Side Story 4
“Anyway, even if you’re alone you’ll draw every eye, but if you’re with Do-gyeom-ssi, your first day might be pretty exhausting.”
“It’s not exactly welcome, but I’m used to it, so it’s fine.”
Baek I-hae smiled with a kind of serene detachment. After all, even now the man drew stares whenever he went out with their daughter—what could she do about it?
‘It’s less that it bothers me or makes me jealous these days… more like I feel proud.’
Having been through so many incidents and accidents, this much was almost endearing.
Baek I-hae sent Seo Do-gyeom a quick text saying she was going to stop by the professor’s office to say hello, then left the administration office and headed there.
The kindly-looking professor handed her something to drink and enthusiastically explained everything she would need to learn going forward. She was grateful, but only to the point of slight fatigue.
If the teaching assistant—who had clearly anticipated the situation—hadn’t come in midway and mentioned that lecture preparations were needed, she would probably have been kept there much longer.
Finally freed, Baek I-hae emerged with a slightly drained expression, and there was Seo Do-gyeom, leaning against the wall in front of her.
Along with several women chattering at his side.
‘What the—people still come up to him even when he’s ignoring them?’
If anything, the university students were tougher opponents than the high school girls had been. They showed no sign of backing off even when Seo Do-gyeom refused to give them so much as a glance.
It was uncomfortable watching them smile contentedly, as if simply admiring his face, while he continued to ignore them.
Maybe that was why.
“Do-gyeom-ah, did you wait long?”
Baek I-hae called his name more affectionately than usual and smiled.
It was at that moment that Seo Do-gyeom’s frozen, frowning expression melted in an instant.
The women who had been gazing at his face as though savoring it had every reason to look startled.
“No. Did you greet the professor properly?”
“Yeah. It’s been a while since I’ve come out like this, so I’m actually pretty nervous.”
She slipped her arm naturally through his approaching one and rested her head against it. It was something she would never normally do in public.
Seo Do-gyeom’s body gave a tiny jolt, as if he were slightly surprised.
‘He probably thinks public displays of affection are embarrassing or impolite, so of course he’d be surprised.’
She hadn’t warned him beforehand, but fortunately he didn’t react as though asking why she was suddenly acting this way.
Instead, he naturally took her hand, almost as if he had guessed why she was doing it and was playing along.
“Are you someone Do-gyeom oppa knows?”
One of the women who had been chattering beside him asked, eyes bright with curiosity rather than jealousy.
Baek I-hae answered with a smile rather than a sharp retort.
“Yes, I just returned to school this semester—we’re married.”
“Married?!”
“…Didn’t Do-gyeom mention he was married?”
Baek I-hae let a little of her amusement fade and glared at Seo Do-gyeom. The gratitude she’d felt moments ago was threatening to vanish, but the woman hurriedly waved her hands.
“No, no, he did say it, but I thought it was a lie to stop people from bothering him. So… you really are married.”
The woman’s gaze moved to Baek I-hae’s hand, where she wore a ring in the exact same design as Seo Do-gyeom’s.
There was no jealousy in her eyes—only curiosity, wonder, and a touch of envy. Baek I-hae was able to completely lower her guard.
‘Maybe I was being too sensitive. She’s not in the same department as Jang Seul-gi, at least.’
She was annoyed that the woman had taken Seo Do-gyeom’s words as a lie, but if Baek I-hae had been in her position, she probably wouldn’t have believed it right away either.
It wasn’t common to get married this young, after all.
“But why didn’t you attend together, and why are you returning to school only now?”
“Our child is still little, so I wanted to look after them a bit longer before coming back.”
“…You two have a child too?!”
They were in their twenties, not much older than the other students despite being returnees, so the shock was understandable.
Baek I-hae held back anything further. She didn’t yet know what kind of person the woman was, so it felt awkward to chatter on.
“Let’s go in.”
Whether he sensed her feelings or not, Seo Do-gyeom steered them away.
Fortunately, the women didn’t try to stop them. Once Baek I-hae realized some distance had opened up, she unlinked her arm, and Seo Do-gyeom sent her a faintly regretful look.
“You’ve got no right to look disappointed. If someone doesn’t believe you, you should have shown them a photo or something to convince them.”
“I didn’t want to show your picture around carelessly. And I didn’t think the misunderstanding was worth clearing up.”
“I understand how you feel, but from now on I’ll be attending with you, so if anyone misunderstands, you need to make it clear. Got it?”
Seo Do-gyeom nodded with a delighted expression. He couldn’t hide his smile—he seemed to enjoy this kind of interference.
‘Honestly.’
Baek I-hae couldn’t stay angry with him. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t really his fault anyway.
‘Now that I’m starting university life, things like this will happen a lot, so I shouldn’t worry too much. Do-gyeom has matured—he doesn’t even get jealous anymore—yet here I am still acting like a child.’
Time to reflect, Baek I-hae.
She lightly tapped her own cheeks to firm her resolve, and Seo Do-gyeom looked at her curiously.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing—I think I’m still half-asleep and groggy. Maybe I should have bought coffee.”
“Then I’ll go get some. We still have time before the lecture starts anyway.”
“Shall we go together, then?”
Seo Do-gyeom glanced at his watch, then reached out, gently stroking Baek I-hae’s hair.
“No. Go in and find a seat first—I’ll be right back. There’ll be lots of students in the lecture hall, so you won’t get as many stares as you’re worried about. Don’t feel too burdened, just go in.”
His tone was gentle, as if he had seen right through her anxiety.
Feeling a little embarrassed that it had been so obvious, Baek I-hae soon smiled at his thoughtfulness and nodded.
She watched his retreating back for a moment as he went to buy coffee, then stood in front of the lecture hall he had brought her to, took a deep breath, and thought,
‘Right. People are the same everywhere—there’s no need to worry so much.’
When she opened the door and stepped inside, it didn’t feel all that different from high school, apart from the fact that everyone was in plain clothes. They wore makeup and clothes that showed their individual personalities, so they looked a little more grown-up, that was all.
Relieved that no one was staring at her, Baek I-hae hesitated for a moment.
‘Sitting in the front would be best for listening to the lecture… but today that feels too much, so I’ll find a quiet corner seat.’
Her eyes quickly scanned the room and soon landed on an unusually quiet area. A blonde woman sat alone, with empty seats all around her, front and back.
‘Maybe they’re leaving space because she’s a foreigner.’
Thinking that, Baek I-hae headed over. She didn’t notice the eyes that followed her as she walked.
‘I’ll sit here.’
She placed her bag on the seat behind the blonde woman and sat down. Sensing someone behind her, the woman turned around.
She wore tight clothing that showed off her figure and had strikingly pale skin. Even from behind, Baek I-hae had thought she was beautiful.
‘Wow, she’s gorgeous. I’ve seen plenty of handsome men since being possessed in this game world, but apart from Chai Ryeong I’ve never seen a woman this striking.’
If Chai Ryeong was a pure, innocent beauty despite her personality, the blonde woman in front of her was a dazzling, glamorous beauty.
One thing puzzled her, though: despite looking foreign, her features had a strangely East Asian touch. Mixed race, perhaps? While Baek I-hae was wondering, the woman stared at her openly with blue eyes and spoke.
“Who’re you?”
“Ah, I just returned to school this semester—nice to meet you.”
“Oh! First returning female student I’ve seen. Nice to meet you too.”
Her Korean was surprisingly good, though her word choice was a little odd. Baek I-hae assumed she was still learning and smiled, nodding.
“I only came back to the country recently myself and just resumed studies. What’s your name?”
“Baek I-hae.”
“…Baek I-hae?”
The woman’s face, which had been smiling pleasantly until then, suddenly hardened into something frightening. Baek I-hae flinched, wondering if she had done something wrong, and felt an unpleasant gaze sweep over her from head to toe, as if being appraised.
“That Baek I-hae?”
“Do you know me?”
“No, it’s the first time I’ve seen you.”
Her previously clumsy Korean vanished; now it was stiff but noticeably more fluent than before.
She drew a perfect, practiced smile across her face and answered,
“My name is Ye Eun-ah.”
Ye Eun-ah. A glamorous blonde woman. Possibly mixed race.
“…”
Baek I-hae’s pupils trembled ever so slightly.
