I Returned as a High School Girl

However, Han-Gyo at least got something out of the attempt. According to the testimonies of the men that had gone to kidnap Ra-Eun...

“Her fighting skills were top notch.”

Ra-Eun had apparently been able to easily neutralize a large number of men by herself.

“I believe the masked woman was able to do the exact same thing.”

Even among the masked group that had come to rescue Reporter Ahn Su-Jin, the masked woman’s skills were head and shoulders above them. It was also on that day that Han-Gyo had realized the masked woman was no ordinary woman.

Park Eun-Soo, who had been silently listening to Han-Gyo talking to himself, nodded and shared his thoughts.

“Yes, Congressman. Even if she had learned martial arts for acting purposes, professional martial artists would have difficulty applying their techniques in real battles.”

Han-Gyo had found something in common between Ra-Eun and the masked woman. His claim of the two being the same person had finally been somewhat backed up by some evidence. He smiled in very deep satisfaction after a long time. However, the situation was still far in his disadvantage. He was extremely bothered by the fact that the kidnapping had failed.

“Have you erased all the evidence?” Han-Gyo asked Eun-Soo.

“Yes. There is no need to worry about that.”

The men had aimed for Ra-Eun in the women’s bathroom because it was a CCTV blind spot. Hence, there existed no footage of the men attempting to kidnap Ra-Eun. However, there had been one eyewitness.

“What should we do about Ji Han-Seok?”

Eun-Soo was a little worried that he had been there. However, Han-Gyo unexpectedly did not show much concern.

“You don’t have to worry about him. People tend to not believe something that they haven’t seen with their own eyes. As long as there is no evidence, people will not believe Ji Han-Seok.”

Han-Gyo knew that fact very well since he had been a victim of it; he had been treated like a senile old man back when he had tried to claim that the masked woman was real with zero evidence to prove it. One needed undeniable proof to back up any claim as the truth.

“It would be great if we could get more of those scandalous photos that Reporter Ahn Su-Jin took.”

Back when Ra-Eun and Je-Woon’s dating scandal had turned the entirety of Korea upside down, a photo of Ra-Eun in a mask had been included. There was no way that Su-Jin would have taken just one of such a photo; Han-Gyo was sure that her camera contained several of such photos. He would be able to expose Ra-Eun as the masked woman if he gathered those photos and compared them.

“Do you think you can steal that data from Reporter Ahn?”

Han-Gyo was thinking of leaving this crucial task to Eun-Soo, his closest confidant. Although Eun-Soo was a bodyguard, he had also taken care of other tasks based on the need. Taking some image data from a reporter was a simple task, but...

“It’s possible, but I believe it will be dangerous,” Eun-Soo answered.

“Dangerous?”

“Yes. We attempted to kidnap Kang Ra-Eun. Although we did not leave any evidence behind, I believe you are rushing things too much. I advise you to plan out your strategies more cautiously and spread them out over a longer period of time.”

The more crucial something was, the more cautiously one needed to move. If they left too many crumbs, they would eventually get caught; this was the exact reason why Ra-Eun had spanned her revenge plan over several years. If one was too hasty, there was a high chance that their plan would be ruined.

Slam!

Han-Gyo swung down his right fist on the armrest of his chair. If it was the usual Han-Gyo, he would have known this fact even without Eun-Soo telling him, but he completely shut Eun-Soo down.

“Team Leader Park.”

“Yes, Congressman.”

“Since when have you been in the position to question me?”

“...”

“Is it not your job to do what I say?”

Han-Gyo was telling Eun-Soo that objections would not be tolerated, and that he should just do as he was told to do. Eun-Soo reluctantly nodded.

“I understand, sir.”

Even if things could go wrong, Eun-Soo had no choice but to follow Han-Gyo’s orders.

“Congressman, you have a guest,” a housekeeper stated.

As Eun-Soo was about to take on the task given to him, Han-Gyo and Eun-Soo’s attention focused on a certain unfamiliar man. Eun-Soo’s eyes narrowed.

“Who are you?”

“Oh, my name is Jung Seong-Hyun, and I am a reporter from Meeting Today.”

Han-Gyo and Eun-Soo’s faces stiffened as soon as the man said that he was a reporter. Han-Gyo glared at the housekeeper.

“I believe I said not to invite any outsiders.”

“H-He said that he had something that would be of help to you, Congressman, so... I-I’m sorry!”

Something that would be of help to him... It was a rather interesting statement, but that was not enough for Han-Gyo to relax.

“Team Leader Park.”

Eun-Soo moved as if he knew exactly what Han-Gyo was telling him to do.

“Reporter Jung Seong-Hyun, was it? The congressman needs his rest, so we would appreciate it if you could leave.”

If the reporter were to refuse, Eun-Soo was planning to use force if necessary.

Seong-Hyun urgently exclaimed before being chased out, “A-Aren’t you going after the masked woman, sir?! I have something that might serve as proof!”

Han-Gyo’s heart momentarily wavered. He had been searching through every nook and cranny for evidence that might be able to expose the masked woman, so the reporter’s information was more than enough to grab Han-Gyo’s attention. He told Eun-Soo to stop and sat the reporter down on the chair across from him.

“Let’s see what it is first.”

Of course, if the materials that the reporter possessed were not what he was hoping for, he would chase him out without a second thought. Seong-Hyun rummaged through his bag and took out his laptop. He opened it and placed it so that both Han-Gyo and Eun-Soo would be able to see the screen. He opened a folder with his bluetooth mouse, and inside it were a large number of photos with very familiar backgrounds.

“These are...!”

Han-Gyo’s eyes narrowed. Seong-Hyun told him the identity of the photos as if stirring Han-Gyo’s change in emotion.

“They are the photos that Reporter Ahn Su-Jin had taken of Miss Kang Ra-Eun in a mask in different angles.”

Han-Gyo had hit the jackpot.

***

Ra-Eun, who had come to the Just Like a Melodrama Protagonist studio for a shoot, warmed her freezing hands with a warm coffee that Shin Yu-Bin had brought her.

“It’s gotten so cold suddenly,” Yu-Bin remarked.

Ra-Eun nodded repeatedly and replied, “Seriously. It’s been warm until just a few days ago.”

“I never thought rain could make a day so cold. I would’ve brought a coat or something if I knew this would happen.”

“You can borrow a coat from the clothing room.”

“Huh? I can?”

“Yes. The place is brimming with clothes.”

And of course, there were many winter clothes as well. Ra-Eun also borrowed coats from the clothing room whenever she was cold. Yu-Bin went to the clothing room as per Ra-Eun’s advice. While her manager was away, Je-Woon, whom Ra-Eun had scenes with today, sat next to her.

“You’re pretty early again,” he expressed.

“Yes. I didn’t really have anything to do, so I just came early.”

It was a great help to come to the set early and read a few lines of the script whenever she had nothing to do. Ra-Eun had absolutely no interest in building her entertainment career in the beginning, but had come to find its charms after doing it for a while. Hence, she often practiced her acting voluntarily lately without anyone telling her to do so.

“What about your makeup?”

“I’ll be getting it in about ten minutes.”

“Really? Then how about we have a script reading session until then?”

“Sure, that sounds good.”

It was sometimes more helpful to practice with someone than by oneself. As Je-Woon brought his script and was flipping through it, he brought up a different topic.

“I heard that you did the kiss scene with Han-Seok yourself instead of using a body double.”

Je-Woon had not been present on the day that Han-Seok and Ra-Eun filmed their kiss scene. It could be called a relief in a sense for him, but not really.

Ra-Eun affirmed while smiling awkwardly.

“What made you change your mind so out of the blue?” Je-Woon asked, and then apologized. “Sorry. I’m not trying to interrogate you or anything. I’m just curious.”

Ra-Eun absolutely despised skinship and kiss scenes, so Je-Woon was quite shocked to hear that she had voluntarily decided to do a kiss scene. He was even worried that Ra-Eun might have come to harbor romantic feelings for Han-Seok. His misunderstanding was understandable, so Ra-Eun decided to tell Je-Woon how she truly felt so that he of all people wouldn’t get the wrong idea.

“Leaving a part that I should be doing to someone else left me feeling a bit... unpleasant. That’s why I asked the director to just let me do it.”

The meaning that it had not been because she liked Han-Seok as a man had been hidden between the lines. Fortunately, Je-Woon noticed what she was trying to say immediately.

“So, it was out of your desire as an actress.”

“Yes.”

“I see. I completely thought that you... No, never mind. Forget I said anything.”

Ra-Eun was honestly not that curious about what he was about to say. Je-Woon found it nice to see that Ra-Eun had gained newfound motivation and desire for acting.

“You know you have a kiss scene with me next month, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

“I’ll be in your care on that day.”

“Me too, sunbae.”

It was an extremely rare opportunity to be able to kiss Ra-Eun as an actor, and Han-Seok had beaten Je-Woon to the punch in getting that blessing. After that day, Han-Seok had been so happy that one would think he had gained everything he could possibly gain in life. Je-Woon also wanted to feel that same happiness.

Ra-Eun and Je-Woon started their script reading session.

“Seo-Mi. You remember we promised to eat together today, right?”

Je-Woon read his lines extremely energetically despite it only being practice. Ra-Eun tilted her head in confusion.

‘What’s up with him today?’

Ra-Eun had no idea that it was because of her.