I Became My Ex-Boyfriend’s Concubine - Chapter 4

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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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Chapter 4

Wait a minute—wasn’t this supposed to be a game?
No matter how much freedom they give you, this isn’t right!
Her mind went white, flickering like a faulty bulb.
Even as she thought to push away, the cool, familiar scent that tickled her nose froze her entire body.
Each time their eyes met, a sharp thrill shot down her spine. The rough breath against her cheek made her heart feel like it would leap straight out of her chest.
She didn’t even have time to tell whether this was a scripted sequence or a spontaneous act on his part.
Dan Bi stared at the increasingly close, handsome face and swallowed hard without thinking.
Fine, whatever. It’s all just a game anyway—what difference does it make?
He didn’t stop. As she surrendered and squeezed her eyes shut, a surge of warmth pressed against her lips.
Her heart thundered wildly; the world began to melt away in a dizzy haze.
Chirp-chirp-chirp— chirp-chirp-chirp—
A familiar sound pierced her ear.
Dan Bi’s eyes snapped open.
‘Huh? Where have I heard that sound before?’
And in the blink of an eye.
Whoosh!
Her vision shifted.
Dan Bi looked slowly around her. There was no king-sized bed, no scattered petals, no man in a crimson robe.
Chirp-chirp-chirp— chirp-chirp-chirp—
On the table, a Smartphone rang loudly.
Dan Bi looked down at something in her hand—the Game Device she’d placed on her head just moments ago.
Which meant.
“I’m out of the game?”
On the Smartphone screen, the name “My Love Hyun” glowed above the relentless ringing.

—My Love Hyun

Dan Bi brightened at the name on the screen, then immediately put on a stubborn face. Reluctantly, she pressed the answer button.
“Hello?”
[Just talk to me for a second.]
“I’m busy.”
[Just a second.]
“Wait, I’m—”
Click. The call cut off abruptly. Dan Bi hurled the Smartphone onto the sofa.
“Why does he always have to be so high-handed!”
Wait. Hold on.
“Is he… trying to apologize?”
Before she could stop herself, a small laugh escaped.
“He’s kind of adorable.”
Maybe she should go meet him after all.
She was humming softly to herself as she stood up when she noticed something fall to the floor—and slowly picked it up.
It was the Game Device that had been on her head.
And now she realized: she’d been inside the game just moments ago.

“Wait, hold on—”

Just as her lips were about to meet his, she remembered the phone call.
This wasn’t reality.
She quickly raised her hand to the side of her right ear and felt around. There—she could feel a small translucent membrane with a raised button protruding from it.
The moment she pressed it, her vision shifted again.
Dan Bi slowly looked around.
She’d clearly lost her mind for a moment there. Mixing up the game and reality like that.
But something felt wrong.
Dan Bi immediately checked her watch. It was just past midnight.
She’d received the package around eleven at night.
She’d played through the game in between, and inside the game, half a day had passed.
“The time gap between the game and reality is really that big?”
So games really are just games, then.
Dan Bi set the Game Device down on the sofa without hesitation and headed into her room.
Moments later, a blue light flickered around the Game Device and vanished.

***

Inside the Café, a familiar silhouette caught her eye.
Dan Bi barely suppressed the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she sat across from Hyun. A single espresso sat on the table between them.
“I ordered ahead. You only drink that anyway.”
She swallowed her laughter and reached for the cup without complaint.
So he’s putting on an act to apologize.
This is tricky. Should I accept it?
“Let’s break up.”
The espresso sprayed from her lips before it even reached the back of her throat.
“Pfft. ……What?”
Dan Bi stared up at Hyun, utterly dumbfounded. His eyes held their usual indifference.
“What did you just—”
“I said let’s break up.”
“What are you—!”
“I’m done talking.”
Hyun stood abruptly and walked out the door. Dan Bi watched his retreating figure in a daze, as if her soul had left her body.
‘Wait. This isn’t right—!’
She snapped back to herself and hurried after him.
Outside, she caught sight of that infuriating back of his head in the distance.
“Wait!”
Dan Bi ran after him and grabbed his arm.
“What is that supposed to mean? Breaking up? I called you here to apologize for what happened today, didn’t I?”
“Apologize? For what?”
“Because you—with my name—!”
“I have nothing to apologize for.”
Hyun turned and continued walking, his gaze fixed ahead as if unburdened. Behind his steady stride—
Thwack.
Dan Bi hurled her shoe at him. Only then did his footsteps halt.

“All you’ll look like is a whining girlfriend complaining about how much her boyfriend hurt her.”

Right. There was no point in arguing here. All she’d do is sound pathetic.
She had to hold it in. Stay calm now, sort this out rationally later—
“Why are you suddenly doing this to me? What did I do wrong? You could at least tell me something!”
Dan Bi’s breath came in ragged gasps.
It was ruined. She’d blown it again.
“Hey, Hyun!!”
But Hyun said nothing and simply walked away into the distance.
Dan Bi watched his retreating form in silence.

***

Inside the Neon Beauty building, which boasted more glamour than anywhere else, the Fashion Team—which always maintained its position at the industry’s pinnacle—was in its usual uproar today.
“Wow, you came to work after that yesterday?”
“Talk about shameless.”
“So this is how you make team leader at that age.”
The previous day’s fashion show—Neon Beauty’s greatest spectacle.
Dan Bi had turned it into a laughingstock in an instant, yet she’d waltzed into the office today as though nothing had happened.
The staff whispered ceaselessly about her as she entered the Team Leader’s Office.
Not that she had any reason to stay home. Even if she’d caused an unprecedented scandal in the industry, she was Dan Bi.
Firing the industry’s most irreplaceable talent—someone no one could compete with—would not be an easy decision, even for Neon Beauty.
Beyond the glass of the Team Leader’s Office, every eye fixed on her.
Dan Bi hammered at her keyboard ferociously. To any observer, she looked hard at work, but her monitor displayed only a blank search bar.
Inside it, search terms kept appearing—all variations of the same thing.

—How to kill someone without anyone knowing
—How to stab someone in the back
—How to torment someone
……

“Lee Hyeon, you bastard. I’m going to kill you.”
Just then, the door swung open.
When Dan Bi looked up, an unwelcome face stormed in.
It was Ha Rin.
Dan Bi turned her attention back to the monitor. The sharp click of Ha Rin’s heels grated on her nerves more than usual.
“You’re really pushing it, aren’t you? Already forgotten what you did yesterday?”
When Dan Bi offered no response, Ha Rin’s lips pressed into a thin line.
“You sabotage someone else’s show and waltz back in here like nothing happened? You’ve got some nerve.”
“Isn’t that exactly what I should be saying to you?”
“What?”
Only then did Dan Bi meet Ha Rin’s gaze directly. In her cold, measured eyes, Ha Rin’s twisted expression was clearly reflected.
“You dragged Neon Beauty’s name through the mud putting on that knockoff show—and you have the audacity to show your face here again? If I were you, I’d be too ashamed to step foot in this building. But you? Shameless.”
“Hey!”
“Anything else you want to say? If so, have your lawyer call me.”
Dan Bi pulled a piece of paper from her wallet and set it down on the table. Ha Rin picked it up, her eyes narrowing in confusion.
It was a lawyer’s business card.
“You don’t mean to tell me…!”
“Oh, I do.”
Dan Bi broke into a wide smile.
“I’m going to sue you.”
“What?”
“Why—are you scared? If you steal someone’s designs and upload them under your own name, you should be ready for the consequences, shouldn’t you?”
“You keep insisting I stole them. Do you have proof?”
“Proof? You’re really in a position to demand that?”
Dan Bi stared at her trembling fists for a moment, then let out a soft, bitter laugh.
“Don’t worry. An eye for an eye, theft for theft. I’ve made absolutely certain there’s not a shred of evidence left—I stole it all very carefully.”
“Want to have it out then? Let’s do this properly.”
“You’re on. I plan to fight dirty and win even dirtier. You’d better prepare yourself. You’ve never beaten me once, remember?”
Beep-beep-beep—beep-beep-beep—
The phone’s ringtone cut sharply through the hostile air. When Dan Bi checked the screen, the name “Som” appeared across it.
Dan Bi held the phone as she passed by Ha Rin.
“Unless you’ve got something else to say, I think you should leave.”
“…Who said I’ve never beaten you?”
At those parting words, Dan Bi turned around slowly.
“I didn’t steal it. I picked up something that had no owner.”
Ha Rin brushed past Dan Bi and walked out through the door.
‘What on earth is she talking about?’
Bzzzz—.
The ringtone cut off, replaced by a vibration. A message from Som had arrived.

—Is this about Lee Hyeon?

Dan Bi clicked on the link in the message. An article appeared on her screen.

—Park Ha Rin, the Next Heir to Neon Beauty. Set to Marry Employee Imoh

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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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