Chapter 28
“Hey, you heard about Seung-guk sunbae, right?”
Ji-woo crunched on a potato chip as she spoke.
No-eul answered.
“Seung-guk? Oh… sort of? But I’m not really close to him. Why?”
“Hansol, you heard anything about him?”
Hansol shook her head without looking up from her book.
“I’ve only seen him once or twice. Why, did something happen?”
“No, it’s just—he graduated law school and became a prosecutor. But when I heard how he studied, it was unbelievable. He got up at 4 a.m. every single day to work out, drank coffee, studied five hours straight, ate only a salad for lunch so he wouldn’t get sleepy, napped exactly one hour, studied another five hours, planned the next day’s work, and went to bed at ten.”
No-eul and Hansol stared at Ji-woo with a look that said, And?
Only No-eul offered a faint “Ohhh.”
Ji-woo, noticing their lukewarm reaction, hurried on.
“And you know how he was never that popular with girls—only about 165 cm tall, a bit chubby, always slouched? But once that story started making the rounds online, everyone suddenly thought he was cool.”
No-eul wondered where Ji-woo was going with this.
“Really? How come I never heard that?” Hansol asked, tilting her head.
“…Okay, maybe ‘everyone went wild’ is exaggerating, but people were saying he’s admirable and impressive. Honestly, I barely even knew he was in our department. But after hearing that, he seemed like a different person.”
“Uh-huh…”
Ji-woo scanned their faces, but neither looked moved.
“So I realized—looks aren’t everything. Someone can be plenty attractive even if their face isn’t.”
“Mhm…”
No-eul nodded slowly, thinking, Is she trying to encourage me? Or does she just mean it?
“See? Appearance isn’t that important, right Hansol?”
Hansol, still wearing a flat expression, finally replied.
“…It’s important.”
“Important?”
“Yeah. Right now the girls in the department just think he’s kinda cool. But imagine if he were handsome and that disciplined and became a prosecutor. He’d be an influencer by now. Shows like Heart Signal would be begging him to appear. He wouldn’t even need to be a prosecutor—just post ‘Study With Me’ videos while prepping for the bar and he’d make more money than a prosecutor.”
“……”
Ji-woo blinked, thrown by Hansol’s unexpected eloquence.
After a moment, Ji-woo rallied. “But… don’t you think there are things more important than looks when judging someone’s worth?”
“I don’t know… Outer beauty announces itself in 0.3 seconds to every stranger you pass. What other trait can spread that fast to so many people? And if you’re good-looking, you’re more likely to be loved from childhood. People who grow up loved often have better character. So maybe good looks make good character more likely?”
“T-that’s a stretch! Tons of hot people are total idiots!”
Ji-woo was so agitated that “stretch” came out sounding like a little chirp.
Well, Hansol always thinks that way, No-eul mused. But what’s up with Ji-woo? Normally she’d just say, ‘Oh, you’re so smart,’ and keep eating chips.
Hansol merely nodded. “Yeah, fair.”
Ji-woo pouted, frustrated. Lacking a clever retort, she tried sheer volume.
“Looks don’t put food on the table!”
“Of course they do. Looks make the most money. Even among idols—who are all good-looking—the prettier ones earn way more. Sing well and you’re main vocal, dance well and you’re main dancer. Know what you become if you’re the best-looking?”
“…What?”
“A luxury-brand ambassador.”
“……”
Ji-woo glared at Hansol, who calmly turned back to her book.
No-eul still had no idea why this had become a debate.
“What do you think?” Ji-woo suddenly demanded, turning on No-eul.
Great, now I’m dragged in…
No-eul said, “You’re a cruel one, you know that?”
“…Huh?”
“Talking about that in front of me and asking my opinion?”
Ji-woo’s eyes went round. “I didn’t mean it like that! Why would you say that?”
“All right, all right. Just have some more chips.”
No-eul let the question slide.
She’d once read that you only realize you have a body part after it hurts.
By that logic, No-eul’s face hurt—so she knew all too well how important looks are.
But Ji-woo had never felt that kind of pain. For someone like her, the perks of beauty feel natural—so natural she probably thinks everyone has them. And the penalties? She’s never tasted them.
Friendly smiles from strangers? Normal. Free meals and drinks from others? Normal. Seniors offering textbooks and old exam notes? Normal. Compliments—“pretty,” “lovely,” “you look great”? Normal.
Worrying people won’t want you around? No.
Wondering if you embarrass the friend you walk with? No.
Dodging every group photo until you finally claim you just hate pictures? No.
Hesitating to step into a boutique or salon? No.
Eating alone and fearing people will pity you? No.
Because of that life, Ji-woo can believe looks aren’t everything and that something more important exists. You don’t yearn for what you already have; you imagine there must be something beyond what you lack.
Ji-woo can just keep living that life—beauty as a given, mystery as a bonus. Empathy is a virtue, sure, but when her side is so much happier, why bother understanding those without her advantages?
Honestly. Wow. You two are real geniuses. “Good looks mean good character… Handsome guys become ambassadors…” What do you know? Prepping for a debate team? You’re so obsessed with appearances. No romance in your heads at all. I shouldn’t bother with people like that. I won’t talk to them first anymore. I’m always the one to start conversations, to smile… Do they think I’m a fool?
“……”
No. Ji-woo’s not a fool.
She stomped down each stair, irritation still simmering.
Han No-eul, seriously. I was talking about someone for a reason, and he just—what, calls me “cruel”? Who’s cruel here, huh? The two of them ganging up on me just because I’m slow to respond? That’s not how you treat a friend.
Whatever. They’re both the same… Actually, Hansol is way more of a looks-snob than I thought. Why? Hanging out with No-eul should teach her looks aren’t everything. No-eul’s so thoughtful, smart, funny, considerate…
Remember that presentation? The slide said “Public Relasions,” and he pretended he’d typed it wrong himself. The freshman who made it was about to cry apologizing, and No-eul joked, “People always spell that wrong—thought I’d messed it up again! So embarrassing for me,” and didn’t take any credit…
What guy does that? That’s the triple combo of kindness, sensitivity, and wit. And someone thinks a pretty face tops that? What’s the use of a handsome face? Nice for the first couple of looks, then you’re bored. Other girls might chase it, but a face only goes so far.
Talking to someone sharp and considerate is always fun. Thoughtfulness is touching every time. Sensitivity is a constant surprise. How can smart Hansol not get that? Of course there are things more important than looks.
Hansol’s the one who’s wrong. She just hasn’t noticed No-eul’s true worth yet. Too used to him as a friend to really see him.
Hansol’s the clueless one, not me. Big talker, but clueless. Ugh… why am I getting worked up? Just gives me a headache.
Ji-woo clicked her tongue and headed home.
Messages
Ji-woo: Did you hear No-eul’s giving the freshmen a special session on how to write project proposals?
Hansol: Yeah.
Hansol: Seong-jun sunbae asked him?
Ji-woo: Yep. Everyone else said they were too busy.
Hansol: That’s what I heard.
Ji-woo: See? Stuff like that makes Han No-eul really cool, right?
Hansol: Yeah.
…Yeah? That’s it?
After a moment, Ji-woo sent another message.
Ji-woo: Oh, you saw it too, right?
Ji-woo: Yesterday, at the next table, Hyun-soo was eating with his club juniors.
Hansol: Yeah.
Ji-woo: His card didn’t work when he tried to pay, and his face went totally pale. No-eul just walked over like, “Problem?” and handed him his card.
Hansol: Yeah.
Ji-woo: Isn’t that seriously quick thinking?
Hansol: True.
Hansol: But wow, Hyun-soo’s face really was blue. I thought that was just an expression, but a person’s face can actually turn blue.
Really? That’s what you focus on? Not how cool No-eul was? Are all your senses except eyesight dead? What a hopeless looks-snob…
Hansol: What were we even talking about?
Hansol: Why’d you bring that up?
Ji-woo: I just keep thinking how awesome No-eul was.
Hansol: Ah, that’s all?
Ah. That’s. All…?
Ji-woo stared at her phone in disbelief, then slumped with a pout.
Ji-woo: Just saying.
