Netkama Punch!!!

Party Whisper Chat
PYuna: What?

PYuna: With Saenyang-nim?
From that moment on, I could tell Yuna had started to become conscious of me. After that polite greeting earlier, this was the first time she actually tried to talk to me directly.
Party Whisper Chat

PYuna: Are you and Heejae real-life friends? Haha
PSaenyang: No
I caught on quickly and drew a clear line, not wanting to get in the middle of anything—but of course, that bastard Heejae had to make some ominous comment like he was doing it on purpose.

Party Whisper Chat
PSeYoung’sHusband: Not friends
PSeYoung’sHusband: We live together ha

"Hey! What the hell are you saying?!"
I immediately punched Shin Heejae in the arm beside me, but the guy just let me hit him and kept typing with a straight face.
Party Whisper Chat

PSeYoung’sHusband: She’s even giving me a massage rn lol
PSaenyang: tf are you even talking about
I tried to actively shut down Heejae’s nonsense while nervously glancing at Yuna’s reaction.

That’s when Yuna spoke up.
Party Whisper Chat
PYuna: No way lol are you guys together right now?

PYuna: If you’re at Heejae’s place, invite me too haha
PYuna: I live nearby, only like 10 mins away~
Her tone made it sound like she’d been to his place before. That suspicion only grew stronger with her next messages.
Party Whisper Chat

PYuna: I actually left some clothes there last time after we drank
PYuna: Was gonna pick them up...
PYuna: Figured I could say hi while I’m at it lol

I gave Shin Heejae a very cold stare.
Seriously… what kind of situation leads to a girl leaving her clothes at a guy’s house? And Shin Heejae lives alone. Even if I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, it was hard not to.
To top it off, he didn’t even deny it. Just calmly replied.

Party Whisper Chat
PSeYoung’sHusband: Can’t
PSeYoung’sHusband: Not home rn

PYuna: Where are you?
PSeYoung’sHusband: Why do you care lol
PYuna: What’s with that tone, you’re so annoying lmao

PYuna: Then when are you giving me my clothes back!!
He kind of brushed her off, but their exchange clearly gave off “at least close friends” energy. No, honestly, it felt more like Yuna was way too accommodating with him.
‘…Does she really like Shin Heejae?’

The thought made me keep watching them more closely.
Party Whisper Chat
PYuna: And you keep saying you’ll treat me to dinner but never do –_–

PSeYoung’sHusband: When did I ever say I would? lol
PYuna: Are you kidding?? You always mooch off me!!
PSeYoung’sHusband: Send me your bank info then lol

PYuna: Nah haha. I’m gonna get revenge by eating something even pricier
PSeYoung’sHusband: Dream big ㅇ.ㅇ
PYuna: Let’s go for sushi-grade tuna ㅇ.ㅇ

‘…Yeah, she definitely likes him.’
I mean, Shin Heejae’s appearance is—well, when I first saw him on Insta, I thought he looked almost suspiciously good-looking. So it made sense that Yuna might have a thing for him.
But still. I couldn’t understand how she could keep liking him while having that kind of conversation. Like, sure, his face is one thing, but how do you date a guy who never pays for meals?

"Hey… are you, like, a car-poor loser or something?"
"What did you just say?"
Then it hit me—his flashy imported car. At first, I wondered why someone driving a car that nice never paid for food. But maybe… he’s blowing all his cash on keeping up that car, and that’s why he can’t afford anything else?

And the fact that he was staying at my place instead of his own in Gangnam… maybe it wasn’t just to mess with me. Maybe he literally didn’t have anywhere else to go?
‘Rent in Gangnam must be insane. Did he ditch his own place and crash here instead?’
It was a pathetic thought, but not totally unbelievable, so I asked without thinking much. But Shin Heejae turned beet red, as if I’d just insulted him to his core.

"Do I look that broke to you?"
"Huh?"
"Are you fucking serious right now? Noona, I make good money."

"……"
Even if he did, if all that money goes into his car every month, wouldn’t that still make him a car-poor loser? He couldn’t bear my silence and scrutiny and shot up from his seat.
"I said I’m not broke! Where the hell is this coming from?!"

"……"
"Wait—noona. Did you think my car was my entire net worth?"
"…Well, just, I mean… you're crashing at my place and…"

"What?"
"I just thought maybe… I dunno, could be possible…?"
"……"

"I'm not telling you to leave or anything. Just saying…"
Before I could even finish, Shin Heejae's jaw dropped—and then he started screaming louder than when I kicked his Audi.
"Wow!! So you really did think I was some broke-ass loser?!"

"…That’s not what I meant…"
"Then why’d you look at me like that?"
‘…Is he that embarrassed?’

I didn’t feel like teasing him. He looked like he’d explode if I poked him even slightly.
Shin Heejae, looking genuinely shaken, suddenly grabbed his phone off the desk and opened his banking app to shove it in my face.
"Look, this is my savings. Fuck—hold on. Stocks too…"

But what popped up on screen was a big fat minus in front of the numbers. And it looked like a lot. I had no idea why he thought this would help. Dude’s in serious debt.
"…Wait, this is all loans…?"
"Huh? Oh, that? I bought a house."

He said it confidently, but I’d never even seen his place, and I only saw the amount, not the details, so I wasn’t inclined to believe him.
"Hmm…"
Apparently, my skepticism pushed him over the edge. He started stomping his feet, looking like he was about to cry from sheer injustice.

"I’m telling you, I’m not some car-poor loser!!"
"…Okay. I never said you were. I just asked."
"Then what was with that sour face?!"

"I didn’t even say anything. You’re the one freaking out ‘cause you feel guilty or something…"
Shin Heejae glared at me, eyes blazing.
"This is fucking unreal. I’ve gotten you so many gifts, and this is how you think of me…?"

I responded weakly.
"Yeah but… ever since you got here… you’ve just been mooching off me."
"……"

He looked like he wanted to argue, but clearly remembered the times I bought him delivery or snacks from the convenience store. He hadn't opened his wallet once since showing up here.
His expression totally fell apart, and he kept biting his lips—then suddenly slumped into his chair.
"This is so fucking annoying…!"

"……"
"I mean, it’s just—ugh! Fuck…"
I pretended not to hear his muttering. After a while, he finally said in ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) a gloomy voice:

"…Noona. I do have money."
"……"
"I’ve been doing crypto since two years ago. I made a shit ton, seriously."

At the word "crypto," I mentally shook my head—but nodded on the outside.
"Okay, fine. Whatever."
But Heejae wasn’t done venting.

"It just… hurts, okay? You lumped me in with those pathetic car-obsessed losers. That’s so insulting."
"……"
"That’s why, isn’t it?"

"What is?"
"Why you don’t like me."
"…Ha."

Looking at that dumb head of his, jumping to the conclusion that I didn’t like him because he seemed broke—completely forgetting his own behavior—I couldn’t help but sigh.
Did he really think I judged people based on their income? That’s what pissed me off. The problem wasn’t how much money he had—it was what kind of brain he had.
But instead of moping, Shin Heejae suddenly looked… relieved? A bit brighter, even. Then he grabbed my hand.

"Noona, wanna go to the department store tomorrow?"
"What?"
"I’ll buy you a watch or something."

He unbuckled the one on his wrist and tried to strap it onto mine. I yanked my hand back before he could fasten it.
"No thanks! I don’t need it."
"Why not? Don’t like it? It’s like… 3 million won."

That number caught me off guard, and I glanced down at the watch that was now loosely sitting on my wrist. But Heejae, not noticing my expression, just kept going like a kid on Christmas.
"I can get you something even more expensive if you want. What brands do you like?"
"……"

I couldn’t say a word as I stared at his hopeful, expectant face.
It wasn’t the smug grin of someone who thought money could buy affection. It was a strangely pure smile… like he really thought this would work.