-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Contract Relationship
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“To be honest, I've never actually asked about that...”
Ha-ra's eyes shifted. Chief Jeong looked dumbfounded.
But what could she do? Ha-ra shrugged. When she'd left the dungeon, Ha-ra had sworn that she'd rather die than do what this Constellation wanted.
Of course, her mind had changed the moment she got out, but her pride was still bruised, so she'd barely spoken to the Constellation, let alone brought up the quest.
Besides, negotiating the terms of a relationship was another matter. A vague thought had crossed her mind: ‘But if we start dating and then break up, will my S-Class status be revoked?’
“I was afraid if I asked, it would just say 'Yes' and confirm it...”
She'd put off asking, a little scared of how this capricious Constellation might answer.
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ asks if that was really the case.]
*As if a nonchalant being like you would have cared,* Ha-ra wrinkled her nose.
“It said it would make you S-Class if you two dated. Shouldn't you have asked if that S-Class status would be revoked if the relationship ended?”
“Well, that's true, but...”
“...Kang Ha-ra, you...”
Chief Jeong narrowed her eyes.
“It's a miracle you've made it this far in this crazy world without signing up for a pyramid scheme.”
“...”
“Just think about it. How many variables are there in a relationship? I didn't have time to grill you back then, so I didn't ask for details.”
Now that she thought about it, Chief Jeong was right.
Cupid had told Ha-ra to date Yoon Se-heon, but the conditions weren't specific. And there was nothing more variable than a relationship.
There are couples who fall in love at first sight, start dating, and break up a day later, and then there are couples who each have feelings for someone else but end up together and live happily ever after.
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ says it prefers the latter.]
Reading the message, Ha-ra crossed her arms.
“My husband and I went through hell and back when we were dating, you know? We must have broken up nine times. We're married and living well now, but back then, we were at each other's throats.”
“The standards are too vague to be based on dating alone...”
Ha-ra quickly pulled a pen from her pocket and drew a table on the back of the script she was holding.
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ asks what could be more certain than love.]
*For you, maybe.* Ha-ra stopped scribbling on the script and gazed at the sky with unfocused eyes.
What is a relationship? In any case, it's when two people meet and agree to date. The key variables are the catalyst, the duration, and the end.
“First things first. If we break up, is the S-Class status revoked?”
Ha-ra asked quietly. She could have asked in her head, but she wanted Chief Jeong to hear as well.
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ is aghast, asking what it takes it for.]
[It emphasizes once more: no take-backs.]
[However, it sets a condition that breaking up after just one day is not allowed.]
“Okay, so it won't be revoked, but breaking up after one day is a no-go... What about the duration?”
Chief Jeong was baffled.
“Hey, what if you ask and it says you have to do it for, like, three years?”
“Just a moment, Chief.”
Ha-ra stared into the air. The Constellation seemed to be pondering it as well.
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ contemplates, as this is its first time doing something like this.]
“Looks like it hasn't thought about it either.”
“Isn't it Cupid? A god?”
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ protests that it had a love for the ages.]
“I guess since its own love life was so legendary, it never gave much thought to anyone else's.”
“What love life? Oh, the myth.”
Even Chief Jeong, who was no stranger to the whims of Constellations, seemed to find this amusing. She spoke up before Cupid could give its answer.
“Anyway, the two of you definitely have to agree to date, right?”
“I guess so.”
“Then ask the Constellation. The trend in dramas these days is contract relationships. See if it's interested.”
Ha-ra, who had been drinking water, did a spit-take. Chief Jeong recoiled with a grunt of disgust.
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ shows curiosity.]
“Ah, are you crazy? What's there to be curious about!”
“Hey, the Constellation's interested? Hear it out.”
*Hear what out? Chief, why are you doing this to me too?* But Chief Jeong just crossed her arms and spoke to Ha-ra.
“Hey, what, were you planning to just naturally fall into a relationship with Yoon Se-heon? You think that's something just anyone can pull off?”
“No... I haven't really thought that far ahead...”
“This is hilarious. Hey, do you have any idea how famous Reporter Yoon was when he used to cover the Mapo station? Whenever he showed up, all the women at the station would rush out to get a look.”
*Ah, I'm sure he was...* Chief Jeong snorted in disbelief.
“Kwon Wook said you'd handle it, but what kind of 'handling it' is this? You said you were filming a documentary, so I thought you two had some grand plan. When I saw you arrive with Reporter Yoon earlier, I thought, 'Oh, look, some progress,' but I guess that wasn't it, huh?”
“Ah, Chief, why are you being like this...”
As Chief Jeong's voice grew louder, Ha-ra frantically looked around, afraid someone might overhear. Only after seeing Ha-ra's anxious expression did Chief Jeong finally lower her voice.
The Constellation, however, seemed deeply impressed by Chief Jeong's words.
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ likes Chief Jeong Yu-jin.]
“Kang Ha-ra. If it were me, huh? I would have asked the Constellation this first. What are the criteria for the relationship, and how long does it have to last? You're not thinking.”
“...”
“You don't even have a plan, do you? What gives you this confidence?”
“Well, it's not like you plan out a relationship...”
This time, Chief Jeong let out a loud, derisive laugh. “Ha!”
“Ha-ra. You were first in your class in school, right? Did you study without a plan back then, or did you make a plan?”
“...With a plan...”
“Did you know Reporter Yoon's mother was an actress?”
*So suddenly?* Ha-ra's eyes widened.
Chief Jeong shrugged.
“Reporter Yoon's mom was a hugely famous actress. When I was in high school, every kid had a pencil board with her face on it. Where do you think he got those looks? From his mother, that's where.”
Ha-ra already knew the basics. She had looked up Yoon Se-heon at home.
Se-heon's mother had been a very famous actress, though she had passed away when he was young. Because of that, there were occasional posts online comparing his and his mother's looks.
“Look at his face. And you, Kang Ha-ra, huh? I hear your nickname is 'Just a Loser'.”
*Chief, where did you hear that...?* She wanted to die as the nickname circulating on Hunter Blind was suddenly brought up. To think that even Chief Jeong knew the nickname she'd gotten after shattering the magic stone.
Chief Jeong chuckled, saying Yu-jeong had told her.
“Anyway, Kang Ha-ra. How is a simple loser like you supposed to woo a face like that? Normally, you'd just see him as a mountain you can't climb and not even look his way, but what can you do? You have to become S-Class. So, what should you do?”
“...What should I do?”
“Negotiate with the Constellation. Conditional contract relationships are the trend these days. Huh? 'Dear Constellation, please approve a contract relationship with Yoon Se-heon.'”
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ is intrigued.]
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ considers the duration of a contract relationship.]
“Hey, why are you considering that!”
Ha-ra, who had hastily shouted at the sky, grabbed Chief Jeong and said.
“Anchor Yoon said he has a girlfriend!”
“Oh.”
*Is this the time to be impressed?* She wanted to ask Chief Jeong that, but rank was king. Chief Jeong took it a step further.
“Hey, then a contract relationship is even better. Tell him you'll let him marry the other woman, so he should just have a short contract relationship with you.”
“Ah, Chief!”
Before Ha-ra could protest, the Constellation jumped in to tackle the issue.
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ blows a whistle.]
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ holds up a yellow card.]
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ steps in, saying, That’s not right!]
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ grows impatient. There isn’t much time.]
*What does it mean, there isn't much time?*
But the Constellation paid no mind to Ha-ra's words.
Just then, while Ha-ra was muttering to herself, Chief Jeong shouted toward Yoon Se-heon, who was taking a break with the staff.
“Hey, Reporter Yoon! Let me ask you something!”
“What is it?”
Her voice was so loud it echoed inside the dungeon.
As Se-heon hesitantly stood up, Chief Jeong yelled, “No need to come over here, just tell me—do you have a girlfriend?!”
At that, everyone's eyes went wide as they looked back and forth between Chief Jeong and Se-heon.
Ha-ra wanted to die of embarrassment. Se-heon also glanced at Ha-ra and scoffed.
“And what are you going to do with that information, Chief?”
“Aish, my husband is so ugly these days. Looking at you is a breath of fresh air. I'll divorce him and come for you, so will you marry me? I'm an A-Class, so I've got some money saved up, huh?”
The nearby production staff burst out laughing. They probably thought it was a joke.
But they still snuck glances at Se-heon. It was understandable. Wasn't he ranked number one for 'Journalist People Want to Marry' in South Korea? It might be a private matter, but there was nothing as curious or entertaining as someone else's love life. Especially if that someone was a handsome man like Se-heon.
Se-heon made a show of shuddering.
“Chief Jeong, you're getting old. Why are you saying such creepy things?”
Despite his words, he slowly walked over. Chief Jeong grinned and continued to speak loudly.
“Ah, why? What was it again? Weren't you dating that really pretty anchor? Don't tell me you're still together?”
Now the production staff were openly perking up their ears.
Se-heon looked around at the people with a troubled expression. Even though it was a public broadcasting station, the industry was small. If a strange rumor started, he would be in a difficult position in no time. He sighed and said.
“...I don't have a girlfriend.”
Ha-ra's jaw dropped.
Chief Jeong looked toward Ha-ra and winked. Then she immediately asked again.
“Really? You don't?”
“Ah, I said I don't.”
Se-heon's gaze also flickered toward Ha-ra for a moment. He seemed to misunderstand, thinking she had put the chief up to it.
*Ah, damn it.* Ha-ra wanted to find a hole to crawl into right then and there. During the uneventful documentary shoot earlier that day, she had harbored a small hope that Se-heon might have forgotten her nonsense, but now that was all ruined.
Regardless, Chief Jeong grinned slyly.
“Ah, then let's have a contract relationship. It's the latest trend, they say.”
Se-heon looked fed up.
“Chief, one more word and I'll report you for sexual harassment.”
“Aish, I've been chewed out so many times, I can handle that.”
Ha-ra desperately tried to give Se-heon a look that said, 'It wasn't me,' but it was unlikely he understood.
However.
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ turns away, musing that a contract relationship might not be so bad after all.]
*And why are you changing your tune now?*
