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Chapter 9
From the very first glance, he looked like the type of person who would be exhausting to deal with. And yet, for some reason, fate kept tangling them together. It felt ominous.
Bad premonitions usually turned out right.
Haejoo believed in her own misfortune.
If she kept running into Jung Taeheon, coincident after coincidence, it could only mean one thing—he was about to become a brand-new jinx in her life.
If you know your enemy, you can win a hundred battles.
To avoid the “risk” called Jung Taeheon, she needed intel.
“Hey, is that super-famous business school senior from Everytime really him? People keep calling him ‘the Risk.’”
“Yeah. Jung Taeheon, the business school’s biggest risk. He’s tall, built, ridiculously handsome, and loaded—famous for driving foreign cars just for the fun of it. He’s so lucky, too. Remember last year? Some kid bought a lottery ticket with numbers he randomly picked and won third place. Plus, he’s got the personality people love, so his circle of friends is massive. He’s literally got it all. Life on easy mode. That’s why people even joke he must be a chaebol heir. But the truth is…”
The senior lowered her voice.
The others swallowed dryly, waiting for the next words.
“He’s not a third-generation chaebol. He’s fourth. The eldest son of Cheongshin Group.”
“Holy crap.”
“You’re kidding.”
“…What?”
Her classmates’ faces lit up with shock and awe, but Haejoo’s face twisted with both disbelief and confusion.
Wait. So Jung Taeheon… wasn’t some car-poor loser, but the eldest son of Cheongshin Group?
That was way too extreme of a difference.
His nickname, “the Risk,” she had half-expected. But the idea of him being the heir of Cheongshin Group? That had never even crossed her mind. After all, Haejoo’s own life was much closer to car-poor reality than any chaebol fantasy.
It was news that drove all drowsiness from her body.
Pleased with the freshmen’s reactions, Boyoung smiled smugly and went on.
“Everyone who knows, knows. The eldest son of Cheongshin Group’s been famous since he was a kid. He went to high school in the U.S., and while he was there, he mixed with all the big-name kids in politics, business, even entertainment. Whenever an article about him popped up online, it’d be deleted instantly. Rumor has it he was such a wild mess that Cheongshin Group actually set up a TF team just to keep him in line.”
“Wow. Straight out of another world.”
As Hajoon gaped, Seryeong spoke up, looking puzzled.
“But if he went to high school in the U.S., shouldn’t he have stayed there for college too?”
“Normally, yeah. But apparently he got into so much trouble in the States that the chairman pulled him back to keep him close. Some say it’s also to start succession training early—he is the eldest son.”
“Okay, but why call him a risk then?”
“High risk, high return. That’s exactly what people say about Jung Taeheon.”
Boyoung downed another drink like it was water, then explained:
“If you manage to land him, it’s a jackpot bigger than the lottery. People even joke that confessing to him once is a better bet than buying lotto tickets every week. And it’s not like he’s picky—he’s dated plenty of ordinary girls before.”
“Oh? So he’s not into guys at all?” Hajoon teased.
Boyoung laughed. “Bad news for you, Hajoon. He’s a rock-solid heterosexual. But even someone who seems perfect has a flaw.”
The freshmen leaned forward, eyes sparkling. Boyoung savored the moment.
“The problem is, he’s notorious for being trash in relationships. He never refuses women who approach him, and he shoves away the ones trying to leave. Cheating? That’s a given. Rumor says he’s even juggled multiple girlfriends at once. He practically lives at clubs, even while dating. And he’s the king of half-assed effort—showing up to dates in sweatpants, taking girls to cheap courses. He’s super moody too—if he doesn’t feel like talking, he’ll just vanish. In the end, the girls can’t take it and always dump him before the 100-day mark.”
A memory flashed across Haejoo’s mind.
She had actually seen him herself—wearing sweatpants at a cheap café, breaking up with someone who slapped him across the face before storming off.
“Wow. That’s the worst.”
“And people say that’s a good personality? Sounds like garbage.”
“Well, that’s just how he is in relationships. He’s fine as a friend.”
The senior smirked.
“But, you know… when someone’s had that many campus romances, some rumors come out that aren’t exactly polite to say aloud.”
“What kind of rumors?”
The three freshmen gulped. Boyoung pressed a finger to her lips and lowered her voice.
“This is just between us, okay? Don’t spread it.”
“Of course.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
They all nodded quickly, Haejoo included.
“Rumor is… he’s ridiculously small. And worse, back in the States, he lived such a wild life—drugs, sex parties, all of it—that now he doesn’t even respond normally. Some even say he’s basically dysfunctional. That’s why his family lets him date around so freely—they’re hoping it’ll fix him.”
“Holy crap.”
“No way.”
Haejoo’s face hardened with determination.
If she had ever needed another reason to stay far, far away from Jung Taeheon, she had just found it.
Satisfied with their reactions, Boyoung wrapped up with a grin.
“See? Even God evens things out. And honestly, we don’t need to envy the business school anyway. Our department’s got Hyunwoo—the face of Eon-jeong—with the personality to match. Plus, our president’s a total catch too.”
“Right. Honestly, I was shocked. The seniors are all so stylish and good-looking. And the freshmen too…”
Hajoon trailed off mid-flattery, glancing at Haejoo.
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked at the door, and he shut his mouth. A familiar face stepped inside.
“You’re still drinking? Maybe it’s time to wrap it up.”
“Speak of the devil. Hyunwoo sunbae, you’re done in there?”
“They’re all passed out. Boyoung, you too—call it a night and let the kids sleep.”
Hyunwoo stepped over the sprawled bodies on the floor, heading toward them. Boyoung pulled her arms around the newbies at her sides.
“No way. You guys are staying with me, right?”
“Yes! We can do this!”
“I can pull an all-nighter easy.”
Haejoo rubbed her eyes, forcing them open. If she wanted to leave a good impression on the seniors, she had to endure a little longer.
“Come on, Hyunwoo sunbae. Just three more cups, then we’ll sleep. Promise.”
“You said it.”
With a sigh, Hyunwoo dropped down beside Haejoo. He poured soju into a paper cup and raised it.
“Cheers.”
That “three cups” naturally became four, then five.
By the end, the other freshmen had collapsed. Haejoo was the last one standing.
There are stages to drunkenness.
Haejoo didn’t know this yet—she hadn’t drunk much before—but her body certainly did.
Stage one: a light buzz, spinning vision, awareness that she was drunk.
Stage two: drowsiness so heavy she couldn’t hold herself upright. Her memory ended there.
Stage three: the drowsiness vanished as if by magic, her mind felt sharp, though in truth the blackout had begun.
Haejoo had reached stage three.
Believing herself perfectly clear-headed, she grinned brightly.
Boyoung cooed. “Aw, our pretty Haejoo, did you sober up?”
“I think so! I’m not drunk at all. Wow, amazing. I’m not even sleepy. I’m totally fine.”
She threw her arms up. Hyunwoo and Boyoung exchanged glances.
“Yup. Hammered.”
“No doubt.”
“I swear I’m fine. I could even sing right now.”
Boyoung’s eyes lit up. “You sing? Are you good?”
“I love singing.”
She smiled bashfully, and everyone blinked.
Normally, Haejoo was shy and reserved, barely offering more than the faintest smile. But with her cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling like this, she was breathtaking.
Word had already spread across campus: the Eon-jeong department’s new freshman was a real beauty.
“What kind of songs do you like? Wanna sing one?”
“Yes!”
She agreed happily, and when she began to sing—
The room froze. Even the junior half-asleep on the floor blinked awake, stunned.
The next morning…
The scariest thing about blackouts?
“Hey, Haejoo. Were you a trainee or something? You sing so well.”
“…Sing? Did I sing last night?”
“Yeah! You were incredible. I thought you were an idol.”
“Wow. If she was a trainee, she must dance too.”
“Too bad we didn’t see that.”
“So wait, there’s a freshman in our department who used to be an idol trainee?”
“…I wasn’t a trainee or anything.”
First nightmare scenario:
Creating embarrassing “history” you don’t even remember, then having wild rumors spread before you can deny them.
Haejoo tried to deny it right away, but rumors always traveled faster than truth.
“And didn’t you end up alone with Hyunwoo sunbae at the end? Nothing happened, right?”
“I… don’t really remember.”
“Nothing happened.”
Hyunwoo’s eyes never left his phone as he answered flatly. Boyoung chuckled.
“Yeah, don’t worry. If anything, it’s the girls after him who should worry. Anyway, Haejoo, you wanted tutoring, right? Hyunwoo’s the perfect person.”
Without looking up, Hyunwoo replied in his usual detached tone:
“I’m no expert, but I can teach you what I know.”
“…Thank you.”
Second nightmare scenario:
When the most dependable senior suddenly seemed cold—especially the very one you desperately needed help from.
And the last, the absolute worst—
JeongTaeheonCar−PoorBastardJeong Taeheon Car-Poor Bastard
Haejoo stared in horror at the mysterious message she had somehow sent… to Jung Taeheon himself.
Her project partner.
The business school’s ultimate social king.
