The World’s Strongest Daughter.

Kong Hye-sun’s POV

As I was finishing up the housework and about to go to bed.

Knock knock-

Someone knocked on the door, then slightly opened it and spoke.

“…Hye-sun. Are you sleeping?”

“…Unnie…?”

It was my twin sister, Ye-ji unnie.

Confirming I was awake, unnie carefully entered the room and sat on the bed.

What is it at this hour…?

“Hye-sun, are things going well with that boy these days?”

Su, suddenly…?

I was a bit flustered by unnie’s sudden question about Ji-hwan.

“…Uh, yeah? Why so suddenly…?”

“Nothing, your expression hasn’t been good lately.”

“Re, really? I’m fine though….”

I fiddled with my fingers and avoided unnie’s gaze.

Until the day of the exam, everything was really all good.

I gradually got closer to Ji-hwan, and there were no particular problems.

There weren’t…

There definitely weren’t…

It started to go wrong when So-yeon, quiet until now, started picking on me.

So-yeon acted as if she was uncomfortable with me being next to Ji-hwan as if she was his girlfriend.

The change was so sudden that I even mistook them for dating.

But I realized they weren’t in a serious relationship when I saw Ji-hwan suggesting the three of us sit together.

Ji-hwan was still kind to me. I still had a chance.

The problem was So-yeon next to Ji-hwan.

As if showing off to me, So-yeon endlessly emphasized that they were close enough for him to visit her house.

Yet she seemed unaware that it was more miserable that they weren’t dating despite that.

…But in reality, my side was more miserable.

That girl takes Ji-hwan to her house, yet all I can do is bake bread.

…It felt miserable… infinitely so.

“…”

As my expression crumbled at the gloomy thoughts I had barely forgotten, unnie was startled and grabbed my hand tightly to comfort me.

“…Everything will turn out well. You’ll surely be rewarded if you keep doing what you’ve been doing. That boy knows what a good girl you are, too. So, don’t be too impatient. Okay?”

“…Thank you, unnie….”

Unnie’s warm words seeped smoothly into my dry heart.

It wasn’t as much as Ji-hwan’s kind words, but it was enough to embrace my heart.

…Yes, someday Ji-hwan will understand my heart too.

…Someday…

***

Yoo Ji-hwan’s POV

Consulting my wife was the right answer.

The more I pondered over her advice, the more I realized I had dealt with it too carelessly.

I thought that if I tried somehow, I could minimize the pain in Kong Hye-sun’s heart.

That I could beautifully protect her first love.

But trying to embrace Kong Hye-sun on top of fully focusing on my own family was close to greed.

Once I realized this reality, I could also understand Kong Ye-ji’s feelings.

No matter how much it was for Kong Hye-sun’s sake if I don’t actually accept her heart, in the eyes of Kong Ye-ji, her real family, it would look like I’m being ambiguous.

Thinking in reverse, isn’t it no different from some boy playing around with So-yeon?

I would have acted the same way Kong Ye-ji did.

“…Haa….”

The belatedly arrived guilt poked at my heart.

If I had noticed a little earlier, I wouldn’t have had to hurt Hye-sun more…

Because of my one mistake, I ended up harming not only Hye-sun but also my wife, So-yeon, and even Ye-ji.

It wasn’t a sin that could be repaid overnight.

… Let’s reflect on it…

With a heavy heart, I finished preparing for school and left the house.

But….

“Ji, Ji-hwan…!”

I ran into Kong Hye-sun, wandering in front of my house.

***

Kong Hye-sun’s POV

…Why is Ji-hwan acting like that? Is he in a bad mood today…?

I felt a little worried looking at Ji-hwan’s back, who took a seat far away.

This morning, to change my mood, I tried to go to school with Ji-hwan, but I was rejected by him, who said he had something to do and to go ahead first.

I had no choice but to go to school alone,

And Ji-hwan, who sent me away saying he had something to do, appeared in the classroom with Min So-yeon by his side.

…That much was okay.

It was always like that for him to take care of Min So-yeon.

It was okay.

Even Ji-hwan moved seats as if avoiding me could happen.

It was also understandable that Ji-hwan, who always sat in the back corner seat, was sitting in the most noticeable front-row seat.

Thanks to studying together with me, he might have gained interest in class.

Rearming myself with positive thoughts, I approached him with specially baked bread.

But….

“…Ji-hwan. Is something wrong…?”

“No, it’s nothing….”

“…O, okay…?”

Ji-hwan, who always smiled kindly and accepted my words, avoided my gaze and answered coldly.

Ma, maybe he’s not feeling well…?

Confused by his unfamiliar appearance, I immediately handed him the shopping bag I had hidden behind me and said,

“…E, eat this, and cheer up today too!”

But Ji-hwan didn’t take the shopping bag.

He carefully pushed my hand away and spoke slowly as if it was difficult.

“…Thanks, Hye-sun. But I’ll just accept your heart, I’m a bit full…. …You don’t have to prepare breakfast for me anymore, I decided to eat breakfast now too… Thank you until now.”

A polite rejection.

Have I ever been rejected by him before?

“…I, I see….”

Not even once.

Confused by the unfamiliar feeling of being rejected by Yoo Ji-hwan, I threw some words at him and hurriedly avoided my seat.

“…”

The very back corner.

The seat where Yoo Ji-hwan always sat.

Today, he wasn’t sitting there.

Blankly staring at the empty seat, I slightly reached out and stroked the empty chair.

A chilly sensation without any warmth.

The cold reality rising through my fingertips reminded me that he rejected me.

“…Haa….”

As I was sighing heavily and stroking the empty seat, at that moment.

“Heh.”

I heard a small laugh from somewhere.

A sticky, unpleasant feeling tangled in my heart.

…Someone is laughing at me.

With an inexplicable conviction, I hurriedly looked around and was able to find the culprit.

“…”

Only one person in this spacious classroom.

Covering her mouth, avoiding my gaze.

…Min So-yeon…

***

Yoo Ji-hwan’s POV

After classes ended.

I told Min So-yeon to go ahead first.

“…Go alone? Why?”

“I have something to take care of for a bit.”

“…Something to do?”

“Yeah. It’s important, so I’ll take care of it quickly and go.”

She seemed to want to ask what it was, hesitating for a moment, but in the end, she left the classroom, leaving a message to come early.

After making sure So-yeon was gone, I felt a little relieved that she followed along more obediently than I thought.

I sent So-yeon away….

Now, all that’s left is to have a conversation with Kong Hye-sun.

I turned my head and looked at the back of the classroom.

Kong Hye-sun, packing her bags with a somewhat miserable face in the seat where we always sat together.

Looking at her like that, my heart started to ache.

She was always a brightly smiling child, but seeing her with such a sad face…

Around the time, I started thinking that maybe I was too harsh,

Get it together…

I shook my head and blew away all the stray thoughts.

If I leave room for misunderstanding at this point, I will really leave an irreversible wound.

“…Phew….”

Hardening my resolve, I carefully approached Kong Hye-sun.

“…Hye-sun.”

When I spoke, Kong Hye-sun lifted her head and met my eyes.

…Ah…

Her once sparkling eyes were clouded enough to remind me of my wife I met after 3 years.

“…Can we talk for a moment?”

“…Y, yes…!”

Kong Hye-sun hurriedly packed her bags, saying we could talk as much as we wanted, and I led her to a nearby cafe.

It seemed like both she and I needed some time to sort out our thoughts.

After moving to the cafe.

“…”

Kong Hye-sun stared blankly at the coffee she ordered.

A cappuccino with hot steam rising.

Perhaps the barista made a mistake. The white heart drawn on the cup was slightly distorted.

Quietly looking at her, I moistened my mouth with iced coffee and slowly opened my mouth.

“…Hye-sun. I apologize for suddenly acting mean today.”

Then she blinked and met my eyes.

Ugh…

I had prepared so many words on the way here, but when our eyes met, I completely forgot them.

All that was left on my useless tongue was the truth and sincerity.

In the end, everything I had prepared was just a petty excuse.

…Yes, I can’t hide my true feelings at this point.

Inwardly picturing my wife’s face. I slowly continued.

“…Actually, I’ve had someone I’ve liked for a long time.”

Then Kong Hye-sun tightly closed her eyes as if she couldn’t bear to hear it.

She looked so pitiful that it was hard to continue speaking.

But I have to.

“But…. I… even though I knew your feelings, I just accepted your kindness.”

“…Ji, Ji-hwan…. I….”

“I won’t ask you to forgive me.”

I interrupted Kong Hye-sun’s words and conveyed my last message.

“I’m really sorry.”

At that moment.

“…”

A line of tears flowed from Kong Hye-sun’s eyes.

She didn’t say anything.

She didn’t reprimand me or curse at me,

She just tightly closed her eyes and shed tears.

I wanted to comfort her and wipe away her tears if I could.

But that would only be deceiving her.

Until she stopped crying,

Until the hot coffee turned cold,

I sat still and waited.

***

Min So-yeon’s POV

Hiding in a corner of the cafe, I thought as I eavesdropped on Yoo Ji-hwan and Kong Hye-sun’s conversation.

What if I was sitting in Kong Hye-sun’s position?

Would I have just shed tears endlessly like her?

Or would I have grabbed Yoo Ji-hwan’s hair and caused a scene?

Maybe it could be both.

“Phew….”

Min So-yeon breathed a sigh of relief and sank deep into the chair.

I can be this relaxed because I confirmed Ji-hwan’s feelings. Otherwise, I might have gotten anxious and bitten off all my nails.

Good job, Min So-yeon!

As I sipped the fruit juice she ordered and observed Ji-hwan and Hye-sun,

Buzz- buzz-

My cell phone rang.

“…Huh?”

Taking out her phone from her pocket, So-yeon was startled by the ‘unfamiliar name’ on the screen.

[ Mom ]

Fidgeting and alternately looking at her phone and Ji-hwan, So-yeon hurriedly left the cafe and answered the call.

At that time.

Kong Hye-sun, who had stopped crying at some point, carefully opened her mouth to Yoo Ji-hwan.

“…The person you said you like…. Who is it…?”

“…Huh?”

Yoo Ji-hwan, who had steeled himself to withstand even if the coffee was thrown at him, made a stupid sound at the unexpected question.

Kong Hye-sun wiped her tears with her hand, sniffled, and asked again.

“…Is, is the person you like… So-yeon…?”

Then, Yoo Ji-hwan was startled and waved his hands.

“N, no! It’s… someone else….”

Kong Hye-sun closely observed Yoo Ji-hwan’s words and actions and was convinced.

Min So-yeon was not his partner.

Translator’s Corner

I’m losing a bit of motivation translating the novel. I’ll still update whenever I can, but I don’t think there will be coin locked chapters for some time. Maybe I’ll regain it, maybe I’ll stop.

-Ruminas