Chaerin immediately started spreading Mr. Park’s social media account everywhere.

“We’re going live in thirty minutes, streaming the level six noodle challenge!” she announced on her social media platforms and group chats.

Meanwhile, Hannah casually finished her bowl of level six noodles like it was nothing.

Aeryun stared at her in fear.

“How would you feel if I admitted I’m scared of this girl?”

Lee Liora, Jin Jiwon, Kang Kyuri, and Myeora Jin also received the livestream notification since Chaerin was active in countless group chats. None of them paid much attention to it at first. Watching someone eat spicy noodles sounded painfully boring to them. Still, Myeora casually joined the livestream out of curiosity to see what was happening.

Aeryun went live from Mr. Park’s social media account. Switching to the front camera, she dramatically announced that, for the first time in years, someone had finally agreed to attempt the level six noodle challenge at Mr. Park’s noodle shop near the metro station.

Before Myeora joined, there were barely ten viewers.

But the moment people realized Myeora Jin herself was watching the livestream, the viewer count shot up to 2.5k almost instantly. Aeryun herself was shocked at the viewer count and assumed it was because of Chaerin’s aggressive messages in the group chats. Little did they know it was Myeora who had brought them the crowd. Whatever she did, everyone wanted to copy her and follow in her footsteps, from the movies she watched to the snacks she ate.

A crowd quickly gathered outside the shop.

Half the people there seemed more interested in staring at Tae than the noodles themselves. With his towering height and denim baseball cap pulled low over his eyes, he looked like every mysterious male lead straight out of a drama.

The second Aeryun pointed the camera toward Tae, he calmly started eating the noodles without coughing, crying, or even reacting.

The livestream comments exploded immediately.

“There’s no way it’s actually spicy.”

“They’re obviously lying for attention.”

“Dirty tricks to go viral.”

Aeryun narrowed her eyes at the comments.

“Would you guys believe it if I ate it too?”

Some viewers mocked her immediately.

“Sure. Let’s see if you’re a better actor.”

“Don’t pause the livestream.”

Others panicked and tried to stop her.

“No, we believe you!”

“Please don’t do it.”

Aeryun looked directly into the camera.

“Okay then. I’ll eat the noodles too.”

She handed the phone to Chaerin.

“Continue the livestream.”

Chaerin whispered nervously, “Are you sure about this?”

“We don’t have another choice,” Aeryun whispered back.

“I’ll do it instead,” Chaerin offered immediately.

Aeryun shook her head. “Absolutely not. You have a date with your boyfriend after two days. I’m not risking you getting an upset stomach.”

Unfortunately for them, the livestream audience heard every word.

The comments instantly flooded with reactions.

“That’s such a sweet friendship.”

“Protect them at all costs.”

Aeryun grabbed a pair of chopsticks from Mr. Park and took an aggressively large bite of noodles.

Instant regret once again.

The spice hit her immediately.

Her eyes watered so fast it looked painful. Sweat covered her forehead within seconds, and tears rolled uncontrollably down her cheeks.

Before anyone else could react, Tae quietly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped her tears away.

Then he carefully dabbed the sweat from her forehead and cheeks before immediately standing up to grab a glass of milk from Mr. Park.

“Are you okay?” Tae asked softly while handing it to her.

Aeryun nodded weakly, still fighting for her life.

Hannah, Chaerin, Mr. Park, and practically the entire crowd stood frozen in shock.

Nobody expected Tae to react like that.

Meanwhile, the livestream chat completely lost its mind.

People genuinely thought they were watching a romantic comedy unfold in real time. Of course, screen recordings started spreading instantly because no high school student would ever miss the chance to save something this dramatic.

Even Nohwa Rin found herself mesmerized enough to record that particular moment from the livestream onto her own phone.

Tae then glanced toward Chaerin and silently gestured across his neck, telling her to end the livestream.

Chaerin immediately collected herself and faced the camera again.

“Okay, did everyone see that?” she said excitedly. “This clearly wasn’t fake.”

Then she awkwardly cleared her throat.

“I mean… Aeryun’s reaction after eating the noodles.”

She pointed dramatically toward Tae.

“He survived because he apparently has an inhuman spice tolerance and officially won the challenge! That means cash reward plus one free couple combo for a year!”

Then she grinned brightly into the camera.

“So come visit Mr. Park’s noodle shop near the metro station if you think you can survive level six too. Bye, everyone. Take care!”

The livestream ended.

Tae looked toward Aeryun awkwardly before quietly apologizing.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I should’ve asked you before wiping your tears and sweat.”

Aeryun immediately shook her head.

“You did nothing wrong,” she replied honestly. “You helped me when I needed help, and honestly? I’d probably be breathing fire like a dragon right now if you didn’t help me out, so thank you.”

A small smile appeared on Tae’s face.

Meanwhile, Hannah looked at Aeryun with admiration sparkling in her eyes.

“Wow, Aeryun,” she said excitedly. “I thought only I loved challenges, but you’re no less than a fighter yourself.”

Aeryun immediately pointed at Hannah.

“No, Hannah. You’re the real fighter! I could only do this because I saw you finishing the bowl by yourself. It made me think I could do it too.”

Chaerin dramatically placed a hand over her heart.

“I love girls empowering girls.”

Hannah nodded with a smile on her face.

“So do I.”

Myeora Jin scoffed. “These idiots will do anything.”

She texted Jin Jiwon, Kang Kyuri, and Lee Liora.

“Did you guys watch it?” she asked coldly. “That guy eating the noodles is the same one who interfered earlier. I saw him in the video you sent me that still needs to be edited.”

The second the livestream ended, Aeryun suddenly looked at Chaerin.

“Wait. Where’s your bicycle? Get me home quickly!”

Chaerin froze.

“Oh, my God.”

A very long pause followed.

Everyone stared at her.

“I parked it near Qyena Kwon’s house and completely forgot about it because we walked here afterward.”

Aeryun groaned dramatically.

“I want to laugh, cry, and smash your head against a wall at the same time, but I physically can’t because my organs feel like they’re burning alive.”

Tae looked toward Chaerin.

“You parked it near Qyena Kwon’s house?”

Chaerin nodded.

Tae immediately replied, “Zeon Kwon is my friend. He can bring it here for you.”

Chaerin panicked almost instantly.

“No, no, it’s okay. Please don’t bother him.”

“He won’t mind,” Tae said calmly. “Zeon’s a good friend.”

Chaerin still tried desperately to stop him.

Aeryun finally lost patience.

“Chaerin, please,” she begged dramatically. “Do you want me to suffer more? Or worse, embarrass myself in public because of stomach pain?”

Tae bit back his laughter before calling Zeon.

“Hey, I need a small favour,” he said over the phone. “Can you bring my friend’s bicycle from outside your grandmother’s house?”

Then he covered the phone slightly and looked toward Chaerin.

“Your name?”

“Chaerin,” she replied quietly.

Tae nodded before handing her the phone.

“You can explain what the bicycle looks like and tell him the lock password.”

Chaerin looked like she was seconds away from passing out.

“H-Hi,” she stammered into the phone. “It’s Chaerin. My bicycle is white with a basket in the front. It’s parked under the oak tree near your house, and the lock is heart-shaped.”

Zeon’s calm voice replied from the other side.

“Got it. What’s the four-digit password?”

“I should probably note it down or I’ll forget.”

Chaerin inhaled deeply.

“It’s 1111.”

There was a small pause.

“That’s easy to remember,” Zeon said with a laugh. “It’s my birthday too. October 11th.”

Chaerin’s voice became tiny.

“I know. That’s why I kept it.”

“What?” Zeon asked.

“Nothing!” Chaerin replied immediately. “Thank you.”

She quickly handed the phone back to Tae.

The second the call ended, Aeryun slowly turned toward Chaerin with raised eyebrows.

Then she dramatically sang under her breath:

“I still wish for you at 11:11… by Conan Gray.”

Chaerin nearly choked.

“Shut up.”

“Okay,” Aeryun replied innocently. “But remind me to make a wish at 11:11 tonight.”

“For God’s sake, keep quiet,” Chaerin whispered in horror.

Aeryun burst into laughter before immediately returning to looking miserable from the spice again.

Hannah stared at her thoughtfully before tugging on Tae’s sleeve.

“Is this girl okay?” she whispered. “Or is she a psycho?”

Tae looked at Aeryun with the exact same confused expression.

“Honestly,” he admitted quietly, “even I don’t know.”