NOVEL NEXT Chapter 136
Chapter 136
In that moment, Si-hyun felt a wave of silence sweep over the area.
And then, he could distinctly feel a variety of gazes simultaneously stabbing into him, enough to make his face itch.
Looks of confusion as if to say, “Why is that girl dating such a guy?”
Looks of skepticism that seemed to question if something had been misheard.
Looks that blatantly expressed jealousy.
Looks that glared with intensity, overflowing with jealousy.
As these various looks poured down on him all at once, it was hard to manage his expression.
He never imagined that he would show up in such a way at a time like this.
So, Si-hyun stood there, dazed, not knowing what to do.
Lin Xue once more shot him a cute, playful smile.
“What are you doing, darling? Come on, hop on.”
Her voice was different than usual.
It held a gentle, slightly nasal charm that radiated warmth.
Yet, it didn’t cross the line into frivolity.
‘…Is she a complete specialist in this?’
Si-hyun raised his hands in surrender.
“You, you… don’t you have a, a girlfriend?!”
Beside him, Jong-hyuk stuttered in shock as he asked.
Seung-min, Woong-jae, and even other classmates stared at Si-hyun, waiting for his answer with piercing eyes.
‘This is unavoidable.’
The Great Sorceress had tossed aside her dignity and was acting like that, so there was no way he could deny it.
“I’m really sorry. Honestly, I said that out of embarrassment. I truly apologize.”
In the end, Si-hyun admitted it while apologizing.
“Huh, huh….”
Jong-hyuk shot him a look filled with both betrayal and envy.
Seung-min had a similar expression on his face.
Woong-jae’s face contorted so much it was obvious.
Reading the atmosphere, Lin Xue flashed a strange smile and walked toward Si-hyun.
Her stride exuded confidence and an upright bearing.
Then she reached out her slender, white hand and firmly grasped Si-hyun’s.
As she drew near, Woong-jae hurriedly smoothed out his twisted expression, but his cheek muscles twitched awkwardly.
Seeing her up close, her beauty became even more pronounced.
He squinted, but there was no hint of artificiality in her features, as if she were a rare natural beauty.
Her figure was definitely not one of an ordinary person.
She must have been at least 173 cm tall, with no excess fat and instead a firm, toned physique.
There was no way anyone could achieve such a body without serious training.
Woong-jae gritted his teeth tightly.
Despite his frustration, he couldn’t help but acknowledge it.
While he believed his girlfriend was not unattractive, comparing her to that woman was trivial.
Moreover….
Woong-jae’s gaze swept over the watch on her left wrist.
He didn’t know the brand well.
But the twelve raindrop-shaped diamonds embedded in the dial caught his eye.
He knew that raindrop diamonds were incredibly expensive.
If she was driving a Ferrari, it surely wasn’t a fake, and if it was genuine, the price of that watch was likely…
‘Good grief, she’s wearing an apartment on her wrist.’
Woong-jae had an expression of bewilderment.
She’s a total rich girl.
Pretty, with a great body, and the daughter of a wealthy family?
What kind of drama is this?
…How on earth did he reel in a girl like her?
This just didn’t make sense.
He couldn’t believe it at all.
Woong-jae watched in disbelief as she held Si-hyun’s hand.
“Hello.”
Lin Xue greeted him.
Her voice was pleasant, and her pronunciation was clear.
“Ah, ah… yes.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Jong-hyuk and Seung-min, who were nearby, greeted her in an obviously flustered way.
They realized they had been staring at her, mortified.
“Our darling, I’ll take over from here.”
Lin Xue said with a bright smile.
“Yes, yes….”
“Of course, you should.”
Jong-hyuk and Seung-min stuttered, speaking out of character. Their eyes were shifty, anxiety palpable.
“Well, see you next time.”
Lin Xue tugged on Si-hyun’s hand.
“I’m sorry for today. I’ll contact you again when I have time.”
Si-hyun bowed, but Jong-hyuk and Seung-min didn’t even look at him.
“Ah, yes. Goodbye….”
“Take care….”
They greeted Lin Xue, but only she received their farewell.
Si-hyun chuckled to himself, bemused, as he followed Lin Xue.
He then threw a glance at the frozen Woong-jae and said,
“Woong-jae, thanks for the advice earlier. You were right; as we age, it becomes harder to find good women. Hearing you made me want to treat the person next to me even better.”
Si-hyun smiled mysteriously and tightened his grip on Lin Xue’s hand.
“Uh, uh… yeah. Take care.”
Woong-jae feigned a calm expression as he replied.
But his body was trembling.
‘Gah.’
What had been an exciting feeling had suddenly plummeted.
In stark contrast, Si-hyun walked away, looking cheerful.
He squared his shoulders and hopped into the passenger seat of the Ferrari with ease.
Lin Xue winked at him and pressed the accelerator.
Vroom!
The Ferrari roared and vanished in an instant.
“….”
Silence hung in the air momentarily.
“Damn….”
Jong-hyuk broke the silence, muttering.
“What?”
Seung-min asked.
“I’m so envious of Si-hyun. He gets to have meals, drinks, watch movies, and… sleep with a girl like that…. Ugh, what am I doing? Why am I living like this….”
Jong-hyuk sighed deeply from the bottom of his heart.
“I’m with you, man.”
Seung-min comforted his friend empathically, sharing his woes.
◈ ◈ ◈
Vroom!
The sleek, white Ferrari glided smoothly along the road, weaving through other cars that instinctively moved aside.
Si-hyun had never experienced such a sight while driving his old car.
There’s a saying that if you don’t want to be looked down upon on the road, you should drive a nice car.
“Where should we go?”
Lin Xue asked.
“Let’s go home. I have work tomorrow.”
“That’s such a goody-goody answer. You sound boring.”
“I’m a civil servant; I’m supposed to be good.”
“Okay, fine.”
She pouted her lips.
Si-hyun, observing her reaction, couldn’t help but chuckle wryly.
“Thanks for today, by the way.”
Although her unexpected appearance took him by surprise, he knew she had put thought into her actions.
Honestly, it didn’t feel bad at all.
In fact, it felt quite nice.
He understood why men hold their heads high and walk confidently when with beautiful women.
“That level of awareness is basic.”
Lin Xue replied, as if it was no big deal. Yet, she smiled at his gratitude.
“But, you know, I’m really curious about something.”
Si-hyun said as if he had suddenly remembered.
“What is it? Tell me.”
“Are you really not working at all?”
“…Ah, yes! I AM working! I’m working hard!”
Lin Xue shouted in an annoyed tone.
Si-hyun wore a face of amusement as if relishing her reaction.
“What kind of work?”
“….”
“What did you say? I can’t hear you.”
Si-hyun playfully held his hand to his ear.
“Um… that time… the Gate….”
Her pupils flickered.
“What Gate?”
“That kind of thing… It’s a secret, so I can’t say.”
“Oh, really? I’ll take that at face value.”
Si-hyun mirrored her words.
She squinted at him like a cat.
“I’m really just lounging around, living off taxes! Got it? Is that better now?”
“Haha, sorry. Sorry.”
Si-hyun burst into laughter.
“I can’t let you go home today.”
Lin Xue suddenly swerved the car into a U-turn lane, her demeanor shifting.
“No, no. That’s not fair.”
Si-hyun waved his hands.
“I can’t hear you.”
“…Great Sorceress, let’s keep it professional.”
“I told you not to call me that.”
“Understood.”
“I’m really going to turn this car around. No joke.”
“Okay, okay. You win. I give up.”
In the end, Si-hyun raised both hands in surrender.
“What do you want? Just tell me.”
“Put your ear closer.”
“Just say it?”
“Put it closer.”
Si-hyun leaned in reluctantly, bringing his ear close to her lips.
“Okay, tell me.”
“Ah.”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, Lin Xue opened her mouth and playfully bit Si-hyun’s ear.
“What, what, what are you doing?!”
Si-hyun was completely flabbergasted, pulling away in a hurry.
But by then, her teeth marks and lipstick stains were already on his ear, dripping with saliva.
“Pfft… hahahaha.”
Seeing his utterly shocked expression, like he’d been hit with a hammer, she burst into laughter.
“No… this is seriously embarrassing… what was that about?”
Si-hyun still wore a bewildered look.
He repeatedly rubbed his bitten ear with his hand.
“I’m picking up speed.”
“What?”
“My mood has lightened.”
Lin Xue whipped the steering wheel to the right and slammed on the gas.
Si-hyun stared blankly at her, when a message popped up.
[Po-ahim tells you that as an Awakened Being, you can’t just let this happen. You should also bite Hyris’s ear for revenge.]
Huh…?
Is this old man actually enjoying himself now?
Is that what revenge means?
Really?
Si-hyun turned his head to glance at Lin Xue’s small face beside him.
If her eyes resembled those of a cat, her ears somehow brought to mind a white rabbit.
Despite her being clearly carnivorous, in that moment, she felt oddly like a herbivore.
With that thought, a certain impulse began to rise within him.
Unconsciously, Si-hyun swallowed hard. His eyes kept fixed on her ear.
There was no earring hanging from her right ear.
It was an ideal environment for a bite….
No, no, no.
Si-hyun squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.
Yet, his heart was already leaning in one direction.
…Ah, forget it.
This isn’t my real desire.
The old man Po-ahim has put me up to this.
So there’s no shame in it.
Si-hyun’s gaze sparkled like a carnivore eyeing its prey. He suddenly lunged forward and placed his mouth next to her ear.
And then he opened his mouth….
And bit down on it.
At that moment.
“Wh-what, what, what, WHAT?!”
Lin Xue’s eyes widened in shock and she emitted a shrill scream.
It was the first time he had ever seen her stutter like that.
She looked truly surprised. Her face instantly flushed crimson.
Her ears turned red too.
“Revenge.”
“Y-you… really…?”
She struggled to string her words together, clearly flustered.
Seeing her panicked reaction filled him with a refreshing rush of joy.
So this is the feeling!
[Po-ahim tells you, well done.]
Indeed, our fabulous senior.
“Should I do it again?”
Si-hyun asked teasingly, a triumphant grin on his face.
“N-no… no, no….”
She shook her head desperately.
Then suddenly, with a hint of desire, she whispered softly.
“Do… do it more….”
“….”
Si-hyun raised his hand and covered his ears, then subtly turned his body away toward the window.
“Ugh… why am I feeling so tired? …I think I’ll take a nap.”
Si-hyun’s face was flushed with embarrassment.
…In the midst of such an awkward atmosphere, the Ferrari sped toward Ganghwa Island.