RE: Player again

286

[Chapter 093] [Training (3)]

"...I miss Eun-ha."

Eun-a who finished her last exam today sighed while leaving the lecture hall.

She hadn't been able to meet her younger brother at all lately. Because there were so many things to prepare like assignments and exams.

Eun-ha also seemed very busy preparing for exams.

All they could do was talk on the phone every night or send messages in between.

"It can't be helped because of final exams. Let's promise to meet after exams are over, and endure a little longer."

"But I want to see him right now..."

Who wouldn't know that?

She had already made plans to meet Eun-ha as soon as exams were over.

She didn't want a solution, she just wanted to see Eun-ha right now.

"...Right. You said it's been three days since you saw Eun-ha? It must be really hard enduring."

"Yeon-hwa, you're right! As expected, you're the only one who understands me!"

Eun-a wanted someone who understood her struggle.

She suddenly hugged Yeon-hwa walking next to her and rubbed her face against her chest.

Yeon-hwa who was now used to this naturally stroked Eun-a's head.

...Isn't three days not that long?

Meanwhile, Chang-jin thought while pulling up his slightly lowered hood to his mouth.

The reason he didn't immediately say his thoughts out loud was because Eun-a had already gotten upset several times when he said the wrong thing.

"I haven't met him lately either..."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Then Ryu Yeon-hwa inadvertently muttered.

Eun-a didn't let her words spoken above her head pass by.

Strangely her sensor was activating. The sensor proving the bond between siblings passed down in the Noh family was telling her to question her.

"Perhaps─"

─You didn't say that because you haven't been able to meet Eun-ha either, Yeon-hwa?

Eun-a was about to open her mouth like that.

Not thinking her friend who doesn't try to get along with others would be meeting her brother.

She was about to ask just in case.

But then, Yeon-hwa answered like a machine gun.

"─Morning training has been prohibited for now during the final exam period. So I haven't been able to meet the people I train with lately..."

"...Oh, I see."

Eun-a had never seen her speak so quickly before.

Eun-a who just blinked for a moment nodded as if that made sense.

Still, the sensor didn't turn off.

Strange? Something's suspicious...

Eun-a who raised her face buried in her chest scrutinized Yeon-hwa.

For some reason, she felt like Yeon-hwa was avoiding her gaze.

"...Huh?"

Then she discovered the sleep mask hanging around Yeon-hwa's neck.

A sleep mask with a grumpy cat drawn on it.

It was a sleep mask she often carried around lately. She had seen her wear the sleep mask and take short naps several times when resting.

The problem was that she had seen Eun-ha wearing a similar sleep mask a few days ago.

"That's the same sleep mask as Eun-ha's, how interesting..."

"...This?"

Yeon-hwa's reaction was a beat late.

That appearance triggered the sensor's reaction even more.

Suspicious. Really suspicious.

It seems like there's something...

Come to think of it, Yeon-hwa had been chatting with someone during class time from some point.

She didn't usually use her smartphone often.

So Eun-a asked her one day who she was chatting with so much.

At that time, Yeon-hwa awkwardly evaded the question.

"You and Eun-ha... don't have anything going on, right?"

"......"

Her best friend Ryu Yeon-hwa.

And her beloved younger brother Noh Eun-ha.

Eun-a would be happy to congratulate them if the two developed a good relationship.

But if Yeon-hwa had become that kind of relationship with Eun-ha behind her back, she would feel a little sad.

She would be thoroughly sulky for a few days then.

So hurry up and answer! What's going on between you two!?

Eun-a looked straight up at Yeon-hwa who kept her mouth shut.

"We..."

Eventually Yeon-hwa opened her mouth.

But Eun-a couldn't hear her words to the end.

"I'm using that mask too because it's comfortable to wear."

""......""

Han Chang-jin who took out a sleep mask with a different background color from Yeon-hwa from his pocket.

Han Chang-jin happily expounded on the greatness of sleep masks, glad to have found common ground.

Of course, the two didn't listen to his story.

"...Oh, so that's what it was." "...Yeah."

While Eun-a was relieved.

Yeon-hwa glared at Han Chang-jin who kept talking non-stop with a cold gaze.

While even taking off the sleep mask hanging around her neck and putting it in her bag.

"Eun-a, want to get coffee before going back to the dorm?" "Coffee? Sounds good! I've been craving something sweet since I've only been using my head since morning!"

"Oh, guys, can I come too..."

Yeon-hwa who changed the topic pulled Eun-a's hand.

Han Chang-jin who had been chattering away had to hurriedly follow the two.

Meanwhile, Yeon-hwa didn't look back and treated Chang-jin like he didn't exist until they arrived at the cafe.

"What did I do wrong..."

Han Chang-jin grumbling with his head down and a gloomy face.

Regardless, the two entered the cafe.

There was a student who arrived first choosing coffee in front of the counter.

"Caramel macchiato, Americano, and cafe latte."

The girl with dazzling accessories dangling all over tossed back her hair rolled like a roll.

She who created a somewhat overbearing atmosphere kept tapping her foot stretched forward.

"Would you like that hot or iced?"

"Make it hot."

"What size would you like?"

"...Size?"

She asked back irritably.

Still, the clerk kindly explained that sizes at this shop were divided into S, M, L.

"Then medium, make it middle."

"...Yes, you mean medium?"

"Middle. I said make it middle."

"...Yes, understood."

"Pay with this."

The girl threw a card taken out from her wallet onto the counter.

For a moment, the clerk's face soured.

"That's really..." "Rude."

Eun-a and Yeon-hwa who were quietly watching from behind whispered.

The two who had spent time together since middle school academy had seen countless people acting rudely.

A sight they weren't used to even after time passed.

The two looked unfavorably at the girl trying to treat the clerk badly.

"That kid is a direct descendant of Galaxy Group. They say her name is Choi Ga-in who entered as part of the 031st class this year."

Meanwhile, Han Chang-jin was knowledgeable about information. He who stuck his face between the two relayed information about Choi Ga-in.

Seo-yeon and Seo-hyun don't act like that.

Ha-yang is still so kind even now.

Eun-a naturally compared her to the chaebol third generation kids she knew.

It was really disappointing to see a direct descendant of Galaxy Group, ranked 1st in Korea, show such behavior.

"I hear she chases after Eun-ha."

""Eun-ha?""

Eun-a and Yeon-hwa asked back at the same time.

While doing so, Eun-a felt proud that her younger brother was popular.

Eun-ha was cute and adorable. He was also mature and cool beyond his age, even more than his peers.

It was natural for him to be popular.

It would be strange if he wasn't.

So normally she would have felt favorable towards a girl who liked Eun-ha.

But Eun-a felt antipathy seeing her behavior.

She felt bad thinking such a girl was chasing after Eun-ha.

Wondering if she would bully Eun-ha like she did to the clerk.

Of course that wouldn't happen.

I'll like anyone Eun-ha likes... but I hope it's not that girl.

Eun-a was harboring such thoughts when her eyes met the girl's as she turned around after receiving her coffee.

"What are you looking at?"

Eun-a didn't avoid her gaze and looked closely at Choi Ga-in.

As a result, Choi Ga-in whose mood was ruined snapped at her.

"...Nothing. Sorry for staring."

Originally, she would have thrown a fit asking why Eun-a was looking at her even if Eun-a apologized.

But Choi Ga-in just said "Hmph! What a sight." and passed by her.

Eun-a and Yeon-hwa didn't know why Choi Ga-in who was trying to pick a fight just now passed by, but Chang-jin knew very well.

This isn't the first time this has happened.

Han Chang-jin clicking his tongue.

Anyone would look back at their own appearance when standing in front of Noh Eun-a or Ryu Yeon-hwa.

Choi Ga-in's appearance turning around was exactly the same as when she had tried to argue with the two many times before but suddenly became intimidated and turned around with her head lowered.

☆

"Why isn't Choi Ga-in coming back?"

"...Right. Did she get lost?"

"I'm just going to leave."

"No. Wait a little longer. Maybe it's because this is Ga-in's first time doing something like this."

It was none of his business.

Eun-ha who got up from his seat turned to look at Cha Eun-woo grabbing his wrist with both hands.

Cha Eun-woo who was shaking her head and conveying with her eyes to please wait, as if fighting a desperate battle.

Eun-ha who stared blankly at her eventually sat down saying it can't be helped.

Is she roasting coffee beans or something?

Eun-ha waited for Choi Ga-in with his legs crossed.

Fortunately, she arrived not long after that.

"Here, Eun-ha you wanted an Americano right? It will definitely be delicious since I bought it."

"Does it become delicious just because someone bought it? I'll enjoy the coffee."

"......"

"Eun-ha, that's what you told Ga-in earlier..."

"Ah, right. Fortunately it seems delicious because you bought it." "Yeah! Right?"

Eun-ha drank the coffee without even giving her a glance.

He regretted drinking the hot Americano afterwards.

He should have had a sweet drink since he used his head a lot today.

Moreover, the white macadamia nut cookies sold at the academy cafe were quite tasty.

He should have just gone and bought coffee himself instead of having Choi Ga-in order.

"Eun-ha, are you listening to me?"

"Huh? What did you say?"

"Tch, listen to me, you."

Eun-ha who was lost in thought while drinking coffee frowned.

He was annoyed by Choi Ga-in speaking cutely.

Somehow it seemed like she was imitating Ha-yang...

It might suit Jung Ha-yang with her round cute face, but it didn't suit Choi Ga-in at all with her big face and small eyes.

He would have spit out the Americano in his mouth if the floor wasn't marble.

"Will you come to the end-of-semester party? If you have time, want to attend together with me? Oh right, just the two of us."

She who was acting shy and twisting her body.

Generally, attending an end-of-semester party with just a guy and girl meant the two were currently in a romantic relationship or dating.

Of course, Eun-ha and she were absolutely not that kind of relationship.

"No, I'll pass. And I wasn't planning to attend this party." "What? Why?"

"I'm going home as soon as vacation starts."

Eun-ha quickly rejected her proposal with an obvious intention.

And he had no intention of attending the end-of-semester party this semester.

Because all his friends were able to adapt to the political and business world atmosphere at the last end-of-semester party.

He thought it would be fine even without him there.

Above all, no artifacts that would be helpful to him would come out at this end-of-semester party.

He would run to see Eun-ae as soon as exams ended and vacation started.

"Hey, then do you have time during the break?"

"I don't know."

"Galaxy Group owns several villas on Jeju Island. I'm thinking of going to Jeju Island for a vacation this break, Eun-ha do you want to come with me..."

"I think I'll be really busy."

He had no intention whatsoever of going to Jeju Island with Choi Ga-in.

Eun-ha got up from his seat not wanting to deal with her anymore.

But then she tried to get up too.

Just how far is she planning to follow?

Just as Eun-ha was wondering how to shake off Choi Ga-in.

Yoo Do-joon passing by up ahead caught his eye.

"Sorry, I have a prior engagement so I'll go first."

"What? With who? Can't I come with you?"

"No, you can't. Hey, Yoo Do-joon!"

Eun-ha called out to Yoo Do-joon loudly to physically show he had a prior engagement.

If the appointment partner was a direct descendant of Eternal Group, Choi Ga-in wouldn't be able to say she would follow along recklessly.

"Hey, Yoo Do-joon. Do you really have an appointment with Eun-ha? During exam period?"

Instead, Choi Ga-in stared at Yoo Do-joon who approached Eun-ha with a displeased gaze and questioned him.

Yoo Do-joon who just came over because his name was called didn't seem to understand the situation.

But Yoo Do-joon was Yoo Do-joon. He who roughly grasped the situation answered with a smile.

"I have important business with Eun-ha... It's such important business that I can't even tell you about it."

"What kind of matter is it that you can't tell me? What can you even do there anyway?"

"I won't tell you."

"...You're really annoying. Why are you always grinning?"

Yoo Do-joon teased Choi Ga-in like a child.

Choi Ga-in who frowned deeply tried to say something but it didn't work on him at all.

In the end, Choi Ga-in just hurled insults at Yoo Do-joon.

But Yoo Do-joon didn't even listen with half an ear.

They were insults not worth listening to.

"Let's go. Anyway, I enjoyed the coffee."

"What, Choi Ga-in bought you coffee? That's unusual for her..."

"She even bought it herself." "...Did she take the wrong medicine?" "Huh? She takes medicine too?"

"There's medicine she takes for attention deficit. The kids who follow Choi Ga-in always carry it around."

Eun-ha who parted from Choi Ga-in was surprised by Yoo Do-joon's words.

But it strangely made sense. It was somewhat amusing too.

"By the way, I could have bought you coffee too. Just tell me? I'll buy whatever you want to drink anytime. I can even be your bread shuttle?" "...Please maintain your dignity."

The male student quietly following Yoo Do-joon gently added.

It seemed they had become quite close since talking on Seoraksan.

Yoo Do-joon could be left alone for now and would grow well on his own.

"But Eun-ha, how much longer do I have to wait?"

He also spoke in a situation where there was

Whether he's being bold or if he's gotten that close with that guy...

It's probably both.

Eun-ha who sighed softly replied again with what he said before.

"I told you to wait a bit. You know this can't be resolved right away. Moreover, there's nothing to gain for either of us by being close right now."

There were several events where Yoo Do-joon could take the throne of Eternal Group.

Even the closest event still had some time left.

Currently, all he had was owning some stocks early in preparation for events that would happen someday.

Also, Yoo Do-joon with little influence in Eternal Group had nothing to gain by associating with him who was now called a promising talent and in the spotlight.

He shouldn't show such an intimate appearance until he firmly established his position.

And I don't want to be worked hard by you from this age?

He had that true intention too.

Anyway, there was no way to help Yoo Do-joon right now.

All he could do was wait for him to grow on his own until he could help.

"Ah, right. The bet reward I got from the last end-of-semester party."

"Come to think of it, what happened with that?"

"Han Seo-yeon noona contacted me separately recently and asked what I wanted to do, so I asked her to arrange for me to be able to attend the social gatherings of direct descendants."

"See, you're doing well on your own." "I could do even better if you helped. Want some coffee? My treat."

"I don't drink coffee full of ulterior motives. And I just had some earlier?"

"Tch... that Choi Ga-in isn't helpful for my life."

There are levels even among gatherings of direct descendants.

The social gathering Yoo Do-joon said he would attend was a gathering of direct descendants in their teens and 20s who were likely to inherit the group.

In his previous life, Yoo Do-joon made painstaking efforts to attend this gathering.

But in this life, he asked to be let into the gathering with the authority gained from the 1st semester end-of-semester party.

He must have obtained qualifications to attend with the approval of Galaxy, KK, and Dangun Groups.

It was something that would make Choi Ga-in who couldn't attend that gathering go crazy.

She would only be laughed at if she attended that gathering without connections at this time...

A gathering of people who could be called the royal of royals.

Surely there would be direct descendants with influence in Eternal Group at that gathering too.

I should probably give him some tips about promising talents for Yoo Do-joon's sake.

"So if you attend the next gathering as my exclusive..."

"No, I don't want to. Look elsewhere. Anyway, don't act friendly with me until I talk to you first." "You're really expensive."

Yoo Do-joon who was flatly rejected was easygoing unlike other chaebol third generation.

Eun-ha who chatted briefly like that was about to return to the dorm.

That's when his smartphone vibrated.

"Toad": Boss, we've located Tteobeori's position (4:21 PM)

The news he had been waiting for finally arrived.

Eun-ha who was looking at the message Lee Kang-hyuk sent grabbed Yoo Do-joon who was about to leave.

"Hey, Do-joon."

With the friendliest face possible.

"Give me some money."

Eun-ha held out his hand to Yoo Do-joon.

Then Do-joon who laughed in disbelief─

"─Did you leave money with me?"

Grumbled while taking out his wallet.