CHAPTER 49: THE 3 MONTH RULE

WONHEE didn’t want to check the internet at the moment because even the fact that she cleaned up the poops in the dog café that she once had gone to with her staff was revealed to the public.

The owner of the dog café posted the CCTV footage in the internet, and it quickly became viral.

She was being praised by the netizens, and it was scary.

[It’s scary because being praised too much will only attract trolls that feel compelled to rain on someone else’s parade.]

However...

"Wony Noona, have you seen this?" Ahyeon asked worriedly as he handed his phone to her. "Seojin and Dohyun’s broadcast have gone viral."

Seojin was Seodam’s younger brother, while Dohyun was Seojin’s best friend.

Dohyun was an online celebrity whose channel was famous for fanboying over the ’Rankers’ of Korea aka Hunters who made it to the World’s Ranking.

Of course, the Big 4 was among them.

Anyway, Seojin introduced Dohyun to Wonhee before.

[I think the child’s stage name is Dice?]

"So, are you implying that Actress Wonhee is Miss H– the philanthropist?"

"That’s right. Wonhee Noona, thank you so much for helping me– us– back then."

"Wonhee Noona, thank you! You’re the best!"

Oh.

Wonhee had a feeling that Seojin had always known that she was ’Miss H.’

But since Seojin never confronted her about it, she didn’t feel the need to reveal the truth directly.

[I didn’t expect Jin to announce it to the country this way, though.]

"Noona, netizens are singing praises about you and they’re shutting down the trolls quickly," Ahyeon said, obviously scared. "The last time it happened was when you starred in the first movie produced after the Outbreak. Fans and even non-fans back then couldn’t stop raving about how you were prettier than Awakened People."

Right?

That was how she got the moniker ’Nation’s Pride.’

"But they’re scarier now, Noona," Ahyeon said as if he suddenly got the chills. "Koreans’ obsession with Awakened celebrities is on a different level. Be careful, Noona. Now that people know you’ve awakened naturally, you might have gained some hardcore fanatics..."

Wonhee nodded as she returned Ahyeon’s phone to him. "I’ll be careful, Ahyeonnie. Thank you."

Ahyeon smiled as if he was so shy that she thanked him. "Are we leaving as soon as Hwang Frost-nim returns, Noona?"

Yejun left her penthouse to take a bath in his own place.

[I wonder where he goes to when all his properties were seized by APA...]

"Are you really going to have a meeting with President Kwon again?"

"I can’t avoid President Kwon forever, so it’s better to do it now than do it later," Wonhee said. "We need to prepare for my press conference anyway."

Yep, she would have her own press conference later.

[It’s also when APA decided to announce that I’m the first recorded S-Class Guide to awaken in the entire world.]

"Thank goodness Yeon Soobin-nim and Jang Semi-nim can protect you now openly, Noona," Ahyeon said, putting his hands over his chest while letting out a sigh of relief. "APA can’t pick on you anymore."

"I hope so," Wonhee said, then she checked her phone when she received another call. "Oh. Let me just answer this."

"Okay, Noona."

She smiled at Ahyeon who averted his gaze to give her privacy.

Which was only a gesture since as a Hunter, Ahyeon had sharp hearing. But she didn’t mind since it wasn’t like she was about to talk about a national secret.

"Jin-ah."

Yes, the one who called her was Seojin– her ex-boyfriend’s younger brother.

"Noona, have you seen Dohyun’s live? I was there as a guest."

Wonhee let out a sigh. "I’ve seen it. Jin-ah..."

"I’m sorry, Noona. I know I shouldn’t have exposed your secret like that. But bastards who don’t know anything about you keep on posting shit online. I wanted to shut them down with hard facts."

Pfft.

Wonhee could hate Seodam’s entire clan, but never Seojin.

[He’s the only one from Seodam’s family who has been nice to me since day one.]

"It seems like your plan worked, Jin-ah. Most people on the Internet are talking as if I’m some kind of a saintess."

"They’re not wrong. You’re too nice for your own good, Noona."

"You’re giving me too much credit, Jin-ah. I’m grateful for what you did. But I’m worried that you might get in trouble for standing up for me."

"I’ll be fine, Noona. You know I don’t stay still if someone dares to touch me."

"Jin-ah, violence is bad. You may only be a high school freshman, but you’re already in your twenties. You’ll go to jail if people sue you."

"Thanks for worrying about me, Noona. I honestly thought you’d cut me off already, especially after the stunt I pulled. Even if I have your best interest at heart, it was still wrong of me to reveal your secret without your consent."

"I’m glad that you’ve admitted your mistake, Jin-ah. I trust you’re already reflecting."

"I am, Noona. And I’m really sorry about what I did."

"I forgive you, Jin-ah."

"Can I treat you to dinner tonight, Noona? I just got paid from my part-time job."

"You have a part-time job? Why? I’m pretty sure Seodam Oppa’s salary is enough to provide for you."

Seojin scoffed. "I don’t want to use Hyung’s money."

Wonhee smiled and shook her head. "Alright. Let’s meet before dinner. I have something important to tell you anyway."

[I should inform Jin in advance that I want his family out of my property soon.]

***

WOW.

As someone working in the entertainment industry, Wonhee was used to good-looking people. Even child celebrities these days didn’t look like they had awkward phases.

But Yejun...

[He’s so handsome, and he’s shining even though he wears the same fit all the time.]

Black turtleneck shirt, black pants, black ankle boots.

Yejun returned to the penthouse in the same fit, but he obviously looked fresher.

[His best ’accessory’ is his ridiculously handsome face. Plus his unique two-toned hair.]

Most of all, Yejun always smelled amazing.

"Yejun-ah, is that fit your uniform?"

"Yeah," Yejun said, touching the hem of his black turtleneck shirt. "This is made from materials found only in S-Grade Dungeons. I have, like, hundreds of this at home. This shirt regulates my body temperature and protects me from physical attacks like a bulletproof vest."

Wonhee beamed. "That’s very useful then."

"Do you want one?"

She immediately nodded. "Yes."

"Hmm."

"Why?"

Yejun tilted his head to one side, then he closed his eyes while touching his chin as if he were in deep thought. "Seeing you wear my shirt could be too stimulating for me, so..."

Wonhee covered Yejun’s mouth with her hand, blushing. "Stop. Why are you saying something so suggestive in front of a child?"

Yejun’s eyes fell on Ahyeon. "That’s a child?"

"Ahyeonnie is only twenty years old," she said, removing her hand from Yejun’s mouth. "That’s a child."

For some reason, Yejun looked pleased. "Good. I already have to compete with the other Big 4 members. I’m glad to know that I don’t have to compete with your bodyguard."

"Ahyeonnie can’t be your competition since he’s not a natural S-Class Hunter."

"Nah, I’m talking about my competition as a man."

Wonhee’s face suddenly turned warm.

[Is Yejun saying he’s interested in me as a woman and not as a Guide?]

It seemed like she wasn’t the only one who got what Yejun was trying to imply because Ahyeon suddenly choked on his saliva.

"Hwang Frost-nim, p-please stop flirting with my Wony Noona for fun!"

"I’m not flirting with Wonhee for "fun,"" Yejun scoffed at Ahyeon’s accusation, then he turned to Wonhee with that lazy (and sexy) smile of his. "Wonhee-ya, do you believe in the three-month rule?"

"The rule that says you and your ex should wait at least three months after your break-up before entering the dating scene again?"

"Yes, that stupid rule."

"W-Why are you asking?"

"Nothing," Yejun said, smiling "innocently" at Wonhee. "I just want to remind you that you’re a very good catch, Omnivore-ssi."

[Spoken like a true apex predator.]

Wonhee avoided Yejun’s eyes because even though he was smiling at her, she felt a shiver down her spine.

[He’s gonna devour me if I’m not careful.]

***

"THIS IS THE result of APA’s investigation, Miss Chu."

Wonhee maintained a poker face as Kwon Jiwoong, the president of APA, put an envelope on the table between them.

It was her second time in the Blue Palace.

[APA Headquarters’ renovation isn’t done yet.]

And the reason for APA Headquarters’ ruin was sitting next to Wonhee.

Yejun was on her right side, while Geon was on her left side.

Finally, Ahyeon was standing behind Wonhee’s seat like how there were three Hunters behind Kwon Jiwoong and the person sitting next to him.

That person was Kim Ana, APA’s PR Director.

[Miss Kim is here to make sure Yejun and I won’t say something that might ruin APA’s reputation.]

"The person who made the mistake of sending you to the X Basement was already fired, Miss Chu," Kwon Jiwoong said cheerfully. "Moreover, we already got the names of the doctor and the medical staff that you wish to sue for mistreating and insulting you."

Right.

Wonhee asked for the doctor and the medical team that was so mean to her when taking her blood test.

[I’m serious about suing them.]

"APA has already made a public apology, but I know it’s not enough," Kwon Jiwoong said, then he bowed his head towards her. "Miss Chu, once again, we apologize for the horrible experience you had with APA because of our side’s mistake."

Kim Ana and the Hunters-slash-bodyguards also bowed their heads towards her.

Hmm.

Kwon Jiwoong wasn’t this kind to her earlier.

Even Yejun knew that, so Yejun scoffed at the APA president.

[President Kwon won’t bow his head for nothing.]

"That’s enough, President Kwon," Wonhee said indifferently, acting like a cold-hearted villainess. "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?"

"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."

Excuse me?

[APA wants me to raise my ex-boyfriend as an S-Class Hunter?]

***

[HE’S DEFINITELY going to meet Chu Wonhee.]

Seorin accidentally heard her younger brother, Seojin, talking to Chu Wonhee on the phone earlier.

She heard that the two were going to meet later.

Hence, Seorin didn’t waste time and called Seodam right away. "Seodam-ah, our youngest brother is meeting up with your ex-girlfriend later," she informed Seodam. "I’m going to follow Seojin, then I’ll send you the location so you could meet Chu Wonhee, too."

***

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