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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Anything Good Happen?
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*Riiing*
“Who’s calling this early in the morning?”
Han Cho-hee answered the phone irritably, annoyed by the unknown number that had been calling nonstop for days.
“Hello? Who is this?”
*Is this Han Cho-hee?*
“Yeah, it is. And?”
*This is Detective Shin Hyun-jin from the Cultural Police Station. Do you know Lee Do-jin?*
“Who?”
*Lee Do-jin.*
A chill ran through her at the mention of Do-jin’s name.
“Uh, yeah. What about him?”
*Lee Do-jin has filed a report against you for false accusation.*
“False accusation?”
*He claims you framed him as a sexual harasser. Come down to the station so we can talk it over.*
The detective hung up abruptly after delivering the message.
But Cho-hee couldn’t pull the phone away from her ear.
Even though she’d been through all sorts of messes at her young age, she’d never been called into a police station.
She’d thought she could just dodge the crisis, never dreaming she’d actually get reported.
Her heart pounded wildly, and her hands shook.
*Riiing*
At that moment, her phone vibrated.
Only then did Cho-hee finally lower the phone from her ear.
[See you at the station at 7 later.]
Do-jin’s message popped up on the screen.
* * *
She was in a great mood today.
Even with the worst fine dust pollution that could obscure buildings, it all looked bright and sunny to Kang A-jin.
So what if it was fine dust or ash? A-jin took a big, refreshing breath.
That’s when she spotted Cho-hee up ahead.
“Cho-hee! Han Cho-hee!”
A-jin ran up to her side and greeted her with a beaming smile.
“Did you sleep well?”
“……”
She’d gotten bad news first thing in the morning—how could she be in a good mood?
Her own mood was utter crap, but A-jin’s relentlessly sunny expression was getting on her nerves.
She bit her lip hard and said nothing, so A-jin drooped her eyebrows and looked at her.
But that overly kind, worried look on A-jin’s face only grated more.
“What’s wrong? Didn’t sleep well?”
“Just a bit.”
“Then let’s grab some udon to cheer you up. There’s a food stall by your place today, right?”
*Do I look like I have time to casually eat udon right now?*
Cho-hee’s brow twitched in irritation.
“No. I’ve got somewhere to be.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere.”
“I have something to tell you.”
“……”
“Important promise? Can’t spare even a minute? Who’re you meeting? That oppa you mentioned?”
A-jin’s barrage of questions was annoying.
Not being able to answer a single one properly was even more annoying.
Everything was annoying, so Cho-hee couldn’t hold back and snapped.
“Why are you prying like this today? I’m just meeting someone.”
A-jin froze at Cho-hee’s sharp reaction.
She usually whined a bit, but she’d never lashed out without reason.
A-jin felt embarrassed, figuring it was her own fault for asking too many clueless questions.
She apologized.
“Sorry. I was just curious.”
It wasn’t A-jin’s fault that things had gone wrong with Do-jin.
But on the other hand, it was.
She’d ruined her mood by hanging out with Jun-woo.
“No. I’m just not feeling well. I’m skipping lunch today.”
Feeling exhausted by her situation, Cho-hee headed into the classroom first.
A-jin watched her go with a worried look.
* * *
A-jin had felt down after meeting Cho-hee.
But right after they’d parted ways to their classrooms, she got a text from Cho-hee that lifted her spirits again.
Cho-hee apologized, saying she’d been on edge from a cold and lack of sleep lately, and it wasn’t A-jin’s fault.
What a relief.
Anyway, A-jin was happy now.
She’d looked so glum for days, but today she was grinning ear to ear, totally beaming.
Her nonstop goofy smile was almost weird, like a screw was loose.
Jun-woo had been observing A-jin all morning.
*What good thing happened to her?*
He pondered curiously.
*Maybe she’s excited about going to the movies with me?*
His lips twitched upward suddenly.
But he quickly hid it, not wanting to look desperate.
Then she sidled up and shattered his illusion.
“Hey. That ajusshi doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
She pressed her index finger to his lips, whispering it like a secret.
So that’s why she was in a good mood?
Who asked to share that kind of secret?
He let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
He’d thought she was happy about going to the movies with him, but no—it was about whether the student teacher had a girlfriend.
His blank expression turned icier.
“But why does that make you happy?”
A-jin looked awkward at his unexpectedly cold response.
He read her expression but had no desire to soothe her.
He didn’t want to fake sympathy.
“I’m not happy. Just... thought it was interesting.”
“Looks like you are.”
His response sharpened even more.
She drooped her head dejectedly.
Her deflated look almost shook him for a moment, but today, his own feelings mattered more.
Jun-woo shot her a cold glance and turned away.
* * *
*Knock knock*
Cho-hee’s fist trembled with tension as it rapped on the steel door.
She was scared too—her steps crossing the threshold felt heavy.
The detectives’ room that creaked open was narrower than she’d imagined.
Not like the movies with rows of desks crammed together—just four desks facing each other and one more by the window for what looked like the team leader.
The detectives weren’t as burly and intimidating as athletes either.
Still, she was tense.
Even innocent, anyone would feel the pressure of the space.
Cho-hee took a deep breath.
Do-jin was already there.
And he’d clearly been waiting to chew her out—as soon as she stepped in, he glared at her, fuming.
He was seriously pissed.
Cho-hee pretended not to notice his stare and sat beside him.
Do-jin wasn’t that scary.
She was just intimidated by the detective in front of her.
“Han Cho-hee?”
“Yes.”
“Lee Do-jin here filed a false accusation report. Says you framed him as a sexual harasser. Is that true?”
Cho-hee didn’t respond to the detective’s question at first.
“……”
“Why aren’t you saying anything? Well, with any conscience, you wouldn’t have much to say.”
Do-jin chuckled bitterly, still baffled by what had happened to him.
“How do you two know each other?”
“I’ve told you a million times—we were dating.”
“We have to ask her side too.”
Do-jin shoved his phone at the detective, showing sweet photos of him and Cho-hee.
“Here! Look! We’re a couple, right?”
With photos as evidence, excuses wouldn’t fly.
How could she wriggle out of this?
Cho-hee racked her brain, then squeezed her eyes tight.
Tears like chicken droppings started falling.
“I’m sorry. Sob. I’m in high school, and I was scared of weird rumors with my friends, so...
The tears flustered not just the lead detective but the others too.
Do-jin looked wronged again at her tearful plea.
“Hey! Don’t cry here.”
“Come on, quiet down. You’re the one making this kid cry.”
The detective roughly rolled up some toilet paper and handed it to Cho-hee.
She covered her mouth with the tissue wad and sobbed pitifully.
“Oppa, I’m really sorry. I got so scared, I made trouble for you without thinking. I’m so sorry. What should I do? Am I going to jail now? I’m terrified.”
Do-jin softened at her trembling, frightened form.
“The kid must’ve been really scared to do that. What’s there to brag about dating a minor? Why report it?”
The detectives’ criticism turned on Do-jin.
He felt wronged, but it started confusing him—like it really was all his fault.
“Th-that’s...”
“If a kid acts childish, the adult should calm her down and talk it out! So impulsive.”
“I do have a quick temper.”
“Withdraw the complaint already.”
“No. It’s my fault. If I deserve punishment, I’ll take it.”
Cho-hee said she’d endure anything, covering her eyes and holding back sobs.
The restrained cries gulped down her throat, making her seem even more pitiable.
“Cho-hee, oppa was too harsh. I should’ve heard you out. Officer, let’s just call it even.”
Do-jin withdrew the complaint.
He tried desperately to soothe her.
Unaware that the eyes peeking through her hand were smiling.
* * *
“Jong-min, put up the tent.”
At the teacher’s order, Jong-min grunted as he slotted the metal poles into the bases.
The school field was buzzing with preparations for the sports day.
Tents to block the sun and equipment for the events were scattered everywhere.
The field lines, worn smooth from countless footsteps, gleamed fresh and white, sharply repainted after ages.
“Why’s our class T-shirt so tacky?”
Jung-hwa grumbled at her pink shirt.
“Better than Sun Wukong’s.”
Yoo-jin nodded toward the next class.
“Theirs at least look fun. So many pretty pinks, and they pick this ugly one. Who even suits a color like this?”
Not indie pink or hot pink, but some vague in-between of pink and reddish-pink—Jung-hwa shook her head in disgust.
“Hey, over there.”
Yoo-jin nodded toward Jun-woo in the basketball court again.
“Yeah, there he is. How does he pull off that color? Can’t wait to see him play basketball.”
Jun-woo had thrown a blue uniform vest over his pink class T-shirt.
Before the game, players gathered on the court to check conditions and warm up.
Jun-woo dribbled lightly and swished a clean shot into the hoop.
His practice opponents eyed him warily.
But Jun-woo ignored them and kept practicing.
Kids from his class started gathering to cheer.
Even the opponents’ cheer squad flocked to his side, causing a brief commotion.
Then the teacher doubling as referee showed up to sort it out.
Kwang-hyun was walking toward the court.
With A-jin beside him.
Her cheeks glowed as she smiled.
Jun-woo, practicing through the noise, suddenly straightened up.
The ball slipped from his hand, bounced a few times alone, and rolled away.
“Class 7, sit over here.”
At Kwang-hyun’s words, the Class 7 girls complained.
“Do we have to cheer for our own class?”
“Then who?”
“Jun-woo.”
Kwang-hyun smirked at the intriguing answer and glanced at Jun-woo.
He’d heard he was popular, but not to this extent.
Wondering how handsome he really was, he tried to get a look—but Jun-woo’s gaze wasn’t casual.
He was glaring.
Kwang-hyun turned, checking if someone was behind him.
But no one was.
*He’s looking at me, right?*
Bewildered, he tilted his head.
