“Ah…… hi.”

I hesitated without realizing it.

I haven’t done anything wrong… or have I? No, I don’t think so. I don’t think it’s my fault.

Anyway, whenever I saw Ji Seung Hyun, I felt uneasy in many ways. So even though I knew we still had things to talk about, I kept avoiding him.

But it ended up like this.

Ji Seung Hyun smiled brightly.

“We have a lot to talk about, don’t we?”

We sure do. I nodded awkwardly. Ji Seung Hyun sat down next to me and stared straight ahead without saying a word.

For a moment, there was an awkward atmosphere.

“First of all, I’m sorry.”

Ji Seung Hyun was the first to speak.

“For what?”

“For deceiving you with my name back then.”

Ji Seung Hyun spoke gently with a sincerely apologetic face.

“I didn’t do it on purpose. I should have told you sooner, but somehow……”

“Ah, well…… it’s okay.”

Honestly, it wasn’t Ji Seung Hyun who deceived me, but I deceived myself, and I didn’t really feel that the name deception itself was a big issue.

‘If it were someone else, I would have just been surprised for a moment and that’s it.’

The reason I felt betrayed was because he was ‘Ji Seung Hyun’.

‘I never thought Ji Seung Hyun would pop out there……’

Ji Seung Hyun’s unexpected appearance was a huge shock to my heart. It means I was startled.

But well, it’s not something to be angry about either.

‘In the end, things worked out well thanks to that……’

No, wait. Can I really call this ‘well’? It’s confusing.

Anyway, I have no intention of saying anything to Ji Seung Hyun. I have no right to do so either.

Rather……

“I’m the one who should apologize.”

I glanced at Ji Seung Hyun and said.

“You were surprised today, weren’t you?”

Ji Seung Hyun is not stupid, so he must have already noticed why this meeting was arranged.

I was in a hurry and pushed it through recklessly, but honestly, it must have been a nuisance for Ji Seung Hyun.

‘I’m sorry. I had no choice because I was in a hurry……’

Then Ji Seung Hyun kindly said.

“No, it’s okay. I was a bit surprised at first, but…… it’s fun. I’m enjoying it now too.”

Is he an angel?

Among the people Ji Seung Hyun has sincerely possessed, he was the kindest. No, wait. Even including before the possession, he seems to be like that.

‘What have I done to this kid……’

The guilt doubled.

Ji Seung Hyun smiled brightly.

“I needed time to have a serious talk with Yu Bin anyway. Thanks to you, I’m having a good time.”

“……”

Is it really good……?

For a moment, I was confused whether he was being sarcastic or sincere.

‘Well…… let’s think positively.’

I didn’t want to think too deeply, so I stopped thinking.

‘By the way, are things going well with Seol Yu Bin?’

Putting aside whether they are dating, they should at least reconcile.

I don’t know if their relationship was bad enough to require reconciliation in the first place, but recently, it seemed like there was constant friction between them, which concerned me.

‘But it’s a bit awkward to ask too obviously.’

I glanced at Ji Seung Hyun.

‘How should I ask indirectly?’

At that moment, Ji Seung Hyun said.

“You don’t have to worry about my relationship with Yu Bin anymore.”

“Huh?”

“It seems like you’ve been looking at us since earlier.”

I got caught.

When I rolled my eyes ambiguously, Ji Seung Hyun chuckled.

“I sincerely appreciate you arranging this meeting today. It’s been a really long time since I had a conversation with Yu Bin like this.”

“Hmm…… I see.”

Whether it was unfortunate or fortunate, Ji Seung Hyun seemed to think that the purpose of today’s meeting was simply to improve their relationship.

‘That’s not it. No, well, it’s true, but…’

In fact, my main purpose was to match them up, so I couldn’t say anything.

‘It’s obvious that Ji Seung Hyun will feel burdened if I tell him my original intention, so I’ll just keep my mouth shut.’

In the end, I chose to stay silent.

‘It’s strange to interfere too much, so let’s not get involved any further.’

Then suddenly, I thought that Ji Seung Hyun must be having a hard time too.

‘He’s going through a lot between the Seol twins.’

The problems Ji Seung Hyun had to bear were not just about Seol Yu Bin.

According to the original story, Ji Seung Hyun was one of the people who cleaned up after Seol Yu Hwa’s antics.

Seol Yu Bin’s issue was at least an emotional one, but Seol Yu Hwa lived without caring about others’ opinions, befitting her status as the world’s rank 0, so the scale of her antics was extraordinary.

‘If I remember correctly, Ji Seung Hyun had to deal with her nearly killing half of the local gangsters.’

I don’t know for sure, but he must have had a hard time.

Moreover, even after going through so much hardship, the one Seol Yu Hwa loves is Sung Ji Chan in the end. There was no reward for Ji Seung Hyun.

‘That’s the fate of a side male character……’

Somehow, I felt a sense of kinship. In the sense that no matter how hard we try, we don’t gain anything. Of course, I’m not a side character or anything.

I patted Ji Seung Hyun’s back as if to comfort him.

“Yeah, hang in there.”

“Huh? Oh, okay.”

The conversation ended like that.

Ji Seung Hyun briefly wrapped it up.

“Let’s be good friends from now on.”

How can every single word he says sound like it’s from a textbook?

But it suited Ji Seung Hyun well. Unlike other characters in the novel, he suited the image of a model student.

“Yeah, I’ll keep greeting you from now on.”

Ji Seung Hyun smiled brightly at my words.

“Ah, right.”

Before we returned to our respective seats, I left the most important words to Ji Seung Hyun.

“If you have time, make sure to get a health checkup.”

If you don’t want to become a terminally ill side male lead who dies and donates his corneas to the female lead.

After finishing my conversation with Ji Seung Hyun, it was already lunchtime.

Around the time we were going to have lunch, Yoo Hee Na came up to me and asked.

“What do you think about them?”

“About what?”

“Do you think things are going well between them?”

I glanced to the side.

Ji Seung Hyun had already returned to Seol Yu Bin.

Seol Yu Bin spoke to Ji Seung Hyun with an excited expression. Ji Seung Hyun smiled kindly at her.

Hmm, it looks good.

“Isn’t that good enough……?”

Then Yoo Hee Na said with an angry expression.

“What’s good about that!”

I flinched.

Seeing my reaction, Yoo Hee Na sighed.

“Ugh, I knew it. You’ve never had a proper relationship, have you?”

A sudden personal attack?

And you’re not the one to say that to me, are you?

‘You’ve never been in a relationship yourself.’

Knowing Yoo Hee Na’s long history of stalking Sung Ji Chan, I was dumbfounded.

“Look at his eyes. Do those look like the eyes of someone looking at the person they like? Those are the eyes of looking at a younger sister, even if he’s nice to her!”

How would I know that……

I felt unfairly wronged by Yoo Hee Na’s sudden scolding.

‘No, isn’t the atmosphere pretty good at that level?’

From my perspective, even if Ji Seung Hyun didn’t have a tremendous liking, he didn’t seem to think badly of Seol Yu Bin.

Even if it’s not romantic interest…… there’s nothing wrong with that, right?

After all, my goal is to be ‘beautifully rejected’.

‘I just need to prevent the original story from unfolding.’

Even if it ends up being a breakup, as long as a warm atmosphere is created where Seol Yu Bin doesn’t get hurt and attempt suicide, I don’t care how it turns out.

But it seems different for Yoo Hee Na.

“This won’t do. I need to take action now.”

Yoo Hee Na pulled me with a determined expression.

“Come on, get up!”

“Huh?”

I stupidly let Yoo Hee Na drag me.

“Everyone, attention!”

Yoo Hee Na clapped her hands in front of the kids sitting on the bench and resting.

“Let’s split up after lunch.”

“What?”

Ah, is she going to talk about that?

I quietly waited for Yoo Hee Na’s next words. Yoo Hee Na smiled brightly.

“We’re going to the haunted house.”

That’s right. The haunted house.

It was the place we chose to maximize the suspension bridge effect.

“Eek! Ha Min doesn’t want to! It’s scary!”

As we had arranged beforehand, Ban Ha Min opposed with a tearful face.

We were going to naturally split into two groups by expressing strong opposition like this.

“That’s why I said let’s split up.”

“No, no! Absolutely not! We must be one!”

…… Is this going according to plan?

Yoo Hee Na showed annoyance at Ban Ha Min’s protest as if it were bothersome.

“Ah, shut up. Be quiet!”

Then Ban Ha Min flinched and closed his mouth.

Yoo Hee Na glared at Ban Ha Min and spoke arrogantly.

“Now, who’s going to the haunted house with me?”

At the sudden suggestion, the kids looked at each other.

As the atmosphere quieted down, Yoo Hee Na poked my side with her elbow.

“Why aren’t you raising your hand?”

Wasn’t I automatically participating?

It seems like she needs someone to catch the wind. I opened my mouth.

“Uh…… I should go too.”

Then Seol Yu Bin cautiously said.

“I… I want to go too!”

Then Ji Seung Hyun said something to Seol Yu Bin next to him. It seemed like he was asking if she would really be okay.

Seol Yu Bin listened to Ji Seung Hyun’s words with a nervous expression, then nodded firmly.

Ji Seung Hyun sighed and raised his hand.

“I’ll go too.”

And lastly, Sung Ji Chan raised his hand.

“I’ll go too……”

“No!”

Ban Ha Min shouted urgently with fire in his eyes.

“Chani, you have to ride the rides with me!”

“What the hell, this bastard is crazy……”

“Absolutely not!”

Sung Ji Chan looked at Ban Ha Min with eyes asking if he was crazy. But Ban Ha Min didn’t back down and shouted.

“Who am I supposed to be with if you go too!”

There was madness in Ban Ha Min’s eyes.

But Sung Ji Chan seemed to have his pride hurt and didn’t back down easily either.

“Go with that bastard Seon Woo Jin!”

“Do you think Jini will willingly ride the rides?”

In fact, Seon Woo Jin was someone who tried to buy only an entrance ticket instead of a free pass when entering the amusement park, in order to uphold his will to never ride any rides even if he died. He was a stubborn guy.

‘Why did he even come here in the first place……’

I felt it since last time, but Seon Woo Jin must have a weakness caught by either Ban Ha Min or Yoo Hee Na.

Otherwise, with his personality, there’s no way he would have obediently followed us here.

Sung Ji Chan and Ban Ha Min fought fiercely.

“Damn it, I said I’m going to the haunted house too!”

“No! You absolutely can’t go!”

And that argument ended with Ban Ha Min’s victory.

“Ha…… XX.”

Sung Ji Chan cursed, holding his forehead.

The victorious Ban Ha Min smiled innocently and sent us off.

“Then have a nice trip!”

I turned around and waved awkwardly.

‘Is the first stage a success for now……?’

And so, at 1 PM.

We were divided into two teams.