Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze is Strange
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Seo Yerim paced back and forth in front of the hotel lobby, dressed in a sleek black velvet gown.
She clenched her jaw, staring down at the phone in her hand.
'When the hell is he getting here?'
If it hadn't been for her father's orders, she never would have shown up to this extravagant birthday party.
Normally, she would have turned it down flat, but with her one and only brother, Seo Junseok, having stormed out of the house, the family atmosphere was on the verge of total collapse.
Seo Yerim had ended up grudgingly accepting, tears in her eyes.
And yet.
Once Jang Seohee caught wind of it, she took issue with Seo Yerim attending the party and laid down a new "rule": all guests had to bring a date.
It was obviously aimed at Seo Yerim, who lacked the social graces to have anyone willing to accompany her.
Thankfully, Seo Junseok—who was utterly useless otherwise—had bailed her out of that embarrassment.
"Seo Yerim, what are you doing out here? Why aren't you going in?"
Seo Yerim turned at the sound of her name.
There stood Jang Seohee, decked out in a dazzling dress adorned with floral embroidery, as if flowers had been splashed across it.
She held herself ramrod straight, practically screaming that she was the star of the show today.
Seo Yerim opened her mouth, trying her best to sound nonchalant.
"I'm waiting for my partner. We're going in together."
"Oh... really?"
"He'll be here any minute."
Jang Seohee smirked arrogantly and glanced at the man standing beside her.
"This is the guy who's gracing my evening. You know who he is, right?"
Choi Jiwan.
The rising star of Chungmuro right now.
An actor who had shot to fame overnight thanks to his good looks and raw talent.
It was true he only debuted three years ago, so he wasn't a household name among the older crowd yet, but he had a massive following among the youth.
He was one of Jang Seohee's trump cards to put Seo Yerim in her place.
'Whoever she dragged here won't hold a candle to Choi Jiwan.'
Jang Seohee was inwardly sneering when Seo Yerim hit her with an unexpected response.
"He was some chaebol heir, wasn't he...?"
"What did you say?"
"I've seen his face before, but I can't quite remember..."
Seo Yerim wore an expression of genuine puzzlement.
If it was an act, she would have been the one climbing to stardom, not him.
Jang Seohee stammered in flustered confusion.
"You don't know the movie My Melody? He was the lead in that."
"Oh! You're an actor... I'm so sorry. I don't really follow celebrities."
Seo Yerim dipped her head in a light bow.
Choi Jiwan was just as thrown off.
Still, as a pro, he kept his composure and flashed a practiced smile.
"...It's fine. Not everyone knows me yet. But who's this?"
In response to his question, Jang Seohee gave a curt reply.
"She's from Yeoksan Group."
Yeoksan Group—a conglomerate that could stand toe-to-toe with Daesung Group.
Jang Seohee was pretty enough to be an idol herself, but Seo Yerim practically glowed with beauty.
Choi Jiwan blushed faintly and bowed.
"Let me introduce myself properly. I'm actor Choi Jiwan. Seohee and I are the same age."
"Ah, sure. I'm Seo Yerim."
Seo Yerim nodded slightly in response.
It was a relatively bright greeting.
But regardless of their vibe, Jang Seohee's face was cycling through shades of red and blue.
"Yerim, you don't even check online news?"
"I only read the business section if I have to."
"I heard Junseok ran off from home. If you're going to take over the company someday, shouldn't you at least know famous celebrities by name?"
"Why would I?"
Seo Yerim blinked back at her with innocent eyes.
Jang Seohee bit her lip before pressing on.
"Don't you know advertising is a huge part of business?"
"That's true."
"Sure, athletes might be top picks for endorsements, but celebrities make up the biggest chunk."
"Can't I just look it up in the reports when the time comes? Dad's still way too healthy to hand over the reins anyway."
Jang Seohee scowled at Seo Yerim, who wasn't budging an inch.
That tone, that attitude...
It brought back the same old feeling from childhood—like she was being looked down on.
"Yeah, you're right."
Realizing she couldn't win alone, Jang Seohee racked her brain and suddenly grabbed Seo Yerim's hand.
"Yerim! Let's head into the party already."
"B-but I'm waiting for my date right now."
"Just text him to come inside. You do have his number, don't you?"
"I do, but... he's almost here."
Seo Yerim had already gotten Han Haeseong's contact from Seo Junseok and even spoken to him on the phone. She'd planned to fine-tune their entrance a bit more in the lobby.
But Jang Seohee kept pushing.
"He's not a kid—he'll figure it out and come in on his own!"
With her other hand, Jang Seohee gripped Choi Jiwan's arm and shot him a signal.
He chimed in from the side.
"Seohee's right. No guy's gonna get mad if you go in first. Don't worry about it."
In the end, worn down by their relentless prodding, Seo Yerim shot off a quick text to Han Haeseong—"Come inside the banquet hall"—and started walking.
Click-clack! Click-clack!
As they stepped onto the marble-floored entrance to the party venue, classical music drifted out from within.
♬♪♬
The moment Jang Seohee entered the birthday banquet hall, the guests who'd arrived early lit up with welcoming smiles.
-Isn't that Seohee?
- Seohee!!
That was why chaebol heirs threw lavish birthday bashes even as adults.
To flaunt their existence.
The heirs eager to curry favor with Daesung Group flocked to Jang Seohee, showering her with nonstop compliments as if they'd rehearsed it.
-Seohee! That dress is gorgeous!
-Our parents said happy birthday!
-Isn't that Choi Jiwan next to you!?
-Kyaa!! It's really him!
The girls clustered around Jang Seohee kept up their fake smiles, but beneath it all simmered envy, vanity, and rivalry.
Click-clack! Click-clack!
Amid the lively buzz, Seo Yerim made her entrance with an awkward expression.
Even she, who rarely showed emotion, felt the tension—her eyes darted around, pupils trembling with nowhere safe to land.
Jang Seohee, who'd dragged her in by force, stood with arms crossed, basking in the circle of friends around her.
"Seohee, isn't that Yerim?"
"Yeah. Ran into her in the lobby earlier. She's exactly the same as when we were kids. Didn't even recognize Jiwan."
"Choi Jiwan!?"
"The heir who's supposed to take over the company, living like a hermit... I almost felt bad for her."
Jang Seohee clucked her tongue sympathetically, and one of the group tilted her head at Seo Yerim.
"But why'd she come alone? Wasn't the rule everyone brings a date?"
As if she'd been waiting for that, Jang Seohee's lips curled into a sly grin.
"What else? She only came because her dad forced her, but who would go with her?"
"So she really came solo?"
"She said she was waiting for her date in the lobby... but who knows if that's true."
Normally, her radiant beauty would have drawn guys over for a chat, even if she was alone.
But every guest here had arrived with a partner.
Seo Yerim was thoroughly isolated.
That was another reason Jang Seohee had changed the "rule."
And on top of that.
While befriending Seo Yerim wouldn't hurt, it meant crossing Jang Seohee—no one dared.
"Shouldn't we kick her out then?"
At the question from one of the girls, Jang Seohee covered her mouth and burst into laughter.
"Come on, we can't do that. We've known her since we were kids."
"Or maybe she really does have a date coming?"
"If she's desperate, she'll probably hire some escort service."
The women turned their gazes to Seo Yerim.
Pity and mockery intertwined seamlessly.
How could she suffer this humiliation just to avoid Jang Seohee's wrath...?
'What if I ended up on Jang Seohee's bad side?'
She treated even Yeoksan Group heirs like that—what would she do to someone lesser?
The thought alone was horrifying.
Meanwhile, Jang Seohee smirked in satisfaction and jerked her chin toward Seo Yerim for the girls with her.
"Should we go say hi to Yerim together?"
What fresh humiliation was she planning this time?
Unwilling but obedient, the women trailed after Jang Seohee like shadows.
"Yerim, your date still not here?"
Her eyes feigned sympathy, but the upturned corners of her mouth betrayed her.
Seo Yerim clamped her lips shut.
She'd already clocked Jang Seohee's game—any excuse would just invite more ridicule.
Thud-step! Thud-step!
Just as Jang Seohee opened her mouth for another jab, a hush fell over the party as a man made his entrance.
Tall stature, broad shoulders squared perfectly.
His dignified stride turned the banquet hall into a runway, like he was a model.
A refined shirt paired with a matching black suit.
And his face perfected the look.
Jang Seohee stared, entranced, then cocked her head.
'Whose date is that guy?'
The man's steps led straight toward Jang Seohee's group, drawing every eye in the room—men and women alike.
Wary? Impressed?
A mix of emotions swirled through the venue.
Tak!
His dress shoes struck the marble sharply as he halted his stylish strut in the center of the party.
Then, with warm eyes and a gentle smile, he spoke.
"Yerim, I didn't keep you waiting, did I?"