Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 5

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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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5.

The whispered murmurs of the students reached her ears as well.

“Insane. Look at Cheonhaerang smiling.”
“I didn’t know he could smile like that.”
“This is my first time seeing it. Seriously.”
“What’s the relationship between those two? You don’t know?”
“How would I?”

The reaction was unusual. The students’ eyes gleamed with curiosity.
Jiho tilted her head in confusion but quickly dismissed it. After all, she’d only be here for a day—there was no reason to pay it much mind.
For now, what mattered most to her was preparing for class.
The first period of the morning was Korean Literature. Jiho pulled her textbook from her bag and opened it.

“Alright, everyone give it your best today too.”

Yes! The cheerful chorus of the students’ voices rang out in unison with the bell.
The moment Jeonghyeon left, the students swarmed toward Jiho’s desk as if they’d been waiting. Questions poured down like a downpour.

“Jiho, where did you transfer from?”
“Where do you live?”
“Did you already know Cheonhaerang?”
&#@(@!

Jiho couldn’t even understand half of what they were saying. Their voices overlapped in a cacophony of chatter.
Under the barrage of questions, Jiho felt her energy drain away in an instant, but she still made an effort to answer the students earnestly.
Of course, inwardly she was desperately hoping the break would end as soon as possible.

“Alright, that’s enough.”

Cheonhaerang stepped in, noticing Jiho’s overwhelm. The students protested, but he remained firm.

“The teacher will be here soon, so let’s all head back to your seats.”

Cheonhaerang spoke with a smile.
But it was far from the smile he showed Jiho. Only Jiho failed to notice this.
The children grumbled and returned to their seats.
Jiho looked at Cheonhaerang. He met her gaze and smiled.
The children realized his eyes had taken on a completely different intensity than before. But this too escaped Jiho’s notice.

“Creepy. Like he has a split personality.”
“I’m pretty sure those two are dating.”
“What else would that be if not dating?”

The various comments reached Cheonhaerang’s ears with crystal clarity.
The split personality remark irritated him considerably, but the suggestion that he was dating Jiho made him genuinely happy.
If they became an officially recognized couple at school first, then actually dating would follow naturally. Everything started as a pretense anyway.
Everything begins as a lie.
They were gradually becoming an acknowledged couple in the class, yet Jiho remained completely unaware that she had become his girlfriend.
Jiho hesitated as she looked at Cheonhaerang’s smile.
No matter how little she cared for him or how reluctant she was to express gratitude, she was still a member of the Baekho Clan.
She had to consider future circumstances. When she returned to the Heavenly Realm, Cheonhaerang might feel betrayed by her.
Then she would never be able to convey her thanks.
The thought of bearing a childhood friend’s resentment was hardly pleasant.
But they were no longer friends, were they?
Jiho was surprised at how coldly she could think.
If it were Yeonhwa, it might be different. The boy before her was Princess Yeonhwa, and I was merely her servant—the White Tiger Guardian Beast.
And the one the White Tiger must serve above all else was the Supreme Deity.
Jiho carefully opened her mouth.

“…Thank you for helping me back there.”

In an instant, Cheonhaerang’s wide eyes narrowed into a sweet, melting smile.
Jiho felt her heart grow inexplicably heavy.
Cheonhaerang gestured to Jiho. She followed his gesture and bowed slightly.
In that moment, he cast a cold glance toward the surroundings before whispering softly into Jiho’s ear.

“I’ll give you a tour of the school during lunch, Jiho.”

…Was this really something that needed to be said like this?
Jiho rolled her eyes to look at Cheonhaerang. He grinned and quickly moved away.
As Jiho straightened from her bow, she touched her cheek. The cheek where his breath had brushed against her felt strangely warm.

* * *

I had always enjoyed studying quite a bit. Reading books while holed up in my room was even a hobby of mine.
So I had no choice but to concentrate during class. Learning was genuinely enjoyable for me.
Because of this, my attitude in class naturally caught the teachers’ attention. It was especially noticeable since I was seated next to Cheonhaerang, one of the most famous students among the faculty.
Moreover, it was only my first day after transferring, yet I was asking the teacher questions during precious break time. Word spread through the Faculty Office like wildfire.
The teachers in the 2nd Year Faculty Office envied Kim Jeonghyeon, the homeroom teacher of 2nd Year Class 4, for having not only the renowned Cheonhaerang but also this exemplary transfer student.
However, I remained blissfully unaware of all this, and during the bustling break time, I found myself learning mathematics from Cheonhaerang. It was entirely unintentional on my part.

“When we say it intersects the x-axis here, that’s the same as finding the x value where y equals zero, and so if we use the properties of logarithms….”

Neat handwriting appeared on the white notebook, accompanying his calm explanation.
Time seemed too precious to waste, and the class period flew by so quickly that we were already in the break after the third period.
Since I thought these were classes I’d only attend once and never again, I felt a deep sense of regret.
With only five minutes left until the fourth period began, I spent the break time reviewing logarithmic functions from the third period mathematics class without resting at all.
Then, struggling with a problem that wouldn’t come easily, Cheonhaerang asked me.

“Is it very difficult? Would you like some help?”

I could have gone to find Kim Jeonghyeon, the mathematics teacher and homeroom teacher, but for some reason, I didn’t want to approach him.
So, though not entirely enthusiastic about it, I chose to learn from Cheonhaerang instead. Perhaps it was because I remembered how he looked during mathematics class.
After all, Cheonhaerang had solved the problem the homeroom teacher put on the blackboard perfectly. It was better to learn from someone who knew.
Besides, Cheonhaerang had a nicer voice than the homeroom teacher, and his handwriting was prettier too.

“…So the answer comes out like this. Do you understand, Jiho?”

The problem solution was finished, and his gentle voice called out to me. I quickly pulled my wandering attention back to the present.

“…Yeah, yes. I think I get it.”
“That’s good. Was there anything difficult to understand?”

There wasn’t. He seemed to explain things better than the homeroom teacher. I nodded my head.
At my affirmative answer, Cheonhaerang smiled as brightly as a flower blooming.
Will I be able to see that smile even after returning to the Heavenly Realm? The sudden thought made me feel a little sad.
Cheonhaerang was delighted. He wanted to be even more helpful to me. He was especially pleased if my heart was drawn to his intellectual side.

“If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask me again.”
“Okay. Thank you.”

I greeted lightly and retrieved the practice notebook I’d been working on at Cheonhaerang’s desk, organizing it. Next was Korean Geography.
♩ ♪ ♬ ♪
Cheonhaerang glanced at the clock with a regretful expression. The break time I spent with him was far too short.

‘But we’ll be together during lunch too.’

His dampened mood lifted instantly. Cheonhaerang prepared for the fourth period without hiding the smile that escaped his lips.

* * *

What was the fourth period?
It was the last class of the morning, but it was also a time to prepare for the lunch hour—a veritable battlefield.
The students of 2nd Year Class 4 were no exception.
Ten minutes before the fourth period ended, the class no longer cared about lessons. They were poised to bolt toward the cafeteria at any moment.
Today was Wednesday. It was a day without leftover food restrictions, meaning the most delicious meal of the week was being served.
Mr. Oh, the Korean History teacher, had already noticed the students’ restlessness. Glancing at the clock, he closed his book and spoke.

“Alright. You all listened well today, so I’ll let you out early.”

Cheers erupted from all corners—”Awesome, teacher! We love you!”

“My goodness, you kids sure know how to sweet-talk.”

Chuckling with playful reproach, Mr. Oh was about to call on Cheonhaerang, the class representative, when he noticed Jiho sitting beside him. This was the transfer student everyone had been talking about. Just as the rumors suggested, she had listened to the entire lesson with bright, attentive eyes.
If he wasn’t mistaken, the transfer student seemed somewhat reluctant at this very moment.
Mr. Oh took a liking to this transfer student. Hoping she would always maintain this demeanor, he called on Cheonhaerang.
Teacher Oh took a liking to this transfer student. Hoping he would remain this way in the future, Teacher Oh called out to Haerang.

“Alright then, class president. Say hello.”

Haelang stood up from his seat. Every time Professor Oh saw Haelang’s tall, well-proportioned figure, he felt an inexplicable sense of pride.

“Thank you, teacher.”
“Yes, everyone enjoy your meal. Don’t doze off during fifth period!”
“Yes, sir.”
“Anyway, you kids are good at responding. Well then, I’m off.”
Anyway, you answer well, you really do. Well then, I’m going, teacher.

After Mr. Oh left the classroom, the atmosphere grew somewhat restless, though not enough to draw complaints from teachers in adjacent classrooms.
The class had developed a habit of watching Cheonhaerang’s reactions, though I remained unaware of this tendency.
In any case, whether the classroom was noisy or quiet held little importance for me.
A few minutes remained before the bell rang—more than enough time for me to review.
Just as I began recalling the lesson content to start my review, a mischievous voice pierced through my ears.

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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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