RE: Player again

331

[Chapter 103] [To Subjugate the Soul (3)]

At the time when people from the political and financial circles were offering prayers.

YH Hotel's top floor Sky Lounge.

A party was in full swing at the spa overlooking the city center.

From people splashing around in the water to those enjoying luxurious food.

Somewhere, a recently popular song could be heard.

Quite a crowd has gathered.

An atmosphere that hardly suits mourning someone's death.

For those who stand above others, the deaths of those below them have no meaning.

No, to them, it was just a meaning to gather in this place.

Just a screen to avoid the public's gaze.

"Isn't that Plenitude? What's this, they said they wouldn't drink alcohol, but why are those oppas drinking champagne?"

"I told them not to..."

Han Seoyeon, who entered the hotel's top floor, frowned at the sight of people wearing swimsuits and robes.

People with hair soaking wet as if they had just been in the water were chattering noisily while drinking champagne.

The people around them also each had a bottle of champagne in their hands.

Choi Jeonghun seemed displeased with those who had just been drinking while he was away.

His voice was full of edge.

Whether they knew this or not, they waved happily upon seeing the two.

"Kids, over here!"

"Hey, Jeonghun! Yejang said he's buying, so that's why we're drinking. Loosen up a bit."

"Yeah, man. We'll just end with drinking here. We're not kids anymore, we won't cause trouble anywhere."

"We'll call a designated driver later. There won't be any problems, so don't worry! Want to have one too while we're at it?"

"Seoyeon, it's been a while too. How about you? Wouldn't it be a shame if there's no alcohol when we've all gathered like this?"

"By the way, Han Seoyeon, didn't you bring that kid? There were persistent rumors that you had an extremely pretty girl exclusively among the kids. Didn't she come?"

"Yeah, we wanted to see her face too. How pretty must she be for Yejang, who was caught by Seohyun, to say she's pretty?"

"Ah, hyungs! I told you not to talk about such things!"

They were people without answers.

Eunha, who ended up following behind Han Seoyeon, couldn't help but sigh at their pathetic behavior.

Above all, those who seemed excited from the alcohol were apparently gossiping about Euna's appearance.

I'm glad I didn't bring noona.

Eunha, who suppressed his irritation inwardly, was relieved on the other hand that he didn't bring Euna.

People who could come up to the Sky Lounge were limited to those with influence in the groups.

Even if they lowered the restriction, it was only one person to assist them.

So Eunha asked Han Seoyeon to take him instead of Euna.

Of course, Han Seoyeon readily agreed. By bringing Eunha, she could show off to Yoo Dojun and Jung Hayang.

Meanwhile, from Sirius' side, Gong Cheonggi and direct descendants from affiliates came up to the Sky Lounge.

Gong Cheonggi's younger brother Gong Baekgi decided to stay at the prayer meeting.

Even if it was just a formal prayer meeting, they had to show at least minimal formality.

Gong Baekgi would be attending as a representative of academy students sponsored by Sirius and offering prayers.

"What...? Yejang said Euna is pretty?"

"S-Seoyeon noona, that's not it!"

"What do you mean it's not? Anyway... You act like you'd give Seohyun your liver and gall, but you were secretly looking at Euna?"

"Listen, noona... I swear to heaven it's not what you think. I just thought she looked pretty when we met at the airport last time, that's all."

"Okay, I got it. Then you won't mind if I tell Seohyun?"

"Hey, are you really going to do this!"

Coincidentally, their thoughts aligned.

While Eunha was quietly watching, Seoyeon snapped at the men who were drinking with Choi Yejang in a curt tone.

But isn't Choi Yejang still a minor?

Then Eunha tilted his head looking at Choi Yejang whose face was flushed red.

Choi Yejang was 3 years older than him.

Although he hadn't become an adult yet, Choi Yejang seemed to be drinking with others.

Well, he could drink too.

Eunha soon lost interest.

It wasn't his concern at what age they drank.

Moreover, high school academy students were legally treated as quasi-adults, so drinking was allowed.

It wasn't particularly surprising to Eunha, who had drunk at a similar age to Choi Yejang before the regression.

It seemed the same for Yoo Dojun.

Yoo Dojun was even more so.

"Is this being bought by Yejang hyung? Then I can't not drink free alcohol!"

Yoo Dojun loosened his tie and walked to the table piled with bottles of alcohol.

People who had been drinking among themselves welcomed him with shining eyes.

Yoo Dojun, who had gained the biggest influence among Yeongwon Group's direct descendants under 25 years old currently.

The direct descendants drinking alcohol were showing disheveled appearances from being drunk, but were subtly examining him with shining eyes.

And Yoo Dojun, who clearly knew this, grinned at their probing.

"Alright! Let's eat and drink! Hey, Eunha, how about a glass?"

"I'll pass."

He was very excited.

Yoo Dojun, who would have attended to form connections with direct descendants, started drinking heavily from the beginning.

Then applause poured from everywhere, and direct descendants showing interest in him soon poured drinks into glasses.

It seemed they intended to get him drunk and see what cards he held.

However, Eunha, who knew about his drinking capacity from before the regression, inwardly snorted.

As far as Eunha knew, Yoo Dojun, who had built up tolerance to poison, had never been drunk.

The ones whose noses would probably be crooked today would be them, not Yoo Dojun.

"Ahem, ahem. Anyway, Eunha, it's really been a while. I'm telling you too, I really have no interest in your noona at all, so please don't misunderstand."

"...Yes, it's been a while. Hyung."

He seemed embarrassed from being persistently questioned by Seoyeon.

Choi Yejang, who had been exchanging conversation with her, cleared his throat and spoke to Eunha.

Of course, he responded indifferently.

Choi Yejang, who became even more embarrassed, finally groaned and tried to find something to say.

"Ah, right. There's someone I want to introduce to you, Eunha."

Then he said such words to cover up the awkwardness.

While calling over his younger sister Choi Yejin who was nearby.

"This is my younger sister. I wanted to introduce you since she's the same age as you. Yejin, this is the one I mentioned before..."

"I know too. How famous is he among us? Hello, we're already acquainted, right? If I remember correctly, I think I saw you at Hayang's birthday party before. I'm Choi Yejin."

YH Group's direct descendant Choi Yejin.

Eunha blankly looked at the hand extended by the girl whose eye level was almost the same as his.

Choi Yejin, who tucked her hair behind her ear, seemed to be waiting for him to quickly shake her hand while smiling kindly.

"It's getting too embarrassing if you keep doing this... Won't you shake it?"

"...I'm Noh Eunha."

He, who had been looking down at her hand for a while, reluctantly shook her hand when she subtly complained.

She, who seemed used to dealing with people, drew a deep smile on her lips.

"Let's get along well from now on. Actually, I wanted to get close to you for a while, Eunha, but I couldn't approach because of Seohyun unni. Maybe we could become a close relationship in the future?"

"Yes, you two are the same age, so get along well. Honestly, we can't easily mingle with other people. If you become close friends, wouldn't it be helpful in some way for living in the future?"

Words implying many things.

Eunha, who let go of her hand, quietly looked at Choi Yejin and Choi Yejang who were showing goodwill.

Eunha, who noticed their intentions, was just displeased.

YH intended to draw him in too, not satisfied with joining hands with Sirius.

They could truly be called siblings with ambition packed tightly in their stomachs.

"I'm the same age as Eunha too, so the three of us can get along well, right?"

"Ah... Hayang was here too. Look at me, I forgot."

"I've been here the whole time... Isn't it too much to not even give me a glance and only talk to Eunha?"

"...S-sorry. It's been a while, Hayang. Have you been well?"

At that moment, while Han Seoyeon was examining Choi Yejin with narrowed eyes.

Jung Hayang stepped forward to defend Eunha.

Then she sent Eunha back and happily grasped Choi Yejin's hand, acting friendly.

The two direct descendants from groups ranking within the top 10, who were the same age, simultaneously let out soulless laughter.

"Hayang, you've become so pretty. Aren't you prettier than Seohyun unni now? It feels like just yesterday when you were following behind saying Seohyun unni, Seohyun unni..."

"No way, how pretty is Seohyun unni. I'm not at that level yet. But Yejin, have you been tired lately?"

"...Huh?"

Jabs exchanged in laughter.

At that moment, Jung Hayang was the one who threw a full-fledged punch in the fight that seemed like it would end with just jabs.

"You seem to have more acne than before. You must have been tired from taking management classes lately. Take it slow and rest. Okay?"

"...Hahaha... Thanks for worrying. What about you, Hayang..."

Choi Yejin trying to retort.

But she soon trailed off.

"What?"

Hayang smiled brightly.

Her skin was as bright as her smile.

Choi Yejin's face froze.

She tried to say something to at least save her pride, but─

"─Ah, it seems okay for now. But you should be careful. It seems acne definitely comes once at our age."

"Yeah, thanks for worrying. I was thinking of asking my father to make a potion that's good for the skin anyway. Ah, should I share one with you if one is made?"

"...W-will you?"

She ended up being tempted by Hayang's words without even getting her money's worth.

If she were a dog, you could probably see her wagging her tail.

Hayang has really changed a lot too.

After that, the two seemed to be having a pleasant conversation on the surface.

He inwardly burst into laughter listening to their conversation.

He was honestly surprised at how cool the crybaby Hayang he remembered had become.

Meanwhile, there was one more person approaching Eunha.

"Hello. We meet again after seeing each other recently?"

"Hello, hyung."

"What? You two know each other? Eunha, when did you meet Yucheon without me knowing?"

"Lee Yucheon, how do you know this kid?"

Luminous Group's direct descendant Lee Yucheon.

He, who had been acting familiar with his eyes since Eunha entered the Sky Lounge, directly spoke to him.

Eunha welcomed him happily this time, and when the two acted familiar with each other, Han Seoyeon and Choi Yejang chimed in.

Although the reasons they chimed in were different, the two were demanding an explanation from Eunha and Yucheon with the same look in their eyes.

To this, Lee Yucheon casually answered their questions.

"It's nothing special. We happened to meet by chance."

"You two seem... quite close?"

"Noona, people naturally become close when they eat together once."

"Strange. I did that but I don't feel like I've gotten closer to Eunha... Eunha, want to eat together just the two of us later?"

"Our noona is here too, so let's just eat the three of us."

"Ugh... This noona got rejected?"

"I guess I'll have to tell Seohyun about what happened today, Yejang."

"Hey, I was just joking. Why are you taking it so seriously?"

Han Seoyeon and Choi Yejang bickering with each other.

Lee Yucheon just let out a kind smile while looking at the two steadily.

However, if there was a difference from Choi Yejin who was smiling kindly, she was smiling to hide her intentions.

"I thought you might come, so I prepared a handkerchief. I'm glad it worked out."

"Oh? You brought that?"

"Yes, I did."

Lee Yucheon's smile had no purpose hidden in it.

He simply approached without burdening him, as if dealing with a younger brother.

"Actually, my younger sister was really curious about you having father's handkerchief, so she was going to attend here today... but she suddenly felt unwell."

"...Ah. Is that so?"

"I wanted to introduce my younger sister, but I'm sorry it didn't work out. But if I had brought my younger sister here, other people might have tried to bother her. In some sense, it might have been good that she didn't come today."

In this way, he didn't approach him with intentions like other direct descendants.

Honestly, it was just strange that he didn't act cunningly like other direct descendants while being a direct descendant of a group ranking in the top 10.

Maybe that's why he couldn't find him in the political and financial circles in his previous life.

There was no doubt he was a person with a good impression.

However.

"Ah, I'm saying this just in case, but I hope you don't misunderstand that my younger sister is interested in you as if my younger sister likes you, Eunha."

"......"

Lee Yucheon had a sister complex.

Eunha made a face like he had eaten something bad.

No matter how much Lee Yucheon loved his younger sister, there was no chance he would like her.

Absolutely, swear to heaven.

Even though the sky collapsed before he was born.

I wouldn't take her even if you gave me a truck?

He was serious.

So Eunha wanted to tell Yucheon seriously.

That there was absolutely no chance he would be interested in his younger sister.

Don't make an innocent person out to be a bad person.

However, this sister complex wouldn't believe his words.

"I'm really scared to let her out. I'm afraid someone might kidnap her... I want to live with her for my whole life if I could."

To Lee Yucheon, all men would only look like potential wolves targeting his younger sister.

He would surely assert that what he was saying was a lie.

"Ah, is that so? Show me a photo later. I'd like to see just how pretty she is."

Nevertheless, the other person was a direct descendant.

Since they weren't on bad terms, he couldn't speak bluntly.

So Eunha spoke to beat around the bush.

However, Lee Yucheon, absorbed in his younger sister, didn't notice the thorns in his words and took them at face value.

"What? You want me to show you a photo of my younger sister? What are you going to do after seeing it?"

"......"

For the first time, Lee

For the first time, Lee Yu-cheon erased his kind smile.

Lee Yu-cheon glared at Eun-ha as if he was looking at a wolf, as if he was going to kill her.

It was absurd for Eun-ha.