang Mi-hyun—a tough delinquent type—she might’ve been used to parties. But raised under an ultra-strict patriarchal dad with overprotective helicopter parenting, and being a textbook introvert to boot, her energy was draining away in real time.
It was worlds apart from high school, where she just followed a set routine and schedule.
And the real problem? Her pretty, cute looks.
Not sexy, but her honest, adorable face drew male upperclassmen who’d stop by to chat and pour her drinks.
She was short, making her seem even more approachable, and her shy personality meant she couldn’t flat-out refuse the glasses coming her way.
“Ah... I’m really not good with alcohol...”
“It’s fine! You’ll build tolerance as you drink!”
“Down it~ down down down down! Down! Down down down! How long are you gonna do the shoulder dance?!”
Euaaaah!
Surrounded by strangers—overly extroverted ones at that—it was even harder to keep her wits.
Normally, having even one familiar face would’ve been a comfort...
‘Hyun... Hyun-seong’s over there...’
But her high school classmate Hyun-seong—who felt comfortable and safe—was clear across the party.
“No, for real! So I told Gyu-tae...”
“Puhahaha! This guy’s hilarious!”
She couldn’t make out the words, but the constant laughter suggested he was adapting way better than her—like a white puppy trapped among sea anemones.
‘Lucky him.’
Even good-looking, popular introverts struggle with new relationships.
For So-hye, daughter of a strict religious family with zero permission for dating, the parade of guys introducing themselves was pure pressure.
And... the real burden started with some returning student oppa.
“Mind if I sit here?”
“Oh, sunbae.”
“Yeah. Just gonna say hi to our freshman real quick.”
“Ah, sure...”
The guy wedged into the seat next to Im So-hye, jacking it forcefully, ramping up the discomfort to insane levels.
“Dude, let’s bail...”
“Yeah...”
He plopped down so blatantly, flirting hard—even the fun upperclassmen around her backed off awkwardly. She could tell he had a rep, but as a timid newbie, she couldn’t shut him down.
“What’s your name?”
“Im... Im So-hye! Sunbae...”
“Whoa, even your name’s pretty. Call me oppa.”
“O... oppa?”
“Yeah. What’s with the formal ‘sunbae’ crap?”
“...”
“Here. Oppa’ll pour you one. You pour mine.”
“Okay...”
One glass, two glasses—they kept tilting back.
“Gulp! Ack!”
Already weak to booze, her overdrinking turned So-hye’s face beet red like a ripe tomato, firing up the returnee to lay on the sleaze.
“So-hye’s seriously cute. Feels like you’re my little sis—I wanna protect you. Gimme your number?”
“Ah... haha... um...”
“What? No funny business~ Just sis vibes. I’ll buy you meals all the time?”
His stinky lines were too much, but her nice, shy nature made her smile through it.
‘Okay, she’s into it!’
That misread egged him on, getting bolder as he clung and poured more.
“Eww, that sunbae’s at it again with the freshman.”
“Ugh. Tell him not to show next time.”
The sophomore girls whispered loudly behind them, but thick-skinned, he kept force-feeding her drinks.
“Ugh... I... I can’t drink anymore...”
“Come on! Just one more. Yeah?”
“...”
The awkwardness dragged on—no gallant knight stepped in.
‘Fuck, she’s super weak to booze. Maybe...?’
The sleazy returnee eyed her body hungrily, smacking his lips.
Petite frame, but small head, long limbs for good proportions... and for her height, decent chest, with developed hips and butt that looked tasty.
“R... really, I can’t drink anymore...”
“Hey. Oppa’s pouring. Last one.”
“B... but you said last one earlier...”
“Real last one! Drink up and let’s get some air. Sound good?”
Why the hell would I go outside with you?
Her face screamed it, but he was shameless.
“Alright, last round~ Gotta get used to beer-soju in college.”
Im So-hye stared awkwardly at the glass he handed her.
Definitely over her limit—beer mixed with soju.
She had a bad feeling this one would cloud her mind completely.
But then the knight arrived.
“Sunbae, mind if I drink that for her?”
“Huh?”
The guy from high school she’d met today.
Kang Hyun-seong.
“Hand it over.”
“Huh? Uh...”
Without asking permission, he snatched the glass from So-hye’s hand and chugged it down.
So-hye gaped, staring blankly at the boy.
Her heart thumped oddly.
“What? You two know each other?”
The returnee—who anyone could see was hitting on her—scowled when I stepped in.
“Yeah, we went to the same high school. ‘Friends.’”
“...Oh?”
“Yep. Oh, So-hye. Your dad called. He’s pissed you haven’t checked in.”
“Huh? What? Dad really?”
Worth listening to her chatter during orientation.
Her dad was a strict church pastor, right?
I played it like I knew the guy.
“Too noisy here—let’s call outside. Your phone’s dead, yeah?”
“Huh? Uh... yeah...”
“Use mine. Sorry, sunbae. Her dad’s a pastor—super strict. Told her to check in, and no word yet? He’ll flip.”
The returnee’s face was like cheap tofu shotgunned with booze, but whatever—not scary.
Other sunbaes said he’s infamous for groping underclassmen girls—barely respected.
Screw him. I grabbed So-hye’s wrist—skinny as a toothpick, literally scared it’d snap—and yanked her out.
“Let’s go! I don’t wanna get chewed out by your dad either!”
Emphasized “dad” on purpose. Rescued her from the booze pit where she was visibly fidgeting.
Fuck.
Even I thought it was badass.
A little self-high-five as I held her wrist, leading her out of the resort to a quiet, secluded spot for air.
“...W-wait...”
She turned—her face flushed from the booze.
My gripped wrist too.
“Oh, your wrist—sorry.”
“Ah! No! Thanks, actually...”
Awkward silence hit.
She ducked her head, super embarrassed.
‘She’s really cute.’
I waited. She caught her breath and murmured softly.
“Th... thanks. That guy was a lot... you pulled me out on purpose.”
“High school buds gotta help each other. That dude was creepy from across the room. Spouting ‘80s pickup lines.”
“Kekeke... ‘80s pickup lines’ kek.”
Dunno what cracked her up, but she burst laughing outta nowhere.
“How’d you know Dad wants check-ins?”
“What? For real? I made it up.”
“No way. Hilarious kekeke.”
Super sheltered family, huh.
“Call home quick. Check-in time.”
“Yeah... ugh, don’t wanna...”
“Why?”
“He’ll kill me for drinking...”
She finally pulled out her phone.
“Huh? Battery’s really dead?”
“What? Use mine?”
“No! He’ll freak if a guy calls...”
What is this, 19th century?
“Gotta tell Dad the battery died later. Brr, cold. Let’s head back.”
Still February—freezing.
Heading back to the party from the chill—
“Can we... stay out a bit longer?”
“Huh?”
Blushing hard, she grabbed my arm first.
Booze maybe, but... her face was red from shyness too.
“...”
“...”
Our eyes met suddenly.
The tipsy buzz, maybe.
Feeling like she wouldn’t refuse, some weird courage surged.
On impulse, I kissed So-hye.