Chapter 6
As Seohui left the lecture hall, she didn’t forget to steal a glance at Jaemin, who was absorbed in his book. Seeing him so focused — as if completely unaware of everything — she barely held back a bitter laugh.
Just moments ago, Seohui had seen Isu sneaking glances at Jaemin as she left the room. And Jaemin — he had definitely met her eyes.
There was no need to ask. She already knew. What kind of relationship they had, and since when they’d started being “like that.”
“Don’t you dare use the word ‘affair’ so lightly. You’re the one who came between me and oppa.”
Adding Isu’s last words — the ones she had spat right before slapping her across the face — Seohui was sure now. Those two had already started something back then. Whether it was flirting or a full-blown relationship didn’t matter.
Amid all the ambiguity, one thing was clear:
She had been played — by both of them.
I’m not going to let them get what they want.
Until the moment she stepped out of the lecture hall, Jaemin never once looked up. Yet she could feel it — the tension in the air that surrounded him whenever it came to her.
He was aware of her. Whatever his reason was, it was all to use her.
A faint, crooked smile curved at the corner of Seohui’s lips — a smile Jaemin couldn’t see from behind.
Isu, if you like Park Jaemin that much, you can have him. He’s not someone I want, or even want to look at.
She muttered under her breath as she walked away.
Leaving the classroom at Seohui’s request, Isu’s eyes narrowed. Discontent slipped from between her lips with every breath.
“Has she gone crazy? Why is she suddenly acting sick out of nowhere?”
Still unsatisfied, she glared back toward the now-distant lecture hall.
“Does she think drinking some calming tonic will stop her from getting dumped?”
Even though she was the one who’d brought up the tonic, Isu still blamed Seohui — calling her pathetic and slow-witted.
“Well, I guess being slow makes her easy to use.”
The thought lightened her mood a little.
It was important that Seohui confessed to Jaemin.
Seohui was the granddaughter doted on by Chairman Han. If she brought home a man who was clearly beneath the family’s standards, the chairman would be furious — and then an opportunity might open up for Isu.
Jaemin’s father was a university professor. Not a bad family, but nowhere near good enough for Chairman Han’s approval. His grades weren’t particularly impressive either, despite all his effort — he had already failed the bar exam three times. The only thing worth mentioning was his good looks and fit body.
He was perfect as a fake boyfriend — someone to toy with under Seohui’s name. And Isu had long since won him over.
Compared to Jin Woo-hyuk, he was lacking — but not by much.
Unlike Woo-hyuk, who was sharp and left no openings, Jaemin was easier to manipulate.
“You know you’re just helping strengthen things between oppa and me, right? Once I get Grandpa to like me, we’ll get married then. By that time, you’ll already be a prosecutor, so Grandpa will agree easily. So for now, just pretend to be interested in her and keep her occupied, okay?”
A few sweet words whispered in bed, and Jaemin had fallen for it completely. He’d said he’d do anything she asked.
Everything was going smoothly — or so it seemed.
Today, Seohui would confess, get rejected, and stew in misery for a while.
If everything went according to plan, it would be perfect.
“I can’t wait to see her cry.”
And yet, a bitter taste filled her mouth. Something about Seohui’s demeanor had changed — subtly, but unmistakably — in less than half an hour.
Her eyes looked… different. Sharper. More guarded.
Had she figured something out? No, impossible. If she had, she wouldn’t have been that calm.
Then why did this uneasiness keep gnawing at her chest?
Shaking her head, she dismissed the thought.
“Stupid Han Seohui. No way.”
Even if the entire world knew about her and Park Jaemin, that greenhouse flower called Seohui would never notice a thing.
“…Still, just in case.”
Isu, walking briskly now, unlocked her phone and sent Jaemin a message:
<How’s she doing?>
There were still twenty minutes before class. Plenty of time to stop by the pharmacy at the main gate.
If she wanted to catch a good show, she’d better hurry.
Even as she returned with the medicine, Jaemin hadn’t replied. She kept checking her phone, worried she’d missed a message — but there was nothing.
“What’s he doing? Why isn’t he answering?”
He couldn’t have confessed already, could he? She’d told him to wait until she got back. No way he’d jump the gun like that.
Realizing she didn’t have time to waste, Isu broke into a run.
She had to see Seohui’s devastated face after being rejected.
After running for a while, her phone vibrated briefly — a message from Jaemin.
<Han Seohui’s gone.>
Her brow furrowed sharply.
“Gone? What do you mean, gone?”
Irritated, she hit the call button.
How dare he make her come all the way out here, only to say that?
Her jaw tightened, rage flickering in her eyes. But Jaemin didn’t pick up.
Only the endless ringing filled her ears until she hung up.
She looked down at the paper bag in her hand — the tonic she’d bought.
Those eyes, that tone from Seohui earlier — it all came back.
The way she’d ordered her to run errands. It felt like she’d been played, and the realization made her furious.
And now Jaemin was being uncooperative too?
“Ugh… why is everything getting tangled?”
Chairman Han’s birthday was coming up soon. Isu had hoped that Seohui would announce she’d fallen in love with someone inappropriate — someone like Jaemin. That would disappoint the chairman deeply.
And disappointment would be her opening.
Knowing his temper, he’d never approve of a partner who didn’t meet his standards — not even for his precious granddaughter. Just like how he’d always kept Isu and her mother at arm’s length.
Which meant, for Isu, that disappointment could finally become an opportunity.
“First things first — find Han Seohui.”
Stuffing the medicine bag into a nearby trash can, she started running back toward the lecture hall.
How dare that girl make her run around like this?
“You’re going to regret this, Han Seohui. I’ll make sure of it.”
Leaving the humanities building, Seohui wondered where to go next.
Maybe a café nearby — or maybe straight home.
She paused, gazing blankly across the campus. The spring breeze brushed her cheek.
Everything looked so familiar — the quad, the faint hum of the campus radio.
Her thoughts cleared.
She hadn’t dreamed of the future — she had come back from it.
Just a single day.
Maybe even less than waking from sleep.
But that short day had felt like an eternity.
Was this what it felt like — to cross the line between life and death?
For a brief moment, she allowed herself to feel the joy of being alive again.
She drew in a deep breath, her eyes tracing the cherry blossoms in full bloom across the courtyard.
“So pretty.”
A gentle smile curved her lips as petals fluttered in the wind.
But the moment didn’t last long.
There was no time for sentimentality.
She still had work to do — unfinished business.
There would be time to breathe after everything was resolved.
This time, there would be no meaningless death.
No more being a fool, no more being played.
Then her eyes caught the library.
There were countless other places she could go to be alone, but for some reason, today she wanted to be there.
“It’s been a while. Kind of nice to see it again.”
Isu had always complained about the musty smell of old books, but Seohui had loved it.
Maybe because she hadn’t visited since graduation — it felt nostalgic now.
She walked inside and took a seat by the window.
Watching the students quietly studying, she couldn’t look away.
And then, one person in particular stood out.
Huh? Jin Woo-hyuk…?
She had only learned about him later — how remarkable he really was.
One of Forbes Asia’s Most Influential Business Figures of 2020.
And the man she had met — right before she died.
She hadn’t remembered it clearly at the time, but she’d read his interview once.
The self-made icon, Jin Woo-hyuk.
There were countless moments when I wanted to give up, but I didn’t. I turned every insult that fueled my fire into the reason I succeeded.
She remembered that line vividly.
And that insulting moment… must’ve been because of me.
This time, she wouldn’t miss her chance.
If she laid the groundwork properly, then when the time came, she could ask for his help — not out of desperation, but from a place of strength.
Seohui smiled faintly, her expression calm.
It was time to begin her own plans.
