Chapter 186
Chapter 186
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze is Strange
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-Yes, I just arrived.
-You're already there?
-I got here early, so take your time coming over.
-No, I'll hurry!
Click.
I hung up the call and stepped through the cafe entrance. The familiar aroma of coffee and the subdued murmur of conversation tickled my ears.
The cafe wasn't too crowded on this weekday afternoon, but people were scattered at tables here and there, each lost in their own time.
Swish.
I glanced around briefly, ordered an iced Americano, and claimed a seat at a corner table.
There were still about twenty minutes until my meeting with Detective Yoo Seongjae.
I checked the time on my phone once more, then fiddled idly with the pager on the table.
"...!"
At a table on one side of the cafe, a young woman in a black trench coat caught my eye, stood up cautiously, and met my gaze.
My eyes were instinctively drawn to her.
'Is she coming to ask for my number again?'
Detective Yoo Seongjae still had plenty of time before arriving.
And unlike last time, Seo Yerim wasn't around to interrupt.
A needless flutter of excitement made me sneak another glance at her, pretending not to notice.
Swish.
She approached me slowly.
Her steps were extremely cautious, her gaze darting between her feet and the table.
'Don't hesitate! Hurry up and come over!'
As if my silent plea had worked, she pursed her lips and headed straight for the table.
As she drew within a few steps, I straightened my posture and schooled my expression, pretending not to care.
"Um, excuse me."
Sure enough, she was addressing me.
It had been a while since I'd had a shot at a one-night stand.
"...Yes!?"
Why did my acting, which had failed so miserably during that model shoot, come so naturally now...
I looked up in genuine surprise, and she spoke with a flushed face.
"D-Did I startle you? I'm sorry."
"It's fine. What is it?"
"You're Han Haeseong... right?"
Her tone was unfamiliar yet cautious.
For a split second, I replayed my recent call with Detective Yoo Seongjae in my mind.
-I'll pick up the witness and head to the meeting spot.
That's right.
The witness was supposed to come with Detective Yoo Seongjae.
So who was this woman standing before me?
'I've never seen her face before... how does she know my name?'
This woman clearly knew me.
She even knew my full name.
I tilted my head slightly and opened my mouth.
"Yeah, I'm Han Haeseong, but if you don't mind me asking... who are you?"
At my words, her eyes widened in surprise, and she covered her mouth in flustered embarrassment.
Then, as if shy, she bowed her head deeply and began twisting her fingers together.
'What the heck...?'
Her shoulders trembled faintly, and her fingertips kept pinching and releasing the sleeves of her trench coat.
Her toes twisted cautiously inside what seemed like uncomfortable shoes.
"I... um... I'm a fan."
"...Pardon?"
"Of you, Han Haeseong..."
I was utterly dumbfounded.
Not knowing how to react, I just blinked at her, and she cautiously pulled something out.
It was a white sheet of paper in a clear plastic sleeve and a single pen.
"...What's this?"
Her fingers trembled as she carefully placed the paper and pen on the table and spoke.
"Could you... sign this for me, please...?"
I picked up the pen hesitantly and looked at the woman before me.
She appeared about my age, with neat bobbed hair and large eyes.
Her expression was a bit stiff, but the tremor hidden within it was palpable even to me.
"W-What do I do? I... I don't have a signature..."
I stared at her blankly as I said it.
She must have mistaken me for a celebrity.
All I'd done was shoot that ad thanks to some connections.
The woman blinked in momentary surprise, then forced a smile and said,
"Oh... that's okay. Just write whatever... even your name would be fine."
"Whatever...?"
"Yes, if you don't have a signature, your name alone..."
Her eyes were so earnest, I couldn't bring myself to refuse.
I scratched the back of my head and looked up.
"...What's your name?"
"Yang Yujin."
She answered quickly, but even in that brief moment, her eyes sparkled, and her voice brimmed with unconcealed excitement.
How could I ignore eyes like that?
I nodded and slowly brought the pen to the paper.
─To Yang Yujin, be happy.
-Han Haeseong
I wrote it carefully, stroke by stroke, deliberately precise because it might mean something to her.
I handed the paper back to her and said quietly,
"This is my first time signing anything. Sorry it's not better."
Yang Yujin took the paper, blinked, and her face instantly flushed bright red.
Her ears turned pink, as if her face had soaked up the sunlight itself.
A mix of embarrassment and joy played across her features.
She looked ready to burst into laughter any second, but she pressed her lips together and nodded vigorously, trying to hold it in.
"Thank you... really, thank you. I'll treasure this forever."
Yang Yujin clutched the paper to her chest.
Carefully, warmly, like a treasure someone had bestowed upon her.
Watching her, a quiet感动 welled up in me, and I bowed my head slightly.
"N-No, it's nothing."
"But... you don't do Instagram, right?"
"Yeah... I don't."
"So, what's your next project? I searched everywhere online, but there's no info... Have you not signed with an agency yet?"
"Hmm, the ad was just a fluke, and I don't have an agency."
It was a plain, honest answer.
Yang Yujin blushed again, covering her mouth lightly with both hands.
She smiled faintly and bowed her head.
"No agency yet..."
Realizing she liked me based solely on that one ad made me want to do something more for her.
I shot up from my chair.
"The signature's pretty lame—want a photo instead?"
"R-Really!? I'd love that!"
"Hand over your phone, then?"
Yang Yujin hurriedly pulled her phone from her handbag and approached cautiously.
Her hand shook slightly with excitement as she held it out.
"H-Here!"
"Better if we take it together, right?"
"Yes!!"
I took the phone naturally, turned on the screen, and adjusted the angle.
She let out a tense breath and sidled closer to me.
I tilted my head slightly toward her just before pressing the shutter.
Click!
The photo snapped quickly, but in that brief instant, Yang Yujin's face bloomed rose-pink.
I checked the screen, nodded, and handed the phone back.
"Looks good."
"Yeah... it came out perfect. I'll cheer for you forever, Haeseong!"
Was it her sincere gaze? For some reason, I couldn't bring myself to say in front of her, 'I'm done with showbiz.'
"...I'd appreciate the support."
"Th-Thank you!!"
Yang Yujin clenched her fist, shouted one last 'Fighting!' and cradled her phone carefully as she turned away.
Her steps back to her seat were no longer tense.
They were light and bouncy, laced with shy caution.
'Being a celebrity must feel pretty good...'
Was it always this nice to have someone like you?
After dealing with Yoo Soeun's obsessive kind of love lately, meeting Yang Yujin felt strangely refreshing.
Swish.
I stood there a moment, watching until she reached her table and sat down. Only then did I turn back to my seat.
And then.
"...Huh!?"
My body froze like a stone.
An unfamiliar sight had unfolded right in front of my table.
Several women had lined up, holding notebooks, pens, and phones of all sorts in their hands.
"Um, could you sign for me...? A photo too, maybe...?"
"You're Han Haeseong, right...? Me too, please!"
No one would call this a coincidence.
It had spread naturally after they saw me with Yang Yujin.
An unexpected ripple in the quiet cafe.
'No way... it's just one ad—how do so many people recognize me...?'
I scratched my head in bewilderment, staring at the people before me.
As I hesitated over how to respond, a man at the end of the line frantically waved his arm.
"Ha-H Haeseong! O-Over here!!"