Chapter 9
The Nara Group headquarters wasn't just big—it was overwhelming.
A massive tower made of glass and steel, it stood tall in the heart of Seoul's most powerful business district. From far away, the whole building looked like it was glowing. Up close, it was even more impressive. The surface reflected sunlight like a mirror, and near the very top, the silver phoenix logo of Nara Group shone like a crown.
"Wow…" someone near the front of the bus whispered. "It's even more amazing than I imagined."
No one said anything, but everyone was thinking the same thing.
"It's been a long time since I last came here." I said to myself.
As the bus came to a stop in front of the private drop-off area, students straightened their clothes, checked their hair in their phone screens, and adjusted their university name tags. The air felt cooler here—sharp and serious.
Professor Lee stood first. "Alright," he said, adjusting his jacket. "Tags on, please. And let's be respectful. We are guests today, not tourists."
The bus doors opened with a soft hiss, and the group stepped off one by one.
At the main entrance stood a young woman from the PR team, dressed in a neat navy blazer and skirt. She held a tablet and greeted them with a polite smile.
"Welcome to Nara Group," she said warmly. "My name is Mina and we're honored to have you here today. I'll be assisting with the tour."
The group bowed slightly in return. Professor Lee stepped forward and shook her hand.
"Thank you for having us. Everyone," he turned to the students, "let's be sure to thank our hosts for their time and effort today."
Inside the building, the students entered a huge lobby. It was silent and cold in the most expensive-looking way. The floors were polished like glass, and the ceiling stretched high with large lights shaped like art pieces. Everything—walls, furniture, even the air—felt rich and perfectly controlled.
Standing inside near the elevator lobby was an older man in a tailored black suit. His hair was graying, but his posture was straight and his eyes sharp.
"That's Director Baek," someone whispered behind me.
"He's really one of the top guys at Nara…"
"Didn't he work with the founding family or something?"
Director Baek took a step forward. Though he didn't say anything right away, his presence alone made everyone quiet down.
Then his gaze shifted slightly, landing on someone near the center.
"Kang Dohyun," he said with a slight smile. "It's been a while."
Kang Dohyun, who had been standing quietly among the others, gave a small, respectful bow. "Good afternoon, Director Baek. My father sends his greetings."
Whispers broke out again across the group.
"I knew it—he's connected."
"Dohyun's dad must be huge if he knows Director Baek…"
Director Baek turned back to the group. He raised his voice slightly so everyone could hear.
"I'm pleased to welcome all of you today to Nara Group. This visit is more than just a tour—it's a chance to see what real industry leadership looks like. We didn't get here by luck. It took long-term strategy, tough decisions, and clear vision. I hope you pay close attention to how we work today—because the future of Korea's economy lies in your generation."
He paused, then added with a small smile, "And if you're lucky, maybe one of you will work here someday."
The students laughed quietly, some smiling nervously.
Professor Lee nodded beside him. "Thank you, Director. We're very grateful for this opportunity."
The woman from PR stepped forward again. "If everyone's ready, we'll begin the tour now—"
But before she could finish, the soft ding of the second elevator echoed behind them.
Click. Click.
The sharp sound of high heels echoed clearly through the marble lobby.
Everyone turned to look.
A tall woman stepped out of the elevator, walking with calm, confident steps. She wore a sleek black suit that hugged her figure neatly, and her dark hair was tied into a neat bun. Her red lipstick stood out against her pale skin, and her face looked like it belonged on a magazine cover.
On her chest, her name tag read in small print:
Yoo Harin – Executive Assistant.
Director Baek looked surprised. "Harin? What brings you down here?"
She bowed slightly. "Good afternoon, Director. I apologize for the sudden arrival. Chairwoman has asked me to personally lead today's student tour."
The room fell completely silent.
Even Director Baek blinked. "The Chairwoman sent… you?"
"Yes," Harin replied smoothly. "She wanted to ensure the students received proper guidance."
The students looked at one another in disbelief.
"She's the Chairwoman's assistant?!"
"Wait—are we that important?!"
"I thought this was just a student thing…"
Even Professor Lee looked shocked. "Ah… then we're truly honored."
Harin turned and faced the group with perfect posture.
"Good afternoon, students of XXX University," she said, her voice clear but gentle. "I'm Yoo Harin. As executive aide to Chairwoman Seo, I assist in high-level operations and manage several internal projects. Today, I've been asked to personally guide your visit."
She bowed again—elegant, composed. Her smile faint but warm.
"I'll be leading you through our key executive floors, including our finance and development wings. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I hope this visit gives you a better understanding of what it takes to manage a company at this level."
The students could hardly stay still.
"Whoa…"
"She's stunning…"
"Is she a model?"
"No way she's just an assistant…"
"She looks like an actress."
"I can't believe the CEO sent her assistant just for us."
I stood still, trying to stay calm—but my mind was spinning. Yuna sent Harin?
Why? Why send her and not someone else?
My thoughts were interrupted when someone from the back gasped.
"Wait!" It was a girl from the class. "I know her! Didn't she come to campus before? She delivered a letter last semester!"
Heads turned. Everyone froze.
Another voice added, "Yeah! That letter—wasn't it for Kim Haemin?"
Now every eye turned to me.
I felt my stomach drop. I had no idea what to say, so I just stared straight ahead, frozen.
But Harin didn't miss a beat. She smiled gently and stepped forward with practiced ease.
"Yes," she said smoothly, offering a polite smile. "That was me."
Her voice was calm and composed, but still soft and warm.
"There wasn't anything particularly special about that day. My younger sister got into a minor car accident near your university. It wasn't serious, but she was shaken up. Mr. Kim happened to be nearby and helped her—he called for help, stayed with her until someone arrived, and made sure she was okay."
I noticed a few students exchange surprised glances.
Harin continued without hesitation, "I wasn't there myself, but when I heard what happened, I wanted to thank him on her behalf. My sister wrote a short note, and since I had some free time that morning, I went to the campus to deliver it personally."
She gave a faint smile. "It wasn't an official visit—just a personal thank-you."
Then she chuckled lightly. "But I guess it must've looked more dramatic than it really was. That's all."
There was a moment of silence before quiet whispers started around me.
"Wait… that's it?"
"I thought it was something serious."
"Actually… that's kind of sweet."
"She has a younger sister? She must be insanely pretty too…"
Even Professor Lee let out a small laugh, clearly relieved. "Well, that explains it."
As the attention gradually shifted away, Harin turned her head ever so slightly—just enough to glance at me—and gave me a quick, playful wink before facing forward again, like nothing had happened.
Next to me, Hyunjae leaned in and whispered, "Dude, you seriously have the weirdest kind of luck. Who just randomly ends up helping Nara Group's top assistant? That's K-drama level stuff."
I gave him a nervous smile and looked down, unsure how to respond.
As the group started getting ready to move, Harin raised her hand in a graceful gesture. "Shall we begin?"
The PR team followed her lead, heading toward the elevators.
And as everyone filed in behind her, I looked up one last time toward the glass ceilings above, quietly hoping this day would end quickly and without any more surprises.