Chapter 4
Wait, wasn't this a game?
Even if the freedom of movement is high, this is too much!
My mind went blank, flashing white.
Even though I thought I should push him away, my whole body stiffened at the cool, crisp scent tickling the tip of my nose.
Every time our gazes locked, a tingling thrill ran down my spine. My heart hammered against my ribs, threatening to leap out of my mouth at the rough breath brushing against my cheek.
I didn't even have the presence of mind to judge whether this was a scripted scenario or the man’s own impulsive action.
Watching his handsome face draw closer, Danbi swallowed hard without realizing it.
Oh, whatever. It’s all just a game anyway, right?
He didn't stop. As I squeezed my eyes shut in resignation, a wave of heat washed over my lips.
Just as my mind was dizzyingly melting into the sound of my racing heart—
*Ring-a-ling— Ring-a-ling—*
A familiar sound echoed in my ears.
Danbi’s eyes snapped open.
‘Huh? I’ve heard this sound somewhere before.’
And in the blink of an eye.
*Whoosh!*
My field of vision shifted.
Danbi slowly looked around. There was no king-sized bed, no flower petals scattered across it, and no Lee Hyun wearing the Royal Dragon Robe.
*Ring-a-ling— Ring-a-ling—*
On the table, I saw my phone ringing noisily.
Danbi looked down at what she was holding in her hand. It was the very same game console she had just had on her head.
That meant.
"Did I just come out of the game?"
On the screen of the incessantly ringing phone, the words "My Love Hyun" appeared.
―My Love Hyun
Danbi brightened at the name on the screen, then put on a sulky expression for no reason. Soon, she reluctantly pressed the call button.
"Hello?"
[Let’s talk for a moment.]
"I’m busy."
[It’ll only take a moment.]
"W-wait. Hel—"
*Click.* The call cut off in an instant. Danbi threw her phone onto the sofa.
"Why is he always so self-centered!"
Huh? Wait.
"Is he trying to apologize?"
A small laugh escaped me before I could stop it.
"How cute."
In that case, maybe I should go out and see him.
Just as I stood up, humming a tune, something fell to the floor with a thud. Danbi slowly picked it up.
It was the game console I had been wearing on my head just a moment ago.
Come to think of it, I had been inside the game until just a little while ago.
"W-wait...!"
The moment our lips were about to meet, I only remembered after hearing the ringtone.
That this wasn't reality.
I immediately raised my hand and touched the area around my right ear. I could feel a button protruding from the transparent film.
The moment I pressed it, my vision shifted.
Danbi slowly looked around.
I must have lost my mind for a second. To think I’d confuse a game with reality.
But something was strange.
Danbi immediately checked the clock. It was just past midnight.
I had received the package around 11:00 PM.
In that time, I had progressed through the game, and half a day had passed there.
"The time difference between the game and reality is this big?"
I guess a game really is just a game.
Danbi left the game console on the sofa without a second thought and went into her room.
A moment later, a blue light flashed around the game console and then vanished.
***
Inside the cafe, a familiar back came into view.
Danbi sat across from Hyun, barely suppressing the corners of her mouth that kept curling upward. A cup of espresso sat on the table.
"I ordered it in advance. You only drink that."
I held back the laughter threatening to burst out and readily picked up the coffee cup.
So he’s putting on an act to apologize, huh?
This is a dilemma. Should I play along just this once?
"Let's break up."
The sip of espresso I had just taken spilled out of my mouth before it could even go down my throat.
"Pfft. ...What?"
Danbi looked up at Hyun, dumbfounded. His usual indifferent gaze met hers.
"What did you just—"
"I said let's break up."
"You, what is that—!"
"I'm done talking."
Hyun stood up abruptly, opened the door, and walked outside. Danbi stared blankly at his retreating figure, completely stunned.
‘Wait. This isn't the time to be doing this...!’
Coming to my senses late, I hurriedly followed him.
Once I stepped outside, I saw the back of his head in the distance, looking as annoying as ever.
"Wait a minute!"
Danbi ran up and grabbed his arm.
"What on earth is that supposed to mean? Breaking up? Didn't you call me here to apologize for today?"
"Apologize? Why would I?"
"Why? Because you... my name...!"
"I haven't done anything to apologize for."
Hyun turned around just like that. As he walked forward as if he had no regrets,
*Thwack.*
Danbi threw her shoe with all her might. Only then did his footsteps stop.
"Does this make you look like anything more than a whiny brat whose girlfriend got her feelings hurt?"
Yeah, what’s the point of making a scene here? It’ll just make me look like I’m whining.
I had to hold it in. I should hold it in now and have a rational conversation later...!
"Why are you suddenly doing this to me? What did I do so wrong to you? You have to at least tell me something!"
Danbi gasped for air.
Damn it. I ended up doing it again.
"Hey, Lee Hyun!!"
But Hyun, who had been listening silently, just walked away into the distance without a word.
Danbi watched his back as he refused to look back.
***
Inside the 'Neon Beauty' building, which boasted a more glamorous appearance than any other place. Among them, the 'Fashion Team,' which always maintained the industry's peak, was noisy again today.
"Wow, she actually came to work today after what happened yesterday?"
"Her thick skin is incredible."
"I guess that's how you become a team leader at that age."
The biggest fashion show in Neon Beauty's history had taken place the other day.
Because Yeo Danbi, who had turned it into a laughingstock in an instant, had come to work as if nothing had happened.
The employees gossiped incessantly behind Danbi’s back as she entered the team leader's office.
Then again, there was no reason she couldn't come to work. Even if she had caused such an unprecedented accident in the industry, she was still Yeo Danbi.
Firing the industry's top talent, whom no one could catch up to, would not be an easy decision for 'Neon Beauty' to make.
Through the glass of the team leader's office, everyone's eyes were fixed on her.
Danbi typed furiously on her keyboard. To an outsider, it would look like she was working hard, but only a single yellow search bar was open on her monitor.
The blank space was filled with similar search terms the whole time.
―How to kill someone secretly
―How to stab someone in the back
―How to torment someone
……
"Lee Hyun, you son of a bitch. I'm going to kill you."
Just then, the door opened.
When I looked up, a face I didn't want to see barged in.
It was Harin.
Danbi turned her gaze back to the monitor. The sound of her high heels, sharper than usual, grated on my nerves.
"You're really going all out, aren't you? Have you already forgotten what you did yesterday?"
When there was no answer from Danbi, Harin bit her lip.
"You ruined someone else's show and you're crawling back in here like nothing happened? You shameless bitch."
"Isn't that what I should be saying to you?"
"What?"
Only then did Danbi face Harin. Harin’s distorted face was reflected in her coldly sunken eyes.
"How can you crawl back in here after putting the Neon Beauty name on a knockoff show? If it were me, I’d be too embarrassed to even show my face. You’re the shameless one."
"Hey!!"
"Do you have anything else to say? If you do, contact me."
Danbi took a piece of paper out of her wallet and placed it on the table. Harin picked it up with a puzzled look.
It was a lawyer's business card.
"You, don't tell me...!"
"Yes, don't tell me."
Danbi smiled brightly.
"I'm going to sue you."
"What?"
"Why? Are you scared? If you stole someone else's clothes and put them in a show under your own name, shouldn't you be prepared for at least that much?"
"You keep insisting that I stole them. Do you have proof?"
"Proof? Do you even have the right to talk about that?"
Danbi stared at her trembling fists and let out a small laugh.
"Don't worry. An eye for an eye, theft for theft. I’ve stolen every single shred of evidence without leaving a single crumb behind."
"So you want to fight dirty?"
"Yes, I'm going to fight dirty and win unfairly. You should be prepared, right? You've never beaten me once."
*Ring-a-ling— Ring-a-ling—*
The sound of the phone ringing cut through the fierce air. Checking the phone, I saw the words "My Som" on the screen.
Danbi walked past Harin while holding the phone.
"If you have nothing else to say, would you mind leaving?"
"...Who says that? That I've never beaten you once."
At that one remark that stopped her in her tracks, Danbi turned around slowly.
"I didn't steal it. I just took in something that had no owner."
Harin walked past Danbi and out the door.
‘What is she talking about?’
*Vrrr-vrrr.*
Soon, the ringtone stopped, and the phone vibrated. A message had arrived from Som.
―Isn't this Lee Hyun?
Danbi clicked the link in the text. An article popped up on the screen.
―Neon Beauty's next successor, Ms. Park Harin. Scheduled to marry an employee, Mr. Lee.
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