Chapter 295 (1/2)

“Hey, do you have something to ask of me?”

“Was it obvious?”

There was a faint smile on Maru’s face.

“It’s strange because you’re suddenly acting like we’re on close terms. You gave me silent nods as a greeting during the read-through. Anyone would realize something’s up.”

“Not everyone thinks that way. There are plenty of people who just avoid others because they don’t want to change how they act towards certain people.”

Maru started walking again.

They left the main street and entered a narrow street with a lot of commercial buildings on it. The street was filled with students. As she had tied her hair and was wearing a baseball cap, no one recognized who she was. Actually, people didn’t normally recognize celebrities. Just slightly changing the image created by the angle of the camera, the lighting, and the makeup would make them into completely different people, so just wearing normal clothes and putting on a hat was enough to fool most people.

Joohyun boldly walked next to Maru.

“So, what was up with that just now?”

From what Joohyun saw of Maru, he was a kid who was rational and had a clear view of the world. Such a kid had changed his attitude and approached her warmly. Even considering that he had a favor to ask of her, why would he act like that?

“Because I don’t know you that well, senior.”

“You don’t know me that well?”

“Yes. Judging from the conversation we had on the school stairs that day, you are a person with a clear philosophy. At the same time, you’re kind enough to give out advice to young people who you haven’t met before. However, the you portrayed by the media is very different. Even now, the first related search term when looking up your name is ‘blunt speech’. Also, people liked Ahn Joohyun for her cool image. From what I gathered on the internet alone, you’re someone that speaks what’s on your mind even at public events. To put it in a good way, you stop at nothing, and to put it in a bad way, you’re complacent. But when I saw you at the get-together, you were kind enough to tell a friend of mine your phone number and even joke with her. The disparity was so great so I felt a need to probe you out.”

Maru turned left. The street changed from being filled with bars to a street filled with shops that sold grilled meat. The setting sun and the smell of grilled meat. This was a very common food alley.

Joohyun nodded her head when she heard Maru’s words.

“And so?”

“We haven’t met each other that many times, but the difference in impression is different every time I met you. That’s why I tried changing this time. I was trying you out to see which approach you prefer.”

“Which approach I prefer?”

“I don’t know anything about you after all. The thirsty shall dig the well. We might come across each other more in the future, so I should get to know you, don’t you think?”

“Well. Who likes a kid who approaches it like that?”

“You think so too? I tried my best but it looks like I failed.”

Maru spoke as though nothing much had happened.

“And so, you’re going back to the way you were before?”

“If that’s what you’re comfortable with.”

“Hey, you’re quite good at humoring people. I thought you were a more stuck-up person.”

“Me? No way. I’m ready to bow my head down at any moment. My knees are cheap as well.”

“That’s different from my first impression of you.”

“Did I look that stuck-up?”

“Even your appearance tells me that you’re stuck-up. But if you have such a mindset so early on, you’ll have a tiring life, you know? Isn’t it better to live a simple life when you’re young? I mean, things like probing people out and humoring them according to their preferences can be left for later.”

“That varies from person to person. There are plenty of people who can’t do that even after they grow up.”

“Are you saying that to me?”

Hearing those words, Maru turned his head around before scratching his eyebrows. He started walking slowly. Joohyun also stayed quiet and just followed him. As this place had the cheaper restaurants, more students could be seen as they went further.

Just as she was following Maru, Joohyun felt a sense of déjà vu. She thought that they had passed this place before. When she thought more about it, it wasn’t just her imagination. They had actually walked past this place before.

Joohyun looked at Maru. Did he forget where he was going?

At that moment, though, she saw that Maru was looking straight into her eyes. Due to the sudden gaze, Joohyun tilted her head.

“I asked you if something happened when we met, didn’t I?”

“Yeah.”

“And I acted kindly, to which you said that it didn’t suit me.”

“I did.”

“Why do you think I did that?”

Maru pointed sideways. He was pointing at a cosmetics shop, and that shop had brought out a table and was selling their products on the streets. What Maru was pointing at was the mirror on that table. Joohyun walked past the students that were trying out some lipsticks on the back of their hands as she looked into the mirror.

“Uhm don’t pus… ah, it’s nothing.”

“S-sorry.”

The girls spoke with annoyance since Joohyun bumped into them, but apologized when they looked at her face.