Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze is Strange
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"Can I get your number?"
"Sorry."
Back during her first year of university.
Just like in high school, to Seo Yerim, men were nothing but a nuisance.
From a young age, guys had always been drawn to her beauty and struck up conversations.
But they were never meaningful talks.
The moment she tried to listen even a little, they'd ramble on with self-aggrandizing monologues or spout ridiculous boasts.
Some were even rude enough to approach her like she was forbidden fruit they couldn't have.
"Come on, it's not like giving out your number costs money. Isn't that a bit much?"
"...I'm sorry."
Others might call it ungrateful whining, but with disinterest guys hounding her every single day since childhood, Seo Yerim gradually grew exhausted by it all.
"Excuse me?"
Then one day.
As usual, another man approached her.
But something was different.
The vibe in the air, maybe?
Unlike the anxious, pushy gazes of all the others who'd come before, his eyes were remarkably calm and gentle.
"Who?"
"Han Haeseong from the same major. I think you dropped this."
Han Haeseong opened his palm.
It was her wallet—one she'd never even noticed was missing.
Seo Yerim quickly took it and bowed her head.
"Thank you."
That was their first encounter.
And not long after, the news broke.
Han Haeseong and Kang Jua had become a CC couple.
Thump. Thump-!
The instant she heard it, her heart rate spiked strangely fast.
Only then did Seo Yerim realize that, for the first time in her life, she'd taken an interest in someone—Han Haeseong.
But it was already too late to turn back.
And so.
Seo Yerim returned to her everyday routine.
Time passed, and the fluttering feelings faded into what she convinced herself had been a mere illusion.
"Hey! You know Haesong, right?"
"Han Haeseong...?"
Out of the blue, Seo Junseok called and launched into talk about Han Haeseong.
She'd heard he'd gotten married, but divorced already...?
And on top of that, he'd discreetly asked for her help.
"Haesong doesn't know about this?"
"Yeah, he'd definitely say no if he did. Anyway, can you help?"
"Sure, but I've got a condition of my own."
"What's that?"
The frayed rope of their old connection began knotting back together, one loop at a time.
And then the reunion.
Seo Yerim startled at the sight of Han Haeseong's face.
'How the hell did he take care of himself like that?'
His skin was taut and youthful, as if time had frozen for him.
Not to mention how even more handsome he'd become.
But something felt off.
Was it because too much time had passed?
Or had she just gotten older, her romantic spark dimmed?
She felt none of the excitement from their college days.
It should have been that way.
Definitely.
"Who's that guy?"
"Looks like an actor, but I can't remember his name."
"Personally, I think he's way hotter than Choi Jihwan!"
"His eyes are stunning."
Seo Yerim stared blankly at Han Haeseong.
He'd grown so much taller than at the reunion—impossibly so—and his looks had sharpened even further.
The party buzzed with murmurs because of it.
Yet he ignored the stares pouring in from all sides and kept talking.
"Yerim?"
"Uh... yeah!?"
"Not too late, right?"
"Oh, no. I just got here a bit ago too."
His hands, exuding masculine confidence, boldly settled on Seo Yerim's shoulders.
"Wow, you look even prettier today."
Han Haeseong's serene smile carried no hint of worry.
Only then did Seo Yerim realize why she'd been drawn to him back in college: not his looks or build, but the natural warmth in his smile.
"...What."
"No need to get shy."
The gentle heat of Han Haeseong's warm, tranquil smile touched her skin.
She could confirm it once more.
He was utterly different from every guy who'd ever approached her.
"Oh! Hi there. I've heard a lot about you. I'm Jang Seohee, Yerim's friend."
Jang Seohee jumped in, masking her flustered expression.
Seo Yerim tried to cut the conversation short, but Han Haeseong responded with easy poise.
"Hi. Han Haeseong. As expected from Yerim's friend—you're gorgeous."
"Ah..."
With that line, Han Haeseong made eye contact and nodded to Jang Seohee and the other friends one by one.
The women, partners at their sides notwithstanding, approached him as if entranced, ignoring everything else.
"I'm Kim Sehee."
"From Hwawoong Enterprises, right? I use your electronics all the time."
"Hi. I'm Kim Sua."
"Ah! My friend just bought a car from Osung Motors. Never thought I'd meet the future Osung heiress herself. An honor."
His smooth, effortless banter drew the women in tight around him and Seo Yerim, leaving no room for Jang Seohee.
"R-Really?"
"Took it for a spin once—solid as you'd expect from Osung."
One reason Han Haeseong was late.
Like a high school senior cramming the night before the college entrance exam, he'd memorized Seo Junseok's prep packet of photos and social connections.
He'd balked at first—too annoying—but decided if he was helping, he'd do it right.
Plus a subtle makeup job and haircut at a celebrity-exclusive salon.
No wonder he ran a tad behind schedule.
"Haesong, your skin is flawless. What skincare place do you go to?"
"Nah, yours are all way better than mine. You're too kind."
The women hung on his witty charm and delivery, entranced.
And as those envious glances shifted naturally to Seo Yerim...
"You must be some chaebol heir, right?"
A sharp voice pierced Han Haeseong's ear.
He turned to see Jang Seohee glaring at the crowd fawning over them.
"Me?"
"I mean, aren't you?"
As Seo Yerim stepped forward to intervene at Jang Seohee's stiff tone, Han Haeseong spoke up again.
"Huh? Does that mean non-heirs aren't allowed at birthday parties?"
"N-No, it's just... you know so much about us."
"Ah! Of course. First time meeting my friend's crew, so I bugged her about you all. Was that rude?"
"That's not what I—"
Jang Seohee sensed the mood turning against her.
She trailed off, snapped to her senses, and pressed on.
"But how do you know our Yerim?"
Jang Seohee lobbed the question like a hyena eyeing prey.
She knew Seo Yerim lived cut off from the outside world—no need to dig.
Only one answer: a guy made for this occasion.
A little prodding, and his cover would crack.
"College classmate."
"C-College? Which one...?"
"Sangwon University."
"Then you know Junseok too?"
"Yep. Still my best buddy."
"What major?"
Han Haeseong tilted his head with an innocent smile at Jang Seohee's prying.
"Am I... being interrogated right now?"
"N-No! Yerim said you're her boyfriend, so I was just curious."
"Huh? Does a partner have to be a boyfriend?"
"Ah..."
"Just close friends with Yerim."
"Friends?"
Brushing off the startled Jang Seohee, Han Haeseong's gaze turned to Seo Yerim.
His finger lightly pinched her cheek.
"See? Your social skills are so bad, they don't buy it."
The women burst into laughter at his playful tease.
Meanwhile, Seo Yerim sat there dumbfounded.
'Was he always this good with words?'
For her, it was a bewildering moment.
All her prepared scenarios explaining their "relationship" went up in smoke.
Yet it didn't feel awkward at all.
Meaning she never needed contrived stories to begin with.
They'd gone to college together—they already knew each other.
Truth beat fiction every time, hands down.
"Yerim, you hungry?"
Han Haeseong eyed her with concern.
Her face flushed beet red in an instant.
"I-I'm fine."
"Still, we should eat since it's a birthday party, right?"
As the women cooed again over his thoughtfulness...
"Who might you be, young man?"
Han Haeseong turned at the elderly voice.
Deep wrinkles etched from a life well-lived, white hair peeking from under a homburg hat.
His dignified attire amplified his presence in the room.
'What the...?'
Caught off guard for the first time, Han Haeseong scanned the crowd, pupils darting.
Seo Yerim and everyone else looked shocked.
Even the ever-bold Jang Seohee at parties seemed rattled.
'No way... Jang Seohee's grandfather?'
It'd be odd if he wasn't at his granddaughter's birthday.
Han Haeseong quickly straightened his clothes and bowed.
"Hello. Han Haeseong."
As always, his friendly greeting prompted the old man to tip his homburg, flashing teeth too white for his age.
"...You're the one who's our Yerim's partner, right?"