Chapter 37: Wasn’t It A Ghost Story

Due to Heo Jintae’s declaration of ‘I don’t have parents either’ the other day, the atmosphere in our class went quite differently than I had expected.

The school life I experienced was where erasers and pencils disappeared into another world, textbooks and notebooks held a considerable amount of moisture in a place without water and smelled of rotten cheese,

and the indoor shoe bag became a soccer ball for the boys who possessed Messi and Ronaldo in the back of the classroom.

However, the bullying life in elementary school that I faced for the second time was unexpectedly bland.

Was it because Heo Jintae, even after saying that, led the center of the class with his unique sociability and cheerfulness?

No one directly called me a motherless, fatherless orphan anymore.

“Sua, what are you doing now?”

After class, during cleaning time.

Heo Jintae approached me with sparkling eyes and asked.

After I took him to the broadcasting station last time, he occasionally comes to me and pushes me like this.

The meaning was surely an unspoken pressure to take him to the broadcasting station again.

“…….”

“It seems like you’re going there after this, right?”

“…….”

“Can I come with you?”

“No.”

“Pleaaase~”

“No.”

Of course, it was very useful to throw him as a sacrifice for the adults’ soft and squishy touch game to avoid being bothered.

And when my mental state was broken, I received unexpected help from Heo Jintae.

Still, I didn’t feel like it.

“It’s strictly an adult workplace. There’s no way you can keep going there.”

“Sua goes.”

“I’m a related person.”

“Then what am I?”

“Debut and come back.”

“Ah, pleaaase~!”

Now Heo Jintae is holding onto my clothes and whining.

Seeing him like that, I shot back coldly.

“I hate whiny children the most.”

I don’t like children very much.

If they stay still, they’re okay, but when I see them whining, even the affection I had leaves.

And I became a child, and everyone around me became a child.

For a few days after becoming this body, it was really hell.

It still seems like that.

“Sniff.”

“Good job.”

“Then are you taking me?”

“No.”

“Geez.”

Heo Jintae pouted.

From experience, a child who is sulking and grumpy is more annoying than a child who is whining.

So, I skillfully soothed the 13-year-old boy, remembering my time in the orphanage as a high school student.

“I’ll take you next time. Today, both my uncle and I are very busy.”

“Okaay…, I got it.”

“So don’t pout.”

“Who’s pouting.”

Heo Jintae also knew that further requests were impossible, so he backed down at this point.

“But I have a question.”

“What is it.”

“Why does Sua always speak formally? We’re friends.”

“We’re friends?”

“Gasp!”

“I’m joking.”

“Don’t make jokes like that!”

“I just feel more comfortable speaking formally. Informal speech feels rather burdensome.”

“I see….”

Of course, informal speech is easier to speak than formal speech, but it’s also true that informal speech is burdensome and formal speech is comfortable.

But informal speech feels like showing my raw self too much, so I’m a little reluctant.

Heo Jintae nodded in agreement with my words.

And he went back to his place and started talking to other children.

After a while, when we finished all the cleaning we were assigned, we could finally leave the school.

Until I left the school, Heo Jintae stuck to my side and tried to win my favor, but for some reason, sharp gazes pierced the back of my head.

‘Does he not know he’s popular?’

Originally, the destination of those gazes would have been Heo Jintae, not me.

He has a bit of a boyish charm, and it’s the time when his body is growing.

His personality is good and he’s good at studying.

It’s natural for such a kid to be popular with the opposite s*x.

And seeing such a kid sticking to me, who was a thorn in their eyes, those gazes are directed at me.

Do you guys hate me too?

I hate it too.

So someone please take him away.

I desperately wished for that, but until I left the school gate, the knight who would save the princess from the evil dragon did not appear.

As I left Heo Jintae at the school gate, I entered the alley I always go to.

There, a man wearing stylish sunglasses greeted me with a smile.

“When are you going to date?”

“Do you really want to hear curse words from my mouth? Then you’ll be hurt and I’ll feel guilty.”

“Hahaha.”

He’s really mean.

The broadcasting station, which I visited again after a few days, has now become a familiar place.

The staff at the information desk and the security guards now know my face and greet me first, and sometimes they give me candy or chocolate from their pockets and ask for a photo together.

It was quite annoying every time, but I was too much of a Confucian boy to just ignore the favor the adults showed me.
Maybe I’m a Confucian girl now.

“You’re a celebrity. These people are usually indifferent even when they see idols.”

“It’s because I’m your relative that they’re more curious. It’s about time they doubt it’s a lie. What do you and I have in common?”

“Shut up, you brat.”

Skillfully catching the elevator and going up, it stopped at a certain floor and the door opened.

“You just look at people here for now. I have a meeting today, so I’ll come pick you up when it’s over.”

“Okay. Can I buy a drink at the cafe?”

“Eat as much as you want. That’s how you gain weight.”

I have a bank account, but I don’t have a card yet, so when I want to buy something, I inevitably need the mister’s help.

Giving me a card from his wallet, the mister went upstairs.

The place where I got off was a rest area made by using an entire floor for the staff.

There are places to sit and rest everywhere, and there are massage machines lined up by the window with a good view of the city.

There is a small cafe in the middle, so staff or performers often come here to relax their tired bodies.

That means that a wide variety of people gather here.

And among them, there will be the person I’m looking for.

‘But they’re all people I don’t know….’

I looked around, but I didn’t see a familiar face.

Is it because I’m a Gen Z who watches internet broadcasts more than TV?

If I could see a slightly familiar face, I could pretend to be a fan and start a conversation, but that method could not be used.

If this happens, I’ll have to just grab anyone and find them.

I was thinking about that.

“Hello, little lady? Why are you alone?”

Someone greeted me in a soft tone.

When I turned my body in the direction of the voice, a man wearing a loose hoodie was crouching down to my eye level.

He was smiling, and it felt like he was an idol.

“I’m waiting for my uncle. He told me to stay here for a while.”

“Oh, there was a staff member at this broadcasting station who had such a cute niece? Who’s your uncle?”

“Lee Seongbeom.”

“Huh? Seongbeom?”

The man’s eyes widened.

His eyes were already big because of makeup, but they looked even bigger when he opened them wide.

“It wasn’t a Neapolitan ghost story…?”

“What?”

“Ah, no, I’m sorry. Ah, do you know who I am?”

“No, I’m sorry.”

“I need to be more active…. I’m Kang Wooseok, the vocalist of Daystar. Your name is Sua, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

It was strange that someone I didn’t know knew me.

It was a little embarrassing and ticklish feeling.

Do celebrities always feel this way?

‘No, more than that. How far has the rumor spread?’

No matter how strange the mister’s image is, is it so strange that he has a niece that it’s perceived as a Neapolitan ghost story?

“But where did Seongbeom go and leave you alone?”

“My uncle went to a meeting. I was looking for someone while looking at people here.”

“Looking for someone?”

“Yes, I wanted to meet someone who draws.”

“Someone who draws? Ah, was that it? Wait a minute.”

Hearing my words, Kang Wooseok nodded as if he understood something and made a call to someone.

And he talked to the other person on the phone very familiarly.

“Hello? Ah, noona. Where are you now? Yes. Ah, is that so? I knew it? Okay. I’ll bring her now, so wait. What do you mean? Hey, don’t act. I’ll be right there~”

Then Kang Wooseok puts down his phone.

It seemed like he hung up the phone unilaterally, but for some reason, his expression was one of understanding.

“Then, let’s go right away. She’s waiting in that corner.”

“Uh…, yes?”

“Don’t be so coy~ I already figured out what Sua is doing now~”

Then he winks at me, only visible to me.

What the, that’s creepy.

“…Sorry.”

Kang Wooseok flinched when he saw me and soon apologized with a dejected expression.

Ah, I couldn’t hide my expression.

“…So, what’s the reason you brought Seongbeom’s niece to me?”

A woman who was gracefully drinking tea on a wide sofa by the window.

She asked Kang Wooseok in a gentle but charismatic voice.

It was a force like a chaebol’s wife seen only in dramas, but Kang Wooseok spoke with a sly smile, as if he was used to it.

“It’s similar to what we did last time. You used to bring young kids who just debuted and give them missions to say keywords to their seniors, and now you’re doing it with your niece, aren’t you? Seongbeom, you were sloppy this time~”

“…So, you’re saying this is a hidden camera broadcast?”

“I almost fell for it. But! You can’t fool Kang Wooseok, who has been in variety shows for 3 years!”

“Sigh….”

She touches her head and sighs deeply.

“This kid is looking for Hayeon, so I thought she had to get a hint from her. How’s my reasoning? Right?”

“I told you not to call me noona.”

“At this point, you’re a noona~”

“Okay, then now that it’s all over, where’s the camera?”

“That’s right? Are they trying to film our conversation too?”

“Of course there isn’t one, you idiot, because it’s not a broadcast!”

“Huh?!”

She put down the teacup she was drinking roughly and glared at Kang Wooseok.

And she pressed the blood vessels that popped up on her forehead and barely suppressed her anger.

Leaving Kang Wooseok, who was bewildered by her sudden anger, she maintained her composure again and spoke to me.

“I’m sorry this idiot is so stupid. Your name is Sua, right? I’m Jeong Hayeon. You really don’t look like Seongbeom at all….”

“It’s okay, I know.”

“Okay, but what’s up with this unnie?”

“You’re not at an age to be called unnie….”

“Don’t make me say harsh words in front of a child, Wooseok.”

“Yes.”

Jeong Hayeon glared at Kang Wooseok. He closed his mouth and only blinked his eyes.

Just looking at that, it was felt that the two were quite close.

“I didn’t come because of my uncle. It’s a little personal consultation….”

“Personal consultation?”

“Yes, I was looking for someone who draws because of some work.”

Jeong Hayeon and Kang Wooseok tilted their heads, not understanding my words well.

I felt a little helpless for a moment about how to say and explain this long story.

“…Wait a minute, can I order a drink and tell you? It seems like it’s going to be a little long.”

“Ah, sure. Of course. What can I buy you?”

“No, my uncle gave me a card. He said to buy as much as I want.”

“What, Seongbeom’s card?!”

Kang Wooseok, who had been silent, opened his mouth and shouted.

“S, Sua. Seongbeom definitely said to buy as much as you want…?”

“Yes, he did, but….”

“Can I borrow the card for a second?”

“The card?”

“I’ll talk to Seongbeom well. Okay?”

For some reason, Kang Wooseok had an excited expression, so I felt uncomfortable and looked at Jeong Hayeon.

But she didn’t stop him either, so it seemed okay.

So I handed over the card in a daze, and he immediately got up from his seat, held up the card, and shouted.

“Everyone! Lee Seongbeom PD gave me his card!”

Eyes gather in an instant.

And the crowd murmurs.

“Lee Seongbeom PD’s card?!”

“That guy?”

“No way….”

“He said to buy as much as we want!!!”

“Wooooo!!!”

“Lee Seong Beom! Lee Seong Beom!”

“Hey, go to the department quickly and bring everyone! Let’s empty that b*stard’s bank account!”

“How many cleaning ladies and security personnel are there?”

The rest area instantly became a mess.

Seeing that, Jeong Hayeon calmly put down her teacup and said to Kang Wooseok.

“Earl Grey tea for me.”

Amidst the chaos.

I let out a chuckle and watched the people in a frenzy.

Mister….

What on earth did you do to these people?

“So, let’s make the next travel destination Eastern Europe. Have you received the consent of all the cast members? Then, let’s schedule it well.”

A meeting room where the program’s meeting continued.

There, Lee Seongbeom, as the general manager of the program, led the meeting and considered the details of the upcoming program.

While the meeting was in progress, the phone in his pocket vibrated.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I’ll check it for a second.”

He excused himself for a moment and looked at the text, thinking it might be from Sua.

The text message was a payment notification saying that the card had been used at the company cafe.

It was a natural text message because he gave Sua the card to eat as much as she wanted, but the amount was strange.

“4th floor cafe…, 457,500 won?!”

“PD?”

There’s no way Sua would do this.

Then, the culprit must be someone else.

He immediately called Sua.

“Ah, Sua. It’s me.”

“So, who is it? The b*stard who ate beef at the cafe.”