I am not a Yandere chapter 33

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The room was silent except for the sound of pen on paper.

As Jihoon tried to focus on his textbook, he glanced at Yeongdeok out of the corner of his eye.

Surprisingly, Yeongdeok was diligently reviewing the English book.

When he wasn’t being a nuisance, he actually looked quite normal.

Annoying as he was, his face was rather flawless.

His voice, too, was a deep, pleasant tone that lingered in your ear.

“So, in this part, you use the negative form….”

As Yeongdeok blinked, his serious gaze disappeared and reappeared, the quiet sound of his explanation lulling Jihoon.

Without realizing it, Jihoon found himself staring at him instead of studying.

A stray hair clung to Yeongdeok’s face, as if to tease him.

Without thinking, Jihoon reached out and gently pulled it away.

At that moment, their eyes met.

A brief silence fell between them in the otherwise empty apartment.

Jihoon, startled by his own careless actions, flushed with embarrassment.

A hasty gesture of denial escaped him.

“No, it’s not like that! I just saw a strand of hair stuck on you.”

He offered the strand of hair he had supposedly just plucked off to Yeongdeok, but it had vanished. His hand was now empty.

Where the hell did it go?

“How pathetic.”

A deep sigh escaped from Yeongdeok’s lips.

Despite explaining things in detail, Jihoon was still distracted.

Yeongdeok thought both Jihoon and the institution that made him top of the class were pitiful.

“I was listening. I really was.”

“Is that so? Then tell me what I was just saying.”

“Ugh…”

When Jihoon couldn’t answer, Yeongdeok laughed smugly, as if expecting it.

“I’ll listen properly this time. Go ahead and explain again.”

Jihoon slapped himself hard enough for a loud sound to echo as he tried to snap out of his daze.

Making me explain things twice—what a waste of time on such an idiot.

Despite this thought, Yeongdeok continued explaining.

After all, where else could you find such an obsessive teacher being so kind to a potential subpar candidate?

He could almost hear the headmaster sighing in frustration.

As Yeongdeok helped Jihoon study, time flew by.

Noticing the clock on the wall, Yeongdeok stood up.

It was time to open his shop.

“I have to go now. Hand over my recorder.”

“Huh? Oh, wait a second.”

Jihoon, who had been reading an English passage, hurriedly got up and handed the recorder from the table to Yeongdeok.

With the recorder in hand, Yeongdeok sat by the front door and put on his shoes.

Jihoon hesitated, like a dog needing to go out, before finally speaking up.

“Once the exams are over… I’ll show you how to play it.”

“You? You know how to play this thing?”

Yeongdeok turned back to him with suspicion. Jihoon nodded.

“Of course! You learn it in elementary school music class. You’re the weird one.”

Hearing that, Yeongdeok finally understood why the brat had been messing around with a recorder at his shop.

But just because he understood didn’t mean he was willing to overlook the rudeness.

“And if you don’t know something, feel free to ask.”

“Do as you please.”

Yeongdeok decided to grant this lowly candidate a little more grace and left Jihoon’s house.

As he stood in front of the handrail, he touched his face where Jihoon’s hand had brushed against it.

“I hope that wasn’t the hand he used to touch that cockroach.”

Thoroughly disgusted, Yeongdeok vigorously wiped his face with his sleeve.

Still, being around the idiot had somehow lifted his mood.

Maybe Jihoon wasn’t as hopeless as he initially thought.

From that point on, whenever Jihoon asked him for help, Yeongdeok generously provided as much kindness as he could muster.

And so, mid-December arrived, just two weeks before Christmas, on the day of Jihoon’s last exam.

Yeongdeok stepped out of his house to open his shop as usual when his phone buzzed in his pocket.

[Daerim Fist: Wow, it’s snowing so much outside!]

[Rose: Could we be looking at a White Christmas?]

[Gwak: Everyone, don’t forget your umbrellas!]

Just as they said, the snow was falling so heavily it was hard to see in front of him.

Thinking he might need an umbrella, Yeongdeok went back inside, grabbed a green one, and threw on a navy scarf.

As he carefully descended the slippery stairs, holding the handrail, he noticed a large figure blocking his way on the first-floor landing.

“What are you doing there? You’re in the way. Move.”

At his words, the man sitting on the steps turned his head, revealing Jihoon’s sour face.

“Seo Jihoon? Why aren’t you going inside?”

“Oh, I was just…”

Normally, Jihoon would have responded with an annoyed expression, but this time he mumbled and avoided conversation.

Puzzled by Jihoon’s reaction, Yeongdeok stroked his chin.

Wasn’t today his last exam?

For a top student, he sure looked defeated.

“Don’t be so down on yourself. You’re an idiot, after all. The result was bound to be what it was.”

“What the hell… I did fine on the exam.”

“Then why are you sitting there? I don’t get it.”

Jihoon’s lips moved as if to answer, but instead, he let out a weak laugh and turned his head.

“Whatever. It’s none of your business.”

“If it’s none of my business, then stop sulking and get out of the way. I need to get to work.”

Annoyed by Jihoon’s large frame blocking his path, Yeongdeok gestured for him to move.

Without saying much, Jihoon shifted his body towards the railing.

Yeongdeok stepped outside and opened his umbrella.

A chorus of cartoon frogs greeted him from above as the snow pelted down.

Thinking about the snow piling up at his shop, he walked to his parked truck and opened the door.

Just as he was about to start the engine, a memory popped into his head—the day he had fought with the Beautiful Life members and come home.

That night, Jihoon had approached him in the hallway and asked him to play a game.

They had stayed up all night together. Why had Jihoon done that?

“How bothersome.”

Though he didn’t fully understand Jihoon’s feelings or why he was sitting like that, Yeongdeok sighed and closed the truck door.

Returning to Jihoon’s side, he found him on the phone, speaking nervously.

“Uh, Sir Gecheon, I need money urgently… Could you possibly advance the project payment?”

Yeongdeok stood under his frog umbrella, watching from a distance.

“Ah, I guess not… I’m sorry for asking. Yes, I understand.”

The call ended with Jihoon letting out a heavy sigh as he slumped down again.

Yeongdeok stepped forward and stood in front of him, causing Jihoon’s eyes to lift in his direction.

“What? Didn’t you say you had to go to work? Why are you still here?”

“Do you need money?”

Jihoon’s eyes darted nervously before he clenched his teeth and spoke.

“It’s nothing.”

“…”

“Why are you staring like that? Just go to work.”

Jihoon snapped irritably, his tone sharp and defensive. Yeongdeok paused, thinking.

If this were just a small episode in some story, the one to help Seo Jihoon would likely be Lee Eungyeol.

After all, he was the main character, destined to be loved by all the potential candidates.

But, PetitRolang… Did you really think I’d just sit back and let things play out like that?

Yeongdeok’s eyes gleamed mischievously as he suppressed a crooked smile and said confidently to Jihoon, “How much do you need?”

“What? I said it’s nothing, so stop—”

“I’ll help you.”

Yeongdeok straightened his back, confidently crossing his arms with his umbrella tucked in one hand.

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