Chapter 7 Part 2

“That’s the same thing. I wanted to stick with you, Senior, from the start.”

“…Sit in the back.”

Lee Jun offered a compromise. But Chaeheon was not one to simply listen.

“Weren’t you reading a book? Keep reading.”

Lee Jun hid a sigh at Chaeheon’s words and opened his book. Since Chaeheon had made it clear he didn’t want to go to the back, Lee Jun intended to completely ignore him. In the meantime, Chaeheon turned around and raised his voice.

“I’m going to take the class here.”

“Oh? Really?”

Kim Gyeong-hun started to pack his bag, intending to move seats as well.

“Don’t come.”

“Huh?”

Kim Gyeong-hun, who had awkwardly stood up, looked puzzled, wondering what he meant.

“Listen from there. Lee Jun, Senior, is uncomfortable.”

Lee Jun looked at Chaeheon with an exasperated gaze. “Who do you think I’m most uncomfortable with here?”

“But you’ve been taking classes with us until now, hyung.”

Kim Gyeong-hun also seemed not to understand. He wished he could have persuaded him properly to come along…

“I’ll listen with Lee Jun, Senior.”

“Hyung?”

As Chaeheon turned away, as if he had said all he needed to say, Kim Gyeong-hun just rolled his eyes and lowered his half-lifted backside. Then, he called his group, who were entering one by one, and made them sit next to him so they couldn’t go near Chaeheon. Chaeheon looked back at Lee Jun with a look that asked, “Did I do well?”

“By the way…”

Chaeheon’s trailing words seemed to be leading to something unnecessary, and Lee Jun was about to ignore him.

“Did you hear from that friend?”

“…Yes, I did.”

When Lee Jun had called as soon as he left Club IN last night, the phone was off, but a message had arrived that morning.

“What did he say?”

“He said he was sorry for leaving first.”

“That’s all? He didn’t say where he is now?”

“No.”

He had also said he’d meet later to explain the situation, but Lee Jun didn’t mention that part.

“I won’t catch that friend since I promised you, Senior, but tell him to be careful.”

“What on earth… No.”

Lee Jun was curious about who they had caught yesterday and why it had happened, but instead of asking, he turned his gaze back to his book.

Lee Jun had never indirectly experienced such shadowy dealings. Although his loan was from a secondary financial institution, it only had a higher interest rate compared to a primary institution; it wasn’t private lending, and as long as he paid the interest and principal on time, it caused him no harm.

In fact, he’d only receive promotional messages telling him to borrow more if he needed it. But the scene he witnessed yesterday was dangerous. Men in black suits with stern faces. A man forced to his knees, his arms held tight. And Chaeheon, who seemed more accustomed to that atmosphere than anyone else.

As Chaeheon’s smiling lips turned downwards, the playful atmosphere from just moments ago completely vanished.

“Aren’t you curious about what happened?”

He was properly caught. Lee Jun stared at Chaeheon. “A subtle smile suits him well, but would I be strange if I thought the frowning face he wore yesterday suited him better?”

“No.”

He declined, because if he heard it, he would become entangled even if he didn’t want to. Just appearing at that place yesterday was enough.

“I don’t want to hear it.”

As Lee Jun turned his head, Chaeheon’s cold atmosphere softened. Chaeheon completely rested his elbows on the desk and propped his chin in his palm. It was a posture he took specifically to openly gaze at Lee Jun.

Lee Jun’s lips seemed to move once, but then returned to normal. As he lowered his eyes to look at his book, his long, full eyelashes were visible. “Yes. Being this close, I can see so much more.” Chaeheon smiled contentedly. Perhaps showing him that side yesterday wasn’t so bad after all.