Chapter 21
“Ha, fuck.”
In front of the school café, Dongjun sat at a table, letting out heavy sighs.
“Um, your Americano is… ready.”
The café owner, Hyun-kyung, brought over the coffee while cautiously watching his mood.
But Dongjun ignored her, his face still twisted in irritation.
A moment later, the person who sat down across from him was Jin Mok-yeon.
“Oppa.”
Crossing one leg over the other, Mok-yeon continued,
“Why aren’t you listening to me?”
Dongjun furrowed his brow.
Had it all started when he comforted her while she was crying not long ago?
Mok-yeon had sobbed in front of him, claiming that Han Sea had been bullying her. It would have been fine if he had just comforted her—but since it was late, he suggested they talk in a room. They went to a nearby motel.
And they slept together.
Afterward, Dongjun said it was over. But Mok-yeon clearly didn’t think so. She kept flirting with him and clinging to him.
—Should I tell Han Sea that I slept with you, oppa?
Jin Mok-yeon knew that Sea and Dongjun were dating.
—What’s wrong with you?
—Why are you acting so pathetic toward Han Sea? Did she get some dirt on you? I really don’t get it.
—I’m not dating her because she has leverage over me.
—Then what’s the problem? You’re the principal’s son. Your career is basically set. What does Han Sea even have? What kind of family is she from?
Dongjun said nothing.
He wasn’t completely satisfied with Sea either. The most dissatisfying part was her family background.
Compared to his own family, Sea’s had nothing. It didn’t look like there was any inheritance to speak of.
Still, he had kept his loyalty. He gave her advice that might help her. He did his best as a boyfriend.
Thinking about it, he even felt proud of himself.
—Oppa, that’s not how it works. The era of marrying for love is over. You match families. Who does business at a loss like you?
But Mok-yeon’s words scratched at his heart, line by line.
—So you’re telling me to break up with her because of her family?
—Just say you’re dating me. Then dump her.
Mok-yeon smiled, her plump cheeks twisting.
—She probably won’t even say anything. You know how she pretends to be so kind. It makes me sick.
—She was your homeroom teacher.
—That’s why I hate her more. Is she still your homeroom teacher? Acting like she’s taking care of people. Who does she think she is? Is she something special?
Mok-yeon burst into laughter.
—Oppa, I’ll treat you a million times better than Han Sea. And you know my family. We’ve been landowners since the Japanese era.
—The Japanese occupation.
—Whatever. My grandfather was pro-Japanese, but apparently we were a pretty respected family. That’s why we have tons of land.
Mok-yeon rambled on without a hint of shame. Dongjun listened silently.
Anyway, the point was—they were rich.
He had known about her family for a long time. But he had kept his distance because, as a person, she wasn’t appealing.
But now… he wasn’t in a position to be picky.
—Then can you lend me some money?
—What?
—Lend me some money.
His expression was strange as he asked.
—Why? Do you need money?
—Just don’t ask.
—How much?
—One hundred million won.
At the nine-figure amount, Mok-yeon’s eyes widened. But soon her eyes curved upward as she smiled.
—Sure.
—You have that kind of money?
—What else do I have besides money? But you have to do me a favor.
She leaned forward.
—Get Han Sea kicked out of the school.
—What?
At first, Dongjun couldn’t grasp what she meant. Then he understood.
There was a fixed number of permanent teaching positions available at the school.
The Korean language department was already full, which meant Mok-yeon would remain a contract teacher if she stayed.
So she was asking him to remove Han Sea—the youngest and easiest target among the permanent teachers.
—Then I’ll give you one hundred million won.
Dongjun couldn’t respond immediately. After a long silence, eyes lowered, he nodded.
—I’ll… try.
—Not “try.” Actually do it. Make Han Sea disappear from our sight forever.
Dongjun was addicted to gambling. He had started thinking he could make a lot of money, but instead, his debts had ballooned to one hundred million won.
He had wondered how he would ever repay it—until he heard Mok-yeon’s proposal.
—Fine. I’ll do it.
He forced a grin, as if brimming with confidence.
But after that, Dongjun didn’t do anything particularly concrete to get Sea fired.
At least, not in Mok-yeon’s eyes.
“I told you to get Han Sea out a long time ago!”
Mok-yeon raised her voice, ignoring Hyun-kyung completely.
“Hey, everyone can hear you.”
Dongjun glanced around and pressed a finger to his lips. Mok-yeon shrugged.
“So what if they hear? When are you going to get rid of Han Sea, huh?!”
“Wait. I have a plan. I’ve already taken measures.”
He scratched between his brows.
Yeah, this is Han Sea’s fault. I gave her one last chance. A chance to help me.
If she had listened to my request back then, I would never have stabbed her in the back like this.
Never.
“What measures? Hwang Min-young’s mom cut contact with my mom and says they’re transferring. She was screaming that Han Sea messed with her daughter before.”
Mok-yeon shook her head.
Pyo Se-jin and Mok-yeon’s mother, Ha Seong-ran, were acquaintances. When Han Sea and Hwang Min-young had clashed, Pyo Se-jin had called Ha Seong-ran in outrage. Ha Seong-ran, who needed a permanent position for her own daughter, had agreed and encouraged her.
She told her to storm into the principal’s office and turn the school upside down. To publicly humiliate Han Sea so she would leave on her own. That way her daughter could attend comfortably.
If that didn’t work, she suggested spreading rumors through the parents’ association so Sea wouldn’t be able to stay at the school.
But Pyo Se-jin had betrayed them.
She had promised to stay and keep harassing Sea, then suddenly cut contact and announced Min-young’s transfer.
“So what’s your plan? Huh? How are you going to screw Han Sea over?”
After a long silence, Dongjun finally spoke.
“There are about five students in her class now who were in my class last year.”
He sighed deeply. He really didn’t want to use students.
“So?”
“They’re my followers. They’ll do whatever I say. I’m going to have them spread rumors about Han Sea.”
The person a teacher trusted most wasn’t colleagues, nor the principal or vice principal.
It was the students.
Even when exhausted, teachers drew strength from them.
Knowing that, Dongjun planned to take the shortcut to make Sea give up and leave quickly.
“Really? That’s amazing. Oppa, your brain is incredible.”
Mok-yeon clapped.
“What kind of rumor?”
“I’ll think about that slowly.”
Dongjun stood up.
“No one can find out about this. You keep your mouth shut too.”
“Of course. I trust you, oppa.”
Mok-yeon hurried out. Dongjun stood and looked at Hyun-kyung.
He mimed zipping his lips.
Hyun-kyung nodded.
“You know who my father is. Keep quiet.”
The true owner of the café was the principal. But since he couldn’t officially run it, Dongjun’s mother was listed as the owner instead.
“Yes, of course.”
Hyun-kyung was friendly with most of the teachers, but she had never told anyone that the café’s real owner was the principal.
Not even Sea.
“Um, Chairman?”
She truly didn’t want to face him again. Especially after what had happened that morning—what he must have thought when he saw the dust on her backside.
But still, she had something to say.
Entering the chairman’s office, Sea kept her head lowered and held out a shopping bag without meeting his eyes.
“Thank you for taking care of me that day. And for the clothes.”
She had dry-cleaned them carefully and brought them back.
“So, are you telling me to wear that?”
Only then did Sea look up.
Seonghan had taken off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves halfway.
The muscles of his forearms were visibly defined beneath the fabric.
Two buttons at his collar were undone, and through the gap she could glimpse his chest muscles. Sea quickly looked away.
“I’m not saying you should wear them. It’s just… they’re too expensive.”
“It’s not like I can wear them. And I can’t give them to anyone else. So deal with it yourself.”
The clothes he had given her were women’s clothes. That meant he had prepared them for her from the beginning.
As if finished speaking, Seonghan looked away.
“Th-then at least this!”
Sea lifted a second shopping bag that had been hidden behind the first one.
