Chapter 196. Staking Everything On The Line… (4)

‘I should give JinSeo more care.’

KangYoon shook his head at Jung MinAh’s proposal.
If he said ‘okay’ here, he would be a fool.

“I appreciate it, but you don’t have to. You should be tired too.”
“It’s fine, I’m still young. I have a lot of energy.”

Unlike what KangYoon thought, Jung MinAh looked like she would tag along at all costs.
Although she had to have what she wanted, KangYoon could not relent this time.

“There’s something I need to talk about in private with JinSeo, okay?”
“…Tch.”

Jung MinAh glanced at the two with dissatisfaction before smiling in understanding.

“You should have told me that beforehand. You’re making me out to be an inconsiderate woman.”
‘You are!’

Min JinSeo couldn’t say that out loud and looked at Jung MinAh with a weird gaze.
Unlike what she thought, though, KangYoon was speaking the opposite.

“Not at all. Thanks for your consideration.”
“No, no. JinSeo, have a safe trip back. See you later. I’ll go back then.”

Jung MinAh bowed to KangYoon before disappearing quickly as though she felt sorry.

“Sheesh, she’s so energetic.”
“…Sir.”

Just as KangYoon muttered that while looking at Jung MinAh running, Min JinSeo stood next to him while voicing out seriously.
KangYoon spoke softly as though he did not sense how she felt.

“We’re finally alone.”
“…You’re right.”
“Let’s go quickly. You’ll miss your flight.”

KangYoon drove Min JinSeo to the airport.
Usually, a couple inside a car would have a good mood between them.
However, the time they had alone wasn’t that good…

“Are you doing well in China?”
“Yes.”
“I heard you had a lot of delicious food.”
“Yes.”
“I heard you’re shooting with Huang Sheng. How is he? Is he good?”
“Yes.”

Min JinSeo only said the word ‘yes’ to every one of KangYoon’s questions and kept looking outside the window.
She was obviously dissatisfied with him.
KangYoon seemed to have noticed that and asked carefully.

“JinSeo.”
“Yes.”
“What is it? Did something displease you?”
“No.”
“……”

Does he seriously not realize?
He had a smile on his face while he was with another woman…
She didn’t want to show him her jealous expression so she couldn’t help but look away.
Seeing that, KangYoon noticed that something seemed to be up and tried to talk it over.

“You’re going back even though it’s been less than 2 hours since you’ve arrived. It must be hard for you.”
“…A little.”
“I’m sorry. If I knew you were coming, I would have made some time.”

Strictly speaking, this wasn’t KangYoon’s fault. It was her fault for coming here without notice.
However, Min JinSeo flinched when KangYoon said that it was his own fault. However, she did not stop gazing outside the window thinking that it wasn’t good enough yet.

“Even though you’re here, it’s not easy eating just with the two of us.”
“……”
“Even though I know I can’t help it, I still feel unfortunate. Right now, your position is very sensitive to scandals. I still don’t understand… if I did the right thing back then considering the position you’re in. I feel like I wasn’t mature enough…”

KangYoon sighed deeply.
Then, Min JinSeo spoke quietly.

“…You promised me you won’t regret it no matter what happened.”
“I did. But do you think I would feel good if something happened to you because of me?”
“…I don’t mind. No matter what happens.”

Min JinSeo finally turned around to look at KangYoon.

“I love my dream. However, I… love you, the one who realized my dreams, just as much. That’s why… I will not miss both of you. You promised me that you could do that for me.”
“I did.”
“That’s fine for me. I believe in you. Even if something bad happens, I will not regret it.”

Min JinSeo put her hand on KangYoon’s hand that was on the gear stick.
Her eyes were filled with determination.

‘I shouldn’t be shaken either.’

KangYoon resolved to himself as he felt the warmth on his hand.

***

“Goodbye~”

In MoonHee waved her hands at her students that just finished cleaning up, and started working on administrative work in the classroom.

‘Teachers have so much useless work to do.’

They had their hands full with not only teaching, but they also had so much administrative work to do as well.
It wasn’t easy just creating teaching materials, but most of their work hours were spent on administrative stuff.
In MoonHee sighed while creating documents necessary.
Just when she was working, a knock sounded on the door.

“Miss In. Come here.”

When she lifted her head up at the presence, she saw the fearful vice-principal with the balding hair. For some reason, he had a vicious expression.
He showed In MoonHee his blackened fingers and spoke with a bitter expression.
“Isn’t the classroom too dirty?”
“What? We just finished cleaning…”
“Tsk, tsk. It’s because children study in these environments that their health is getting worse. Clean up quickly.”
“What? Ah, yes….”

That octopus head probably rubbed his fingers between the frames of the sliding doors.
Such an amount of dirt was natural under doors.
He was just picking on her at this point.

‘Haa…’

Sighing, In MoonHee took out some baby wipes and started wiping the door frames.
However, that wasn’t the end of it.
The vice-principal entered the classroom and clicked his tongue while looking at the notice boards on the back.

“Why don’t you try changing the notice boards to be a little brighter?”
“The notice boards? I just changed it out yesterday…”
“It feels too childish. It feels more like kindergarten than an elementary school. It’s messy too.”

In MoonHee was flabbergasted.
She stayed at school until late at night yesterday cutting up colored papers into fruit shapes like apples and grapes.
The children were happy with it, but the vice-principal was saying something about it now.
However, as she was in a lower position, In MoonHee endured her boiling insides.

“…Understood.”
“Also, come to my desk later.”
“Okay. Can I ask why?”
“I need to send a notice to the board of education… so have a look through it and edit any errors.”
“……”

The vice-principal was shaking In MoonHee’s mindset harder than usual.

***

“You’re late.”
“…I’m sorry.”

In MoonHee hurried inside the studio and felt very sorry for KangYoon.
As she wasn’t able to come to the company at all for the past two days, she pushed herself to come today.
Although the weather was getting cold, sweat drops were forming on her forehead. She was running even when she had heels on.

“It looks like the school is very busy recently.”
“…I shouldn’t be affecting this place because of my work. I’m really sorry.”
“No. It can’t be helped in situations like this.”

KangYoon made In MoonHee sit down and gave her some water.
In MoonHee gulped down half of a 1.5L bottle and breathed out.

“Thank you. Phew.”
“Okay. Shall we start after you calm down a little?”
“Yes.”

KangYoon prepared for the practice as he always did.
He also did not forget to say that there was a lot to practice since she hadn’t come to practice for the past couple of days.
In MoonHee soon began practicing.

‘My shaking– heart—”

In MoonHee had her eyes closed and raised her voice inside the booth. The good twist in her voice spread around through the studio and the musical notes created light.
However…

‘Oh…’

KangYoon shivered, feeling a sticky sensation. It was the sensation that was given off by grey light.
Although this was trot, In MoonHee’s singing was making a grey light.

‘Is she putting too much of her emotions in? Or is it another problem?’

Was it because she missed out 2 days of practice or something?
She usually created white or silver light with her voice alone.
KangYoon wondered.
After the grey light continued for several songs in a row, KangYoon called her out of the booth.

“MoonHee. I don’t think you’re in a very good condition today at all.”
“……”

In MoonHee looked down.
Actually, she also felt that she couldn’t sing as she wanted to.
KangYoon declared rest after seeing her dejected.
She collapsed onto the sofa with drooping shoulders.
Seeing her so powerless, KangYoon asked.

“Did something bad happen at school?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“You can’t talk to me about it?”
“…It’s… not like that. It’s fine.”

In MoonHee buried her head between her knees.
Something welled up in her chest when she met a superior like KangYoon after having to handle the sharp gazes of the vice-principal all day.
KangYoon sat down next to her and patted her back.

“Looks like something happened.”
“…..”

KangYoon’s hand was warm.
Actually, he was supposed to get angry right now. She would have nothing to retort if KangYoon scolded her for not focusing properly despite all of his investments in her.
However, he was consoling her and was trying to encourage her instead.
He was a drastic contrast to the picky vice-principal at school who used all sorts of excuses to make her work more.

“Having to practice after all the work and stress at school. It should be hard. You’re doing well.”
“…I’m so… sorry. I, I’m not usually like this.”
“It’s okay.”

That word ‘okay’ made her emotions burst out.
Her back started trembling and her knees started getting wet, while KangYoon took out some tissues.
After some time,

“…I’m sorry. I’ve shown you an embarrassing side.”

In MoonHee wiped her tears with some tissue and looked down.

“It’s fine. Let’s just keep this between us.”
“…Okay. The seonbaes were right.”
“Did they say something?”

When KangYoon asked in curiosity, In MoonHee spoke.

“HanYu-seonabe told me that you’re a trustworthy president that lets the singers sing the songs they want while Jimin-seonbae told me that you’re her savior and a father figure to her. Also, Jaehoon-seonbae said…”
“Stop, stop. You’re giving me goosebumps.”
“Hahaha.”

In MoonHee then smiled.

“Anyway, I feel like I can understand what kind of person you are, president.”
“What kind of person am I, then?”
“…Mm, a warm person?”

KangYoon chuckled.
The feeling of warmth on top of feeling goosebumps was a little hard to describe.
Feeling that it was time to ask her the important question, KangYoon looked at In MoonHee in the eyes.

“Okay. MoonHee.”
“Yes, president.”
“Then… do you think you can trust me and follow me?”

Perhaps he felt like this was the right time.
KangYoon hesitated a little before asking in a firm tone.
His words implied that he will make her a singer without fail if she continued to have trust in him.
She spoke calmly without hesitation.

“…Actually, I was hesitating. It’s not that I hate being a teacher, but I couldn’t say that I was happy being one either. Above all, there’s stability that’s incomparable to anything else. I thought that I would not be able to give that up. But now…”

Her voice was a little tense.

“I think I can give up on that stability if I’m with you, president. Ay, You only live once, right? I’m giving up something really big here, you know? You can make me big, right?”

KangYoon nodded firmly as well.

“Of course. I’ll make all the people in the world know your name.”
“I’m going to record your words.”
“Go ahead. I take responsibility for my words.”

In MoonHee grabbed KangYoon’s extended hand.
This was the moment In MoonHee officially joined World Entertainment after 3 months of probation.

***

“Miss In. What does this mean?”

After the morning faculty meeting, the vice-principal seemed flabbergasted by the letter of resignation that In MoonHee placed on his desk and blinked his eyes several times.

“It’s as you see. It’s a letter of resignation.”
“A letter of resignation? Hah, You’re resigning?”

Scratching his shiny head, the vice-principal snorted as though he found this absurd.

“Miss In. I think you’re doing this because you worked a little overtime for the past while, but you can’t get through society like that, you know? Just because it’s a little difficult, you shouldn’t give up a job that you painstakingly worked to get in.”
“I’ve thought about this deeply for a long time, and I’ve come to a decision after a long period of consideration.”
“Hey, Miss In.”

The vice-principal was flabbergasted.
He couldn’t understand what this bold lady was trying to do here.
Was she going to report him to the Ministry of Education? As he was aiming for the seat of the principal, he had a lot of things he should be ‘worried about’ if people decided to look into him.
He felt shivers down his spine.

‘Is she testing me? Or is she trying to rebel? No way, that can’t be true.’

The vice-principal frowned.
He called her out during classes to clean the flower garden, but that was because the flower garden was too dirty. The fact that he gave her some work after school hours was because she was the youngest one of the teachers.
Other than that, all of her work was because she was the youngest member!

“There’s not a lot of time until the holidays, so trying to rebel won’t look good on your resume.”
“I will resign after my current class graduates. You don’t need to be worried about that. I’m not trying to rebel.”
“Miss In. That’s not the problem here!”

In the end, the vice-principal became angry.
On the surface, he was worried that In MoonHee was resigning, but in actuality, he was worried that In MoonHee may report him for his actions to the Ministry of Education.

“It’s not a huge problem, it just might ruin your chances to become principal.”
“Miss In. What rudeness is this?”

A person would become scary if someone else found out about one’s true inner thoughts.
The vice-principal was no exception.
The loud noise attracted attention from the others, but In MoonHee calmly continued.

“Pardon me, I was out of line. there’s no way you’d be such a shallow man that only picks on their subordinates for the sake of their own promotion, isn’t that right, vice-principal?”
“Miss In.”

When the vice-principal glared at In MoonHee, she put her hands on his desk and approached his face.

‘The after school studies expenses that you took from me. I’m planning to take it to the ministry of education.’
‘Wh, what? Wait, Miss In.’
‘So don’t touch me. V.i.c.e.-.p.r.i.n.c.i.p.a.l.”

In MoonHee got away from his face and slammed down the letter of resignation with a smile on her face before returning to her seat.
Seeing her bold actions, the others around all widened their eyes in surprise.

‘What’s up with Miss In today?’
‘I wouldn’t know, maybe it’s that day?’
‘What, women become catwoman or something on that day?’

Her colleague teachers started whispering amongst themselves in curiosity, and the faculty office became filled with whispers.

“Aren’t you going to your classes!!”
“Yes!”

Of course, those whispers instantly died down when the vice-principal shouted.

‘Uuuuu… that b*tch! I thought she was a calm little sheep!’

The faculty office became empty in an instant, but the vice-principal trembled and could not hide his frustration.
He was angry that he couldn’t do anything to In MoonHee during the two months that the resignation letters were being processed.