Transit Love After Revenge Chapter 20

The cast members of House of Fate were all strikingly good-looking, the kind of people you might come across only once or twice in your life, if you were lucky.

 

However, when you put them side by side like this, Yoonhyuk was the most overwhelming of them all. His tall, well-built figure and flawless features certainly played a part, but more than anything, his aura was especially impressive.

 

He had a relaxed and confident attitude that was different from the other cast members. He had an aura that could only come from someone who knew their own worth.

 

“Did you wait outside for a long time?”

 

“No.”

 

Yoonhyuk answered briefly.

 

“What about food?”

 

“Not yet.”

 

“Then let me bring you something.”

 

Ga-eun suddenly got up. She placed an excessive amount of food in front of Yoonhyuk, including bossam, tteokbokki, and kimchi stew that she had prepared.

 

Seongjun’s eyebrows twitched. He was displeased that Gaeun was showing an active side that she had never shown to him.

 

“What do you want to drink? Alcohol? Soda? We’ve got everything.”

 

Taeri also stepped forward. Instead of answering, Yoonhyuk accepted the glass she offered him. Then he poured beer into the glass himself.

 

His long, large hand gripping the bottle, the slight lift of his forearm, the line of his neck extending upward and his firm jaw, none of it was anything special, yet somehow, when he did it, it looked extraordinary.

 

“Wow, you’re really handsome…”

 

Taeri muttered under her breath.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Oh! You heard that. Are you an actor, Yoonhyuk-nim? You look like one.”

 

“Hard to say.”

 

“Oh, right! We’re not supposed to say our jobs. I forgot. It’s just, you’re so handsome… Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

 

“It’s fine. That’s the burden of being handsome.”

 

“Oh my, you’re even funny.”

 

The conversation drifted on without much substance. Yet every time Yoonhyuk said something trivial, the female contestants burst into giggles. It was as if invisible pink blossoms were fluttering above their heads.

 

Haeyoung sat in the seat farthest from Yoonhyuk, reacting just enough to avoid giving away that they were friends.

 

Still, his gaze kept drifting toward her.

 

It made her oddly uncomfortable each time, though that discomfort was quickly drowned by the relief that everything was going according to plan.

 

She stood to pour herself a glass of water, and just then, she heard someone approach.

 

It was Seongjun. His expression was so stiff, it was clear he wasn’t even trying to hide his bad mood.

 

“Hey, Haeyoung, do you also think Yoonhyuk is handsome?”

 

Was that polite speech or informal?

 

People said semi-formal speech could be swoon-worthy, but coming from Seongjun, it was just completely rotten.

 

“I think he’s attractive.”

 

“More than me?”

 

‘Your mic is on. What are you doing?’

 

Haeyoung glanced at him up and down. So that’s what this was about, he had thought he was the most popular male contestant here, and now Yoonhyuk’s arrival had upset him.

 

He must have instinctively sensed that he didn’t stand a chance against Yoonhyuk.

 

“Seongjun-nim is cool too.”

 

“Too?”

 

“You’re both good-looking… but if you’re asking my personal opinion, then yes, I think you’re more attractive.”

 

“Really?”

 

It was clearly the answer he had been waiting for, yet he beamed anyway.

 

She immediately realized why he had followed her out here.

 

Unlike the others, Haeyoung wasn’t trying to talk to Yoonhyuk. That must have made Seongjun think she would be on his side.

 

Basically, he wanted to use her as a self-esteem boost.

 

“Yes, you were really cool at the sheep ranch today. You looked like a prince when you stood up to protect Minji.”

 

Haeyoung smiled brightly and gave a thumbs up. Seongjun closed his eyes and smiled.

 

‘He’s so clueless. He probably thinks I’m still on his side. Let him. That kind of delusion only helps me.’

 

Back at the table, Yoonhyuk sat with his chin propped in one hand, talking to the others. His expression was neutral as he spoke, but when he noticed Haeyoung returning, a faint smile appeared on his lips. The moment he saw Seongjun behind her, however, it vanished without a trace.

 

Haeyoung tried to smile back, but she couldn’t smile properly because of the awkwardness of acting.

 

“So? Huh? What kind of style do you like?”

 

Somehow, Minji had ended up seated right next to Yoonhyuk, clinging to his arm playfully.

 

Yoonhyuk, who had been looking at Haeyoung, turned his head toward Minji.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Huh? So I asked what your ideal type is.”

 

“A kind person.”

 

“Oh! People say I’m really kind all the time!”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Yes!”

 

Yoonhyuk stared at Minji quietly. It was Yoonhyuk’s turn to speak next, but he didn’t open his mouth. No follow-up question, no teasing remark.

 

As the silence grew longer, Minji blinked her eyes quickly and looked away, as if she was uncomfortable.

 

“That’s right, Minji-nim, you’re really kind.”

 

Taeri cut in. Coming from her, especially after what happened earlier today, it didn’t sound like a compliment.

 

Minji must have picked up on that too. She shot Taeri a quick glance before smiling sweetly at Yoonhyuk again.

 

“Did you hear that? I’m kind~”

 

How shameless. Knowing exactly what Taeri meant and still managing to act like that.

 

Haeyoung was genuinely impressed by her nerve. Then the monitor rang again. The cast members, who had just begun to relax, let out groans.

 

“What now?”

 

“Is this still not over?”

 

「Han Yoonhyuk-nim, please select your date for tomorrow.」

 

“Right now?”

 

“In front of everyone? Oh no, what do I do?”

 

While everyone was agitated, only Yoonhyuk remained calm, as if it wasn’t his problem.

 

“Let’s give him a bit of time to think. It’s hard to decide so quickly–”

 

“No need. I’ll choose now.”

 

“Already? Don’t you want to talk to people a little more first?”

 

“No need.”

 

At his firm answer, the cast members all kept their mouths shut and focused on Yoonhyuk’s next words.

 

Yoonhyuk’s gaze fixed on a single point. The others followed it, Haeyoung. He wasn’t even trying to hide it.

 

It must be Haeyoung. For some reason, he kept looking at Haeyoung this whole time. If a kind person is his ideal type, Haeyoung would be a good fit.

 

They whispered amongst themselves, anticipation thick in the air.

 

Yoonhyuk slowly opened his mouth.

 

“Woo Minji.”

 

No honorifics. Not even a polite suffix. His gaze finally turned to Minji.

 

Haeyoung smiled quietly. It was just as planned.

 

The rest of the cast seemed stunned by how blunt and direct his answer was. The female contestants gasped, hands flying to their mouths as they stared at Minji.

 

Whether genuinely shocked or pretending to be, Minji blinked with wide eyes, like a cartoon character whose huge pupils might pop out at any moment.

 

“Me, me?”

 

“Yes.”

 

When Yoonhyuk confirmed, Minji’s pale face flushed in an instant. Even her physical reactions felt like something out of a romance comic.

 

Everyone looked at the two of them with surprised eyes.

 

“You don’t want to?”

 

“Oh, n-no!”

 

Minji waved her hands, then put her hands down and bit her lips in embarrassment.

 

“I’d love to…”

 

Her quiet voice was adorable.

 

At the drinking session that followed, Minji was clearly on cloud nine. Her voice grew higher, her speech full of exaggerated cuteness. No doubt, she was thrilled that Yoonhyuk had chosen her.

 

That makes sense. After being zero-voted so far, to suddenly be picked by the gorgeous new contestant, it must’ve felt like a fairytale.

 

It was Haeyoung’s plan for Yoonhyuk to choose Minji.

 

From Minji’s point of view, Yoonhyuk probably seemed like a prince on a white horse. Maybe she had already started imagining herself as the main character of this season.

 

‘If you’re happy, Minji, then I’m happy too. Enjoy it while it lasts. The higher the climb, the better the fall.’

 

‘There weren’t many days left to enjoy, so I sincerely hope you fall asleep tonight with a smile on your face.’

 

* * *

 

Yoonhyuk exchanged a few polite words with the other contestants. They asked, he answered.

 

It was fun for a while, but it gradually got boring. When he showed his intention to get up first because he was tired, the place was naturally cleaned up.

 

After washing up, he stepped back into the living room. The others had returned to their rooms, but the table still bore the remnants of the earlier drinking session.

 

It looked like someone had started cleaning up but hadn’t finished. The house rules clearly stated that everyone was responsible for tidying up, but apparently that had slipped everyone’s mind, or maybe they were just hoping someone else would do it.

 

Then again, a sound came from the kitchen, the sound of running water.

 

He didn’t even need to look to know who it was.