Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 143

Chapter 143

Heaven’s Door (9)

***

“What?”

Lee Hyun, with a baffled expression, reflexively responded.

“You heard me right.”

Since she had taken off her mask, he could clearly see the confusion on her face.

However, Yeon Minha continued in a calm tone, almost cold in its precision.

“If your room is uncomfortable, we can share my bedroom. Though the bed is a bit small.”

She glanced over Lee Hyun’s shoulder.

What was once a space with only a small desk now had several pieces of furniture, giving the room the appearance of a proper living space.

And Yeon Minha’s gaze lingered particularly long on the bed.

“…You want to sleep in the same room as me?”

No matter how close they were, Yeon Minha was not the type to make such frivolous jokes. She wasn’t the commander, after all.

Lee Hyun, struggling to organize his thoughts, cautiously opened his mouth.

“That’s correct.”

“May I ask why?”

“You were planning to sleep in your dorm again tonight, right?”

“Yes.”

“I think it’s time to pause our experiment for a bit.”

Yeon Minha spoke in the same calm voice.

“If we’re not careful, the mental contamination symptoms might recur during a mission. And you wouldn’t be there when it happens. Don’t you think it’s time for a reset?”

It sounded like a reasonable argument.

“That’s true, but… do we really need to sleep in the same room?”

“You never know. Getting closer might help you recover faster.”

“…What?”

“If we want to make up for several days in one night, we need to put in that much effort, don’t you think?”

“…”

Lee Hyun, at a loss for words, stared at Yeon Minha in disbelief.

Unlike her earlier argument, this was nothing more than stubbornness without any real basis.

But he could clearly sense the desire in her eyes.

Perhaps even the source of that emotion.

After a long moment of contemplation, Lee Hyun finally nodded slightly.

“…Let’s do that, then.”

“W-What?”

For the first time, Yeon Minha’s calm demeanor faltered, and she looked startled.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“I-I’m not surprised…”

Leaving Yeon Minha behind, Lee Hyun began to tidy up the letters and books scattered across the desk.

It was as if he could see right through her. His calmness, as if he were dealing with an old friend, was unsettling.

“…”

Feeling a bit sulky, Yeon Minha glared at him with a hint of resentment but soon took a deep breath and calmed herself down.

-Myang… Myang…

The sound of Ddangkong scratching at the door, tired and whimpering, could be heard.

Lee Hyun moved to open the door for the cat, but Yeon Minha quickly blocked his path.

“…Why? We can let Ddangkong back in now…”

“No. I can’t sleep with someone next to me.”

Then, as if she had just remembered something, she quickly added.

“One person is fine, but more than that is too much.”

“…”

“I’ll comfort Ddangkong later. I’ll give him a tasty snack and pet him.”

“…Alright then. I’ll sleep on the floor, and you can take the bed…”

“If you do that, it’ll feel like I’m kicking you out. I won’t be able to sleep properly with that on my conscience.”

“So you’re going to sleep on the floor?”

“I can’t sleep if my back is on something hard.”

“…”

Lee Hyun stared at Yeon Minha, his expression complicated by her nonsensical excuses that seemed almost rehearsed.

Despite her slight shrinking posture, Yeon Minha maintained her confident stance.

“There’s only one solution, then.”

***

Ddangkong’s sorrowful cries had faded into the sound of soft, tired breathing.

Yeon Minha, lying on her side without even covering herself with a blanket, glanced over.

Almost an hour had passed since they had lain down, but she hadn’t fallen asleep.

Not that she had any intention of sleeping, anyway.

The bed, which wasn’t very large to begin with, didn’t even have room for a pillow between them, so she could see the broad, solid back of the person next to her.

“…”

He lay there with his back turned, as if he wasn’t interested at all.

Seeing this, Yeon Minha pouted her lips.

She didn’t want the night to end like this.

After all, this was a chance to completely rid herself of the anxiety in her heart.

Resolving herself once again, Yeon Minha spoke.

“Are you asleep?”

“…Not yet.”

The reply came after a brief pause.

“What is it?”

“Didn’t you say earlier that you had something to ask?”

“I was planning to ask you tomorrow before you left.”

“Why? Just ask now.”

Yeon Minha desperately tried to keep the conversation going.

“The orphanage? Well, I’m not particularly interested in that place… but I do know the name and location. It’s…”

Although the question was a bit strange, she didn’t dwell on it much.

The most important thing right now was to keep the conversation going with him.

“It’s not too far from the Cradle… Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. Between us, there’s no need for thanks over something like this.”

Yeon Minha emphasized certain words.

“But… could you turn this way for a moment?”

“Why?”

“Your back is too wide.”

“What?”

“It’s… blocking my view too much… it feels a bit suffocating… so I can’t sleep well…”

“Haa…”

At her words, he let out a deep sigh.

But in the end, he couldn’t refuse her earnest request and turned his body.

Now, two cloudy blue eyes, resembling a gloomy sky, stared directly at Yeon Minha.

They were close enough that she could feel the warmth of his breath and see even the smallest strand of his short hair.

“…”

Unconsciously, Yeon Minha wiggled her toes.

The stimulus was more than enough to heat up her body.

“Why don’t you just go to sleep already?”

Lee Hyun, feeling uncomfortable under her gaze, finally spoke.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“Because someone keeps staring at me.”

“…Maybe it’s because I’m not used to this bed, I can’t fall asleep easily.”

“Then why don’t you go back to your own room?”

“…Hmph.”

Yeon Minha glared at him with a hint of frustration.

He was like a tempting prey that had rolled right into her lap, yet he didn’t even glance her way.

And his calm acceptance of the situation was starting to irritate her.

“Have you done this with other women before? You seem awfully familiar with it.”

The words slipped out impulsively.

But Yeon Minha immediately regretted them.

“…”

His expression grew complicated, and he avoided answering.

She already knew that Lee Hyun wasn’t good at lying.

Perhaps she had wanted him to deny her words right away.

But now that she had opened a box that should have remained closed, the excitement in her chest deflated like wet paper.

“…There was someone I held hands with and stayed by their side all night.”

“R-Really?”

However, at his next words, Yeon Minha’s voice brightened again.

She didn’t need to ask who that person was.

Even though she didn’t like it, it meant he hadn’t gone beyond that.

“…So, when are you going to give me my gift?”

Lee Hyun, trying to steer the conversation away from the uncomfortable topic, asked.

“Huh?”

Yeon Minha’s heart skipped a beat.

Unconsciously, she curled her toes and lightly crossed her thighs.

She lowered her head slightly, as if avoiding his gaze.

In truth… she had already prepared the gift.

“…Are you curious?”

Her voice, much quieter than before, trembled slightly.

“Of course I’m curious. You promised me a gift if I won the ranking match, and that was days ago.”

Lee Hyun, eager to change the subject, pressed on.

“You didn’t forget, did you? Or were you planning not to give me anything in the first place?”

“No…”

Yeon Minha’s eyes darted around in circles.

She had finished preparing long ago.

She just needed the courage to give it to him.

“…Should I give it to you now?”

Yeon Minha, after taking a deep breath to calm herself, finally spoke.

“Now? At this hour…?”

“Yes. You said you wanted it. I can give it to you right now.”

“Then…”

Lee Hyun, looking slightly puzzled, eventually nodded.

Seeing this, Yeon Minha bit her lip, as if she had made up her mind.

“Alright.”

Her short response carried a hint of warmth and stickiness.

Lee Hyun still couldn’t guess what her gift was.

He thought she might go to her room to fetch it.

But Yeon Minha didn’t show any signs of moving.

Instead, she closed her eyes tightly, letting her hair fall over her shoulders, and sank deeper into the bed.

Her movements were sensual enough to take one’s breath away.

Then, she raised a hand to her shoulder.

Her pale, slender fingers hesitated, as if she were about to commit an unforgivable act.

After a brief moment of indecision, her fingers swiftly undid the strap of her dress and pulled it down.

“Senior!”

Startled by her sudden action, Lee Hyun sat up and grabbed her wrist.

But it was already too late.

The loosened strap fell away, revealing the pale skin beneath, which gleamed faintly in the moonlight.

And covering only the most intimate parts of her body was something gray and slightly rough in texture.

Lee Hyun immediately recognized it as the item he had chosen for her.

And he realized what her ‘gift’ was.

“What kind of gift is this?”

“Why? You picked it yourself. You said it was the best.”

“I thought you were going to make me some clothes.”

“This is clothing too. There’s no real difference.”

“Do you really think I’d be happy with this kind of gift?”

“Really? I thought you’d be excited. I thought you’d be so happy you’d jump on me just now.”

“Forget it. Let’s just pretend the gift never existed. Let’s go to sleep.”

Yeon Minha glared at him with a pout.

“…I’m going this far for you. Do you really not understand what I mean?”

“I understand. But I never asked for this.”

“You promised to hold me. You said it yourself. Surely you didn’t say that without knowing what it meant?”

Of course he knew.

Sa Jaehyuk had made sure to educate him on the subject.

It was an uncomfortable and awkward lesson, but he had no choice but to endure it under the threat of additional training.

‘You’re a walking disaster.’

‘What does that even mean?’

‘It means you need to be careful. Don’t take off your mask just anywhere, especially in front of women.’

‘…I don’t get it.’

‘Ugh, you don’t need to. Just remember what I said. Got it?’

There was even a time when Sa Jaehyuk tried to introduce him to some local women near their base.

That plan was thwarted when his sisters caught wind of it, but not before Lee Hyun had vehemently refused.

“I said I’d hold you when you became attractive enough. But you’re not there yet.”

“Really? I think I’m more than enough.”

“…Didn’t you say that the purity of the Jeokhwa family wasn’t so easily given away?”

“…Ugh.”

Lee Hyun reminded her of the plea she had made in the South.

Recalling that embarrassing memory, Yeon Minha’s ears turned bright red.

But she didn’t back down and continued her argument.

“I can’t help it. My body and heart have already fallen into your hands. I’ve decided to give up.”

“Where on earth did you learn this? You’re supposed to be a noble lady…”

“‘The Top 10 Seduction Techniques to Conquer Even Demons.'”

“…”

There wasn’t a trace of embarrassment in her voice, despite having exposed her upper body.

Her shamelessness made Lee Hyun wonder if she had always been this bold.

And he had no words to respond with.

So, he chose to end the conversation.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m going to sleep now.”

He turned away from the provocative sight, trying to avoid further temptation.

“Coward.”

“…”

“Scaredy-cat.”

“…”

But Yeon Minha wasn’t ready to give up.

She leaned closer to Lee Hyun, pressing her body against his back.

The soft sensation of her skin stimulated his nerves.

She brought her lips close to his ear and whispered in a sultry voice.

“Idiot.”

“…”

“You’re a fool who doesn’t understand a woman’s heart.”

“…”

“You’re the biggest coward in the world… Ah!”

Just as Yeon Minha was about to escalate her insults, Lee Hyun, unable to bear it any longer, suddenly spun around.

Yeon Minha, caught off guard, was pinned beneath him on the bed.

Lee Hyun grabbed both of her wrists with one hand and lifted them above her head.

In the process, her dress slipped off completely, leaving her lower body barely covered by her underwear.

Her toes curled, and her pale thighs, visible under the moonlight, trembled slightly.

“U-uh… Hic…”

Lee Hyun was now fully on top of her.

Yeon Minha hiccuped in surprise, her confidence shattered.

He glared down at her like a predator about to devour its prey.

Yeon Minha, no longer able to maintain her composure, trembled in fear.

She braced herself for the pain, for the loss of control over her body.

For the unknown that she had never experienced before.

Her legs twisted together, and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

For the first time, fear was etched all over her face.

“Hic…”

Lee Hyun, as if appraising her like a piece of merchandise, gently lifted her chin with his free hand.

A small, startled sound escaped from Yeon Minha’s lips.

But in the next moment, the fierce energy that had filled the room vanished.

Lee Hyun smirked, lifting one corner of his mouth in clear mockery.

“Who’s the coward now?”

“Huh?”

With a thud, he released her and lay back down on the bed.

The pressure on her wrists and the weight on her abdomen disappeared as quickly as they had come.

“Forget it. I’m not holding you. You’re not ready for this.”

Yeon Minha’s face flushed with embarrassment as she realized what he meant.

“You…! How dare you mock your senior!”

“Just go to sleep. If this keeps up, we really won’t get any sleep tonight.”

“W-Wait…!”

Yeon Minha grabbed his shoulder before he could turn away again.

Her face was still red with shame, but she reluctantly uttered her surrender.

“Then… at least give me a hug.”

***

-Hic… Sniff…

In the early hours of the morning, Lee Hyun woke to the sound of soft sobbing.

The sound was coming from his room. From right beside him.

He glanced down at the light weight resting on one of his arms.

Yeon Minha, who had somehow burrowed into his embrace like a hibernating squirrel, was there.

And tears were silently streaming down her tightly closed eyes.

“Hic… Father… Mother… Sniff…”

The woman who had always been the epitome of coldness and arrogance now whimpered like a lost child, calling out for someone.

“…”

Hearing the echo of her cries so close, Lee Hyun couldn’t help but feel troubled.

This was a problem he couldn’t solve.

It wasn’t a matter of mental contamination, but rather the scars left by an unforgettable experience.

“Hic… No… Mother…”

A mother who wasn’t related by blood.

A father who, driven mad by a phantom, had tried to use Yeon Minha as a component in a magical formula.

And yet, she still called out for them so desperately.

Perhaps it wasn’t love for her parents that drove her, but rather the sorrow born from the tragedies and the twists in her life caused by mental contamination.

“…”

Yeon Minha, still clad in her gray underwear, lay vulnerably beside him.

It was the result of her stubbornness and absurd lie that she always slept like this.

Her body, shaped like something crafted by the gods, was enough to stir desire in any man.

And she wanted him.

If he wished, he could take her right now.

He could leave his mark on her, turning her into something only he possessed.

He could make her his, before she could escape like someone from the past.

But…

“Hic… Sniff…”

“…”

Lee Hyun silently watched Yeon Minha, still trapped in her sorrowful dream.

Then, he gently brushed her hair, which had fallen across her face, back into place.

“…Hold you? What nonsense.”

Carefully, as if handling a precious treasure, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

End of Chapter