Chapter 79 – GOY 79

#79

Park ​Geon-woo ​and ​I ​first ​met ​at the Blue ​House.

An ​event ​was ​held ​at the Blue House ​to ​commemorate Youth Day. ​At the time, ​Park ​Geon-woo ​and ​I, ​both ​in the first ​or ​second ​year of middle ​school, were chosen as ​youth representatives ​to read ​statements.

Having awakened ​as an ​Esper ​in ​his first year ​of middle ​school, Park Geon-woo enjoyed ​a level of popularity ​akin to the “nation’s ​son” due ​to ​his handsome looks and kind personality.

Because ​he was so popular ​among ​his ​peers, ​my ​classmates were envious ​of me ​when ​the news broke ​that ​I would be reading alongside ​him.

After rejecting ​the ​exclusive guide contract ​with ​Joo ​Seung-hyuk, ​I ​had transferred ​to ​a school ​with a specialized class for Guides. Since ​everyone in my ​class was a ​Guide, their envy seemed ​even more ​pronounced.

However, I only ​felt ​complicated.

‘Am I about ​to meet the ​sub seme ​of ​the original ​story…?’

In ​the original ​work, ​Park Geon-woo ​was ​one ​of the characters ​who ​disliked Lee ​Yeon-soo.

Because ​he ​was ​the type to have impeccable manners, he never showed it outwardly, but Read on Read BL Novelsinwardly he viewed Lee Yeon-soo as an “insolent fool who runs wild just because of his rank.” Well, since Lee [unauthorized copy]Yeon-soo frequently [Read on Read BL Novels]ignored Park Geon-woo by comparing him to Joo Seung-hyuk, it was a case of reaping what he sowed.

Even when Lee Yeon-soo, abandoned by Joo Seung-hyuk, went to find Park Geon-woo, he had coldly driven him away.

I didn’t want to get entangled with the characters of the original story, and Park Geon-woo was no exception. Therefore, there was no particular reason for me to be happy about reading with him. If anything, it was uncomfortable….

But it was just a reading; there was no need to be prematurely terrified. Suppressing my anxiety, I headed to the Blue House.

“Hi, you must be Yeon-soo. Nice to meet you.”

Park Geon-woo had arrived first and greeted me. On TV, he had a kind and gentle vibe, but seeing him in person, while his drooping eyes gave him a friendly look, he didn’t have a pushover’s image at all.

“Esper Park Geon-woo, hello. It is an honor to meet you.”

“Haha. You’re too stiff. Just call me Hyung. I’ll call you by your name too. Is that okay?”

“Yes.”

Surprisingly, he didn’t seem to dislike me. In the novel, it was written that Park Geon-woo despised Lee Yeon-soo from the moment they first met….

“I heard you rejected the exclusive guide contract with Seong Han. Even an adult would have hesitated because the conditions there are so good; that’s impressive.”

Ah, it was because of this.

After I rejected Joo Seung-hyuk’s exclusive contract, praise poured in from all directions.

Articles were published calling me the ‘S-Class Guide who chose conviction over money’ and the ‘choice of a young Guide that puts Ability Users to shame,’ and many people praised me in person.

‘Wow, this kid is amazing. Right, for someone of your caliber, remaining as a chaebol’s guide would be a waste of talent.’

‘Ability Users these days lack the basics. They become slaves to chaebol families for money. We need more kids like you.’

‘I heard Chairman Joo’s son is an S-Class, but how can you trust that? They must have manipulated the device or faked the results. Chaebols are indescribably despicable. You rejected him because that kid Joo Seung-hyuk or whatever is too pathetic, right? Am I right?’

‘Kang Ok-eun is finished too. She acted so haughty, then became a chaebol family guide. It’s hideous how she suddenly became greedy for money after turning fifty.’

Every time that happened, I felt uncomfortable.

They weren’t praising me. They were simply using me as a tool to bash the chaebols, Joo Seung-hyuk, and current Ability Users.

But Park Geon-woo was different from the others.

He didn’t disparage others with low-quality remarks; he purely praised me. He was truly a sub seme who possessed talent, character, and manners.

However, even if it was meant as praise, his words weren’t welcome.

“It’s not like that. I didn’t reject the exclusive contract; I gave up on it.”

“Gave up…?”

“Yes. Esper Joo Seung-hyuk’s talent was too outstanding. He wasn’t someone a beginner like me dared to be responsible for as a Guide. So, saying I rejected him is incorrect.”

I had gone to great lengths to exit the original plot, but because of the people gossiping about us, I was on the verge of getting on Joo Seung-hyuk’s bad side. No, actually, it would be weirder if he didn’t hate me.

If I were Joo Seung-hyuk, I’d be furious that someone rejected me and then used that fact to gain popularity.

I didn’t want to be targeted by an Obsessive Madman. I just wanted to quietly exit the original story.

That was why I actively clarified things whenever such talk came up.

“You’re humble. Rumors say you’re a genius.”

“Everyone is just seeing me in a positive light because I’m young. I really gave up because my abilities were lacking.”

Park Geon-woo smiled without saying much and patted my head.

“I look forward to working with you.”

“Yes, Esper Park Geon-woo.”

“I told you to call me Hyung.”

“Yes, Hyung.”

“Shall we practice reading together? The waiting room is this way.”

“Yes.”

As I turned to follow Park Geon-woo, I saw Joo Seung-hyuk.

He was looking at me. Startled, I averted my gaze. Joo Seung-hyuk also turned his head away. It seemed he had simply looked because I was in front of him, with no particular business.

Only after he completely turned away could I look properly at Joo Seung-hyuk. It was the first time I had seen him since rejecting the exclusive contract.

Now that it was known he was Chairman Joo’s biological child, his standing within the family must have risen. He wouldn’t be despised anymore. However, sadness still lingered in his black eyes.

Why? Did he perhaps not take the DNA test? If so, should I go to Chairman Joo and tell him clearly again…?

Just as that thought surfaced, I heard Chairman Joo’s voice.

“Seung-hyuk-ah!”

Chairman Joo rushed over and hugged Joo Seung-hyuk.

“Where did you go? I was worried because you suddenly disappeared.”

Affection was practically dripping from Chairman Joo’s eyes. As expected, he must have done the DNA test again. Right, that’s why he sent Ju Tae-han to study abroad and signed an exclusive contract with a legendary S-Class Guide.

While I was watching them, Park Geon-woo spoke to me.

“Yeon-soo, let’s go.”

“Ah, yes.”

Relieved by Chairman Joo’s affectionate appearance, I followed behind Park Geon-woo. The sight of the sad-looking Joo Seung-hyuk weighed on my mind, but that was beyond my control.

The reading of the declaration that day was perfect. It was just reading a script, but because Park Geon-woo did it, it was different.

He had a power that drew in the audience. He would surely be great at lecturing too.

“Hey! Shh! Shh!”

“Quiet. Lee Yeon-soo is here.”

The students who were talking about Park Geon-woo were startled and shut their mouths upon seeing me.

Other groups were the same. Everyone walked on eggshells around me. The entire classroom suddenly became silent, as if cold water had been thrown over it.

It was obvious what they were all thinking.

‘Park Geon-woo and Lee Yeon-soo are long-term lovers. But while Park Geon-woo was in Africa, Lee Yeon-soo caught eyes with Joo Seung-hyuk. And before a single semester had passed since Lee Yeon-soo cheated, his original lover, Park Geon-woo, returned.’

They were probably writing a novel something like that in their heads.

Isn’t there anyone with a loose tongue or a nosy streak? I’d rather they just ask me directly so I could tell them it’s not true.

But if I were the one to deny it first, they’d obviously gossip even more, saying I’m doing it because I’m guilty….

However, until the lecture ended, no one spoke to me.

Damn, it’s sad being an outcast….

After the lecture, I was visit our siteheading to the library when I saw Kim Joon coming from visit our sitethe opposite direction.

“Yeon-soo seonbae!”

As soon as he saw me, he ran over with a bright smile. If he had a tail, I bet it would have been wagging wildly.

Being welcomed like that made me feel good too.

“Joon-ah.”

“Hehehe.”

“Did something good happen?”

“I’m just happy to see you, seonbae.”

He really is cute. With that kind of charm, it’s no wonder the original Park Geon-woo fell for him at first sight.

“Me too. By the way, Joon-ah, you know Esper Park Geon-woo is returning to the country, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

“I heard he’s giving a special lecture. Are you going?”

Kim Joon admired Park Geon-woo. That was why he had pushed himself to enter the Esper Academy despite being F-Rank.

In the original story, Park Geon-woo was the object of Kim Joon’s admiration and his first love since childhood. So, his heart must be fluttering at the news of Park Geon-woo’s return.

However, since so many students wanted to attend the special lecture, an F-Rank like him might not get a chance. If Kim Joon wanted to go, I wanted to help him somehow.

“No. Why would I go to an Esper lecture? I’m too busy studying Guiding.”

But the answer that came back was completely different from my expectation.

“Huh?”

“But if Yeon-soo seonbae gives a lecture later, I’ll go no matter what.”

What is this? Is he pretending to be strong because it’s hard to get into the special lecture?

“Joon-ah, do you perhaps not like Esper Park Geon-woo??”

“Pardon?”

“He’s such a popular person. Everyone admires [Read on Read BL Novels]him, whether they’re visit our sitean Esper or a Guide.”

“I have no interest in Espers. Esper bastards are all trash.”

“…….”

This kid Joon… he’s been spending a lot of time with the Changwi Guild members lately, and Ji-hee noona’s way of speaking has rubbed off on him.

Moreover, no matter how I looked at it, he didn’t seem to be pretending to be strong while actually liking Park Geon-woo.

“By the way, seonbae, are you close with Esper Park Geon-woo?”

“Huh?”

“I know the rumors about you two dating are nonsense, but I was just wondering….”

Finally, someone appeared who would ask this.

“It’s a total rumor! Geon-woo hyung and I are just senior and junior among Ability Users.”

“Right? I thought so! But seonbae, could you teach me about Guiding?”

“Sure, ask me anything.”

“Yes! Thank you!”

Kim Joon smiled brightly. In his expression, there was absolutely no trace of excitement or anticipation regarding Park Geon-woo’s return.

Is he really not interested? Did his first love change? Then why did he even come to the Academy? Didn’t he enter because he admired Park Geon-woo and wanted to treat him?

Has this changed from the original too?

I thought the story began to change after the first relationship with Joo Seung-hyuk.

But many things had changed much earlier than I thought. I just hadn’t noticed.