34-40

Chapter 40 

Let’s proceed from Kim Minji’s perspective inside the room. The man in the room is Lee Jinwoo (although having him show up in person feels a bit much if it were a proxy, it would have to be a woman like Han Ji-young, but then Ha Jungwoo wouldn’t get the wrong idea. So it has to be Lee Jinwoo. Whether it’s a clone or not, let’s just leave that ambiguous since the others are ordinary people). 

“Ah, Jinwoo-nim!” 

When Kim Minji entered the room, a man and a woman were already seated. 

“Really... You’re even buying us dinner, I don’t know how to thank you...” 

“Haha, it’s nothing.” 

  Is this the person Minji mentioned...? 

  He’s handsome... 

That man was none other than Lee Jinwoo, the one who transformed Kim Minji. Her purpose in meeting him was to introduce her friends to Jinwoo1 

. 

Honestly, she didn’t really want to introduce them. She worried that if other girls became as pretty as her, Ha Jungwoo’s attention toward her would decrease. 

But she owed Jinwoo, and her instincts told her she needed to stay close to him, so she arranged this gathering. Jinwoo had been busy, so the meeting was scheduled a bit late, and they were only meeting today. 

“Minji, how have you been?” 

“Of course~ Thanks to you. Hehe.” 

Before her transformation, Kim Minji was hostile toward all men except Ha Jungwoo, a result of years of bullying. No man had ever treated her kindly except Ha Jungwoo. After her transformation, seeing men’s attitudes change made her feel sick. 

But Jinwoo was the benefactor who changed her appearance the only man besides Ha Jungwoo who treated her well. Maybe that’s why she could answer him in a cute, playful voice, something she’d never do with other men. 

If Ha Jungwoo had seen this, he would have had plenty of reason to misunderstand, but since the room was private and he wasn’t there, Kim Minji felt comfortable around Jinwoo. 

Her friends didn’t think much of it either. They were just busy scrutinizing Kim Minji’s looks, imagining it could be their future. 

‘Wow... That nose is insane... I want a nose like that...’ 

‘Look at those deer-like eyes... Could I look like that too...?’ 

Kim Minji ignored all the stares. After her transformation, she was so used to being looked at that it didn’t bother her anymore. 

“Alright, everyone. Today’s on me, so eat up and let’s talk.” 

Sizzle  

The woman next to Jinwoo grilled the meat. 

‘That woman...’ 

She was the one who talked to Kim Minji during her last visit to the Ja-Ae Cult. 

‘Her name was... Han Ji-young, I think...’ 

“Ah! Um... Are you sure we really don’t have to pay?” 

“It doesn’t hurt... and there are no side effects...” 

Kim Minji had already explained, but her friends wanted to double-check, unable to believe it. 

“Of course. The only thing is your skin will get darker like hers here.” 

“Oh...” 

“Well, that’s...” 

All of Kim Minji’s friends were prepared for this. Having darker skin was a clear downside, but if it meant getting a beautiful face, they didn’t care. Objectively, her friends weren’t unattractive, but everyone’s satisfaction with their looks is different. 

The fact that they were here meant they weren’t satisfied with their own appearance. The Ja-Ae Cult could grant that wish easily. 

“But what should I tell my mom...?” 

“Hey, forgiveness is easier than permission!” 

“...Is it?” 

It was true. If their parents were there, they’d probably get scolded for wanting to change when they were already pretty enough. But these girls had long since tuned out their parents’ advice to focus on studying. They just wanted to have fun and look good still immature. 

Of course, even as adults, they probably wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation of plastic surgery. 

“Alright, let’s eat first and think later.” 

They bombarded Jinwoo with questions, but most of the answers came from Han Ji-young, who seemed to be shielding Jinwoo from them. 

Ha Jungwoo finished his ramen in ten minutes and waited for Kim Minji to come out. 

‘...I can’t believe it took two hours.’ 

How much did they eat? Or maybe girls just have more to talk about? Either way, it was an agonizingly long wait for Ha Jungwoo. Even watching YouTube didn’t help he was afraid he’d miss Kim Minji coming out if he got too focused. 

He didn’t stay in one spot the whole time sometimes he waited outside, sometimes right in front. Thankfully, the area was crowded enough that no one noticed his suspicious behavior (except maybe the CCTV). 

‘...Huh?’ 

There were two strangers with Kim Minji and her group. 

At first, he thought it was just a coincidence. If there was another girl in gyaru fashion, maybe it was a rare chance. But that was just wishful thinking. Even from a distance, he could tell they were talking and the mood was friendly. 

‘...What is this.’ 

What Ha Jungwoo felt wasn’t anger or jealousy, but pure curiosity and confusion. Even if there was a guy in Kim Minji’s group, the gender ratio was 7:1. 

Unless this guy was building a harem, there was no reason for Jungwoo to worry. Besides, the guy already had a woman with him. There was no way Kim Minji would like him over Jungwoo. 

‘Still...’ 

Why did he feel so bad? 

‘Is this jealousy?’ 

Whatever it was, Ha Jungwoo’s mood plummeted. He wanted to grab the guy by the collar, but he held back. Maybe he was misunderstanding, and he didn’t want to scold Kim Minji just for talking to a man. 

After all, just because someone has a boyfriend doesn’t mean they can never look at or talk to another man. At least, that’s what Ha Jungwoo thought. Otherwise, you’d never be able to function in society. 

‘But why did they meet?’ 

That’s the key. Kim Minji talking to a guy? Fine. Eating together? Fine (as long as it’s not just the two of them). But the reason mattered. Was he family? A relative? A stranger with some business? Was she being threatened? He had to know. 

If she were being threatened, the mood wouldn’t be this friendly, but Ha Jungwoo’s mind was working overtime trying to figure out why Kim Minji was meeting this man. He was so worked up that he started making little mistakes. 

‘What the hell...!’ 

As his past shows, Ha Jungwoo was always the type to act on his feelings. He wanted to be a hero in elementary school, he stood up for Kim Minji when she was bullied, and he’d always acted on impulse. 

Even as he grew older and learned some self-control, that only worked when there was no outside interference. 

With Kim Minji’s emotion-amplifying trait, it was even harder for him to control himself. 

So it was only natural that he eventually couldn’t take it anymore and burst in. His rational mind screamed at him not to, but overcoming superpowers is nearly impossible for an ordinary person especially someone like Ha Jungwoo. 

“Kim Minji!” 

“J-Jungwoo?!” 

Kim Minji was startled by Ha Jungwoo’s sudden voice, but quickly recovered and greeted him warmly. 

  Whoa... it’s Minji’s boyfriend! 

  What’s he doing here? 

  Maybe he was just passing by? 

“W-what brings you here?” 

She looked like she’d been caught doing something wrong, which only made Ha Jungwoo angrier. 

“That’s what I should be asking! Who’s this guy?!” 

“Oh, just a guy I know.” 

“...A guy you know?” 

Ha Jungwoo’s expression soured even more. He turned from Kim Minji to Lee Jinwoo. 

“...I’m her boyfriend, could I ask who you are...?” 

Ha Jungwoo used superhuman patience to remain polite otherwise, he felt like the woman next to Jinwoo would kill him. In fact, Han Ji-young was glaring at him. 

“Ji-young nuna, relax... Kid, I’m the messiah who’s here to save them.” 

“....” 

‘...Messiah?’ 

Ha Jungwoo was now convinced the man in front of him was a weirdo. But thanks to that, he managed to regain his composure.