Chapter 121: Style Complete (5)
They left the salon. For some reason, Han Soo-ah had a sulky face. He puffed her cheek and pressed it to let the air out.
Han Soo-ah pouted and spoke.
"Hyun oppa. Hey?"
"That hairdresser... Shin Ba-da? Are you close to her?"
"Close? Why are you suddenly asking?"
"No reason."
"You're not that close. It's only the second time seeing her, so how could we be close?"
Of course, he wouldn't mind becoming closer to her. He admired her hair styling talent that he completely lacked, and above all, Shin Ha-neul was quite pretty.
'She looked good in jeans, come to think of it.'
He was nodding internally when Han Soo-ah suddenly grabbed his hand. Before he could ask what was going on, she walked forward without looking back, pulling him along.
"Oppa, let's go eat dinner!"
She said that and walked with her short legs in surprisingly big strides. Seo Juhwan followed, bewildered.
"Pfft! Kya hahahaha!"
Whatever was so funny, Seo Juhui, who was following behind, laughed like a crazy person. Her laugh was irritating to listen to because it was so unhinged.
*
They grilled samgyeopsal, and before parting, they went to a café.
"Should we get a piece of cake?"
"Let's get two!"
"...Aren't you two full?"
"Dessert has a separate stomach!"
"Right, right."
Separate stomachs indeed. Did they have two stomachs? Seo Juhwan shrugged and decided on the menu: three Americanos and two pieces of cake.
"I'll buy this."
"Eh? We're supposed to pay."
"That's fine. Eat when someone treats you. Don't beg your parents for pocket money just because you feel like it."
Where else would high school students get money from except their parents' wallets? The two of them didn't do part-time jobs, and YouTube and Tricky TV weren't even at settlement dates yet.
Just as he was about to order, a familiar voice came from beside him.
"Seo Juhwan?"
"Huh? What? Why are you here?"
The voice belonged to his editor, Choi Mi-hwa. She put her hand on her waist and deliberately frowned.
"I told you to call me unnie!"
"...Are you still not giving up on that?"
"Bad guy."
"No, why are you suddenly like this..."
The resentful look in her eyes was bewildering. He thought he had completely resolved what happened that day, but now she was glaring at him. Was she unable to control her emotions when facing him in person?
When Seo Juhwan showed confusion, Choi Mi-hwa smiled and relaxed the tension in her eyes.
"Just joking. But what brings you here?"
"Wasn't I supposed to ask you that first? You know I live nearby."
"Oh, that's right. But... are those two behind you? Don't tell me... girlfriends?"
The light in her eyes sharpened again. Seo Juhwan hurriedly shook his head. But right then, Han Soo-ah linked her arm through his.
"We're his close younger siblings. But who are you?"
"Ah... are they his real siblings?"
"No. I'm a very close younger sibling I've known for a long time."
"...I see. Just close siblings?"
"Not just... ouch!"
Seo Juhwan gave Han Soo-ah a flick on the head. Han Soo-ah grabbed her head and looked at him with grievance. For a moment, he felt guilty like he was bullying a child, but he still had to say what he needed to say.
Seo Juhwan frowned and spoke.
"Hey. Be respectful to Oppa's editor."
"...Editor?"
"I told you I write. This is my editor. Apologize quickly."
Han Soo-ah hesitated but then bowed her head slightly.
"I'm sorry. I'm just a younger sibling named Han Soo-ah."
"Oh, no. I'm sorry too. Nice to meet you. I'm Choi Mi-hwa, editor for Author Seo."
"Nice to meet you. I'm his real sister, Seo Juhui..."
"You can ignore that one."
"You're so mean!"
Seo Juhui's voice was cheerful and unaffected. Thanks to Seo Juhui, the awkward atmosphere seemed to improve.
Choi Mi-hwa laughed slightly and spoke.
"I'm holding up your order. I'll buy it since I was here."
"You don't have to."
"It's fine. Company card."
"...Can you use that freely?"
"Our company authors deserve coffee. What's the problem? Besides, I just met another author earlier, so it's fine. It was a business expense."
"Another author? Who?"
"I'll tell you later. Your younger siblings are waiting."
"Oh. Thanks. Take care getting in."
"Don't be nice about it."
Choi Mi-hwa spoke with a casual expression. Soon she smiled and waved her hand.
"Thanks. I'll contact you."
"Okay."
After sending off Choi Mi-hwa, Seo Juhwan went to the table where his siblings had already sat. As soon as he sat down, Seo Juhui opened her mouth with sparkling eyes.
"Older brother. Are you really a writer?"
"Your tone."
"...Yes, oppa. But is that unnie really an editor? She doesn't look very old."
"She's one year older than me."
"Oh. Senior. That editor unnie was pretty though... Do you date her? Are you into glasses girls?"
At those words, Han Soo-ah flinched and put on her round glasses.
Seo Juhwan shook his head.
"It's not like that, so stop caring about it. It's just the relationship between an author and editor."
"It doesn't seem like it~."
"I'm confiscating your laptop?"
"Oh, are you being stingy again? I gave it to you and you take it back?"
Click. Click.
"That's enough. We ordered ours, so go get it, Jun-Soon."
"Tsk. Soo-ah, let's go together."
"Huh? Yes!"
Han Soo-ah quickly stood and followed her out.
Seo Juhwan leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath.
"Phew. Tired."
The day was coming to an end.
*
"Oppa, come home on weekends too!"
"Juhwan oppa. You have to contact us often!"
"Yeah, yeah. I'll text when I get home."
Seo Juhwan sent off the two and headed home. After such a lively day, being alone made his surroundings feel uniquely quiet.
"Huh? I've done this before... haven't I?"
It felt strangely familiar. Before too, he had definitely walked this way and gone to the smoking area, where he had smoked a cigarette.
Seo Juhwan put a cigarette in his mouth and tried to light it.
Click. Click.
"Ah. Of all things..."
The lighter was out of fuel and wouldn't light. Should he go to a convenience store? The distance was quite far, and it was annoying. He scratched his head and was about to leave the smoking area when a white hand suddenly extended toward him. A lighter was held out.
"Here. Use this."
"Ah, thanks... huh?"
A woman with long, black hair as smooth as ebony and model-like height. A woman with a fierce impression but such a pretty face that he remembered her.
"That princess complex from before?"
"...Give back the lighter."
The woman immediately frowned and extended her hand again. Seo Juhwan quickly pulled his hand back.
"Oh, sorry. I'll use it gratefully. Haha."
He felt a sense of déjà vu. Come to think of it, it was he who had lent her a lighter before.
Click— He lit his cigarette and returned the lighter.
Seo Juhwan smoked silently for a moment, then looked at her outfit. Sportswear and slippers. She had such great presence that he didn't notice, but she was dressed very casually.
"Do you live nearby?"
"Then we'll keep running into each other?"
"Often?"
"I saw you before when you were drunk. You don't remember?"
She spoke in a sly tone, casually.
He remembered. When he was with Choi Mi-hwa.
"Ah. That happened. I think I reacted sensitively back then... Sorry."
"Oh, no. It's not like I was asking for an apology. I was the one who misspoke first."
When he apologized first, the woman became embarrassed and waved her hand. Her demeanor was different from her cold and aloof appearance.
Seo Juhwan laughed lightly, put out his cigarette, and greeted her.
"Then take care."
"Yes. You too."
The woman nodded slightly and returned the greeting. Her tone was cold, but her manners seemed refined. She was a strange woman.
'I feel like I've seen her somewhere. I'm not sure.'
Thinking about it pointlessly would only frustrate him, so he shook his head. He was tired and wanted to sleep quickly.
*
The sun rose.
Seo Juhwan yawned widely and scratched his head.
"Finally, I'm returning to school."
It was the first day of the new semester.
🔥 Want More Chapters? Read Ahead on Patreon! 🔥
💎 Tier 1 — $5 → 50 chapters ahead + 7-day free trial
💎 Tier 2 — $10 → 110 chapters ahead
💎 Tier 3 — $15 → 175 chapters ahead
💎 Tier 4 — $20 → 245 chapters ahead
🚀 Tier 5 — $35 → Tier 4 benefits + 2 chapters/day
👑 Tier 6 — $50 → Tier 4 benefits + 4 chapters/day
🔥 Special Tier — $35 (Limited!) → Tier 6 benefits (only 3 slots!)
🏆 Final Tier — $120 (Ultimate Access)
→ Full access to ALL completed stories
→ Read entire novels from beginning to end
→ Includes:
• The Desire System (1065 chapters)
• SSS-Rank Enhancement System (1007 chapters)
❤️ Support the story and unlock everything now: patreon.com/aristo0