Liar and Liar - Chapter 52

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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 52

 

Danielle Ryu tried to hold on as much as she could, but holding her breath had already reached its limit. The strength in her arms wrapped around his neck gave out.

 

“You can’t breathe, my dear.”

 

Frederick finally pulled back and rubbed his head against Danielle Ryu’s temple like a puppy. Even while chuckling, the strength in his arms remained steady.

 

“…”

 

Danielle Ryu’s face was dyed bright red. No words came out. She was drained, and her head was foggy. She had no sense of reality at all.

 

Seeing someone at the edge of her vision taking off their t-shirt and spinning it in the air like a windmill, it was definitely not reality.

 

“Where am I… right now?”

 

“Look at your left hand.”

 

Danielle Ryu weakly moved her left arm to check her hand. Inside the glove was a white ball with red stitching.

 

“Um, actually I was originally planning to arrange a meeting with player Seonwoo Kang after the game when I got the chance.”

 

Frederick’s words reached Danielle Ryu in fragments. Game… Seonwoo Kang… arrange…

 

“But since you caught the home run ball, I don’t need to go through any trouble. Haha.”

 

“…What do you mean?”

 

People wanted to high-five Danielle Ryu. When one person tried, two people crowded in, and seeing that, three people came running.

 

Lucky charm. Lucky charm. Everyone was muttering the same words with beaming smiles.

 

As people gradually gathered, a security guard and a staff member pushed through the crowd and approached right in front of Danielle Ryu.

 

“You caught the home run ball, right? Could you come with us for a moment?”

 

Danielle Ryu looked up toward Frederick. So this is what he meant.

 

Frederick was still holding Danielle Ryu’s upper body with one arm like a support beam so she could lean on him.

 

“Miss! Make sure you get at least a million dollars!”

 

A man shouted loudly. Danielle Ryu’s gaze turned to the ball inside the glove.

 

A million…? One… billion?

 

‘…This ball is that expensive?’

 

Everyone was murmuring enviously. For now, Danielle Ryu followed the staff member along with Frederick.

 

Upon entering an office, a man who had been waiting inside widened his eyes and approached. It was toward Frederick, not Danielle Ryu.

 

“Frederick? Don’t tell me you were the one who caught the home run ball?”

 

“Haha, no. My girlfriend caught it. Surprisingly.”

 

Only then did the man in the Sharks jacket look at Danielle Ryu.

 

“Oh, I see. Nice to meet you. I’m Jonathan. I’m the marketing team manager for the LA Sharks.”

 

He politely offered a handshake.

 

“I’m Danielle.”

 

The team called to buy the ball, right? So do I propose an amount first…? Danielle Ryu’s mind was complicated, but Jonathan had no reason to rush and approached very ‘American-style.’

 

“Congratulations. It almost looked like the ball was finding its owner! Are you a fan of any particular player?”

 

He’s not talking about money. Danielle Ryu decided to let go of her impatience too.

 

“Actually, I’m a fan of player Seonwoo Kang. So I’m ten times happier.”

 

“I see! The Sharks team is probably holding the championship trophy right now, but if you can wait, I’ll arrange time for you to talk with player Seonwoo Kang. It’s a ball that would be meaningful to the player personally, so Seonwoo Kang might want to negotiate too.”

 

Ah… Danielle Ryu answered a beat late.

 

“Yes. I’ll wait.”

 

Am I… possibly going to see player Seonwoo Kang today?

 

‘Right up close too?’

 

Instead of staying in the waiting room, Danielle Ryu and Frederick decided to go out to the fence to watch the award ceremony.

 

When Danielle Ryu stood in front of the fence, Frederick naturally embraced her from behind. Danielle Ryu’s body stiffened. The moment they kissed kept replaying in her mind.

 

On the mound, a platform had been set up as if it had always been there. Players, coaches, and broadcasters wearing gray t-shirts commemorating the World Series victory were still mixed together in chaos.

 

WE RULE OCTOBER.

 

Danielle Ryu read the bold text written on the back of the players’ t-shirts.

 

Finally, the players lined up on the platform, and even after climbing up, player Seonwoo Kang continued embracing other players. The trophy was shaped like golden flags connected like Saturn’s rings. It looked like a golden laurel crown.

 

As expected, Frederick’s father Sylvester, the team owner, was the first to receive the trophy. He spoke his victory speech with a joyful expression and composure. His voice echoed throughout the entire stadium through the speakers.

 

Frederick gently rubbed Danielle Ryu’s head with his chin.

 

“Honey.”

 

“…What?”

 

From the moment she caught the ball, from the moment they kissed, her head just wouldn’t work. Her heart was beating so irregularly she wondered if she really had arrhythmia, making it hard to breathe.

 

“I didn’t disappoint you by kissing too roughly, did I…”

 

Danielle Ryu squeezed her eyes shut. Aaaaah.

 

‘Rough, what’s rough, saying that with your own mouth right now…’

 

“No, disappoint, what… why are you… why are you asking something like that?”

 

Sylvester, who finished his speech, handed the trophy to the players standing behind him. The players smiled brightly and shared the glory together by passing the trophy they received to the person next to them.

 

Danielle Ryu, who had been facing the mound, turned around. Frederick was wearing a faint smile.

 

“Honey. Even if you get compensation money for the ball, you can’t abandon me saying you don’t need my help anymore. The kiss… was too hasty. I could do it more sweetly.”

 

Aaaaaaaah.

 

Danielle Ryu felt like she would die of embarrassment. She knew in her head it was nothing special, she could just casually say ‘prove it’ or something like that. But helplessly, heat rose to her ears, cheeks, neck, and lips.

 

“Ki, kissing, what, what does it matter. It doesn’t, doesn’t matter at all.”

 

“It doesn’t matter? No, I think it does matter. Want to check?”

 

He carefully pressed his lips against Danielle Ryu’s temple again like something small and gentle. But what was really small and gentle was Danielle Ryu.

 

Her whole body trembled pitifully. The breath touching her ear was maddeningly warm, but Danielle Ryu actually felt chills.

 

“You know, honey… I keep thinking that once you get the compensation money, I’ll be abandoned… So I want to prove that I’m useful as a boyfriend in ‘other ways’ too.”

 

If he kissed her again here, wouldn’t her legs give out and she’d have to crawl to the meeting room like a snail? It was a disgraceful sight she didn’t even want to imagine.

 

“St… stop. Don’t do it. I want to meet player Seonwoo Kang with a clear mind. You can’t.”

 

“Then I have to stay sad…?”

 

What’s with this pitiful act when you have the build of a bear? Danielle Ryu looked at Frederick with his pouting lips in disbelief.

 

‘If you kiss well, you won’t leave me.’ It was sophistry she’d never heard or seen in her life.

 

“Hey, Frederick.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Let’s study from now on…”

 

“Why does the conclusion suddenly turn out like that.”

 

And why am I ‘Frederick’? His continued whining was cut short by a voice that suddenly interrupted.

 

“Excuse me.”

 

A staff member who appeared from the corridor approached Danielle Ryu and Frederick.

 

“I told player Seonwoo Kang about the ball, and he said he’d come right after finishing his interview. If it’s okay with you, shall we move to the meeting room now?”

 

“What? Yes!!”

 

Danielle Ryu unconsciously grabbed Frederick’s wrist to chase after the staff member, but Frederick didn’t budge like an anchor. Only then did Danielle Ryu turn her head to look up at Frederick.

 

“Why? Let’s hurry!”

 

Danielle Ryu was smiling. She looked genuinely happy, and it made Frederick think of fifth grade.

 

Frederick silently nodded and took steps as Danielle Ryu led him.

 

* * *

 

Only after arriving at the meeting room did Danielle Ryu’s rationality return, and sitting in a chair, she finally began to think realistically.

 

Talking directly with player Seonwoo Kang means I’ll be getting money from player Seonwoo Kang?

 

‘…One billion…?’

 

For a fan to extort one billion from their favorite player is… a bit…

 

‘Can I still call myself a fan after doing that…’

 

But she couldn’t just give the ball back to the player like a gift either. Her family’s faces appeared too vividly in her mind. Those illusions showed them with tired and helpless expressions.

 

“Honey. I’m going to make a quick phone call.”

 

“Mm-hmm.”

 

Honestly, she wished Frederick would stay by her side, but since he had business to attend to, she couldn’t just hold him back. With two staff members talking to each other, Danielle Ryu could be lost in thought alone.

 

‘What should I do… I don’t know what to do…’

 

The thoughts and worries that had been settling without answers instantly vanished due to a silhouette that appeared at the door. Danielle Ryu shot up from her seat.

 

“Hueop!”

 

A strange sound popped out. That caught the attention of player Seonwoo Kang who had just entered the meeting room.

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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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