Chapter 9-3: Talent harvester

Naturally, Leon, who used to accompany her, was aware of his identity; therefore, he did not move against him.

Shin fell asleep, and although he had recently joined, his outlook had not changed.

When she returned to his outstretched hand and his bright smile, she looked at him, caught in thought and hesitated.

'Was it appropriate to shake his hand?

Although she was a sensitive and unsociable person, she was puzzled and confused by his impulsiveness in relation to her recent memory with Dennis.

Then, with sleepy eyes, more like those of a dead fish, she met him with silence; Which forced Leroy to sigh, breathing without embarrassment.

"Well..?"

It may seem exaggerated, but he had never approached someone to shake their hand without knowing them; Especially for someone as isolated, introverted, and semi-known as her.

“Yesterday, your shot was good. I happened to be passing by there and saw you. I’d be happy if you’d accept my invitation to join…” he said, with a radiant look on his face, when she suddenly refuted him.

“I’m not interested.” Her expression was blank and indifferent, hard to interpret as arrogance or that it really was from his perspective.

“Why?”

For a moment, his trimmed, crescent-shaped brows were beautifully paired before the sharp, faint gleam disappeared from his eyes and he wondered.

All this time, she hadn’t missed any of those little details and sighed.

“Come on, don’t be shy or modest. At least practice with us for a while and then think about it at your leisure.

"We're not going to put you in a difficult situation" He took a deep breath, then insisted, with a gentle, playful, endearing tone.

He seemed very hardworking.

But she didn’t want to complicate her life any further, as much as she wanted to expand her relationships in the long run.

“I’m sorry, but I’m lazy and undisciplined” She spat her words out carelessly, looking at him broadly.

Nam Shin, who was listening, fell asleep, unintentionally pinching his nose, stifling his laughter. In return, Leon's features turned pink in silence.

Naturally, Leroy understood this logic but did not give up, the opposite of his character.

“It’s okay, my group always welcomes you. Come over anytime to chat with us…”

'...If you refuse, I'll chase you!'

The offer was tempting, but he kept the last one to himself.

'It is not permissible to scare him from the first day'

Normally, everyone would have tried to approach him to befriend them and flatter them, not the other way around.

Werm, it was a special and rare event.

After saying that, he didn’t talk any longer and left.

“See you!”

In the early hours of the morning, the news of the team captain’s pursuit of a new talent spread like wildfire.

However, neither Leon nor even Nam Shin did anything to stop the rumors.

In the end, this was an internal event within the boundaries of the students, and not an urgent matter or a request from the elite leader.

×××××

Chapter 10: cute chemistry

In the corner overlooking some long branches of tangled twigs, late autumn and early winter.

Caroline settled into her usual seat after ordering a meal, alongside Nam Shin and Leon.

Along the way, the repeated glances towards her and the quiet whispers were clear and stinging.

It seemed more miserable than annoying.

“Are you okay?” “..How are you feeling?”

Leon, who had noticed her distracted by the book she was holding and listening to the soft music in comfort, tapped his fingertips on the table, trying to attract her attention.

“Oh, nothing” She barely gave him an expressive look.

And Her whisper was relaxed and indifferent as usual.

“What are you reading?”

After a minute of silence, he asked again with acceptable curiosity, as she turned to the next page of the book.

He had realized that she had probably changed and no longer gave Leroy’s decision to join him much weight.

“The Bachelor!”

“It’s a novel” she explained with a quick glance, looking at him, as she took a bite out of the apple in her hand.

“Oh” he let out a small hum, and understood.

He was also optimistic and surprised.

From the title, it was clear what kind of novel she was reading.

He couldn't comment, his throat was really torn; but he felt appreciated by this good progress.

In any case, it was unlikely that the rumors would diminish and disappear as quickly as they came.

While she remained immersed in her reading and no longer scrutinized the confused or proud faces of some, the four young men and a girl with them met her.

Without permission, they took over the rest of the empty seats with flexible and lively expressions and shared the meal, lunchtime with them.

"You here? How are you?" Leroy who revealed a meaningful smile, trying to start a topic that had resumed.

"Hello, I'm Lush" he expressed, recalling his first days joining this team in a funny way and then waving.

Caroline who noticed, gave him a look: 'It's lunchtime, where should one be?!'

But she didn't comment, and continued reading rudely.

Melissa, who noticed the strange atmosphere, nudged Mark's side in return with a look: 'Do something'

At first, he didn't like the idea and the people but he sighed.

Nam Shin, who had read the situation, finally responded to Lush's kind initiative.

“Hey, I'm Nam Shin. This is Leon. We are roommates and friends for a long time. Werm doesn't like much noise, and he's shy. So, please consider him” He spoke in a polite and understandable manner, in short.

In other words, 'Your presence here is not welcome, although it is not a problem'

Melissa, who is usually kind and polite, suddenly lost control of her expressions, as soon as she caught sight of Nam Shin, that Korean boy, from afar.

“Oh, good morning” she said in a beginner Korean accent amidst unusual cuteness, then gave him a shy wink.

Mark froze immediately, lost for words.

“Ah, have we met before? You look familiar!” She seemed very excited as she talked with a bit of exaggerated cheerfulness and flirted.

He laughed casually, while she continued.

“You kind of resemble someone I follow. He’s from the drama: ‘Are You Human Too?’”

“…Well, I’m a fan, are you human too?”

This last question was actually directed at him, and the admission seemed genuine on her part.