.

Oh, boy, let me take a deep breath.

What he just added made me draw a big breath. I turned back. My face then stiffened right away.

When I turned around again to look at Eun Jiho as benumbed as a wooden doll, he leaned himself toward me, putting a naughty smile. He then whispered with half-closed eyes.

“What were you thinking about the only son of Hanwool Group? Did you think people would leave me alone?”

Only then was I able to answer back.

“I did… just until now…”

At first, I thought a flock of sheep was dashing into us, but when I took a closer look, they were all a bunch of people. Taking a step back from those who were quickly approaching us, I poked Eun Jiho in the side and spoke in a low voice.

“Is this the reason why you’ve sent me an SOS?”

“You’re the one who said you’d help; besides, if you’re regretting it now, don’t you think it’s too late?”

As Eun Jiho responded like that, looking amused with downcast eyes, I, who became at a loss of words, just covered my eyes quietly.

Okay okay, I was the idiot who never imagined that this would be the life of the male protagonist in web novels…

‘Returning his favor my arse! Next time, I will ABSOLUTELY let him attend the parties alone.’ Only then did I promise myself like that; however, it was too late.

Eun Jiho whispered, “Most of them would’ve moved to my father. Still, there are kids of our age around, so just keep smiling.”

I gently nodded my head.

As soon as he said that, a decently dressed man, who looked as if he had a son and a daughter of our age, approached and greeted us.

“Long time no see! You’re getting more and more handsome.”

“Good evening, Mr. Ambassador.”

Eun Jiho replied shortly with smiley eyes. He then pulled my arm and put it next to his, so I just left him to do what he wanted. As I stood still like that, a question then returned to me too.

“What a gorgeous young lady here!”

“Thank you. She’s my friend.”

Thankfully, Eun Jiho didn’t continue that ridiculous lie in public. Fetching a sigh of relief, I also greeted the man with an awkward smile.

As soon as I reacted like that, this time, several people, who looked like Eun Jiho’s age, came toward us clamorously and said hi. Eun Jiho, however, responded to them without a smile, looking a little cold. Depending on the person, Eun Jiho changed his attitude as easily and proficiently as possible.

Exchanging greetings with other people after him, I suddenly looked at Eun Jiho’s face. This silver-haired boy was showing a variety of looks on his face from moment to moment under the dazzling light. Staring at him for quite a while, I tilted my head to the side in wonder.

Well, they say a person must be consistent; however, when looking at Eun Jiho right now, he seemed to be behaving at variance with his usual conduct. Oh, there was one thing that looked unchanging and coherent today though; he never showed such a demeanor like this to us at school.

Perhaps, that could be the evidence of him highly trained for playing those roles as natural as possible. When thinking about these, Eun Jiho was reckoned to be quite an impressive figure. I couldn’t help but reverse the decision again that I had earlier.

Looking at Eun Jiho right now, I was able to assume how much he had sacrificed in the past to become like this. He would have been constantly learning and training for his upcoming future, suppressing his desires as well as the things he wanted to do. Without that, his perfection like now would never have been possible.

Thus, it would be inappropriate to value the moment more than the future to him.

Rambling those thoughts in mind, I looked up at him blankly.

Eun Jiho suddenly asked me, “What? Look front.”

“Huh? Yeah…”

As soon as I turned my head forward, I almost shouted at a frightening face that came into my sight.

Aargh!

To tell the truth, it was even embarrassing to call each other acquaintances. We only met once even for a very short time. Our encounter was, however, too dramatic to forget.

As if the guy also felt the same, he squinted his eyes as soon as he saw me standing next to Eun Jiho.

Yeah, you don’t want to run into me, huh? Me neither.

I put on a look of dismay and thought for a while.

Should I tell Eun Jiho that we know each other, and just leave the spot? I mean, what if he asks me about how we know each other? What should I tell him then…?

While I wondered what I should do, Eun Jiho, putting a twisted smile on his face, stretched out his hand to pull me into him. I struck dumb, blinking my eyes. Staring at the guy, Eun Jiho almost took me into his arms then detached his lips with a smile.

“How are you? It’s been a while. I wasn’t able to remember you back then.”

In contrast to Eun Jiho’s bright face, the guy replied, attempting to smile with a look of awkwardness.

“Y… eah, good to see you… cousin.”

I gazed at him who was uttering those words. His fancy silver hair shone under the light. He looked as handsome as before too. Wearing a purple suit that went so well with this lavish venue made him even look more attractive.

When I first saw him at the beach, I knew that he wouldn’t just remain as an extra… Looking at the guy with a complicated gaze, I murmured the word that he said just now.

“Cousin?”

Regardless of my question, Eun Jiho took a stride forward in the guy’s direction and opened his lips.

“Long time no see, Kyum heong.”

Kyum hyeong…

Mumbling that name in a daze, I stared at Eun Kyum, the guy at the beach.

Of course, he was quite an Adonis-type of guy and had a rare surname of Eun. Above all, his silver hair wasn’t dyed but turned out to be real. Thus, Eun Kyum and Eun Jiho weren’t surprising to be related by blood.

Still, if there was a blood tie between them, they should’ve had some family reunions or so; however, Eun Kyum reacted as if he met the angel of death.

I tilted my head in wonder, thinking, ‘Is it because of what happened at the beach back then?’

Well, at that time, Eun Hyung came over to us ahead of other boys and kicked out Eun Kyum as well as his gang; therefore, Eun Jiho, Yoo Chun Young, and Jooin would’ve not even seen Eun Kyum’s face.

That being said, Eun Jiho wouldn’t know that Eun Kyum had been the principal offender. Thus, what was that reaction? Did something happen in the meantime?

Then I furrowed my brows as I suddenly recalled the rumor about the Number 0 ranked fighter that caused a stir in the school not long ago.

Raising one side of my hand that Eun Jiho wasn’t holding now, I pressed my temple and spoke in a low voice.

“No, it will be not…”

Eun Jiho, your appearance does belong to that of the nationwide Number 0 and even the worldwide Number 0, but please tell me that you have nothing to do with these…

While I tried to keep myself together, Eun Kyum, standing in front of me, continued his remark with a smile.

“Haha, Ham… Donnie there… long time no see too!”

“Oh, do you remember me?”

When I flung the question with my eyes round open, Eun Kyum quickly nodded his head. He then added a few words anxiously.

“Um, you mean… what happened before… I am very regretful–”

“Kyum hyeong.”

A cold voice intervened him speaking those words with involuntary pauses. Eun Kyum then closed his mouth with a gasp. Opening my eyes wide, I looked at Eun Jiho and Eun Kyum, who was sweating hard in front of me, alternately.

What the heck is this situation?

While I wondered, Eun Jiho, beside me, spoke with a bright smile out of the blue.

“What’s so important about the past, hyeong?”

“Huh? Oh, um, yeah! Haha, of course.”

“The future is what matters, bro. Ham Donnie and I are very…”

Eun Jiho, who suddenly began to talk down to him, replied, pulling me closer into his arms. Eun Jiho then dropped the last sentence yet with a smile.

“Very close. That’s what matters, get it?”

“Yes, in… deed! I get that very well… then, have fun.”

“You as well, hyeong.”

Speaking politely again, Eun Jiho gently waved his hand with a bright grin. Eun Kyum then moved his stiff limbs to leave the spot like a wooden figure.

Looking blankly at the view of Eun Kyum’s back receding from us, I poked Eun Jiho in the back as it became a little quiet around.

Why?

Eun Jiho turned his head to look at me.

“Do you also harass your cousin?”