Transit Love After Revenge Chapter 16

Hmm. Now she understood why.

 

Minji’s face, the one that had glared at her just moments ago, flashed through Haeyoung’s mind. Hearing that Haeyoung wasn’t feeling well must have rubbed her the wrong way. On top of getting zero votes again, she must have been desperate to steal back the spotlight.

 

So she decided to act with that performance. Haeyoung hadn’t meant to provoke her, but it was clear Minji reacted dramatically to every little thing Haeyoung did.

 

Jaeyoung hesitated for a moment, then reached out and placed a hand on Minji’s forehead.

 

“Hmm… Maybe a slight fever?”

 

He tilted his head, clearly unsure. It didn’t seem like she had a fever.

 

It couldn’t be helped. She was faking it.

 

Haeyoung clapped her hands together. Everyone turned their attention toward her.

 

“Oh, right! There’s a thermometer in the first-aid kit.”

 

“I’ll get it.”

 

Chanwoo jumped up and returned with the kit. Minji’s gaze faltered just slightly.

 

Beep!

 

“Uhm.”

 

Chanwoo looked a little confused as he tilted his head at the thermometer.

 

“What is it? Is it high?” 

 

Haeyoung asked in a concerned voice, sounding genuinely worried. Everyone also else was watching Minji with worried eyes.

 

“Hold on, I’ll check it again, just in case.”

 

Beep!

 

“Well… Fortunately, you don’t have a fever. It’s 36.4 degrees.”

 

A brief silence followed.

 

“That’s a relief. But if you’re feeling chills, it might get worse. Better rest early tonight.”

 

Haeyoung was the first to speak again, voice laced with care, as she gently draped a blanket over Minji’s shoulders.

 

Casting suspicion was the viewers’ job, not the contestants’. On camera, they had to show concern, no matter what.

 

“Yes, your face is pale.”

 

Perhaps picking up on Haeyoung’s cue, the others also began expressing worry for Minji again.

 

“Do you want to check your temperature too, Haeyoung-nim?”

 

“I’m fine. It’s not that serious.”

 

Minji, who had remained quiet until now, suddenly lifted her head and looked Haeyoung straight in the eye.

 

“Why not? You should check too, Haeyoung-nim.”

 

‘What, do you think I faked it like you did? Takes one to know one, huh?’

 

“…Sure. Why not?”

 

“Um, just in case….”

 

Chanwoo, sensing the tension, held the thermometer out for her.

 

Beep!

 

Before Chanwoo could react, Minji leaned in to check the result herself.

 

“….”

 

Minji’s face stiffened.

 

“It’s 37.7 degrees. That’s kind of high, Haeyoung-nim.”

 

“Oh no, are you okay?”

 

“I’ll be fine. A little medicine and sleep should do it.”

 

Minji suddenly got up. She didn’t even try to keep up the act. Her expression was a mess.

 

“I’ll go in first.”

 

Minji strode up the stairs alone, her steps stiff with anger. The atmosphere in the room instantly grew tense. Everyone could tell Minji was upset.

 

Chanwoo, sensing the shift, suggested they wrap things up for the night. The others quietly dispersed to their rooms.

 

It was a blessing from Haeyoung’s perspective. Except that she had to be alone with Minji in the room.

 

* * *

 

Minji slammed the door shut and yanked out her mic under the guise of changing clothes, tossing it onto the bed. She stormed straight into the bathroom, the only place in the house with no cameras.

 

Click. As the door closed behind her, her expression instantly crumpled.

 

“F*cking hell.”

 

She raked her hands through her hair. The neck staring back at her in the mirror was flushed red. She was shaking with rage.

 

Minji was often ‘sick’. She liked the way people worried about her when she did. It made her feel like the main character, someone who needed to be cared for, doted on, centered in everyone’s attention.

 

But then Seo Haeyoung had to go and claim she wasn’t feeling well first. And on top of that, she stole all of Minji’s votes.

 

It had to be an act. So fake. Seriously. Did she think just because she was on a dating show, she could pull off those kinds of tricks?

 

So Minji had cut in first, beat her to the punch. She had swooped in and claimed all the concern Haeyoung might have gotten. She thought she had won. That is, until Haeyoung started babbling about thermometers

 

36.4 degrees. Everyone probably thought she was faking it.

 

“Ah! I’m not faking it! My head really hurts and my body feels weak! I swear!”

 

Her heart was racing, her head dizzy, she felt like she could collapse any second.

 

It was all because of Seo Haeyoung. If only she hadn’t acted sick first. If only she hadn’t brought up the thermometer. If only her body temperature hadn’t been higher, making Minji’s look even more suspicious, none of this would’ve happened.

 

That wasn’t even the worst of it.

 

Seo Haeyoung got a vote. Jo Seongjun got a vote. But her? Nothing? Out of four guys?

 

The male cast members’ eyes must be broken. There was no other explanation.

 

She had never been unpopular. Not once in her entire life. In any group, regardless of age or gender, she was always the main character.

 

So she thought a dating show would be easy. She was sure she would sweep every vote from beginning to end and come out as the main character of this season.

 

Then she would start her second life as an influencer. Maybe even a celebrity.

 

“Haa…” She let out a long sigh and plunged her hands into the cold water.

 

“No, it’s only day two. I’ve been watching quietly until now, so that’s understandable. That’s all. It’s just the first impression round… Right? So you’re telling me those loser-looking girls made a better first impression than me? No way! This is insane! So f*cking annoying.”

 

Minji slammed her fists against the sink. All it did was hurt her hands. That just pissed her off even more.

 

“Ah! Sh*t!”

 

She stomped around the bathroom for a while, unable to contain her fury, before storming out.

 

“W-what the…”

 

There was a silhouette inside the room.

 

‘Who? Sh*t. Did they hear me cursing?’

 

Nervously, she crept forward step by step, then exhaled in relief once she realized who it was.

 

It was Seo Haeyoung.

 

If it was Haeyoung, it didn’t matter if she saw her true colors. That doormat wouldn’t be able to do anything anyway. At most, she would just be shocked inside.

 

Haeyoung was lying in bed, blanket pulled up to her nose.

 

Trying to hold back her bubbling rage, Minji sat down at the dressing table. Even then, she couldn’t take her eyes off Haeyoung through the mirror.

 

‘She’s already asleep? I’m fuming over here and she’s sleeping like a baby?’

 

Minji flicked on the room lights with a dramatic click. Then she stomped around the room, loud and deliberate, before even turning on the blow dryer and blasting it until her hair was bone-dry.

 

Even after all that noise, Haeyoung was lying there motionless. That made Minji hate her even more. She had to hold herself back from leaning over and screaming in her ear until she ran out of the room.

 

Minji flopped onto the bed beside her, but she couldn’t sleep. Not even close. With a grunt, she sat back up.

 

Are they still drinking downstairs? What if I keep floating around like this and end up with zero votes again tomorrow?

 

Minji found herself chewing on her nails without realizing it. Then she noticed the chipped nail art and snapped.

 

‘How much did I pay for this!’ 

 

She couldn’t just sit still like this.

 

Finally, she threw on her mint-colored, loose-fit pajamas and headed downstairs.

 

“Oh? Minji-nim, are you feeling okay?”

 

“No, I just came down to get some water. My throat hurts a bit.”

 

Taeri spotted her and asked with concern. Minji let out a few exaggerated coughs.

 

“Haeyoung-nim and Minji-nim,  both getting sick, what are we gonna do…”

 

‘Why is she bringing up Seo Haeyoung now? When I’m the one who’s sick? She’s doing this on purpose, no doubt. That woman.’

 

Everything about this pissed her off.

 

Minji gave an awkward smile and looked over at Seongjun. When no one was paying attention, she gave him a look. He hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly followed her into the kitchen.

 

Minji took Seongjun out to the backyard. It was dark outside.

 

There weren’t any cameras here, right?

 

“What is it?”

 

Seongjun asked, completely clueless.

 

Unbelievable. Normally, he’d be fawning all over her like, “Minji, are you okay?” “Want me to get you some water?” “Should I bring you a blanket?” But now? Just because he got a couple texts, he’s acting like he doesn’t know her.

 

Still, Minji kept her temper in check and spoke calmly.

 

“You’re just gonna let your girlfriend do that?”

 

Seongjun flinched. Wasn’t it Minji who had told him—over and over—not to make eye contact with Haeyoung, not to let anyone find out? And now she was calling her his girlfriend?

 

“Wh-what are you talking about?”

 

“She’s over there flirting with other guys. Isn’t that cheating? Doesn’t it bother you? You’re not even mad?”

 

“We’re gonna break up once the show ends anyway. It doesn’t matter what she does.”

 

“God, you idiot. This is why Jo Seongjun can’t live without me.”

 

Minji gave his arm a few light taps.