1st in Class Hides Regression - Chapter 26

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Top Student Hides Her Regression
Episode 26
Jung Eun-seong is a trainee at a famous entertainment company.
She’s already appeared in several music videos and photo shoots, and even has a fan cafe.
Whenever a few kids in unfamiliar school uniforms gathered out front, nine times out of ten they were Jung Eun-seong’s fans.
But even so, it was rare for Jung Eun-seong’s fans to camp outside the school this late, waiting for her to come out.
And an adult, no less.
The moment I realized who the person was, I pulled my textbook up to cover my torso. After all, Jung Eun-seong’s name tag was pinned to the front of the knit sweater I was wearing.
I studied the woman whose eyes gleamed with an unsettling shine.
‘It’s definitely her.’
This was the obsessed fan who’d shown up on Jung Eun-seong’s birthday, field trip days, mock exams, and school festivals—sending food to our classroom and coming to school just to see her face.
The woman who photographed Jung Eun-seong with a camera like war correspondents carried, bought meals for classmates who recognized her.
She’d even snapped a photo of Seo Jae-gyeom passing by and shared it in the obsessed fans’ group chat.
There was that whole incident where she dug up Seo Jae-gyeom’s personal information through a social media account, sent messages, got caught by his mother, and threatened with legal action.
…At some point, I think Jung Eun-seong started taking a taxi to and from school to avoid this person.
“…….”
The obsessed fan returned her gaze to me, who was staring fixedly at her. I quickly lowered my eyes.
‘There’s a wild look in her eyes.’
With me positioned behind him, Jung Eun-seong bowed politely to the woman.
“Hello.”
“Hey there~ Do you remember your noona’s name?”
“…No, I’m afraid not.”
“Tch.”
At Jung Eun-seong’s honest reply, the woman’s eyes narrowed with affectionate annoyance.
I wanted to stop Jung Eun-seong and warn her that any adult with sense wouldn’t be out hunting for a minor at this late hour, and certainly wouldn’t engage with someone like this. But…
‘Is this really a situation where I should get involved?’
As I hesitated, Jung Eun-seong opened her mouth.
“Did you come to see me?”
“Of course! I came all this way to see Eun-seong because I left work early today—it was so hard…… Give me some credit, okay?”
“I, well… coming all the way to school like this is a bit…”
Despite Jung Eun-seong’s hesitation, the woman remained undeterred. Glancing down at the watch on her wrist, she smiled, closing one eye.
“Oh, the time really is late, isn’t it? Sorry about that~ I’m going on a business trip next week, so I didn’t have time. Am I a capable woman?”
“…….”
“I didn’t know about Eun-seong yet for Valentine’s Day. That’s why I wanted to do something for White Day. That’s why I came.”
White Day’s coming up soon anyway, right? The woman flashed a shopping bag as proof and swept her styled hair back with one hand.
So… you’re telling me you came all the way to the school entrance even though you’ve only known Eun-seong for less than a month?
“I sold some stock to buy this for you.”
When Eun-seong debuts, I’ll handle the initial sales and everything else too. Eun-seong, don’t worry about anything—just focus on your debut. The woman laughed as she added this.
“Your noona really is a capable woman, no lie.”
When Eun-seong grows up, she’ll be capable too……
“Come on, take it quick. Your noona’s gift.”
The woman pushed the shopping bag toward Jung Eun-seong again.
Jung Eun-seong’s expression grew troubled. She glanced back at me, gauging my reaction. Her tone became noticeably firmer.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t accept something like this.”
“Why not? All your seniors took gifts from me.”
“If I take this, the company will punish me.”
“That’s a lie. Everyone says that but they all take it anyway.”
“I’m not taking it. If you keep this up, I’ll call the company.”
To show she meant it, Jung Eun-seong reached into her pocket and made a motion like she was pulling out her phone.
Then the obsessed fan let out a laugh.
The shy, cutesy expression that had been there moments before was replaced by a smirk of contempt. Head tilted slightly, the fan spoke.
“Eun-seong, you don’t have a phone.”
“!”
“Your phone was taken from you. Why are you pretending to have one?”
“…….”
“If you’re already lying to your fans before you even debut, this won’t do. Listen, get your head straight. You haven’t debuted yet. You’ve got nothing to lose, and you’ve already lost that? Snap out of it.”
“Excuse me.”
This had gone too far.
I cut off the obsessed fan’s increasingly menacing words and stepped in.
“Night study session is ending soon. The teachers will be coming out shortly… If an adult stays in front of the school like this, you could get reported, miss.”
“…….”
“And look, I really can’t accept this from Jung Eun-seong. Just a few weeks ago someone showed up outside the school like this and the teachers scolded them. They said if he causes one more scene at school, they’ll send him back to transfer again.”
“But who are you?”
“Sorry?”
“I mean, the two of you leaving school together at this hour. Who are you? His girlfriend?”
“No.”
Jung Eun-seong cut her off sharply.
“I’m the class president of our homeroom. I just transferred recently. The teacher told me to help him out, so we ended up staying late together.”
“I see…….”
The woman who looked me over from head to toe smirked.
She shifted her weight, her hand awkwardly tucked into her pocket. Only then did it occur to me that this woman might have recorded our conversation—maybe not video, but audio at least.
‘Good thing I didn’t curse her out. That would’ve been bad.’
In any case, once I mentioned the teachers, the woman’s momentum deflated slightly.
“Let’s go.”
I seized the moment and quickly pulled Jung Eun-seong away from there.
“Eun-seong!”
The woman chasing us stumbled, her high heel twisting beneath her ankle. Undeterred, she kept rushing toward us—
“What’s wrong with you!”
An older woman passing by shouted, making her flinch.
“Why are you chasing those students? Do you know them?”
By then I’d already pulled Jung Eun-seong into the Alley.
I slowly released my grip on his wrist.
Free now, Jung Eun-seong rubbed his wrist. When I asked if his leg was okay from the collision earlier, he said it was fine. I glanced out of the Alley and asked him,
“Is she still following us?”
“Doesn’t look like it.”
“Once those adults got involved, she stopped. She ignored us completely, but she listens to them.”
“Right.”
Jung Eun-seong grumbled—if she loved him so much, why wouldn’t she listen to what he said?
“There really are a lot of strange adults these days…….”
Like that man who chased after Ga-eun yesterday.
Maybe if an adult said something to him too, he’d stop coming around…….
Lost in thought, Jung Eun-seong suddenly spoke up.
“I’ll give you a ride.”
“Huh? No, it’s okay.”
“It’s getting late. And you don’t have your phone anyway.”
“It’s fine. The route to my house is complicated. I’ll just catch a bus from here.”
I pointed to the Bus Stop across the street.
“The bus comes in six minutes.”
“…Okay.”
Despite saying okay, he followed me anyway.
Jung Eun-seong sat me down on a bench at the Bus Stop but didn’t leave. He stood in front of me, looking down.
“…….”
“…….”
“Jung Eun-seong….”
“What.”
“You’re going home to study, right? Science? I need to teach you. Why warm air is lighter than cold air.”
Geothermal energy and convection—the science knowledge I’d forgotten since my Regression.
“…You really nag.”
Jung Eun-seong squeezed his eyes shut, complaining he felt dizzy, then opened them again. But he didn’t actually look upset.
“Anyway, even if I studied myself to death, I’d never catch up to you.”
“Have you tried?”
“No…?”
“Then what are you talking about.”
“Do I really have to try….”
“Don’t give me that weak talk. You can do anything. Except president.”
Presidents have to be at least forty years old, I added, and Jung Eun-seong’s lips curled up.
“Presidents have to be forty?”
“You didn’t know?”
“I didn’t.”
“Tsk, tsk. And here you are talking about politics…….”
“You should have studied.”
Jung Eun-seong caught my words and spoke.
“Bus is coming.”
“Oh. Yeah.”
“Get going.”
“…You too.”
I waved my hand, urging him away.
But Jung Eun-seong didn’t leave. Not until I found a seat on the bus and it pulled away from the curb.
“…What time is it now.”
Even though I needed to get home quickly and sleep to study at my best tomorrow, I found myself thinking it wouldn’t have been so bad if the bus had arrived a little later.
I buried my nose in the school uniform sweater I’d forgotten to take off him. It still smelled good.
“Kang Da-hye! Why are you so late! You didn’t even answer your phone!”
“Mom…….”
“What!”
“The night sky looked so beautiful today.”
“……? Are you sick somewhere?”
* * *
When I arrived at school the next day, I went straight to the School Office.
I was ready to plead with my homeroom teacher that Song Yeoreum had locked me in the equipment room.
‘She dumped all the Drama Club props out the window, and if I don’t do something, it’s going to fall on me.’
When there’s something I can’t resolve myself and have to tattle to an adult…….
I feel it.
That I’ve truly regressed to my teenage years.
But there was someone ahead of me in the School Office.
“Jung Eun-seong?”
Jung Eun-seong sat in the round chair across from my homeroom teacher, tears rolling down his cheeks like drops of chicken droppings.
Transparent teardrops traced paths down his face between his damp lashes.
“?!”
Why are you crying!

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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