Popular Psychopath [Novel] Chapter 20

Chapter 20: I Was Happy to Be Able to Act With You

[User1: The situation was far more severe than I thought. Doesn’t that make him a literal lifesaver?]
[User2: I thought he just helped her out or something, but the crazy bastard actually ran back into the fire… shivers.]
[User3: Active duty firefighter here. Let me tell you, running into a fire is no easy feat even when fully geared up, lol.]
[User4: Former Fire Commissioner here. He’s absolutely right. Usually, it’s the smoke that causes asphyxiation, not the flames.]
[User5: American firefighter here. Can confirm this is true.]

Thanks to Jung Seola’s interview, the Incheon Paradise Resort fire was violently dragged back into the limelight. Consequently, Kyuha’s name dominated the real-time search rankings once more. As the overwhelming majority of articles showered praise upon his courageous actions, this issue ultimately proved highly beneficial for his public image.

Arriving at the ‘Pygmalion Effect’ set for another day of filming, Kyuha exchanged greetings with Jung Seola, who had arrived earlier.

“Hey, Seola. You’re early today.”

“Ah, you’re here? I’m sorry… Did my interview cause you any trouble?”

“Trouble? What trouble? The agency was over the moon. They said my image skyrocketed.”

“It was my first solo interview, so I guess I got a little too excited and ended up spilling everything.”

“You did well. Truthfully, I was worried you might suffer from trauma after the accident, but I’m relieved you seem perfectly fine.”

“Well… I was practically passed out the entire time, so I didn’t even have a chance to develop trauma. Haha.”

“That is a huge relief.”

Just then, the Assistant Director called out to the pair.

“Kyuha, Seola! We will begin shooting shortly~! Please get ready.”

“Understood. Let’s finish preparing and meet up in a bit!”

***

[Pygmalion Effect]

Now officially lovers, Sichang (Kyuha) and Nayeon (Seola) strolled proudly across the Seogam University campus, indulging in the sweet, romantic life of a campus couple.

Nayeon practically had to drag Sichang around, as he remained hesitant to step out into the world, yet Sichang found he didn’t hate it.

Enduring the unwanted stares of strangers was a small price to pay for the overwhelming happiness he felt spending time with Nayeon.

Hand in hand, Sichang and Nayeon enjoyed a sickeningly sweet date, walking down the famous Cherry Blossom Path—a renowned filming location even within the campus itself.

“Sichang, my legs hurt! Let’s rest on that bench for a bit.”

“Your legs hurt? Come on, let’s go over there.”

The two settled onto a bench beneath the largest cherry blossom tree. Nayeon rested her head on Sichang’s shoulder, closing her eyes.

Passing by, a trio of female students spotted the couple and began whispering loudly.

“Hey, isn’t that Jung Nayeon? The flower deer of the Korean Lit department?”

“It is. Wow, what a surprise. She rejected all the popular seniors, only to end up dating some weird kid.”

“Exactly. There were so many rich, handsome seniors lined up for her, but him…? He looks so plain.”

Whether intended for his ears or not, Sichang’s expression hardened into stone. Catching the subtle shift, Nayeon gently squeezed his hand, her eyes tracing his face.

*Flinch.*

Sichang immediately softened his expression, offering Nayeon a reassuring smile. Only then did Nayeon let out a small sigh of relief and bury her face back into his shoulder.

“What time does your class end today?”

“Hmm… Let’s see. My last class finishes at 5 PM. How about you?”

“Ugh, my last class doesn’t end until 6!!! You will wait an hour for me, right?”

“You don’t even have to ask. Of course I will wait!”

“Ah, time flies too fast… I hate being apart. Should we just ditch class?”

“I wouldn’t mind, but didn’t you say you’d have to take summer classes if your grades drop this semester?”

“Ah, you’re right!! Taking summer classes during vacation is even worse!! Pull yourself together, Jung Nayeon! Let’s go to class.”

After walking Nayeon to her lecture hall, Sichang sat in his own classroom, his mind entirely elsewhere.

The venomous whispers of those female students refused to leave his head.

‘Do I truly deserve to be with Nayeon…? Do we even suit each other?’

This agonizing doubt clung to Sichang like a curse, tormenting him relentlessly.

***

[‘TVM Pygmalion Effect’ Episode 12 Peaks at 8.9% – Nielsen Korea Nationwide]

As Sichang and Nayeon’s romance reached maximum sweetness, the viewership ratings surged in parallel.

[User1: Ah, this is too good! So sweet, so sweet!! Writer, give us more sugar!]
[User2: My dead romance cells are reviving. You were still alive! Guys T_T]
[User3: But wasn’t that a breakup signal… No, Writer, please T_T]

Wrapping up his shoot for the day, Kyuha was enjoying a rare, quiet evening at home when his phone rang.

[Gyeoul]

“Oh? Gyeoul, it has been a while! Have you been well?”

“Kyuha!! I know you are busy, but isn’t it a bit harsh to not contact me at all?”

“Sorry, sorry. Things have been incredibly hectic.”

“Hehe, I am just joking. I know exactly how busy you are. Honestly, I called to brag and say thank you. The ‘Song of Yearning’ climbed all the way to 9th place on the Kiwi Chart!!!! This is massive!!”

“Wow, 9th? I heard it was gaining popularity, but I didn’t realize it had climbed that high.”

“Thanks to you, the agency said we need to row while the water is in, so they want me to start working on a follow-up track immediately! It is all thanks to you. Thank you.”

“It is because you are a talented singer. I had nothing to do with it. Regardless, congratulations.”

“I am Han Gyeoul, a woman of loyalty! I am not some shameless person who just accepts favors without paying them back. You get a break after this drama wraps, right?”

“The agency will probably give me two or three months off.”

“Then let’s go somewhere together during that time! The OST did so well, so I want to buy a ton of gifts for the kids at the orphanage and treat you to a delicious meal.”

“Oh? That sounds like a great idea. Let’s do that.”

“You promised, okay!? No backing out later.”

Having secured a future promise with Kyuha, Gyeoul ended the call and pulled the blanket over her head.

“Kyaa~! Yes, yes! That was natural! Perfect. I didn’t seem weird, right?”

Truthfully, Han Gyeoul was an avid viewer of the ‘Pygmalion Effect’. Watching Kyuha and Seola act so incredibly sweet together on screen had stirred a strange, inexplicable sense of spite within her.

It bordered on jealousy. Inexperienced with such emotions, seeing Seola appear closer to Kyuha than she was made Gyeoul feel as if a close older brother had been stolen away from her.

“Ah, what should I wear that day? I need to ask the stylist unnie.”

***

Time flowed like a raging river, and before anyone realized, the ‘Pygmalion Effect’ was barreling toward its final destination: Episode 16.

[Pygmalion Effect]

The happy days felt as though they would last an eternity, but reality proved cruel. Nayeon’s family—effectively a quasi-chaebol—caught wind of Sichang’s existence.

Nayeon’s mother hired investigators to dig into Sichang’s background. Discovering his utterly unremarkable family and lack of prospects, she ruthlessly ordered Nayeon to end the relationship.

For the first time in her life, Nayeon rebelled against her parents. Yet, buckling under their relentless pressure and unyielding demands, she eventually exhausted herself and decided to break up with Sichang.

Unable to reveal the agonizing truth, Nayeon buried her feelings and coldly demanded a breakup.

Devastated, Sichang blamed his own inadequacy and slammed the doors to his heart shut once more.

A few days later, Nayeon’s closest friend, Hyojoo, sought out Sichang, who was living like a hollow shell.

“Do you honestly believe you are the only one hurting in this world? Because of you, Nayeon is currently…”

“What?”

Hearing the entire, unfiltered truth from Hyojoo, Sichang experienced a bizarre sensation. His mind went entirely blank, yet the furious pounding of his heart echoed deafeningly in his ears.

Rage, sorrow, and a twisted sense of joy washed over him simultaneously.

The rage was directed at his own pathetic self for wasting his days doing absolutely nothing. The sorrow stemmed from the agonizing realization that Nayeon had forced herself to end things despite still loving him. And the joy… came from knowing she hadn’t broken up with him because she hated him.

Sichang stayed up all night writing a sincere, heartfelt letter for Nayeon.

‘Thank you for being the light that pierced the absolute darkness of my life. Thank you for showering a lacking person like me with undeserved love, and for showing me just how beautiful the world can be. I am far too inadequate to stand by your side right now, but the next time I appear, I will be a completely different man. I truly hope you are always happy. Until the day we meet again, stay well. Goodbye.’

That very day, Sichang took a leave of absence from the university and boarded a flight to France.

8 Years Later.

[Asia Times]
Did you know that there are Korean artists who command massive fame overseas yet remain virtually unknown within their homeland?

Today, we would like to introduce a Korean artist whose sheer genius has been universally recognized abroad. Specifically, he is an artist so coveted by France—the nation of art itself—that they actively encouraged him to naturalize.

In 2022, France selected the three most outstanding sculptors in the world. Britain’s Henry James, America’s Alexander Moore, and the final artist… Korean sculptor Lee Sichang.

The French government formally invited them to host the ‘Exhibition of the Three Grand Masters,’ officially recognizing them as the world’s top three sculptors.

Henry James’s masterpieces were displayed in the ‘Château de Bagatelle Gardens,’ while Alexander Moore’s works graced the ‘Place de la Défense.’ And Lee Sichang’s creations were exhibited in the premier ‘Salle Saint-Jean’ museum. Considering the immense difficulty Asian artists face in showcasing their work in the West, this is an unprecedented honor.

Foreign media outlets have concluded that South Korea’s standing in the global art world has now rivaled that of Hong Kong…

“Sichang…”

Now 28 years old and a college graduate, Nayeon spent her hectic days working in the marketing team of her father’s mid-sized trading company.

Stumbling upon the article in the Asia Times, a whirlwind of complex emotions consumed her.

How many nights had she spent crying in her room after reading his final letter?

She knew he would change, but she never imagined he would achieve such monumental fame.

Yet, a sense of pride swelled within her. Smiling, she reminisced about those days, realizing she had been the first person to truly recognize his genius.

“That’s wonderful… I am so happy for you, Sichang.”

“Assistant Manager Jung! Is the DP proposal for this exhibition almost ready?”

“Yes, it is nearly done! I will send it over before 3 PM.”

At the request of Deputy Department Head Park from the sales team, Nayeon refocused on her monitor.

The grueling workday finally ended. As she commuted home, she found herself inexplicably soaked in nostalgia.

Perhaps that was why she altered her route, suddenly possessing a strong urge to visit her alma mater.

The campus had transformed significantly over the years.

The place once known as the ‘Tiger Convenience Store’ had become a ‘Heaven Eleven,’ and a massive ‘Star Coffee’ franchise now occupied the main gate.

“It has changed so much.”

Wandering the grounds, she revisited the cafe where she and Sichang used to study and the restaurants they frequented, drowning in memories. Eventually, she found herself walking down the Cherry Blossom Path.

Though night had fallen, the path was illuminated by a row of beautiful lights, transforming it into a breathtaking sight.

As she fondly recalled walking down this very path with Sichang so long ago, her eyes inadvertently drifted toward the bench beneath the largest cherry blossom tree. Her eyes widened.

“You’re here? Did I make you wait too long? I am sorry. I won’t ever do that again.”

Tears of absolute joy welled in Nayeon’s wide eyes.

***

“Great work, everyone!!”

“Thank you for your hard work!!!”

Boasting an atmosphere far warmer than any typical drama set, the official filming for the ‘Pygmalion Effect’ finally concluded.

As it was the final shoot, the set buzzed with a mix of vibrant energy and lingering sorrow. Though Jung Seola’s face bore the fatigue of back-to-back filming schedules, she never once lost her smile, consistently acting as the mood maker. The other staff members, equally reluctant to let the moment pass, relentlessly snapped photos in front of the set.

“You worked incredibly hard. I was truly happy to be able to act with you.”

“I feel the same, Seola. You worked hard too.”

“Hehe, I will see you at the wrap party then!!”

At last, the final episode of the highly debated and controversial ‘Pygmalion Effect’ aired. The following morning, the internet erupted with an avalanche of articles.