Liar and Liar - Chapter 37

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 37

 

Having no choice, Danielle Ryu knelt down and shouted.

 

“There’s someone in here! The lights went out, when will this open? Someone collapsed too!!”

 

We just called a technician. Even if the door won’t open, the lights will come back on soon!

 

But contrary to the announcement, the lights didn’t come back on easily. The light truly returned only after what felt like an eternal wait, when the elevator doors finally opened.

 

By then, Cove’s trembling had almost stopped. Since their hands were still clasped together, Danielle Ryu was staring intently at their joined hands.

 

Clunk.

 

When the door opened, Danielle Ryu was startled not by the fact that the door had opened, but by meeting eyes with Cove who was looking directly at her. His wet brown eyes were fixed on Danielle Ryu with excessive intensity.

 

“You said there’s a patient? Are you alright?!”

 

“….”

 

Before the security guard could approach, Cove pushed himself up from the floor with his arms and stood up instantly. Their hands that had been connected the entire time separated, and coldness replaced that spot.

 

Cove left the elevator with quick steps without looking back.

 

“The patient is….”

 

The confused security guard trailed off. Danielle Ryu sighed and slowly got up, one knee at a time.

 

“He seems to be fine now.”

 

Danielle Ryu finished a brief conversation with the security guard and elevator technician, then slowly went up to the 4th floor. The moment she reached the 4th floor, she heard the sound of car tires scraping hard against the ground.

 

Screeeech-

 

A low, wide, streamlined white sports car took the curve at high speed. Danielle Ryu could see the driver’s face from the side.

 

Cove Blanton’s face in the driver’s seat looked urgent, as if he was being chased by something.

 

Danielle Ryu’s thoughts were just as complicated. When the lights had just come on, she was captivated by Cove Blanton’s gaze, but next, Danielle Ryu saw his abdomen exposed where his shirt had ridden up.

 

On his stomach… there was a deep blue bruise.

 

Could it be an injury from playing lacrosse? Or maybe he got hit by a stick.

 

‘It must be… because of lacrosse…?’

 

Danielle Ryu rubbed around her eyes with one hand. Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it anymore.

 

Even while thinking that, Danielle Ryu ended up remembering Bay Blanton from middle school. That monster who had punched his own brother in the ribs.

 

* * *

 

The next morning, Danielle Ryu was getting her things from her locker.

 

“Hey.”

 

Drawn by the voice, Danielle Ryu turned her head. In an unimaginable situation, Danielle Ryu was left speechless. Standing in front of Danielle Ryu was Cove wearing a navy blazer.

 

Unlike yesterday when he seemed almost out of his mind, at least his outward appearance looked fine, no different from usual.

 

“…Why?”

 

Who would have thought he’d speak first. Danielle Ryu naturally thought Cove would ignore her for life. Given that kind of exit.

 

“Don’t tell me you already told someone? Other people.”

 

‘If we’re being fair, wasn’t I the one who helped?’

 

Anyone watching would think I did something wrong.

 

“I didn’t tell anyone. I have no reason to tell other people. Don’t tell me you came to talk just to ask that?”

 

“How can I believe that. I’ll prepare a contract, so just sign it instead. I’ll match the compensation as much as possible. Is a million dollars still your condition?”

 

What is he talking about right now? Danielle Ryu frowned in disgust.

 

“You really know how to make people feel bad in all sorts of ways, don’t you? Why are you making me out to be some shameless person who extorts money by exploiting others’ weaknesses? I can see very well how low your standards are, but could you match my level? By my common sense, you should be saying something else to me right now.”

 

“Something else what. Don’t twist the conversation in a weird direction.”

 

“If you’re going to bother talking to me, at least say thank you! Even if you didn’t thank me, I would have kept my mouth shut forever, but if you talk like that, I’ll be even more careful to keep it shut! Talking about contracts and such, really annoying from the morning.”

 

“….”

 

Cove closed his mouth and avoided eye contact.

 

‘You could never say sorry or thank you to an Asian, even if you died and came back to life, right?’

 

I don’t want to hear such greetings from a racist like you either. Danielle Ryu was about to leave when her phone vibrated, making her check it on the spot.

 

Leaving Cove standing still, Danielle Ryu stared at the screen content with a piercing gaze.

 

“F**k.”

 

Then she irritably ran her fingers through her hair. Finally, Cove’s gaze alternated between Danielle Ryu and her phone.

 

Through the gaps between her fingers crushing her brown hair, Danielle Ryu’s hazel eyes flashed fiercely.

 

* * *

 

The AP Psychology class was held in a tiered classroom reminiscent of a university lecture hall. Danielle Ryu burst through the front door. Right behind her stood Cove.

 

The sound of the door made all the students’ gazes snap toward them. Chris, who was sitting in the front row looking at materials on his desk, looked up. His eyes met with Danielle Ryu as she scanned the classroom, but her determined steps headed elsewhere.

 

“Stella. You posted this, didn’t you.”

 

No wonder you’ve been so quiet.

 

Danielle Ryu held out her phone to Stella with a cold expression. The screen showed a website called ‘Everyfundme’. It was a site where individuals could post funding requests to raise money.

 

Help Danielle Pursue Her Dreams

 

Hello. I’m writing this with a desperate heart.

 

My friend Danielle is an Asian immigrant. Even though she’s a junior, she still doesn’t take care of herself, but she’s smart and diligent enough to always be valedictorian. She’s already been attending school on a full scholarship for 5 years. Even though she always studies in the library until late at night, Danielle never asks others for help. Not even when she really needs it.

 

Actually, Danielle and her family are going through a very difficult time. Five years ago, her younger brother was diagnosed with a rare disease, causing great financial hardship.

 

Danielle tried to handle this quietly, but now she’s in a situation where she can’t even afford next semester’s tuition.

 

As far as I know, Danielle wouldn’t want this kind of help. She has strong pride. I respect Danielle’s way, but at the same time, I think Danielle truly deserves to learn here, and we can protect Danielle with everyone’s small gestures.

 

Even a small amount is fine.

 

Please protect Danielle’s dream of becoming a doctor for her brother, so she doesn’t give up♥

 

Love you, Danielle.

 

Posting a funding request like this might be a bit over the top… but someone had to do it♡

 

— Written by a friend who truly believes in her.

 

Below that, comments were lined up. Comments that made Danielle Ryu’s blood pressure rise just by looking at them.

 

@Desireku: respect. she’s a fighter.

 

@Emilyz_: Danielle, don’t be embarrassed. Look how many people love you.

 

@jules: Pride is good, but sometimes accepting help is also courage 🙂

 

@Harrisonsquare: There’s no explanation about the brother’s illness. Is it that serious?

 

@I_am_Empyrean: Keeping the face private and asking for such a large funding amount? Do they think funding is a joke? Just how ugly must the face be.

 

Such funding pages required the fundraiser to list their real name. Stella, who found her name on the page, smiled nonchalantly.

 

“You saw it! Quite a bit of money has been raised. I’ll somehow raise the full target amount for you.”

 

Emily and another female student sitting next to her suppressed their laughter. Seeing that, Danielle Ryu felt like her insides were turning upside down. Of course, her blood seemed to flow backward too.

 

‘These bitches, really.’

 

Cove took the phone from Danielle Ryu’s hand. At the same time, Chris got up from his seat and approached Danielle Ryu.

 

From Danielle Ryu’s perspective, she had plenty to say. Or she could grab that hair right here and now.

 

Cove, who had checked the phone, stared expressionlessly at Stella and her group. Chris received the phone that Cove had looked through.

 

Danielle Ryu quietly looked at Stella’s innocent expression, as if daring her to say something.

 

‘I guess she really wanted to humiliate me somehow.’

 

While she was truly angry to the tips of her hair, it wasn’t something Danielle Ryu couldn’t handle alone.

 

“Danielle. Should I talk for you instead?”

 

Chris’s intervention was something Danielle Ryu had never even considered.

 

What kind of situation is this now. Chris’s expression was serious without any trace of laughter.

 

Even though they had started talking, there was no reason to accept help. The uncomfortable feelings remained the same.

 

After thinking for a moment, Danielle Ryu shook her head and extended her hand to Chris. It meant to give back the phone.

 

If she were to accept help, it would normally be from her boyfriend.

 

‘Boyfriend….’

 

At that moment, Frederick’s voice came to mind.

 

“I’m not going to let you go, so how can we break up, baby.”

 

Just once.

 

Just a tiny bit, should I try trusting him.

 

It was also true that Frederick was the optimal choice for dealing with Stella.

 

Danielle Ryu, who had been looking at the phone, soon pressed the screen. The ringtone didn’t last long.

 

The moment the ringtone stopped, Danielle Ryu looked down at Stella, who was subtly glaring at her, in the same way and spoke.

 

“Baby. Are you busy?”

 

What had been just gazes sticking to her, with Danielle Ryu’s one sentence, the entire class became quiet.

 

“Could you come to where I am? No, it’s not a big deal.”

 

Danielle Ryu didn’t miss Stella gripping the lip gloss in her hand tightly.

 

“Stella did something silly. I thought she might explain it well so I could understand.”

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