* * *
Despite our mutual dislike, my uncle spoke to Baek Gunho.
“Gunho, could you let Heewon stay over at your place? I can’t make it home today, and I’m worried she might feel uneasy.”
“Eh? Uncle, I’m fine really…”
“On days like this, someone should be there with her. She’s scared after going through something rough.”
Though my uncle spoke kindly, it was clear he was being overly protective.
I mean, haven’t I dealt with stuff like this enough that I wouldn’t be trembling over it?
But it seemed my uncle still saw me as the twelve-year-old kid he first met.
“Of course. I’ll take care of Heewon.”
To everyone else, I’m usually rude, but with my uncle, I acted like Baek Gunho was a considerate friend who was doing me a favor.
I shuddered at Baek Gunho’s insincerity, but he just sneered at me and nodded.
“Let’s go, Heewon.”
“Uncle, I’m really fine…”
“What’s the point of having friends if you don’t stay with them? You’ll feel better with Gunho around.”
Since my uncle insisted, I couldn’t refuse. In the end, I ended up in Baek Gunho’s car heading to his house.
The neighborhood was somewhat familiar, but unlike our ordinary home, Baek Gunho’s place was a luxury villa.
Since I’d stayed there often, Baek Gunho’s house had a room set aside for me.
It’s actually a bit unsettling, but given how often I end up staying over, it’s become a natural arrangement.
After washing up, I took out my designated pajamas from the drawer and headed to the living room.
Baek Gunho was checking something on his tablet.
I couldn’t help but peek at what he was looking at. From a glance, it seemed to be work-related material.
Seriously, this guy—does he want to work even at home?
Is it possible because he’s on the giving side of the salary, not the receiving one?
“Somang’s Guild Leader, thanks for your hard work today as well.” (Somang means wish)
Baek Gunho glared at me and tapped my lips with his tablet’s stylus.
It happened so quickly that by the time I realized it, my lips had already been tapped.
Baek Gunho clicked his tongue.
“Can’t you even avoid that?”
“Is it okay for an S-rank to assault ordinary people?”
“You’re an Awakened too.”
“I’m an F-rank. F-ranks are almost like ordinary people.”
Baek Gunho ignored my comment and focused back on his tablet. I mouthed a curse at him and sat down on the sofa, turning on the TV.
The news was covering a recent terror incident.
The brief mention of the hostages being safely rescued suggested that the Hunter Management Bureau had intervened.
I watched the news with a distant look.
“It’s been a while since I was taken hostage…”
“Are you bragging?”
“Bragging? It’s frustrating, so don’t start with me.”
“Why don’t you just join our guild? Then you wouldn’t get caught up in these half-baked kidnappings.”
Baek Gunho threw out a suggestion he must have made a hundred times already.
I knew exactly how to respond.
“Go away.”
If Somang Guild were an ordinary large guild, I might consider it a good opportunity, but with Baek Gunho being overly protective and dramatic, I could bet the guild would be in chaos from the very first day.
Baek Gunho glared at me as if he expected my refusal. While most people would be overwhelmed by the presence of an S-rank, I was too accustomed to it to care. I mocked him.
“How do you manage social interactions by just pressing random buttons?”
“Better than you.”
“Must be because you’re good at bossing people around.”
“Being in charge is a skill too.”
How arrogant. Baek Gunho, as if he had never been excited, calmly redirected his attention to the tablet.
I glanced at him with disdain before turning my attention to my phone.
✧✧✧
When I opened my eyes, I saw the living room of Baek Gunho’s house.
I must have dozed off on the sofa while fiddling with my phone last night.
I mean, if I’m sleeping on the sofa, shouldn’t someone wake me up or at least cover me with a blanket? How could they just let me sleep there?
It was infuriating.
But anger is fleeting. The aroma of meat from somewhere melted my anger away in an instant.
I headed to the kitchen, almost as if in a trance, where Baek Gunho was to be found.
He was toasting bread while cooking bacon. I frowned.
“What’s with the bread for breakfast? Koreans eat rice.”
“Just eat what’s given.”
Baek Gunho spoke without even turning to look at me.
What’s with eating flour first thing in the morning?
Anyway, he’s not my type. But since there’s meat involved, I’ll let it slide.
I sat down, checked my fortune for the day, and then looked at the portal’s main page.
The first thing that caught my eye was an unexpected article.
“Did you get involved in another dating rumor?”
Baek Gunho scowled at my question.
Now that I looked closely, I noticed his phone wasn’t even visible. It seemed he had thrown it aside because of all the calls and messages.
The rumored partner of Baek Gunho was an actress who recently shot an advertisement for the Somang Guild.
I checked her profile.
The actress, who was extremely attractive and beautiful, was smiling from the screen.
“Is this one real?”
“Just eat your food.”
“Is this food or bread?”
He was serious. Anyway, judging by his response, it didn’t seem like he was actually dating anyone.
Although Baek Gunho might be a bit of a nuisance… no, actually, he’s quite a nuisance, but objectively speaking, he’s good-looking.
Honestly, he’s ridiculously handsome.
With that appearance and his personality, it’s no wonder he drives both fans and haters crazy.
However, despite his looks, Baek Gunho had never been in a relationship. He’s apparently too busy to care about such things.
I’m in the same boat when it comes to not having a girlfriend.
Honestly, I’m not exactly unattractive myself… though compared to Baek Gunho, my personality is much better.
So, I’ve had a few flings. But they all ended up caught up in my unlucky nature.
I figured I’d end up making someone miserable, so I gave up.
I set aside the dating rumors for now and searched for the uncle’s name.
There were no new articles, so nothing significant had happened overnight. If the uncle had been hurt, it would have been a more important headline than Baek Gunho’s dating rumors… but it’s hard not to worry and check.
“Stop messing around at the table and eat.”
Baek Gunho scolded me with a remark even my uncle wouldn’t make.
I smirked, but since he wasn’t saying anything wrong and had finished his point, I quietly turned off my phone.
Even though breakfast was supposed to be rice, the food Baek Gunho made was so delicious that it went down smoothly.
After finishing the meal and putting the dishes in the dishwasher, I tried to go home directly, but it was clear that I’d be met with various excuses and delays.
So, I flopped onto the sofa and fiddled with my phone.
Title: Baek Gunho and Lee Jihye Make a Good Pair
The two of them have similar styles.
Comments
– So what if they look alike? How will Lee Jihye handle Baek Gunho’s temper?
└ He’ll probably be nice to his girlfriend.
└ Baek Gunho?
└ Let’s check out Baek Gunho’s quotes (link)
└ No breaks, straight ahead!
└ This crazy guy is getting all the attention.
– They do look good together. I’d like to see Baek Gunho on screen.
└ If he hadn’t awakened…
└ If he were a celebrity, he’d probably build up karma, get beaten up, and disappear without a trace.
└ With that look, even if there’s controversy, he’d have plenty of protection.
└ Baek Gunho just talks a big game… Even if he take drugs, people would still be on his side.
└ He’s probably doing everything behind the scenes. Do you believe in hunter image-making?
└ Stop the nonsense.
└ Jealousy is off the charts.
└ Believing Baek Gunho is clean is a bit pitiful.
– He doesn’t take drugs for sure. Hunters don’t do drugs.
└ I heard there are drugs for Awakened ones, though.
└ Stop with the jokes.
—
Title: What are the qualities that Baek Gunho doesn’t have?
He’s tall.
He’s in good shape.
He’s handsome.
He’s an S-class hunter.
He’s successful.
And on top of that, his girlfriend is Lee Jihye.
It’s unfair.
Comments
– But he doesn’t have Kim Joori from Gimhae, Kim’s family.
└ Don’t leave a stain on Gunho’s life.
└ Damn.
– What about his personality?
└ That’s a given.
—
Title: Baek Gunho, This Guy
The girlfriend lineup is amazing, but he changes them constantly.
Comments
– Baek Gunho has never admitted to dating.
└ Who believes that?
– I heard Baek Gunho is gay… everyone who knows him knows.
└ What do you know?
***
When I casually searched for news about Baek Gunho’s rumored relationship, the reactions were nothing short of chaos.
I checked out the photo that sparked the article.
In it, Baek Gunho was bowing his head towards Lee Jihye in an empty alley.
There might be another reason behind it, but the photo was taken so perfectly that people could easily believe they were dating.
Hmm, they do look good together.
While I was grinning at my phone, Baek Gunho approached with a skeptical expression and gave me a gentle kick.
“What are you doing?”
“Reading about your dating rumors.”
“Do you want to die?”
Baek Gunho seemed annoyed, probably thinking I was looking for something to tease him about.
As for me… I was indeed looking for something to make fun of.
“Are you gay?”
“Are you out of your mind?”
Baek Gunho scowled in displeasure, and I chuckled as I watched his reaction.
* * *
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Like the writing style
Love it
Thanks
Thanks for the chapter
❤❤
Fun banter
hidden love so trope. loving it 😍
👍looking forward to it
So Baek Gunho like him secretly?
Isn’t it the other way around
He avoided the question. Guys, I think he’s sus👀