🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 08
A scandal between the nation’s notorious troublemaker and the model student of the century.
Just a few articles with headlines like that would be enough to send them climbing the search rankings.
Because for Seo Taeju, there was a need to keep feeding the fire behind the title “Taegwang’s delinquent heir.”
Whether he liked that title or not.
What should he do?
That was when he saw her—Yeo Jaegyeong—walking straight ahead with her usual composed stride.
He knew they attended the same school, but he hadn’t expected to run into her like this. Caught off guard by the strange coincidence, Taeju found himself staring.
Even the way she walked suited her perfectly: upright posture, not a trace of disorder.
At the same time, the corner of Taeju’s mouth twisted upward.
He decided.
Finally making up his mind, he abruptly stood.
He sneered inwardly.
‘If someone I was debating over just wanders right into my line of sight…’
Yeo Jaegyeong was currently the perfect person to turn into a scandal—the only daughter of Hanlim.
And he happened to be a notorious delinquent who constantly needed fresh trouble.
And besides—
‘She’s pretty too.’
Taeju added to himself bluntly.
Did a new source of entertainment really need a better reason than that?
Like a predator approaching prey, Seo Taeju slowly walked toward Yeo Jaegyeong.
Let’s get thoroughly tangled up, shall we.
You impossible little lady.
* * *
“That brat got assigned community service and is going to a children’s welfare center. I told Secretary Jang to overlap your volunteer schedule with his, so use the opportunity to at least get acquainted.”
Yeo Jaegyeong narrowed her eyes.
‘The delinquent is approaching.’
It felt as if every alarm in her body was going off.
Beep— Delinquent detected. Avoid. Avoid.
“……”
Standing still, she watched Seo Taeju approach.
‘How is someone… that confident all the time?’
Taegwang’s infamous heir walked without hesitation. Students automatically moved aside wherever he passed, like waves splitting around a ship.
Jaegyeong let out a small sigh inwardly.
Ah. I hate this.
The kind of man who seemed capable of creating problems just by exchanging a few words.
No matter how attractive he was, that was separate from the issue.
Her instincts wanted to avoid him.
But she couldn’t.
Because all the effort she’d put into today—calculating routes he frequently used and deliberately overlapping their paths—was finally paying off.
Would he even know?
How hard she’d worked these past few days to “coincidentally” cross paths with him.
She’d woven an intricate web and spread it everywhere, waiting for him to get caught.
If Taeju heard that, he’d scoff at how ridiculous it sounded.
Meeting again after several days, Seo Taeju was still dangerously attractive—
and equally troublesome to become involved with.
Still, Yeo Jaegyeong had no intention of avoiding him.
Against the noisy backdrop of campus, she extended a hand toward him.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Seo Taeju.”
Inside, Jaegyeong thought bitterly:
You probably can’t even imagine.
How much I’ve been waiting for you.
Because you might be… my last chance.
* * *
‘Waiting for me?’
Seo Taeju laughed inwardly.
Looking at her now, she really wasn’t normal.
Taeju grabbed the hand Jaegyeong extended and shook it lazily.
Half-heartedly.
“Usually when people meet again, they say they’re happy to see each other first, don’t they?”
The soft feel of her skin settled against his palm.
Why are her hands so small and delicate?
Grumbling inwardly, Taeju let go.
His neck felt strangely hot.
“This is yours, right?”
He handed over the accounting ledger he’d taken from his bag.
Jaegyeong accepted it.
“Thank you.”
At once, a crooked smile appeared on Taeju’s lips.
Got you, Yeo Jaegyeong.
“If you’re thankful, repay me.”
“What?”
Her eyebrows lifted, as if asking what he meant.
Taeju pointed at the ledger.
“It said so in there. ‘P.S. Compensation provided.’”
Standing arrogantly before her, he continued:
“You’re seriously famous, huh? Magazine interviews, banners with your face everywhere…”
His hands waved around dramatically.
“Top grades, good looks, even a good personality—Yeo Jaegyeong. Don’t tell me after I went through all this trouble finding your stuff, you were planning to leave it at just ‘thanks.’”
Repay me.
You said you would.
Mischief glimmered in his eyes.
Jaegyeong looked at him calmly.
“Ah. Of course.”
She answered evenly.
“I intended to compensate you properly.”
She checked her watch.
The time they could spend together:
Approximately fifteen minutes.
A number calculated using classroom distances, shortcuts, and even the probability of professors arriving late.
Good.
A little tight, but manageable.
Everything was unfolding according to her plan.
“Come with me first, Seo Taeju.”
Unused to being ordered around, Taeju paused.
But Jaegyeong ignored his reaction and started walking.
“What exactly are we doing?”
“Compensation.”
Confusion crossed his face.
Ignoring him, she quickened her pace.
“Listen carefully, Seo Taeju. There isn’t much time. I’m going to speak fast, so keep up.”
“What?”
“I told you—there’s no time. Your class is in Building B, room 351 at three o’clock, right? Mine is Building A, room 402. Let’s talk while walking.”
Before he knew it, Taeju was naturally following behind her.
What is this woman?
Having lost control of the situation instantly, he chased after her.
Unaware of anything, he followed—
and Jaegyeong smiled bitterly inwardly.
You’re the one who got caught, Seo Taeju.
Then she launched into rapid-fire briefing mode.
“My curfew on weekdays is 9 p.m. My family is fairly strict. Weekends may vary, but don’t expect much.”
“Wait—what…?”
“On Mondays, student council meetings take almost the entire afternoon. Tuesdays and Fridays I regularly volunteer tutoring disadvantaged children, so it’s hard to make time.”
“What exactly is this…?”
“Every other Saturday morning I have Pilates, and the second Thursday of every month I do free child counseling volunteer work. Also, three times a month I teach irregular dance lessons for disabled children…”
“Wait. Hold on. Stop.”
At Taeju’s baffled tone, Jaegyeong halted immediately and looked up at him.
“What’s wrong?”
“Why are you listing your entire schedule?”
She stared at him as if he were hopeless.
“Because I need to pick a date to repay you?”
Taeju replied in disbelief.
“How elaborate is this repayment supposed to be?”
“Listen until the end, Seo Taeju.”
Crossing his arms, he gestured for her to continue.
Fine. Let’s see where this goes.
“…Therefore, Sunday afternoon this week seems most suitable.”
“For what?”
“For the time when I compensate you.”
She added quickly:
“I think somewhere near school would be best. And considering current trends, street food sounds ideal.”
“……”
“Like tteokbokki.”
The word tteokbokki sounded suspiciously emphasized.
Was it really about trends—
or just her personal preference?
Anyway, within seconds the place, time, and food had all been decided.
Entirely by Yeo Jaegyeong.
Taeju laughed in disbelief.
“Do you have a problem with that, Seo Taeju?”
Blinking innocently, she looked at him.
Watching her, he felt the corner of his mouth twitch.
“Yeah. I do. A lot.”
A problem?
Jaegyeong frowned slightly.
As if her plan had been perfect.
“Well… if you have another opinion, I’m willing to consider it.”
Crossing her arms, she checked her watch again.
“I’ll give you two minutes.”
Taeju struggled not to laugh.
Should I thank you for generously giving me two whole minutes?
After a moment’s thought, he moved.
He grabbed the wrist she’d raised to check her watch and lowered it.
“Don’t need two minutes. We can discuss it while walking.”
Jaegyeong raised one eyebrow.
Holding her wrist, Taeju casually began leading her in another direction.
“Wait, Seo Taeju. That’s not the way.”
Flustered, she stopped him immediately.
Ignoring her, he continued.
“It is.”
“No, it isn’t. Based on my calculations, the route with the longest overlap between our classrooms was—”
Thunk.
His hand landed lightly on her narrow shoulder.
Why are her shoulders so fragile too?
His heartbeat unexpectedly skipped.
Naturally, he ignored it.
“You know, Miss Perfect-Plan, the world has more than Plan A and Plan B. There’s Plan F, Plan X, Plan Z… You need to account for variables.”
“But—”
“You said Building B, room 351? I’ll get you there exactly on time. Relax.”
“But how would this route even—”
“Yeo Jaegyeong, never heard this saying? ‘As long as you reach the classroom, the route doesn’t matter.’”
Grinning, Taeju urged her onward.
“If I’m late because of this…”
“I said you won’t be.”
Only then did her steps match his.
What is this man?
Her expression practically said so.
Her cheeks had reddened slightly.
Seeing that, Taeju smiled inwardly.
See? Easy.
Yeo Jaegyeong isn’t special either.
Take control like this, and people follow.
“So—repayment confirmed? Sunday afternoon, tteokbokki?”
His hand rested naturally over her shoulder as he asked.
At his effortless confidence, her small shoulder trembled briefly beneath his touch.
Seeing it, Taeju became certain.
That’s right, Yeo Jaegyeong.
Shake all you want.
The repayment becomes a date. The date becomes a relationship. The relationship becomes a scandal.
Then you and I say goodbye.
Satisfied with his grand plan taking shape, Seo Taeju smiled.
Until she said this:
“Of course, Seo Taeju.”
A beautiful smile spread across Jaegyeong’s shameless face.
“I went through the trouble of intentionally leaving the accounting ledger behind just so I could ‘repay’ you.”
