The rumors began before the first lecture even started.
They drifted through the hallways in quiet whispers, passed from one student to another between classes, growing a little more exaggerated each time they were repeated.
"Did you hear?"
"I saw them walking together yesterday."
"They've been paired together again."
"They even had lunch alone."
"I don't know... I think something's going on."
"No way."
"But why would Professor Kim keep putting them together?"
"I heard Choi Do-hyun smiled."
"Impossible."
"I'm serious!"
By the time the first bell rang, nearly half the Business Department had heard some version of the story.
Whether any of it was true...
No one seemed to care.
Rumors rarely needed truth to survive.
Yerin stepped through the university gates, unaware of the conversations that stopped the moment she walked past.
A group of second-year students lowered their voices.
Two first-years exchanged knowing glances.
Someone nudged their friend with a grin.
She noticed the stares.
She simply ignored them.
She had learned long ago that paying attention to gossip only gave it more life.
A few moments later, another black sedan rolled into the parking lot.
Do-hyun stepped out, adjusting the strap of his backpack over one shoulder.
The white bandage around his right hand remained hidden beneath the sleeve of his blazer, but observant eyes still caught it.
As always, conversations paused when he passed.
Unlike Yerin...
He didn't even notice.
Or perhaps...
He simply didn't care.
"Morning!"
Emily practically tackled Yerin into a hug.
"You look much better today."
"I finally slept."
"...For more than three hours?"
Yerin smiled.
"Maybe four."
Emily nodded approvingly.
"Progress."
Min-jae appeared a second later, balancing two cups of coffee and somehow managing not to spill either.
"I have officially decided," he announced dramatically, "that whoever invented morning lectures deserves prison."
Emily accepted one of the coffees.
He handed the other cup to Yerin.
She accepted it with a grateful smile.
"Thanks."
"Don't thank me."
He pointed toward the campus café.
"Thank the poor barista who looked half asleep making it."
Emily laughed.
"I think that's because you ordered six extra shots of espresso."
"I like making responsible decisions."
"No..."
Emily corrected.
"You like making dangerous decisions."
Before Min-jae could defend himself, Do-hyun approached them.
"Morning."
Emily's eyebrows shot up.
"Did..."
She looked at Yerin.
"...Did he just greet us first?"
Min-jae blinked.
"I'm writing today's date down."
Do-hyun looked mildly confused.
"What?"
Emily folded her arms.
"You're becoming social."
"I said one word."
"It counts."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Yerin's lips.
Do-hyun noticed.
He looked away almost immediately.
None of them realized...
Across the courtyard, another pair of eyes had been watching the entire interaction.
Seo Jina stood beside the fountain with two of her friends.
One of them tilted her head.
"Do-hyun seems... different lately."
Jina kept her eyes on the group.
"...Doesn't he?"
Her friend lowered her voice.
"They've been together a lot recently."
"The project," Jina answered automatically.
"Maybe."
"But people don't smile like that over a project."
Jina didn't reply.
Instead...
She watched Yerin laugh at something Min-jae had said.
Then she noticed it.
Do-hyun.
He wasn't laughing.
But he was watching Yerin.
Not obviously.
Not romantically.
Just...
Watching.
It lasted only a second.
Then he looked away.
Still...
Jina saw enough.
Something had changed.
She just didn't know what.
Professor Kim's lecture passed more quickly than expected.
For once, there were no surprise quizzes.
No presentations.
Only a reminder that the paired project was due in less than two weeks.
As soon as class ended, students flooded into the hallway.
Emily stretched dramatically.
"I vote food."
"I second that," Min-jae agreed instantly.
Yerin laughed softly, slipping her notebook into her bag.
"I'll meet you there."
Emily looked at her.
"Library first?"
Yerin nodded.
"I need to borrow a reference book before someone else takes it."
Do-hyun adjusted the folder beneath his arm.
"I need the same book."
Emily slowly looked between the two of them.
Then a mischievous smile appeared on her face.
"What a coincidence."
Min-jae sighed.
"Don't start."
"I'm not saying anything."
"You don't have to."
Yerin rolled her eyes.
"We'll be ten minutes."
Emily waved dramatically as they walked away.
"Don't flirt too much."
Yerin stopped mid-step.
She turned around slowly.
"...Emily."
Emily grinned.
"I'm joking!"
"...Mostly."
Yerin sighed while Do-hyun simply continued walking as though he hadn't heard a single word.
Emily watched them disappear into the library entrance.
Then quietly folded her arms.
Her smile slowly faded.
"They're smiling more..."
She whispered.
"...but something still feels wrong."
Min-jae glanced toward the library.
He nodded.
"For the first time..."
"...I agree."
The university library was unusually quiet.
Only the soft turning of pages and the occasional tapping of laptop keys disturbed the silence. Sunlight filtered through the tall glass windows, casting warm patterns across rows of bookshelves that stretched from one end of the room to the other.
Yerin walked toward the business section with practiced familiarity.
She stopped in front of a shelf.
"The book should be here..."
She scanned the titles one by one.
Nothing.
A small sigh escaped her lips.
"So much for being early."
Do-hyun, standing a few feet away, reached toward the top shelf.
Without a word, he pulled out a thick navy-blue textbook.
"Looking for this?"
Yerin looked up.
Her eyes widened.
"How did you—"
"You've been staring at the empty space where it belonged."
She laughed softly.
"I didn't even notice."
He handed it to her.
"Our professor recommended this edition."
"Thank you."
She took the book from him, their fingers brushing for the briefest moment.
Neither commented on it.
Instead, they walked toward an empty table near the window.
For a while...
The only sounds between them were pages turning and pens moving across paper.
Unlike before, the silence wasn't awkward.
It was... comfortable.
After nearly twenty minutes, Yerin leaned back in her chair and rubbed her temples.
"I think my brain officially stopped working."
Do-hyun didn't look up from his notes.
"It lasted longer than Min-jae's."
She laughed.
"That's not exactly a high standard."
"No."
"It isn't."
She looked at him curiously.
"You're joking more."
"I am?"
"You didn't before."
He paused.
"I guess..."
"...I'm spending too much time with you three."
She raised an eyebrow.
"So we're a bad influence?"
"I didn't say that."
"You implied it."
"I'll neither confirm nor deny."
Yerin smiled.
"You know..."
"...you're funnier than people think."
He looked genuinely surprised.
"I've never heard that before."
"That's because nobody waits long enough."
For a brief moment...
Neither of them realized they were smiling.
After another hour, Yerin closed her notebook.
"My hand hurts."
"From writing?"
She nodded.
"You?"
Do-hyun glanced at the pages in front of him.
"My left hand hurts."
She looked at him in confusion.
"You write with your right."
"I've been trying not to use it."
Only then did she notice.
Every note he had written that afternoon was in his left handwriting.
Messy.
Uneven.
Completely different from his usual neat writing.
She couldn't help smiling.
"I never thought I'd see Choi Do-hyun with bad handwriting."
"It isn't bad."
She held up one of his pages.
"I can't read half of this."
He looked at it.
"...Neither can I."
Yerin burst into soft laughter.
A real one.
Loud enough that a librarian looked up from across the room.
The elderly woman adjusted her glasses.
"Quiet, please."
Yerin immediately covered her mouth.
"I'm sorry."
The librarian smiled kindly before returning to her desk.
Yerin lowered her voice.
"...Now you've gotten me in trouble."
"You laughed."
"So?"
"I'll consider that my victory."
She narrowed her eyes playfully.
"You're impossible."
"I've heard that before."
"From Emily?"
"And Min-jae."
"I wonder why."
As the laughter faded, Yerin's eyes wandered toward the large windows overlooking the campus gardens.
Students crossed the paths below, enjoying the afternoon sunshine.
A camera hanging from another student's shoulder caught her attention.
She watched it disappear into the distance.
"You like photography."
Do-hyun's voice broke the silence.
She blinked.
"How do you know that?"
"You were watching the camera."
"So?"
"You've done it before."
She stared at him.
"Were you always this observant?"
"I notice patterns."
She smiled in defeat.
"...Yeah."
"I do."
"My brother bought me my first camera when I was fifteen."
"I've loved it ever since."
"What do you photograph?"
She looked out the window again.
"People."
He seemed surprised.
"I thought you'd say landscapes."
She shook her head.
"Landscapes don't smile."
He considered her answer.
"So you like moments."
She nodded.
"The ones people don't realize they're giving you."
She smiled softly.
"My favorite photographs are the ones where people forget the camera is there."
He looked at her quietly.
"...Interesting."
"What about you?"
He looked down at the open book in front of him.
"I read."
"I know that."
"No..."
He smiled faintly.
"I mean history."
"And philosophy."
She looked genuinely surprised.
"I thought you'd say business."
"I already study business."
"So reading more business would feel like homework."
She laughed.
"Fair point."
He closed his book.
"History reminds me that every generation thinks their problems are unique."
"And philosophy?"
"It reminds me..."
He paused.
"...that people have been searching for the same answers for thousands of years."
Yerin rested her chin on her hand.
"I didn't expect that answer."
"Most people don't ask."
Before she could reply, voices drifted in from behind one of the bookshelves.
"...I told you they were here."
"...Keep your head down."
"...You're too tall, Min-jae!"
Yerin frowned.
"...Was that..."
Do-hyun closed his eyes for a brief second.
"...Yes."
Slowly...
Two very familiar faces peeked out from behind the bookshelf.
Emily.
And Min-jae.
Emily gasped dramatically.
"...We've been discovered."
Min-jae looked offended.
"I told you this hiding place was terrible."
"You picked it!"
"You agreed!"
Yerin stared at them in disbelief.
"Were you two..."
Emily smiled sheepishly.
"...Passing by?"
"No."
"...Checking on us?"
Emily scratched the back of her neck.
"...Maybe a little."
Do-hyun sighed.
"I knew it."
Yerin covered her face with one hand, trying not to laugh.
"I can't believe you two."
Emily walked over and dropped into the empty chair beside her.
"We were worried!"
"Worried?"
"You've both been acting strange all week."
Min-jae nodded enthusiastically.
"So we started an investigation."
Yerin blinked.
"...An investigation?"
Emily proudly folded her arms.
"Operation: Why Are They So Weird."
Silence.
Then...
Even Do-hyun laughed.
A quiet, genuine laugh.
Yerin looked at Do-hyun.
Then smiled to herself.
Maybe...
Things weren't as hopeless as they had seemed a few days ago.
The bell echoed through the library, breaking the comfortable silence.
Emily immediately looked up from her phone.
"Oh no."
Yerin smiled.
"What happened?"
"We have Professor Lee's lecture."
Min-jae groaned dramatically.
"I was hoping the university would cancel it."
Emily stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"They're not going to cancel a class because you're lazy."
"I'm not lazy."
"You absolutely are."
"I prefer academically exhausted."
Emily laughed.
"You've been academically exhausted since first year."
Min-jae clutched his chest in fake offense.
"That was personal."
"It was accurate."
Yerin shook her head with a smile.
"You two should leave before Professor Lee locks the door."
Emily sighed.
"Fine."
She pointed at Yerin.
"Don't leave without telling me."
"I won't."
Then she looked toward Do-hyun.
"Take care of our project partner."
"I'll try."
"Good."
Still teasing one another, Emily and Min-jae left the library.
As soon as they stepped outside, a group of boys from Min-jae's class called his name.
"Min-jae!"
He turned.
"Oh..."
"It's the football committee meeting."
Emily looked at him.
"Go."
"What about you?"
"I'll head to class."
"You sure?"
She nodded.
"Hurry before your captain kills you."
Min-jae laughed.
"Fine."
"I owe you lunch."
"You owe me more than lunch."
He waved before jogging toward the group of boys waiting across the courtyard.
Emily rolled her eyes.
"He'll definitely forget."
Then she adjusted the strap of her bag and walked toward the Business Building alone.
The main corridor was crowded.
Students moved between classrooms while conversations echoed through the hallways.
Emily had almost reached the staircase when she heard laughter behind her.
"Look who it is."
She turned.
Four girls stood near the lockers.
She recognized them immediately.
They were from the Business Department.
One of them smiled sweetly.
Too sweetly.
"You're Yerin's best friend, right?"
Emily already knew this wasn't going anywhere good.
"What do you want?"
"Oh, nothing."
"We were just talking."
"About what?"
Another girl answered.
"About your friend."
Emily folded her arms.
"What about her?"
The girl shrugged.
"It's impressive."
Emily frowned.
"...What's impressive?"
"How quickly she managed to get close to Choi Do-hyun."
The girls laughed.
Emily's expression darkened.
"Watch what you're saying."
One of them leaned against the lockers.
"Why?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"They're together every day."
"They're always alone."
Another girl smirked.
"I wonder what she's doing to keep him interested."
Emily took one slow step forward.
"Take that back."
The smile on the girl's face only widened.
"Did I lie?"
"Yes."
"I don't think so."
Another girl laughed.
"Girls like Yerin always act innocent."
Emily's jaw tightened.
"You don't know her."
"We know enough."
"You know nothing."
The surrounding students began slowing down.
They could sense an argument brewing.
The first girl crossed her arms.
"I heard she only became his partner because she wanted to get close to him."
Emily laughed once.
A cold laugh.
"...You're pathetic."
The girl's smile disappeared.
"What did you say?"
"I said you're pathetic."
Emily stepped closer.
"You've never spoken to her."
"You don't know anything about her."
"And yet you stand here making up stories because you're jealous."
The girl scoffed.
"Jealous?"
"Of her?"
Emily nodded.
"Exactly."
The girl's face hardened.
Without warning—
She deliberately shoved Emily's shoulder.
Not hard.
Just enough.
Emily looked down at her shoulder.
Then back at the girl.
"You just made a mistake."
The girl smirked.
"Oh?"
"What are you going to do?"
Emily's patience finally snapped.
She shoved the girl back.
Hard enough for her to stumble into her friends.
Gasps erupted through the corridor.
Students immediately stopped walking.
Someone shouted,
"They're fighting!"
The girl regained her balance and charged toward Emily.
Emily grabbed her wrist before she could swing.
The other girls rushed forward.
One pulled Emily's bag.
Another tried to push her from behind.
Emily shoved one away.
"Get off me!"
"Then stop acting tough!"
"I'm not acting."
Within seconds...
The argument had turned into complete chaos.
Students formed a large circle around them.
Some tried to separate them.
Others simply watched.
Several phones were already recording.
One frightened first-year looked toward the library.
"...Someone get Hwang Yerin!"
Without wasting another second...
He ran.
Inside the library...
Yerin looked up as the first-year burst through the doors, breathing heavily.
"Hwang Yerin!"
She immediately stood.
"What happened?"
"It's Emily!"
"She's fighting outside!"
"The girls were talking about you and Choi Do-hyun..."
"...and now everyone's gathered around them!"
Yerin's expression changed instantly.
She didn't ask another question.
She grabbed her bag and ran.
Do-hyun stood up at the exact same moment.
"I'm coming."
Neither of them looked back.
The books, notebooks, and papers remained scattered across the table as they disappeared through the library doors.
By the time Yerin and Do-hyun reached the Business Building...
The crowd had doubled.
Students filled the corridor from one end to the other, standing on tiptoes, whispering to one another while several phones remained pointed toward the center of the commotion.
"What happened?"
"I heard Emily punched someone."
"No, they pushed her first."
"Is a professor coming?"
"I don't know."
Yerin's heart sank.
She pushed through the crowd.
"Excuse me."
"Move, please."
Students immediately stepped aside the moment they recognized her.
At the center of the circle...
Emily's hair was slightly messy, her breathing uneven. One of the girls was being held back by her friends, still shouting insults.
The moment Emily saw Yerin...
Her expression changed.
"Yerin—"
Yerin gently caught her wrist before she could say another word.
"Are you hurt?"
Emily shook her head.
"No."
"They started saying things about you."
"I know."
"They kept calling you—"
"I know."
"They even dragged Do-hyun into it."
Yerin gave her arm a reassuring squeeze.
"I heard enough."
She slowly stepped in front of Emily.
The movement was so natural that Emily didn't even realize she had been moved behind Yerin until she was no longer facing the girls.
Do-hyun remained a few steps behind.
His eyes never left Yerin.
One of the girls let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Well..."
"The main character finally showed up."
Another folded her arms.
"What?"
"Going to cry now?"
Yerin looked at them calmly.
There wasn't a hint of anger on her face.
Only composure.
"You've said enough."
The girls exchanged amused glances.
One of them shrugged.
"We're just telling the truth."
Yerin met her eyes.
"No."
"You're spreading rumors."
"And now you're involving people who have nothing to do with them."
The girl scoffed.
"So?"
Yerin answered without hesitation.
"So stay away from my people."
The corridor fell silent.
Emily looked at Yerin in surprise.
My people...
Those words alone were enough to make her anger disappear.
The girls, however, only laughed.
"Your people?"
One of them smirked.
"Who do you think you are?"
Another stepped forward.
"And if we don't?"
"What are you going to do?"
Several students exchanged uneasy glances.
They expected shouting.
An argument.
Maybe even another fight.
Instead...
Yerin simply looked at them.
For a long moment...
She said nothing.
Then...
She began walking forward.
One slow step.
Then another.
The girls stopped smiling.
She didn't stop until she was standing directly in front of the girl who had started everything.
Barely a few inches separated them.
The girl instinctively took half a step back.
Yerin noticed.
So did everyone else.
Yerin lowered her voice.
Not enough to hide it.
Just enough to force everyone to listen.
"I've ignored your whispers."
"I've ignored your stares."
"I've ignored every rumor you've spread."
A brief silence followed.
"But today..."
She looked directly into the girl's eyes.
"You dragged the people I care about into your games."
"You made Emily defend me."
"And you thought I would stay quiet."
The girl swallowed but forced herself to smile.
"Are you threatening me?"
Yerin's expression never changed.
"No."
A long pause.
"I'm giving you one warning."
The confidence slowly disappeared from the girl's face.
"You've mistaken my silence..."
"...for weakness."
Yerin leaned forward just enough for the girl to feel the weight of her words.
"So listen carefully."
"If I ever hear your name connected to Emily..."
"...or to Min jae... ir even to Do Hyun"
"...because of another lie..."
"I won't waste my time arguing with you."
"I won't create another scene."
"But I promise you this."
"You'll regret believing my kindness meant I wouldn't protect the people standing beside me."
Complete silence.
Not a single whisper.
Not a single laugh.
The corridor felt frozen.
The girl opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
She couldn't meet Yerin's eyes anymore.
Yerin straightened herself.
Her voice returned to its usual calm tone.
"Now..."
She looked at each of them.
"Walk away."
No one argued.
No one smirked.
One by one, the girls lowered their heads and walked past her.
The crowd automatically parted to let them leave.
Only after they disappeared did the corridor slowly come back to life.
Students immediately began whispering among themselves.
"I've never seen Yerin like that."
"She didn't even yell..."
"That was scarier than shouting."
"I thought those girls were going to cry."
Yerin ignored every word.
She turned around.
"Emily."
Emily blinked.
"Hm?"
"Let's go."
Emily nodded quietly.
As they began walking away, Emily looked at Yerin with wide eyes.
"...Remind me never to make you angry."
A small smile tugged at Yerin's lips.
"I wasn't angry."
Emily stared at her for a second before looking at Do-hyun.
"Did you hear that?"
Do-hyun gave the faintest smile.
"I did."
Emily shook her head dramatically.
"That's somehow even scarier."
For the first time that afternoon...
Yerin laughed.
A genuine laugh.
The tension finally melted away as the three of them walked down the corridor together, leaving behind nothing but a crowd that would be talking about Hwang Yerin for the rest of the semester.
The three of them walked out of the Business Building in silence.
The noise of the corridor slowly faded behind them, replaced by the rustling of leaves as they stepped onto the tree-lined pathway that led toward the university gardens.
Emily let out a long sigh.
"...I think I just lost five years of my life."
Yerin glanced at her.
"Only five?"
Emily looked at her in disbelief.
"You're joking?"
"A little."
Emily stopped walking.
"I almost got into a fight."
"You did."
"I was defending you."
"I know."
"And you're making jokes?"
Yerin smiled faintly.
"Because you're okay."
Emily looked away, trying to hide the smile creeping onto her face.
"...You're impossible."
"And you're reckless."
Emily scratched the back of her neck.
"...Maybe."
"Not maybe."
"You are."
"I know."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Emily suddenly wrapped both arms around Yerin without warning.
Yerin blinked.
"Emily?"
"I'm still mad."
"At who?"
"Those girls."
She tightened the hug.
"They had no right to say those things."
Yerin slowly hugged her back.
"I've dealt with people like that before."
"I don't care."
Emily pulled away just enough to look at her.
"You shouldn't have to."
A warm smile appeared on Yerin's face.
"Thank you."
Emily smiled back.
"I'd do it again."
"I know."
"And next time..."
She folded her arms proudly.
"...I'll win."
Yerin laughed.
"There won't be a next time."
Emily raised an eyebrow.
"How are you so sure?"
Yerin glanced back toward the Business Building.
"Because I don't think they'll try again."
A few steps behind them...
Do-hyun walked quietly with his hands in his pockets.
His eyes lingered on the two friends.
He had always believed loyalty was something people talked about.
Today...
He had watched it.
Emily had willingly stood in front of four girls to defend Yerin.
And Yerin had done exactly the same for Emily.
Neither of them had hesitated.
It was... unfamiliar.
He couldn't remember the last time someone had defended him simply because they cared.
His thoughts were interrupted when Emily suddenly turned around.
"Do-hyun."
He looked up.
"Yes?"
Emily narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"You've been awfully quiet."
"I usually am."
"I know."
"But today you're quieter."
He considered that.
"...Maybe."
Emily smiled mischievously.
"Were you impressed?"
He knew exactly what she meant.
He looked toward Yerin for a brief second before answering.
"...Yes."
Emily's grin widened.
"I knew it."
Yerin looked between them.
"Knew what?"
Emily walked closer until she was beside Do-hyun.
"You've never seen Yerin angry before, have you?"
"No."
"And?"
Do-hyun looked ahead again.
"I don't think she was angry."
Emily frowned.
"What?"
He smiled faintly.
"She was protecting someone."
Yerin's footsteps slowed.
She hadn't expected that answer.
Neither had Emily.
After a few seconds, Emily nodded.
"...You're right."
She turned toward Yerin.
"You really weren't angry."
Yerin looked down at the pathway.
"No."
"I was disappointed."
"Disappointed?"
"They could've insulted me all they wanted."
"I wouldn't have cared."
She looked at Emily.
"But they involved someone I love like a sister."
Emily's smile disappeared.
"And they involved someone who had done nothing wrong."
For a brief moment...
Her eyes met Do-hyun's.
Neither of them looked away.
The air between them grew strangely quiet.
Then—
"AHEM!"
Emily dramatically cleared her throat.
The two of them immediately looked away.
Emily tried her best not to laugh.
"...Should I leave?"
Yerin blinked.
"What?"
"You two were having a moment."
"We weren't."
"You absolutely were."
"We were talking."
"With your eyes."
Yerin sighed.
"I've officially decided."
Emily smiled innocently.
"What?"
"I should've let those girls argue with you for another minute."
Emily gasped dramatically.
"You wound me."
"I was protecting you."
"And now you're threatening me."
Yerin shook her head, laughing softly.
"I'll never understand you."
"You don't have to."
Emily happily linked her arm through Yerin's.
"That's what makes me interesting."
Do-hyun watched the two of them bicker again.
For the first time in a long while...
He found himself wishing the walk back to the parking lot was just a little longer.
Because for those few quiet minutes...
He wasn't thinking about family expectations.
Or arranged marriages.
Or the future waiting for him.
He was simply...
Enjoying their company.
Far behind them, on the second-floor balcony overlooking the gardens, Seo Jina stood silently.
She had watched everything.
Not just the confrontation.
But what came after.
The laughter.
The teasing.
The ease with which Do-hyun now walked beside Yerin.
She lowered her eyes.
"...Something really has changed."
For the first time since she had met Choi Do-hyun...
She felt as though she was slowly losing sight of him.
And somehow...
That unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.
By the time the three of them reached the university parking lot, the sun had begun to sink behind the city skyline.
Golden light stretched across the campus, painting long shadows over the pavement.
Emily checked the time on her phone.
"I completely forgot..."
"What?"
"I promised my mom I'd be home early today."
Yerin smiled.
"Then you should leave."
Emily nodded before turning to Do-hyun.
"Take care."
"I will."
Then she pointed at both of them, narrowing her eyes dramatically.
"And don't let the rumors become true."
Yerin sighed.
"Emily..."
"I'm kidding!"
Before Yerin could respond, Emily laughed and hurried toward the university gate, waving over her shoulder.
"See you tomorrow!"
Yerin shook her head.
"She's impossible."
Do-hyun gave a faint smile.
"I've noticed."
Only the two of them remained.
The parking lot was unusually quiet.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
The silence between them no longer felt awkward.
It had become... familiar.
Yerin unlocked her sports car.
Before opening the door, she looked at Do-hyun.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
"...Tomorrow."
She gave a small nod before getting into the driver's seat.
The engine came to life with a soft growl.
Do-hyun watched as the car slowly disappeared through the university gates.
For some reason...
He didn't leave immediately.
Instead, he stood there for another few seconds before walking toward his own car.
His phone vibrated.
Father.
He answered.
"Yes."
His father's calm voice came through the speaker.
"Come straight home."
"I have something important to discuss."
Before Do-hyun could ask another question...
The call ended.
He stared at the blank screen for a moment.
"...Important."
For some reason...
He already had a bad feeling.
At the Hwang Mansion...
The evening was unusually peaceful.
Dinner had just ended.
The family gathered in the sitting room while servants quietly cleared the dining table.
Ji-hoon stretched comfortably against the sofa.
"I'm finally free tomorrow afternoon."
His grandmother smiled warmly.
"Then spend some time with your sister."
Ji-hoon glanced toward Yerin.
"Depends."
"On what?"
"Whether Her Highness decides to acknowledge my existence."
Yerin looked up from her cup of tea.
"I acknowledged you this morning."
"You told me to pass the salt."
"Exactly."
"That's not affection."
Their grandmother laughed softly.
"You two never change."
Just then...
The butler entered the room.
He bowed respectfully.
"Madam."
Everyone turned toward him.
"Mr. Hwang asked me to deliver a message."
Yerin's father looked up from the newspaper in his hands.
"What is it?"
"The Choi family has accepted tomorrow evening's invitation."
The room became noticeably quieter.
The butler continued.
"They will arrive at seven o'clock."
Ji-hoon's smile slowly disappeared.
Their grandmother exchanged a brief glance with Yerin's parents.
Yerin looked between them.
"...Tomorrow?"
Her father folded the newspaper neatly before placing it on the table.
"Yes."
"They'll be joining us for dinner."
"For what reason?"
A brief silence followed.
Her mother smiled gently.
"We'll discuss it together tomorrow."
It wasn't an answer.
Yerin noticed.
So did Ji-hoon.
He looked toward his father.
"Dad..."
"Is this about the marriage?"
No one answered.
That silence...
Told him everything.
Across the city...
Do-hyun had just entered the Choi residence.
His father was already waiting in the study.
Without looking up from the documents on his desk, he spoke.
"The Hwang family has invited us for dinner tomorrow evening."
Do-hyun remained standing.
"I know."
His father closed the file.
"This dinner is important."
"I expect you to conduct yourself accordingly."
"...Yes, Father."
"You understand why we're going."
Do-hyun's jaw tightened.
"...I do."
His father studied him for a long moment.
"Good."
"Don't disappoint me."
Dismissed with only those words...
Do-hyun quietly left the study.
The heavy wooden door closed behind him.
He paused in the hallway.
For the first time...
Tomorrow didn't feel like another ordinary family dinner.
It felt...
Like the beginning of something neither he nor Yerin had asked for.
That same night...
In separate homes.
Under the same moonlit sky.
Yerin stood on the balcony outside her room, staring at the city lights stretching endlessly into the distance.
Across town...
Do-hyun stood by the window of his bedroom, equally lost in thought.
Neither of them knew what tomorrow would bring.
But somehow...
They both shared the same uneasy feeling.
The future they had been trying to ignore...
Was finally beginning to catch up with them.
...To Be Continued...