I Don't Recommend a Blunder with a Male Friend (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 15
“You wanna throw down today?”
“Throw down what?”
Maybe because Ji Seo Jun had been away for a long time studying in the U.S., he didn’t get it right away.
“Baseball batting.”
“…I’m in.”
Ever since we were kids, whenever something wouldn’t go our way or stress built up, we’d meet at the neighborhood coin-operated baseball batting cage.
Betting was mandatory. It might sound cliché, but it was our wish token. That wish token held serious power between the two of us, so we always played with everything we had.
I started with a three-point handicap, but the games were always thrilling.
“Let’s go to the neighborhood.”
Ji Seo Jun chugged the rest of his beer and stood up.
He meant the neighborhood where I live now—the same neighborhood where we’d practically grown up together.
“Why? Let’s just find a place nearby.”
“I’ll drive you home anyway, and we can swing by our old spot too.”
Since he was offering to drive me, there was no point refusing, so I left Ji Seo Jun’s officetel with him.
While waiting for the elevator, I voiced the emptiness I’d felt all along.
“It feels a bit empty without General Tto Ri.”
“You just devoured chicken like there was no tomorrow, and now suddenly you’re missing Tto Ri?”
“Chicken is chicken, and Tto Ri is Tto Ri.”
Ji Seo Jun shook his head in disbelief.
The place we arrived at by taxi was the baseball batting cage near our old high school. Students in uniforms were playing.
While exchanging coins, Ji Seo Jun asked,
“How many rounds?”
“Just one each. I’m not twenty anymore—if I swing like I did in school, I won’t be able to type tomorrow.”
He chuckled and came back with just enough coins for one round each.
“Single round. Three-point handicap. Right?”
“Yep. Let’s go!”
I boldly stepped into the batting cage first.
“Whew… Feels kinda nerve-wracking doing this after so long.”
“Take it easy. Don’t overdo it and hurt yourself.”
“Got it.”
To stop Ji Seo Jun from starting another lecture, I jammed in a coin.
*Thud.*
The first swing was a clean miss.
“Why’s it so fast? Something’s off.”
Before I could even react, the next ball came flying.
“Aah!”
Another swing and miss, accompanied by my short yelp.
I heard giggling from behind.
I gripped the bat tightly again and reset my stance.
“Just you wait. I’ll hit it no matter what.”
After several more pitches, I managed to make contact with the ball exactly three times.
“You’ve totally lost it, Moon Moon.”
Ji Seo Jun smirked, clearly trying to rile me up. If only I’d swung after seeing that smug face, I might’ve hit better—but I’d already used up all my coins.
I stepped out, and Ji Seo Jun entered the cage. Without hesitation, he inserted a coin and struck a flawless pose.
*Clang.*
The ball shot off with a crisp, satisfying sound.
Again—*clang*. And again—*clang*. It was a relentless *clang clang clang clang*.
“Wow. Hey, did you see that? That guy’s insane.”
Nearby high schoolers playing baseball turned their full attention to Ji Seo Jun.
His form was perfect, cleanly hitting every pitch, and in no time he became the batting cage’s rising star. Even passersby stopped briefly to watch him.
Having hit every ball except one, Ji Seo Jun walked out of the cage with triumphant swagger.
“It’s just ‘cause I haven’t played much lately.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Between uni and work, when would I even have time to pick up a bat?”
“I see.”
Ji Seo Jun gave a sly grin—definitely mocking me.
“So… wanna play one more round?”
“But you said you wouldn’t be able to type tomorrow.”
If I just skipped work tomorrow, I could manage two more rounds. But I had no choice—I had to admit defeat.
“Say your wish.”
“I need to think about it.”
“What kind of wish needs thinking? Spit it out now. If today passes, the wish token expires.”
At my words, Ji Seo Jun scrunched up his face and started pondering.
Just then—
“Ji Seo Jun?”
Someone called his name.
I turned around. No way. Of all people, it had to be him.
“Ji Seo Jun, right? Long time no see.”
I stepped in front of the guy who was walking over to Ji Seo Jun with fake friendliness.
“Can’t we just go?”
“Who’s this? Ah… Still glued to him, huh? Some things never change.”
“You haven’t changed either—still couldn’t care less about anyone else.”
He greeted us warmly, but there was nothing warm about it. This was the same guy who’d made Ji Seo Jun miserable back in middle school.
Han Tae I.
I glanced at Ji Seo Jun. He just stared blankly, expressionless, as if watching someone else’s story unfold.
“Get lost.”
He spoke those three words with force—making sure they sank in. If you understood, then leave on your own.
Then he grabbed my arm and pulled me away.
“Let’s go.”
Ji Seo Jun followed me limply.
We’d only taken a few steps when a voice came from behind.
“Nice seeing you! Let’s meet again sometime!”
“Meet again my ass—that lunatic.”
I was about to turn around and slap him so I could sleep peacefully tonight, but Ji Seo Jun stopped me.
“Enough. Let’s just go.”
“But still…”
“Come on, Moon Da Yul.”
Ji Seo Jun kept walking. I flipped off that smirking lunatic and hurried after him.
Ji Seo Jun walked in silence for a long time.
By now, we should’ve been home and then some. I just trailed behind him as he looped around the neighborhood again and again.
Just as my legs started aching, Ji Seo Jun turned and looked at me.
“I figured out my wish.”
“What?”
Confused by his sudden remark, I cocked my head—only to get flicked hard on the forehead.
“Ow! That hurts!”
“You live so absentmindedly—how are you gonna manage? Didn’t I just win the wish token? You said I had to say it before today ends.”
Ah. That wish token.
Rubbing my red forehead, I said,
“Alright, say it.”
“Stay with me today.”
*Woof woof.*
*Woof woof woof woof.*
Dog barks echoed from all around.
It wasn’t that Ji Seo Jun’s words sounded like barking—it was that one dog in the neighborhood barked, and suddenly every dog joined in.
“You’ve got a lot of friends today.”
I remarked. Ji Seo Jun, hands arrogantly tucked in his pockets, lifted one corner of his mouth.
“More like *your* friends.”
I knew for sure those words hadn’t come from that mouth. The guy wearing that wicked smirk had just asked to stay with me—calling that his wish.
Furious and exasperated, I snorted.
“So, are you accepting the wish token?”
“…Are you serious?”
Our bets using the wish token were always serious—and using the token itself was even more so.
“Yeah. Dead serious.”
My pupils widened at his words.
“Stay with me today”… It was already past nine. Asking to stay together today clearly meant spending the night together.
Had today’s stress finally snapped his mind, or was it the chicken from earlier? As I wondered, my forehead got flicked again.
“Ow! I said it hurts—why hit the same spot again!”
“I know exactly what weird thoughts you’re having—it’s not like *that*.”
“Weird thoughts…?”
“Just stay together. That’s all.”
Was he serious? I looked into Ji Seo Jun’s eyes. There wasn’t a trace of playfulness in them.
“Well, if that’s what you want, I’ll consider doing something weird too.”
“What did you say!”
I kicked Ji Seo Jun in the shin.
“Hey!”
He grabbed his leg with both hands and hopped around in pain.
“Come on. Where to? Your place?”
I turned toward the main road to hail a taxi, ignoring Ji Seo Jun glaring at me.
I never thought I’d be back in this house again.
On the way in, I bought cleansing foam and a toothbrush for tomorrow morning—and suddenly felt a surge of nerves. He’d clearly said nothing would happen, but maybe deep down I’d expected something…
“Did you call your mom?”
Standing awkwardly, still rattled from earlier, I heard Ji Seo Jun ask from behind.
“Huh? Yeah. I told her I’d stay at Lee Ra’s place.”
“Oh? Want some comfortable clothes?”
“Huh? Um…”
Ji Seo Jun went into his walk-in closet and came out with a T-shirt and sweatpants.
“Shower and change.”
“Okay.”
I quickly slipped into the bathroom.
“Heart, what are you doing? This isn’t your moment.”
I punched my traitorous heart a few times and took a quick shower. As expected, Ji Seo Jun’s clothes were way too big.
When our families went camping together as kids, Mom accidentally left my bag at home, so I had to borrow Ji Seo Jun’s clothes.
Back then, his sleeves only covered half my hands—there wasn’t that much difference.
Now, even though they were short sleeves, they reached past my elbows, and I kept having to pull up the pants that kept sliding down.
Dragging the pants as I walked out, Ji Seo Jun sprang up from the sofa and came over. His face got closer and closer.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
“Stay still.”
But you said it was just about staying together! Nothing would happen!
Seeing Ji Seo Jun approach so boldly, I squeezed my eyes shut tightly.
Huh?
He’d seemed ready to kiss me any second—but instead, he was fiddling with my pants.
He was rolling up the too-long sweatpants—three layers deep.
“Why’d you close your eyes?”
“B-because… you came over too fast. Um. Ahem.”
Even though I could only see the top of his head and the tips of his ears, I could absolutely tell he was laughing at me.
Seemingly satisfied with the rolled-up length, Ji Seo Jun stood and headed to the bathroom.
“If you’re tired, lie down first. I’ll shower and come in.”
*Bang.*
With that, the bathroom door closed, and the sound of running water followed.
“Why take a shower now…”
After glaring hard enough at the bathroom door to hurt my eyes, I went over to Ji Seo Jun’s bed.
“Right. He said nothing would happen. Hmph. Like I knew he’d say ‘sleep in my bed’?”
Grumbling, I got into bed—the scent of Ji Seo Jun’s fabric softener hit me instantly.
“Smells nice.”
I pulled the blanket up to my chest and stared blankly at the ceiling. All my usual sleepiness had vanished—my mind crystal clear.
How long had I been like that? The water stopped, the hair dryer hummed, then came the sound of the door opening.
“Sleeping?”
“Yeah.”
At my reply, I heard a soft chuckle, then the bed dipped. The rustle of blankets told me Ji Seo Jun was lying down.
“Sorry.”
The chicken from that place really must’ve been bad—because at Ji Seo Jun’s “sorry,” I turned to look at him lying beside me.
“Today… I really didn’t want to be alone. So…”
“Why?”
“Dunno. Maybe seeing Han Tae I?”
Ji Seo Jun kept staring at the ceiling.
“Forget that jerk. What’s so great about him anyway? I was about to hit him earlier—if you hadn’t stopped me. If I can’t sleep tonight, it’s because I didn’t get to punch Han Tae I, so remember that.”
“Haha.”
Ji Seo Jun had even developed temporary social anxiety because of that Han Tae I.
Thanks to Han Tae I—selfish, doing whatever he pleased—Ji Seo Jun had gone through rough times. And of all places, we ran into him at the batting cage I’d taken Ji Seo Jun to cheer him up.
“Today’s about mood. Wish token restored! Consider what I just used as my personal favor to you.”
At my words, Ji Seo Jun turned his head toward me, having been staring only at the ceiling until now.
“No regrets?”
“Why would I regret it?”
“Then… can I use the wish token right now?”
“Now?”
The moment I spoke, Ji Seo Jun’s face suddenly came close.
He’s teasing me again.
When I widened my eyes, Ji Seo Jun stopped just before getting too close.
“Close your eyes.”
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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