Chapter 166 - Thin air

"How did you come to know Taeho, Jinkyung?" Taehyun questioned. 

"Be careful of what you say, Jinkyung. Han Taehyun is extremely sly," The voice in her head warned.

'I know,' Lee Jinkyung answered internally.

"I can't communicate with you further though or else Han Taehyun will be going suspicions."

"So?" Han Taehyun raised one of his eyebrows. 

This is not the first time he noticed Lee Jinkyung getting lost in her thoughts, and this made him sharpen his eyes. Although Han Taehyun did not trust Taeho much, he recalled his words on being on guard in front of Jinkyung and control what he says. 

"Sorry, I was just thinking about something else," Jinkyung voiced out, "About what you're asking, about Taeho and me, both of us met at one of the parties and got acquainted there."

"This is the first time I heard about him willingly trying to acquaint himself with someone during a party. He usually tries to run away from such parties," Taehyun spoke out. 

Jinkyung let out a shy smile and spoke out, "Both of us had common interests and, that's why, got close this easily."

"Common interests, hmm… I'm curious. What type of common interest can a sweet girl like you share with a nonchalant and boring man such as Han Taeho?" Taehyun spoke out whilst staring at Lee Jinkyung questioningly.

The flawless smile on Lee Jinkyung's face almost cracked, and she had no idea on how to reply to Taehyun. Taeho and her never talked about their common interests. Each of their conversations were on Jinkyung trying to win Taeho's love, pity, and favour.

"Say books. It could be what he prefers in this life as well," The voice in her head stated.

Han Taehyun noticed how Jinkyung went silent for a moment as if she had zoned out and her attention was on somewhere else. If this was once or twice, it would've been understandable. 

However, this was happening for way too many times, and Han Taehyun had his curiosity growing on to find the secret behind this. His eyes sharpened, and he tried to notice every single movement on Lee Jinkyung.

His knowledge on psychology was minimal, and looking at Lee Jinkyung's behaviour, he was aware that if he wanted to find out what the truth behind her actions, he needed to learn psychology beforehand— even if it was just the basics.

"Ah! Yes, books. That's what both of us talk about mostly," Jinkyung voiced out whilst wearing a wide smile on her face.

'Books? That was an accurate answer. Judging by how confident she sounds, it seems that she knew about it beforehand. I have to ask Taeho about it.'

Taehyun noticed the instant change in Lee Jinkyung's emotions within a second before she voiced out the answer. Previously, it looked as Lee Jinkyung was stuck and nervous, and all of a sudden, her eyes brightened up as if she had found water in a dry desert.

"Really? Did you read Min Seokhyun's recent novels? That's Taeho's favourite novel," Taehyun spoke out— his eyes scanning every single movement of Jinkyung.

As Jinkyung was about to answer, the voice inside her head immediately stopped her, and Jinkyung instantly shut close her mouth.

"No, don't say anything wrong, Jinkyung. Han Taeho doesn't like novel of Fantasy genre.'

Jinkyung's actions at that moment did not go unnoticed by Han Taehyun. It looked as if Jinkyung was trying to give an answer before something or someone stopped. Staring at both of her eyes, Taehyun noticed that there was no earpiece on her. 

"I didn't know that Taeho prefers Min Seokhyun's novels. I remember him telling me how he doesn't like Fantasy novels. Didn't know that his preference changed," Jinkyung replied.

"Yes, but he liked his writing style. So, he decided to give that a try," Taehyun stated, "Which books do both of you like the most?"

Taehyun noticed how Jinkyung went quiet as if she was waiting for something. Although Taehyun thought that he might be reading too much into the matter, it was better to be safe than sorry.

"Non-fictions could be what he prefers. Answer with some non-fiction novels," The voice in her head stated.

"Some of Lee Minjoon's and Kim Hyojoo's works. They are both of our favourites," Jinkyung answered.

'A flawless answer.'

Before Taehyun could interrogate her further, the door to the room opened, and Lee Jinhee stepped into the room. Taehyun had more sets of questions he wanted to ask. Nonetheless, he can not ask those in front of Lee Jinhee.

Turning back, he smiled at Jinhee and said, "You're here, Jinhee-ah. I'll be going out then, and if you need help, just call me."

Lee Jinhee nodded.

Facing Jinkyung, Taehyun voiced out, "Let's talk later, Jinkyung."

"Sure, Taehee," Jinkyung answered.

Standing up, Han Taehyun walked towards the door, and before stepping out of the room, he pressed Jinhee's shoulder softly.

"Just scream loudly if she does anything to you," Taehyun whispered into her ear.

Hearing his words had Lee Jinhee's heart flutter, and Jinhee flashed a slight smile at him. Surely, Jinkyung held a huge grudge against her after what happened earlier, and Jinhee needed to be careful about this.

Taehyun left the door slightly open before he left. Walking towards the couch opposite to Jinkyung, Lee Jinhee sat down, and an impassive expression sat upon her face.

"After looking at me, you must have had fun today, right?" Jinkyung questioned.

Lee Jinhee nodded her head and spoke out, "Of course I did."

Then, suddenly, bursting out into laughter, Lee Jinhee clutched on to her stomach and said, "You reminded of that scene again. It was really funny when you tripped on that ground and broke your nose."

Tears started forming in the corner of her eyes because of how much she was laughing, and listening to the noise of Jinhee's laughter, anger intensified within Lee Jinkyung.

Wiping the tears that formed at the corner of her eyes, Lee Jinhee sat up straight and sniggered. She, then, asked, "How do you trip on thin air though, Jinkyung-ah? Is it some kind of top student thing?"

Raising one of her eyebrows, Lee Jinhee waited for an answer from Jinkyung. The sadistic part of Jinhee was pleased after looking at Jinkyung's appearance and the displeasure that sat on her face.

"Well?" Jinhee questioned.