Chapter Four: Broad-mindedness Is

Being broad-minded means not looking back on the past with melancholy, for the past will never return.
——
Han Ji-eun carried a notebook with her, and after outlining her melodramatic romance plot, she began typing away furiously, muttering to herself, “Ah… The male lead must be cool and domineering and dashing, as for the heroine…” She turned to glance at Liu Rachel, grinned mischievously, and resumed her rapid typing.

Liu Rachel felt a genuine headache coming on, though the reflection in the mirror showed her wearing a gentle smile.

She too took out her tablet, connected to the Wi-Fi, and logged into MSN. There weren’t many friends online in that fresh blue interface, but, curiously, two people were active.

One was her online friend, going by the name “Enzi, Aspiring Novelist.”

(Now that she looked at the name, it did feel rather odd.)

Rachel glanced at Han Ji-eun, who was lost in her own world, a recent university graduate. It seemed impossible. Still, she sent a message.

[Rachel: What are you up to?]

She had known Enzi since her first year of high school; Enzi was someone of few words, the complete opposite of herself, which made them complementary. That was how they’d remained friends all this time.

She was also… Rachel’s only friend. Thinking about it, it was rather sad.

The other person online was, surprisingly, Kim Tan.

Staring at his avatar, Rachel opened the chat window several times, but after much hesitation and rewriting, she couldn’t bring herself to type a single word. She deliberated for ages, then finally wrote:

“I accidentally took one of your shirts. Sorry.”

She stared nervously at the screen, but the reply came from Enzi, not Kim Tan.

[Enzi, Aspiring Novelist: I’m in China~\(≧▽≦)/~]

[Rachel: …]

[Enzi, Aspiring Novelist: What’s wrong? What are you doing? I’m in a super luxurious hotel and I met a kind, beautiful little sister. I’m so happy o(n_n)]

[Rachel: I’m logging off now.]

Without waiting for Kim Tan’s reply, she went offline immediately.

Han Ji-eun was still mumbling, “What’s wrong?”

Rachel had no desire to complain about how small the world seemed, or how ever since her rebirth (yes, perhaps one could call it that), everything around her had become increasingly strange.

From behind, Han Ji-eun looked a little frail, her hair a mess, the clatter of her keyboard now silent. She seemed lost in thought, her lips slightly downturned in a pitiful expression.

Rachel didn’t know how to comfort others. Even though Han Ji-eun was likely her only friend, she still didn’t know how to offer solace, so she simply curled up on the bed in a daze.

The room was quiet, and the sound of her phone was especially clear.

“Oppa?”

Hearing Rachel’s lilting tone, Kim Won replied helplessly, “Can you open the door? I brought food back.”

His words reminded Rachel, and she hurried to put on her slippers and open the door, only to find that Kim Won was carrying not just a lunchbox but also a cloth shoe she hadn’t even realized she’d lost.

Strictly speaking, it was a pair of cloth shoes—cheap, comfortable, and disposable in her mind. She’d thought she could just buy a new pair tomorrow, but Kim Won had found it for her.

But, truth be told… holding food in one hand and a shoe in the other was hardly a graceful sight.

Yet despite this, a sudden warmth welled up in Rachel’s heart. “Thank you,” she said softly, lowering her gaze and biting her lip as she took the shoe and set it by the door, then took the lunchbox from him.

Kim Won seemed about to say something, but seeing she wasn’t in the best mood, he just said, “Eat, and get some rest early. I’ll be going now.”

Rachel nodded, not saying much.

Lee Young-jae, who had hurried over, suddenly shouted, “Hey brat, remember to wash my clothes!”

Han Ji-eun turned on him, baring her teeth in mock fury.

Faced with such an unromantic woman, Lee Young-jae felt utterly exasperated—he was a big star, after all!

Rachel closed the door and ate in silence. Kim Won had brought plenty of food, much of it unfamiliar to her, but the aroma was certainly enticing.

After some hesitation, she said to Han Ji-eun, “Let’s eat together. There’s too much—I’ll waste it if I try to finish alone.”

“Great! \(^o^)/~” Han Ji-eun didn’t even bother to refuse.

Her spirits instantly lifted.

What a fool, Rachel thought.

As she lowered her head to eat, Rachel wondered what would happen if Han Ji-eun ever discovered she was actually Liu Laixi.

Forget it… better to keep it secret for now.

Han Ji-eun was indeed pure and somewhat endearing. If she hadn’t revealed her age herself, Rachel would never have guessed she was already twenty-two.

Perhaps because Ji-eun was a chatterbox, time passed quickly. For the first time in her life, Rachel had shared a meal and living space with someone outside her family—a monumental breakthrough for her.

So, for now, she pushed thoughts of Kim Tan to the back of her mind. Han Ji-eun, content and full, rolled around on the bed, then suddenly spotted the suit stained with instant noodle soup she’d set aside. She immediately jumped up, grabbed the clothes, and went off to find a dry cleaner.

Left alone, Rachel fiddled with her tablet for a while, grew bored, changed into a dress, and decided to visit the pub downstairs.

She put on makeup, slipped into high heels, and let her hair fall smoothly over her shoulders—a completely different, icy and aloof persona.

Thus, when she opened the door, she was greeted by… Kim Won.

Truly, life is full of unexpected meetings.

Not just Kim Won, but also Lee Young-jae and an unfamiliar man.

Lee Young-jae gave a dramatic whistle. Who would have thought that Kim Won’s “little sister” would transform from a sweet girl into a queen in an instant? He couldn’t be more impressed!

“What’s this?” Kim Won frowned slightly. He was used to seeing Rachel dressed up like this, but wasn’t this the wrong time for it?

Lee Young-jae shot Kim Won a sidelong glance. During dinner, Kim Won had already told him that Rachel was his younger brother’s fiancée, so any little plans he had were gone.

But… big bro, isn’t it odd how concerned you are about your brother’s fiancée?

As far as he knew, Kim Won and his brother were like oil and water.

Rachel felt a bit awkward too. After all, Kim Won was a guardian of sorts. It felt like being caught sneaking out.

“I’m just going out to clear my head. And you, oppa?”

Kim Won eyed her carefully made-up appearance, thinking this was full of holes.

But his expression remained unreadable. He introduced the man beside him, a polished professional. “This is Ryu Min-hyuk, a senior of mine and Young-jae’s.”

Rachel greeted him politely, but her change of outfit made her seem like a whole new person—the Rachel of old, distant and regal as ever.

Kim Won said, “We’re heading to the bar downstairs. The atmosphere is nice—join us.”

Had he not run into Liu Rachel, he wouldn’t have cared, but now that she was right in front of him in this foreign country, he couldn’t in good conscience let anything happen to her.

Rachel made no objection. Having a man around would make her feel safer.

She wore high heels, and as she stepped into the elevator, Kim Won noticed her reddened heels—plainly visible under the fluorescent lights—but she showed no sign of discomfort.

Inside the elevator, the atmosphere between Lee Young-jae and Ryu Min-hyuk was distinctly tense. Kim Won, not usually talkative, found himself forced to play the mediator, which only made things stiffer.

As soon as they stepped out, Ryu Min-hyuk’s phone rang. He answered, and after a few words, his expression changed.

Kim Won and Lee Young-jae halted in their tracks.

Ryu Min-hyuk hung up, looking troubled. “Sorry, I have to go—something’s happened.”

Kim Won and Ryu Min-hyuk were closer than Lee Young-jae and Ryu Min-hyuk. They weren’t just alumni, but also business partners.

“What’s wrong? Need any help?”

Ryu Min-hyuk replied, “A friend of mine is in the hospital. The doctor said she tried to drown herself in a lake. Her emotions have just stabilized.”

Kim Won and Rachel exchanged a glance.

“A Chinese friend?” Lee Young-jae asked curiously; as far as he knew, this was Ryu Min-hyuk’s first time in China.

“No, a friend from Seoul. We just met here yesterday.”

Ryu Min-hyuk offered no further explanation and hurried away.

Kim Won and Rachel exchanged another look—so much left unsaid.

The three entered the bar. It wasn’t crowded; being a hotel bar, most patrons were guests, and there weren’t any unsavory types. The décor had a certain style.

They ordered beer, and Kim Won got Rachel some juice—she was, after all, still a minor.

Rachel stared at the bright orange juice, speechless.

The music wasn’t wild, but rather gentle and melodious. Lee Young-jae, unable to sit still for long, went off to play billiards, leaving Kim Won and Rachel alone.

It didn’t feel awkward. Kim Won nursed his beer, watching the DJ change songs. He checked his watch; it was getting late. Sure enough, as soon as the upbeat music began, men and women lurking in the shadows flocked to the dance floor.

Most were fashionably dressed—plenty of handsome men and beautiful women. Rachel’s cool, elegant face stood out all the more in the shifting lights. Kim Won noticed how the men passing by would always glance back at her, and thought that keeping an eye on this girl was not without reason.

Just as he was thinking this, Rachel stood up.

“Dancing?” With her heels rubbed raw, she still wanted to dance?

Kim Won frowned slightly.

Noticing his expression, Rachel grew a little impatient. She’d only come out to clear her head—why did it feel like Kim Won was policing her?

So she simply extended her hand and invited him, “Would you like to join me, oppa?”