A Relentless Senior (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
Sa Rang went to a restaurant in front of the school with Yoon Jae.
It was the day they’d planned to go to the pool hall, but she no longer felt the need to learn.
She’d wanted to learn only because she wished to impress Do Han, but after hearing him say it wasn’t a great place for their dating assignment, she’d given up.
Hearing him receive a confession from another girl through the wall that same afternoon had also played its part.
She simply didn’t want to do anything more for him.
Ever since becoming a college student, Sa Rang had wanted nothing more than to get a boyfriend right away.
She longed to become someone special to another person.
Yet to Do Han, she was merely one among the many who came confessing to him.
Just another girl he rejected on the spot the moment she said, “I like you. Will you go out with me?”
Completely meaningless—worthless memories he’d forget the moment he turned away.
Sa Rang knew all this, yet found it painfully difficult to let go of her feelings for him.
At this point, she ought to have grown to dislike him—but somehow, the image of him in her heart kept growing larger.
“Why do you look so drained?”
Yoon Jae glanced at her curiously as she occasionally let out a quiet sigh.
Just a few days ago, she’d been begging him to teach her how to play pool, yet suddenly declaring she didn’t need to learn anymore struck him as suspicious.
“Guess it’s because exams are over. Everything just feels tedious and boring, I guess.”
Feeling guilty for zoning out after inviting him to eat together, Sa Rang quickly offered a smile.
Yoon Jae watched her for a moment.
Then, as if nothing were amiss, he continued eating and said,
“Want to hear something that’ll really surprise you?”
“What is it?”
Sa Rang’s eyes lit up slightly as she finished her meal, curious about what he might say.
“I like you.”
Yoon Jae blurted it out as casually as if sharing mundane daily news. Sa Rang dropped the spoon she’d been holding onto the table.
“Surprised enough?”
He grinned playfully, making it hard to tell whether he was serious or joking.
Sa Rang was utterly flustered, unsure how to react.
“Well… I really am surprised, but… Yoon Jae, are you serious?”
He wasn’t the type to joke about something like this.
Since everyone around her had already said they suspected Yoon Jae harbored feelings for her, she couldn’t simply brush off what she’d just heard.
She knew how difficult it was to confess.
She understood, better than anyone, how much courage it must have taken him to say those words.
That’s exactly why she couldn’t just laugh it off carelessly.
“I wasn’t sure when to say it. But I figured if I kept waiting, I might never get the chance—so I just decided to do it today.”
Yoon Jae scratched the back of his head, his cheeks slightly flushed. Sa Rang hesitated, looking troubled.
She really had been the only one unaware.
Because her eyes had been fixed on Do Han, she hadn’t noticed Yoon Jae’s feelings.
Carefully choosing her words so as not to hurt him, she slowly began,
“Um, Yoon Jae… I’m really grateful you like me… but actually, there’s someone I like already.”
“I know.”
“What?”
“I said I know.”
Sa Rang was even more stunned than when she’d first heard his confession.
“That’s exactly why I confessed. I was afraid if I didn’t do it now, I’d never get another chance. If things work out between you and him, I’d have to bury my feelings without ever telling you. I almost didn’t say anything because I worried it might burden you—but then I felt it’d be unfair to myself. I realized it’d be better to just confess plainly and get rejected. That way, I could look at you comfortably again.”
Yoon Jae’s expression had relaxed compared to earlier.
He was smiling brightly, as if genuinely relieved.
“Am I being too selfish? Does this make you uncomfortable?”
“No, I’m fine. I’m more worried about you.”
“I’m okay too. I confessed precisely so I could get over you—before my feelings grew any stronger. I want us to stay friends.”
Sa Rang felt she’d worried over nothing.
Unlike herself, whose appetite vanished after being rejected by a guy, Yoon Jae remained cheerful.
Perhaps it was because, as he’d said, his feelings hadn’t grown too strong yet.
“Thank you. This is actually my first time ever receiving a confession. I’m sorry it couldn’t be what you hoped for—but I think it’ll become a nice memory.”
“I’m glad. I’d hate for it to be a memory you’d rather forget.”
At that very moment, Sa Rang thought of Do Han again.
What kind of memory would her confession become for him?
“Shall we head out? You look really tired today.”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
Having returned to being just friends, they left the restaurant, carrying with them a warm memory in their hearts.
Yoon Jae walked Sa Rang all the way to her apartment.
“I told you I could go alone.”
“It gets too dark around here at night. There aren’t enough streetlights.”
Sa Rang agreed—she disliked that about the area.
Although she liked her apartment, the nighttime streets frightened her, so she usually made sure to get home before sunset.
“We’re almost there. Thanks for walking me…”
Sa Rang, in the middle of her farewell, froze abruptly.
“What’s wrong?”
Seeing her face go pale as she stared at something, Yoon Jae followed her gaze.
A man was walking toward them, supporting a woman who appeared drunk.
The woman, unable to walk properly, leaned against him as if clinging for support.
As she kept slipping downward, the man finally hoisted her onto his back.
Her arms wrapped around his neck looked tenderly affectionate.
Sa Rang watched as the man entered the building next to hers.
Naturally, she could now clearly see the woman’s face.
Their eyes met—and the woman smiled at Sa Rang as if deliberately showing off.
Then she buried her face deep into the man’s neck. Watching this, Sa Rang’s heart turned icy cold.
The man and woman were Do Han and Hye Ri.
***
Sa Rang couldn’t focus on her lectures all day.
Nothing the professor said registered in her ears, and she kept zoning out.
Whenever she opened her textbook, instead of letters, she saw images of Do Han and Hye Ri from the previous night.
Maybe it’s nothing—after all, he’s her older brother, and brothers carry their drunk younger sisters sometimes.
Yet the thought left an uncomfortable feeling in her chest.
She had an older brother herself, and even if she were completely wasted, she couldn’t imagine leaning against him that intimately.
Just picturing it made her grimace—it was utterly unthinkable.
Even in unavoidable situations, if her brother had to carry her, she’d never wrap her arms around his neck with such affection.
Or… would she, if she were utterly unconscious?
Her mind swirled in confusion.
If Do Han hadn’t told her Hye Ri was his younger sister, the scene would’ve been easily misinterpreted.
When Tae Hoon had claimed they’d never dated, Ji Woo had remarked that it was actually stranger—meaning others likely saw them as a couple too.
And because Hye Ri happened to be so close to Do Han, Sa Rang couldn’t help but spiral into unnecessary thoughts.
They were siblings with not a drop of shared blood.
Could it be that Hye Ri saw Do Han not as an older brother, but as a man?
And if so… what about Do Han?
He was famously harsh toward other women—but never to Hye Ri.
Was it simply because she was his younger sister?
Suddenly startled by her own thoughts, Sa Rang shook her head sharply.
She felt pathetic for being so easily shaken.
Dragging her feet wearily down the hallway toward her last class,
she walked with her gaze fixed on the floor, utterly drained—until someone called out to her.
“Watch where you’re going.”
She looked up to find Do Han standing right in front of her.
“You don’t have classes in this wing. Where are you headed?”
Do Han had just come from a professor’s office and happened to run into her.
Yesterday she’d been sitting alone in the hallway of the general studies building; today she was wandering absentmindedly through the engineering building.
Because Ji Woo and Tae Hoon had started dating, Sa Rang always seemed alone—and Do Han found himself strangely annoyed at the two of them for it.
“Oh. I must’ve taken a wrong turn.”
Only then did Sa Rang look around and realize she’d come from the opposite direction.
Fortunately, there was still time before class started.
“Why’s your face so pale? Are you sick?”
Do Han reached toward her forehead to check for fever, concern in his eyes.
Instinctively, Sa Rang took a step back without realizing it.
His hand suddenly felt unbearably repulsive.
As absurd images of that hand touching Hye Ri flashed through her mind, she couldn’t bear being near him.
“I’m fine. I need to get to class.”
Unfamiliar with this version of herself, Sa Rang hurried away.
Watching her practically sprint down the hallway, Do Han felt strangely unsettled.
The way Sa Rang looked at him had changed.
An emotion he’d never seen—not even when she’d rejected him or pushed him away—now flickered in her eyes.
Not knowing exactly what it was made Do Han even more uneasy.
***
After finally finishing class, Sa Rang met Ji Woo at a restaurant.
Today truly felt as long as a whole year.
“You seemed like you didn’t sleep well last night—did something happen?”
Noticing Sa Rang’s poor complexion, Ji Woo asked worriedly.
She’d tossed and turned all night and now looked visibly exhausted.
“No, I just couldn’t sleep.”
She couldn’t possibly tell Ji Woo—who already disliked Do Han—about what she’d seen last night.
Just then, their ordered knife-cut noodles arrived.
As Ji Woo was about to take a bite from her side plate, Sa Rang ordered soju.
“Why the sudden drink?”
Ji Woo asked, eyes wide. They’d shared beer at home before, but never soju together at a restaurant.
When the staff brought a bottle and two glasses, Ji Woo looked conflicted.
“I’m supposed to meet Tae Hoon oppa for a movie later.”
“Oh? Then I’ll just drink alone.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what? I ordered it because I wanted to drink.”
Sa Rang poured herself a glass and downed it cleanly.
“You really are hiding something, aren’t you? Why act so unlike yourself?”
Despite Ji Woo’s offer to pour for her, Sa Rang refused and kept refilling and emptying her own glass.
“Just eat your noodles. Don’t you have to meet Tae Hoon oppa?”
“I can go slowly.”
Drinking on an empty stomach made her stomach ache slightly.
But since her heart already ached because of Do Han, this pain felt bearable.
She even wanted to get drunk—maybe numbness through alcohol would hurt less.
How much would she need to drink to get carried home?
If she got drunk in front of Do Han… would he carry her too?
A bitter smile escaped Sa Rang’s lips.
Her unrequited love seemed to be turning into obsession.
Disgusted by this version of herself, she felt utterly weary.
“Huh? Oppa?”
Ji Woo suddenly exclaimed, looking toward the restaurant entrance in surprise. Sa Rang turned around, wondering who’d arrived.
Of all people—it was Tae Hoon and Do Han.
“What? Sa Rang drinking alone?”
Tae Hoon sat next to Ji Woo, leaving Do Han no choice but to sit beside Sa Rang.
“Ji Do Han, you should at least join her for a drink.”
Tae Hoon picked up Ji Woo’s set-aside glass, handed it to Do Han, and poured soju.
“Wish I hadn’t already booked movie tickets—would’ve loved to drink together. Sa Rang, next time let’s all four of us have a drink.”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Sa Rang just wanted to go home.
Noodles, soju—none of it mattered anymore.
Though she’d sat beside Do Han in lectures countless times before, now all she wanted was to run away.
It felt just like when she’d instinctively stepped back as his hand reached for her.
Now, whenever she saw Do Han, Hye Ri’s face appeared first in her mind.
When Sa Rang poured herself another drink, Do Han refilled her empty glass.
“You seem… off today.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re acting different from usual.”
“So what if I am?”
Her irritated tone startled everyone.
Ji Woo sensed something had happened between them.
Sa Rang never drank like this—and she’d barely slept all night.
Something definitely had occurred.
Clueless Tae Hoon, noticing the awkward atmosphere, floundered.
Assuming Sa Rang was just drunk, he defended her.
“What’s so weird about it? Everyone has days when they feel like drinking. Don’t you?”
Now Ji Woo understood why she’d suggested eating separately before their movie.
Tae Hoon regretted barging in so thoughtlessly—he could clearly see Sa Rang was in a terrible mood.
Soon, their extra order of noodles arrived, and the meal continued in silence.
By then, Sa Rang had finished an entire bottle of soju by herself.
Do Han hadn’t touched his drink.
He barely ate his noodles either—his eyes fixed solely on Sa Rang.
It had started yesterday, he realized.
Ever since she’d gotten angry with him.
Had she overheard her friend confessing to him?
Was that why she was hurting so much?
Do Han’s chest felt tight.
Watching Sa Rang silently down drink after drink with a blank expression made his insides burn.
“Should we head out if we’re done eating?”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
Relieved that Sa Rang had spoken first, Tae Hoon quickly agreed.
“I’ll pay.”
“No, let’s split it.”
“Nah, I’ll get it. You can get us next time.”
Feeling guilty about leaving Sa Rang in a bad mood before heading off to a movie with Ji Woo, Tae Hoon insisted.
Paying for the meal would at least ease his conscience.
“Alright then. Thank you for the meal.”
Outside, the sky had already darkened.
“Goodbye! Ji Woo, enjoy the movie.”
“Yeah. Go rest. I’ll finish the movie and come right over.”
“Take your time. I’m fine, really.”
Sa Rang gave Tae Hoon a slight bow with a smile and turned to leave.
Since Do Han was heading the same way, he followed behind her.
Once the two had moved far enough away, Ji Woo’s shoulders slumped.
“Maybe we should’ve watched the movie another day. I can’t stop worrying leaving her alone like this.”
“She lives nearby. Besides, Do Han’s with her.”
Tae Hoon took Ji Woo’s hand and started walking.
Ji Woo let out a quiet sigh.
It all seemed to stem from Do Han—and now that he and Sa Rang were walking together, she felt even more uneasy.
Her friend walked with such tense determination that Ji Woo kept glancing back, fearing she might do something reckless.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
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