500
[Chapter 137]
[Those Who Live Above No Eunha (2)]
No Eunha is getting engaged today.
Jeong Ha-yang was not in a good mood.
Though she accepted it intellectually, her heart was displeased.
"It's been 40 days today..."
She checked her smartphone screen.
There's no contact from No Eunha.
Today especially, the No Eunha saved as her background wallpaper seemed hateful.
By now the two families must be having dinner together.
"I knew Eunha was trash, but I never thought he'd be two-timing trash."
"That's right, me too. I'm really disappointed. I see No Eunha in a new light."
It's a day she doesn't want to be alone.
So Jeong Ha-yang went to a cafe downtown with friends who happened to be free.
Jin Seo-na didn't even glance at the coffee Kang Si-hyung brought and got angry first.
Cha Eun-woo agreed with her words too.
She asked Bong-gu-rae as well.
He silently nodded.
"I thought we could finally relax now that you two were dating... I never imagined No Eunha would backstab like this."
"That unni is a really strange person too. How can she steal someone else's boyfriend? No, Eunha is the worst. Is he saying he won't stop people who come to him or what?"
Jin Seo-na and Cha Eun-woo.
The two vented anger on behalf of Jeong Ha-yang who was just sulking inside.
They were disappointed in No Eunha's actions.
To the point of canceling plans and coming to meet her as soon as Jeong Ha-yang called, as if they had been waiting.
They harshly criticized Eunha.
When the conversation heated up too much, even Jeong Ha-yang who usually defended him didn't try to refute today.
Because there was nothing wrong with what they said.
No Eunha was trash, and a two-timer.
"This is why people in the past said you should never take in No Eunha."
"...Isn't that about black-haired beasts?"
"Si-hyung, whose side are you on to say that to Seo-na?"
"O-Of course I'm on your side..."
"Guys. I'm on your side too. I'm really disappointed this time too. Really... Is this what they call living up to his face value?"
"From today, No Eunha is the enemy of women. Everyone agrees?"
"Yeah, agree."
"Hmph, he's really a bad man."
Jin Seo-na finally drinks her coffee. She grumbled with her arms folded.
Kang Si-hyung who was watching her and Cha Eun-woo's reactions bowed his head knowingly.
Then, Bong-gu-rae agreed with the two's opinions in his unique nasal voice.
The atmosphere heated up again.
The three chattered non-stop.
Then the conversation went off track.
"So I'm a bit worried too. That other kids might be influenced because of Eunha."
"Right. Even without that, Min-ho and Eun-hyuk try to imitate Eunha, so I'm worried they might imitate the bad things too."
Seo-na and Eun-woo sighed.
After criticizing Eunha to the point their throats were hoarse, they finally cooled their heads.
They bit their straws and moved on to another topic.
It wasn't just Eunha they needed to criticize.
Starting with Eunha, other guys needed caution too.
"Eun-hyuk has been training every day since break started. Even when I keep asking to play,
"I'm worried about Min-ho. He takes such good care of people around him, so he's popular with girls, you know? But he doesn't even realize it himself... He's perceptive in other areas, so I don't know why he doesn't understand this."
"Eun-hyuk's problem is being indecisive. I don't expect Eunha's stringing along ability, but I wish he'd be even half like Eunha. Last time too..."
"Right. I wish Min-ho would be like that too. Eunha suddenly strikes when you least expect it. Min-ho, please be at least a quarter like that..."
Somehow the topic changed from anger at Eunha to frustration about Mok Min-ho and Choi Eun-hyuk.
They exchanged conversation back and forth.
Eventually the topic changed again—
"—This won't do. Are those guys the only boys in the world? Why do we have to suffer because of them?"
"Right. It's not like I'm Min-ho's mom. Why do I have to manage the girls chasing after Min-ho too?"
"Yeah, tell Eunha and them to meet lots of girls too. It's not like we can't meet people either."
"That's right. Do they think we're not popular?"
"They say half the world is men. If we look, there must be guys somewhere who are cooler and nicer than them. Should we try group blind dating?"
"Group blind date? That sounds good. I actually got a group blind date offer recently."
"You should have told us earlier if you had one!"
"Sorry, I completely forgot until now because of Eunha."
The two widened their eyes.
They exchanged opinions just with their gazes and jumped up from their seats to hold hands.
Then they suddenly turned their heads to Jeong Ha-yang who was playing with ice using a straw.
""Ha-yang, you're going too right?""
"...Huh? But I have Eunha..."
"Eunha is meeting another woman now instead of meeting you Ha-yang. Are you just going to stay like this alone?"
"That's right, Ha-yang. Let's show Eunha. How popular we are."
"Hmm... okay."
Jeong Ha-yang snapped to her senses.
She who had been blinking her eyes was moved by the two's enthusiastic appearance.
With Jeong Ha-yang joining the two, the group blind date proceeded rapidly.
"How about this oppa?"
"No way. He looks like he's played around a lot."
"Well... he does look like that as you said Seo-na. Ah, then how about this oppa?"
"Not bad. Ask about him."
"Hmm... it's 5:5 right? They say it's good."
"Let's ask them to send photos of those oppas. Huh? It just came. Ah, this oppa is handsome."
"Eunha is more hand..."
"Ha-yang, that doesn't seem right. This person, I know him too and he's working as a model now."
"Hmm... I have a feeling about that person? Somehow he seems like he'd be on our side... He's handsome. My type."
Bong-gu-rae joined in and all three crowded around Cha Eun-woo's smartphone, pressing their faces close.
The four whispered among themselves, and Kang Si-hyung quietly drank his coffee.
He was used to being left out now.
Then as he overheard their conversation, he tilted his head at one point.
"Seo-na, when should we meet?"
"They say strike while the iron is hot, so can we meet today?"
"Ah, they say today works."
"Hey guys... You said 5:5 right. Even adding Gu-rae it's only 4 people, so who will be the remaining 1 person?"
Kang Si-hyung raised a natural question.
Listening to the four talk, it seemed like they were thinking as if all the people were gathered.
Just then, the four who stopped talking looked at him.
"...Huh?"
Faces as if asking what he was saying.
Kang Si-hyung felt an inexplicable unease.
A moment later, Seo-na opened her mouth with an incredulous face.
"This kid... Si-hyung, were you thinking of not going?"
"...Um, Seo-na? I'm a guy, are you misunderstanding something..."
"Did we say we're going to date? We just said we'd meet guys and have fun and come back. So you're going too."
"Oh, that's what it was?"
"Instead, be a girl just for today."
"...What? Hey guys?"
"We still need to match numbers for a group blind date, right?"
Seo-na speaks as if it's obvious.
The other three nod repeatedly too.
Kang Si-hyung wanted to leave this place right away.
☆
The dinner with both families.
The people who mainly led the conversation were Eunha and Han Seo-hyun's families.
Eunha just silently ate his meal, only answering when people around occasionally spoke to him.
Han Seo-hyun was even quieter than him.
Is she nervous?
Her appearance seemed to shine today to the point you could tell she dressed up.
Even Eunha momentarily swallowed his breath when he first entered the restaurant and saw her sitting there.
As if she had become a doll.
She just quietly handled her utensils without even giving him a glance.
Eunha was bothered by that appearance.
Her older sister Han Seo-yeon seemed to feel the same way.
"Hey, Seo-hyun say something too. Are you going to keep staying quiet? You usually talk back to me..."
"When did I?"
"Look at this kid..."
Han Seo-hyun playing dumb as if she didn't know.
Han Seo-yeon stuck out her tongue.
Everyone at the table burst out laughing.
Look at that unni?
Meanwhile, Eunha looked at Han Seo-hyun without laughing.
Their eyes met.
What's wrong.
As if asking if he had any complaints.
She moved her lips.
Eunha silently shook his head.
He was just amazed.
To think Seo-hyun would try to look good to his family...
There was nothing strange to think about.
Rather, it was natural.
But he couldn't believe the unusually prickly her was being careful to look good to his family.
Then when he acknowledged Han Seo-hyun's appearance, he felt grateful to her.
Just as she was considerate of his family, he decided to be considerate of Han Seo-hyun's family too.
But Han Seo-hyun's efforts didn't end there.
"—Mother, please eat first."
"You don't have to do this... Thank you, I'll eat well. Seo-hyun."
"Yes, mother. Grandmother too."
"...The daughter-in-law is kind. Thank you."
Fruit came out for dessert.
Han Seo-hyun who gently stood up from her seat stuck toothpicks in fruit and handed them to Eunha's mother and grandmother.
Then people stopped talking and just blinked their eyes looking at her.
She quietly sat down as if nothing happened.
"They say raising a daughter is useless..."
"Seo-hyun aren't you going too far? You never did this for mom and dad..."
"Mother, father please eat too."
"Oh my."
"It's too late to do this now, child."
Eventually Han Seo-hyun's parents showing signs of feeling left out.
But the corners of their mouths were raised greatly.
They who belatedly received fruit from Han Seo-hyun burst out laughing.
The dinner ended in such a harmonious atmosphere.
☆
The restaurant was connected to the observatory.
The engagement ceremony took place at the observatory overlooking the night view.
Since Sirius Group rented the entire floor for today, there was not a single person around.
"...Can't we just end this quickly?"
"It's a once in a lifetime engagement ceremony, so shouldn't we look pretty?"
"It's not once for noona...ow."
"Want to get punished?"
"You pinch me then say that?"
With sparkling lighting fixtures as the background.
Eunha had Han Seo-hyun's hand placed on his hand.
They had been standing for quite a while.
Because they had to change positions for good photos and fix their posture as the photographer said from a while ago.
In the end, Eunha who couldn't stand the hassle ended up getting pinched by Han Seo-hyun.
"Ah, that position is good. Good."
Just then the photographer said with satisfaction.
Eunha fixed his face and looked down at Han Seo-hyun.
Han Seo-hyun looked up at him too.
Their eyes meet.
...She really is pretty.
There's not a single blemish on her face.
The more you look, the more you admire.
His gaze stops once on her eyes looking at him, then goes down to her unusually red lips.
Her lips look moist.
Now that he looks, her mouth is really small.
"—What are you thinking?"
"...I wasn't thinking anything."
"Red."
"Huh?"
"You were a man after all."
"What are you saying?"
Han Seo-hyun who woke up Eunha's mind that was focusing on her lips then.
She teased him with a nasal sound.
Eunha frowned.
Nevertheless, she kept giggling.
Eunha's mood improved seeing her smiling face.
And finally—
"—One, two! Taking the photo!"
Eunha slowly put the ring on the ring finger of her left hand.
The corners of her mouth looking down at the ring rose brightly.
Soon she put the ring on Eunha's hand too.
"Is it over with this now..."
"Not yet. We still have to take pictures."
"Hah..."
"A sigh."
"Yes, yes."
Han Seo-hyun spoke so only Eunha could hear while smiling towards the camera.
Eunha took the pose the photographer requested.
He hugged her from behind.
He tries to put his face next to her face.
Then she gently tilted her head and pressed close to him.
Then she whispers to him.
"—It's an officially completed engagement ceremony."
"I know that too."
"You can't back out now, right?"
"I know that too. But why?"
"You're mine now."
"...Huh?"
While taking photos.
Eunha turned his head away from the camera and looked at Han Seo-hyun smiling brightly.
Her face is right up close.
She stood on tiptoe and put her lips to his ear.
Her breath penetrates his ear.
"—Mine. You're mine. Know that you're caught by me now."
"..."
Han Seo-hyun who gently bit his earlobe.
Eunha blankly watched her turn around and head towards people with a face whose emotions he still couldn't read.
...Does she really like me?
Perhaps because they were pressed close.
Even though Han Seo-hyun left his arms, her scent still tickled his nose.
Eunha thought while touching his earlobe.
But he couldn't be certain.
Because she always quickly turned away as if she never did anything whenever she was about to cross a line.
It was the same now too.
So he can't be certain.
What is that noona really doing?
He really can't understand her heart.
She keeps making people misunderstand.
As a result, he couldn't readily decide how to deal with her.
Eunha swallowed a dry laugh watching her politely treating his mother.
Just then.
"Huh?"
His smartphone vibrated.
Eunha checked Fine Talk.
Seo-na sent a message.
One photo, one talk.
"...What are these guys trying to do now?"
There are five people in the photo.
Jeong Ha-yang, Jin Seo-na, Cha Eun-woo, Bong-gu-rae, Kang Si-hyung.
They all looked dressed up.
For some unknown reason, Kang Si-hyung was in women's clothing.
But the message was outrageous.
"Puppy": We're going on a group blind date! Know that we're drinking with other guys today ^^ (08:34 PM)
Eunha was dumbfounded.
A group blind date, he could let that slide.
They're at that age, and legally guaranteed as quasi-adults.
The problem is—
"—Wasn't she dating me?"
Jeong Ha-yang is going on the group date too, they say.
Eunha couldn't understand.
Just then, an additional message arrived.
They say they'll find a very handsome boyfriend for Ha-yang.
No Eunha snorted.
If it was a strategy to provoke jealousy, it wouldn't work on him.
Still—
"—What kind of world is it these days..."
The world is really harsh.
It's a world where you don't know when you'll die.
With bad luck, something could happen at a drinking party.
It's only natural that he's worried about his friends.
So—
"—Hey, Eun-hyuk. Call the kids. You don't need to call Pa-rang hyung since he's here."
That damn group date.
I should go take a look.
☆
Whoosh
Ryu Yeon-hwa swung her spear.
She devoted herself to training, trying hard to forget the emotions blooming in her heart.
"Hah..."
She needs to eliminate distracting thoughts.
By eliminating the distracting thoughts clinging to the spear, she creates high-purity ice.
Emotions soon become enlightenment and make her stronger.
She drew out the mana in her body.
Cold Plum Style (寒梅流) Ultimate Technique (極意)
Reverse Scale (逆鱗)
The winter dragon falling to three of the Seven Lions.
But the dragon's life is not over yet.
The falling body becomes snow flowers and scatters around.
The scattered snow flowers freeze sharply like blades.
""""...!!""""
Ice blades like dragon scales rush at the three Seven Lions.
Swoosh
It can't be blocked.
The Seven Lions were all shocked to see the barrier they spread torn apart helplessly.
Winter struck them.
"—The winner... Ryu Yeon-hwa."
Han Chang-jin who was watching that sparring match had no choice but to declare.
Ryu Yeon-hwa had defeated three of the Regulus Clan's Seven Lions.
"...I absolutely must not provoke Yeon-hwa for a while."
Ryu Yeon-hwa leaves, wrapped in cold air.
Han Chang-jin muttered, trying to stay calm as he watched her walk away.
He was scared for a moment.