[Chapter 146]
[Summer Break Before the Gathering (3)]
When he heard that he had been receiving sponsorship from the Sirius Group without even knowing,
On Tae-yang outwardly expressed anger but inwardly felt somewhat relieved.
Either way, his burden was reduced, and he could use the additional sponsorship he received from the Dangun Group entirely for making devices.
However, his pride wouldn't allow it, so On Tae-yang immediately burst out in anger at his younger sister On Tae-hee when he learned the truth.
Afterwards, he holed up in the Academy and tried not to return home as much as possible.
I was too hot-headed then...
I shouldn't have made Tae-hee cry like that when she didn't do anything wrong...
Though he felt at ease being able to focus on training because of it,
He occasionally felt sorry towards his younger sister.
So On Tae-yang decided to visit home after a long time.
I'm visiting suddenly without contacting, but it's my home anyway. I can surprise Tae-hee after a long time too.
Tae-hee likes two chickens.
Now the sponsorship money should be plenty.
On Tae-yang opened his wallet after a long time and was on his way home after packing chicken from in front of the station.
And there was one more person following him─
"─It's unexpectedly high?"
"Our house is in a bit of a high place."
"It doesn't seem just a bit high..."
"Are you tired, noona? Are you okay?" "I-I'm fine! It feels good to exercise after a long time."
Hong Ye-hwa, the direct descendant of Dangun Ilbo, 2 years older than On Tae-yang.
After receiving sponsorship from the Dangun Group,
She kept in contact with On Tae-yang and met occasionally.
Ye-hwa noona is kind... Tae-hee will like her too. I should introduce them sometime.
In fact, On Tae-yang returning home after a long time was also because of Hong Ye-hwa.
A few days ago, Hong Ye-hwa brought it up while spending time together, as if she suddenly thought of it.
Saying she wanted to see his younger sister once.
On Tae-yang was moved by the sight of someone from a chaebol family being so considerate of him and even showing interest in his younger sister.
"Huff... hah!"
"We're almost there." "O-okay!"
She's really a good person.
Is it because she's 2 years older?
So he thought she was thoughtful.
Then he suddenly recalled.
Someone who was the same age as her, Noh Eunha's fiancée.
Come to think of it... Noh Eunha's fiancée is 2 years older than me too...
She must be full of a sense of superiority.
It's obvious without seeing. She'll definitely have a face like she's in a bad mood.
On Tae-yang smirked.
Look at Hong Ye-hwa following him.
Pretty, kind, and mature.
Noh Eunha's fiancée absolutely can't compare to her.
He naturally felt pity for Noh Eunha.
"Well... That Noh Eunha was like that too... They're well-matched."
Poor guy.
On Tae-yang placed his hand on the newly completed device at his waist.
These days, he feels like he can see the path.
On Tae-yang walked the remaining short distance with a pleased smile.
"I hope Tae-hee likes it... She liked the chicken from here, so she'll eat it well."
Not knowing his younger sister was already full,
On Tae-yang muttered quietly.
☆
"Today was really fun! Please come visit again!"
After spending time with On Tae-hee,
Eunha left her house together with Jo Ara.
Today's schedule is over with this.
I should go home and rest well.
I'm free from now on.
I should savor my alone time.
On the other hand, Eunha had to sigh while feeling a sense of liberation.
Because he still hadn't decided who to attend the direct descendants' gathering with.
It seemed he would have to agonize over it while holding his head at home.
"We ate chicken, so why are you sighing deeply? Is something wrong?"
"I'm just worrying about who to go with to the gathering..." "Ah, that? You guys really live hard lives. Good luck."
"You're not even worried at all since it's not your business..."
"Why should I worry about something that's not my business? Or do you need my concern? Don't tell me you like me?"
"...Never mind."
Because he wasn't in the mood to joke around,
Eunha ignored her joke.
He heard her say Noh Eunha is no fun from beside him.
Eunha passed by Jo Ara who kept grumbling beside him.
"Hey, wait! Let's go together! You don't know the way to the station from here, right?"
"I vaguely remember. I can go alone, so don't worry." "Hey, this isn't right! What kind of host am I if I don't see off a guest? Be grateful. I'll see you off to the station."
"Alright, thanks."
"Ugh, you're totally accepting it..."
Though he could go alone,
Jo Ara insisted on seeing him off and followed.
Eunha matched her pace and looked at the scenery gradually darkening.
Then─
"─Isn't that On Tae-yang?"
"Huh? It really is Tae-yang!"
Eunha spotted On Tae-yang coming up from below.
Jo Ara shouted in surprise.
"Hey, hey, hey, quickly hide. If Tae-yang knows you came here, he'll obviously be furious!"
"Where is there to hide here?"
"There! Let's quickly hide over there!"
Jo Ara panicked and kept hitting Eunha's back.
Eunha asked in disbelief.
There was only a dead-end alley to hide in.
There was no cover.
Regardless, Jo Ara hurriedly pulled Eunha into the alley.
"Quickly turn around! I said turn around!"
"We'll be caught even if we hide here..."
"We won't be caught if only you turn around, okay?"
Jo Ara with her back pressed against the wall.
Then she covered herself with Noh Eunha's body.
"Don't look back until I say it's okay. Got it?"
"What are we doing... Is it not okay to just get caught?"
"It's fine if only you get in trouble, but what if Tae-hee gets in trouble too? It looks like he came to see Tae-hee after a long time, is there any need to ruin it?"
"...Alright. I'll stay like this. But I think I saw a woman next to On Tae-yang earlier too..."
"Hmph, it's obviously Hong Ye-hwa unni. She's been flirting with Tae-yang at every opportunity since he received sponsorship from the Dangun Group. That person is totally a fox, you know?"
Jo Ara grumbling right below.
Eunha quietly listened to her words while recalling the information that On Tae-yang had been close with Dangun Ilbo's direct descendant recently.
Dangun Ilbo's direct descendant...
It seems the Dangun Group is trying to recruit On Tae-yang.
Eunha frowned.
There was a lot to worry about.
He thought he didn't need to worry about the Dangun Group anymore,
But it seemed the Dangun Group was aiming for a chance at revival through On Tae-yang.
Though they're aiming for a chance at revival...
The Dangun Group probably doesn't have the power for that anymore, so it'll be in vain.
But they're still being annoying.
Didn't they say On Tae-yang formed a connection with the Dangun Group after discovering Hong Jin-woo's corpse?
He didn't expect On Tae-yang, who coincidentally discovered a hidden piece in the Academy Dungeon before the regression, to discover it in this life too.
On the other hand, he didn't expect On Tae-yang, who disliked people from the political and business world, to try to receive sponsorship from the Dangun Group.
Anyway, Eunha couldn't understand On Tae-yang at all.
"Hey, they're coming, they're coming. Quickly lower your head!"
"Will we not get caught doing this?"
"We won't get caught, so hurry and come closer! Don't look back from now on!"
Then Jo Ara suddenly grabbed his collar.
Eunha had no choice but to press closer as she said.
☆
She wasn't sure when it started,
But Noh Eunha became really comfortable.
She had suppressed her personality a lot, trying to act as demure as possible in front of Tae-yang.
But there was no need to do that in front of Eunha.
He and I are just friends.
Strangely, they got along really well.
Unlike other male students, Noh Eunha didn't try to approach with the purpose of the opposite sex.
He didn't try to treat her as a woman, but just as a friend he could be informal with.
Above all─
─He has a girlfriend, and a fiancée.
Would a guy like that think of me as the opposite sex?
The main reason Jo Ara let down her guard with Noh Eunha.
She came to not even think he would approach her romantically when he had a girlfriend and fiancée.
Friendship is possible between men and women.
When one side is dating.
With that mindset, she hung out with him as much as possible without offending the people he was dating.
It's good because I'm not bored when with him, and I can get love advice too.
She who liked On Tae-yang wanted to know men's psychology as much as possible.
Since Noh Eunha happened to be someone she was close with,
She had been keeping in contact with him whenever she had the chance.
Then an anomaly occurred in the Academy Dungeon.
'Okay, I got it. So stop crying and just trust me, okay? Do you want some water?'
That day, she who was captured by monsters was rescued by him.
She who cried her heart out in his arms then realized a man's body was much firmer than she thought.
No, there was no part that wasn't firm.
At the same time, she felt her mind stabilizing while in his arms.
I guess his body was that firm because he swings a sword.
That feeling then... was nice...
That day was still vivid.
To the point of appearing in dreams occasionally.
And on days she had that dream, her mind was in a daze all day.
She strangely missed that time.
So─
─Why doesn't Tae-yang realize that unni is flirting with him like that now? It's so obvious. Is it just me?
Since that day,
Whether Dangun Ilbo's direct descendant Hong Ye-hwa frequently hung around On Tae-yang or not,
Jo Ara didn't care much and kept sending messages to Eunha.
Saying Hong Ye-hwa suddenly came today and did this and that to On Tae-yang.
Saying she's so annoyed she could die.
Before she knew it, she was looking for excuses to contact him.
Honestly, she didn't have any thoughts about On Tae-yang anymore.
"─How long do we have to stay like this?" "Wait, wait. Just endure a little longer."
It was the same now.
She wasn't angry that On Tae-yang brought Hong Ye-hwa home.
She was just worried Eunha would fight with On Tae-yang.
And she felt a bit guilty about being with Eunha.
Jo Ara hid in the alley with Eunha.
"What are we doing on this summer day..."
"Shh!"
Noh Eunha grumbling above her head.
She sent a signal to be quiet while checking On Tae-yang and Hong Ye-hwa passing by.
"..."
"...Hm? Tae-yang? Why?"
Suddenly On Tae-yang stopped walking and seemed to be looking at the alley.
She pressed close to Eunha and hid her face.
"─Doing this in a place like this... For all the neighbors to see..."
"The guy is tall? Is it wall-pinning?"
"What's wall-pinning?" "Wall-pinning is..."
The two of them chatter.
Jo Ara listened to what they were saying then suddenly got annoyed.
Why don't they recognize me?
How many girls their age are there in this neighborhood?
Though she was trying to hide herself as much as possible,
How could he not recognize his childhood friend?
Shouldn't he find it a bit strange?
He really has no sense...
Jo Ara in an irritated state,
Stayed pressed close to Eunha's stomach while watching the two chattering people disappear.
...His stomach is firm.
She had been focused on avoiding On Tae-yang's gaze until now,
Jo Ara belatedly realized she was pressed close to Eunha.
Then she recalled being rescued by him in the Academy Dungeon that day.
Noh Eunha was firm like that time.
And─
─He is tall...
Pressed close while standing,
She could tell how tall Noh Eunha was.
He was more than a head taller.
She unconsciously raised her head and looked up at Noh Eunha.
"─Are they gone?"
"..."
Their eyes met.
Noh Eunha asks.
His face is close.
His breath touches her face.
Jo Ara couldn't continue speaking.
"Can I turn around now?"
"..."
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
"You..."
"Huh?"
Noh Eunha tilting his head.
Now that she looks, his nose bridge is really high.
Why are his eyes so intense?
Jo Ara barely opened her mouth.
At this moment, with emotion preceding reason, she unconsciously spoke the words that came to mind.
"─Now that I look, you're actually quite handsome?"
"Huh?"
"...!"
She flinched after speaking.
Jo Ara who belatedly came to her senses immediately covered her mouth with her hand.
Then she checked Noh Eunha's reaction.
He who had been blinking blankly─
"─What are you saying? Did you eat something bad?" "...Yeah, I must have been possessed by a ghost for a moment. Looking now, you're ugly."
"You must have really eaten something bad. Was the chicken spoiled..."
"Hey, you ate it too, you know?"
Noh Eunha retorting with a sullen face.
Jo Ara finally regained her composure.
She almost fell for him.
Ugh... But this guy has no sense either?
☆
The pressure from his girlfriend and fiancée was continuing.
When they met, they would ask if he had decided who he was going with as if they had just thought of it.
The people he met all said to go with someone other than themselves, but subtly added nuances implying to go with them.
I really want to split my body in two...
Noh Eunha avoided answering each time.
These days, he was starting to think his fiancée and girlfriend were enjoying his worrying.
Anyway, time kept passing, and now there was only a week left until the gathering.
"─Do you have something on your mind?" "Ah, well..."
"If it's okay with me, I'll listen to your worries. Will you tell me?"
Today too, he was going around meeting people he hadn't been able to meet during time he could spend alone.
Eunha was exchanging recent news while eating lunch with Ryu Yeon-hwa.
Yeon-hwa noona was cold at first...
Ryu Yeon-hwa who he met after a long time.
From the point when she sent a gift card for chocolate on Valentine's Day with a message saying "trash",
Eunha noticed she wasn't welcoming his two-timing.
So he directly sent a huge candy to the Regulus Clan by mail on White Day.
'...Eunha. Thanks, but you don't have to send things like this from now on.'
'Really? How's the candy? Do you like it?'
'Yeah... I'll eat it well. Thanks for sending the candy.'
At that time, Ryu Yeon-hwa got a call, and while she was embarrassed, she didn't seem to completely dislike it.
After that, Ryu Yeon-hwa's attitude softened a lot.
Of course─
─I got scolded harshly by noona...
Saying where in the world do you send such candy to someone else's workplace.
He had to be scolded by Eun-ah.
Thanks to that, she says it was hard preventing the clan members from misunderstanding that she was dating Ryu Yeon-hwa.
If Eun-ah hadn't cleared up the misunderstanding, rumors of Noh Eunha three-timing might have spread.
"─So that happened."
"That's why I'm worrying about who to go with."
While eating lunch,
Eunha told Ryu Yeon-hwa about his worries.
Soon she nodded saying he must have a lot to worry about as she fed bread pieces to Fire Chicken.
Eunha was slightly moved.
Everyone else was busy teasing him saying it's a good situation...
As expected, only Yeon-hwa noona.
Fire Chicken follows Ryu Yeon-hwa well.
When she made a small ice cube, Fire Chicken examined it curiously this way and that.
Meanwhile, Ryu Yeon-hwa made a worried expression as if his concerns were her own.
But it seemed she didn't know what to do either.
"Sorry... I want to help, but I haven't really attended those kinds of gatherings so I'm not sure." "It's okay. Can't be helped. But have you attended those gatherings before, noona?"
"Yeah. I go sometimes as a bodyguard. Since it's a place where people from all fields gather, you never know what might happen." "I see..."
Ryu Yeon-hwa explains.
Eunha nodded.
Eunha had also stood guard at parties where people from the political and business world gathered in his previous life, like her.
He also had experience attending as both bodyguard and partner for people attending parties a few times.
─Oh?
A thought flashed through his mind then.
Eunha stopped eating and grabbed hold of the passing thought.
"What's wrong?"
"Pipi?"
Ryu Yeon-hwa asks worriedly.
Fire Chicken who was melting ice with fiery burps tilts its head.
Regardless, Eunha remained silent.
After the silence─
"─Why didn't I think of that?"
Eunha suddenly muttered.
A broad smile appears on his face.
"Thanks, noona. Thanks to you, I think I know what to do."
"...Really? That's good then... Contact me if you need my help. Ah... but if your fiancée and Ha-yang don't like it, there's nothing we can do..."
"Come on, where is there a rule that you can't contact other people when dating? And they both don't care about that kind of thing, so it's fine."
"I don't think I could do that..." "Hm? What did you just say, noona? Sorry, I didn't hear..."
"It's nothing. I'll contact you often."
Ryu Yeon-hwa shaking her head.
Her head-shaking motion was intense.
He decided not to pay much attention to it.
Soon he promised in a relieved voice that he would contact her often.
And so, a week quickly passes.