Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Lee Ha-young
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I don't focus on a woman's face or figure when I look at her.
I pay attention to how well we click emotionally.
My girlfriend is the perfect example.
Being with her is fun, we share the same hobbies, and we can envision the same future.
That's the kind of girlfriend I like.
In short, my girlfriend is my ideal type.
Oh, and there's one more important thing.
I like gentle, warm-hearted women.
Because it's thanks to a sweet girlfriend like that I can chase my current dream.
My dream.
It's not some vague wish to marry my girlfriend.
Of course, I do have that dream to some extent, but the dream I'm pursuing is to become a top-tier chef.
To make it happen, I've earned a bunch of culinary certifications and even won cooking competitions.
For a 23-year-old, I'm way ahead of most guys who are into cooking.
The reason an ordinary guy like me achieved all this is because I have my girlfriend.
She started eating the dishes I made as a hobby and praised them so deliciously that it fired me up, making me want to create even tastier food—and that's what brought me here.
She has that talent.
Encouraging others, drawing out their strengths, making you want to do more for her.
I'm glad that I'm the only one who knows her charms fully.
"Hey, class is over. What're you spacing out for? Heading to the cafeteria?"
The lecture hall was buzzing noisily.
I looked up to see An Sang-min.
Friend since middle school and my LoL teammate.
In a word, my best friend.
"Nah, I ate lunch earlier. I'm full."
"You bastard, you made cookies again to eat with your girlfriend, didn't you?"
"If you know, then get lost quietly."
"Ah— you're such a jealous prick. So, you skipping PC bang today? Date with your girl?"
"Yeah. Plus, I gotta prep for the competition. Probably can't go for a while."
"Got it. Buy some chicken if you win prize money."
"Chicken? I can swing that much."
"Yeah. Hey, but lately—"
The guy was hesitating, dragging it out like he had something to say.
"Lately what?"
"Has something happened with your girlfriend?"
"What do you mean?"
"Nah, just... she's gotten ridiculously pretty. She used to dress so plainly."
Used to dress plainly?
Is this guy nuts?
"Guess she's gotten into that kinda thing. Why, does your stomach hurt?"
"No, that's not it. Her image has changed so drastically lately—"
"People change. What's weird about that?"
"Man, you get all serious whenever your girlfriend comes up. No, just hear me out."
"Spit it out."
"The guys are holding back 'cause they don't wanna piss you off, but there's some weird rumors about your girlfriend going around."
My stomach churned.
What bullshit was this idiot about to spew?
But on the other hand, he's not the type to be clueless.
If he's bringing it up knowing it'll upset me, it's probably not baseless.
"Just tell me. What rumors?"
"Sigh. Don't get mad first, okay? It's... kinda bad."
"Just say it quick. Don't piss me off."
"Ugh, fuck. That... compensated dating. Rumors like that."
"Fuck. Who said that?"
The lecture hall went quiet.
I glanced around suddenly.
Our classmates' eyes fixed on me.
A few who looked away the moment our eyes met.
I made a mental note.
"Hey, hey. Keep your voice down. Let's get outta here first. Everyone can hear."
-Scrape.
"Yeah, let's go."
"Sure. Ice cream?"
We ended up at the stairs by the drinking fountain next to the sports field.
Ice cream in each of our hands.
It didn't help cool my head at all.
"Now talk. Who said that shit?"
"Before that, don't flip out on the guy. If you're gonna lose it, don't say it was me. Okay?"
"Yeah."
"I heard it from Ki-hoon in the dance club."
"Ki-hoon?"
"Yeah. He's in the same club as your girlfriend."
"Right. So?"
"So, he was wandering around downtown and saw her."
"Saw what?"
"He was heading to PC bang and spotted your girlfriend with some uncle-type guy right next to her."
"... Could've been her dad."
"Nah, the vibe was super sketchy. They had their arms linked and... the guy looked like some crime syndicate boss..."
Lee Ha-young wouldn't do that.
It's been ages since the Roh Tae-woo era, the failed war on crime, and the IMF cartel mess—why would she mess with something that dangerous?
"And he saw them go into a motel."
"Motel? Fuck, you sure?"
"The one next to Wow PC bang. Lime Motel or something. He saw it on his way there, so he's certain."
"Ha... fuck. Say something that makes sense."
The world was spinning.
Lee Ha-young wouldn't.
A straight-laced girl like her, why would she go to a place like that?
"I told him not to bullshit at first. Your girl doing compensated dating? No fucking way. But with these weird rumors lately..."
"What rumors? What else?"
"Sigh. This one's got witnesses. But it's not 100% confirmed—could be nothing."
"Fuck, stop dragging it out. Just say it."
"That... sigh... she smokes."
"Smokes? Who?"
"Her... Ha-young."
Lee Ha-young.
Smoking?
No way.
Lee Ha-young smoking?
How could she?
She hates secondhand smoke so much.
"Hey, you okay? Ha... fuck, I wrestled with telling you, but I figured you should know."
"Smoking. Who said? Which fucker?"
"First, Jong-hak said he saw it."
Jong-hak?
That moron who plays nag with underclassmen?
Okay, a bit relieved.
"And Min-jae, right? The one with the protruding jaw."
"Min-jae? The top student?"
"Yeah, him too."
"..."
"And... Hui-yeon..."
Fuck.
Hui-yeon is Ha-young's best friend.
"Not that Hui-yeon saw it, but she said Ha-young's been acting weird lately. Hanging out with Jeong Su-a more."
Jeong Su-a is bad news.
She's infamous as an airhead slut.
Fuck, my head's spinning.
"Just talk to her properly. Could be bullshit rumors. These things usually fizzle out."
"... Got it. Yeah..."
What do I do now?
What should I do?
Fuck, it doesn't make sense.
No way Ha-young would...
Crazy bastards making up shit because they're jealous of her—fucking assholes.
"Hey. Hey!! You okay?"
"Ha. Fuck, it doesn't add up? If there was any sign, I'd have noticed, right?"
"Calm down first. Lecture's starting soon, let's head in. Or skip? I'll cover for you."
"... Nah. Let's go. Back to the lecture hall."