Chapter 163: Celebrities Live Off their Image (6)
TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir
Lee Songha opened her mouth before closing it firmly. Her cheeks flinched like she was doing her best to stop herself from saying something. The lighting was the same, yet her face turned brighter and darker.
Our eyes met.
Her eyes were tinted with the orange light as well, making them seem like the ocean at sunset. Like hell, they were like the ocean with blowing winds and crashing waves, you crazy bastard.
The light turned off again. Only about three seconds seemed to have passed, but it was a relief. I used the darkness as cover to frown.
Her breathing quickened.
This was perturbing. It felt like I poured malt and water in rice, let it ferment, and even boiled it down.
Meaning I was smoothly screwing myself over.{1}
“Let’s go in now-“
Her hand shot out like lightning and grasped my arm. Her hand, which I had seen and touched countless times before, had always been slender and supple. Where did she get this strength from? I felt like a salmon caught by a bear.
“Why? Do you have something else to ask?”
She asked between her quickened breaths,
“Why don’t you date, oppa?”
“Have a conscience. Whenever there’s a hint like that, you girls stick to me like sister ghosts, trying to take me along with you.”
“Still, you could if you really wanted to.”
Of course, I could if I really wanted to.
In the darkness, which I couldn’t even see her outline, I turned my gaze towards her as I could clearly sense her perking her ears for my reply.
“Just. I don’t plan to for a while.”
“Why?”
“I plan on fueling my ambition without losing focus.”
“Ambition …!”
She buzzed next to me. When the light turned on, Lee Songha’s face was right in front of me. She looked so worried that her eyelashes were trembling. Her gloomy demeanor, caused by Jung Jae, had long since disappeared.
Lee Songha grabbed my other arm with her empty hand.
“Ambition is important! I will support, no, I’ll push you from the back and pull you from the front.”
“Yeah, okay. Thanks.”
“I also have an ambition.”
Lee Songha said proudly.
“I think my plans have been proceeding well since last year.”
“Did you make a 10-year plan or something?”
“No!”
She jumped up and down. Her expression was as serious as ever.
“Ten years is too long.”
Maybe five years.
Lee Songha mumbled as she looked down at the floor. She placed her hand on her waist before letting go. She also slid her toe on the floor. I didn’t know what she was thinking, but the corners of her lips slowly curled up. Because she didn’t keep still, the light stayed on.
“But, oppa, if you keep working passionately, you’ll be single past your marriageable age, and most the women around you will be married. Then, I guess you have no choice but to set a threshold…”
“Let’s go inside now.”
I said while keying in the code.
“Why are you thinking about my marriageable age? Also, there are plenty of men and women in this industry who marry late.”
“Pardon?”
“Even Team Leader Park said she had no plans on marrying before forty.”
“… Team Leader Park?”
Lee Songha blinked.
“It’s just an example. Let’s go in. Quickly. The girls must be wondering what we are doing.”
I opened the door and pushed Lee Songha’s back. I almost had to stuff her back in the house.
Then I gulped dryly a few times.
My tongue tingled.
I was definitely screwing myself over, but the taffy was just too sweet.{2}
***
There was a drizzle this morning.
Pretty Girls, including Jung Jae, were gathered in W&U’s lounge. To be exact, Jung Jae, the big goldfish, was surrounded by the smaller goldfish as they held both her arms.
Their eyes were particularly more swollen, seemingly having cried all night.
“They look like unwelcomed princesses. People will think I scolded them or something.”{3}
The team 3 leader laughed as he rubbed his scruffy beard.
“You do look like a principal who would scold them.”
“What are you talking about? I’m more like the tall mister.”
“That’s Mr. Sunwoo’s role. You are just a mister.”
Team Leader Park and Kim Hyunjo chuckled. Even as they joked, their gazes were on Pretty Girls. The reason why the members, who were waiting for Chief Lee Taeshin and Jung Sunwoo, were so nervous was because of these three’s sudden interest in them.