Main Male Lead Disqualified

“Don’t follow me.”

Hanbin tightened his grip on his bag strap and turned to look at Jeonghwan. Jeong-hwan stared back at him, looking completely dumbfounded.

“You sure have a knack for pissing people off in all sorts of ways.”

Jeong-hwan ran a hand through his hair and questioned him in a sharp tone.

“We go to the same school. You expect me to take a detour just to avoid you? If I walk past you right now, does that mean you’re the one following me instead?”

Logically speaking, it wasn’t exactly wrong. However, given the flow of conversation between Jeong-hwan and Hanbin so far, it could also be considered an irrelevant point.

“What I mean is, there’s no need for you to walk so close to me!”

Hanbin cannot understand why Jeong-hwan, who had just been arguing with him like a madman, is now walking right behind him. It almost feels like he is doing it on purpose to put pressure on him.

“Fine. I’ll stay way back and walk slowly. But if I end up being late today, just know it’s your fault.”

Jeong-hwan took a step back as he spoke, and Hanbin immediately fired back.

“Great, then everyone will be grateful to me.”

Jeong-hwan glared at Hanbin’s retreating figure, which seemed to be swallowed by his backpack, with clear dissatisfaction.

***

“Song Hanbin?”

Hyunwoo asked again, surprised to hear it come from Jeonghwan’s mouth.

“Why are you suddenly bringing him up?”

Jeong-hwan gives up on explaining in detail and speaks in a vague manner.

“Just something about him is annoying.”

“Come to think of it, wasn’t he the one you were looking for when you came to our class and checked the photos?”

Hyunwoo found it strange that Jeong-hwan, who usually had no interest in others, had gone out of his way to ask about someone.

“Jeong-hwan, martial artists aren’t supposed to harm people.”

Hyunwoo casually slung an arm around Jeong-hwan’s shoulders. Jeong-hwan frowned and shoved his arm off.

“Don’t worry. If I fight him, it’ll be with words.”

“You’re seriously investigating him just to fight? Like ‘know your enemy, win every battle’ kind of thing?”

Hyunwoo wondered if there was even a fair match between them. Physically, Jeong-hwan would obviously win, but even mentally, he seemed capable of completely overwhelming Hanbin.

“Anyway, just tell me everything you know about him.”

Jeong-hwan gestured with his fingers, signaling Hyunwoo to spill the details.

“You’re in the same class, so you must know him better than I do.”

“What kind of information are you looking for?”

“His habits, what he likes and dislikes, everything you know.”

Hyunwoo thought for a moment before answering.

“He doesn’t have any particularly strange habits, but when he’s nervous, he picks at the skin around his nails. He likes sweet stuff, eats a lot of chocolate. He hates dirty jokes or crude talk. Oh, and he’s already been accepted into a college, so his entrance exams are basically over. Oh, and he has an older brother who retook the exam to get into the university that’s your first choice.”

Jeong-hwan looks slightly surprised that Hyunwoo is giving up information so easily.

“What the heck, did you already know I was going to ask? Why do you know so much?”

Hyunwoo smirked as if he wasn’t done yet.

“Oh, and he usually just goes along with people’s pranks. But if he’s tired, he shuts them down without hesitation.”

Jeong-hwan felt like he was starting to understand why Hanbin seemed so exhausted lately.

“And now, the final piece of premium information.”

“…What is it?”

Hyunwoo suddenly put on a serious expression, adding tension to the moment, making Jeong-hwan unconsciously tense up as well.

“Lately, we’ve gotten closer.”

Hyunwoo flashed a V-sign with his fingers. One of Jeong-hwan’s eyebrows twitched.

“You call that premium information? That’s useless.”

“That’s the biggest reaction you’ve had so far.”

Hyunwoo shrugged and clapped his hands as if something else had just come to mind.

“Oh, and he has nicknames too— puppy. You know, because he’s the only one in our class who fits the ‘cute’ role.”

(똥강아지: Actually 똥 means poop and 강아지 puppy.똥강아지 is directly translated as Poop puppy,but for better english version I just translated as puppy.

Not in a bad way; It means mixed-breed puppy  and is also used as a form of endearment that grandparents commonly use!)

“Your class must be seriously lacking in good looks if you think he’s cute.”

Jeong-hwan’s irritated response only made Hyunwoo double down on praising Hanbin.

“Some kids say petting his hair feels like stroking a golden retriever.”

“Probably because he’s dyed it so much it feels like dog fur.”

“Nope, it’s naturally brown, and his hair’s actually really soft.”

“Maybe he uses dog shampoo.”

At this point, Hyunwoo is starting to wonder if Jeong-hwan has some personal grudge against Hanbin.

“To sum it up, he’s a nice, normal student with nothing particularly annoying about him.”

Hyunwoo finished his speech with a clean comment.

“In my honest opinion, the real problem here might be you, not Song Hanbin.”

“Did Hanbin put you up to saying that?”

“Come on, you know I’m on your side.”

Hyunwoo grinned at Jeong-hwan, who looked at him with a skeptical expression. As Hyunwoo chuckled, he suddenly paused, seeming to realize something was off. Then, he asked Jeong-hwan a question.

“More importantly, why are you so hung up on him?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I really do just have a shitty personality.”

Through the slightly open zipper of his backpack, a glimpse of Hanbin’s T-shirt was visible.

‘Like I need help from someone like that…’

Jeong-hwan rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought, before suddenly zipping his bag shut.

***

“Is it true that Hanbin hates dirty words?”

The seat in front of Hanbin in the cafeteria was conveniently empty. Holding his tray, Jeonghwan hesitated.

‘Wouldn’t it be too childish to get back at him that way?’

Jeong-hwan felt a bit ashamed that he had even considered sitting in front of Hanbin just to say disgusting things to annoy him. Before he could think further, Hyunwoo spotted and winked at him.

“Sigh.”

Jeong-hwan sighed and moved forward. Hanbin looked up when he saw a tray being placed in front of him.

‘What the hell?’

Hanbin’s expression hardened when he recognized the face sitting across from him.

‘Did he come because of Hyunwoo?’

That wouldn’t explain why he sat in front of Hanbin instead of next to Hyunwoo.

“I’m going to leave first.”

“Huh? Wait, hold on, I’ll go too.”

As soon as Hyunwoo stood up with his tray, Hanbin hurriedly tried to follow.

“You haven’t finished eating.”

Jeong-hwan grabbed Hanbin’s wrist.

“I’m done.”

“Then eat some more.”

Jeong-hwan pushed his chocolate milk toward Hanbin.

“Just stay and talk for a bit.”

Hanbin cannot understand why Jeong-hwan is so determined to keep him here. Seeing Hanbin hesitate, Jeong-hwan, with slightly reddened ears, muttered under his breath.

“I… I wanted to apologize.”

His voice was small and embarrassed. Hanbin almost thought he had misheard.

‘Is he serious?’

Serious or not, Hanbin felt he needed to hear Jeong-hwan properly apologize. So, he sat back down without a fuss. Jeong-hwan let go of his wrist and cleared his throat awkwardly.

‘What the hell am I even doing?’

It wasn’t the fact that Hanbin was angry about him barging into his room without permission that bothered Jeong-hwan. What frustrated him more was that he couldn’t just ignore Hanbin’s reaction.

‘This isn’t like trying to appease a sulking girlfriend or something…’

The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed. In the end, he decided it was just practical.Hanbin is someone he needed around. There is no point in making enemies unnecessarily, so he might as well swallow his pride.

“…I’m sorry about yesterday.”

Jeong-hwan glanced at Hanbin as he spoke.

“Not like I’ll have any reason to go into your room again anyway. And your T-shirt is in my bag. I’ll give it to you later.”

“You can take your time with that.”

Hanbin felt his resolve waver just from that single apology.

“……You didn’t really have to apologize. I wasn’t completely in the right either.”

Jeong-hwan had let it slide when Hanbin took his umbrella and ran off that rainy day. Looking back, Hanbin wondered if he had been too harsh on Jeong-hwan over just one mistake.

“Well, honestly, you’ve got the leash in this situation.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re done with entrance exams, but I’m not. If you wanted, you could make my life hell, so I figured I should be careful.”

Hanbin’s momentary softness vanished at Jeong-hwan’s words.

‘So he’s not apologizing because he feels bad.he’s just doing it because it benefits him.’

With that thought, the slight thaw in his mood froze over again.

“Why would I even bother? You’re not important enough for me to ruin my own life over.”

Hanbin ground his teeth as he spoke. Jeong-hwan burst into laughter.

“Damn, you got me there.”

Even he has to admit that screwing with someone over entrance exams is straight-up demonic. And Hanbin? He didn’t exactly strike Jeong-hwan as Satan’s apprentice.

“But if we’re talking about leverage, don’t you have something on me too?”

“…Do I?”

Jeong-hwan didn’t miss Hanbin’s barely audible mumble.

“What do you think I know?”

Hanbin instantly regretted saying anything.

“……Forget it.”

“Oh, you mean your little webtoon collection?”

Jeong-hwan brought up the topic casually, making Hanbin flinch.

“Wait, you’re not seriously worried I’d spread that around, are you?”

Seeing Hanbin’s expression harden, Jeong-hwan waved his hands dismissively.

“Relax. I’m not gonna go telling people you’re an otaku or something.”

Hanbin was so thrown off by how wildly off-mark that statement was that he dropped his chopsticks.

“Damn, no need to drop your utensils over it. Anyway, I wouldn’t do something that low.”

“…It’s not really about being an otaku. It’s a romance webtoon”

“So what?”

“Most guys don’t really read that much romance. Isn’t that kind of weird?”

Jeong-hwan didn’t get why Hanbin considered this a weak spot. Sure, it isn’t a super common hobby, but it isn’t like he is into some extreme niche.

“Alright, fine. Let’s just call it even, we each know something about the other.”

Hanbin feels like his emotions are on a rollercoaster every time he deals with Jeong-hwan. The guy is like a revolving door.

“So, let’s work together until this ghost dream thing is over, at least.”

Just as Hanbin thought he might be okay with this arrangement, Jeong-hwan would say something to change his mind. Then again, just when he was about to decide he couldn’t stand him, Jeong-hwan would do something that made him seem not completely unbearable.

“Hey, this kind of stuff has way too much sugar—it’s bad for your health.”

Jeong-hwan, seemingly uncomfortable with the way Hanbin’s eyes lit up, nitpicked at the chocolate milk he had handed over.

“What am I supposed to do if it tastes good? And if it’s so unhealthy, why’d you give it to me?”

“I was hoping you’d die sooner while I live a long, peaceful life.”

Hanbin started drinking before Jeong-hwan could take it back. As he watched Hanbin chugging the milk, Jeong-hwan hesitated before asking,

“Who do you usually go home with?”

Hanbin, confused by the sudden question, didn’t answer right away. Seeing his puzzled expression, Jeong-hwan leaned back in his chair and added,

“If you don’t have anyone, go with me from now on.”

“…Why?”

Jeong-hwan thought for a moment before shrugging.

“Well, you might suddenly try to run away one day. So, I figured I’d better keep you in check ahead of time.”