Chapter 36: Eavesdropping Lv.Max

When I intervened, Je Galyeonhwa smiled, seemingly pleased to see a familiar face.

“Long time no see, Maru. How long has it been since then?”

“Don’t change the subject. Focus on what’s happening now.”

“You saw it?”

“Yes. Should we check the CCTV around the restroom?”

There was a reason why I was being so assertive.

I had seen the scene in the original webtoon where Han Doa warned a female student who was smoking in the SC building.

The other person raised their hand first, not Han Doa.

Anyone could see that Han Doa was acting in self-defense.

Of course, I didn’t know if there were CCTV cameras around here. It was just a bluff.

But Je Galyeonhwa knew. Considering Han Doa’s personality, she would know that the Hankook High student was the one who did something wrong first.

If they checked the CCTV, whose existence was uncertain, it would be disadvantageous for Hankook High.

Whether my guess was correct or not, Je Galyeonhwa backed down.

Her eyes curved like a crescent moon.

“Doa is so lucky~. To have a cool junior protect her. I’m jealous?”

“…F*ck off.”

Han Doa mumbled with a disgusted expression.

“I’d like to argue more, but since this is a company, I’ll restrain myself. Please be careful in the future.”

“…….”

Je Galyeonhwa tossed her long hair and disappeared from view. The surrounding onlookers also began to disperse.

With the incident settled, I felt relieved.

‘Hakdo Gallery is going to be a mess today.’

Inevitably, a post with a title like ‘Haneul High Disciplinary Head vs. Ojakgyo Executive’ would make it to the top of the page. There would also be votes on who would win.

‘…Honestly, I’m curious. Who would win?’

“I didn’t expect Maru to show up.”

Han Doa gave a perfunctory greeting and bowed her head slightly.

“Thank you for helping me. I’m always receiving help.”

“We decided to help each other. If something like this happens again, don’t hesitate to come to the counseling club.”

“But were you nearby when I grabbed that woman’s wrist? You said you saw it….”

“I didn’t see anything?”

As I answered nonchalantly, Han Doa’s eyes widened and she gaped.

“That’s dangerous! What if you got caught lying…!”

“Because I believe you.”

“…….”

“I know you’re not the type to raise your hand first without a reason.”

This was the Han Doa I had seen in the original webtoon.

A person who is strict with others but even stricter with themselves. That was the image of Han Doa that I had.

Han Doa stared blankly up at me. Perhaps because of the lighting on the ceiling, her face looked red.

“Ah, meeting a nemesis ( someone she considers a formidable opponent) is making my face flush. I’ll do some Joksik (possibly a reference to controlled breathing for calming down) breathing for a moment.”

“…Okay.”

Han Doa took a stance and took a deep breath.

In the past, her complexion would quickly return to normal with Joksik breathing, but this time it was different.

Han Doa’s face remained flushed even after performing Joksik.

“Is it not working?”

“…Could you look over there for a moment? It’s making me uncomfortable.”

“Ah, yes.”

After moving away from her, I looked elsewhere. Kim Noeul was walking towards me from the direction I was looking.

“What’s going on? What happened here?”

Kim Noeul seemed to have come here after hearing the commotion.

“Doa-sunbae put out a smoker’s cigarette. Then Je Galyeonhwa came.”

“Why would she….”

“I don’t know. Maybe she came to cause trouble.”

Je Galyeonhwa likely intervened with the sole purpose of provoking Han Doa, without much thought. Given Je Galyeonhwa’s personality, that was definitely possible.

Kim Noeul scanned my body.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No. If anything happens, Doa-sunbae is here, so it’s safe.”

“Ahem.”

Hearing my words, Han Doa cleared her throat and slightly opened her eyes. The redness in her face had faded slightly compared to before.

“Nice to see you, Noeul-hoobae.”

“Doa-sunbae, did you apply for this career exploration event too?”

“No, I’m a supervising committee member. Most of the Haneul High students chose SC, so they assigned me to it. There are quite a few other committee members as well.”

“At least things won’t escalate into something big.”

“That’s only if Je Galyeonhwa stays still.”

As Han Doa sighed, Kim Noeul’s expression also darkened. She hated the fact that she was in the same building as an Ojakgyo executive.

“But didn’t Yuna come with you? I thought she would be with you.”

“Ah, a model took Yuna-sunbae away. Said they were going to talk.”

At my words, Han Doa wore a worried expression.

“Is she okay? I’m anxious….”

She worried about Na Yuna as if she were a mother putting a child out into the world. But I was relieved because Jeong Soyeon wasn’t a dangerous person.

“Yuna-sunbae showed interest in modeling, so she went to ask about her career path. Nothing to worry about will happen.”

Kim Noeul reassured Han Doa. But Han Doa’s expression didn’t seem reassured.

“I wish that were the case, but there are so many low-quality students here that I can’t relax.”

Han Doa reached out and pointed somewhere. When Kim Noeul and I turned our gaze in the direction her finger was pointing, we saw a familiar face.

There, Je Galhwarin and the Hankook High students were gathered.

“Je Galhwarin…. Hankook High also came here for experiential learning, so I expected to meet her….”

Kim Noeul frowned like a dog wary of strangers.

“Still, they probably won’t rush at us openly. We beat them last time.”

At my words, Kim Noeul’s expression softened slightly. Kim Noeul looked at Han Doa.

“Sunbae, what exactly is Je Galhwarin like?”

“I don’t understand the intent of your question.”

“I mean, what’s her fighting style or her usual habits like…. I wasn’t there at the time, so I don’t have any information.”

Kim Noeul was going to be the leader of the group opposing Ojakgyo, so she seemed to want to know this kind of information.

Han Doa stroked her chin and pondered her question.

“I’ve never fought Je Galhwarin directly. But based on what I’ve observed from the sidelines… like her sister, she often uses kicks. Her long reach makes her threatening.”

I deeply sympathized with Han Doa’s words. I had been kicked by her before.

After getting hit a few times, I realized that evasion, not defense, was the best course of action against her kicks.

“And she rarely goes around alone. Her sister is often found alone, but Je Galhwarin always travels in groups.”

I listened to her words and observed the Je Gal sisters.

Even here, Je Galhwarin was in a group with the students around her. On the other hand, Je Galyeonhwa was reading a magazine alone on the set.

One unusual thing was that the two sisters didn’t acknowledge each other at all. Even though they were in the same space, they acted as if the other person didn’t exist.

“It would be dangerous if we were attacked when we’re alone.”

As Kim Noeul muttered, Han Doa nodded.

“It’s better to stick together if possible. I recommend that you stick together here as well, just in case.”

After saying that, she suddenly glanced at me and suggested in a small voice.

“If it’s okay… I’ll join you too. It’s dangerous.”

Uncharacteristically, she was being cautious. The color that had barely returned to her face with Joksik breathing reddened again.

“We’d like that.”

Since I agreed, Kim Noeul wore a sulky expression.

“Why, do you have a problem with that?”

When Han Doa changed her expression completely and asked, Kim Noeul shook her head.

“No, not really. It’s true that it’s safer to stick together. I can’t imagine the Disciplinary Head saying she’d join us for any other reason?”

“…Yes, there is no other reason.”

“That’s right. There couldn’t be any other reason.”

Kim Noeul and Han Doa glared at each other. I felt as if lightning was sparking between them.

“Alright, everyone~! The break is over. Now, let’s move to the next location and start the explanation~!”

This time, a female staff member, not a male staff member, called us together. The guide for the first half and the guide for the second half must be different.

I quickly got out of that spot.

Kim Noeul and Han Doa followed behind me. Even so, the strange tension flowing between them continued.

Na Yuna, who had entered the model waiting room, looked around and opened her mouth.

“Wow….”

Mirrors were everywhere. Snacks and makeup tools were lined up in every drawer, and articles and advertisements featuring Jeong Soyeon were placed on the center table.

Jeong Soyeon handed Na Yuna a glass of juice.

“Drink.”

“Thank you.”

“How old are you?”

“Nineteen….”

“Huh? Then can I drop the honorifics? We’re the same age.”

“I, I’d be too uncomfortable….”

“I’m uncomfortable being treated with respect by someone my age.”

“…I’ll try.”

Na Yuna sipped the juice with timid movements. Jeong Soyeon rested her chin on her hand and stared intently at Na Yuna before opening her mouth.

“Straighten your back.”

“Huh?”

“Keep your shoulders square too. Look straight ahead.”

Na Yuna was flustered by the sudden instructions, but she followed them anyway. Jeong Soyeon smiled at Na Yuna’s actions.

“It looks much better. If you were like this, the CEO wouldn’t have been disappointed.”

“Actually, I don’t know. What kind of charm do I have…. I’ve been an outcast my whole life….”

“Why do you think I brought you here?”

“Why did you bring me?”

Na Yuna recalled what Jeong Soyeon had said.

‘Now that I think about it, she said it didn’t feel like someone else’s business….’

“This might be really rude, but were you, perhaps, a total loser…?”

“…….”

“…I’m sorry! Please don’t sue me for defamation!”

“You remind me of my younger sibling.”

“Ah.”

“She was timid like you…. But now….”

Jeong Soyeon suddenly stopped talking, half-closed her eyes, and bit her lip. To Na Yuna, Jeong Soyeon seemed to be sad, or perhaps angry.

“No, never mind. What am I about to say to someone I just met…. Anyway, I’m just saying I feel sorry for you because you remind me of my sibling.”

“Th, then what should I do?”

“You have to try again. With the CEO.”

“Do you think that’ll work? If she’s lost interest in me….”

“You were rude earlier, so I’ll be a little rude too.”

“Huh!? W, wait a minute!”

Before Na Yuna could stop her, Jeong Soyeon lifted Na Yuna’s obstructive bangs. After staring at Na Yuna’s bare face, Jeong Soyeon put her bangs back down.

Unlike Na Yuna, whose face was as red as a beet, Jeong Soyeon had an intrigued look on her face.

“I’ll say it definitively. If you try to appeal to the CEO again, she will definitely accept you. Are you ignoring the senses of a current model?”

“That’s not it! If, if there’s really that possibility for me….”

“Think carefully. Opportunities like this don’t come often in life. Maybe this is the last one.”

At Jeong Soyeon’s words, Na Yuna swallowed hard.

‘If I’m going to be a model, that means I have to open up my broadcasting life too.’

It’s difficult to be a model while covering your face. I have to reveal my complete self, and Yuna will be revealed to the world in earnest.

An opportunity that will never come again.

An opportunity to live a different life than now.

The faces of the counseling club members came to mind. I repeated the words they had said to support me.

And I also remembered the way CEO Lim Juhee had looked at her like a precious gem.

After finishing her thoughts, Na Yuna stared at Jeong Soyeon with unwavering eyes.

“I’ll do it. Modeling.”

“You’ve thought it through well.”

After that, Jeong Soyeon taught Na Yuna how to write a profile and how to sign an agency contract.

By the time she left the waiting room, Na Yuna was already exhausted. This was because she had listened intently to the model senior’s advice.

“I have a special shoot with my rival, so I have to go.”

“Ah, Je Galyeonhwa….”

“Review what I told you today. And be confident with the CEO! Got it?”

“Okay.”

Jeong Soyeon waved her hand and walked away. Na Yuna tried to return to the counseling club with a bright expression.

But near the path back, there was Je Galhwarin’s group.

‘This is bad! I wonder if I can pass by quietly without being noticed?’

As she approached little by little with timid steps, she heard their conversation.

“Why did that idiot Joo Wonyoung have to fail….”

“I heard his ranking in the academy dropped too. Ojakgyo’s extracurricular performance is going to plummet.”

“But Kim Maru is legit…. How can you beat a perfect premium score….”

Je Galhwarin was talking with the students.

“Lee Jihye told me not to get involved, so I stayed still, but he ended up failing. If this happens, I’ll get beaten by my sister!”

Je Galhwarin bit her nails and got annoyed.

“Rin, then shouldn’t we do it ourselves? If we can’t step on Kim Noeul, we’ll continue to be treated like outcasts.”

“…The disciplinary department is the problem. If only we could get the numbers, I’d step on that b*tch Kim Noeul.”

Everyone closed their mouths at Je Galhwarin’s words. In the quiet atmosphere, Je Galhwarin glared.

“Why, does anyone have a problem with that?”

“N, no, that’s not it… just from the rumors, I heard Kim Noeul is pretty good at fighting….”

“All she’s done is catch a few sl*ts. Has she caught an executive or anything?”

“…….”

“It’s the numbers that matter, the numbers…. If we can just get the numbers….”

“Is it okay if they’re from outside of Hakdo?”

At that time, a female student suggested to Je Galhwarin.

“Outside?”

“There’s this girl who’s been gaining attention thanks to SC, what was her name, Jeong Soyeon? There’s a girl who holds a grudge against her and has been hanging around this Hakdo neighborhood lately.”

“Jeong Soyeon, the b*tch who keeps bothering my sister? There’s someone who hates her?”

“Yeah. She was in a juvenile detention center and came out recently. Quite a few girls follow her, so it seems like it’ll work out. Besides, I saw Jeong Soyeon hanging out with that Haneul High counseling club kid earlier. If we connect them properly, it’ll work out?”

“Outside…. Outside, huh….”

After pondering, Je Galhwarin raised the corners of her lips.

“Scout her out. It can’t hurt.”

“Then I’ll give her a call.”

Na Yuna, who had overheard the conversation, covered her mouth with both hands and couldn’t even breathe. Because she had been an outcast, her skill of eavesdropping in the corner had developed, so she wasn’t noticed.

Her face turned blue at the shocking news.

‘A grudge against Jeong Soyeon? And they’re targeting the counseling club…?’

Na Yuna hurriedly ran towards where the counseling club members were. To deliver this news.