Chapter 1 - A New Student
The homeroom teacher gestured gracefully towards the girl standing beside her, her voice crisp and high-pitched, "Everyone, please extend a warm welcome to our new student, Yoon Yiyoung, who joins us from AB Elementary School."
The teacher turned to Yiyoung with a friendly smile and inquired, "Would you like to introduce yourself, or shall I do the honors?"
"May I introduce myself?" Yiyoung replied politely.
"Of course," the teacher agreed.
Yiyoung had a skin lightly tanned by the sun and her eyes sparkling black and her bright eyes sparkled with confidence as she addressed her new classmates. "Hello, I'm Yoon Yiyoung. I felt a bit nervous about transferring, but now that I'm here..." She paused momentarily, a mischievous relief crossing her face before she continued, "It's a pleasure to meet all of you. I hope we can become friends."
"Nice to meet you, Yoon Yiyoung," her classmates chimed in unison. Yiyoung beamed at their warm welcome, realizing that her initial apprehensions had been unfounded.
The teacher, however, decided to highlight Yiyoung's academic achievements. "I should also mention that Yiyoung has outstanding grades, ranking among the top students nationwide. She is sure to be an inspiration and a positive influence on all of you."
Yiyoung's smile faltered briefly. She appreciated the compliment but couldn't help feeling uncomfortable about being singled out like this. Accepting praise in front of everyone could potentially invite envy or resentment, especially in a school environment where bullying was a concern. Yet, Yiyoung was careful not to reveal her unease. At just 13 years old, she already possessed a level of independence that set her apart from her peers.
I'll gauge the atmosphere first and see how it goes, she thought to herself.
The teacher pointed to an empty seat at the end of a row. "You can take a seat there."
"Thank you," Yiyoung replied politely as she made her way to her assigned desk. As she approached, she noticed a boy already occupying the desk next to hers.
"Hello," she greeted him, but the boy remained silent, his cold gaze fixed on her.
Did he not hear me?
She took her seat and, leaning slightly toward him, tried again. "Hi. I'm Yiyoung. Nice to meet you."
This time, the boy responded with a slight upward curve of his lips, still not uttering a word.
Is he laughing at me?
"Let me know if you need any help," she added, choosing to ignore his possible amusement.
Muyeol, the boy sitting next to Yiyoung, turned his head forward and stared into space. "What a peculiar new student," he thought to himself. He had been accustomed to having his own space until now, but for the first time in sixth grade, he found himself with a deskmate.
During a break, a loud exclamation caught Muyeol's attention. He leaned back in his chair and observed the classroom, spotting Yiyoung energetically attempting to befriend her classmates.
"What an idiot," he muttered to himself. It seemed clear to Muyeol that the other kids were not interested in making friends with Yiyoung, but she appeared blissfully unaware of their indifference. She continued to engage with them, maintaining a carefree smile. Muyeol averted his gaze and looked out of the window.
Her laughter and loud chatter grated on his nerves, akin to the annoying buzz of a mosquito near his ear.
All right, from now on, you're 'Shitty Yoon,' Muyeol decided.
He had dubbed her "Shitty Yoon" because he regarded their classmates as "shit." In his eyes, she was like a fly buzzing around a pile of garbage.
'Shitty Yoon.' Yes, that's it. From this day onward, you're 'Shitty Yoon.'
***
Once the school day ended, Yiyoung felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had been nervous at first, but her day had turned out better than expected. Contrary to her concerns, her classmates didn't subject her to any bullying due to the teacher's compliments.
Her classmates were straightforward and didn't attempt to hide their curiosity.
"So, you're the top student, huh? Did you get a special recommendation to transfer here?"
"Where do you live?"
"What do your parents do?"
They bombarded her with unnecessary questions.
"Sorry about that. Think of it as a welcoming ceremony. It's been a while since we had a new student," another student explained.
The kids at this elite elementary school all came from affluent backgrounds, but Yiyoung wasn't intimidated. She told them she came from an average family. While there was no need to publicly disclose her situation, there was also no reason to conceal it.
As soon as her classmates realized she wasn't from a wealthy family, their enthusiasm waned.
"Oh, I see," was their collective response. Afterward, they neither ostracized her nor fully embraced her. Yiyoung didn't mind, knowing it was all a matter of perspective, and she didn't consider it a bad start.
"You're quite unlucky. Ending up next to Muyeol of all people," one classmate remarked.
"Why? What's wrong with him?" Yiyoung inquired.
"He's a scion, and he looks down on all of us. He never even eats in the cafeteria. I guess he doesn't want to be around us."
"A scion? What does that mean? Is he unpleasant?" Yiyoung asked, prompting laughter from her classmates.
"If only he were merely unpleasant. It would be much easier to handle."
"Huh?"
"Muyeol doesn't believe we share the same social status as him."
"What? What does that mean?"
"His family owns 'S Corp.' You know, the major S company, don't you?"
"Yeah, I've seen their commercials."
"He's the son of the S group's CEO. Now, do you grasp the kind of family he comes from? He consistently rejects us. So..."
"So, let's avoid him. He's entirely different from us."
How terrible can he be? Aren't these kids the ones who treat him differently?
Yiyoung's classmates exhibited an intense curiosity about her. They bombarded her with endless questions, fueled by their excitement at having a new transfer student after a long time. However, none of the questions proved too challenging for her to answer. By the sixth period, Yiyoung had become good friends with some of them, engaging in lively conversations.
It was a promising first day. I think we can all be friends, except for Cha Muyeol, of course.
Ever since their encounter in the morning, Yiyoung hadn't been able to meet Muyeol's gaze properly. He either stared straight ahead or out the window, never budging from his seat, even during breaks or lunch. He didn't even excuse himself to use the restroom.
However, she couldn't determine if this was because he was intentionally avoiding her, as the other kids had suggested he would. Ultimately, the decision to make friends or not was up to him. Who knew? Perhaps he was simply an introvert?
In any case, Yiyoung felt great and believed she had made a good start.
I'm going to call Dad as soon as I get home.
Yiyoung couldn't contain the smile that spread across her face at the thought of calling her dad. As she hurried home, she reminisced about the events of the previous winter, summoning cherished memories...
***
Bright, sparkling eyes gazed into the mirror as Yiyoung combed her hair. She had meticulously parted it in the middle before crafting two braids.
"All done! Mom's favorite hairstyle for Yiyoung is complete!" Joongho, Yiyoung's father, praised as he handed her a hair tie from behind. "Yiyoung is the best! She can do her own hair!"
"Of course. Who do you think I am?" Yiyoung bragged, tilting her chin with pride.
Joongho was captivated by his daughter's adorableness, embracing her tightly and nuzzling her cheek before declaring, "You are Mom and Dad's precious daughter!"
"Dad! Your hair!"
"Oh, right. Okay."
Yiyoung briefly pouted before her smile returned. Then, she suddenly stood up and said, "It's your turn now, Dad. Sit down here."
Joongho laughed as he settled in front of the mirror. "What kind of hairstyle would you like, dear customer?"
"I want to look like a hot K-pop idol."
"An idol?"
"Yes, an idol. You know, those handsome guys out there."
"Are you trying to impress Mom that much?" Yiyoung burst into laughter.
"Absolutely. For your mom, your dad is always number one."
"Okay, okay. I'll do my best. I'll make you the hottest idol out there!"
Father and daughter made the perfect pair. Soft sunlight streamed into their cozy room as Yiyoung gently combed her father's hair. It had felt like a good omen back then, as if they were on the brink of receiving news of Mom's recovery.
Joongho eventually broke the silence. "But Yiyoung, have you thought about it?"
"About what?"
"You know what I mean."
"The transfer?"
"Yes, about transferring."
Yiyoung pouted. She detested the idea. Joongho knew how strongly she felt about it, but he still held out hope that, for her own good, she would make a wise choice.
"Listen to Dad," he urged.
"No, don't."
"It frightens you, and you're concerned. Dad understands."
Yiyoung pursed her lips. They were tired of moving around, but this time was different. They had no choice but to move again. They had been pushed to the edge.
"But you can do it. Because you're a genius."
"Don't ever say that. It gives me chills."
"Why not? It's true. Your homeroom teacher had nothing but praise for you. If you change your mind, your future will be paved with success."
If she had agreed to transfer to the other school, they would have had to move immediately. The new school was too far from their current location. Upon learning of their imminent move, Yiyoung's homeroom teacher had promptly contacted Joongho.
"Yiyoung must attend college," the teacher insisted.
"Of course, I want that too. But Yiyoung is..." Joongho hesitated, as Yiyoung had made her decision at a young age. She wanted to graduate from a technical high school and start working immediately to earn money.
"No, Mr. Yoon. Don't let her do that. I've never seen a student as brilliant as Yiyoung. But she's too kind. She's only thinking about earning money for her mother. Don't let her. She has so much potential. To be honest, the school she's planning to transfer to is not the best fit for her."
"Then..."
"Transfer her to a different school, preferably an elite private elementary school. There, she can truly explore her brilliance."
"Yes, but I haven't done anything for her. I'm not sure how to discuss this with her."
"Just tell her the truth. Tell her it's for her own good."
"I've already told you I want to earn money. I have to," Yiyoung sulked.
"Okay, go ahead and earn money. Do you think I would disapprove? But your future hinges on where you graduate from. So start earning money after you graduate from college."
Yiyoung frowned at her father's response. Her dad's friends had assisted them financially to facilitate the move, again. Yiyoung felt it was her responsibility to earn money. She had to do it as soon as possible, and going to college would have delayed her plans.
"You're brilliant, but why are you acting so naively?"
Yiyoung snapped back to the present and pushed aside her nostalgic reverie.
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