CBO Ch 2

Jaewon made a bold decision, but once he stepped outside, he found himself in the middle of nowhere. He stared blankly at the unfamiliar faces on the strange street. He wondered if this was how Alice felt when she fell into Wonderland. He felt a constant sense of alienation and strangeness as he walked. It was like being an outsider existing in a world where he shouldn’t be. Actually, that was true, but it wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

Jaewon chewed on the kimbap he bought from a convenience store and headed to the bank. The first thing to do was to assess his financial situation. Despite being forcibly drafted into a novel, he still felt thirst and hunger periodically. He knew well that it took a considerable amount of money to maintain human dignity. After diligently visiting the bank and government offices, he found, surprisingly, that his current financial situation was similar to when he was a high school student.

Which meant he was broke.

An orphaned child with no relatives, a moldy one-room apartment, and a bank account practicing non-possession.

With the trinity of nothingness, it was as if his high school days had been cut and pasted directly. His name, body, and environment were identical to reality, making him appear like an extra without even a set role within the novel. Jaewon chuckled dryly and raised his middle finger to the sky.

“Damn it… This is insane.”

Being a nobody was incredibly depressing, but he had to secure a source of income first. The ability to act on anything stemmed from capital. Tutoring was the best in terms of return on investment, but he needed money right now. His wallet was so empty it felt like it would fly away if he blew on it.

Jaewon, lost in thought, stopped walking. He saw a group of students in school uniforms gathered in the distance. Huddled in an alley, blowing suspicious smoke, they were clearly a bad bunch. Cigarette butts were strewn messily at their feet, but passersby simply walked past, and no one questioned them.

‘Illegal cigarette butt littering!’

Jaewon’s eyes lit up. Since the introduction of the reward system for reporting illegal cigarette butt littering, he had become a citizen with a strong sense of law and order. Delinquent youths were an excellent source of income for Bae Jaewon, the human black box. He quickly flipped open his phone. He already missed the touch of a smartphone, but for now, he focused on the prize before him.

Click. Click.

He took a series of photos and videos of the students smoking, but the images weren’t quite to his liking. He needed their personal information to report them, but perhaps because of the distance, their faces weren’t clear no matter how much he zoomed in. Jaewon edged closer to them. Only after capturing each person’s face and name tag on the screen from various angles did he turn around, satisfied.

But before he could take a few steps, something heavy landed on his shoulder. Jaewon gasped and staggered under the considerable weight. A shadow fell on his face as he grimaced and looked up.

“Did they come out well?”

A deep voice, as if echoing from a cave, spoke to him familiarly. He couldn’t see the face due to the backlight, but he could see the man’s sharp eyes. A bead of cold sweat trickled down his back.

“It’s always refreshing to see a dick-equipped bastard taking pictures.”

The man laughed as if amused, then took the cigarette out of his mouth and exhaled a long breath. His sharp jawline stood out as the smoke dispersed into the air. Jaewon gulped as he spotted the school uniform jacket slung over the man’s shoulder like luggage. It was one of the delinquents he had cast in his cigarette butt report video.

‘H-How did he…?’

He was incredibly large for a high school student who hadn’t finished growing. His tall height and broad shoulders, like a swimmer, made Jaewon question his ethnicity, and the pectoral muscles bulging under his shirt were intimidating. His single eyelids were long and slanted, giving him a fierce look, and his nose was sharp and prominent. In short, he looked incredibly ill-tempered.

“Let me see.”

The delinquent said casually, flicking away cigarette ash. He put his arm around Jaewon in a friendly manner, but his eyes didn’t smile. Jaewon felt his Adam’s apple bob involuntarily. His instincts were screaming.

‘I’m screwed.’

Even though it was within a novel, his five senses were alive, and Jaewon hated pain more than anything in the world. Usually, in these situations, extras were used as devices to show the cruelty of the delinquents and then discarded. Facing the risk of ending up in the hospital while trying to make a quick buck, he racked his brain.

“I took them because you’re handsome. Why are you so upset?”

“What?”

The delinquent raised an eyebrow in disbelief at Jaewon’s attempt to gauge his reaction. It was something he said without even a hint of sincerity, with the man’s face barely visible due to the backlight, but Jaewon usually sold his conscience first in the face of danger.

“Cut the crap and give me your phone. What are you going to do with the pictures of me smoking?”

‘Damn it.’

However, the opponent seemed to see right through Jaewon. When his ploy failed, he immediately launched Plan B.

“Hyuuung! I’m a huge fan!”

Jaewon suddenly wailed and threw himself at the delinquent like Nongae. The bodies of the unsuspecting delinquent and Jaewon collided heavily, and they both cursed simultaneously as they separated.

“Ah, fuck. Do you want to die?”

“Fuck, well, dodge better next time… Aaaah! Hyung! You’re really handsome!”

Jaewon, about to lose his composure from the unwanted physical contact, quickly covered up his words. Fortunately, the delinquent seemed oblivious, asking in bewilderment.

“Do you know me?”

“Who doesn’t know you, Hyung? The pictures don’t do you justice. Really. Amazing.”

Jaewon recalled the time when Jeong Sujeong was active in an idol fan club. He ended his sentences with something resembling animal cries, furrowed his eyebrows, and covered his mouth with his hand. Using the sunlight pouring from behind the delinquent, he added, “I can’t open my eyes because of your aura.”

Delinquent problem children tend to have inflated egos. There were many cases where they deliberately caused trouble to become famous. Taking advantage of this, Jaewon often escaped dangerous situations by disrupting the minds of those who picked fights with him while he was acting as a paparazzo.

“…….”

However, for some reason, the delinquent seemed used to this kind of situation and reacted calmly. He ran a hand through his hair, stared intently at Jaewon, and then broke the silence.

“Who are you.”

It was a sharp question that didn’t get swept up in the show. But Jaewon, with no identity to reveal, ignored it and moved on to the next stage.

“Hyung, you’re really handsome, and you’re also good at rapping.”

“What? Don’t spread rumors, you crazy bastard. When did I ever rap?”

“You’re perfect from head to toe, really. The truth of life. Amazing.”

The opponent reacted strongly during the recitation of the praise poem, but he ignored it and winked, shooting a finger gun.

“You’re so cool. Even a guy would fall for you.”

“…….”

‘Perfect rhyme to the end.’

Jaewon, feeling a sense of accomplishment at the sucking-up that had taken all his soul, caught his breath. Suppressing the urge to high-five someone vigorously, he waited for the evaluation.

The guy didn’t move. He remained still until the uselessly burning cigarette ash fell to the ground. Just as Jaewon was worrying, ‘Was the wink a bit too much?’, the guy suddenly chuckled.

“I thought you were going to tell your mom, ‘Those older brothers in school uniforms are smoking!'”

“Hahaha. Me? Tell on you, Hyung? No way~.”

‘Wrong. I’m going to tell the community center.’

Jaewon smiled inwardly at the softened tone. At this rate, he would smoothly escape the guy’s grasp, achieve justice at the community center, and return home….

“You’re a pervert. Give me your phone, you bastard.”

“Ugh.”

A strong hand grabbed the back of Jaewon’s neck, lost in his daydream.

“Ah, I was so stunned by what I just saw.”

The delinquent shuddered as if he had witnessed a horrifying spectacle. He repeatedly rubbed his face with his palm, then shook his head and blinked as if trying to come to his senses. Jaewon, who was about to leave amidst the friendly atmosphere, trembled with betrayal and exploded in frustration.

“A kid with no brains is already discounting his conscience. In a capitalist society, there has to be something coming back when something goes out, you bastard. If someone performs this much, shouldn’t you let it slide considering the effort, you know, noblesse oblige?”

“Now you’re showing your true colors.”

When he got angry, the delinquent retorted coldly as if waiting for it. He easily subdued the struggling Jaewon and growled in his ear.

“You were sent by Kim Jonghak, weren’t you? I’ll go easy on you if you tell me the truth.”

“Oh my god…. Where is there any place to hit me.”

The hand gripping the back of his neck loosened as Jaewon was horrified by the threat. The delinquent’s face seemed to say, ‘How can he say such a thing himself?’ Jaewon tried to escape while the guy was weakened, but he was quickly caught again.

“Let me go, you punk. I don’t have time to mess around with you. I’m a very busy person!”

“Who are you calling a lunatic?”

The two, neither backing down, began to wrestle. The guy put Jaewon in a headlock and groped him as if searching his body. Jaewon, experiencing difficulty breathing, struck the guy’s abdomen, but he didn’t budge. Perhaps because of the stark difference in physique and strength, the tide quickly turned in one direction.

‘Damn it! Is this a human thigh or a rock?’

His own hands hurt more as he struck what felt like a body made of steel. Jaewon stopped attacking and switched to a defensive stance. But if this continued, it was only a matter of time before his phone was taken. He desperately racked his brains but there was no way out. The moment the roughly groping hand reached his back pocket, Jaewon closed his eyes tightly.

Then it happened.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“Why’s it taking so long to check one kid’s phone?”

“That pig Kang Yoochan ate even your share.”

A group of students who appeared to be the guy’s friends swarmed in. The surroundings became noisy as each of them chimed in. At that moment, Jaewon, wedged against the delinquent’s side like a loan shark’s bag, had a flash of inspiration.

‘Now’s my chance!’

“Don’t touch me there!”

As he shouted loudly, gathering strength from his dantian, the surroundings became silent as if doused with cold water. People, their mouths shut simultaneously, turned their gazes to one spot. At the end of those gazes were two men entangled in a strange posture. Jaewon didn’t miss the opportunity and drove the wedge in.

“I said don’t touch me there!”

“Touch what? You crazy bastard!”

The delinquent yelled along and threw Jaewon to the ground as if he had touched a pigeon in Tapgol Park. Jaewon sat up, keeping his legs together, and glared venomously at the guy.

“Do you think you can have me this way?”

“What?”

“OMG.”

Gasps of astonishment erupted from all directions as Jaewon snapped angrily. The onlookers, whispering with serious faces, finally asked their friend cautiously.

“Hey, what does that mean? Are you exploring that side now?”

“Are you harvesting peppers now?”

“Are you tired of girls now? Then what about the girls who asked to be introduced to you?”

But the answer didn’t come. The delinquent stood there frozen, unable to move. He seemed to have taken a severe blow from the successive mental attacks.

“But I’m not your type, right? I have really small breasts.”

“If you’ve been harboring secret feelings for us, keep hiding them.”

“Ah, fuck…. All of you shut up.”

While his friends chattered endlessly, the delinquent rubbed his forehead in confusion and then yelled roughly. Jaewon spurred the situation before the guy could regain his composure.

“I told you we can’t be together. You’ll only get hurt if you keep doing this!”

The surrounding noise stopped abruptly, and he could hear people gasping. Jaewon, stealthily getting up, assumed a position that would allow him to gain momentum easily.

“This, crazy….”

“Oppa, what is this…?”

Just as murderous light gleamed in the delinquent’s eyes, a faint, trembling voice was heard from among the group. He knew without having to confirm that it was a female student who admired him.

‘Good. It’s become a mess.’

Sensing victory, Jaewon glanced behind him. The green light was blinking on the crosswalk on the main street. Calculating the remaining time on the traffic light and his running speed, he quickly stood up when the time came.

“Just forget about me, you fool.”

Jaewon didn’t forget to deliver the final blow. He hammered the nails into the coffin lid and quickly retreated, leaving behind the horrified group.

“Catch that bastard! $#@^&*!”

Shouts and curses followed Jaewon as he sprinted. The moment he reached the other side of the street, the signal changed, and the waiting cars quickly passed through the crosswalk. Jaewon grinned at the guy, who was now chasing him like a dog chasing a chicken, and left.

After that, it was a piece of cake. He went to the community center, smoothly filed his report, and returned home after buying roasted chicken from a truck near his house. It was a small luxury he only enjoyed on days when he successfully hunted reward money.

‘It was a tough day.’

He put the last piece of chicken on the glutinous rice, popped it into his mouth, chewed, and then lay back. A chuckle escaped him as he looked at the dotted mold stains in the corner of the ceiling and reflected on his day. Winning the lottery, the car accident, and dimensional travel. Even a blockbuster wouldn’t be more spectacular than this.

“But why this time of all times…….”

He’d rather go back to the army than revisit his high school days, a time Jaewon didn’t want to recall. He moved his body to shake off the daze from his reminiscence. After showering and drying his hair, he took out comfortable clothes from his closet. He tossed and turned in bed, then closed his eyes, resolving to look for tutoring positions tomorrow for a regular income.

♘

It was the second day since he had inexplicably become a character in a novel. Jaewon woke up to his alarm and got ready to go out. He planned to go to school to assess the situation and look for the protagonist.

“Sigh……”

He sighed as he put on his sneakers at the entrance. If he knew the contents of the book, the current situation would be a piece of cake. Like the protagonist who fell into a world destroyed exactly as described in the book after reading it, he would be able to cleverly and nimbly navigate all adversities. However, tragically, Jaewon had only read the table of contents and a few pages of the preface, so he knew nothing. Since he didn’t even know the names of the main characters, he had to figure everything out himself, from scratch.

But it was too early to give up. Thanks to Jeong Sujeong, he had read countless novels, and they were all formulaic. Although they differed slightly in detail, they followed a certain format.

‘First, find the handsome guys.’

Although aesthetic standards vary from person to person, there were objectively established criteria. If he gathered and filtered the guys praised for their good looks at school, and then selected the protagonist from among them, things would become much easier. Although the female protagonist was occasionally described as ugly or having ordinary looks, posing a challenge, there was no such case for the male protagonist.

‘Let’s think of it as a stock investment.’

He would intensively manage those who possessed the qualities of a protagonist and then select the promising ones. In other words, he would construct a portfolio of promising large-cap stocks and make investment decisions based on the principle of dominance. In fact, a true investor desires to discover undervalued stocks with excellent intrinsic value, the so-called hidden gems, rather than already recognized large-cap stocks, in order to witness their dazzling growth history. Jaewon was no exception. He knew from history that the sage who accompanied the golden frog from its tadpole stage received a splendid reward. However, he didn’t have time to play Princess Maker.

‘Minimize time.’

Time was as valuable as money to him, whose goal was early completion. In this uncertain situation, he wanted to avoid becoming a fool by clinging to the wrong person and wasting time.

Investment means: time, market research and product information: insufficient. Having gone through denial, anger, bargaining, and depression to reach the acceptance stage in a single day, Jaewon resolved to win and set out to find his investment.

“Ah, you’re the transfer student.”

Unexpected news awaited him as he went to the staff room as soon as he arrived at school. The teacher, who introduced herself as his homeroom teacher, said that today was Jaewon’s first day of transfer.

“You took a leave of absence, right?”

Jaewon nodded at the teacher’s question as she looked over his school records. He felt his confusion growing.

‘This is something that didn’t happen in the past.’

While he had taken a leave of absence, Jaewon had returned to and graduated from his original high school. Transferring, especially mid-semester, was something that hadn’t happened. At the point where real and unreal events were intermingled, he didn’t know which side to align himself with.

“The reason for your leave of absence… was to care for your sick grandmother. You must have had a hard time.”

“…….”

The homeroom teacher looked at Jaewon with pity, as if she had found something noteworthy in his records. He lowered his head to hide his indifferent expression. The sympathy others arbitrarily felt towards him was tiring, and the sensation of buried emotions resurfacing was unwelcome.

“By the way, I heard you never missed first place in your previous school?”

“Ah, yes.”

“I have high expectations. Please do your best.”

The homeroom teacher’s eyes were full of trust as she patted his shoulder. Jaewon replied with a perfunctory smile and left the staff room with her. Students cast curious glances as they walked up the stairs and down the hallway. Jaewon looked at the homeroom teacher’s back and fell into thought.

‘I’m the top student even in the novel.’

He felt uneasy about the inconsistent details, but he shook his head. This wasn’t the time to reflect on his life’s footprints. The key was how to use the title of top student at this point.

Lost in thought, the homeroom teacher entered a classroom. Jaewon stopped at the threshold, raised his head, and checked the classroom sign. 2—3. Second year, class 3.

“Now, now, attention.”

The homeroom teacher slammed the attendance book on the podium, settling the chaotic atmosphere of the classroom. The students who had been chattering gradually quieted down.

“Today, I’m going to introduce a new friend who has transferred to our class. Everyone be quiet.”

At the mention of a transfer student, the classroom began to buzz. Jaewon felt the gazes focused on him as he stood by the door and mysteriously adjusted his posture. At the homeroom teacher’s call, he crossed the threshold and stood beside the podium.

“Hello. I’m Bae Jaewon. Please take care of me.”

After his greeting, the students welcomed him with applause. The boys clapped their hands with indifferent faces, while the girls whispered amongst themselves, glancing at Jaewon.

“By the way, Jaewon is twenty years old because he took a leave of absence due to personal reasons. You should respect your elders.”

“Pwahaha.”

“Oh, teacher~ Respecting elders is too much.”

The homeroom teacher narrowed her eyes, scanned the classroom, and pointed to an empty seat.

“You can sit at the desk in the very back.”

Jaewon frowned. It was a highly inefficient seat for goofing off. But as it was the only empty seat, he had no choice. Resigned, he walked to his seat when a student suddenly raised their hand and spoke.

“Teacher. That’s the seat next to Kim Dojeon.”

The student who raised the objection had a worried expression. The other students looked similar. Anxiety, fear, concern. Although it was a brief moment, he could sense the influence Kim Dojeon had.

‘One more stock to watch.’

There was no such thing as a protagonist who lived a quiet and diligent school life. However, hasty judgment was forbidden. Jaewon decided to see his face and decide whether to invest or not.

“That’s good. Jaewon, go and sit down.”

The homeroom teacher gritted her teeth as she spoke, as if she had a personal grudge against Kim Dojeon. The classroom erupted in laughter when she added, “I feel like I’ve aged ten years because of him.” She made a few more jokes and then, as the first bell rang, she left, telling them to prepare for class quietly. The classroom became noisy again.

Seated, Jaewon looked around, searching for someone who seemed talkative. The basics of market research were information gathering, and for that, he needed to find an informant.

‘Kind, talkative, curious, knows all the rumors, obsessed with explanations, and meddlesome.’

The desired candidate profile was clear. The more they babbled, the better. Jaewon lay back in his chair, crossed his arms, and crossed his legs. He was observing the students, each chattering away, with a stern expression, when a male student approached him.

“Hello, hyung. I’m the vice president of the class, and the teacher asked me to look after you. Ah, of course, I was going to look after you even if the teacher hadn’t said anything. Do you have your textbooks? If not, I can borrow them from another class. There’s a kid named Kim Donghun in Class 5, and he’s kind, so he’ll lend them to you. I’ll introduce you later.”

“…….”

“Oh, by the way, I’m Ma Chayun.”

‘Perfect.’

Jaewon, satisfied with having selected talent without wasting time, nodded. He particularly liked the fact that Ma Chayun babbled about things he hadn’t even asked. Between the pre-class bell and the first period, Ma Chayun borrowed textbooks from the next class, briefed him on the personal details, personalities, and things to watch out for with each subject teacher, and then returned to his seat.

“Okay, quiet. Class is starting.”

50 minutes of class time with only a 10-minute break. Jaewon visibly withered with each passing period. As a high school student, he had brought honor to his school by securing a free pass to university, and after entering university, he flourished as a tutoring master. He was a high school curriculum specialist. Since he was listening to things he already knew for hours on end, he felt like a ruminating cow. He realized anew that he was in hell.

Charged with the crime of being a student,

Imprisoned in the penitentiary known as school,

Confined in the solitary cell of a classroom….

He came to his senses to find himself writing poetry. Startled by the words he had unknowingly scribbled in the corner of his textbook, Jaewon quickly closed the book.

‘I’ll go crazy if this continues.’

He realized the gravity of the situation and sought a solution. If he had a partner, he could efficiently kill time by exchanging notes and fostering camaraderie, but his seat remained empty even as the fourth period was ending. Disappointed, Jaewon soon focused on devising the promotional text for his tutoring advertisement.

Lunchtime arrived, and silence descended upon the classroom as the students vanished. Ma Chayun approached Jaewon, who was engrossed in revising his advertisement, and spoke affably.

“Hyung, let’s go eat. I’ll show you where the cafeteria is.”

“Okay.”

Jaewon followed him with anticipation. The cafeteria, where all grades gathered, was like a giant marketplace. It was the perfect place to scout for potential clients.

“Schools are notorious for their cafeteria scandals. This school is no exception, so you might be a bit surprised at first. ‘So, this kind of taste can exist in food?’ I discovered the fifth taste after coming to this school. Monday’s menu is particularly bad, so we call it Bloody Monday.”

“…….”

“By the way, is there anything else you’re curious about?”

Jaewon, carefully observing the passing students, quickly asked,

“Who’s the most handsome kid in this school?”

“That’s a bold first question.”

Ma Chayun widened his eyes in surprise. He added, “Are you going to have a face-off or something?” but when Jaewon ignored him, he began to answer.

“Our school is famous for having attractive students. There are more than a few handsome kids. First, there’s Kang Yoochan from Class 6, in charge of cuteness in our grade, Kim Seungbin from Class 8, the epitome of chic, Park Kyu-jin, the philanthropist, but only for girls….”

He felt like he was watching a home shopping channel, but Jaewon listened attentively. He was troubled by the news that there were many handsome kids. It meant the search range was wider.

“…But the best is Kim Dojeon, of course.”

“Kim Dojeon?”

“Yes. Your deskmate. It’s a shame he’s absent today. You’d just acknowledge it as soon as you see his face. Ah, this kid must have been handsome since he was a sujeong (baby).”

If he was that handsome, the probability of him being the protagonist increased dramatically. Jaewon, feeling his fondness for his deskmate grow, perked up his ears.

“You can get your food here. Here’s your tray.”

“You’re not getting anything?”

Ma Chayun, handing over the tray, was empty-handed himself. When Jaewon looked at him questioningly, he pushed up his glasses with his middle finger, and his eyes behind the lenses gleamed sharply.

“Ah, I’m eating a packed lunch. Actually, I should be eating with the members of the Cafeteria Haters’ Club, but today I’m looking after you, hyung, so I told them I couldn’t make it.”

Ma Chayun pointed to the carrier he had been dragging around. He had thought it was for some after-school travel plans, but it turned out to be a lunchbox carrier. Jaewon was taken aback.

“Cafeteria Haters’ Club?”

“Yes. It’s a ‘Gathering of People Who Hate the Cafeteria Food.’ Actually, it would be nice if you ate with us, but there’s a kid who has a trauma related to the cafeteria. He said that in his first year, he ate braised dried pollack and it was so bad that he went into shock and had to be taken to the hospital. After that, he says that whenever he gets near the cafeteria, everything goes dark and his hands tremble….”

The more Ma Chayun spoke, the more Jaewon felt like he was entering a haunted house, but he was already in the lunch line, so he couldn’t leave.

“By the way, they say that if you ask the servers for more, they give you more if you’re handsome. Hyung, you should try it for fun. But honestly, I don’t think it’s credible. I tried it before, but the portions were similar.”

“…….”

“Oh dear. Come to think of it, it’s Disgusting Tuesday. Good luck.”

Ma Chayun frowned as if he had noticed something and quickly disappeared, pulling his carrier. When Jaewon turned his head towards where Ma Chayun had been looking, he saw a row of pots.

The menu was curry rice and seasoned eggplant. Looking at the starchy lumps falling like mud under the ladle, Jaewon felt the blood drain from his face.

‘No, fucking…. They’re pursuing reality in strange places.’

Jaewon was increasingly disgusted by this novel. He tried to escape quickly, but the curry sauce had already mercilessly violated his tray. The servers piled food onto his tray, especially Jaewon’s, telling them to eat a lot and study hard. Having lost his appetite, along with various other desires, he turned around listlessly.

Following Ma Chayun’s beckoning, Jaewon placed his tray down carelessly and sat down. He contemplated the muddy-looking soybean paste soup, but, driven by the need to get his money’s worth, he took a sip and immediately regretted it. Jaewon eventually gave up on eating and looked around. There were still no noticeable figures. Even when he occasionally spotted a decent candidate, there was always something wrong.

Their laughter isn’t ‘kuk,’ ‘kik,’ or ‘hut.’

Their voices aren’t incredibly deep.

Their names are ordinary. (Except for those with surnames Eun or Ban)

Their jawlines aren’t killer.

They don’t growl when angry.

.

.

.

As he eliminated candidates one by one, his hope also vanished. Just as he started craving a cigarette, a conversation from the next table caught his ear.

“Hey, I heard Kim Dojeon got suspended for smoking and getting reported.”

“Ah, is that why he’s not at school today?”

“The district office contacted the principal, and he apparently went ballistic. It’s so funny just imagining it.”

‘He likes cigarettes. I wonder what his preference is. Marlboro? Dunhill? Esse?’

Jaewon, learning about his beloved deskmate’s favorite vice, perked up his ears. The fact that his private life was being discussed among the students indicated that he was quite famous. Jaewon liked him even more.

“Which brave bastard reported him? Aren’t they afraid of the consequences?”

“I heard it was a perverted stalker?”

“What? I heard it was Kim Jonghak’s lackey.”

“Doesn’t that guy ever get tired…. At that point, isn’t it love for Kim Dojeon?”

“True love, indeed.”

Jaewon’s eyes met Ma Chayun’s, who was just opening his third lunchbox. He swallowed the food he was chewing and opened his mouth.

“Kim Jonghak calls himself Kim Dojeon’s rival, but honestly, there’s no comparison. It’s more like he’s just showing off on his own. There’s another guy who’s on par with Kim Dojeon. Everyone jokingly calls it love, but I think it’s obsession at that point.”

It was a cold and merciless assessment. Just as Jaewon, listening attentively, was about to ask who that other guy was, the voice next to him lowered.

“But, this is just hearsay… come closer.”

Jaewon, too, adjusted his posture discreetly at the secretive voice and gestures. The male student, huddled with his friends, began to speak with a solemn expression.

“There’s a rumor that Kim Dojeon had a secret boyfriend.”

Gasps could be heard from various parts of the table. Even Ma Chayun seemed surprised, his eyes widening and his movements stopping.

“Boyfriend? Boyfriend?”

“Boyfriend meaning a guy? Really?”

The male student hushed his friends who were asking questions one after another and leaned closer to the table.

“Don’t be surprised yet. It’s even said that Kim Dojeon is the one clinging to the relationship.”

“What?”

“What? That Kim Dojeon?”

“So, Min Yerin was so shocked that she cried and made a fuss.”

Silence fell over the shocked table. Jaewon leaned back against the chair with an indifferent expression. It was so absurd that it didn’t feel real. Having lost interest in the story, he fixed his gaze on Ma Chayun, who was cutting fish with a knife.

“Min Yerin is Kim Dojeon’s… almost official girlfriend, but in my opinion, I think Min Yerin is the only one in love. The others are just encouraging them because it’s a nice picture of two handsome and pretty kids together.”

“Is she pretty?”

Jaewon asked reflexively, piqued. Ma Chayun narrowed his eyes and scoffed.

“Oh, hyung, you’re showing interest just because you’re a guy. Min Yerin’s nickname is Pretty, so that says it all. She’s probably the prettiest in our school. But if you say that somewhere else, the third-year girls will catch you and you’ll end up like Paris holding the golden apple, so be careful. Last year, someone got into trouble for running their mouth.”

Lost in thought, Jaewon tapped his chin with his finger. While there were rare cases where a beautiful girl was the protagonist, her fame bothered him. Generally, if the male protagonist was a complete large-cap stock, the female protagonist was a value stock whose growth potential needed to be assessed. The chances of someone already being praised being the protagonist were slim.

‘But it wouldn’t hurt to get a look at her.’

“Which class is she in?”

“Class 8.”

Checking his watch, he saw that there were about 20 minutes left of lunchtime. Jaewon stood up, holding his tray.

“Where do you throw away food?”

“I haven’t even eaten my viande yet.”

Ma Chayun said, looking perplexed, as he pulled out his fourth lunchbox from the carrier. Jaewon frowned at the unfamiliar foreign word, and Ma Chayun added, “It means there are four more courses left.”

“Your character is more unique than I thought.”

“I hear that a lot. But I think other people are the ones who lack individuality.”

Beside Ma Chayun, who spoke assertively, were piles of unopened lunchboxes. Jaewon calculated the number of lunchboxes and Ma Chayun’s eating speed and decided to abandon him.

“You’re going to leave me alone?”

“Life is originally lived alone. See you later.”

He left the cafeteria in a hurry, leaving behind Ma Chayun, whose lips were trembling. He wasn’t in a particular rush, but he wasn’t exactly relaxed either. Jaewon ran up the stairs two or three at a time, heading to Min Yerin’s class.

“Is there a kid named Min Yerin here?”

Several female students happened to be huddled by the door, chatting and giggling. When he grabbed one of them and asked, three pairs of eyes narrowed and scanned Jaewon from head to toe.

“Why are you looking for her?”

“Did you get your ID card yet? If not, don’t speak informally to me.”

“Ah, uh… yes. I’m sorry.”

Jaewon gave the girl, who asked haughtily with her arms crossed, a taste of respect for elders. She looked back and forth between Jaewon’s face and nametag with a confused expression before entering the classroom and calling for Min Yerin.

“Yerin, some oppa is looking for you.”

“Huh? Who?”

A soft and delicate voice came from beyond the door. Jaewon leaned against the doorway mysteriously and carefully observed the female student getting up from her window seat and walking towards him. Her silhouette alone indicated that she was far from ordinary, making Jaewon’s heart pound.

“Are you the pretty girl from Class 8?”

“Yes? Who… are you?”

When he asked Min Yerin, who finally approached him, her double-lidded eyes blinked rapidly. Her large pupils sparkled like the Milky Way, her nose was sculpted and sharp, and her lips were luscious and red like cherries. Her dazzling beauty was noticeable even from a distance. Jaewon’s face darkened as he made his judgment.

Such a flamboyant beauty deviated from the typical female protagonist. Min Yerin wasn’t the stock he was looking for. Disappointed with his dashed hopes, he muttered bitterly.

“This won’t do. You’re too pretty.”

“Huh?”

A blush rose on her bewildered face. Even that blush was beautiful, making Min Yerin resemble a rose. She was a starkly different image from the female protagonist, who was usually compared to wildflowers or forget-me-nots.

‘This kind of image is usually a villain or the male protagonist’s first love.’

Jaewon lost himself in thought, his gaze fixed on one spot. Typically, the villain’s role was to instigate conflict and misunderstanding between the male and female protagonists, making the viewers frustrated. Of course, through that process, the protagonists’ relationship deepened, and they eventually reached a happy ending, but Jaewon preferred to sprinkle salt and solidify the ground rather than wait for it to harden after the rain.

‘All possibilities must be nipped in the bud.’

The longer the main characters struggled, the longer it would take for him to return to reality. There was no reason for Jaewon to hesitate.

“Don’t like Kim Dojeon.”

“What?”

Her already large eyes widened like saucers at his blunt words.

Kim Dojeon was currently the most promising candidate for the protagonist. He couldn’t let him mess around with a girl who wasn’t the protagonist.

A common mistake ordinary investors make is paddy field-style investing. This refers to the practice of buying stocks and leaving them unattended without any strategy, vaguely hoping that the price will rise. This is no different from horse racing. Jaewon didn’t want to do anything foolish like sitting quietly in the audience, betting everything on luck, and anxiously watching the screen.

The strategy he chose was Buffett’s way. Warren Buffett, the world’s richest man and renowned investment guru, was Jaewon’s idol. This Oracle of Omaha was known for his ability to take over the management of companies he invested in, even delisting and reviving companies, which was precisely the benchmarking point. Jaewon intended to directly intervene in the flow of this novel.

“Ha, what the…. This is absurd.”

Min Yerin was dumbfounded and then retorted spitefully.

“What do you care? Whoever I like—.”

“How can I not care when you’re this pretty?”

“Huh?”

“Don’t like him, because I care now.”

Jaewon, not wanting to prolong the conversation, warned her threateningly. Min Yerin’s face turned red down to her neck in anger. He was about to leave her sputtering, but his path was blocked. Students had gathered before he knew it, blinking like a group of frogs. They all had shocked expressions, as if Jaewon had said something unspeakable.

‘The school atmosphere seems democratic.’

It seemed they were indignant at the suppression of individual freedom. While it was pleasing to Jaewon, a staunch believer in democratic capitalism, he was in a position where he had to work behind the scenes. He had to erase his presence and move like a shadow; attracting attention wouldn’t do him any good. As the students began to whisper amongst themselves, Jaewon quickly retreated.

It seemed he needed to farm more information. Jaewon returned to his classroom and looked for Ma Chayun, but he was nowhere to be seen. The classroom was still bustling, as lunchtime hadn’t ended yet, making searching difficult. Avoiding a group of girls glaring daggers at him and passing by a group of boys heatedly engaged in a coin-flipping tournament, he saw a familiar head. Ma Chayun was slumped over his desk, alone like an isolated island.

“Hey, Ma Cha. This school’s F4….”

“Don’t talk to me.”

An icy voice cut him off. Jaewon, his farming halted, was flustered. He stood there blankly for a moment, then frowned as he heard a sniffling sound.

“Are you crying?”

“…….”

The round back of Ma Chayun’s head flinched at his question. Jaewon waited for an answer, but there was no further response. Jaewon bent down to Ma Chayun’s eye level and stuck his head between his body and arm. One should look into someone’s eyes when talking to them.

“Are you crying?”

“Oh, really.”

As their eyes met, Ma Chayun recoiled in disgust and sat up. Jaewon was taken aback by his bloodshot eyes. It seemed some grievance had arisen between them without his knowledge, and he wasn’t particularly good at comforting people. He first asked what had happened, but Ma Chayun exercised his right to remain silent. Only after Jaewon patiently coaxed and soothed him did he finally open his stubbornly closed mouth.

“I didn’t know you were that kind of person, hyung. How could you leave someone you were eating with all alone?”

“It’s because I’m human trash. You have to understand that part.”

“I have three lunchboxes left. This is unacceptable. They say if you waste food, you have to mix it all up and eat it in hell. Will you eat it for me, hyung?”

“I’ll go to hell for you.”

The dry surface of his lips felt rough, but Jaewon focused on the conversation. At this point, Ma Chayun was an irreplaceable human resource. It would be troublesome if their relationship soured. Perhaps his desperation got through to him, because Ma Chayun stopped his accusations and slumped back in his chair. He mumbled, covering his face with both hands as if in anguish.

“…I’ve never eaten alone in my life.”

Jaewon raised an eyebrow at the unexpected story. When dining with others, there are restrictions on time, place, and menu selection. In other words, it meant that Ma Chayun had been using his mealtimes inefficiently his entire life. Jaewon’s eyes softened as he felt a deep sympathy for him.

“So you’re saying you don’t know how to eat alone.”

“Oh dear.”

Jaewon was inwardly surprised by how candidly he confessed his handicap. He rolled his eyes and decided to encourage him.

“You’ll get better if you try. Who’s good at everything from the beginning? I couldn’t eat alone when I was two.”

“What are you talking about? Why would I try something like that? I can’t do that because my parents raised me well.”

But Ma Chayun retorted sternly. Jaewon felt his burning passion extinguish like a match.

‘I did something I don’t normally do because I got sentimental.’

Regaining his composure, he calmly asked,

“Is your father’s name Wang Seo-ja Bang-ja, by any chance?”

“No. Why?”

“I wondered why he was raising a silkworm instead of a child.”

The school bell rang simultaneously with his baseless insult. Jaewon returned to his seat, ignoring Ma Chayun, who asked him again, claiming he hadn’t heard because of the bell. He then devoted himself to writing his tutoring advertisement until the last period.

Afterward, he had to leave school without any further gains. Ma Chayun, still seemingly sulking, left without even saying goodbye, and because of that, there was no further progress in gathering information other than on Kim Dojeon and Min Yerin. Jaewon, resolving to visit all the classrooms in all grades tomorrow, headed to a nearby PC room. He transferred his promotional text to a Word document and edited it to maximize readability.

Math Tutoring

I’ll keep it short. The human brain deteriorates with age. Isn’t lettuce freshest when it’s just picked from the field? All living things should be utilized quickly while they’re fresh.

Current top student in high school/National mock exam top scorer/Motivation and mentoring available/Possessing a fresh brain and overflowing energy that can’t be compared to old college students/Extensive tutoring experience/Unique curriculum/Future perfect scorer on the College Scholastic Ability Test

“I’ve never been anything but first place in my life. Sometimes I want to experience second place just for the experience, but the world won’t let me. There’s no royal road to learning? That’s just an excuse for losers. It’s the duty of a shepherd and a teacher to guide lost lambs to the shortcut. Methods and shortcuts definitely exist.”

“To become rich, you shouldn’t calculate income against working hours, but build a system where capital works for you. Studying is the same. An innovative system that induces the brain to review even during breaks. I’m happy to share it.”

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch. That is my motto and belief. You get what you pay for.”

“Lastly, a word to your children:

They say, ‘Study 10 minutes more and your future spouse’s face will change.’ Wrong. Your tutor’s face will change first. Looking at my face, you’ll find studying so fun, it’ll become fun. (Student gender irrelevant) Look at my face once, solve one problem, and you’ll finish a whole workbook in no time. Contact me.

01X—XXXX—XXXX”

The flyer, seasoned with appropriate clickbait and MSG (exaggeration), was complete. Jaewon gazed at the screen with satisfaction and pressed the print button. While the flyers were printing, he posted his advertisement online on local mom cafes and tutoring websites. He also searched for real estate prices, organized them in Excel, and created a data map. This was to clearly define his target audience and plan routes for each area where he would post the flyers.

Having finished his business at the PC room, Jaewon immediately returned home and began preparations in earnest. He had once been a part-time job master and knew the virtues required for each profession. This time, it was mobility. In other words, if anyone confronted him while he was posting flyers, he had to be able to run away immediately.

‘Top and bottom: tracksuit. Shoes: sneakers. Bag: lightest material possible.’

As he was about to head out, fully prepared, Jaewon spotted a ball cap hanging on the wall. He hesitated for a moment and then pulled the cap low over his eyes. Just as maintaining a dignified appearance was a basic requirement for a salesperson, grooming was essential for self-promotion. Of course, he looked great as is, but he felt he needed to enhance his appearance to entice teenagers. Fundamentally, the human sense of beauty is designed to find concealment, leaving room for imagination, more alluring than full exposure. Jaewon took advantage of this and wore the ball cap to falsely inflate his appearance level.

He diligently ran around, posting flyers. He prioritized areas known for academic zeal, focusing his activities around academies and cafes frequented by parents. As the sky turned crimson and dusk began to settle, he headed to his final destination for the day. It was a neighborhood known as the wealthiest in the area.

Wealthier families tended to hire specialized, highly effective tutors, so he rarely received calls from them. However, even one client could make a difference in his quality of life, so he couldn’t give up. He had nothing to lose. If he could just get a chance to talk, he had a chance.

As he was meticulously attaching a flyer to a utility pole, a drop of water landed on the bridge of his nose. Jaewon frowned and looked up at the sky. He had noticed the sky darkening, and now a drizzle had begun.

“Damn it.”

He hurriedly zipped up his bag. He had planned to hunt for smoking teenagers on his way home, but that was out of the question now. He was about to leave, satisfied with having distributed almost all of his prepared flyers, when—

“Does studying really become fun?”

A low voice slowly reached Jaewon’s ears. The sleepy, languid voice dulled his senses. A beat late, he came to his senses and turned his head, realizing that someone was standing behind him.

‘Oh shit, you scared me.’

Jaewon suppressed the curse that almost escaped his lips. He was startled by the unknown person standing so close. He wondered if approaching silently was a characteristic of this species, considering the delinquent from before.

The man had apparently been looking down at Jaewon, as he didn’t seem fazed even when their eyes met. He didn’t even blink as Jaewon’s face crumpled like plastic wrap. He slowly moved his lips, his head tilted.

“I hate studying.”

It was just a murmur, a small voice, but it had the power to command attention. Jaewon, whose entire facial muscles were screaming ‘So what?’, suddenly found his gaze drawn to the man’s appearance. At that moment, Jaewon’s furrowed brows shot up in surprise.

‘Is he a fluorescent human?’

He had never seen anyone with such white skin. He looked like someone created when the Creator accidentally breathed life into a ball of dough. Preoccupied with the man’s A4-paper-white skin, Jaewon refocused his blurred vision.

Slightly downturned eyes gave him a gentle impression, and his light-colored irises resembled transparent glass beads. Long eyelashes created a mystical atmosphere with each blink. A high, sharp nose exuded refined beauty, and his lips, of appropriate size and fullness, were a soft pink like a peach.

‘This is him.’

Skin as white as a blank page, luscious lips as if painted with Dior Addict Lip Glow 001, golden proportions like something out of Vogue. A frame of superior genes visible even through his clothes. He possessed all the qualities of a protagonist. He was the embodiment of the phrase ‘angelic child,’ which had only existed in print.

‘If this guy isn’t the protagonist, I’m a communist.’

Jaewon trembled with surging joy. He had found a blue-chip stock in an unexpected place!

“Don’t you teach other subjects?”

Of course, Jaewon was proficient in all subjects. He had chosen math because it was easier to teach. However, unable to answer as he usually would, he was preoccupied with scrutinizing the miraculous face before him.

“I don’t like math……”

The boy frowned and shook his wet hair. An adorable air, like a large dog shaking itself dry after a bath, wafted from him. As he brushed his hair back, his forehead was revealed, and Jaewon saw a halo appear behind his head. Amidst the dim, drizzly surroundings, the ivory-skinned boy resembled an ancient Greek statue.

“What.”

Finally breaking the silence, he smiled faintly. His face was so holy that Jaewon almost shouted ‘Amen.’

“I should be your teacher.”

He said with an amused smile, looking at Jaewon, who was staring at him blankly. Snapping out of it, Jaewon finally closed his mouth and composed his expression.

‘Is such a face even possible? Who is his mother…?

Was this how Westerners felt when they first saw Eastern silk? His heart was so full that he couldn’t speak. Jaewon barely managed to collect his dazed mind. This wasn’t the time. Securing his personal information was the priority.

“You….”

“Hey, fuck! Found him!”

Just as he was about to ask for his number, a loud shout came from somewhere. Startled, Jaewon turned around to see a group of students in uniform running towards them from a distance.

“Where!”

“There! He’s there!”

“You’re dead, you bastard. Stay right there, you son of a bitch!”

Their气势, pointing and yelling at the top of their lungs, was clearly not friendly. Jaewon took a moment to reflect on his life. However, he had wronged so many people that it was impossible to pinpoint a specific individual. He hesitated, ready to run if necessary, but the boy remained calm and composed.

“Ah…. I was busy.”

The boy muttered, watching the group sprinting like a herd of cattle. He spoke as if he had momentarily forgotten his business. He frowned in annoyance and then turned his gaze to Jaewon.

“The atmosphere was good.”

The boy, muttering cryptic words, reached out and tore off one of the flyer tentacles. Even that looked like a scene from a performance art piece.

“I’ll contact you when I’m free.”

“Wait….”

He waved the paper with Jaewon’s number on it and ran forward. His perfectly proportioned back disappeared in an instant, and the burly guys chased after him. Like the Pied Piper leading a group of foolish, fat rats, the boy vanished just like that.

It was a long time before Jaewon came back to his senses. Only after a loud sneeze could he retrieve his soul, which had flown to the stratosphere.

♘

‘It only takes a moment to end up in a hospital room, coughing and seeing the last leaf fall.’

Jaewon hurried home through the rain and washed up with warm water. While waiting for the tea to brew, he completely dried his hair and settled down with his honey tea. As he nestled into the soft blanket, the boy’s face came to mind again. It was a face that could cause the miracle of the five loaves and two fish.

‘To miss that right in front of me…’

Jaewon couldn’t believe it himself. He didn’t even know his name, let alone his number. He was in a position where he just had to wait for him to contact him. The stock he had been so desperately searching for…. It was unheard of for him to miss a jackpot stock. That’s how sensational the boy’s beauty was.

However, Jaewon also tried to maintain a cold and objective perspective. The economist Keynes likened stock investment to a beauty contest. To correctly guess the candidate who would be chosen as the most beautiful, one should choose the candidate most people would consider the most beautiful, rather than relying on their own judgment. In other words, it wasn’t important who was actually the most beautiful, but who the public perceived as beautiful.

Jaewon’s aesthetic sense was fairly objective, but he was still just one individual. Hasty judgment was forbidden. Selecting investment targets was like a treasure hunt. He had to find and analyze as many potential candidates as possible to find good stocks. Especially since male protagonists usually came in pairs, it was best to find a few more candidates.

Jaewon, sensing that tomorrow would be another busy day, went to bed early. The next morning, he reached for his phone as soon as he opened his eyes and frowned as his hand grasped a flip phone instead of a smartphone. He looked at the device, which resembled an ancient relic, with bewilderment and then sighed.

“Fuck, it’s the Stone Age……”

Jaewon felt like he was going to die without a smartphone. He couldn’t check the stock prices or his account balance, things he did every morning. If he had gone back in time, he could have bought up future jackpot stocks, but since he was stuck in this damn novel, everything he did was just producing scraps of paper.

He used to start his day energetically by looking at the soaring stock graphs every morning at opening time. Deprived of the joy of life, he glumly put his legs into his pants. He finished getting ready on time and left the house. He had too much on his schedule to wallow in sadness. His credo was to sell one apple tree today even if the world ended tomorrow.

The streets were teeming with students in uniform on his way to school. Jaewon scanned his surroundings with hawk-like eyes, but he saw no boys on bikes, no girls tripping or dropping books. He had hoped to witness at least a quarrel or commotion between students, but nothing happened.

“Is your name Han Bitnari?”

“I changed my name.”

“Dress code violation. Two points for the tie, one point for the nametag.”

“Ah, why! It’s fine as long as I have a nametag!”

“One point for attitude violation.”

“Wow, this is too much. Why are you only like this to me, oppa? Do you like me?”

“Yes.”

“……!!”

A tangy romance was unfolding at the school gate. Jaewon carefully observed the student disciplinary committee members as he passed through the gate, but there were none hiding their beauty behind glasses or bangs. He coldly withdrew his gaze, his brief hopes dashed.

‘Are there no model student-type candidates?’

Jaewon didn’t go directly to his classroom but wandered around the school grounds. He checked if there were any holes in the walls large enough for a person to pass through and took note of the surrounding terrain. As he was expertly concealing himself amidst the bushes in the flowerbed, the pre-class bell rang. As soon as the clear bell sound resonated, the school gate closed, and the disciplinary committee began to catch latecomers.

“Run laps around the field like a duck.”

“Gasp…. Teacher, can you let me off just this once? I really couldn’t wake up because my cat turned off my alarm. Really. Do you want to see a picture of my cat?”

“One lap added for every word you say.”

“Sob, sob……”

While the lazy masses received cruel punishments, Jaewon kept his eyes fixed on the wall with the hole. Those with the qualities of a protagonist usually didn’t arrive at school on time through normal means. Jaewon waited patiently, like a leopard cat before a mouse hole. However, his tissue-paper-thin patience soon ran out, and just as he was about to stick his head through the hole for reconnaissance—

Thump.

Something fell nearby. The moment he confirmed it was a backpack, Jaewon’s eyes lit up. Springing up like a coil, he snatched the bag and hid it behind his back.

Thud.

A male student jumped down where the backpack had fallen. He landed lightly despite jumping from a considerable height, like a seasoned stuntman.

‘Technical score: 10 points. Artistic score: 10 points.’

Admiring his flawless movements, Jaewon’s eyes widened. The tall male student had an extraordinary physique. His slender and toned body, like that of an athlete, was captivating.

‘Leg length, thickness, line, all excellent. Butt: perfect. Waist: slightly thick, which is a shame, but it’s all muscle, and the shoulders are as wide as the Honam Plain, so it’s sufficiently compensated. Overall proportions: very good.’

Jaewon, scoring him from his feet up, gasped as he saw the male student’s face.

‘It’s a face that could make the blind see.’

His seemingly chic and indifferent face had a cosmopolitan aura with a kitsch edge, overflowing with a Janus-like charm, creating an alluring and sensual impression, a must-have for those who dream of romance. Especially his seemingly indifferent expression hinted at an obsessive nature towards his woman.

“Are you Kim Dojeon, by any chance?”

Sensing a jackpot, Jaewon cut to the chase. The male student, who had been frowning and examining the ground, slowly raised his head. The moment he met his murderous gaze, Jaewon shivered.

‘Even his antisocial gaze is perfect.’

His heart, which had cooled while walking to school among the squid and cuttlefish, began to race. A handsome guy had rolled in from the morning; today’s market was looking very good. Excited, Jaewon approached him, snorting loudly.

“And who are you.”

But the male student growled menacingly at Jaewon. For some reason, he seemed very displeased. He looked ready to throw a punch. Jaewon, who hated pain more than anything, stepped back to secure a safe distance. He hesitated for a moment and then decided to approach the male student more passionately.

“I asked because you’re so handsome, but you don’t have to be so prickly.”

It was a blatant flirtation that would make even the dandelions in the flowerbed shrink, but the male student merely frowned. While Jaewon was flustered by the lukewarm reaction, the student began to look around, searching for something. He seemed to dismiss Jaewon’s words as nonsense and went about his business.

‘He’s a haughty one. Stimulates my desire to conquer.’

Even more intrigued, Jaewon licked his lips and reached behind him to retrieve the hidden bag. Just as he was about to naturally become the benefactor who returned the lost item—

“Hey, should we just go and get caught? The disciplinary teacher said he’d give us a stiff neck if we climbed over the wall one more time.”

“No. My homeroom teacher said he’d call my mom if I’m late one more time. Then there’s no tomorrow for me.”

“Oh man, I’m scared……”

He quickly located the source of the conversation and found a female student climbing the wall like a vigorous salmon not far away. A female student climbing the wall because she was late, and a friend next to her nagging. Sensing a strong positive signal, Jaewon approached quickly like a house centipede, his back against the wall.

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Mom! You scared me!”

The female student shrieked in surprise as he spoke, skipping unnecessary formalities. Jaewon nodded with satisfaction at her dramatic reaction. Her impulsiveness and timidity were close to the ideal female protagonist.

‘Even if she’s not, I have nothing to lose. I’ll get involved first.’

“Wh, who?”

“No time for introductions, just answer. Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Uh… no?”

“Then wait, I’ll get you one right now.”

“Huh?”

Having spoken confidently, Jaewon immediately took action. Returning to where the male student had been, he was still searching around the flowerbed.

“Hey, student!”

Despite shouting quite loudly, he remained silent. Jaewon repeatedly raised his voice, but the male student acted as if he couldn’t hear anything.

“Hey, handsome!”

He tried calling him with more specificity, but there was still no response. Jaewon was confused. He had communicated with him earlier without any problems, so it was hard to suspect deafness. While he stood there dumbfounded, the disciplinary committee seemed to be finished with their punishments and were showing signs of moving. Jaewon grew desperate.

“Hey, breathtakingly handsome guy!”

“What.”

The consistently ignoring male student finally responded. His calm face showed no shame whatsoever. Jaewon was momentarily speechless at his nonchalant attitude, but this wasn’t the time to be concerned with trivial matters.

“Are you looking for this?”

The male student’s expression changed drastically as Jaewon held up the bag. As expected, he seemed to intensely dislike people touching his belongings.

“Give it to me.”

“Come and get it.”

Jaewon smiled wickedly. Actually, his knees were weak from the menacing aura emanating from the male student, but he tried not to show it. He taunted the male student by shaking the bag, and blue sparks flew from his eyes. At that moment, Jaewon quickly dashed towards the female student.

“Now’s your chance! Jump down!”

“Huh? What are you suddenly….”

“Hurry!”

Despite his urgent shouts, the female student only looked bewildered and showed no signs of coming down from the wall. The male student was rapidly closing in from behind. Seeing him run like a wolf spotting its prey, cold sweat trickled down Jaewon’s back. Cornered, Jaewon yelled.

“If you don’t jump down now, there will be no handsome guys in your life! Ever!”

“What? What kind of nonsense is that? Take it back right now!!”

The female student’s face turned as fierce as the Four Heavenly Kings in Buddhist art. Enraged, she assumed a jumping position, vowing to explode his pancreas, and Jaewon turned around, seizing the opportunity. The male student, who had caught up, was right in front of him. Just as he was about to grab Jaewon by the collar, Jaewon twisted his body to dodge and faced him. He grinned at the coldly hardened face and tossed the bag into the air.

‘3, 2, 1.’

As the airborne backpack obscured the sun, his vision darkened as if a solar eclipse was occurring. Simultaneously with the male student lunging forward, the female student, her fists clenched tightly, jumped down from the wall. Jaewon watched the meticulously planned scene unfold, his hands sweating.

‘Docking!’

“Agh!”

“Ugh!”

Crack! A crisp sound rang out, and the man and woman rolled together, becoming one. At the scream, which sounded like a death rattle, Jaewon wore a sweet expression. The operation was a success. He approached them with a satisfied smile. They were sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain.

“She’s yours now.”

“You crazy bastard, ugh……”

“You fucking……”

Curses erupted like fireworks from the two as Jaewon offered his congratulations. However, they seemed quite affected by the impact, as they couldn’t even open their eyes properly. Indeed, fateful encounters often came with aftereffects. Jaewon left after further blessing them.

‘The morning air is especially fresh today.’

Entering the hallway, Jaewon closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then he swallowed a dust bunny and coughed. It seemed the hallway wasn’t very clean. But nothing could ruin his mood. Jaewon entered Classroom 1, still smiling. He intended to accelerate his search for the female protagonist with this momentum. Although he had secured a useful informant, fieldwork was fundamental. It was analog, but there was no surer method than finding investment targets by running around himself. Bae Jaewon tended to assess the situation by observing first rather than acting impulsively, but at this moment, having won the lottery and entered a novel, he had no inhibitions and nothing could hold him back.

“Attention.”

The students’ eyes focused on Jaewon as he rapped on the podium and spoke solemnly.

“I’m looking for someone, so let me ask you a few questions.”

The students exchanged bewildered glances. To them, Jaewon was an unfamiliar transfer student, essentially a stranger. Judging by his nametag color, he was clearly in the same grade, but his authoritative demeanor, rivaling that of the principal, was puzzling. Nevertheless, sensing an inexplicable aura of authority, the students obediently nodded.

“Only girls answer. Boys with less than 12cm can answer too.”

Jaewon’s words caused a stir in the classroom. After a moment, a male student cautiously raised his hand, and Jaewon readily granted him permission to speak.

“What’s a ‘bi-bal-si’?”

Jaewon didn’t answer the male student’s question. He simply gave him a pitying look. As time passed, the male student’s eyes welled up with tears, and he lowered his head. A solemn, almost fearful atmosphere descended upon the classroom. Pleased with the silence, Jaewon opened his mouth with a satisfied expression.

“Raise your hand if you don’t know the world’s number one ranking.”

It was a question he had ambitiously prepared, but hands shot up everywhere. It was safe to say that almost all the girls in the class didn’t know.

‘Damn it. Why are there so many?’

A female protagonist should, by definition, be the only one who doesn’t know what everyone else knows. Jaewon, his attempt at differentiation having failed, grew serious. Looking at the forest of raised hands, he changed his approach.

“Then, raise your hand if you know the four kings of this school.”

A considerable number of hands went up. Jaewon counted them and smiled with satisfaction.

“Good. You guys are out.”

Confidently excluding the extras, three people remained. Jaewon wrote down their names and then moved on to the next class. After visiting four classrooms, the bell rang. Disappointed, but resolving to utilize the breaks effectively, he headed to his own classroom.

He poured himself some water from the water cooler and sat down, the blue sky visible outside the window. Sipping his water and gazing at the passing clouds, he wondered how long it had been since he had experienced such peace. As he was enjoying his tranquil meditation, a boisterous chatter erupted beside him.

“Hey, hey. Did you guys hear? Kim Seungbin was just taken to the hospital with a concussion!”

“What? How?”

“He fell into a trap.”

“A trap? That Kim Seungbin?”

“Apparently, the guy was incredibly meticulous. He took a hostage, made threats, and then cracked Kim Seungbin’s skull.”

“Wow, crazy.”

Several male students were huddled together, whispering. Their serious expressions suggested it was a grave matter. Jaewon looked up, searching for Ma Chayun. Just in time, Ma Chayun entered the classroom and was running towards Jaewon. He kept calling out, “Hyung! Hyung!”, running breathlessly, suggesting he had big news. Jaewon greeted him, brimming with anticipation.

“Hyung!”

Ma Chayun seemed to have forgotten yesterday’s resentment. Jaewon pretended indifference and took another sip of water.

“I heard you told Min Yerin to dump Kim Dojeon for you.”

“Pfft.”

The water he had just swallowed went down the wrong pipe and sprayed out. Jaewon clutched his nose and coughed painfully. The rumor aside, the incorrect wording was disorienting.

“When did I, cough, ever…”

“The rumor that you declared war on Kim Dojeon has spread like wildfire. You said you’d treat her way better than that bastard, so she should come to you. Did you really do that? Hyung, are you out of your mind?”

“No, that’s crazy…”

Jaewon was unusually speechless. This wasn’t just exaggeration; it was slander. Someone must have held a grudge against him and spread false rumors.

“You might be relying on your face, hyung, but that’s foolish. No one has ever challenged Kim Dojeon and survived. They all become invertebrates. Truckloads of kids dropped out because they couldn’t handle the shock. Although we’ve only known each other for two days, I don’t want to lose you. So please repent your mistakes now and…”

“Kim Dojeon!”

Someone shouted just as Ma Chayun was getting started. As if on cue, the students flocked to the windows. Jaewon squeezed his way through the barnacle-like students and looked outside. Where everyone’s gaze was fixed, a male student was leisurely crossing the schoolyard.

‘What an inspiring physique.’

It was a figure that would be eye-opening even if seen from a rollercoaster. Not only that, but even his disheveled uniform and bag, hanging off him like a laundry drying rack, looked cool. And what about his walking, devoid of any urgency despite arriving just before the first period? The gait unique to those at the top of the food chain sent shivers down his spine.

“Didn’t he get suspended?”

“He apparently got it lifted quickly after invoking his grandfather’s name.”

“Oh, as expected…”

Even the corrupt power that produces injustice. Jaewon felt a warmth in his lower abdomen. A talent equipped with all the qualities of an alpha male happened to be his deskmate; this was a heaven-sent opportunity. He hurriedly returned to his seat to prepare to greet Kim Dojeon. He calmed his excited heart and opened his bag to check the cigarettes he had bought the day before. He had prepared various kinds, unsure of Kim Dojeon’s preference, but this should be enough to win his favor at their first meeting.

“Dojeon, hi?”

“Hey~ Kim Dojeon~.”

Greetings poured in from all directions as Kim Dojeon entered the classroom. Everyone was eager to acknowledge him, a stark contrast to their usual indifference towards whoever entered.

“How do you feel about being released from prison?”

“Dubu kimchi is on the lunch menu today; isn’t that appropriate?”

“Don’t overdo it, you bastards.”

His voice, responding to his classmates’ teasing, had a deep resonance. The voice, a blend of adult man and not-yet-fully-grown boy, evoked a strange sensation. Jaewon bit his lip, the fine hairs in his ears prickling. His heart rate increased and he grew tense as the footsteps approached. The moment he felt the leisurely gait stop beside him, Jaewon turned his head.

His development was exceptional for a high school student. His towering height and broad shoulders were already beyond that of an adult. Overwhelmed by his physique, something you’d only see in a human anatomy textbook, Jaewon slowly raised his gaze. Past his firm chest and prominent collarbone, to his sharply slanted eyes. The moment their gazes met, Kim Dojeon, whose head had been tilted to the side, widened his eyes.

“Ha.”

He chuckled in disbelief. It was a strange reaction for a first meeting, but Jaewon couldn’t think straight.

“Fancy meeting you here.”

Kim Dojeon, smirking with one corner of his mouth raised, strode towards him. Before Jaewon could even comprehend his words, a sharp pain shot through his jaw, and his vision blurred.

“Did you miss me?”

An incredibly affectionate voice drenched his eardrums. Jaewon squeezed his eyes shut and opened them at the tingling sensation on his scalp. The moment he saw those obsidian-black eyes, he felt like he was being sucked into the abyss.

“I thought I was going to die from missing you.”

He growled, baring his teeth like a predator. Contrary to his playful tone, his expression was incredibly menacing.

Later, Jaewon would recall this moment as follows:

That guy was really…

Handsome.