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Chapter 23: Goddess My Foot
Soo-hoo was training as usual, his movements sharp and disciplined, when a man walked into the hall.
The air shifted immediately.
His aura was calm, yet heavy—like someone who carried influence everywhere he went. He wore a suit, his thick black hair combed back perfectly. When he slipped on his glasses, he looked polished, refined. When he removed them, he looked even more alluring.
Soo-hoo froze when he saw him.
"My son." The man smiled gently.
That word alone was enough to sour Soo-hoo's expression. His cold glare could have frozen anyone in place, and yet the man's smile didn't falter.
"It's really hard to see you."
The words felt casual, but to Soo-hoo they carried years of absence.
The man took off his glasses, revealing striking features—sharp eyes, a pointed nose, a face nearly identical to Soo-hoo's, just older. Even his black hair carried no trace of gray.
"This place hasn't changed at all," he said, glancing around at the empty hall. The room was simple—just a rug, a few framed photographs of people in karate uniforms, and the faint smell of sweat that had seeped into the floorboards.
Soo-hoo rolled his eyes, already irritated.
"I practically lived here once," his father continued casually, "back when I was training for a role."
Before he could finish, Soo-hoo's face darkened. But the man kept talking.
"Master Choi treats you well, right?"
Silence. Soo-hoo didn't bother answering.
"Why did you come back?" he finally asked, voice flat.
His father smiled faintly, as though remembering something amusing. "Right. I had a lot going on at the company, especially after the merger." His eyes wandered to the wall as though it were a painting he was rediscovering. "And I'd lose relevance if I was away too long."
"You care about your fans deeply," Soo-hoo stated, almost like an accusation.
The man stepped closer, resting a hand on his son's shoulder. His voice softened.
"It's you I care about, Soo-hoo."
Soo-hoo's glare cut through him like ice. He brushed past, ignoring the touch.
"You're leaving already?" the man asked, slipping off his jacket. "I wanted to do some exercise myself."
"Go ahead." Soo-hoo's tone was clipped.
He made for the door, but in one swift motion his father yanked him back, stronger than he expected. Soo-hoo rolled, but before he could hit the ground fully, he sprang back to his feet.
His father chuckled. "That was easy, don't you think?"
Soo-hoo's eyes narrowed. He attacked. His movements were precise, unrelenting. His father was caught off guard, unable to keep up. Soo-hoo pinned him down, sweat glistening on his face, making him glow under the light.
"Someone trained you well," his father said through shallow breaths, gripping his shoulders with restrained force.
But then—his mind slipped away.
He saw it again. The hospital room. The pale figure of his mother, gasping for air as machines beeped frantically. Little Soo-hoo screamed and cried, trying to run to her, but someone held him back. Then, the flat red line on the monitor. Silence. Her hand grew cold in his tiny grip as he sobbed uncontrollably.
Back to the present—rage surged through him. He threw his father down harder this time, fists tightening.
Another memory struck.
The night he peeked into his father's room, hoping for comfort… only to see him with another woman. His little chest had ached as he ran away, tears burning his eyes. His father had hesitated, but he never followed.
Back to the present. Soo-hoo's strikes grew harsher, fueled by that betrayal. His father struggled beneath him until he finally tapped out.
Breathing heavily, his father laughed bitterly. "My goodness… you're a grown man now."
Soo-hoo lay on the rug, exhausted, chest rising and falling. His father looked at the ceiling, smiling faintly. "I must be getting old. I'm not a match for you, am I?"
Both sat up slowly. His father's eyes softened with pride.
"It's your birthday tomorrow, right? Do you want to go out somewhere nice?"
"No."
"Anything you want?"
"No."
The silence stung more than words.
His father tried again. "Have you thought about… moving to my place?"
"I already said no."
The older man nodded, though he had clearly braced for that answer. "Well, you'll soon be a senior, and—"
Soo-hoo turned, cutting him off coldly.
"Wouldn't you feel uncomfortable if I lived with you? What about your love life? Don't come by unannounced again. I don't want to be known as Lee Ju-hun's son."
The words were sharp. They left his father speechless as Soo-hoo walked away.
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The next morning, Soo-hoo tossed in bed, drenched in sweat. His body moved restlessly.
"No… no…" he muttered in his sleep, face tense.
He jolted awake, sitting upright, running a hand through his damp hair. His room was vast, decorated in shades of green. Books filled a large shelf opposite his bed, beside a desk with a computer. A couch sat against the wall, and a tinted window cast muted light across the floor.
Meanwhile, Ju-kyoung sat before her mirror, scrolling through her group chat.
Su-ah: Which one is better for a hundred-day anniversary gift?
She'd sent pictures of two shoes—one white, one brown. Both pretty.
Ju-kyoung pictured Kang-su in the brown pair, her slim legs looking delicate. Su-ah, meanwhile, could pull them off like a model.
Ju-kyoung: The one on the left.
Kang-su: Only a hundred days? You fussed so much I thought it was a hundred years.
Ju-kyoung smiled faintly.
Su-ah: I made a huge fuss when I was a hundred days old too. Bear with me, Kang-su.
Ju-kyoung: Guys, I'm glad we're friends.
Su-ah: I'm glad to have a goddess friend like you.
Her chest warmed. She typed back playfully:
Ju-kyoung: I'm not a goddess. If I'm a goddess, then you're a fairy.
Kang-su: Limju, why are you both pretty and sweet?
Ju-kyoung looked up at her reflection. Her smile faded.
Without makeup, her red spots were obvious. Her round glasses swallowed half her face. She looked like a nerd—but not even a clever one.
"Goddess my foot," she muttered, touching her blemished skin. "My face is just getting worse from makeup."
She reached for her cream jar, placing small white patches on her forehead and cheeks.
Her brother barged in, tossing a book onto her table.
"Hey, return this. Mr. Prince said he needs it right away."
"When did he borrow it? Why should I return it?"
"I still have your pictures!" Ju-young yelled, smirking.
Ju-kyoung sighed. Facing the mirror again, she deepened her voice.
"If I were Soo-hoo… delete them, or I'll throw this away." She pointed at the mirror, chuckling slightly at her own imitation.
Later, unable to find her mask, she hid under a hoodie and slipped into the library quietly.
"Hey," she whispered at the counter.
The register clerk smiled. "Hey, Ju-bal."
"Shh," she hissed. "Lee Soo-ho isn't here, is he?"
He blinked. "Who?"
"The aloof guy. Tiny face. Like the lead in a romance comic."
The clerk smirked. "You mean me?"
Ju-kyoung almost laughed imagining it but quickly shook it off. "The guy who likes red ginseng juice."
"Oh, him. He rarely comes on weekends."
Relieved, she smiled brightly. "Right." She dropped a book on the desk. "I'm returning this."
"Ju-bal," the man called as she turned.
"Hm?"
"My stomach's upset. Can you cover for me?"
Before she could protest, he ran out.
"What if someone comes…" she muttered nervously, but her lips curved into a smile as she stepped into the library.
The familiar scent of books filled her. She spotted an old comic.
"This series is still here!" She climbed on a table, reaching for A Curse in Darkness.
Her eyes sparkled as she flipped through it. At the back, a small transparent card slipped out.
"Ohhh, I used to collect these." Her smile widened, childlike. "Guess nobody took it. I'll take this as my pay."
She giggled softly.
Then, a voice came from behind.
"We meet again."
Ju-kyoung froze, the card trembling in her hand. Slowly, she turned. Her eyes widened in shock.
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