Chapter : 55
Maybe she had anticipated it.
If she faced her grandmother with reddened eyes, her heart would soften, and she wouldn’t be able to leave so easily.
“Wow… the older you get, the more you take after your mother.”
Seeing her grandmother, whom she hadn’t met in a long time, looking even thinner made Ju-hye feel sorry.
She couldn’t bring herself to pull away from her grandmother’s hand or leave the table first.
She had wanted to contact someone midway, but she hadn’t had a chance to check her phone.
Her grandmother had always shown special affection for Ju-hye since she was little.
She sometimes thought Ju-hye was the last gift her daughter had left for her, and because Ju-hye had been born weaker than her brothers, that affection was even stronger.
Ju-hye had naturally grown up under the protective care of her entire family.
Some people said that she, like a flower raised in a safe greenhouse, wouldn’t know the harshness of the world, but her family didn’t care about that.
At times, Ju-hye felt overwhelmed by their love.
She felt the pressure to live up to their expectations, yet when she sensed that all her family wanted from her was her health and nothing more, a sense of frustration followed.
“Please, Director.”
Finally, Ju-hye could leave only after the meal was long over.
Thanks to the secretary driving the car, at least her travel time was shorter.
[Senior, I’m sorry. My family meal ran late… Are you still near the station?]
Ju-hye hurriedly sent a message to Dae-hyeon, nervously biting her lips.
The secretary was already heading toward the station where they had planned to meet.
[It’s fine if you don’t come.]
The reply came immediately, but it wasn’t what she had hoped for.
Just in case, she sent her phone number via email, and soon, a call came from an unknown number.
Ju-hye, certain it was Dae-hyeon, answered with a trembling heart.
“H-Hello?”
- Ju-hye, it’s fine if you don’t come.
Dae-hyeon’s low voice sounded calm and pleasant.
He continued speaking gently and evenly.
- I’ve already checked the arboretum and organized the materials. I’ll send you the photos I took, so check them.
His tone was leisurely, but Ju-hye knew it couldn’t possibly be so simple.
She gasped, nearly dropping her phone before steadying it again.
“You… you investigated it alone, Senior?”
- No, I went with a friend… This phone was borrowed from a friend too.
Somehow, she thought she heard someone laughing faintly in the background.
- I forgot my phone, so I was just checking emails on my laptop. Sorry for the late reply.
Dae-hyeon’s voice was low and calm, with not a trace of emotion.
No sign of anger or irritation.
That composure made Ju-hye even more flustered.
“No! You don’t have to apologize, Senior. I’m the one who’s late… I’m really sorry.”
It would have been natural to question why he was late or even get angry.
Yet he had already organized the materials and said it was okay. How could a senior be so thoughtful?
Ju-hye felt grateful and didn’t know what to do with herself, pacing in place.
“I’m the one who was slow in contacting you. How about looking at it now?”
- I’m already in front of the school library. I plan to finish the materials and work on the script here.
Seeing Ju-hye’s anxious eyes as she hurried to check her location, Dae-hyeon, unaware of her feelings, whispered nonchalantly.
- You don’t need to come. Just review the script I’ll send by nine.
“Let’s do it together, Senior. If I don’t help with the script, it’ll feel… too…”
She felt guilty, but more than anything, she wanted a chance to apologize to him.
As if her desperate wish had reached the sky:
- Then borrow the book and meet me at the café in front of the main building. I have the laptop, so just come comfortably.
A faint laugh echoed through the phone.
“Ah… okay!”
- Don’t be too sorry.
Dae-hyeon ended the call with kind words.
Ju-hye immediately looked at the driver and shouted,
“Director! Please head to Hankuk University!”
The slow-moving car picked up speed.
Ju-hye’s flushed cheeks were reflected clearly against the car window.
Her heart raced at Dae-hyeon’s unexpectedly gentle attitude.
Fortunately, the road was clear, and Ju-hye arrived in front of the university on time.
She dismissed the secretary and hurried up the hill.
Among the wide campus, the large main building came into view first.
On the first floor, there was a café with a strong Nordic vibe.
‘That must be it.’
Upon opening the door, she spotted a man sprawled at the farthest table: Seo Dae-hyeon.
Ju-hye froze, taking a few steps closer, realizing he had fallen asleep exactly as she had expected.
“Ah…”
On the large table were an Americano, an old laptop, and three books.
The laptop screen was filled with photos he had taken of the arboretum today.
“Hmm.”
Sunlight poured transparently through the window. Ju-hye noticed a small crease on Dae-hyeon’s forehead, likely caused by the warmth of the sun on his face.
He usually wore a baseball cap, but today his black hair was fully exposed, and his straight nose stood out between the strands.
‘He must be hot.’
Ju-hye tiptoed closer and stood beside him.
Her shadow blocked the sunlight, and his face relaxed immediately.
A halo of light formed around his back.
Ju-hye, glancing at his handsome face, quietly reached out her hand, hoping to shield him from the sun.
“…!”
At that moment, Dae-hyeon opened his eyes.
Ju-hye froze before she could even react. He had grabbed her wrist the moment he woke.
“S-Senior?”
The veins on his strong hand stood out as he held her slender wrist.
Ju-hye stammered in pain, and Dae-hyeon looked at her with slightly blurred eyes before releasing her hand, startled a beat later.
“Sorry… I was startled.”
Red marks lingered where his grip had been.
But more concerning was the pale expression on his face, as if he had woken from a strange dream.
“Does your wrist hurt?”
“It’s okay. Did you have a bad dream or something?”
Upon hearing her worried voice, Dae-hyeon’s eyes flashed with caution.
“Did I talk in my sleep or something?”
He shook his head, denying it.
He hadn’t actually murmured in his sleep, just breathed quietly.
“I must have held it too tightly without realizing. There might be a mark… what should I do?”
Finally regaining composure, he brushed his sweat-damp hair aside.
His gaze was fixed on Ju-hye’s flushed wrist.
Ju-hye, meanwhile, had been focused on the sweat glistening on his forehead.
“Senior, here, use this.”
She fumbled through her bag and handed him a handkerchief.
Dae-hyeon accepted it with an awkward smile.
Something fell to the floor simultaneously: a business card tucked in the handkerchief.
“…?”
Dae-hyeon bent to pick it up, and Ju-hye gulped nervously.
The card clearly displayed Chairman Jin Soo-cheol’s name and title.
Seeing the name “Jinju Construction” on the square card, Dae-hyeon’s gaze flickered for a moment.
Though his expression didn’t change, it was clear he had read it.
Ju-hye’s mind raced to find an excuse.
“This… it’s a card I received from a relative.”
“Oh.”
“They work at Jinju Construction, and they…”
Ju-hye decided not to elaborate, sensing it would be Dae-hyeon’s consideration not to press further. She let a suitable lie slip.
She didn’t want to publicly reveal that she was the youngest daughter of Jinju Construction.
Fortunately, Dae-hyeon returned the card to her hand and moved his laptop to the center, seemingly losing interest.
“Let’s finish the script together.”
The laptop screen displayed the half-written presentation script.
“Ah… yes!”
Ju-hye’s face brightened as she replied, thinking to herself:
As expected, Senior Dae-hyeon is kind and considerate. I want to keep going to school with him…
Little did she imagine she would one day marry him.
