CH 413

“Mister Jin-Ho!”

That was when someone called out his name, and Kang Jin-Ho quickly turned his head to find out who it could be.

And he recoiled almost right afterward, a look of horror filling his face. “W-who are you?”

A woman wearing a massive wide-brim hat, a pair of sunglasses anyone could see was excessively big for her face, a medical mask, and even a scarf obscuring her throat, was hurriedly walking up to Kang Jin-Ho while waving her hand.

“It's me, Mister Jin-Ho!”

“...? Miss Yeon-Ha?”

“Shh!” Choi Yeon-Ha raised her index finger to cover her lips. “Keep it down! People might hear you!”

Kang Jin-Ho scanned her attire one more time before cautiously asking her, “...Perhaps a skin ailment?”

“No, it's not like that, but…” Choi Yeon-Ha spat out a long, long groan.

***

Going back in time…

“...What do you think you're doing, Jin-Seong?” Choi Yeon-Ha asked in a low, almost growling voice.

However, Han Jin-Seong only cackled back at her. “Fufufufu…”

“You can't thoughtlessly do stuff like this, you know!”

“Fufufufufu...!”

“...You're laughing?”

“Fufufufufu...!”

Choi Yeon-Ha's brows shot up even higher when Han Jin-Seong dared to keep laughing like a slimy used car salesman.

'This precocious brat...!'

Since Han Jin-Seong went through so much stuff from a young age, him behaving like an older man was not all that surprising. Even so, this brat could be way too slimy sometimes. He had to be born this way since that was the only way to explain his personality!

Choi Yeon-Ha showed the boy her fist. “Want me to beat you up?”

“...No thanks.”

Still, he wasn't as sturdy against attacks as Kang Jin-Ho was, which was a relief.

Choi Yeon-Ha shouted at Han Jin-Seong. “Why did you have to go and do something this dumb?!”

“You told us to create a dating opportunity for you, didn't you?”

“You should've discussed it with me first!”

"Eiii~...” Han Jin-Seong shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. “You know what Jin-Ho hyung is like, noona.”

“...”

“I'm telling you, you try to handle things that way, and nothing will get done. The best way forward is to get the ball rolling somehow, then act according to what happens next.”

Choi Yeon-Ha's cheeks twitched ominously. “Oh? So, this was the answer you guys came up with?”

“Yep.”

Choi Yeon-Ha's expression morphed to resemble a demon crawling out of Hell's depth. “You… Who do you think I am?”

“Mm? Aren't you Choi Yeon-Ha, the actress?”

“And you told me the last time I was in the orphanage that I mustn't forget my station, right? My dignity and stuff?”

A quick look at bit.ly/3iBfjkV will leave you more fulfilled.

“Yeah, I did...?”

“After saying all that, this is your solution?! Are you telling me to go on a date with that guy in a place packed with people?!”

“Oh…” Han Jin-Seong's jaw dropped in stupefaction. His expression clearly implied he hadn't thought that far ahead. “Woah. How could we overlook something that crucial...?”

“You all are such idiots!” Choi Yeon-Ha shielded her face with both hands.

Every person in Kang Jin-Ho's circle of acquaintances looked fine on the surface, but they all had several screws loose in their heads! And those screws weren't tiny little things, either. It felt like those came off some of the most important parts of the brain to rattle noisily inside their skull!

Han Jin-Seong scratched the back of his head. “T-then… What should we do now?”

“...Forget it. I shouldn't have expected anything from you guys…”

“We did this out of good intentions, you know? Aren't you being a little too harsh on us...?”

“You really are itching for the taste of my fists, aren't you?” Choi Yeon-Ha raised her fists again.

“...I'm sorry.”

“Eiii!” Choi Yeon-Ha blew her top in anger, then pulled out several articles of something out of her bag.

“...?” Han Jin-Seong's expression stiffened ever so slightly while observing this spectacle.

***

Now, back to the present…

Choi Yeon-Ha sighed. “Can you overlook this, if you don't mind? Explaining this situation might take hours, you see. People might raise an uproar if they see my face, and I can't afford that.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded in understanding. If this had been in the past, he would've thought Choi Yeon-Ha was needlessly going overboard with her cautiousness. But Kang Jin-Ho had already experienced the nerve-racking terror of obsessed fans plenty of times by now.

And the level of unwanted attention he was subjected to back then would be nothing but child's play compared to what Choi Yeon-Ha must endure. If Choi Yeon-Ha undid her disguise now, the amusement park's operations would probably grind to a halt almost immediately.

So, Kang Jin-Ho definitely understood where Choi Yeon-Ha was coming from. Even then…

“...Miss Yeon-Ha, isn't it too hot under all that clothing?”

“...”

The weather was stiflingly hot today, yet Choi Yeon-Ha was dressed in a face mask, a pair of sunglasses, a scarf and a large hat. Kang Jin-Ho couldn't see all that many gaps in her attire for the heat to escape.

“I, I'm fine,” Choi Yeon-Ha dismissively waved her hand, but…

“You don't look that way, though?”

“I said, I'm fine!”

“...Very well, if you say so.” Kang Jin-Ho looked worriedly at Choi Yeon-Ha, but she remained adamant about her decision. Of course, her expression couldn't be seen under the disguise, but still!

“By the way, what brings you here?” Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head.

Choi Yeon-Ha's expression crumpled almost instantly.

'Didn't you say you've already sorted this out, Han Jin-Seong?!'

Wasn't this like setting up a table but telling the customers to bring their own food?! Then again, Choi Yeon-Ha mused to herself, she shouldn't have gotten her hopes up. Things Han Jin-Seong did usually ended up like this, after all! What did she expect from a little brat, anyway?

“I heard that the orphanage kids were going on a picnic to an amusement park today and wanted to join them.”

“Oh!” Kang Jin-Ho nodded happily away.

Having one more adult around would be a massive help. Kang Jin-Ho wasn't sure why the orphanage girls followed Choi Yeon-Ha so religiously, but their reasons didn't matter as long as her presence lightened his burden considerably.

“I see. Glad to have you with us,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“Ehehe~. Don't worry about anything, Mister Jin-Ho. I'm here to help.” Choi Yeon-Ha confidently smiled back at Kang Jin-Ho.

Meanwhile, Han Jin-Seong watching them from afar also smiled contentedly. “I told you to trust me, didn't I?”

Unfortunately for everyone involved… Today's event soon began spiraling in an unexpected direction.

***

“Kyaaaaaaaaaahk!”

That scream sounded as if it was coming from the pit of Hell itself.

Kang Jin-Ho heard countless many variations of screams before due to the unique nature of his life choices so far, but even he had to flinch at the terror contained in Choi Yeon-Ha's screams.

“P-please, calm down and... ”

“Uwaaaaah! Waaaaah! Mommy! Mommmmy! Help me! Mommy!”

'...Yup, it's too late.'

Kang Jin-Ho slowly shook his head. Choi Yeon-Ha was already beyond the state where words could get through to her. With her rational mind no longer functioning, Choi Yeon-Ha thrashed about violently while trapped in her seat by the steel safety bars pressing down on her shoulders.

Kang Jin-Ho noticed Choi Yeon-Ha's mask getting wetter and turned his head away, unable to keep looking at this scene.

“Kyaaaaaaaahk!”

'This is why I told you not to come with us on this ride... '

From Kang Jin-Ho's perspective, a roller coaster was a yawn-inducing ride. To others, though? The hairs of everyone else would stand up on their ends at the prospect of going on one. And to Choi Yeon-Ha, it must be similar to an express train straight to the mouth of the underworld!

While making others worried about her possibly having a heart attack, Choi Yeon-Ha threw her head this way and that. “Kyaaaaaahk! I'm sorry! It was my fault! I'm sooooorry!”

Kang Jin-Ho sighed under his breath while listening to Choi Yeon-Ha desperately apologizing to someone.

'You were supposed to help me out, though…'

The orphanage kids riding on the roller coaster were worriedly staring at Choi Yeon-Ha now. They were supposed to be having fun riding this thing, but Choi Yeon-Ha was turning this variety-show-like moment into a documentary instead!

Kang Jin-Ho suddenly called out to her. “Mm, Miss Yeon-Ha?”

“Yes? Y-yes?!”

“You should close your eyes.”

“Ehhh? Why?”

Kang Jin-Ho's counsel only led Choi Yeon-Ha to open her eyes even wider... And her effort was greeted by the sight of the roller coaster track twisting into a 360-degree loop up ahead. She gripped the safety bars hard enough to break them off their hinges.

“Who… Who made this… Uwaaaaahng! You son of a...! Aaaaaahk! I'll kill you...!”

Kang Jin-Ho helplessly shook his head. How fortunate it was that Choi Yeon-Ha's face was so thoroughly covered…

***

“Unnie, are you okay?” One of the older orphanage girls worriedly asked.

“...Uh?” Choi Yeon-Ha dazedly looked up from her sitting position.

“Unnie, please drink this water and try to get a hold of yourself.”

“...Uh?”

“J-Jin-Ho oppa! Unnie's gone crazy!”

...Kids, that unnie of yours was never of a sane mind. It's a bit too late to call her out on that now.

Kang Jin-Ho suppressed his mind's voice wanting to break free and sighed softly under his breath. “I'll look after her, so… You girls go ahead and have fun.”

“Can we?”

“Yes. We came to an amusement park to have fun, so it will be no good for you to not enjoy yourselves. Others are waiting for you, so go ahead without us and have fun. Don't worry.” Kang Jin-Ho nodded affirmatively.

That was when Choi Yeon-Ha broke out of her daze and shot up to her feet. “No, wait!”

Even Kang Jin-Ho flinched in surprise from her sudden explosion of energy.

“W-what is it now?” Kang Jin-Ho asked while blinking his eyes.

“...I, I'll join them on the rides!”

“N-no, wait a second. Miss Yeon-Ha, you shouldn't... ”

“I'll join them!” Choi Yeon-Ha's eyes burned fiercely. “These children came to have fun, and I cannot afford to hinder them. So, I must join them!”

Kang Jin-Ho was honestly moved. Just a little bit. The way Choi Yeon-Ha thought about what's best for the kids certainly was commendable, but…

“...Miss Yeon-Ha, you're drooling.”

Slurp!

Choi Yeon-Ha hurriedly sucked in her drool.

“Miss Yeon-Ha, if we look at this situation objectively, I believe the children will have a better time if you don't accompany them.”

Choi Yeon-Ha shook her head. “Mister Jin-Ho, that is… why you're no good in things like this.”

“I'm sorry?” Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head.

Choi Yeon-Ha tried to stand straight before looking back at Kang Jin-Ho. “The kids are incredibly kind, you know? In that case, can you imagine them having fun while knowing the unnie they came together with is sick and can't join them anymore?”

“...”

Choi Yeon-Ha finally managed to straighten her back. “What's wrong with you, Choi Yeon-Ha? Don't forget who you are! I've even done wire stunts while shooting action movies before, so this should be nothing to me!”

Kang Jin-Ho almost retorted just then. Those wire stunts wouldn't have flipped you around 360 degrees, though?

“If I take on a job, I'll see to it till the end! That's my motto! Follow me, Mister Jin-Ho!”

Kang Jin-Ho was genuinely impressed by Choi Yeon-Ha's guts as she walked ahead. He had a hunch that rather than her looks, her strong will had played a massive part in Choi Yeon-Ha reaching her current status in the acting world. Even though she couldn't even walk straight with her legs precariously wobbling away, Choi Yeon-Ha's drive to not get in the children's way as they had fun was truly praiseworthy. She was worthy of Kang Jin-Ho's acknowledgment, without a doubt!

Kang Jin-Ho believed most matters could be dealt with as long as a person possessed the necessary drive and willpower, so this part of Choi Yeon-Ha earned a high evaluation from him.

However, there was one kink in that assessment.

'Not coming here in the first place would have solved all the problems, though... '

Wasn't the old idiom, Let sleeping dogs lie, invented precisely for a situation like this...?

Kang Jin-Ho helplessly shook his head and followed behind Choi Yeon-Ha.

***

“Kyaaaaaaaahk!”

Obviously, a roller coaster was scary to ride. However, there was more to this story to consider. If a person got deathly frightened by a roller coaster ride, they should most likely experience a similar level of terror even when riding a comparatively less scary attraction. And that was the situation with Choi Yeon-Ha.

“Whyyyy! Why isn't it! Ending! Aaaaaaahk! Y-you! You son of a...! Kyaaaaaahk!”

Choi Yeon-Ha gestured wildly toward the ride's control room. She was trying to tell the operator to stop this bloody ride this second, but the sunglasses and the mask made it impossible for anyone to read her expression. And her wild gestures only got even more exaggerated by the ride's movements.

The operator, thoroughly mistaken about her intentions now, grabbed the mic and enthusiastically cried out, “Yes, miss! Let's go for one more ride to the sky! Let's goooo!”

“I'm gonna kill you! I'll definitely kill you!” Choi Yeon-Ha screamed as tears flooded out of her eyes.

The ride designed to look like a Viking ship rose high up in the air, with Choi Yeon-Ha sitting right in front. Kang Jin-Ho sitting next to her silently sighed again.

“Save me, Mister Jin-Ho! Please save me!”

“...Keep your head down, Miss Yeon-Ha. Maybe it'll be less scary if you're not looking.”

“Uwaaaah! I'm gonna die, you knoooow!”

Kang Jin-Ho wordlessly reached to the next seat and pushed Choi Yeon-Ha's hat down to block her eyes. He then looked up at the distant sky as his ears were assaulted by the children's delighted yelps and Choi Yeon-Ha's terrified scream.

'That's nice…'

He was talking about the clear blue sky, of course.

***

“Unnie, I think that's enough, don't you agree?”

“It's our fault! Please don't push yourself anymore, unnie!”

“Unnie, please don't die! Waaaaah!”

Choi Yeon-Ha was sitting on one of the amusement park's many benches while an eerie smile was etched on her face. Her expression was similar to what an arsonist might make after burning everything down.

Kang Jin-Ho narrowed his eyes while tilting his head.

'Hmm. Feels like her complexion has gotten a bit paler...?'

From some angle, Choi Yeon-Ha... looked like she had lost some of her lifespan. If he was to describe what that looked like... Compared to the first time he met her, her complexion lost some color? Something like that?

Choi Yeon-Ha's radiance seemed to have waned a bit.

“I'm alright, children... ” Choi Yeon-Ha addressed the concerned kids in a warm, gentle voice.

“U-unnie! Get a hold of yourself!”

“Your character's all gotten weird, unnie! Stop!”

The children all fell into momentary panic when Choi Yeon-Ha behaved benevolently and gracefully.

'Huh? Just how bad was her regular conduct for the kids to react like this?'

Kang Jin-Ho frowned slightly. Choi Yeon-Ha came here today to earn some brownie points but lost quite a few instead.

“Didn't someone say she wanted to ride that roller coaster one more time? Let's go! I'm sure Yeon-Ha unnie will… feel… better...?”

“Who said that?!”

“Which idiot said that just now! Show yourself, now!”

While watching the kids angrily search for the origin of that ludicrous (?) statement, Kang Jin-Ho slowly shook his head.

'This has gone to the dogs, hasn't it?'

Definitely gone to the dogs, I tell you…