CHAPTER 50: MALE LEAD MEETS 2ND ML

YEJUN found the entire thing funny.

It was obvious that APA just picked a poor executive to take the blame for the "mistake" of sending Wonhee to the X Basement where he was locked up.

Of course, none of that was a mistake.

[They sent Wonhee there on purpose because they’ve been experimenting on Guides who awakened with the help of Forced Awakening drugs.]

But they did really not know that Yejun wasn’t completely out of it back then?

"We’re here to negotiate, aren’t we? In exchange of letting Yejun roam free instead of treating him like a criminal, what does APA want?"

Pfft.

Yejun was amused to see Wonhee acting like a tough cookie that she wasn’t in front of Kwon Jiwoong.

[Our Wonhee is a good actress, though.]

"We only want one thing," Kwon Jiwoong said, raising his head. "Nurture Hunter Lee Seodam and help him become an S-Class Hunter, Miss Chu."

Now Yejun was no longer amused.

It was so obvious that Wonhee was taken aback by Kwon Jiwoong ridiculous request.

Even Shin Geon, who had been quiet all this time, frowned.

[Tsk.]

Yejun knocked his knuckles on the table to get everyone’s attention, and he succeeded. But his eyes were only focused on one person. "Kwon Jiwoong, are you pretending that I’m not here?"

Kwon Jiwoong’s eyes finally landed on Yejun’s face. "Whatever do you mean by that, Hwang Frost?"

"You apologized to Wonhee, but you didn’t apologize to me."

"I have nothing to apologize for, Hwang Frost."

"Really? Do you not feel guilty for locking me up in your basement prison?"

"I did that with your consent, and we even have a written agreement," Kwon Jiwoong insisted. "Moreover, the basement was a former prison, yes. But we renovated it and turned it into a proper apartment before you moved in. You have a nice bedroom, a bathroom to yourself, and a kitchen always full of groceries, and different drinks. We sent cooked and delicious meals to you three times a day. The only thing we didn’t provide for you was a phone and a television because we agreed you should be cut off from the surface while you were in rehabilitation. Your accommodation there was better than what you could have gotten had we sent you to the countryside. We just had to keep it a secret because we were afraid that people would flock to the APA Branch because you were there."

Well, Kwon Jiwoong didn’t lie.

Although Yejun’s mental health wasn’t stable back then, his basic needs were met.

[But I’m pretty sure they didn’t keep my stay there a secret for my sake.]

"Moreover, you weren’t only sent there for your rehab," Kwon Jiwoong insisted. "You were sent there as punishment because you destroyed properties and accidentally hurt Civilians in the process during your rampage."

Ahem.

"Or do you want me to apologize for seizing your properties and absorbing your guild temporarily?" Kwon Jiwoong asked, obviously annoyed by now. "You’ll get them back as soon as you get better. That was your punishment for destroying government properties."

Yejun raised an eyebrow. "The Guides that you sent during my "rehabilitation...""

This time, Wonhee turned to Yejun with a warning look.

[I know, Wonhee-ya. I’m not supposed to reveal the fact that I know the Guides APA sent me before were awakened through Forced Awakening drugs.]

"We sent you Guides because we can’t leave you alone in that state," Kwon Jiwoong said, knitting his eyebrows. "What about them?"

Ah.

So, Kwon Jiwoong really had no idea that Yejun knew those Guides were "fake."

That was what he needed to know.

"Those Guides are useless," Yejun said, shrugging. "They didn’t help at all."

"It’s not the Guides’ fault that you were a hopeless case, Hwang Frost," Kwon Jiwoong said, scoffing. "And how can you say those Guides are useless in front of the director of the National Guide Center, huh?"

Oh, right.

Shin Geon was there.

"Those Guides risked their lives to help you during the time you were on the verge of losing your mind, Hwang Frost," Geon said sternly. "Your comment was harsh."

Yejun just cleared his throat.

Wonhee turned to Yejun with knitted eyebrows. "Yejun-ah, that was mean and uncalled for."

"Right," Yejun said, ready to lower his pride already. What was dignity in the face of the only Guide who could save you? Nothing, of course. "I’m sorry."

***

WONHEE could tell that Kwon Jiwoong, and the rest of the people with him, were shocked when Yejun apologized just because of what she said.

It was as if they couldn’t believe that the feral X-Class Hunter was behaving around her.

She secretly liked that feeling.

[That’s right– APA should know that I’m Yejun’s one and only leash to increase my value.]

Thanks to Yejun’s distraction, she was able to gather her thoughts.

Wonhee was taken aback when Kwon Jiwoong asked her to "nurture" Seodam, so she almost spilled the fact that her abilities only worked on naturally awakened S-Class Hunters.

[It’s not yet the right time to reveal that.]

APA didn’t have any naturally awakened S-Class Hunter, so Wonhee’s value would decrease if they realized her ability didn’t work on normal Hunters.

[I need APA to be at my behest to free Yejun from them completely.]

"President Kwon, I can’t help another Hunter while I haven’t finished my current mission yet," Wonhee lied confidently. It was a relief that she was a good actress. "The System needs me to give my undivided attention to Yejun while I’m guiding him for four months."

It was another lie.

[I only need to tuck Yejun in bed for a month, but APA doesn’t need to know that.]

"Four months," Kwon Jiwoong repeated to himself, and then he turned to Geon. "By then, Miss Chu has the choice to leave the National Guide Center, right?"

Geon nodded in confirmation. "That’s right. APA and the other guilds may start recruiting Miss Chu by then," her brother-in-law explained, addressing Wonhee formally since they were in an official meeting with government officials. "In the meantime, the National Guide Center will help Miss Chu adjust to her new life as a Guide."

"I see," Kwon Jiwoong said, nodding. Then he turned to Wonhee again. "Let’s talk about APA’s request after four months then, Miss Chu."

Wonhee nodded politely. "Of course, President Kwon."

The APA President then turned to Kim Ana.

"Here’s the list of the things that you can and can’t say during the press conference, Miss Chu," Kim Ana said as she put another envelope on the table. "Let’s check them together and see if both parties agree."

***

WONHEE let out a deep breath after leaving the Blue House.

She sat in the backseat, next to Yejun, while Ahyeon drove the car to their next location.

Geon was in the passenger seat.

"I can’t believe President Kwon shifted the blame to other people when it’s clear he sent me to your basement on purpose, Yejun-ah," Wonhee complained lightly. But that wasn’t the only thing that she was worried about. "And about Choi Sumin..."

["Miss Choi sent us a video where she confessed that she falsely accused you of drug abuse due to jealousy. In exchange, we promised to give her a light punishment."]

["And what punishment did you give her?"]

["Miss Choi has already left the country, and she’s now banned from entering Korea again. Moreover, she won’t be allowed to work in the entertainment industry until her ban is lifted."]

Wonhee knew how much Choi Sumin loved acting, so she thought being forbidden to act again was a harsh punishment for a passionate actress like her.

[Plus, Sumin isn’t doing well financially. What will happen to her now?]

Although Choi Sumin did something unforgivable to Wonhee, she still felt bad for–

"Don’t feel bad for that woman, Wonhee-ya," Yejun said. "If you didn’t wake up as a Guide before she drugged you, then you would have been labeled as a druggie forever."

"Hwang Frost is right, Hee-ya," Geon added while looking at Wonhee in the rearview mirror. "If you did awaken because of illegal drugs, then even your siblings wouldn’t be able to save your image from the public. People wouldn’t care if you were forced to take the drugs or not. So, don’t feel bad for the person who almost ruined your life because of jealousy."

Ahyeon didn’t say anything, but he nodded eagerly in agreement.

Wonhee pouted, feeling a bit offended by everyone’s reaction. "You make it sound like I’ll forgive Choi Sumin if she apologizes to me."

Yejun, Geon, and even Ahyeon answered at the same time.

"You would, Wonhee-ya."

"I’m afraid you would, Hee-ya."

"Wony Noona would."

Now Wonhee really felt offended. "Yah, I’m a villainess now."

***

PFFT.

Wonhee couldn’t help but smile after remembering how Yejun almost clung to her as Geon dragged Yejun back to the parking lot.

Since she knew people would recognize her, she asked to meet Seojin in the restaurant in her hotel that offered private rooms to VIP guests. And since Yejun was someone who couldn’t be seen in public yet, Geon said he’d bring Yejun to another place since the two needed to talk in private as well.

[Yejun acted like he was being dragged to prison.]

"Wony Noona, wait."

Wonhee stopped walking in the hallway leading to the private room she booked when Ahyeon told her to wait. "What’s wrong, Ahyeonnie?"

Ahyeon’s expression made her nervous.

Fortunately, she asked the staff not to escort them to the room since she knew her way there. Hence, innocent Civilians wouldn’t be dragged unnecessarily in case of an emergency.

"Seojin isn’t alone, Noona," Ahyeon said nervously. "He’s with–"

The door to the private room suddenly burst open.

Oh.

Now Ahyeon didn’t have to tell Wonhee who the uninvited guest was.

"Wonhee-ya," Seodam greeted Wonhee quite warmly. "It’s been a while."

Seodam looked as handsome as Wonhee remembered.

[And he looks fresh as if he didn’t even grieve over our break-up.]

Was it the sex?

Yes, Wonhee was being bitter.

[Well, Seodam Oppa was sleeping with Ruda Oppa while I was on the verge of dying...]

Her thoughts trailed off when a familiar scent suddenly hit her nose.

[Are there camellia flowers here?]

"Wonhee-ya?"

Hmm?

The person who stepped aside behind Seodam was a familiar face.

Dark brown hair, hazel eyes, naturally pinkish lips.

Small face, and a tall nose.

Petite frame.

Wonhee, for some reason, took a step backwards– her body trembling a bit as the scent of camellia grew stronger. She almost covered her nose with her hand, but it was rude so she grabbed her hand with the other. "Ruda Oppa?"

Ruda smiled at her. "Wonhee-ya, are you okay?"

Suddenly, Wonhee remembered the time she was locked up in the X Basement.

The smell of camellia flowers lingered in the air back then...

... after that, someone appeared and touched the top of her head.

[But who?]

Wonhee shut her eyes tight while clutching her head when she suddenly got a splitting headache.

"Wony Noona!"

Wonhee knew that her knees buckled, so she braced herself for a fall.

But it didn’t happen.

Her back hit a solid and cold body behind, while someone grabbed her arm so she wouldn’t fall.

"Let go of that arm before you lose yours, you fake omnivore."

Huh?

Wonhee opened her eyes and only then did she realize her awkward position.

Literally.

Wonhee was leaning against Yejun’s chest while Yejun’s arm was wrapped around her waist– supporting her so she wouldn’t lose her balance.

On the other hand, Seodam was holding Wonhee’s arm.

But the two men were busy having a mini staring contest.

Only Ahyeon was looking at Wonhee with full concern.

On the other hand, Yejun was looking at Seodam coldly while Seodam was looking at Yejun indifferently.

That got Wonhee thinking that she was shooting a drama.

[This feels like a scene where the male lead and the second male lead vying for the female lead finally meet for the first time.]

***

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