Chapter – 21
Early morning at Jaedamjae.
I busily packed my things.
“Why am I this worried…?”
Today was the first day of school at Youngpoong High, and the day my transfer was finally confirmed.
A few days before the start of school, I had almost reached the point of earwax from listening to my grandfather’s worried lectures.
It wasn’t just anxiety about the first day at a new school.
Grandfather had instructed me to get along with the descendants of the Joo family, which meant I would be in the same class as Joo Suyeon. That could be annoying, but it was something I could just ignore.
The real problem was Ryu Dokyung.
“Then our Dokyung will take care of me, I guess.”
“Of course I should.”
Just like we had discussed at the Korean restaurant, I was now in a position to be looked after by Ryu Dokyung from the very first day of school.
As if on command from Chairman Ryu, Ryu Dokyung had arrived at Jaedamjae early in the morning. He wanted to accompany me to school.
“This is relentless, really.”
He didn’t seem to want to get close to me like before, either. What was the point of all this trouble just for the heir of the Seohae Group?
Even if Ryu Dokyung had his own reasons, it was frustrating to be dragged into them.
“Finally done getting ready?”
“Almost. And don’t just come into my room whenever you feel like it.”
“Did you pack your bag? You used to forget things even in kindergarten.”
…When did he even remember that!
“Wha–when did I…?”
“Do I need to remind you?”
“….”
“Mother’s Day, you left the carnations at home and I…”
“Stop! Get out of my room, now!”
Why on earth would he remember that?
Ryu Dokyung had brought up something from my kindergarten days that I had long forgotten, making my face burn with embarrassment.
He tried to talk to me from outside the room, but I pretended not to hear him and busied myself inside.
When I had finished packing and stepped outside of Jaedamjae, Ryu Dokyung grabbed my bag.
“…You’re not seriously going to make me ride that car to school, are you?”
“Then should we walk?”
The car Ryu Dokyung arrived in was a luxurious sedan fit for a chairman.
Even though Youngpoong High was run by the Seohae Group’s private school foundation… that felt excessive.
I hesitated, and Ryu Dokyung just looked down at me silently.
“I don’t want anyone to know I’m the granddaughter of Dongwoo Group.”
Once my work became public, my face would inevitably be recognized.
If people at school found out I was Dongwoo Group’s granddaughter, rumors about my family might spread everywhere.
Like the ridiculous idea that the granddaughter of Dongwoo Group bought her role with money.
So I wanted to keep it a secret until I settled in. My grandfather had already agreed to this. He even asked Joo Suyeon to keep it quiet.
“But if I ride Ryu Dokyung’s car, it’s all for nothing!”
A transfer student being chauffeured by the only heir of Seohae Group? Just imagining the rumors was terrifying.
After thinking it through, I shook my head.
“I don’t think this matches the chairman’s wishes either.”
“….”
“I’ll just take the bus.”
Thinking about it again, riding in a car like that was over the top for me. I was used to taking taxis at most, just to avoid being late.
I decided to take the bus.
I inwardly hoped Ryu Dokyung would take the car by himself.
“…Buses aren’t bad, I guess.”
“Huh?”
What? What kind of response is that?
After all the trouble of bringing a luxury car and a driver, why was he acting like taking the bus was fine?
He looked like someone who’d never even ridden a subway in his life…
“Since there’s no official schedule today, enjoy the drive.”
“Uh…?”
“You can take your family with you if you want.”
Driver, please don’t go. Or at least, take Ryu Dokyung with you…
Despite my desperate look, the freed driver repeatedly thanked him as the engine started.
“He looks so happy I can’t even complain…”
I stared dumbfounded as they drove away.
Meanwhile, Ryu Dokyung casually put his hands in his pockets and watched me with a blank expression.
“Why the lost look? Regretting not taking the car now?”
“No, not really…”
“Then let’s go.”
He wasn’t planning to follow me without knowing the way, right?
“….”
Seeing that he didn’t move first, I figured that was correct.
I started walking, and he followed.
According to CocoaMap, it would take about seven minutes to reach the bus stop.
“So I’m not allowed to get distracted and have to just walk quietly?”
“The script… let me at least look at the script.”
I pulled out the next scene from my bag.
Just as I closed the bag to put it back on, Ryu Dokyung grabbed it, seemingly to help me carry it.
“It’s heavy.”
The weight of having Ryu Dokyung, the chairman’s grandson, carry my bag was even heavier than the bag itself.
I doubted he would give it back if I asked, so I just decided to walk quickly to the bus stop.
“Is this it?”
“First time taking the bus, right?”
“Not really.”
“Really?”
“Do I look like some properly-raised young master to you…?”
No?
I tried to hide my embarrassment with a cough.
“I’ve ridden buses before, but never the school route.”
Sure enough, Ryu Dokyung carried both bags on his back. Anyone could tell he had never ridden a crowded bus.
“Here, let me show you.”
“Why?”
“It’s more comfortable this way. It’s proper etiquette.”
Taking the opportunity, I retrieved my bag and carried it in front, demonstrating the correct way.
Ryu Dokyung obediently followed my lead.
But the composed look on his face disappeared as soon as the crowded bus arrived. Pale, he grimaced and spoke to me.
“Hey, I can’t ride this.”
“Why not? If you don’t, I’ll go alone. We could even call the driver now…”
“…I’ll ride.”
Oh, so he is going to take it…
All my plans to ditch him had failed.
In the end, I had no choice but to ride the bus stuck right next to him the whole way to school.
The class atmosphere wasn’t bad. Except for Joo Suyeon staring daggers at me, everything was fine.
Luckily, she couldn’t openly cause trouble because she had to follow my grandfather’s instructions, just like at Jaedamjae.
After introducing myself as a transfer student, I walked toward the empty seat the homeroom teacher indicated.
“…Nice scent.”
A refreshing scent hit my nose for a moment. Its owner was the boy sitting next to me.
His messy hair and high-prescription glasses hid his face, but he had an exceptional presence. Even at the filming site, I would have noticed someone like him.
He had a fairly solid build for his age, no excess fat. His shoulders were broad, making the summer uniform fit well. Even sitting down, he looked tall.
“He could be a model.”
As I sat down, I tilted my head to peek at his name tag.
Un Seongha.
A name that could really belong to a celebrity. It was rare, but somehow familiar.
I felt like I had heard it somewhere before… and the feeling… could I have met him before?
“Uh, hi.”
“….”
“Nice to meet you.”
“….”
There’s no way I know someone who completely ignores greetings.
He didn’t respond even once, not after I spoke.
I didn’t ask for his number. I didn’t borrow money. I just asked a simple question since I was new!
“Uh, do you know which page the textbook opens to?”
“….”
“Ah, okay… sorry for bothering you…”
After what Do Jehyun did during script reading, I thought I was immune to being ignored, but being completely snubbed still caught me off guard.
“Sei, do you know Suyeon? Same last name, maybe…?”
“Huh? Who’s Suyeon?”
“Wait, was it just the last name? Let’s go then.”
To make matters worse, other classmates lost interest as soon as I pretended not to be the chairman’s granddaughter.
“I want to go home…”
I would rather deal with Ryu Dokyung. His handsome face kept flashing in my mind as he tried to talk to me during the walk to school.
It made my stomach hurt.
