Episode 6
After class, Yunseo straightened her posture and hurried toward the engineering building. If she didn’t pick up her pace, she wouldn’t make it to her major class on time.
The thought of trudging the inefficient route every week made her dizzy. Why is the engineering building so far away?
As she prepared to move, Dohyun suddenly blocked her path.
“Want to ride in my car?”
Yunseo froze for a moment but quickly shook her head.
Now that she understood the man’s true intentions, she felt even more compelled to avoid him. Don’t feed the trolls.
“No, it’s fine.”
“If you keep walking like that, you’ll be out of breath before you get there. And then… who are you going to seduce?”
“Why are you flirting?” she snapped.
“If a woman’s panting, what do you think a man is thinking about?”
“Vulgar. Don’t follow me, before I make a real issue of it.”
Her classmates loved coding more than women. In her department, the vast majority of students were men, and even during breaks, most were engrossed in laptops—testing games, showing off personal projects, or giving feedback.
“I told you I’d bring it to you.”
“So why?”
“I want to cheat on you.”
I think I’m crazy…
As Yunseo walked, her steps felt lighter this time. Dohyun had hooked his index finger onto her bag strap, lifting it just slightly. She narrowed her eyes and looked up—Do-hyun was smiling brightly.
Yunseo shoved his arm away and pushed forward. Her phone vibrated. As she tried to glance at the screen, Dohyun followed, half-turning to prop up the phone and hide it. His eyebrows furrowed.
“Don’t look. Why hide it? But you really won’t ride with me? There are only five of these in the country.”
Yunseo, with zero interest in cars, ignored him and finally glanced at the message.
[How about lunch this weekend? I lost the bet.]
It was from Jin-ho. This Saturday, she needed to visit the hospital where her father was admitted, settle the bill, and check on her younger brother, whose current state she didn’t fully know.
Their two-room apartment was too cramped for Grandma, Yunseo, and Junseo. Junseo had grown significantly during his first year of high school, so Yunseo moved into a dormitory, and Grandma stayed on as a live-in housekeeper.
I wonder if he’s eating well… Yunseo thought. During vacations, she usually checked on him. The mere sight of each other often led to fights, so living together might not suit either of them.
If Yunseo’s resentment was aimed at her mother for abandoning them, Junseo’s resentment was directed at her.
[I won’t be at the dorm Saturday. I have plans this week.]
[Then, should I meet you where you have your appointment? I can just drive there.]
[If you really want to buy it for me. But I have to run for class right now.]
[Should I go by car? Can you take me?]
Too late, brother.
Yunseo prepared to dash, but once again the hook on her bag caught on Dohyun’s finger. She strained her legs to regain balance as he pressed the car key, flashing the headlights of a nearby parking lot.
“Ride without losing your strength. You’ll really be late if you keep running.”
She realized he was right. Yunseo wasn’t physically strong, so running might not even get her there on time.
“You’re making me late, so give me a ride.”
“Then just this once. Because it’s my senior…”
She couldn’t risk being late.
This car was different from the one she saw last time. Its high ceiling made entering and exiting a struggle. She refused the hand he offered but Do-hyun chuckled, supporting her bag anyway. With some effort, she climbed into the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt.
The interior smelled clean and refreshing. The seats were spotless, immaculately maintained—unexpectedly so.
Do-hyun slid into the driver’s seat, handed Yunseo his phone, and started the car. He pressed the accelerator, fastened his own seatbelt, and turned the steering wheel with precision.
“You can call me.”
Hesitant, Yunseo watched him tap the wheel irregularly.
“You’re the only one who knows anything about culture. The only one.”
Do-hyun’s phone was a new model by Daekyung Electronics. Curious, Yunseo ran her thumb over the LCD. He glanced at her briefly before returning his eyes to the road. Weaving through traffic, occasionally swerving over the yellow center line, they arrived at the engineering building in no time.
“I almost would have been late because of you, but thanks anyway, senior.”
“Uh,” Do-hyun murmured, pressing a finger to his forehead, surprised by the word “thank you.”
“Next time, I won’t need this favor.”
She thought she should have run as soon as the liberal arts class ended. Meanwhile, he opened her door and offered his hand—a hand as large as a pot lid. His skin, untouched by hardship, was smooth and unwrinkled. Instead of placing her hand on his, Yunseo handed him the phone he had given her.
“If you’re grateful, give me your number.”
“I don’t like it…”
“Then I’ll drive you here every day after liberal arts class. Deal?”
“…No. I’ll walk.”
His eyes lingered in thought. “Just a moment,” he said, then retrieved something from the trunk: a brand-new Daekyung Electronics phone, still in its box. He offered it casually, like handing a snack to a friend. She took it, handing over her own phone in return.
“There are other colors for the car. When Daekyung Electronics releases them, they send them to all their cousins. Don’t use the iPhone.”
How could he give such an expensive gift to someone he barely knew?
“I’m going to be late, hurry up. Give me your phone.”
Unconsciously, Yunseo reached out. Do-hyun pressed her thumb firmly to turn on the screen.
I guess it’ll be fine since we’re taking liberal arts together. She tried to justify it. Her usual partner for liberal arts classes had changed plans due to her laptop malfunction. Normally, she preferred taking classes with a friend, but it seemed better to have him along than be alone.
He began dialing her number, and Yunseo’s curiosity spiked—but the subtle expression on his face made her uneasy.
“Still dialing…” she murmured, lifting her toes. She intended to dial her own number.
Do-hyun browsed his contacts:
[♡]
[love]
[self]
[lover]
Yunseo panicked as words were typed and erased. Just as she reached for the photo album, she snatched her phone away.
“What are you doing?”
Do-hyeon grinned, delighted by her dumbfounded expression.
“You don’t have a boyfriend?”
“…Seed.”
“Why? Swear more—it’s nice to see.”
Yunseo frowned, turning off her phone screen and tightening her bag strap.
“Do you really need to check that?”
“Of course. I’m the first woman with a lover. I almost joined Geumsa Cafe.”
“What kind of cafe?”
“I don’t know. Just go in.”
Glancing at his watch, Do-hyun lifted his chin. Yunseo tossed the box with the new phone onto the passenger seat and dashed upstairs to her classroom.
Seated in the front row, she opened her laptop and connected to Wi-Fi. Curiosity overwhelmed her, and she searched a few keywords on a portal site:
Geumsa Cafe
Adultery
Forbidden Love
Geumsa Dessert Restaurant
The Geumsa Cafe was meant for “forbidden love”—a chaotic gathering spot for illicit affairs.
If Kwon Do-hyun knew about it… she shuddered. She vowed that, even with financial freedom, she would never invest in DK. The risk was far too high.
The 10th-floor restaurant of Daekyeong Department Store buzzed with young people in their 20s and 30s on a weekend.
The modern design, catering to a younger crowd and shedding the traditional heavy vibe, led to rapid popularity. Social media buzzed with posts from influencers visiting the spot, and recently, wait times grew due to the “DK Hot Place Stamp Breaking” challenge.
The DK Group’s owner family arrived, accompanied by an entourage. Jackets were handed to the father and brother, and the father held the mother’s collar. Attendants discreetly photographed the scene, ensuring the images would spread online almost instantly.
“How many photos do you take while eating?”
Yunseo thought about skipping her gym session that morning because of a headache. That was why she avoided visiting her parents this weekend. Maybe I should just stay in the dorm too…
“I heard you were forced to leave. The professor called me.”
“…Oh, really? Stop teasing me.”
“After hearing that, I immediately removed your face from the scholarship brochure.”
Not a child, yet so embarrassing.
Why did professors keep reporting her library drinking to her brother? Is this Seoul Kindergarten, not Seoul National University?
