Daehwa High School classroom.
I slammed the stack of newspapers onto my desk, having arrived at school early in the morning.
–Thud.
[First Ever Perfect CSAT Score... Interview with Yoo Ha-yeon]
[“Korea’s Da Vinci” Yoo Ha-yeon Gets a Perfect CSAT Score with Just One Hour of Studying Per Day]
[To the question, “So, the CSAT is actually an easy exam then?”, she responded, “It wasn’t that the questions were easy. I just did well. Take that back.” Yoo Ha-yeon’s firm answer shows her warm-heartedness, hoping parents won’t scold their kids for screwing up the exam...]
[Daehwa Group Chairman Yoo Seong-pil Reportedly Left Hospital Bed for Rare Outing. Destination Believed to Be the Federation of Korean Industries.]
“See that? That’s me.”
–Clap, clap, clap.
“Wooooow...”
The friends standing nearby clapped with dead-tired expressions.
“Why so low on energy with the applause?”
Well, I get it.
Even if the others didn’t, the ones here all took the CSAT with me. Even if they’re secretly thinking, ‘Shit, if it weren’t for that attention-seeking bitch, my score would’ve...’, what can they do? Most of them have barely slept these days anyway.
I gave a small nod and waved my hand to push open the back door.
–Clatter.
Students from other classes, other grades, even some alumni had gathered and erupted into loud cheers.
“Waaaaaah!”
“Yoo Ha-yeon! Yoo Ha-yeon!”
“Miss! You’re the best! Wow! You’re so pretty!!”
Yep. That’s more like it.
The CSAT scores had been announced shockingly fast.
Naturally, the reason was that I had copied every test and answer sheet into my brain and printed them out exactly as they were the moment the exam was over.
Plus, since I’d been stirring up attention before the test even began, it was only natural that people were glued to my every move now.
“Miss, congratulations.”
Despite her own disappointing score, Seo Ji-yeon handed me flowers with genuine joy, like it was her own achievement. Next to her was a pile of congratulatory wreaths that had been delivered from who knows where.
[Congratulations to Yoo Ha-yeon, Senior at Daehwa High School, for a Perfect CSAT Score]
[We sincerely celebrate Miss Yoo Ha-yeon’s graduation – From Everyone at Daehwa High]
[Daehwa’s Pride Yoo Ha-yeon, First Ever Perfect CSAT Score]
“These flowers are pretty. Wonder who they take after. I really like them.”
“They kind of look like poppies... Wait, are these actually real poppies? What kind of lunatic sent opi—”
Seo Ji-yeon plucked a handful of the flowers and bolted off somewhere.
“...?”
Why the hell is concentrated happiness here? Should I ask Charles, the British noble? Or maybe Lee Si-hyun or Yoo Seon-jun?
...Oops, just had a disrespectful thought about Charles. (Not that it’s particularly disrespectful to the other two.)
I glanced pitifully at Seo Ji-yeon, who worked tirelessly without breaks or holidays, and let out a soft sigh.
‘Drugs, huh. Not my thing, though.’
That’s probably a mistake. Still... hard not to think about it.
I’ve got solid authority in Korea, so it’s fine, but in the U.S., someone’s always trying to rope me into some damn drug party. Even in my past life, I hated drugs and always refused, but America’s pretty open about that stuff, so offers were frequent.
Now that I’m an adult, there are even more.
Sure, there are people like Stephen King or Robert Downey Jr. who quit drugs on their own, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be one of them. I’ve got no tolerance for substances, and really—most of those “I’m fine, I won’t die” drug users? Yeah, 99% of them end up full-blown addicts.
–Rustle.
“While we’re on the topic, none of you do drugs, right? If I catch you, I’ll rip you apart with my own hands, so fess up now. I don’t tolerate anything except anesthetics for surgery.”
“N-No, ma’am!”
“Really? I trust you, but are you saying there’s not even one person around you who’s using?”
“...Well, a couple of our business clients, maybe...”
Figures.
The deeper you get into this world, the more filth you see. Even “water business” is a euphemism for the sex industry, isn’t it?
“Cut all those contracts. Guess I phrased it wrong before. Even if you rack up achievements through those connections, I won’t count it.”
Noticing the sudden chill in my tone, the people nearby quickly lowered their heads and began watching my expression carefully.
‘Hmm, this gloomy vibe really doesn’t suit such a great day.’
It feels weird to be saying all this heavy stuff in a school uniform, not even a suit. A high school girl raising her voice about drugs—this isn’t “high school girl-like” at all.
“Um, Miss?”
...Well, maybe not?
Honestly, a third-generation chaebol getting caught up in drug scandals during school years is kind of a cliché in itself. I mean, just look at Yoo Seon-jun, Yoo Seon-jun, and... Yoo Seon-jun.
Ugh, seriously, Seon-jun oppa’s nuts.
“Miss?”
Even if he’s clean now, remembering the Yoo Seon-jun from my past life makes his current self feel like night and day. I may have ruined a father who was perfectly fine, but on the flip side, I managed to fix one broken family member, and that’s a bit satisfying.
“Uh! Yoo Ha-yeon sunbae!”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, I’m listening.”
Well, I wasn’t really listening.
One of the younger boys shouted at me while handing over flowers.
“I like you, sunbae. I know your heart’s already moved on, but... couldn’t we have just one day together?”
I smiled as I turned him down.
“That’s your sixth confession. This is getting a bit pathetic. Do you really believe in that ‘no tree withstands ten chops’ crap?”
“Guh...”
Oof.
Poor guy. Then again, who told him to insult me the first time we met? I still remember it clearly. He thought I liked him just because I treated him decently, and started going on about how my feelings were a burden or whatever...
Hmph. A gentleman’s revenge lasts ten years, you know. The crime of undressing me is heavy. Even if I was the one who took it off in a fit of rage.
“Ahaha, still, it was brave of you.”
“...!”
Give a tiny compliment and boom, there’s that glimmer of hope again. I can see the gears of delusion turning behind his eyes.
Still, he’s got guts. This isn’t just some acquaintance. If you’re from Daehwa, it’s practically guaranteed we’ll be working together in our lifetime careers. And to confess to your direct superior-slash-sunbae in front of all your senior coworkers? Damn.
“Ahem, let’s wrap this up. Uh, junior? I wouldn’t recommend making too many rash decisions in your youthful passion.”
“Cheol-ah, speaking from experience?”
One of the student council members nearby, face flushed bright red, averted his gaze like this was the most embarrassing thing ever, even though it wasn’t his business at all.
“Ugh, um... L-Let’s go. Junior. Okay?”
There probably isn’t a single guy in the student council who hasn’t had some romantic feelings for me at some point. And that kid... yeah, he once sent me a letter.
“Cute. Seriously cute.”
In the now ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) lightened mood, I tossed out a casual joke and chatted with my friends.
I was happy.
It made sense—post-CSAT seniors are invincible.
***
That evening, after the CSAT scores were released—
–Bang!
Fireworks went off.
A single candle flickered on a whipped cream cake, and I sat there with a stupid look on my face, wearing a party hat and awkwardly smiling.
“Oh, my little lady. I’m so proud of you...”
My now much older nanny hugged me tightly and patted my back. Like she was handling a child, she laid my head on her lap and stroked my hair.
“Uh, yeah. Nanny. I appreciate it, but maybe let go now?”
“Oh, I know you love it.”
Ugh. I can’t even deny it. That’s the sad part...
“I figured your friends would be coming over today, so I went all out. The cake’s good, right? Come on now, open up—ahhh.”
Around us, my classmates tried hard to stifle their laughter while pretending to look elsewhere. I’m sure my nanny knows I’m embarrassed, but it looks like she’s deliberately trying to expose my soft side to everyone.
She probably thinks the reason I don’t have friends is because I act too stiff with people... And she’s not wrong, but still...
‘Friends, huh.’
They’re just classmates, but still—after six years of seeing each other’s faces, I guess they count as friends. Still, I’m also their boss. It feels like my dignity’s taking a hit...
“Would you like to change into casual clothes? Or a suit?”
Seo Ji-yeon asked sharply, eyes glancing around the classroom like she’d slice anyone who looked too smug. I was still in my school uniform. I really did feel like a kid again.
“...No, I’ll just stay like this.”
Resigned, I bit into the slice of cake the nanny handed me and chewed slowly.
Sweet. Tasty.
Yeah.
.
.
.
After the chaos died down, I opened a bottle of wine.
It was an extremely high-end wine I’d saved specifically for my first experience. I’d never drunk alcohol in this life, not even once, but I’d built a whole wine cellar just to store this one.
Nanny hadn’t loved the idea, but since I was into Western culture, I insisted wine had to be part of it. I blamed the chef and had it set up.
“Hoo, life is bitter.”
Just one glass.
Drinking at home does feel a bit off, but I’m an adult now. Nanny won’t say anything. She usually sleeps early anyway.
And if I get drunk, Seo Ji-yeon will probably handle it.
‘I originally planned to carefully test my alcohol tolerance...’
I poured the wine into a glass and drank it in one go, thinking back to how it felt the last time I drank.
Seriously, what could go wrong?