Chapter 6
I walked into the lecture hall with just a few minutes to spare. The place was already buzzing with that early-morning energy—half the students still yawning, the other half scrolling their phones with coffee cups in hand.
Hyunjae waved at me from the back row like he was trying to flag down a helicopter. "Yo, Haemin! Over here!"
I sighed and dragged myself toward him, already feeling a dozen eyes burning into my back. "Can you not yell like that every time you see me? People are staring. I'm not a celebrity."
"Yet," he said with a smirk, peeling open a pack of gum like it was some VIP offering. "You're the only best friend I've got. Let me be proud."
I stared at the gum. "You act like this is a drama and I'm your long-lost brother."
"Exactly," he said, shoving a piece in his mouth. "Tragic backstory pending."
I rolled my eyes and took the seat beside him. "One day, I'm going to pretend I don't know you."
"Then I'll just yell louder."
"Suit yourself."
I sank into the chair beside him, sliding my bag under the table. My eyes were heavy. My body sore in places I didn't want to think about. The corner of my cheek still tingled faintly.
"Rough night?" he asked, eyeing me.
I gave him a bland look. "You don't know the half of it."
He chuckled under his breath. "Man, sometimes I envy you. Then I look at your face and think, 'Nah, I'm good being single.'"
"I thought you were dating that girl from psychology?"
"Turned out she had a boyfriend in the military." He sighed. "I'm always the side character in someone else's love story."
I laughed softly, even though it hurt to smile.
Hyunjae elbowed me. "You could at least pretend your life isn't a mystery. You show up with dark circles, a silver ring, and not a single photo of your wife. I'm dying to know who she is."
"That's the point. It's private."
"Yeah, but come on. She's gotta be stunning. You're literally one of the top ten best-looking guys on campus and somehow married before graduation."
I shook my head, hiding a half-smile. "You need new friends if I made your top ten."
"Nah, I stand by it. Short king with symmetrical features? Girls go crazy for that now."
"Stop."
He grinned but backed off as the professor entered, calling for attention. I sat up straighter, pen in hand, pretending to focus. But my thoughts were still tangled—half in the classroom, half still lingering about last night's
I swallowed hard.
"Good morning, everyone," Professor Lee said, placing his laptop onto the desk. "Before we dive into the main content today, I have an announcement."
Chairs squeaked as students sat up straighter.
"As part of your industry exposure program, the university has arranged a group visit to one of the country's most prominent conglomerates."
I glanced up.
"Next Monday, we'll be touring the Seoul headquarters of Nara Group."
For a moment, no one spoke.
I already stunned.
Then the entire classroom erupted like someone had just dropped a firecracker in the middle of the aisle.
"Wait—what?! Nara Group?!"
"Are you serious? That's like the top company in Korea!"
"The one that owns half the skyline?"
"They never do tours for undergrads, right?"
Professor Lee raised a hand, chuckling as he tried to calm the growing buzz. "Yes, that Nara Group. We've arranged a guided corporate tour—focused on their finance and economic operations. It's part of your practical industry exposure credit."
Chairs squeaked. Pens clattered. A few people even pulled out their phones to text someone on the spot.
"But how did we even land this?" someone in the front asked. "I thought Nara Group didn't take university groups—unless it's graduate or MBA students."
Professor Lee smiled. "Actually, we have someone in this class to thank for that."
The room quieted again.
His eyes scanned the back of the room. "You all know Kang Dohyun, right?"
Heads turned—some confused, others already murmuring.
"His father is a long-time acquaintance of Director Baek—one of Nara's top executives. Thanks to that personal connection, the company agreed to host your class for a special corporate tour."
Professor Lee nodded. "So make sure you dress appropriately and show your gratitude. This kind of opportunity doesn't come around often."
Right then, the side door creaked open—and he walked in.
Kang Dohyun.
Perfect timing, of course.
Tall, clean-cut, dressed like he'd just stepped out of a private boardroom. Slim-fit black pants, a pressed white button-up, a designer watch peeking out from under his sleeve. His steps were confident but calm, like the entire world adjusted around his rhythm.
He didn't look around nervously or scan for a seat. He already knew where to go.
He walked straight to the second row, pulled out his chair, and sat down with perfect posture—silent, composed, untouched by the storm of whispers building around him.
"That's him?"
"Wait, he's in our class?"
"I thought he was on leave or something—he never comes."
"Yeah, he's always traveling for his family's business. I heard his dad owns a trade logistics firm that works with the government."
"Damn, no wonder Director Baek took the call…"
I sat near the back with Hyunjae, trying not to react—but something shifted in my chest.
I'd heard Kang Dohyun's name before. The kind of student who didn't need to attend every class to pass. The kind of guy professors treated like a future leader. I always thought he was just another rich kid.
But now?
He was directly tied to Nara Group.
And not just Nara—but Director Baek.
Director Baek wasn't Yuna's close confidant—but he was one of the few senior executives who could walk into her office without an appointment. A man who, from what I'd overheard during a few late-night calls, handled some of the company's most sensitive logistics partnerships.
So what did it mean… that his friend's son was sitting two rows away from me?
Was it a coincidence?
I stared down at my notebook, the pages empty. My pen hovered uselessly over the margin.
Hyunjae nudged me. "Yo. You okay?"
I nodded once. "Yeah. Just… surprised."
"Same. I didn't even know that guy existed until now."
I forced a small smile.
But in my chest, something felt tight. Uneasy.
"Sir, wait—" Soojin, the outspoken student in the second row, raised her hand eagerly. "What about President Seo? Will we get to meet her?"
Some students gasped. Others instantly joined the chatter.
"Oh my god, Seo Yuna?"
"The Seo Yuna?"
"She's seriously amazing…"
"Isn't she like the youngest person to ever take over a major conglomerate?"
"Yeah. She became CEO at twenty-five, right? And she's only twenty-nine now."
"She's so cool. I watched one of her interviews—her answers were so calm and smart."
"And she's insanely beautiful too," someone added from the side. "Like, actual model-tier beautiful."
"I saw her on a cover of an economics magazine. She's seriously goals."
Haemin felt the buzz ripple around him like static electricity. But instead of excitement, a strange tightness settled in his chest. His thumb tapped anxiously against his pen.
Professor Lee chuckled lightly. "I figured this would happen. But no, don't get your hopes up. President Seo rarely makes public appearances outside of official business or international forums. She's incredibly busy and private, so no, there's no guarantee you'll see her."
"Still…" Soojin leaned toward her desk with a dreamy look. "What if we get lucky? I mean, we'll literally be in the same building."
"Maybe we'll walk past her in the hallway," one guy joked.
"Or catch a glimpse from a glass wall," another added, laughing.
"Just make sure you all behave professionally," Professor Lee said with a shake of his head. "It's an academic visit, not a fan meeting."
More laughter.
Haemin gave a small, forced smile as his classmates continued to chatter.
They saw her as an icon—intelligent, composed, stunning.
And none of them were wrong.
She was all of that.
The girl they admired wasn't fake. She just wasn't the full story.
As the class shifted back to their notes, Haemin leaned forward slightly, his brows drawing close together.
Hyunjae leaned toward me again. "You're unusually quiet. You good?"
I nodded, my eyes still glued to my notes.
"Bro, imagine if we actually saw the CEO. I heard she's gorgeous—but scary as hell. Like, stone-cold beauty type. Ice queen stuff."
I didn't reply.
______
The sky outside had already dimmed, streaks of orange bleeding into the city skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the executive meeting room.
I tapped the cap of my pen once against the folder and looked up from the financial breakdown.
"The Uijeongbu redevelopment bid is solid," Director Min said, his glasses slightly slipping down the bridge of his nose. "But if we want to push the city council in our favor, we need a stronger environmental compliance strategy."
I nodded once. "We'll have Legal run another revision of the land use plan over the weekend. Tighten the emission protocols. I want it cleaner than the competitor's bid."
"And if we succeed?" he asked.
"We will," I replied, flipping to the next page of projections. "And when we do, I want full media coverage coordinated with PR. Frame it as a sustainable growth initiative, not just another land grab."
Director Min smiled faintly. "Understood."
The meeting continued another twenty minutes—discussing contract adjustments, materials procurement, and labor partnerships. It was the usual end-of-week wrap-up, but I stayed sharp, even as the hours dragged on. I couldn't afford to slack.
Finally, I closed the folder and glanced at the time on my phone. 5:42 p.m.
"That's all for today," I said, rising from my seat.
Director Min stood and bowed slightly. "Have a good evening, Chairwoman."
I sat back for a moment, my eyes on the glass wall reflecting the late afternoon light. The day had been long—but not quite over.
A soft knock interrupted the quiet.
"Come in," I said.
Harin entered, carrying her tablet and a neat folder tucked under one arm. "Here's your schedule overview for Monday, Chairwomen."
"Go ahead."
She stood in front of the desk and began, "Your morning meeting is with the Daehan Group, scheduled at nine sharp."
I looked up from the table. "Daehan?"
"Yes, ma'am," she confirmed. "Their chairman requested the meeting directly."
I paused. "Daehan Group…" I repeated slowly, folding my hands on the desk. "That's one of the most powerful conglomerates families in Korea. They control the nation's largest shipping and logistics chain."
Harin nodded. "That's correct."
"And what exactly do they want from Nara Group?"
"They've expressed interest in discussing potential collaboration on regional infrastructure development. According to their team, it's a preliminary talk, but they're serious about securing our construction division."
I narrowed my gaze slightly. "Keep Legal on standby. If Daehan stepping into civil development, they're not just here to play nice."
"Understood," Harin replied, making a note on her tablet.
I leaned back. "Who's coming from their side?"
"They haven't confirmed the full delegation, but most likely the Chairman himself."
I didn't respond right away. Daehan rarely moved without purpose. If they were requesting a face-to-face with me, it wasn't just about logistics. There was something deeper under the surface—alliances, perhaps. Leverage. Or worse, politics.
"We'll deal with them," I said finally. "Keep the security protocol tight that morning."
"Yes, ma'am."
"If that's all, I'll head home right now."
But Harin didn't move. Her eyes flicked briefly to her tablet, then back at me.
"There's… one more thing," she said carefully.
I raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
She hesitated for a beat before speaking. "XXX University's economics department will be visiting our headquarters on Monday. Their arrival is scheduled for 2:00 p.m."
I blinked.
XXX University?
For a split second, I said nothing—processing the words, the sudden weight behind them. "Haemin's department?"
"Yes, Chairwomen," Harin replied, her voice measured but cautious.
"Why am I only hearing about this now?" I asked, sharper than intended.
Harin straightened. "Apologies, Chairwoman. I just received the confirmation from the PR department this afternoon. Apparently, Director Baek was also involved in the decision. It's part of our annual outreach program with universities, and the team in charge didn't flag it for your attention since it was considered a routine visit."
That old geezer. I sighed quietly. It wasn't anyone's fault—no one knew about my relationship, after all.
"Thank you for telling me."
Then after a beat, I added firmly, "From now on, if anything involves my husband—even indirectly—I want to be informed immediately. Understood?"
"Yes, Chairwoman. Understood." Harin lowered her head respectfully.
I leaned back in my chair, gathering my composure. "Make sure XXX group receives top-tier hospitality. I don't want even the smallest inconvenience during their visit."
"Yes, ma'am. I'll oversee it personally."
"Good." I stood and reached for my coat. "That will be all for today."
As I slipped my arm into the sleeve, Harin gave one final bow before exiting the office.
Once the door clicked shut, I turned toward the window again. The sun had dipped behind the buildings now, casting long shadows across the city. My reflection faintly shimmered in the glass.
Monday would be interesting.