The Chaebol Family’s Youngest Daughter Doesn’t Hide Her Acting Skills - Chapter 72

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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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Episode 72

I quickly stuffed the remaining rice into my mouth, returned my tray, and was coming out when someone suddenly blocked my path.

Those well-stretched legs, the shoulder line that fit perfectly in his shirt, those slanted eyes. It was Ryu Dokyung.

“Ju Sae-i, let’s talk for a moment.”

He gestured with his chin toward Woon Seong-ha who was beside me and added.

“Just the two of us.”

Woon Seong-ha frowned and was about to step forward, but I grabbed Seong-ha’s arm first.

With Ryu Dokyung’s personality, if someone else interfered, Seong-ha might earn his hatred.

“Go ahead, Seong-ha. I’ll be right there.”

“…Alright. I’ll wait.”

Woon Seong-ha looked Ryu Dokyung up and down with disapproving eyes, then slowly walked toward the hallway.

As soon as Seong-ha disappeared from view, Ryu Dokyung bent down to meet my eyes.

“What’s with that guy.”

My heart dropped at the handsome face that suddenly came close.

Ah, seriously.

…Fine, let me admit it. I used to like Ryu Dokyung for his face.

Not just his personality of being prickly but caring, but I was indeed weak to Ryu Dokyung’s face.

I had resolved not to waver when facing him after returning to the past.

I had been keeping my distance well until now!

But making eye contact this close is cheating…

I blinked, pretending to be calm.

“Is that guy Kyungseo?”

“What?”

“You said you made a friend before. That his name was Kyungseo.”

Right, I had given a vague answer when Ryu Dokyung asked before.

He still remembers that name?

“…It’s annoying.”

As if he noticed that I had made up the name, Ryu Dokyung frowned deeply.

“It’s annoying how that bastard looks at you. And it’s even more annoying how you protect and coddle that bastard.”

He paused for a moment, then smoothly curled up the corner of his mouth.

“That’s too much, Ju Sae-i.”

Ryu Dokyung looked down at me with eyes full of disappointment and grumbled.

“When did you used to follow me around saying you liked me and wanted to marry me.”

“…!”

My face flushed hot.

Why are you bringing up that dark history here?

“That… that was when I was how old… why now…”

“I’m not mentally prepared to have my bride stolen yet.”

Ryu Dokyung cheekily touched my hair with his finger. There was a strange edge to his playfully thrown words.

But in the first place…

Why am I Ryu Dokyung’s bride? He rejected me so much before.

Looking at that shameless yet handsome face saying he wasn’t ready to have his bride stolen, words just burst out of me without thinking.

“…Are you jealous or something?”

When I asked impulsively, Ryu Dokyung widened his eyes for a moment, then muttered calmly.

“…I wonder. Is it jealousy.”

He tilted his head toward me and whispered quietly.

“Let’s say it is.”

“…”

My heart dropped again with a thud.

I thought he would laugh and call me crazy. What am I supposed to do when he comes at me like that…

Ryu Dokyung seemed to enjoy my dazed expression before leaving one last comment.

“I’m not nice enough to just watch someone else get the good stuff.”

He turned around and walked away leisurely.

His retreating figure looked as relaxed as usual, but he couldn’t hide the fact that his ear tips were red as ripe apples as he walked away.

…What was that.

Someone else getting the good stuff, not being nice.

I covered my flushed cheeks with both hands.

Get it together, Ju Sae-i!

Hey? You need to get back at Uncle. Do you have time to give your heart to Ryu Dokyung again?

Why am I acting like this over one comment like that?

I had definitely resolved. The goal of this life was only survival, and climbing to the highest place through acting to get revenge on Uncle.

I had no time to waste on first love.

But my heart was helplessly crumbling under Ryu Dokyung’s surprise attack dripping with lingering feelings.

‘Why is he really acting like that? He wasn’t like that in my previous life.’

Memories of my past life flashed by.

The future Ryu Dokyung was, frankly speaking, an iron wall itself.

Even when engagement rumors with Ju Suyeon circulated as gossip, he officially denied it with a serious face, saying it was groundless and unpleasant.

So much so that there were even comments from foreign acquaintances saying he never dated anyone during his study abroad years and only studied.

‘Back then everyone was asking if Ryu Dokyung was a monk, or even wondering if he was impotent…’

Could that have been because of lingering feelings for me?

Because I wasn’t there, so he didn’t meet anyone?

Ahem…

Stop being so self-absorbed, Sae-i.

When my thoughts reached that point, one fact suddenly flashed through my mind.

“…Huh? Wait a minute.”

Study abroad?

“Ah, right…”

I opened my mouth in a daze.

I had completely forgotten. In my previous life, Ryu Dokyung suddenly left to study abroad in the United States, then returned later for the conglomerate management succession process.

‘When was Ryu Dokyung’s study abroad period?’

When I tried to remember, my spine went cold.

Was it early in the semester? Or… around now?

Since I was only guessing the timing from articles and bits of information I heard, I wasn’t certain.

‘…Isn’t he leaving soon?’

If things went as originally planned, Ryu Dokyung didn’t have much time left by my side.

Maybe those words just now were the last lingering feelings he was leaving behind.

Realizing that fact, a completely different kind of shock from the flutter I felt earlier hit my chest.

‘…He’s going to leave? Just like that?’

I stared blankly at the end of the hallway where Ryu Dokyung had disappeared.

I was clearly the one who tried to draw the line first. I didn’t know why thinking about him leaving bothered me so much.

I felt like singing a song right now.

First love is too difficult for Ju-eo-seu.

***

The aftermath of the Ryu Dokyung lunch incident continued until 5th period PE class.

While the PE teacher drew the dodgeball court with white lime powder on the floor, I stretched while retying my sneaker laces.

“Hey. Ju Sae-i.”

A cold shadow fell over my head.

When I looked up, Ju Suyeon was looking down at me with her arms crossed. Her eyes were seething with venom.

“…What.”

“What was that in the cafeteria earlier?”

“What?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. Why was Dokyung oppa sitting next to you? What did you talk about when he called you aside after eating?”

Ju Suyeon shot back with a sharp voice.

From the moment Ryu Dokyung sat next to me earlier, she seemed to be trembling with her spoon from afar, and it looked like she finally couldn’t hold it in and exploded.

I shrugged my shoulders as if it was nothing.

“We didn’t talk about much. Just asking if the food was good, stuff like that.”

“Lies. Would someone call you aside just to ask if the food was good?”

Ju Suyeon let out a hollow laugh as if she was dumbfounded and stepped closer.

“You seem to think you’re untouchable these days, but don’t get the wrong idea.”

“What…”

“There’s no way Dokyung oppa would be serious about someone like you.”

“…”

“Just because he talks to you a bit to kill time, you think you’re something special? Know your place and tone it down. It’s embarrassing.”

It was a typical repertoire.

Class differences, level differences. Wasn’t she tired of it? I swallowed a sigh inwardly and replied.

“Thanks for the advice, but go take that up with him. I’m sick of the hassle too.”

“What? Hassle?”

My dry reaction seemed to properly scratch Ju Suyeon’s pride. Her face instantly turned red with anger.

“This girl really…”

Tweet—!

Just then, the PE teacher’s whistle blew sharply.

“Alright, everyone gather up! We’re dividing into teams!”

Ju Suyeon glared at me with an unsettled expression before turning around.

Whether it was fate’s prank or the PE captain’s deliberate doing when dividing teams, Ju Suyeon and I ended up on opposing teams.

Woon Seong-ha and I were on one team, and Ju Suyeon was on the opposing team.

Even before the game started, Ju Suyeon looked like she wanted to kill me. The ball in her hands was being squeezed tight.

‘…This is brutal.’

I swallowed dryly and slowly backed toward the rear of the defensive line.

That wasn’t the stance of someone about to throw a ball, but someone ready to hit me with a rock if necessary!

The game started with the sound of the whistle.

The first attack naturally came from Ju Suyeon, who had possession of the ball. She didn’t even glance at the boys, targeting only me.

“Move!”

Ju Suyeon pushed aside the boys from her own team who were blocking her way and stepped forward. She gritted her teeth and swung her arm wide.

Whoosh—!

It was such a fierce fastball that it made a sound cutting through the air.

The ball was flying straight toward my face.

…But I need to protect my face!

It was too fast to dodge. I squeezed my eyes shut and belatedly raised my arms to at least protect my face.

Thud!

A dull friction sound was heard.

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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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