Chapter 24: Narcissism is Contagious 

The moment the protagonist Shou appeared from the break room in such a state, the system seemed to lose all its strength and composure.

It didn’t even have the energy to exclaim, “Omo!” It stared lifelessly at Baek Soo-kyung’s slightly swollen lips and lamented: 

[It’s over… it’s over, it’s over… He and Park Seok-jin have also reached the hickey-making stage. Can the so-called “ambiguous” phase really be this… intimate?! Then what happens when they like each other? What happens when they’re in love—]

[Ahhhhh—! I know!]

The system suddenly erupted in a heart-wrenching, frantic shriek. Qi Huai’s ears rang from the blast, and he couldn’t help but squint.

[This is a manhwa! A manhwa! A multi-partner relationship manhwa! When they fall in love, they might even do it all together! Three-somes! Five-somes! Counting your original self, it would be a sevensome! That’s a 7P, Host Oppa, more people than you have chopsticks in your chopstick holder!!! Ahhhhhh!]

Indeed.

Qi Huai only owned two pairs of chopsticks, four sticks in total. But wasn’t the chopstick holder analogy a bit of an exaggeration? He pressed on his nearly deafened ears.

Perhaps Qi Huai’s silence had stung Baek Soo-kyung’s pride. The sweet smile that usually graced his face had completely vanished. He could only stammer awkwardly, “…I was just too tired, so I borrowed Seok-jin sunbae’s break room to take a nap. W-well, I’ll be going then. I won’t disturb you, Qi Huai hyung.”

After speaking, Baek Soo-kyung turned to leave. The moment he turned, his lips, swollen from being kissed, were pressed tightly together.

He had heard everything just now.

Qi Huai and Seok-jin sunbae’s probing, no… perhaps even flirtatious words!

A feeling of jealousy rose in Baek Soo-kyung’s heart. He wanted to ask, why? Why was Qi Huai the center of attention wherever he went?

He could meet a director who appreciated him on a plane, be handpicked by President Yoon for an audition, and despite being only a few years older, his acting was so superb that he could get any role he wanted with ease. Even in the break room just now, at the peak of his climax, Park Seok-jin had uncharacteristically not called out his own name!

He had called out for Qi Huai… Qi Huai…

Disgusting.

Absolutely disgusting.

Baek Soo-kyung gritted his teeth. Qi Huai, he thought, I have unspeakable secrets just like you. But why do you get to live in the clouds while I live in hell?

He clenched his fists and walked away quickly.

But before he had taken a few steps, Qi Huai called out to him.

“Soo-kyung,” Qi Huai said softly. “Your neck.”

Baek Soo-kyung turned back, a pure and sweet smile on his face. “Hmm? What is it, Qi Huai hyung?”

“There’s a bite mark there. It’s faint, but you should probably cover it up.”

A dead silence fell.

Baek Soo-kyung quickly covered his neck. His smile vanished instantly; his eyes filled with panic. He wanted to argue, to make an excuse, but after a dozen seconds, he couldn’t utter a single believable lie, only stammering in a fluster. He had completely missed the opportunity to defend himself.

His lips moved for a long time, and tears welled up in his eyes. He asked Qi Huai in a small voice, “Qi Huai hyung, you’ll keep my secret, right?”

“I will,” Qi Huai sighed.

It was his mission, and Baek Soo-kyung was one of his targets. Revealing the secret would do him no good.

But even if he promised to keep it a secret, could Baek Soo-kyung trust him? After that night, Qi Huai had become suspicious of Baek Soo-kyung’s motives for befriending him.

Sure enough, Baek Soo-kyung hesitated.

He was extremely worried now. Was Qi Huai telling the truth? Just as he had told Choi Min-jun Qi Huai’s secret, would Qi Huai also expose his secret to someone he trusted?

“Soo-kyung, you have scenes this afternoon. Park Seok-jin knows that, right?”

Baek Soo-kyung remained silent, on guard.

Qi Huai lowered his voice. “No matter what kind of relationship you two have right now, he left a bite mark on you. Although it’s not deep, it’s in a place that’s hard for you to see yourself, but easy for others to notice.”

Baek Soo-kyung pressed his lips together. “I don’t understand what you mean, Qi Huai hyung. But thank you for the reminder. I’ll cover it up.”

He turned to leave, but Qi Huai stepped forward and grabbed his arm, continuing to play the role of the caring older brother. “Soo-kyung, don’t get in too deep. Don’t ruin your future for someone who isn’t right for you. You deserve better.”

With Park Seok-jin’s narcissistic personality—falling in love with one person after another, but loving himself more than anyone else—even if Qi Huai hadn’t read the original comic, he could guess that such a person was not someone the protagonist shou should entrust his life to.

He had to achieve the “pure love salvation 1v1” ending. Otherwise, his perfect mission record would be broken, and Qi Huai couldn’t stand that…

The System was dazed: 

[You… didn’t you say you weren’t a perfectionist?]

Qi Huai said flatly: I’m a perfect-record-ist. That’s very different from the definition of a perfectionist.

System: [Shibal! How many other things has Host Oppa been fooling me about!]

Qi Huai looked at Baek Soo-kyung sincerely. But his eyes were too deep and beautiful, and his voice, weak from hunger, sounded exceptionally gentle. Baek Soo-kyung instantly misunderstood. He shook off Qi Huai’s hand with a faint hint of anger. “What do you mean he’s not right for me? Who is, then? You?”

Qi Huai: ?

System: [Haha!]

For a rare moment, Qi Huai was stunned. “…I mean, Park Seok-jin isn’t normal in some ways. If you’re looking for a relationship or help, you should at least find someone with a personality that’s a better fit for you.”

“I know everything you’re saying! I know our personalities are very different, our age gap is huge, and our status and fame are worlds apart. I’ve even heard some rumors about Seok-jin sunbae. But as you can see…” Baek Soo-kyung touched the bite mark on his neck. “You’re worrying too much, Qi Huai hyung. I get along very well with Seok-jin sunbae. I don’t think those… unconventional little habits of his affect me at all.”

Qi Huai frowned. “Soo-kyung, I know you have debts. I can help you with that, but I’ll need some time, maybe…”

He was about to say about a month, or maybe half a month if he was quick, but Baek Soo-kyung interrupted him again.

“Time? I don’t have any time.” Baek Soo-kyung’s eyes were filled with tears as he glared at Qi Huai. “I’ve been a trainee since I was eleven. My parents waited for me for almost ten years. What they got was disappointment. What I got was a broken family! Qi Huai, if you want to help me pay off my debts, then please give me 600 million won right now, this instant. If you can’t, then please don’t interfere with me. You’re being too nosy. My business is none of your business!”

Baek Soo-kyung spoke quickly, then took a deep breath.

“Qi Huai, a person only has dignity when they have money. I have nothing. Besides my dignity and my body, I can’t think of any other way to make money quickly. I used to think you were born with a silver spoon and couldn’t understand these things. But after that night… I think you can understand, right?”

“When a person is about to drown, and a rope suddenly appears, even if it’s covered in mud, would you complain that it’s dirty? If you like me even a little, then please don’t interfere with me. Also, stay away from Seok-jin sunbae. Don’t try to steal him from me, or I won’t let you off.”

Baek Soo-kyung gave Qi Huai the fiercest glare he could muster, then turned and walked away, not stopping even when Qi Huai called his name.

Qi Huai, already dizzy from hunger, was even more confused by Baek Soo-kyung’s words. He stood there for a long time, thinking, before it suddenly clicked. He fired off a series of four questions in his mind.

What does he mean, I like him?

When did I ever say I liked him?

Is he crazy?

Is narcissism contagious?

The System sneered, throwing Qi Huai’s own words back at him: [That’s called being self-obsessed. It’s very different from the definition of narcissism.]

Revenge. This system has that too.

“Ha, what’s wrong? So sad after being rejected?”

A mocking voice that Qi Huai knew all too well suddenly came from behind him. Qi Huai paused slightly and turned his head. The face that met his eyes was none other than Yoon Nam-hyuk’s, his mouth turned down in a perpetual scowl, his cold and beautiful face full of impatience and annoyance. “What’s with that expression? Didn’t you think I’d suddenly show up when you were making your heartfelt confession?”