86- The Strong and Jealous Villainess (4)
086.
After the kidnapping incident, Jin So-yeon felt a big change.
It was because her immense talent that had been dormant awakened after the death(?) of someone important.
Jin So-yeon’s potential could easily be said to be at the world’s highest level.
She already had exceptional abilities and talents that could rival Yoo Da-hee, who had already reached the top rankings.
Originally, Jin So-yeon realizing her own power would have been a matter for a later time.
She had such a powerful force that she could make a mere heroic trainee like Jin So-yeon capable of defeating intimidating enemies.
If she had awakened from the early days of the Academy, it would have caused a disruption in the progression of the story.
And for good reason, as Jin So-yeon singlehandedly defeated Seong Yura’s bodyguards in a state of awakening that hadn’t occurred long ago.
At that time, she was in a half-deranged state, so she didn’t remember very well, but the skill of the bodyguards surpassed that of ordinary active heroes.
It was definitely not an opponent that even a rookie heroic trainee could easily defeat.
Therefore, Jin So-yeon’s awakened power far surpassed the level of an average student. Even she herself was surprised.
“Aren’t you going to let go of this?!”
“….”
“This, this is real!”
“….”
The delinquent couldn’t move an inch.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t escape from Jin So-yeon’s grasp.
Jin So-yeon lost herself in contemplation while tightly holding onto the delinquent’s fist with one hand.
“I was confident that I could stop it, but I didn’t expect it to be this easy…”
Was it a little awe-inspiring?
Since the kidnapping incident, she had never had a proper confrontation with anyone, so she couldn’t truly grasp her own strength.
But thanks to that thug-like girl, she was able to provoke her deeply.
Because the thug’s attack was not an easy blow to block as one might expect.
In the past, Jin So-yeon would’ve been too preoccupied to even block it with one hand, let alone dodge it.
But now, it was different.
Strangely enough, the thug’s movements seemed slow, and she could feel that all of her senses had become heightened.
It felt like she had finally broken free from the restraints that had bound her tightly.
“You…you were ranked around 100th, right?”
“You, you!”
The thug furrowed her eyebrows.
Jin So-yeon’s words felt like a taunt to her.
Of course, Jin So-yeon had asked purely out of curiosity, but to the thug who had a firm grip on her, it could only be perceived as mocking.
“Now, don’t bother looking at me, just think I’m dead, Jinso…uh, huh?!”
Suddenly, Jin So-yeon’s fist struck the thug’s abdomen.
It was as tough as steel, but as soon as Jin So-yeon’s fist made contact, it crumpled without resistance, like an empty can.
The thug staggered and regurgitated some acrid bile before bending over and emptying out whatever was inside.
“Ah, ugh, ugh, how?!”
“Seems like it works after all.”
The thug was a body-transforming reinforcement ability user who could cover her whole body with iron-like toughness.
Unless it was a really powerful attack, she couldn’t inflict much damage with just her bare hands.
But somehow, it seemed Jin So-yeon had given the thug a significant amount of shock with a simple punch.
If she were a formidable ability user like Seonari, she might understand, but how about Jin So-yeon?
She didn’t seem particularly strong.
On the contrary, the problem was that the psychic ability that had enveloped the thug’s body upon contact with Jin So-yeon’s fist had been disrupted.
“Lee Hye-seong! Hye-seong, are you okay?!”
“Uh, ugh, f*ck…”
So that thug’s name was Lee Hye-seong?
When Lee Hye-seong fell to the ground with just one punch, the other girls who had been silently watching until just now looked at Jin So-yeon with expressions that said, “How dare she?!”
It seemed like they were slowly starting to team up with the others.
“Jin Soyeon! Look at this!”
“Stop.”
In a moment of overheating enthusiasm,
Ju Jiyeon quickly reached out and stopped the girls.
Due to Jin Soyeon’s unexpected activity, Ju Jiyeon was taken aback and missed the timing to intervene, so she only stepped in now.
“Everyone stop.”
“But, Jiyeon!”
“I mean it. I don’t like repeating the same words.”
“Ugh.”
With a serene gaze, Ju Jiyeon scanned the girls.
When their eyes met, the girls were startled and shivered.
She didn’t want to leave that arrogant Jin Soyeon alone, but she couldn’t argue with Ju Jiyeon.
Ju Jiyeon was not only the heiress of the Oh Sung Group, but also the influential leader who had half of Class 5 in her grasp.
“Do you want me to say the same thing to me?”
Although it was a short sentence, it was enough to restrain the girls.
They feared Ju Jiyeon’s power, abilities, background, and connections.
In the first place, it was possible for them to gather like this and harass Jin Soyeon because of Ju Jiyeon’s presence.
The girls nodded their heads hesitantly, seemingly unable to do anything, while glancing at Ju Jiyeon.
“No, no… I’m sorry…”
“Okay….”
“Got it, um, Jiyeon.”
When the girls obediently listened, Ju Jiyeon could finally let out a relieved sigh inwardly.
Although this club room had its own soundproofing, she didn’t know if causing any more disturbances would attract others.
It seemed that it would be better to stop here for today… Huh?
In an instant, she could see that the clubroom door was slightly ajar.
Something sparkled as if a lens was reflecting light, causing Ju Jiyeon to blink her eyes.
Ah, wait a minute.
A lens?
Th-that? Is someone secretly filming right now?
She had definitely locked the door, so how?
“Ah, dang. Did I get caught?”
With a bitter smile, a man opened the club room door wide and entered slowly…
“Jinhyuk?”
It was none other than Jinhyuk.
“Hey.”
“That’s not a greeting. What are you doing here?”
“One of the girls from another class brought you here in a suspicious atmosphere. I was just curious.”
I thought that chubby girl would start moving, so I was watching her closely.
But of course, as expected, should I say of course?
“Juyeon, what were you trying to do by calling her out alone?”
“Do you not care about me?”
Jinhyuk smirked and tapped on his phone.
Juyeon furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at his phone.
Could it be that he recorded everything that happened until now?
“Oh, these days, phone performance is amazing. The video comes out really well.”
“You…”
“If it were to be known that Oh Seong Group’s third daughter gathered a bunch of kids to group assault a female student, wouldn’t that be troublesome?”
“Are you threatening me right now?”
“Just a request, a request. We don’t need to make each other blush, right? If you don’t do unnecessary things, I won’t either. How about that?”
For him, if this fact were to be leaked, it would be problematic.
If there is no solid evidence, one can just deny it, but if there is such clear video footage, the story would be different.
If he were to make a small mistake, he could become entangled with the media, and if that were to happen, there is a high possibility of him being destroyed by his father.
From the start, his father, who was against him entering Union Academy, if this incident were to be exposed… Ergh!
“But, but I can’t just back down here. The kids are watching, they’re watching.”
Juyeon glanced at the girls discreetly.
If she were to easily surrender to this kind of threat, Juyeon’s reputation in front of the kids would truly be in ruins.
After all, isn’t Jinhyuk just a mere commoner?
If he were somewhat similar to Ishiwoon, Yuseolhyun’s level (?), then he might be able to pretend to lose and get past it. But being threatened by Jinhyuk is a blow to her pride…
Should I just smash that phone?
While thinking that, just then.
“Ah, so there really was an interesting sight to see.”
Yoo Seol-hyeon, who had been secretly waiting outside the door, quietly stepped inside the club room.
Ju Ji-yeon was startled.
Why, why Yoo Seol-hyeon?
“Hmm. So Ji-yeon, this is how you have fun? Didn’t you get scolded by the old man a few times for causing accidents in the past?”
“Yes, why are you here?”
“Tsk tsk. Why? Is there a place I can’t come?”
“You…”
Ju Ji-yeon subtly felt pressured by Yoo Seol-hyeon.
She had known Yoo Seol-hyeon to some extent since they were young, and she had a vivid memory of losing to Yoo Seol-hyeon during the entrance exam.
“Nowadays, the media’s attention is already focused on Union. Wouldn’t it be tiring if some strange article comes out?”
“Ugh.”
Come to think of it, she had heard about it before.
Yoo Seol-hyeon and Lee Jin-hyuk were quite close.
If it weren’t for Lee Jin-hyuk’s involvement, Yoo Seol-hyeon wouldn’t have taken this step, considering her usual personality.
“And wouldn’t Kang Dae-han be disappointed if he finds out about what you did?”
“…!”
“I’ll handle So-yeon, so how about you take a step back, Ji-yeon?”
Yoo Seol-hyeon, who was speaking with a smiling face, but carried a significant pressure, made Ju Ji-yeon swallow her dry saliva.
Well, hmm…
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to back off a bit when Yoo Seol-hyeon is talking like this?
No, it’s not that I’m scared of Yoo Seol-hyeon, no.
Oh, I almost forgot.
I have to say this.
“What about the video?”
“Here, take a look. I’ll erase it.”
Lee Jin-hyuk raised his phone and deleted the video he had filmed.
Ah, of course, the deletion was fake.
In fact, the video was already saved on the internet server. Just in case, you know, just in case.
“…Hmph. Well, fine. Let’s stop here for today.”
Ju Jiyeon crossed her arms confidently and nodded.
The girls seemed a little annoyed, but they couldn’t do anything unnecessary with Yu Seoryeon appearing in the courtyard.
And so, Lee Jinhyuk, Jin Soyeon, and Yu Seoryeon were able to safely leave the club room.
“I didn’t know Seoryeon would help you….”
“You don’t have to thank me. Thanks to you, I saw something good.”
From Noble mtl dot com
Whether it was Ju Jiyeon’s weakness or Jin Soyeon’s special ability….
…no, the reason I helped in the first place was because I planned to receive a small favor from Lee Jinhyuk. But there’s no need to mention that explicitly.
“Jinhyuk, I’m thankful for you too. I owe you.”
“No need to owe me anything.”
Lee Jinhyuk shook his head.
There wasn’t much to be thankful for.
In the future, he would owe Jin Soyeon a lot.
Let’s go explore dungeons together in the summer vacation, Soyeon. I can trust you a bit more now that I’ve seen you use your special ability. It seems like you really awakened.
“But Soyeon, how did you take down that girl, Lee Hyesung, with just one blow?”
“Oh, um….”
Jin Soyeon hesitated for a moment, repeatedly opening and closing her lips.
She thought about telling them since they helped her, but she hesitated a little because the ranking matches were about to start.
It was better to hide as much information about her special ability as possible.
“Oh, I shouldn’t have asked for unnecessary things. Asking about someone’s special ability is against etiquette.”
There were quite a few special abilities that became useless if they were known by others, so Yu Seoryeon shrugged as if she had no interest.
It didn’t seem like Jin Soyeon hid it as much as Lee Jinhyuk, well, special abilities often expand and transform due to some trigger.
“Hey, Jinhyuk.”
“What?”
“Did you hear what was said in the club room… Did you hear everything?”
“Almost?”
“I see, yeah, uh-huh.”
Jin Soyeon hesitated for a moment, showing a puzzled look.
“Why are you asking?”
“Oh… I don’t know, I just felt like it was all my fault. I didn’t have any intention to make it like that, but I guess I couldn’t control the distance between me and the guys. I should have been more careful.”
“Ah. Have you finally realized? Surprising, isn’t it?”
“Seolhyun, can you be quiet?”
Jin Soyeon furrowed her eyebrows at Yu Seolhyun’s mocking tone.
But Yu Seolhyun continued to speak.
“Soyeon, honestly, when I first saw you, I thought you were really cunning. Oh, was I right about that?”
“Oh, no, what does cunning mean?! I really didn’t mean it!”
Jin Soyeon looked at Lee Jinhyuk, startled.
She mustn’t let Jinhyuk misunderstand…
No, if this is all Jin Soyeon’s fault for not properly controlling the distance between a man and a woman, then it’s her fault. But still, she had no strange thoughts at all.
“I know, I didn’t mean to make you think that.”
“R-really?”
“Yeah. But since there was also the incident with Choi Changwon, it might be good to maintain some distance.”
“Mmm… that’s why I’ve been keeping my distance lately. Really, I am.”
“Kukkuk. Despite that, it seemed like Kang Daehan had quite an interest in you, Jin Soyeon. You’re really impressive. When are you going to entice him again?”
Jin Soyeon flinched and trembled.
Honestly, she still couldn’t believe that Kang Daehan had any favorable feelings towards her, but considering the actions that Ju Jiyeon had taken, it seemed real.
No, why? That thought brushed through Jin Soyeon’s mind and passed.
There really was nothing special between her and Kang Daehan.
They didn’t even hang out together often, just occasionally exchanging greetings.
The only time they had any significant interaction was during the cat incident when he gave her a bandage and ointment.
Surely she didn’t fall for him because of that.
“Don’t say that I enticed him! I didn’t do anything like that, really!”
“You unknowingly enticed him? Wow, really captivating.”
“You, are you really going to keep talking like that?!”
“Oh my, did I say something wrong? Then I’ll apologize. Sorry?”
“Ugh!”
Lee Jinhyuk let out a deep sigh as he watched the swings.
Hey, Yu Seolhyun and Soyeon, can you stop bothering each other?
***
“…Did Jinhyuk really call himself Romeo?”
Where did that Romeo come frome