Chapter 936: Flattened (1)

Her breath caressed Kang Jin-Ho’s skin. Her gentle voice tickled his ears next.

Kang Jin-Ho was a man who never lost his cool in the face of a great army of ten thousand warriors. Yet, here he was, unable to stop his gaze from swimming all over the place in panic!

“I-I-I’m sorry?”

“Hnnng?”

Kang Jin-Ho reflexively asked back since he couldn't think of anything clever to say, but his reward this time was a subtle snort from Choi Yeon-Ha. Which was a sure sign of her not being pleased about this exchange!

“I’m asking if you missed me, Mister Jin-Ho.”

“M-m-miss…?”

What a strange thing this was. If Kang Jin-Ho were to choose between “I missed you” and “I’m going to split your skull open and pull your brain out” to say to someone, he'd obviously think the latter would be much harder. Not just him, but anyone sane would've thought that way, too!

But now? Kang Jin-Ho thought that saying the latter would be a hundred times easier on his frayed heart!

Choi Yeon-Ha faintly smirked. “Mm? You miss who now?”

“M-miss…”

Kang Jin-Ho's lips refused to do their job. Unbearable awkwardness was quickly filling him up.

He had built some immunity by hanging around Choi Yeon-Ha for a while, but this…! Not seeing her for a few months seemed to have completely reset the EXP he worked so hard to accumulate!

“Now, now…” Choi Yeon-Ha elegantly raised her hand and placed it near her ear to pretend she was listening very closely. “You can tell this noona, okay? I will totally hear you out, Mister Jin-Ho.”

“I, uh…”

“Oh, come on! You're a man, aren't you! A man pulling out a sword should at least cut a radish with it, don't you think!”

“…”

“Hurry!”

Kang Jin-Ho squeezed his eyes shut. Of course he knew that was not something a person driving a car should do, but that didn't matter to him right now.

“...Yes, I did miss you.”

“Hnnnnng~?” A strange smirk formed on her face as she began pressing Kang Jin-Ho's seat with her torso. “Really? But you don't sound sincere at all, you know? As if you're forcing yourself to say it?”

“…”

Fluster quickly filled Kang Jin-Ho’s expression.

Choi Yeon-Ha guffawed when she saw that expression. “It’s fine. Don’t sweat it. I know you did your best.”

Kang Jin-Ho could feel all the cold sweat strands on his back.

That was when he suddenly started missing his master back in Zhongyuan. Even though he ultimately didn't spend a lot of time with his master, or for that matter, see him often, Kang Jin-Ho thought it'd be so much easier on his heart to enter an insult-hurling match with that damn old fart than deal with this situation!

This proved how much of a torture this car ride was for him.

However, this situation also felt rather strange to him. If something was torturous, was there a need to persist with it? No one would willingly put themselves through unwanted pain, after all.

So, why… Why didn’t Kang Jin-Ho dislike this situation?

‘Rather than disliking it, it’s more like…’

Since something somewhere inside him was itching and tickling…

“Kuh-huuuhm!” Kang Jin-Ho loudly fake-coughed.

That was when he realized something else.

‘Hang on. Now that I think about it, Miss Yeon-Ha isn’t originally like this.’

According to his memory banks, Choi Yeon-Ha was never this proactive in her approach. Indeed, wasn’t she the type to pretend she was outgoing and proactive, only for her bubble to burst and force her to enter a super-embarrassed mode?

“Hmm. Miss Yeon-Ha? Should I drive to a nearby cafe?”

“No, it’s okay. Take me home, please.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I got to see you, after all. And we also had good food together, too.” Choi Yeon-Ha grandly stretched her limbs in a lazy yawn. “The flight was too long, you know?”

“Ah, I see. You must be tired, then.”

“It's not that, but…” Choi Yeon-Ha flatly replied. “When a person is a bit tired or on edge, they tend to lose their cool a little more easily than usual, know what I mean? Other people can probably stop themselves from doing that if they want to, but you know me and my personality…”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

“...Oh? Can you enlighten me as to what's right?”

Kang Jin-Ho urgently clamped his mouth shut like a clam. One should be careful about the timing and contents when agreeing with someone. After all, blindly and carelessly throwing around quips could get people into a world of hurt!

As if to prove that notion, Choi Yeon-Ha sharply glared at Kang Jin-Ho. To his credit, Kang Jin-Ho resolutely stared ahead, never once allowing his eyes to drift to his side. It was as if there was an accident ahead, and he needed to keep a close eye on it!

Choi Yeon-Ha curtly asked, “You seem a little too relaxed, wouldn't you agree?”

Kang Jin-Ho grimaced a little. “Well, it’s been a while, so…”

That was when Choi Yeon-Ha's expression softened, and she chuckled affably. “I'm just joking, Mister Jin-Ho. But not about the losing-cool bit, though. I could be on edge right now, you know? But I definitely don't want to get angry at you for something unimportant because of that.”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded. It wasn’t as if he’d hold such things against Choi Yeon-Ha, but if this was what she wanted, he had no problem humoring her, too.

“Since I had something good to eat, getting a long night's rest in my own bed will probably make me feel even better, Mister Jin-Ho. I'm sure that's gonna show on my complexion, too. In that case, how about we get together again after that?”

“Mm, sounds good.” Kang Jin-Ho immediately replied. He didn’t see a need to say no to this idea. “Then, let me take you home.”

“Thank you.”

His car smoothly sped down the highway. This wasn't Kang Jin-Ho's usual supercar and lacked much speed as a result. As a trade-off, however, its ride quality was buttery-smooth. Every time Kang Jin-Ho got in his Zoom Zoom, it felt like he was scanning the size and shape of every pebble littering the road with his butt. So, he wanted to pat himself on the back for choosing this ride for this occasion.

Eventually, they left the coastal road and entered the highway heading toward Seoul. While chatting about this and that, their car reached the area near Choi Yeon-Ha’s home.

“Oh, by the way, Mister Jin-Ho…?”

“Yes?” Kang Jin-Ho tensed up slightly. He wasn't sure why, but whenever Choi Yeon-Ha called out to him like this, he couldn't help but be a little nervous.

“I got to think a lot about stuff during this trip,” said Choi Yeon-Ha.

“...Mm?”

“Well, lying by yourself on an unfamiliar bed in some random Chinese hotel and staring at a ceiling can help you reflect on all sorts of things, you see? So, like… I thought about a lot of things, and I've finally made up my mind.”

“You’ve made up your mind? On what?”

Choi Yeon-Ha casually shrugged. “To be honest, I’ve been trying so hard to act dignified and stuff with you, you know?”

“Sorry?”

Dignified? What was she even on about?

Wasn't Choi Yeon-Ha someone who regularly fed her dignity to a stray mutt to go on a rampage? Since when did she care about such a thing as saving face?

“Yes, dignified. You might think that wasn't the case, but! I didn't want to be a woman who clung desperately to a guy and begged him to see her, and also…” Choi Yeon-Ha sighed softly. “Also, if we kept seeing each other in public… A scandal would've broken out, too.”

Kang Jin-Ho had to agree with that notion.

His perception was much sharper than a regular person's, which allowed him to notice even the smallest things happening around him. However, it'd still be asking too much from him to spot a would-be passerby whipping out their phone to snap some shots if the area happened to be crowded.

At least an actual, specialized camera would be easier to notice, but a smartphone? Even Kang Jin-Ho didn't have a way to spot someone using a phone camera to record something. He couldn't constantly monitor his surroundings, after all.

“That was why I tried so hard to minimize my interactions with you in public, and when I did, I covered up my face like a mummy, and it had to be done in less populated areas, but…” Choi Yeon-Ha shrugged again. “But, it all seemed useless to me.”

“Sorry?”

How did she even arrive at that conclusion?

“I mean… I worked my butt off in an overseas project for the purpose of raising my profile, right?”

Kang Jin-Ho briefly tilted his head. “Really?”

“...I told you this, though. That I didn’t want to be embarrassed about who I am whenever I’m with you.”

“I see. But you don’t look embarrassed at all, though? Whether it’s now or in the past?”

“Just pipe down and listen, okay? That's my goal, anyway. Kinda like an inferiority complex, I guess? Even if I explain this to you from my perspective, you won't get it, Mister Jin-Ho.”

“I… see.”

“So, getting back to the story… Working my butt off to raise my profile like that helped me see the light, you see?”

“Okay? What light was it?”

“Here I am, trying crazy hard to become a success story as an actor, but skulking around in the shadows like some kind of thief because I got scared of scandals!”

“…”

“A true top star can easily overcome scandals, you know! I mean, look at Hollywood! Look at how many actresses there still get treated like queens even after getting married!”

“Uh, mm…?” Kang Jin-Ho blinked his eyes, wondering what to say here.

He was struck by this intense feeling of deja vu.

Wasn't Choi Yeon-Ha like this in the past, too? Even if she was working off the same starting point as everyone else, her conclusions always seemed to deviate from the norm and leave people stunned and speechless!

However, if Kang Jin-Ho was being honest here…

He wasn’t sure how Choi Yeon-Ha could even reach that kind of conclusion in the first place!

“That is why! I’m warning you, Mister Jin-Ho! You better prepare yourself.”

“...Prepare myself?”

“Yes. Because I'm gonna start tormenting you for real now. Whenever I'm bored, I'm gonna show up to your place and pester you until you give up and hang out with me.”

“…!”

More cold sweat broke out on Kang Jin-Ho’s forehead. However, it wasn’t as if he disliked the notion.

If he hated it, he wouldn't even have bothered to speak to Choi Yeon-Ha in the first place, never mind welcoming her back into the country at the airport!

Even so, how was he supposed to explain this anxiety mushrooming in his heart right now?

Choi Yeon-Ha haughtily declared, “There is absolutely nothing to worry about. All you gotta do is follow me. That is all.”

“What? Hold on, Miss Yeon-Ha…”

“Don't you worry about a thing. Because this noona will take care of everything! It's gonna be okay. Okay, I say!”

“H-hold on for a sec…”

Why did it feel like something had gone awry somewhere?

Even as Kang Jin-Ho kept tilting his head in confusion, the car continued to race past the Korean road network to reach Choi Yeon-Ha’s home.

“We’re here, Miss Yeon-Ha.”

Choi Yeon-Ha pouted a little as she sank into her seat. “I said I wanted to go home, but now that we’re here… I kinda don’t want to, you know?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Choi Yeon-Ha glanced at the head-tilting Kang Jin-Ho. “Wanna come up for a cup of coffee?”

“…!”

“Oh? Your face is getting red, Mister Jin-Ho.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Well, how could he not? Any more teasing from her, and steam might gush out of his ears next!

“Wow, you even understand euphemisms like this, too? Mister Jin-Ho, you’ve come a long way, haven’t you? Don’t worry, I was just joking with you. I mean, it’s still the middle of the day, you know? But I’ll be sure to ask again at night next time.”

“S-sorry?”

“Hehehehe~.” Choi Yeon-Ha giggled while undoing her seatbelt. Her expression indicated that teasing Kang Jin-Ho had successfully gotten rid of her accumulated stress. “Okay, I'll call you later. Thank you for being there at the airport. And driving me home like this, too.”

“Oh, that. No need to thank me.” Kang Jin-Ho replied while making a slightly weird face.

After all, didn't she tell him to show up at the airport? Didn't she send that text message telling him the precise date?

Although he had a few things to say, he didn't have the necessary courage to get them off his chest!

“Okay, see you later,” said Choi Yeon-Ha. She was about to open the door, only to suddenly stop. Then, she turned around on the seat to face him.

Kang Jin-Ho immediately grew nervous. That was because Choi Yeon-Ha’s face was noticeably flushed right now!

Just looking at those crimson cheeks awakened the tremors of anxiety in Kang Jin-Ho's heart.

As if to emulate what she had done earlier, Choi Yeon-Ha began leaning forward toward Kang Jin-Ho. And he began shrinking and sinking deeper into his seat like a mouse in a cat's presence.

“Mister Jin-Ho?”

“...Yes?”

“I missed you, too.” Choi Yeon-Ha smiled cheerily, then lightly kissed Kang Jin-Ho's cheek. And then, she hurriedly exited the car and raced toward the building's entrance at her top speed!

“…”

Kang Jin-Ho dazedly stared at this spectacle before slowly touching the kissed cheek.

“If you were going to run away like that, maybe you shouldn’t have done it in the first place…?”

What a peculiar feeling this was.

Very, very peculiar, indeed.

***

Kang Jin-Ho headed back to the Assembly afterward. After parking the car at his usual spot, he walked toward the Assembly Master’s office. He found Wiggins and Lee Hyeon-Su waiting for him there.

“Sir, you’re back.”

“Mm,” Kang Jin-Ho briefly nodded back.

“…!”

However, the usual greeting didn’t come his way for some reason. The two men were just staring at him with a hint of confusion and fluster in their faces.

Kang Jin-Ho frowned slightly while addressing Wiggins. “So? What happened?”

“Oh, uh… My lord. The Master of the Round Table has checked into a hotel. Our plan is to reach out to his team tomorrow morning after he gets enough rest overnight.”

“I see,” Kang Jin-Ho nodded. He settled down on the seat of honor, then coolly crossed his legs.

Click…

He took out a cigarette packet from his inner pocket, then mouthed one before lighting it up. After leisurely puffing away at the gray smoke, Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow and asked Wiggins again. “So… Why did he come here?”

“Well, there are various… reasons… and…”

“Mm? What’s the matter, Wiggins?”

“N-no, it’s nothing, my lord. So, the reason could be…”

Wiggins tried his best to soldier on but eventually gave up and stared at Lee Hyeon-Su instead.

That prompted Lee Hyeon-Su to say something. Although, his expression could only be described as very awkward!

“Uhm… Assembly Master, sir?”

“Yeah?”

“...I think you should wipe that thing off your cheek first, sir.”

Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow. “...Huh?”

“Y-your cheek…”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head this way and that before taking his phone out of his pocket. He launched the camera app, then pointed it to his face.

“…!”

He promptly froze up on the spot like a statue. That was because he could see the clear-as-day imprint of a person's lips on his cheek!

An experienced person would’ve obviously wiped the traces of such an interaction already. However, Kang Jin-Ho was a century-old solo player with precisely zero experience. No wonder he never thought of wiping away the traces of lipstick on his face!

Kang Jin-Ho gasped in horror. “H-how did this even…?”

“...Sir, by any chance, did you walk through the front entrance?”

“Y-yeah.”

“How many people were there, sir?”

“Quite a lot…”

“I see,” Lee Hyeon-Su contemplatively nodded. “Well, it seems you should accept this situation as a valuable life lesson, sir. Because I don’t see a way to fix it.”

“…!” Kang Jin-Ho stiffly got up, then headed to the exit. “...I’m going to the bathroom.”

“Of course, sir. Take your time.”

Kang Jin-Ho quietly slipped through the doorway. And then, a loud pained groan came from the corridor.

Lee Hyeon-Su sighed under his breath. Neither he nor Wiggins tried to find out the source of that groan.

Wiggins shook his head. “...The springtime of youth, is it?”

Lee Hyeon-Su chuckled slightly. “Sounds like you’re envious, master.”

“Why would I be envious, Mister Lee? Considering your age, it should be you who’s envious instead. How pitiful you are.”

“…”

Getting hit by that unexpected shrapnel easily sank Lee Hyeon-Su.

And so, the rumor of Kang Jin-Ho dating someone spread within the Martial Assembly like wildfire in less than a day.

...Even if that hadn't been Kang Jin-Ho's intention!