Hwayoung High School has separate classes for boys and girls.
In fact, not just Hwayoung High School, but all educational institutions operated by the Hwayoung Academy Foundation, including middle and high schools, were in the same format. Unless there was something special, there was no need to go to a class of the opposite gender.
There was a rule against inappropriate relationships, but that didn’t mean that boy-girl couples didn’t form. Even if they openly dated, most lead committee members kept quiet, and while there might be one loudmouth, it was generally at a level that could be ignored.
However, even so, it was rare for a girl to come to the boys’ class saying she’d wait for her boyfriend, or vice versa, a boy going to the girls’ class to wait for his girlfriend.
They were at a sensitive age. Even if people around them knew they were dating, being teased about it was a whole different story.
Well, sometimes there were those who flaunted it as a sort of bragging right, but—
The other boys in the same class as Yoon Da-ho definitely knew one thing: this situation was anything but ordinary.
“……”
“……”
The two were glaring at each other.
No, saying they were just glaring was an understatement.
They were staring at each other as if to kill.
Yoon Da-ho sat at his desk, while Ye Sara stood in front of him, arms crossed.
From a distance, it looked like a scene that could happen in a romantic comedy manga, but to those who roughly knew how dangerous their relationship was, it was definitely not a cute or warm sight.
“Say it.”
Ye Sara spoke.
“What?”
Yoon Da-ho shot back.
Their voices were sharp.
The phrase ‘staring to kill’ was not an exaggeration.
On one side was an heiress who would, one day, inherit the largest company in Korea, no, in the world.
On the other side was the future chairperson who would inherit the second-largest company in Korea.
If these two really started fighting, there would be no way it would end well.
…At least, that’s what the nearby students, who only ‘roughly’ knew about their relationship, thought.
So, what was the reality?
In truth, Ye Sara was overwhelmingly dominant. She had enough personal wealth to practically challenge large corporations if she threw her assets into it.
Of course, doing so would eventually drag Yujin Group down with her, and the shareholders would definitely dislike that.
“It’s my friends that are going through something. It’s what Hobang Group has done.”
All eyes focused on her.
Well, they were already focused from earlier. It was impossible not to be drawn in when Ye Sara had walked boldly into the boys’ class.
Moreover, she hadn’t come alone. Her ‘love rivals’ always followed her around.
Rumors about Ye Sara and her friends were greatly exaggerated among students of other grades and genders, aside from the freshman girls. After all, Ye Sara was always seen sticking closely to those kids, whether coming to school or leaving.
Just walking around with her arms crossed led to misunderstandings that they were dating, and there were plenty of students who had witnessed them hugging and kissing outright.
Whispers circulated that they must already be a couple since they lived together…
…And, to an extent, that speculation was somewhat correct in that they hadn’t taken a step past that line yet.
At the same time, many students already knew that Ye Sara was Yoon Da-ho’s fiancée.
Therefore, from their perspective, Ye Sara and her three friends merely looked like love rivals.
“……I don’t know anything.”
Yoon Da-ho glanced away from Ye Sara’s gaze.
The once-arrogant Yoon Da-ho had recently shown signs of being subdued. It wasn’t that he had no friends. He had his own followers, and there were female students secretly hoping for his engagement to break.
And Yoon Da-ho had always been proud of that fact.
But lately, he had been skipping gym class without even changing into his workout clothes. His words were becoming fewer, and he was just sitting there blankly for longer periods.
Everyone thought something was going on. It’s just that none of them were foolish enough to think about intervening.
Someone like Ye Sara wouldn’t be able to confront Yoon Da-ho so confidently.
Ye Sara’s eyes narrowed at Yoon Da-ho’s answer, as if she were trying to judge whether he was lying or not.
And that gaze was the most piercing expression Ye Sara had shown until now.
“……”
After staring at Yoon Da-ho for a while, Ye Sara suddenly turned around and left the classroom.
Despite students being packed in, an odd atmosphere made Yoon Da-ho feel as if he was left completely alone in the classroom.
…So, was something happening to Ye Sara’s rivals? And that was why Ye Sara was suspecting Hobang Group?
Did she come looking for her fiancé to confront him about it?
So this is the enormous gap between the first and second positions, huh?
Such thoughts gradually began to dawn in the students’ minds.
Not a single one voiced those thoughts, but Yoon Da-ho seemed to pick up on it, simply resting silently on the desk.
*
Does Yoon Da-ho not know?
It was true that he had the image of a ‘face card.’ Whether it was because he was still young or due to the Hobang Group not trusting him, he didn’t seem to have an image other than that of ‘Ye Sara’s fiancé.’
…Could it be that someone from Yoon Da-ho’s parents’ generation was due to inherit the company?
I’m pretty sure the original work said that ‘Yoon Da-ho would inherit the company.’
“……”
Well, I could just look into it myself.
“Hey, Sara.”
Ha Neul, who had been closely following me, cautiously spoke up.
“Um, you don’t have to worry too much about us.”
“No need to worry at all.”
I cut her off sharply.
While having money can prevent a lot of people’s misfortunes, it doesn’t justify negating the life I’ve lived up until now. If Ha Neul’s father’s company goes under, he would feel that loss immensely. Even if I just hand over the amount of money that was supposed to be his, no, more than that, it wouldn’t easily heal that wound.
Well, I might be able to get over it, but it’s Ha Neul’s father we are talking about. He had purposely not said anything so his daughter wouldn’t worry, and ultimately, Ha Neul only found out after receiving information from Yang Hye-in, Sua’s father, and a reporter Sua had hired.
…Choi Na-kyung has started moving.
And she is probably hiding somewhere related to Hobang Group.
Or at least seeking some cooperation.
For now, on the surface, it was Hobang Group that was moving.
Touch my friend?
I didn’t mind if they scratched my temper over my engagement. As long as Sara didn’t hear that directly, I could either play it off or shoot back.
But if they touched someone around me…
Hmm, maybe that’s too much of a cliche.
Lunch break hasn’t ended yet. There should still be time to talk.
We arrived at the school park. There was always a bank employee waiting here.
I was worried they might have gone off to eat somewhere during lunch, but today, they were still there.
“Han Garam.”
“Oh, customer!”
As soon as our eyes met, her face brightened as if she caught a whiff of money.
“Looks like others have come along today as well. Are they all potential customers?”
…She’s acting as if she’s seen my face before.
“No, it’s just me again today.”
Upon hearing my answer, Han Garam smiled brightly.
“It still doesn’t matter. Your requests are several times more valuable than what others ask for. So, what request do you have today?”
“How’s the stock buy-in going?”
“It’s going smoothly. However, we haven’t reached first in holding volume. Stock prices are currently on the rise. There were significant fluctuations, but not enough to swallow the company just with stocks.”
“Meaning it’s a significant amount?”
“Correct. Here’s the report. I’ve prepared it in advance.”
As she spoke, she handed me an envelope.
…I figured I wouldn’t understand it, so I just accepted it.
“Then, please hold off on the buy-in for now.”
I thought the bank employee who loves spending money would be somewhat disappointed, but it seems I was mistaken.
She smiled even wider and asked,
“Do you have any other requests?”
“……Yes.”
She really knows how to sniff out money.
“With the wealth I had originally planned to invest in your stocks, please purchase shares in Hobang Group. Hobang Electronics, Hobang Life, Hobang Construction… Anything works. Just make it look like a ‘significant action’ to others.”
Hearing my words, Team Leader Han Garam naturally wore an incredibly happy smile.
…Really, she is someone who genuinely loves spending money.
