Translator: Elisia
Editor/Proofreader: Wojo
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“Ah, and also.”
I added while handing the invitation to Son A-reum.
“Since a lot of my family members will probably come… If you need a dress, just let me know. I can lend you one.”
“A dress?”
It seemed like Son A-reum didn’t fully understand what I was talking about, so I let out an exaggerated sigh.
“If you take a look at that.”
I pointed to the invitation in Son A-reum’s hand, and her eyes followed my finger downward.
“I was only planning to invite a few friends and keep it simple, but… the scale got out of hand. One of my older relatives decided to host it. That invitation was even sent directly by them. Honestly, it looks more like a wedding invitation than a birthday party invite.”
At my words, Son A-reum swallowed nervously.
She seemed to be gradually grasping the situation.
“It’s not certain yet, but… there’s a very high chance that it won’t be the kind of birthday party we typically imagine.”
It would probably be one of those luxurious parties you see in dramas.
And, unfortunately, I would be the main character.
…Sara would never come out in a situation like this.
“So… there’s no set dress code. But if you come dressed too casually, someone will definitely make a comment.”
“…Do you really have to go through all that just for a birthday party?”
Son A-reum said with a slight frown.
I couldn’t agree more.
Honestly, I wasn’t keen on it either.
It felt like a party for someone to flaunt their wealth.
But what could I do?
The fact that I was given so many invitations meant that they had already been sent out.
At least all the relatives connected to the Eugene Group were likely invited.
The main purpose of the party was to “introduce” me.
Of course, skipping the party would mean disrespecting that older relative.
In the long run, attending was the right choice.
Acting impulsively to avoid momentary embarrassment could lead to long-term regret.
“Well… you don’t have to come if you don’t want to. Honestly, I’m not that enthusiastic about it either. But I thought I should at least give you an invitation.”
“Oh… oh!”
Son A-reum’s face turned red.
“So, if you want to come but feel like you have nothing to wear, just let me kn—”
I suddenly let out a weird noise as I was speaking to Son A-reum.
Someone had poked me in the side.
Actually, calling them “someone” wasn’t entirely accurate.
They poked me on my right side.
When I turned my head to the right, Ha-neul was sitting there.
Without drawing any attention to the fact that she had poked me, Ha-neul was focused on her meal.
She acted as if she had no interest in the conversation I had been having with Son A-reum.
…But I definitely felt the poke from the right.
“Hmm? What’s up?”
As if she had just realized I was looking at her, Ha-neul asked with an innocent smile on her face.
…
So why does this feel scary?
No, she didn’t look angry. In fact, Ha-neul, who always showed various expressions, had worn this smile many times before.
Yet, strangely, I felt like there was something hidden behind that smile.
“Uh, um… did I do something wrong?”
I cautiously asked Ha-neul, who seemed a bit upset.
“Huh? No?”
Ha-neul tilted her head, looking genuinely confused.
But that strange feeling didn’t go away.
“R-right…?”
In the end, I chose the last resort—I decided to avoid Ha-neul’s gaze.
*
“So, just take it for now.”
I handed the invitation to Nam Da-un, who frowned as he opened it.
“What is this? A wedding invitation?”
“…It’s a birthday party invitation.”
“Wow.”
I explained while swallowing my embarrassment, and Nam Da-un let out a sound that could either be disbelief or admiration.
“How big is this party going to be that you’d make something like this? You’re not the type who enjoys this kind of thing, right?”
“Do I look like the type?”
“No?”
“Then why are you asking?”
“To tease you.”
“…”
I raised my right hand and gently rubbed the back of my neck.
No matter how weak my body was, I didn’t have high blood pressure.
Recently, Sara had been grumbling about gaining weight.
‘Hey!’
I wasn’t entirely sure why people rub the back of their necks when they’re angry, but even without having high blood pressure, I just felt like rubbing it.
There wasn’t any specific reason—it just happened.
Hmm, I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore.
Anyway, while I rubbed my neck, I calmed down and said,
“So, are you going to come or not?”
“Didn’t you give me the invitation because you want me to come?”
“It’s just a formality.”
I said in a purposely stiff voice, and Nam Da-un let out another “Wow…”.
“Well, I’ll come. Is there a dress code or something?”
He probably meant it as a joke, but the situation was serious enough that I couldn’t just laugh it off. So, I replied with a somewhat serious expression.
“There’s no set dress code… but it might be better to dress up a bit.”
“…You’re kidding, right?”
For the first time since receiving the invitation, Nam Da-un looked genuinely flustered.
Although Nam Da-un had grown up in this world as a child, childhood was just childhood.
Even if he had attended a few of these kinds of parties, he probably wouldn’t remember all the details.
His parents likely chose his outfits back then.
“I think a lot of people from my family will attend…”
When I trailed off, Nam Da-un let out a third “Wow…”.
“Oh, if you feel uncomfortable, you don’t have to come.”
Nam Da-un had a bad history with Choi Na-kyung.
Of course, Choi Na-kyung wasn’t going to come, so they wouldn’t meet directly, but it was the Eugene Group under her that had caused the incident, and Sara’s family was running the group.
It wouldn’t be strange if he harbored some resentment.
“Well, I guess I shouldn’t let my parents know.”
Nam Da-un stared at the invitation for a moment before speaking.
“Well, I’ll think about it. There’s not much time left, though. Thanks, I guess?”
He waved the invitation as he spoke.
I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I simply nodded.
*
After that, the atmosphere at school changed.
Since I came into this world, I’d often felt like everything revolved around Sara, and it seemed like that thought wasn’t entirely wrong.
Sara and I had already been getting some attention before, but now it was completely obvious.
With only two days left until my birthday, it was probably because of that.
Considering how things had changed after I mentioned my birthday and publicly gave Son A-reum an invitation… it was probably related to the “birthday party.”
Even I wasn’t oblivious to that extent.
Most of the people looking at me with longing eyes now wanted an invitation.
Of course, I knew well that their reasons for wanting the invitation weren’t just about attending a lavish party.
First of all, once someone received the invitation, it was like being “fully forgiven” by me.
It meant I had no reason to retaliate, and perhaps they could even become close friends.
Son A-reum was exactly like that.
At first, she openly antagonized me, but later, she admitted her mistake, apologized, and became my friend.
She was also the first person, outside of my closest circle—Ha-neul, So-hee, and Soo-ah—to receive an invitation.
Nam Da-un was the same.
He had been popular from the start because of his looks and athleticism, but he also treated me without prejudice from the very beginning.
It wasn’t strange for him to receive an invitation from me.
I didn’t give out invitations with any specific intention, but that’s how things turned out.
The invitations had become a symbol of my trust.
Secondly, it was likely that many important figures from the Eugene Group would attend the party.
The venue itself was a famous building under the Eugene Group.
While the host wasn’t explicitly mentioned, it was clearly linked to the Eugene Group.
With Choi Na-kyung, the company’s chairwoman, gone, a big party was suddenly happening, and its main character was Ye Sara, the likely next chairperson.
It was easy to picture the scene.
Even if someone didn’t become my closest ally, they could still make a good impression on the Eugene Group’s executives at the party.
They might even think I’d introduce them.
That’s probably what they were thinking.
But that idea was completely wrong.
I only knew one person among the Eugene Group’s executives: the uncle who gave me these invitations.
…Maybe he gave me so many invitations to test my ability to choose people?