Chapter 64:
“Master, you were talking to that blond jerk, weren’t you?”
Airok popped up with a sullen face the moment Seo Jae-yi hung up the phone. His tail swished back and forth in annoyance.
“Yes, I was.”
“And you sent him that yellow rose bouquet? But you said he was here to stab you in the back! Why are you being so nice to him?”
Airok had never seen Seo Jae-yi put so much effort into a bouquet.
He protested, saying it was too good for Grayson, even if it wasn’t for Baek Joo-won.
“Aw, I love it when my Logi gets angry for me. Awww, my Logi. You’re so angry.”
“Master! I’m serious!”
“I’m serious too. I love you so much, Logi.”
“No! That’s not… Ugh, honestly!”
A blush crept up Airok’s cheeks, betraying his pleasure at her words. It was impossible to hide, considering his white scales.
“But Logi, don’t be too angry at Maggie.”
“How can I not be angry? You’re too kind, Master!”
“That’s true. There would be no wars if everyone was as kind as me. Kind Jae-yi is so sad.”
“Master, that’s not…”
Kindness was dead. There were limits to being kind.
Wouldn’t a world filled with people who set fires to keep eggs warm be too cruel?
“It’s a tough world for kind people. Look, they’re trying to force an incompatible Guide on me. Should I just set the National Assembly building on fire?”
Well, he couldn’t argue with that.
“But there’s one good thing. My friend is also kind because I’m kind. Maggie returned empty-handed, so at least the US government won’t try to recruit Baek Joo-won for a while.”
“Huh? How can you be so sure?”
“Maggie came to Korea for that.”
Grayson hadn’t come to stab his friend Seo Jae-yi in the back.
He had come to protect her.
The fact that he, the frontrunner for the next US Association Head, was officially giving up on recruiting Baek Joo-won meant that the US wouldn’t pursue him any further.
That was why Grayson had come to Korea alone, without informing the Association Head.
Seo Jae-yi knew his intentions.
“Is that true?”
“Yes. But it would be strange if he just left without doing anything, so he followed Baek Joo-won around. He was just putting on a show, pretending to try.”
That was why Seo Jae-yi had let him do whatever he wanted around Baek Joo-won. It was all for her benefit.
And most importantly, she was happy to see her friend after a long time.
“So he wasn’t a bad person after all?”
“That’s right.”
“…But that human… He looks so untrustworthy that I couldn’t imagine him having such good intentions.”
“Ehahahaha!”
Seo Jae-yi burst out laughing at Airok’s sincere words.
Maggie, the idol of the US Esper world, would be offended if he heard that.
“He does have a jerky side. That’s why I almost killed him when we first met, thinking ‘What’s with this weirdo?'”
“That’s a bit extreme. Master, you’re not normal either…”
“What was that, Logi?”
“I didn’t say anything! Ahem, I should go tend to the greenhouse!”
Airok quickly changed the subject and flew into the greenhouse. Seo Jae-yi chuckled, unclenching her fists.
“Well, our Maggie will probably get chewed out by the Association Head for returning empty-handed.”
Or maybe the Association Head would just grab him by the scruff of his neck and drag him away. Seo Jae-yi silently offered her condolences to the US Association Head.
‘But what can you do? I have to survive too. Friendship is truly precious.’
Of course, if they had heard her true thoughts, they would have been shocked again.
“Ah, welcome! Welcome to Path of Fl… Huh?”
The door opened, and a customer entered.
Seo Jae-yi’s welcoming smile froze.
“Ah, hello!”
The Guide with a 48% Matching Rate, whom the government was pushing as her exclusive Guide, stood awkwardly at the door.
“Well…”
“Gong Ju-hyun! It’s Gong Ju-hyun.”
“Yes, Gong Ju-hyun. Didn’t we settle this before?”
“T-that’s not why I’m here! I wanted to buy a bouquet, and I heard that you… that you run this flower shop.”
Gong Ju-hyun continued shyly, his face flushed.
“I wanted to buy it from you, if possible…”
Right, he was her fan.
“You can just call me Seo Jae-yi.”
“Can I call you… Noona? I’m two years younger…”
Seo Jae-yi was a bit surprised. He was the same age as Won-yeong. She had assumed he was younger.
“Sure, call me whatever you’re comfortable with.”
Gong Ju-hyun’s face brightened.
“You can speak informally to me too, Noona!”
“I’m comfortable with this.”
He deflated again at her firm rejection.
His changing expressions were amusing to watch, but that was all. Seo Jae-yi asked indifferently,
“What kind of bouquet are you looking for? What’s the recipient’s gender?”
“Female!”
“How about a peach-colored bouquet with gerberas?”
Instead of answering, Gong Ju-hyun stared at her. He glanced around the shop and then shook his head.
“No. Pink doesn’t seem right.”
Seo Jae-yi tilted her head.
That was strange. She felt like she had heard those exact words before. Was it just her imagination?
“…I think red would be good. Like flames. A mix of deep orange freesia and roses.”
“Uh, the colors might be too strong and clash.”
“It’s okay! She really likes those colors.”
The recipient must have strong preferences. Well, if that was the case…
Seo Jae-yi told him to wait and entered the greenhouse. Airok, hearing the customer, followed her, flapping his wings.
“Do you know him?”
“We’ve met, but I don’t think we’ll become close.”
He might be interested, but Seo Jae-yi had no intention of reciprocating.
She was already worried that even Baek Joo-won, with a 93% Matching Rate, might die while Guiding her; accepting a Guide with a mere 48% was absurd.
“But Master, are you really going to make a bouquet with those flowers…?”
“It’s the recipient’s preference.”
“Ah, well, if that’s the case… But it’s too strong, so add some of these.”
Airok brought two white gerberas. The combination definitely looked better, so Seo Jae-yi nodded.
As she returned to the shop, Gong Ju-hyun, who had been looking around, greeted her with a bright smile. He was pitiful, his intentions so transparent.
“I added some white because the colors were too strong. Is that okay?”
“Yes! The colors are more vibrant now. As expected of a professional. Thank you.”
No, it wasn’t her; it was the professional dragon.
Seo Jae-yi wrapped the flowers in light orange wrapping paper. As she was about to tie it with a white ribbon, Gong Ju-hyun exclaimed,
“Red! Red ribbon!”
The recipient must really love that color scheme.
Seo Jae-yi obediently finished the bouquet with a luxurious red ribbon. Her skills had improved significantly thanks to Airok’s coaching, so she could now make decent bouquets even without him.
“Here you go.”
“Wow, it’s beautiful. I love it.”
Gong Ju-hyun, accepting the bouquet with a dazed expression, smiled shyly at Seo Jae-yi.
“It’s perfect.”
A blush crept up his youthful face. His eyes were even a bit teary, making him look like a delicate flower.
His words, spoken with such a beautiful face, sounded like a confession.
Seo Jae-yi stared at him. Their gazes locked, and she extended her hand.
“Thank you. That’ll be 70,000 won. Card or cash.”
“…”
The blush disappeared from Gong Ju-hyun’s face, leaving only tears.
“…Here’s my card.”
“Thank you! Please come again!”
“…Goodbye.”
Gong Ju-hyun, clutching the bouquet, left the shop dejectedly.
“Master, what was that about? Wow, he’s trying to seduce you with his face!”
Airok rushed towards Seo Jae-yi, who was happily counting the money.
“Seduce? Ah, was that last part him trying to flirt with me?”
“You didn’t notice? He was making all sorts of seductive expressions!”
“Seductive? I didn’t notice.”
“Why not?!”
“Because Won-yeong and Baek Joo-won are more handsome?”
Seo Jae-yi was surrounded by too many handsome men and beautiful women to be swayed by such a tactic.
Espers, especially higher-ranked ones, tended to be incredibly attractive, perhaps to appeal to Guides. Seo Won-yeong and Kim Yoo-sung were prime examples.
And Baek Joo-won and Kwon Yi-soo, though Guides, were also incredibly handsome.
“…I can’t argue with that.”
Airok nodded, convinced.
“And even if they weren’t, I wouldn’t fall for him. He’s the Guide with a 48% Matching Rate whom the government is trying to force on me.”
Airok roared the moment she finished speaking.
Seo Jae-yi had to sweat, trying to calm him down, as he raged, calling Gong Ju-hyun a government lackey and threatening to kill him.