Chapter 60

On the way back in the car, Moon Jung-woo patted his head and remembered that the diary was still left in the abandoned teaching building at the back of the mountain. But it was fine since no one went there, and even if the diary was blank with no name written on it, it was unlikely that anyone would touch it. Looking at his reflection in the window, Moon Jung-woo didn't really have the heart to think about the diary anymore.

It wasn't embarrassing or depressing, but Song Hye-in's sudden outburst made Moon Jung-woo more alert. He thought that being cute to seniors and seniors' juniors meant they had a good relationship, which was probably a bit naive.

To be honest, he didn't take the senior-junior rules at school too seriously. But after debuting? Both Lee Sun-gyu and Lee Su-young had told him more than once. After debuting, perhaps 70% of the time is spent dealing with relationships between seniors and juniors.

On variety shows, waiting in the green room, or during interviews, if you mention even a word about a senior or junior, you have to consider everything. One careless word, one moment of not thinking thoroughly, can easily offend someone. Can you just use a cute act or a joke to smooth things over?

It seems he really needs to pay more attention. He must continue to get along well with seniors, but he can't treat this relationship as the most important thing. Today was a lesson. No matter how good the relationship is, if a senior puts on their senior act, they can still unconditionally scold or lecture you without any hesitation.

Watching the car slowly drive out of Jeonju city, Moon Jung-woo's thoughts were scattered and fluctuated in his mind. The sunset's afterglow illuminated his face, and with nearly three hours of driving left, Moon Jung-woo slowly closed his eyes, deciding to think of nothing and just sleep.

Walking towards the abandoned teaching building, no one would think that this place, which was rumored to be haunted, would actually have someone brave enough to come. And it was a girl. Moon Jung-woo certainly didn't expect it, and he miscalculated. He thought no one would occupy his quiet little place, but in fact, someone had come earlier, half a year ago. They just hadn't met.

Kim Tae-yeon looked around, silently put down her backpack, and took out a thick cushion to sit on the steps. She propped her head up and stared ahead. She took a deep breath and exhaled, and at that moment, Kim Tae-yeon's expression became more vivid. She turned to look at the wall, took out a pen, and drew a big smiley face.

Frowning, her eyebrows almost indistinguishable, she pouted and glared at the smiley face: "Idiot. I thought you were my friend, but you just used me to get close to that transfer student. You've really hurt me, you know? You're a girl who values boys over friends! I'll get you!" She made a face at the wall, and Kim Tae-yeon's breathing became heavy, panting.

After a while, she suddenly giggled. Kim Tae-yeon took a pen and added a few dots to the smiley face: "Don't blame me, Ya-won. This is all your fault. Your freckles have grown a bit more, but today you used me to get close to that transfer student. Big sister decided not to remind you. Let you show off in front of that transfer student. Hehe."

Kim Tae-yeon laughed happily, but where was the calm and introverted air from before? After a while, she stopped laughing, pursed her lips, and drew a bow on the smiley face.

Kim Tae-yeon frowned, looking aggrieved: "Senior, I didn't mean to disrespect you. Why didn't you give me a chance to explain? I don't even know you, why would I disrespect you and be late on purpose?"

Pouting, Kim Tae-yeon drew two wrinkles on the forehead of the smiley face: "Senior, always frowning, that's not good, is it? And... Senior, you're unfair. You smile at that transfer student but are so serious with me. We both go to Seoul to learn singing, but even though he often doesn't come, you're still so kind to him. Is it because I'm not from Seoul?"

Leaning against the wall, she stared at it for a while. Kim Tae-yeon suddenly remembered something and added a few mustaches to the smiley face. Biting her lip, she glared at the now unrecognizable pattern: "And you, transfer student. Why are you like this too? The rumor about your IQ of 160 has spread throughout the school, but why did you do such a stupid thing? Ya-won is a bit slow, but you could have just not asked her about me. Now I've been misunderstood by the senior."

Kim Tae-yeon added a few more strokes to the eyes of the smiley face: "And you talk to me in a formal way, do you think we're that close?" She drew stroke by stroke, almost blackening the chin area. Kim Tae-yeon giggled, but this laughter didn't sound like a girl's, more like... an auntie's.

Perhaps she noticed it herself. Kim Tae-yeon instinctively covered her mouth, and the laughter stopped abruptly. She looked around, and then she sighed in relief. She looked at the pattern on the wall with an odd expression: "Actually, I know it might not be your fault. Ya-won said you gave her a look. She just didn't react."

She leaned in secretly, covering her small, tender hand to the ear of the smiley face: "Actually, I know everything. Ya-won is just nervous because she likes you, so she reacts slowly." She giggled and stepped back, and her auntie-like laughter echoed again, even producing an echo in the empty place.

This time she had no qualms. No one would come, and no one would hear. After laughing for a while, Kim Tae-yeon slowly fell silent. She raised her head, frowned, and squinted at the smiley face: "You probably don't care about her, right? She's good at her studies and looks good. There must be many girls who like you."

She picked up a small stone and threw it at the smiley face: "Do you think I don't know? The senior also has a crush on you. Otherwise, she wouldn't protect you so much." Her expression was serious as she faced the wall: "But I'm telling you, Ya-won is a good girl. If she confesses to you, you're not allowed to reject her. Even though she's a bit slow and has a few freckles, she really likes you. She even betrayed me to get close to you. Such a good girl, if you don't like her, your eyes must be worse than mine."

Kim Tae-yeon seemed to be waiting for his answer, staring at him. After a while, she slowly sat back, fiddled with a stick, and fell silent. After a moment, she looked up, gazed at the smiley face, and spoke: "You're a trainee, right? The only one in the whole school. You will definitely debut. You're so excellent, both in appearance and talent. I guess you won't date anyone."

Hugging her knees, she leaned against the wall: "You might not know, but I really envy you. You can live in Seoul, no need for your dad to pick you up and drop you off. You only come to school occasionally because your grades are good. But... I haven't heard you sing. I don't know if my level is enough to be a trainee. Theone teacher is the best teacher. He always tells me I have talent and can definitely make it. But I haven't compared myself with anyone, maybe... the teacher is just comforting me?"

She picked up the pen beside her, lowered her head, and fiddled with it: "Do you have to be like you to be a trainee? Good grades, good relationships, and good with seniors. Good at playing the piano and sports. Do you have to be like you to make it? I just want to sing, can I just be good at singing?"

Pouting, she leaned to one side, twisting the pen with her small hand: "If that's the case, I'm done. If I had your good conditions, even just good relationships, I wouldn't have to hide here to talk. You don't need to come to this place, you're already a star at school. I want to be the second trainee at Yangji High School, but... I might be laughed at."

Resting her head on her knees, Kim Tae-yeon mumbled. After a while, she suddenly frowned and looked up at the smiley face: "But my path doesn't have to be the same as yours, right? You're a trainee, and I'm about to be recommended by the teacher to participate in the S.M. audition with a 9000:1 elimination rate. I can't dance, but I can practice. Before that, I want to secretly compare with you. Just singing, am I really worse than you?"

Clenching her small fists, Kim Tae-yeon's face, which was milky white, turned a bit rosy. She looked determined, as if she had made a decision. Suddenly, she made a face at the wall: "After all, it was you who invited me. This isn't disrespectful to you, right? If I sing better than you, I can come here and laugh. If I'm not good enough, they always focus on you, so it's only natural, right?"

She winked proudly, puffed out her small chest, clapped her hands, put the pen back in her backpack, and lowered her head to tidy up the cushion: "Actually, I'm pretty smart. It's not like I'm doing scientific research, why do I need such a high IQ? Although I'm not close to you, can I criticize you a little? You becoming an idol is a waste, with such a good brain, you could do anything... Ah!"

While mumbling and tidying up, Kim Tae-yeon suddenly looked up and saw a neat and clean diary on the steps above where she was sitting. And this diary... wasn't hers.

(Thank you to Star Messenger Chen Xing for the support. Much appreciated. ^_^)

{Piao Tian Literature}