Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Unflinching Outsider
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Han Si-a had begun her act as a "girl in love" to get revenge on her stepmother.
The core of the plan was to plant in her father's mind the idea that her stepmother's immodest attire and behavior were negatively influencing his daughter's school life.
For now, Han Si-a was maintaining the stance that she wasn't openly dating yet, establishing a safe zone while unilaterally criticizing her stepmother's fashion choices.
If the plan worked properly, Han Si-a's stepmother would face interference from her father about her clothing and conduct, building up stress. With some luck, she might even be outright banned from wearing those flashy outfits she loved, serving her a proper comeuppance.
The morning after Han Si-a won our bet over the midterms. At the breakfast table with the family gathered, she brought it up.
She said that guys seemed to like girls who put in a bit more effort with their looks. That other girls at school dyed their hair, shortened their skirts, or wore makeup.
Given how her stepmother always dressed so impeccably, wouldn't it be good for her to pay attention to that sort of thing too?
Beating around the bush like that, it all boiled down to: "I want to do my makeup and dye my hair like Stepmom to get some attention from the boys."
Hearing this, Han Si-a's father frowned slightly.
His daughter, the top student and model pupil, suddenly showing interest in romance?
It might be normal for girls her age. But as a parent, it didn't sit right with him.
Then, her stepmother, who had been glancing back and forth between Han Si-a and her father, spoke up.
With a forced smile that looked a bit flustered.
Mouthing it silently so only Han Si-a could see: "Liar."
Han Si-a was startled inside but played it cool.
The moment she launched her "Girl in Love" plan, her stepmother had seen right through the act.
Whatever the case, Han Si-a had to admit her plan was in jeopardy from the very start.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "...So, on day one of executing the plan, she saw right through you?"
"...It's not certain yet. She's just suspicious faster and more intensely than expected. Isn't it too early to call it busted?"
"Si-a... No matter how hopeless the situation, you can't run from reality. Want me to come with you to apologize?"
The morning after I lost the midterm bet and got briefed on Han Si-a's "Girl in Love" plan.
At the emergency gathering of our trio that Han Si-a had hastily called, I learned the plan was already on the brink of failure.
Whether her acting was sloppy or her stepmother's eyes were just sharp, the woman had sniffed out the lie anyway.
My original role was to provide the circumstantial evidence backing up Han Si-a's fib. In other words, to exist as the boy she was supposedly crushing on...
"Isn't this over before I even get a chance to do anything?"
The plan was meant to build up evidence gradually that this boy Han Si-a admired actually existed.
That the boy she was talking to on the phone was real.
That the boy she often met at school was real.
That the boy she went out to meet on the weekend was real.
Those little facts would pile up, serving as an alibi even if her stepmother grew suspicious of the lie later on.
But since we were only on day one... I hadn't called Han Si-a even once, we hadn't met much at school, and we sure hadn't seen each other separately over the weekend.
Yet her stepmother was already doubting Han Si-a's story...
All I could see ahead was Han Si-a getting exposed, then hit with backlash and severe retaliation.
And honestly, since I'd only get dragged down indirectly, it wasn't really my problem, right?
I felt a little bad for her getting burned trying to mess with her stepmother, but in the end, it was just their family drama...
I'd only gone along because I lost the bet. No need to stick my nose in further.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ With midterms over and grades tallied the following week, school had turned into a total playground.
No one cracked open a textbook during breaks or lunch, and class time was spent reviewing midterm problems instead of advancing the curriculum.
But the kids who'd slacked off were looking pretty down.
Unlike middle school, high school didn't hand out decent scores for minimal effort.
Kids who'd pulled 70s or 80s back then were staring at 40s and 50s now—scores they'd never seen before. The shock must've been brutal.
A good chunk of them would probably decide they weren't cut out for studying and give up entirely.
I apparently came in second in the whole school.
Thankfully, Han Si-a was still the only one with perfect scores across the board.
On one hand, since I'd become an outsider because of rumors like "Jeong Yi-an's just a poser who sucks at school," I half-hoped this would shift my classmates' attitudes.
But nope. No change.
Even if an invisible outsider turned out to be a top student, it didn't make anyone want to hang out with him.
So, even now, with our homeroom teacher wrapping up midterm reviews and saying "As long as you're not too loud, do whatever," I had nothing to do.
The other kids clustered with friends for chit-chat or even started card games.
Back before regression, as an outsider, I'd just flop on my desk and pretend to sleep in situations like this... but that was because I hadn't fully accepted my status.
Now I knew it'd just leave my back and neck aching, so I leaned back in my chair and stared out the window.
"Is Jeong Yi-an in this class? Ah, there he is. Sorry to interrupt class, but mind if I borrow this student for a bit?"
I got abruptly called out by the vice principal who'd shown up in our room.
.
.
.
.
The vice principal who pulled me into the hallway led me to a small room.
"Jeong Yi-an. I heard you got second in the school on midterms. Congrats. You must've studied hard. I brought you here because I want to offer talented students like you a great opportunity."
"A great opportunity?"
"Yes, exactly. There's a foundation that gives scholarships to top students from each school, and one of the board members wants to meet you personally. I'll go fetch her, so wait here and be polite when she arrives."
A scholarship foundation... I'd heard of something like that before regression.
I'd studied pretty hard myself back then but never got called in, so my grades must've fallen short.
I wasn't interested in studying. But scholarships? Yeah, those caught my eye.
Specifically, the kind paid out in cash with no spending receipts required.
I'll hear the details, and if it seems solid—no strings attached—I'll take it.
Wondering how much they'd offer a high schooler, I waited. Then the door opened, and someone walked in.
A young woman who looked to be in her early thirties.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hi there. I'm Si-a's mom from the class next door. I'm here on personal business, not foundation stuff, but the vice principal must've misunderstood~ Sorry about that~"
"..."
Ta-da~ Turns out the foundation board member was Han Si-a's stepmother!
And it wasn't even about scholarships!
Vice principal made a mistake? Yeah, right—from the jump, she'd probably played it off as foundation business to fool him.
Normally, you'd be polite to a classmate's parent, but I just couldn't muster it.
"Oh my, you're the quiet type~ That grumpy look says... Auntie here's already unpopular with you... Did Si-a spill everything already...?"
"..."
"So you've heard I'm not her real mom, that we don't get along, and that I've been paying kids around you to snoop?"
"Actually, the reason I came today is because it seems like there's some shameless punk here itching to knock a rich girl down a peg and ruin her life."
...Oh, really?
But why seek me out specifically when there are plenty of other guys? I'm just her bread shuttle.
This woman had started off all friendly-like, but the second she sensed my hostility, her attitude flipped.
She clearly had no intention of treating me like "someone else's precious son."
Fine words bring fine responses. Even if she's a parent, why should I be polite to someone this rude?
"Hmm... What should I call you? Board member? Or Si-a's auntie? Whatever. I ditched class expecting a scholarship talk, so if there's no real business, I'll head back. Using your foundation title to pull a student out for personal errands? The education board wouldn't like a complaint about that."
So I decided to ruin her mood too.
Tough luck—I'm just a kid with nothing to lose. But you're an adult with responsibilities, right?
"Haha... Most kids your age would shrink in this vibe... You've got some spine, huh? Go ahead, do your worst. You think a little complaint like that can shake me? But are you sure you're okay with that? One word to the college you're eyeing, and making a punk like you fail admission is nothing."
"Ah, didn't your daughter tell you? I'm not interested in college."
At my words, Han Si-a's stepmother glared like she couldn't believe it.
"...For real?"
"I'm planning to strike it rich with Bitcoin later and live off that. What's college good for?"
I'm a 35-year-old guy inside.
You think some younger chick's gonna scare me?
But she didn't even blink at a complaint threat either.
Not like those bureaucrats clinging to borrowed authority.
Still, she looked baffled by the Bitcoin thing and said,
"You're one kid who's no fun to mess with. Can't figure out why my girl's into a weirdo like you..."
"Excuse me... You know your daughter's got me running her bread shuttle errands, right?"
I had no idea what made her think Han Si-a liked me...
Sure, I was part of the "Girl in Love" plan, but we hadn't done anything yet??
Yet Han Si-a's stepmother looked at me pityingly and said,
"Hmph, crushes and errands look different on the surface, kid, but they're the same deep down. Still too young? You really don't get girls' hearts, do you?"
Me... 35 years old.
And if every girl who bossed me around actually liked me like you say, I'd have been harem king pre-regression.
But yeah, not knowing girls' hearts? Fact. That stings.
As I silently cursed inwardly, the follow-up hit.
"Or maybe it's 'cause you're a friendless loner? Side note, but when I borrowed your notebook, I couldn't find a single kid who claimed to know you~"
Ouch. Stop hitting me, damn it...
Still, since she was Han Si-a's mom, I held back the curses.
Just glared at her.
Seeing my face, she looked satisfied and said,
"Haha. That was a nice reaction. That's how it gets fun for the bully."
"..."
"Truth is, I've known for a while that Si-a's got a thing for you. But this morning, she pulls that nonsense. Acting all love-struck to subtly diss me... Pfft hahahahaha!!! A girl already head over heels doing the 'girl in love' act? Ridiculous."
Sigh... Your family dynamic is the ridiculous one.
As I smirked inwardly, Han Si-a's stepmother turned serious and said firmly,
"But that kid's always had no brakes on revenge schemes... Makes me uneasy all of a sudden."
"What if she tries kicking me out by speeding things up with a classmate?"
I couldn't stomach any more of this insane talk.
So I let one fly.
"Psycho?"
I figured she'd snap back.
But Han Si-a's stepmother just continued nonchalantly.
"Well, you haven't known Si-a long, so you wouldn't get it yet, but you'll understand one day."
"..."
“Anyway, you’re a really troublesome kid. I can’t intimidate you with atmosphere. Threatening your career path doesn’t work either.”
"So in the end, I've only got one move left."
She smiled as she said it.
"If you cross the line with my daughter, we both die. Not some metaphor—we literally go down together. Got it?"
With that, Han Si-a's stepmother left the room.
This plan started as just a light prank to mess with her stepmother...
Did I just get played by a psycho? Or is there something I don't know?
Probably both.