Chapter 65
The commotion subsided only after Baek I-hae regained her composure and declared that she wouldn’t decide right now.
Once the excitement died down, an embarrassed Seo-yeol, his face flushed red, fled as if escaping. As Baek I-hae tried to follow him, Seo Do-gyeom grabbed her hand.
“I-hae.”
He spoke urgently, clearly desperate to clear up the misunderstanding. Seemingly unconcerned about the others around, including Seo I-heum, Seo Do-gyeom continued.
“It’s not because I dislike you that I refused.”
“Then why did you refuse?”
Seo Do-gyeom closed his mouth. If it was a misunderstanding, why wouldn’t he explain the reason properly?
She found it puzzling that he glanced once at Seo I-heum, as if gauging his reaction.
“I’ll head up for now. Let’s talk again later.”
If he had no intention of telling her, standing there like that felt awkward. Baek I-hae let go of his hand first and went upstairs, but Seo Do-gyeom didn’t follow immediately.
Up on the second floor, Baek I-hae lightly knocked on Seo-yeol’s door.
“Yeol-ah.”
“……Noona, I’m sorry, but can we talk later? I’m too embarrassed right now.”
So he knows it’s embarrassing.
Since listening to it made Baek I-hae feel embarrassed too, she let out a small laugh.
“I’m sorry for putting you in a tough spot, noona. That wasn’t my intention……”
How could she possibly resent him when, even in his embarrassment, he was concerned about whether she felt awkward?
Judging by how close his voice sounded, he seemed to be right by the door. Baek I-hae whispered her reply.
“It’s okay. It wasn’t awkward at all, since you said it because you like me.”
If possible, she wanted to leave it at those kind words.
But she couldn’t pretend not to know Seo-yeol’s feelings anymore. It would be like giving him false hope.
“……But I’m sorry. I like Do-gyeom. So I don’t think I can get engaged to you.”
“……”
There was no response. But Baek I-hae thought Seo-yeol had heard her words.
The small sniffle from behind was proof. It seemed best to give him some time now, so she turned to head back to her room.
As she turned her head, thinking it might be Seo Do-gyeom behind her, she saw a familiar organization member standing there.
Much closer than she’d expected.
“Miss.”
She hadn’t heard any footsteps coming up the stairs—had it been intentional? Or had she just not noticed while talking to Seo-yeol?
The organization member smiled kindly and spoke to Baek I-hae in a gentle voice.
“Your friend is here to see you. It’s the cousin who came last time—she says she wants to meet you briefly.”
Baek I-hae’s phone was in her room. It seemed like a message had come in the meantime, but for her to come all the way to the house.
Knowing Jang Seul-gi’s situation was difficult, it felt ambiguous to just send her away.
‘What should I do?’
Perhaps noticing Baek I-hae’s brief hesitation, the unnamed organization member added.
“If you’re going out, I’ll accompany you, just in case.”
That should make it safe. Meeting near the house, with someone to protect her.
‘This time, I’ll firmly refuse and come back. Maybe she’s here to ask to borrow money, so I’ll just hear her out.’
Baek I-hae turned her steps away from her room and headed down the stairs. She considered grabbing her phone but figured it didn’t matter since she’d be back soon after a quick meeting.
Old Man Oh, who was near the stairs, asked where she was going, so she replied that a friend had come and she’d just talk briefly. He nodded in approval upon seeing the organization member following behind.
The organization member kindly opened the front door for her. The scar on his wrist that she’d seen before caught her eye again.
‘I feel like I’ve been running into him a lot lately. Maybe he’s been assigned to keep an eye on me?’
Baek I-hae felt a twinge of curiosity but soon dismissed it. It was largely because she hadn’t gotten close to the organization members except for Old Man Oh.
Once outside, the organization member informed her that the message said she was waiting at a nearby park and guided her there. As Baek I-hae followed him, she glanced around at the surroundings, which had grown quite dim.
“It’s this way.”
“Ah, yes.”
As Baek I-hae walked behind the organization member, she suddenly felt a sense of unease.
‘Didn’t he say he only knew she was at the park?’
But the organization member moved without hesitation, as if he knew exactly where Jang Seul-gi was. Baek I-hae’s steps slowed gradually.
‘He’s smaller in build than Old Man Oh.’
She stared at the organization member’s back. It was hard to guess because of the suit, but it was just a hunch.
“I-hae!”
Spotting her from afar, Jang Seul-gi jumped up from the bench. She had her hat pulled low over her face.
The organization member stepped back as if to say go ahead, standing nearby. Baek I-hae walked slowly toward Jang Seul-gi, thinking.
‘There’s the entrance we just came through, and another one on the opposite side from Jang Seul-gi.’
It couldn’t hurt to scope out escape routes in advance, just in case. Baek I-hae’s heart pounded with tension.
“What’s going on, coming this late?”
“I, I-hae. Please help me.”
As she approached, something seemed off about Jang Seul-gi’s face under the streetlight. Startled, Baek I-hae lifted the brim of her hat.
A split lip and a cheek that looked scraped from something came into view. A frightened expression, different from how she appeared at school.
‘Who hit her?’
It felt like her heart sank. Guilt washed over Baek I-hae—could this be retaliation because she’d rejected her proposal?
She didn’t know about the uncle, but Jang Seul-gi was a girl her age. Even with the title of supporting villainess, it meant she was an ordinary student.
“I was wrong. Please help me and Dad. Okay? Just once, just meet that person once.”
Jang Seul-gi knelt again, pleading desperately. She didn’t grab her legs this time, but Baek I-hae’s legs wouldn’t budge.
Seeing Jang Seul-gi’s wounds, as if she’d been beaten by someone, guilt clung to her like shackles.
“Please, save us. S-save us. Save us. Please……”
Her head spun at the sight of Jang Seul-gi rubbing her palms together in plea, as if Baek I-hae were the perpetrator.
[Scenario #2 Quest Triggered!
‘Jang Seul-gi’s Plea for Help on the Brink of Death’ has occurred. Will you accept?]
‘What should I do?’
This wasn’t something she could decide alone. Fortunately, this quest showed no penalty.
As Baek I-hae hesitated briefly and turned to consult Seo I-heum, that was the moment.
“Today.”
Jang Seul-gi’s voice reached her. It was soft, but eerily piercing.
“If you leave like this, I’ll die.”
“……”
“You’ll be the one killing me, I-hae. No one else will know, but you and I will.”
“……What are you talking about? I’m not the one you should resent. Snap out of it, Jang Seul-gi.”
“If you just help me once, Dad and I can live.”
Letting out a hollow laugh, Jang Seul-gi bowed her head deeply. Then she burst into laughter.
It was grotesque.
“You fucking bitch. You think I’ll die alone?”
When she lifted her head, her eyes were filled with pure venom. As Baek I-hae stepped back, the watching organization member, sensing something wrong, approached and blocked her front.
“It might be best if you head back now.”
Baek I-hae nodded hastily at the organization member’s words. The organization member turned, shielding Baek I-hae protectively from Jang Seul-gi.
Baek I-hae glanced back, but Jang Seul-gi stood motionless, just watching her retreating figure.
Then, suddenly, Jang Seul-gi smiled brightly.
“I-hae. Make sure to carry your phone. So next time someone chases you, you can at least call for help.”
At her mad cackling laughter, Baek I-hae shrank back.
“Just let it go in one ear and out the other. I’ll report to the boss, so you should go rest, miss.”
Baek I-hae nodded at the organization member’s concerned words. As she walked thoughtlessly behind him, she suddenly felt a sense of wrongness.
‘Did we walk this far before?’
No, they hadn’t. She looked around tensely.
Something was off. Cold sweat trickled down.
[Scenario #2 Quest Triggered!
‘Jang Seul-gi’s Plea for Help on the Brink of Death’ has occurred. Will you accept?]
The status window popped up again.
[The quest is being forcibly progressed.]
Along with another window this time.
At the same moment, someone struck the back of Baek I-hae’s head hard.
