Chapter 29: The more Cha Lun-hoo opposed it, the more it proved that...

"I’m telling you, Lun-hoo oppa must be completely bewitched by Suzy sunbae. You know that woman is no saint, and with them so far away, who could possibly keep an eye on them?"

Somi, that brat, was actually trying to stir up trouble for him right in front of Se-jeong. And to think, Cha Lun-hoo had even been planning to buy her a gift. Such ingratitude would surely be met with a thorough reckoning; as the saying goes, heaven watches what men do, and sooner or later, she would get what was coming to her.

"Oppa is there for work, not to mess around with her! What is going through that little head of yours? You’re so young, yet you love to gossip. Besides, he’s not my boyfriend, so what right do I have to dictate what he does?"

Se-jeong didn’t know why Somi was more anxious than she was. In truth, Se-jeong felt relatively calm. After learning about his difficult time after being discharged from the military, her heart had ached for a long while, but she had since learned to take things in stride. There is a saying that poverty narrows one's ambitions; as someone from a poor family herself, she felt she understood this oppa better than anyone.

"And by the way, why are you calling him so affectionately? Since when did you start calling him Lun-hoo oppa?"

Facing the older girl’s unimpressed glare, the "not-so-pure" high schooler didn’t care one bit. Instead, she used Se-jeong’s own logic to strike back, her sarcastic tone making Se-jeong’s nostrils flare in anger.

"Unnie isn't his girlfriend either, so what right do you have to tell me how to address him? Isn't that what you just said?"

Faced with this brat who was five years her junior acting so brazenly, Se-jeong pretended to be angry and moved to discipline her. Somi, despite being physically larger and having practiced martial arts, obediently allowed her unnie to give her a thorough scolding, crying out that she wouldn't dare do it again.

"Who isn't worried? But worry is useless. Besides, Lun-hoo oppa is a man—if he gets into trouble, I won't be the one losing out."

Thinking of the bag by her side—bought with Cha Lun-hoo’s hard-earned money—she hoped that now that her oppa had a steady job, he wouldn't have to play these games with women anymore.

Whether it was a civil service job or something else, it didn't matter. While the pay wasn't high, the social status was decent. She, however, needed to earn more over these next few years. Unfortunately, neither her acting fees nor her music settlements were ideal; despite the noise her career made, the actual profits were meager.

"If you debut in JYP's new girl group, a big company like that should bring in plenty, right? Why are you leaving now?"

Se-jeong looked at her younger sister with concern. The girl hadn't signed with a new company yet, but in a few days, she was scheduled to be an MC for the *Music Bank* World Tour in Germany, with a performance stage to boot. This was the final schedule JYP had arranged for her. As the saying goes, a dog can't hide a drop of sesame oil in its belly; she had naturally told Se-jeong about signing with The Black Label. Se-jeong was genuinely happy for her—after all, he was a legendary producer at YG and one of the leaders of K-pop, and as the company's only artist, she would surely receive plenty of resources.

Somi felt that this unnie was much easier to talk to. That guy, Cha Lun-hoo, was a total jerk who kept belittling her abilities. It was infuriating. He even said that if he were JYP, he’d make sure she couldn't survive in the industry, or he’d find a way to sabotage YG. What kind of mindset was that?

Still, this oppa had saved her once, and she had intended to treat him to a fancy meal, but she hadn't expected him to run off with Bae Suzy for over a month. Her father had given her a severe lecture that night, but she was like a pig that didn't fear boiling water—she hadn't listened to a word of it.

"When I signed, they promised a solo album within six months. It’s written right in the contract. You’ll be able to hear my album in the first half of next year, Unnie!"

The more Cha Lun-hoo opposed her, the more it proved she was right. Later, when he stopped opposing her, it proved it even more. He had nothing left to say, which only confirmed she was on the right path. She would definitely make a triumphant return and show those who looked down on her what an ACE who debuts in the center position looks like. Especially those girls, Hwang Ye-ji and Shin Ryu-jin—she wanted to see what kind of tricks JYP could pull. Twice had only debuted two years ago; how many resources could they really spare for a new group?

And that Shin Yu-na, whom Cha Lun-hoo couldn't stop praising—what did he mean by "cuter and more obedient" than her? In terms of figure and appearance, what was she lacking? It was infuriating. Men truly were no good, even someone as sanctimonious as Cha Lun-hoo.

Although she grumbled, she kept in contact with him privately. She still hadn't managed to treat him to that meal; this man was busier than a sergeant. She figured Bae Suzy had probably made him forget all about Korea by now.

"Oppa! You ran off with Suzy sunbae, and Se-jeong unnie is so sad. Looking at you, I bet you don't even want to come back, right? A whole month—you must have developed quite the relationship."

This "not-so-pure" high schooler was acting strangely; even though she was complaining on Se-jeong's behalf, there was a strange, jealous tang to her voice. It was bizarre. He wasn't the type to prey on young girls, after all.

"You! When are you signing with your new company? You need to be prepared to be criticized. Don't go getting stuck in a rut over things."

Cha Lun-hoo thought of himself as a truly good man. This brat was so unlovable, yet he treated her with such patience—more patience than her own father, even.

"I’m an ace trainee! How could I lose my mind over something like that? I've been criticized enough—does a little more or less really matter? You’d better just get ready to buy me a souvenir! I want that hooded elf outfit!"

The so-called "elf outfit" had nothing to do with cosplay or fantasy novels; it was the *djellaba*, a traditional Moroccan garment worn by the Berbers—a hooded wool robe that made them look like little elves.

He would definitely have to buy a few. Besides Se-jeong and this brat, that girl named Hwang Ye-ji often brought him snacks from home, so he should at least get her a gift before leaving the company.

He found a local guide, and Suzy exchanged some local currency—dirhams. The wealthy woman didn't care how much it cost to have fun; having a good time was what mattered most.

"Nothing will happen, right? Is it really necessary for you to be like this, Lun-hoo?"

Watching him strap a steel telescopic baton to his waist and pull a shirt over it as a disguise, then put a bottle of pepper spray in her bag, she realized he was taking his role as a bodyguard quite seriously.

"This place isn't entirely peaceful, even in tourist cities. A dragon in shallow water invites trouble; it’s always better to be cautious."

Too many prominent figures had met with unexpected danger because they lacked protection. And with them thousands of miles away from South Korea, any trouble would be a nightmare to deal with.

"Yes! Lun-hoo is absolutely right. No matter how pretty our Suzy is, she only has one head. Lun-hoo, you must protect us well!"

Many people had already wandered off from the main group. After all, it wasn't easy to get to a place like this, and it would be a shame not to explore properly, so the manager didn't oppose Suzy’s suggestion. The money spent on Cha Lun-hoo was finally paying off.

"Fine, fine! I’ll listen to you. Let’s head to Chefchaouen now! I didn't even eat breakfast; I’ve been saving my appetite."

Suzy had long dreamed of visiting this "Blue City." Even though it was a two-hour drive, money couldn't buy happiness, and once Suzy was in the mood, she had to go.

Perhaps it was because they were abroad, or maybe it was homesickness, but being away always made him feel a bit uneasy. Yet, the beautiful employer sitting beside him seemed completely carefree, boasting that he would protect her no matter what.