.

Yoo Chun Young’s voice sounded very composed for suddenly hugging me. At some point, it even sounded more cold-hearted than usual. Feeling a little disappointed for a second, I soon shook my head. I mean, why would I get disappointed about this?

I asked, “Hold on, what?”

It looked as though he was choosing the words to articulate what he had in mind. He then replied in a small voice.

“I’m dizzy.”

Pfft, I burst into a fit of giggles.

“That doesn’t sound like a dizzy person. Try to do your best if you want to lie.”

“How does a dizzy person sound like?”

Yoo Chun Young’s voice had already returned to his usual, sullen tone.

‘Geez, never mind. Forget I said that,’ murmuring to myself, I pushed him away and raised my head. Before he pulled me into his arms, I thought I had seen something very different in his eyes such as blade-like, sharp aggression; however, when I looked back at him, he had returned to his usual character.

In fact, Yoo Chun Young would be the most person who wouldn’t go along with the term ‘aggression.’ His everyday motto was ‘Mountains are mountains and waters are waters; haters gonna hate, so what?’ In this aspect, everything I just saw must have been my mistake.

Glancing at his blue eyes covered in long lashes and chiseled nose ridge, I spoke in a low voice.

‘Hmm, maybe I was haunted by the magic of the lights or something like that.’

Meanwhile, Yoo Chun Young made a gesture by moving his chin at my back. It looked as though he was suggesting me to go back to the party hall.

That reminded me of the group of boys standing behind me just until now. When I looked back, I became speechless to find out there was no one around.

‘Eh? Where did they all go? Weird, I’m sure they’ve had something to do with me…’

Having that thought in mind, I got surprised when Yoo Chun Young, beside me, grabbed my wrist like nothing. Lifting my head to look at him, I heard him say to me, “Let’s go.”

“Huh? Um, yeah… Oh, but…”

Raising my hand, I tried to ask him if he had seen the boys who were in here just until now; however, at that moment, I saw the look on Yoo Chun Young’s face changing to a frown, which made me turn my head to the side.

I quietly murmured, ‘Well, wherever they go, it’s none of my business.’

As I tried to bend my step along with him, Yoo Chun Young flung a question that sounded a bit like criticizing me.

“Why are you here alone? Where are Eun Jiho and the other kids?”

“Oh, I told them I need some fresh air alone from having a headache.”

“But why alone?”

“Um, just to change my mood?”

I couldn’t confess to him that I ran away from the hall upon the crazy dramas taking place inside. When I responded with an awkward smile, Yoo Chun Young, dropping his gaze at me, then heaved a sigh.

His gaze then reached the business card I was holding until then.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“Oh, this one.”

I fiddled the white card again then suddenly held it near the lamplight to take a closer look.

Whoa!

I let out an exclamation. What I first thought as a simple white paper had a butterfly hologram engraved on it. Watching it shimmer at different angles, I then realized Yoo Chun Young was directing his eyes on me until now.

“Oh, this is… when I was on the terrace, someone gave it to me. She said… oh, reach out to her if my life sucks.”

“…”

Remaining silent for a moment, Yoo Chun Young looked at me, suddenly, with a serious face.

“Ham Donnie.”

After calling my name, he shut his mouth for a second. I tilted my head in wonder.

“Huh?”

“That business card… can’t you just throw it away?”

“Um, why?”

‘She said to call me when my life sucks. How kind she is…’ I continued to mumble.

Yoo Chun Young, however, cut in, saying, “Why don’t you call me instead?”

“…?”

I paused my step right before entering the banquet hall. When I stopped walking, Yoo Chun Young came to a stop too.

Looking up at him vacantly, I opened my mouth.

“You should first pick up your phone…”

It was said from the bottom of my heart. Yoo Chun Young then loosened up his straight face.

Throwing a mixed glance at me, he soon continued his remark.

“I will from now on.”

“Huh?”

“I will answer your call no matter what, so that business card…”

While I fixed my stare at him blankly, Yoo Chun Young swept his hair back then switched his gaze to somewhere else. He then tried to finish his words; however, it looked as if he was struggling to do so.

“Would you give that to me?” He concluded his words with difficulty.

“Um… no, I would not.”

“Why?”

This time, Yoo Chun Young replied while showing a look of unfairness on his face. Being a little hesitant for a while, I tossed a question as carefully as possible like a counselor for teenagers.

“Why do you need this card? Are you…”

Taking a pause, I continued my words deliberately.

“Are you having a hard time?”

“No.”

I nodded to his immediate yet stern response.

‘Fine, I’m sorry for not sensing that your life isn’t tough at all.’

I dropped my gaze at the card. Wondering for a moment, I answered back.

“Hmm… Again, I can’t.”

“Why?”

“That’s because… the girl who gave me this was extremely pretty.”

“…”

Looking vacant for a second, Yoo Chun Young asked, “A girl?”

I nodded my head.

“Her name is Na Yeri, such a stunner. It has been a while to see a girl as beautiful as Ban Yeo Ryung.”

“…”

“Besides, she said to a stranger, ‘Call me if life sucks.’ Isn’t she an angel or something? Oh, how can she be gorgeous and sweet at the same time? Life is so unfair…”

Before completing my sentence, I became perplexed to see Yoo Chun Young pouring out a sigh while touching his forehead with his hand. His voice then slipped through his palm covering his face.

“You, I’ve been thinking this from before…”

“Uh-huh.”

“You make me a fool.”

“Uh…”

‘When was the last time I heard this?’ with that thought in mind, I soon stiffened my face.

It was very long ago, before we entered high school, the time when I deceived Yoo Chun Young and others while babbling about how much I wanted to transfer.

Hunching my shoulders needlessly, I threw a glance at Yoo Chun Young’s face hidden under his palm.

Come on, he didn’t get mad, did he? Why would he suddenly get angry?

At that moment, Yoo Chun Young put his hand down. The look on his face then came into my sight, which, unexpectedly, struck me dumb.

His lips were curved into a delightful smile; his unusually sparkling blue eyes were fastened on me that I got bewildered anyway. As I put my hand up and down restlessly, Yoo Chun Young held out his hand with much-awaited sweetness.

“Let’s go,” he said.

“Oh, okay.”

Grabbing his hand, I moved my step. As I set my foot toward the hall, the pouring light dazzled my sight.

As soon as we entered the spot, we looked after Eun Jiho. He was the last person whom we spoke over the phone, but beyond that, his shiny silver hair was easily noticeable from anywhere.

‘Yes, indeed.’

Although he was standing at the corner, Eun Jiho’s radiant hair caught my attention at once. I gave a hollow smile. That was why he was undeniably the male protagonist.

I was a little sorry for regarding him as a human sign; however, that was when I quickened my pace toward Eun Jiho. As they found us and waved their hands, I swung mine in the air too. Suddenly the atmosphere in this party hall seemed to change, so I glanced around.

Until just now, the party went on splendidly to its purpose, a high-class social mixer centered on the people of Hanwool Group. It was, however, different right now. Having a too important presence to be neglected, Yoo Chun Young’s sudden appearance completely turned the tables.

At this party, he was definitely assigned a supporting role, but as soon as he jumped into this stage, his presence overwhelmed the audience and made them forget about his initial role. Everyone in this place was surrounded by the confusion and tumult the astounding character had brought in. The radiance he emitted was that much breathtaking.

Is this why he has no choice but to be another male protagonist in this world? Looking at him shining like a star, the growing anxiety within me pressed my heart stiffly.