Chapter 23 : Chapter 23

Shin So-hee, who succeeded in moving me with a familiar taste, looked very pleased.

It seemed that my sincere reaction was far more convincing than my previous exaggerated praise.

At least one thing was certain: I should never attempt acting.

Although Shin So-hee didn't know my true feelings, it was a relief to see her satisfied expression.

Fortunately, the last dish hit my taste right on the mark, and I survived.

Of course, since I had already taken a bite of various dishes earlier, I couldn't eat much of the tteokbokki.

However, while both Shin So-hee and I felt relief for different reasons, there was one person who still looked incredibly uneasy.

It was Yoo Ha-neul.

Though she didn't intend it, from the current situation, it might seem like she had deceived Shin So-hee into believing she was rich.

In reality, she was a child from a normal family who had probably tasted all the dishes we had today.

So it was understandable that she might feel sorry for letting Shin So-hee take her around to places, promising to let her try new foods she hadn't tasted before.

Unlike me, who was deeply moved by a nostalgic taste or Lee Soo-ah, who sparkled with excitement over a new experience, Yoo Ha-neul was slowly chewing the tteokbokki with a troubled expression.

…But it wasn't my place to explain the situation for her.

No matter how I framed it, it would come off awkward.

For various reasons, the meal passed with minimal conversation.

Only the quiet sounds of forks moving could be heard.

Perhaps because we were a group of teenagers, despite me not finishing a whole portion, there wasn't any tteokbokki left.

None of the kids here seemed particularly overweight, so I wondered where all the food went.

Well, the fact that no food was left wasn't exactly a bad thing.

As I looked at the empty plate with only sauce remaining, I quietly marveled to myself.

*

On our way out after finishing the meal, Shin So-hee, who stubbornly paid for everything even though both Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-neul offered to contribute, seemed in a very good mood.

"How was it? Pretty good, right? You'd want to come back again, wouldn't you?"

"Yeah, it'd be nice to come again."

I meant it.

It was a taste I genuinely liked.

While coming here too often might make me grow tired of it, it was definitely a place I could visit from time to time when I craved it.

It's a story for when I would veer off my usual route home again.

"Everything we ate today was delicious."

The one who seemed most in the role of a "lady moved by commoner food" was Lee Soo-ah.

I was only impressed by the tteokbokki, but Lee Soo-ah had sparkled with excitement the entire meal.

I even wondered if eating might be her hobby.

"Since I got treated today, next time, it'll be on me. I know quite a few places since I've lived in this neighborhood for a while."

"R-really?"

Shin So-hee looked a bit flustered when Lee Soo-ah enthusiastically offered.

"Yeah! If you've been treated, it's only right to return the favor!"

Lee Soo-ah had said something similar when she dined at my mansion last time.

Maybe she really had a strong sense of repaying favors.

It's a healthy mindset.

Apparently, her upright nature extended beyond just her appearance.

Well, in the original story, she was consistently portrayed as a kind character, whether she appeared as a supporting role or a target for conquest.

She was kind enough to approach and speak to Ye Sara, who almost graduated without even a single photo taken with friends.

So, this reaction was hardly surprising.

However, Shin So-hee now had a look as though cold sweat would break out.

It was because, naturally, Lee Soo-ah also came from a wealthy family.

If she said she would treat us to something, it probably wouldn't be cheap.

While "I know a place" might mean "there's a good sundae soup place nearby" for some, the level of the place would definitely not be the same.

It could be a high-end restaurant with dauntingly expensive meals or a buffet in an upscale hotel.

Despite her appearance, Shin So-hee had a very healthy mindset, much like Lee Soo-ah.

Having been treated, she likely felt a sense of duty to return the favor, just as when she treated me to a meal.

It was undoubtedly going to be burdensome.

Yet, rejecting someone who was smiling so innocently while offering would be impossible.

It seemed this cycle of alternating meal treats was going to continue for a while.

"Uh, well…"

Yoo Ha-neul, who had been uneasy all this time, finally spoke up.

"I'm sorry!"

Suddenly, she bowed deeply toward Shin So-hee and shouted, causing a few passersby to turn and look.

"Whoa, what the—? What's going on?"

Startled by the sudden apology and embarrassed by the attention, Shin So-hee blushed slightly.

"Well, you see…"

Yoo Ha-neul hesitated, fidgeting with her fingers and avoiding Shin So-hee's gaze.

Then, as if she had made up her mind, she tightly shut her eyes and said,

"T-the truth is, I've eaten everything we had today before!"

"…"

"…"

"…"

Silence.

Since I already knew what kind of character Yoo Ha-neul was before meeting her, I had no reason to be surprised.

Lee Soo-ah had plenty of opportunities to realize Yoo Ha-neul came from a common background while hanging out with her.

In fact, even the rumors around the school could easily reveal that Yoo Ha-neul was a scholarship student from outside.

But for Shin So-hee, who went to a different school and had only met her two days ago, there was no way for her to know unless she was told.

"So…," Shin So-hee spoke, rubbing her forehead as though she had a headache.

"You're telling me you're not actually from a wealthy family but a scholarship student from an ordinary background?"

"Yeah."

Yoo Ha-neul responded with an immensely guilty expression.

Seeing this, Shin So-hee furrowed her brow.

"But why are you apologizing for that?"

"Huh?"

"Whatever I thought of you was just a misunderstanding, and misunderstandings happen. It's not like you did anything wrong, so there's no need to apologize."

Shin So-hee crossed her arms, genuinely puzzled.

…Although it visually looked like a delinquent bullying a nerd, the content of the conversation was so kind that it almost gave me cognitive dissonance.

"B-but, weren't you trying to impress us with the food?"

"Well, you did impress her."

Shin So-hee pointed at me with her thumb.

"Huh?"

Yoo Ha-neul, still looking confused, made a dumbfounded sound again.

Shin So-hee sighed and scratched her head.

"I mean, even at a school filled with rich kids, there aren't many who live in giant mansions, right? Most live in spacious luxury apartments or nice standalone houses. Besides, doesn't she live in some sort of cultural heritage site?"

"Registered Cultural Heritage."

"Yeah, that."

I whispered to correct her, and Shin So-hee nodded.

"Since she's the kind of rich person who wouldn't even have had street food before, I assumed she hadn't eaten commoner food either. I mean, even wealthy kids who walk to school would have tried street food at least once, right?"

Next to her, Lee Soo-ah nodded fervently.

It seemed she had already tried street food herself.

"If you live in an apartment, you'd probably go out with friends and try different things, too. It's not like everyone lives like a comic book character like she does."

I completely agreed, but wasn't Shin So-hee also drawn like a comic book golden spoon girl?

Of course, I didn't say that out loud to avoid unnecessary drama.

"So there's no need to feel bad about it. It's not like you lied on purpose."

Shin So-hee averted her gaze slightly, seemingly uncomfortable with Yoo Ha-neul staring at her in awe.

After a while of staring blankly at her, Yoo Ha-neul murmured as if in admiration,

"You… you're such a good person…"

"Huh? Why are you suddenly saying that?"

Shin So-hee recoiled in surprise.

"She is a good person," I chimed in, seizing the moment.

Ah, teasing the golden spoon girl?

I couldn't resist.

Of course, Yoo Ha-neul meant her words sincerely, not as a tease.

"Yeah, she's a good person."

Lee Soo-ah joined in, not wanting to be outdone.

While it felt a bit strange with two people whose faces seemed to radiate light—one subtly and the other strongly—agreeing with me, it didn't bother me too much.

After all, that light was something only I could see.

"Ugh, stop it! You two, really, stop."

Shin So-hee, her face reddening visibly even in the dark street, protested.

…I figured if I teased her any more, she might really get mad.

Not that I was afraid of her anger, but more that it would probably be cute.

Though, there was an event in the game where she proved to have quite the temper.

*

By the time I got home, it was even later than the day before.

This time, Yang Hye-in was waiting for me right at the front gate.

Dressed in the black coat she usually wore over her maid uniform when we went out, she stood with both hands placed neatly over her abdomen, waiting for me.

Honestly, she looked a bit intimidating.

Her sharp appearance only added to the effect.

"Welcome home, Miss."

Yang Hye-in greeted me with a bow.

"Ah, yes."

Feeling slightly overwhelmed by the atmosphere, I nodded briefly.

Looking back, I saw that I wasn't the only one feeling the pressure.

Since it didn't seem appropriate to bring them inside, I decided to say my goodbyes here.

"Thanks for walking me home."

"Well, how could I leave someone with no sense of direction like you?"

Trying to lighten the heavy mood, Shin So-hee joked.

"Thanks for today."

When I said that, Shin So-hee seemed momentarily speechless before she cleared her throat and quickly turned her head.

"If you liked it that much, well… we can go again sometime."

Her response was such a classic tsundere line that it made me feel good.

"You two as well. Thank you for spending time with me today."

"There's no need to thank us. We enjoy hanging out with you."

Yoo Ha-neul said firmly.

"Yeah, we hang out because we like it. If anything, we should be thanking you."

Lee Soo-ah added, determined not to lose.

I smiled at all three of them and waved my hand in farewell.

"Goodbye, see you tomorrow."

After saying that, I turned around.

Yang Hye-in followed me as I walked inside the mansion.

…I deliberately didn't look back, but I could tell that the three hadn't started walking away for quite some time.