720
[Chapter 184]
[As the Heart Moves (2)]
Before the regression, Eunha and Lee Yujung's relationship changed dramatically after subjugating Guma Lilith.
"─Noh Eunha, wake up. How long are you planning to sleep? Everyone must be waiting downstairs now..."
"Mmm..."
"Aren't you going to eat break... Kyaah!"
"Let's sleep a little more. Even if we don't go, they'll eat on their own."
Peaceful days continued for a while after subjugating Guma.
Eunha suddenly hugged Lee Yujung who had woken up first and laid her on the bed.
Soon Lee Yujung in Eunha's arms made a resigned expression with a sigh.
Then she pinched Eunha's cheek.
"Who told you to do it until dawn? That's why you can't wake up."
"You did it together too..."
"But I woke up. And where are you touching now? No, don't do it in the morning. Do it when you come at night."
"I'm just going to hold you. I feel empty without you these days."
"Oh my..."
As if she had no choice in the end.
Lee Yujung let him touch her wherever he wanted.
In the end, she gave up on breakfast and decided to sleep more.
"Eunha."
"Yeah."
With the Lilith incident as a catalyst.
As if making up for what they had suppressed until now, the two often rubbed bodies together.
If they didn't hold each other while sleeping, that night felt somehow unsatisfying and empty as if they couldn't sleep properly.
This was especially true for Eunha and.
Lee Yujung was no less.
It was evidence that she reluctantly gave in to him while touching his body.
Nevertheless─.
"─I love you."
"..."
"I really like you. I feel like I can't live without you now."
Lee Yujung spoke of love but.
Eunha couldn't say anything.
More than friends, less than lovers.
Or more than lovers, less than family.
The relationship between the two was still awkward and always straddling the boundary line.
It was entirely because of Noh Eunha.
"Your body is reacting honestly, but why doesn't your mouth say anything?"
"..."
"Do you dislike me?"
"If I disliked you, I wouldn't be doing this."
"Then? Do you like me?"
"I like you."
"Do you love me?"
"..."
"Fine, you won't say it? Coward."
Eunha was poor at expressing emotions.
No, he was afraid to say it.
The moment he uttered the word love.
It felt like everything that constituted him would shatter.
And something would fill that place, making him a completely different person than now.
So he was scared and hesitant.
"Okay, I won't ask for it right now. But I hope you'll say it someday. Can you do that?"
"...I'll try."
"I'll be waiting for that time."
Lee Yujung saw right through his heart very accurately.
She always whispered love.
And she didn't try to force Eunha, quietly waiting for the day he would answer.
She must have been anxious in reality, but she tried hard not to show it.
Eunha couldn't help but know that.
"I don't want to lose you."
"To whom?"
"To other guys."
"If you know, treat me well."
Therefore, Eunha who couldn't whisper love whispered other words to reassure her.
The emotion of possessiveness.
He just hugged her very tightly so she couldn't escape from his arms, as if saying he wouldn't let her be taken away.
"─I love you."
"..."
"Say it next time for sure."
Unfortunately, contrary to her wish.
In the previous life, Eunha ultimately couldn't utter those words.
☆
Lee Yujung and Choi Yejang's appearance.
If it was just a simple appearance it would be one thing, but the sight of them walking while holding hands was extremely unpleasant.
Crunch
Since he couldn't squeeze Han Seohyun and Jeong Hayang's hands he was holding.
Eunha gritted his teeth.
"Eunha..."
"It's nothing."
Jeong Hayang seemed to have noticed Eunha's mood.
She called him in a worried tone.
Eunha tried hard to maintain his composure and answered.
What's so good about a guy like that...
Nevertheless, Eunha's gaze kept turning towards Lee Yujung.
Choi Yejang was leading Lee Yujung and greeting her father Lee Jungin.
Soon he took Lee Yujung around and introduced her to those he was acquainted with.
"─Hello. I'm Lee Yujung. I heard from Yejang oppa. I heard you're a very interesting person."
Even though she can't see.
She acts as if she can see.
People marveled at Lee Yujung's appearance.
Is that all?
"I can see why Luminous Group's chairman cherished that child so much. It wasn't just because of her eyes."
"You can tell she was raised well. There are no rough edges in her behavior, and she seems kind."
"Now that I see her, the problem of not being able to see doesn't seem important."
"Well, Oh Haein is making such a fuss, but no matter how you look at it, that child is just a fairy."
As it was her first appearance at an official occasion where people from political and business circles gathered.
Lee Yujung was dressed up to the fullest.
Her beauty that stood out even without that was shining elaborately as if it had gone through the hands of several masters.
Beauty, behavior, personality.
And with the added name value of the networking event hosted by Luminous Group.
Instead of words criticizing Lee Yujung, only words praising her were bursting out.
Moreover─.
─There's Choi Yejang's name value too.
Lee Yujung was currently accompanied by Choi Yejang, showing that she was receiving protection not only from Luminous Group but also YH Group.
There was no reason for her to be cursed at.
Even her disability was now overshadowed by Samra Group's Oh Haein's infamy as the "eye ghost".
"...That's a relief."
Judging all of that.
Eunha could feel relieved.
What he was worried about didn't happen.
Nevertheless─.
─You're becoming a different person.
Now... we're becoming strangers.
Eunha couldn't hide his bitterness.
The sight of Lee Yujung who used to rely on him leaving, receiving people's attention and moving towards a different world with Choi Yejang was just so bitter.
She's no longer his now.
The scene of his Lee Yujung becoming everyone's Lee Yujung, another man's Lee Yujung, stabbed his heart.
He was glad she came out to the world and was loved by people, but on the other hand he felt disappointed.
"─We should go greet them now too. Shouldn't we show that Yujung has friends too?"
"...Yeah, let's go."
Han Seohyun spoke softly then.
Eunha woke from his reverie and agreed.
He took Han Seohyun and Jeong Hayang and headed towards Lee Yujung.
"Yujung! You look really pretty today!"
"That's right. You dressed up really prettily today. Have you been well?"
"Ah, Hayang, Seohyun unni... Thank you for coming today. And you too, Eunha."
"...Of course I should come when you're appearing."
The people crowded around Lee Yujung.
They quickly made a path when they spotted the three.
The three walked that path and.
Lee Yujung who had been dealing with people was glad when the three approached.
However, she couldn't maintain her voice tone when dealing with Eunha.
The same was true for Eunha.
"I heard the news that you're getting engaged."
"Ah... Yes... that's how it turned out."
Eunha looked down at her hand.
He always used to hold her hand when meeting her, being considerate of her inability to see.
But now that hand was being held by Choi Yejang instead of himself.
Eunha turned his gaze to Choi Yejang who was tightly holding her hand.
"Ah, hello? It's been a long time. Seohyun too."
"It's been a while."
His eyes met Choi Yejang's.
Just with that.
Choi Yejang flinched.
His behavior towards Eunha and Han Seohyun was extremely awkward.
Eunha's eyes narrowed.
Unmanly guy.
He's afraid of me.
Eunha felt even more unpleasant.
He doesn't seem to have any spirit.
He doesn't seem to have anything to rely on.
Complaints keep coming out.
Nevertheless, Eunha suppressed his anger and took out the item he had prepared.
"─Here, an engagement gift."
""""..."
"I heard you were getting engaged, so I hurriedly prepared it."
In front of everyone watching.
Eunha took out a ring box.
When he opened the ring box, there was a pair of rings with rubies set in them.
Soon he closed the ring box and placed it in Choi Yejang's hand.
"Choi Yejang, you take it out and put it on Yujung directly."
"Uh, uhh... Okay..."
Even though he's 3 years older than Eunha.
Choi Yejang didn't even realize he was addressing him informally.
He was just distracted by the rings and.
Feeling fear towards Eunha.
He nodded his head greatly.
Then he smiled brightly.
"Thank you."
""""..."
A confident smile appeared on Choi Yejang's face.
Eunha didn't answer.
He just urged him to open the ring box with a jerk of his chin.
To this, Choi Yejang tried to open the ring box like Eunha had done.
But─.
"─Huh? Why won't this open?"
""""..."
"Ugh...!!!"
Choi Yejang couldn't open the ring box.
People looked at Choi Yejang with uncomprehending eyes and.
Becoming conscious of their gazes, he blushed and exerted himself.
That sight was just ridiculous.
"─But it's no fun if I just give it."
"What?"
"You're becoming Yujung's man, so as a friend I should check if you have the strength to protect Yujung."
""""..."
"So I had the ring box specially made so it can't be opened easily."
"No, what is this..."
"But I didn't make it difficult since hyung isn't even a player. You should be able to open it if you just have a little strength and know how to handle mana."
""""..."
"So try opening it once."
Noh Eunha snorted and.
Choi Yejang was dumbfounded and.
People were flabbergasted.
☆
KK Group's direct line Kim Geonwoong.
Kim Geonwoong, who was also Noh Eunha's Academy classmate, was watching what was happening before his eyes.
"What is that guy really doing..."
Kim Geonwoong clicked his tongue.
He just couldn't understand Noh Eunha.
He had thought so since the Academy, but Noh Eunha was someone who became incomprehensible just when you thought you could understand him.
Relatively recently, as he came to be called by the alias
Now Noh Eunha was doing something incomprehensible.
"He could have just given it as a gift... why is he trying to test Yejang hyung."
Probably at a place where Lee Yujung and Choi Yejang's engagement is expected to be announced.
It was a place where he should rightfully bless the two's engagement, but Noh Eunha was causing an obstruction.
No, it was hard to call it an obstruction.
It was a small happening.
Something that could be passed over with laughter and chatter.
If received with a generous heart, one could think Eunha was really testing Choi Yejang out of concern for his friend.
The problem lay in Noh Eunha, Lee Yujung, and Choi Yejang's positions and relationships.
There are too many factors to consider.
Thinking differently, this could be seen as Eunha giving Choi Yejang hyung a piece of his mind right now.
First, Choi Yejang's position was a problem.
There was a rumor following Choi Yejang in political and business circles.
A person who can't function as a man.
In vulgar terms, eunuch Choi Yejang.
Testing whether such a person is suitable as Lee Yujung's fiancé could be considered extremely rude.
In fact, Choi Yejang's younger sister Choi Yejin and those attending in YH Group's name were hardening their faces.
The game Eunha proposed was in a way officially judging whether the rumors circulating about Choi Yejang being a eunuch were true or not.
If Yejang hyung manages to open the ring box and take out the ring, he'd be dismissing the eunuch rumors.
Conversely, if he can't open it, it would make the eunuch rumors a fait accompli.
Thinking in another sense, it could be said that Noh Eunha was being considerate of Choi Yejang.
He could end the 'eunuch rumors' that had been circulating with this.
But the problem is─.
"─Ugh...!! What on earth is this made of to be so heavy and not open well!?"
"It's just a ring box, what's the big deal. How can you not open even that properly. The reason the entrance doesn't open well is because the person who made it attached strong magnets near the entrance, they said."
""""..."
Even though it could be packaged as a game with good intentions.
Noh Eunha was truly wicked.
It would have been good to make the ring box not open easily to a moderate degree.
He made it so it wouldn't open even if Choi Yejang struggled desperately to open it.
Is he doing this because he really wants to confirm that hyung is a eunuch?
He couldn't help but think that.
Kim Geonwoong was dumbfounded.
On one hand, it's quite childish.
But because
Above all─.
─They say Lee Yujung first revealed herself at Noh Eunha's grandmother's funeral.
There were rumors that the relationship between the two was somehow suspicious since then...
Now this is showing what kind of relationship the two have.
Secondly, Noh Eunha and Lee Yujung's relationship.
Considering the relationship between the two, it was a game that could never be taken in a pure sense.
Moreover, the gift Eunha gave happened to be rings.
When Lee Yujung and Choi Yejang get engaged, they would choose rings between themselves, but he deliberately gave rings as a gift when there were other accessories too.
It was enough to cause many misunderstandings.
It seems Han Seohyun noona and Jeong Hayang didn't know about it either...
Kim Geonwoong found Han Seohyun and Jeong Hayang standing around Eunha.
When Eunha first took out the ring box, the expressions of the two collapsed for a moment.
Although it was just for an instant, Kim Geonwoong didn't miss it.
It was the same now too.
Even if Han Seohyun noona didn't... At least Jeong Hayang seems to have known nothing at
At least Jeong Hayang seems to have known nothing at all.
Jeong Hayang had a hardened face.
It probably meant both of them didn't know what Eunha had prepared.
And Jeong Hayang could be interpreted as either being poor at hiding her expressions compared to Han Seohyun, or not viewing this situation favorably.
"Yoo Dojun is flustered too."
Soon Kim Geonwoong found Yoo Dojun.
Their eyes met.
Yoo Dojun shook his head.
Kim Geonwoong smiled wryly.
It seemed Yoo Dojun hadn't predicted Eunha's behavior either.
But it seems he didn't go so far as to make the ring box completely unopenable.
Yejang hyung finally opened it.
It was then.
Choi Yejang finally opened the ring box.
It was the result of his desperate struggle not to be called a eunuch.
People unknowingly cheered.
But─.
─Whoosh!
Noh Eunha's game wasn't over.
When Choi Yejang fully opened the ring box, flames suddenly rose from inside.
"W-What is this..."
"You just have to take it out from there."
""""..."
Including Kim Geonwoong.
People were dumbfounded.
If opening the ring box was a game to prove strength as a man.
Is taking out the ring from the flames a game to prove courage as a man?
"Crazy bastard..."
Such words came out involuntarily.
Kim Geonwoong watched the game in disbelief.
Soon he spotted Luminous Group's chairman Lee Jungin and direct line Lee Yucheon among the gathered people.
The two were fidgeting restlessly.
The game has already started, so they can't stop it midway now.
If Choi Yejang loses like this, not only will his masculinity be shattered, but Lee Yujung will be harmed too...
Kim Geonwoong could roughly read the thoughts they must be having.
They were raising Lee Yujung's value and making it so no one could criticize her, but.
Eunha could potentially ruin this occasion if something goes wrong.
Choi Yejang knew that too, so─.
"─Ugh!!"
He reached for the ring box.
He tried to put his hand into the flames to take out the ring.
His masculinity was at stake.
No, his dignity was at stake.
But─.
"─Aaargh! Hot! Shit, it's hot! Ugh...!!"
""""..."
Just when it seemed he would take out the ring.
He was startled to see the flames catch on his sleeve and pulled his hand away.
That was the end.
Retreating once became the trigger for Choi Yejang to make a fuss.
"─Tsk. Over just this much..."
""""..."
While people were dumbfounded.
Eunha clicked his tongue loudly enough for others to hear.
He openly sighed.
☆
Although the flames were fierce.
They weren't that hot.
The fierce appearance of the flames was just a visual effect.
Yet to act like this...
Eunha couldn't help but feel contempt.
To make such a fuss and retreat because visual flames caught on his sleeve.
Eunha looked at the flustered Choi Yejang with a contemptuous gaze.
He couldn't help but sigh.
"What's so hot about this."
""""..."
The YH Group vice chairman splashed fruit juice from nearby onto Choi Yejang.
It was truly a disgraceful sight.
Moreover─.
"─Hiccup!!"
""""..."
Just from making eye contact with Eunha once.
Choi Yejang under the protection of YH Group's vice chairman flinched.
He even started hiccupping.
"To think such a guy is getting engaged to Yujung..."
It was truly lamentable.
There was no trace of manliness to be found even if one looked closely.
Eunha felt pity for Lee Yujung.
Then─.
"─You won't die from putting your hand in fire. Don't do this next time."
""""...!!""""
Eunha put his hand into the flames and took out the ring.
Moreover, unlike Choi Yejang, he didn't even use mana.
Soon Eunha brushed off the embers clinging to the ring.
The ring that had been engulfed in flames was in perfect condition.
Then he approached Choi Yejang and─.
"─Don't disappoint me."
""""..."
On Choi Yejang's hand sticky with juice.
He suddenly put the ring on.
Then he wiped the stickiness on his hand on Choi Yejang's collar.
Next, Eunha approached Lee Yujung and unhesitatingly took her hand.
"Ah..."
"Congratulations today. If Choi Yejang ever troubles you, tell me anytime. I won't let him off."
"...Thank you."
In front of everyone watching.
Eunha put the ring on her left ring finger, just as he had done for Choi Yejang.
However, unlike with Choi Yejang, his touch was extremely careful.
It was a point where anyone could see that Eunha was treating Lee Yujung preciously.
"I drew too much attention. I'll go somewhere else now. Let's see each other again later if there's time."
"Okay..."
After touching her hand affectionately.
Soon Eunha turned around.
Then he left for another place, taking Han Seohyun and Jeong Hayang with him.
"Yujung, is your hand okay?"
"..."
Regardless of what Choi Yejang said when he returned.
Lee Yujung fiddled with the ring for a long time.