Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Han Ye-rim (2)
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"Who was that person you were just talking to on the phone?"
Lee Ji-ah pressed with a chilling voice. Her gaze settled coldly on me. Who knew she could make a face like this? It was more than eerie—I swallowed hard without realizing it.
"Th-that was Han Ye-rim... an old friend I've known for a long time..."
"A friend?"
Lee Ji-ah glanced at her watch before asking again.
"You call at 1 a.m.?"
"We're that close."
Why the hell am I making excuses for this?
As I awkwardly scratched the back of my head, one of her eyebrows twitched.
"So why did you suddenly make plans with Ms. Han Ye-rim on your own?"
"She just got back from working abroad after four years, so I couldn't just brush it off."
"Our contract doesn't include paid leave or days off."
Lee Ji-ah grumbled reproachfully. She was right—the contract had no provisions for vacation time. Strictly speaking, I had no choice but to go along with her.
Plus, she hadn't looked too happy for a while now.
In the end, I gave in first.
"A-alright, then. I'll tell her I can't make it."
I texted Han Ye-rim.
She was going to be really disappointed.
[Kim Hyun-woo: Ye-rim, looks like I can't meet up because of work Sorry!]
[Han Ye-rim: It's Sunday. Work?]
[Kim Hyun-woo: Yeah, it just ended up that way. The contract requires me to keep an eye on her... Really sorry.]
[Han Ye-rim: You're not working all Sunday, right?]
What does she have planned for Sunday? With Lee Ji-ah's personality, she's not the type to go out anywhere. Still, I should ask. Just as I turned my head...
"Whoa! You scared me!"
Lee Ji-ah had plastered herself to my shoulder and was peering intently at my phone. Her eyes darted rapidly, reading the conversation.
Startled, my voice rose a bit.
"Ji-ah, what are you doing?"
"...Huh?"
"How do you just peek at someone else's phone like that? It's rude!"
At my remark, Lee Ji-ah pulled back with a shocked expression. She stammered an excuse.
"W-we..."
"Yeah?"
"..."
She seemed about to say something but clamped her mouth shut, as if words failed her. Then her expression shifted endlessly—I couldn't pin it down.
For some reason, a strange, heavy silence hung between Lee Ji-ah and me.
Bzzz.
A text from Han Ye-rim.
[Han Ye-rim: Then I'll come to your workplace. Seeing your face for a bit should be fine, right?]
[Kim Hyun-woo: You've just come back to Korea after so long—you must have tons of people to see. You sure?]
[Han Ye-rim: You think I'm going back without seeing your face?]
True. No vacation time, but a quick face-to-face in front of the house should be okay. I didn't think Lee Ji-ah would mind that much.
"Ji-ah. I just texted with my friend."
"...Yeah."
Lee Ji-ah replied in a deflated voice. Feeling a pang of sympathy, I asked as warmly as I could.
"She wants to come to the house tomorrow. Is that okay?"
"..."
Lee Ji-ah bit at her thumbnail, lost in thought.
"Ah."
Suddenly, realization dawned on her face. Color returned to her previously ashen complexion.
"Hyun-woo, when did you agree to meet your friend?"
"T-tomorrow."
"Tomorrow... so Sunday, right? Today, date-wise."
"Yes, exactly."
Lee Ji-ah let out a hollow laugh. She flopped back onto the bed and said,
"Then it's fine. Hyun-woo."
"Thanks! Should I tell her any time is okay for the house?"
I was trying to match the homeowner Lee Ji-ah's convenience, but an unexpected reply came.
"No need to meet at the house. Make plans for tomorrow."
"Huh? But..."
I trailed off, implying if she was sure, and Lee Ji-ah responded cheerfully.
"I'll come along."
"Thanks, Ji-ah!"
I shared the good news with my friend.
[Kim Hyun-woo: Ye-rim, looks like we can meet tomorrow.]
[Han Ye-rim: Really? What changed?]
[Kim Hyun-woo: Got permission from the boss lol.]
[Han Ye-rim: Lol coming ㅋㅋ Lunch tomorrow then?]
[Kim Hyun-woo: Yeah, lunch tomorrow.]
[Han Ye-rim: [^）o(^] [Good night!]]
I grinned at my phone, and Lee Ji-ah asked,
"When did you settle on?"
"Lunch tomorrow."
"Got it? Then we should sleep early."
Lee Ji-ah tugged at my collar, laying me down on the bed. After closing my eyes for a while, she whispered softly.
"Han Ye-rim... Han Ye-rim... Han Ye-rim... Han Ye-rim... Han Ye-rim... Han Ye-rim..."
Crunch. Grind.
The creepy sound of nail-biting assaulted my ears.
Lee Ji-ah murmuring Han Ye-rim's name softly.
My shirt grew damp with sweat.
"..."
Pretending the bed was uncomfortable, I rolled toward Han Yoo-jung.
"..."
Han Yoo-jung had one eye open, staring at me intently.
"...Can't sleep?"
"You woke me up with the noise."
"Sorry..."
I squeezed my eyes shut.
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"Hyun-woo, Hyun-woo."
Lee Ji-ah shook my shoulder vigorously to wake me. Panicking, I babbled,
"Wh-what? Ji-ah? Why are you in my room?"
"We slept together because of Yoo-jung last night. Don't you remember?"
"Oh, right."
I rubbed my eyes and sat up. The clock read 6 a.m. Not the army—what's with the early wake-up?
"Isn't this way too early?"
"You have to meet your friend for lunch."
"Yeah, but what's that got to do with...?"
What connection is there between lunch with a friend and getting up at 6 a.m.?
As I looked at her quizzically, Lee Ji-ah smiled brightly.
"We need time to get ready."
"Get ready?"
I checked the clock again.
Definitely 6 a.m.
"...Starting at six in the morning?"
"I let you sleep in because you were out cold. We're actually running late."
"No, still..."
"Come on."
Lee Ji-ah grabbed my hand and pulled. Her S-rank grip dragged me like a piece of paper. We ended up at the vanity.
"Sit here."
Lee Ji-ah stated firmly and sat at the vanity with Han Yoo-jung. Han Yoo-jung grumbled, clearly annoyed.
"Do I have to do this too?"
"Yes."
"Never done it before."
"Then stay still. I'll do it for you."
Unlike the reluctant Han Yoo-jung, Lee Ji-ah enthusiastically applied makeup.
After waiting behind them until I got bored, I said,
"Ji-ah, it's been an hour already."
"Almost done."
After another hour of makeup, Lee Ji-ah spent the remaining time changing outfits in the fitting room.
"How's this?"
"Wow, you look stunning."
"This one?"
"It suits you perfectly."
"This too?"
"...Y-yeah, it does."
"What about this?"
"Ji-ah, please stop..."
*
"Ji-ah."
"Yes?"
"Is this right?"
I asked as Lee Ji-ah and Han Yoo-jung and I headed out. Lee Ji-ah, arm linked with mine, blinked innocently.
"What?"
"The arm-linking. Is this okay?"
"Oh."
Lee Ji-ah smiled brightly.
"Can't help it."
Han Yoo-jung's Heavenly Killing Star was still active since less than a day had passed.
Lee Ji-ah clung tightly to my side, scared we'd separate while walking.
Linking arms with a high schooler like Han Yoo-jung would draw too many stares, so she waited in the shadows.
"If you hate it that much, should we go back? I'm fine."
Lee Ji-ah squeezed my arm and asked.
Honestly, the stares from passersby made me want to turn back.
But it was 30 minutes before the meetup time.
Han Ye-rim would've gotten ready too—going back now would be rude.
"...No, we've come too far. Let's go."
Ring ring.
My phone rang. Han Ye-rim.
"Hey, Ye-rim."
—Where are you?
"I'm almost there. Oh, and like I texted earlier..."
—Your boss is coming too?
"Yeah. Work stuff, no choice."
I'd given Han Ye-rim a rough explanation about Lee Ji-ah and me.
—Fine, I'll say hi. Nice to meet you.
"Sorry to put you on the spot."
—No biggie. Ah! I see y—
Han Ye-rim's words cut off abruptly.
"Ye-rim?"
Did the call drop? My phone showed the connection was still live.
"Ye-rim? I'm here—where are you?"
Looking around, I finally spotted Han Ye-rim. I waved and shouted.
"Ye-rim! Han Ye-rim!"
Didn't she hear? She stood frozen like a statue.
As I opened my mouth to call again, Lee Ji-ah, arm still linked, rested her head on my shoulder.
"Ji-ah?"
Han Ye-rim approached quickly from afar. She stopped in front of us.
"..."
"..."
Han Ye-rim and Lee Ji-ah's gazes locked.
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Han Ye-rim scowled. It was because of Lee Ji-ah glued to Kim Hyun-woo's side. She quickly scanned Lee Ji-ah up and down.
'...She really went all out.'
Ever since seeing the news articles about Lee Ji-ah and Kim Hyun-woo, she'd suspected it.
Maybe not Kim Hyun-woo, but Lee Ji-ah definitely had feelings for him.
Now confirmed, Han Ye-rim regretted not dolling up more.
She wasn't the only one appraising.
After eyeing Han Ye-rim for a while, confidence bloomed on Lee Ji-ah's face.
She snuck a mocking smirk at Han Ye-rim, glancing at Kim Hyun-woo.
"...!"
What? Laughing at what?
Han Ye-rim barely calmed her rising irritation and greeted her.
"...Hello? You're Lee Ji-ah the hunter, right? Hyun-woo talks about you a lot."
"Me too. You're Han Ye-rim, right?"
"You two seem really close."
"Ahaha."
Despite Han Ye-rim's sharp tone, Lee Ji-ah laughed calmly.
She pulled Kim Hyun-woo's arm closer to her side and replied,
"We've been through thick and thin for a month—how could we not be?"
"...Is that so?"
Han Ye-rim's face soured. Lee Ji-ah hummed a tune.
"Instead of standing here, let's go grab lunch. Oh, and due to circumstances, I'll have to keep my arm linked like this..."
Lee Ji-ah said with a provocative smile.
"...That's fine, right?"