Chapter 24

For a moment, Seol-rin was tempted by Yeon-woo’s suggestion. Her apartment was undergoing leak repairs, leaving her unable to return home, and she was too unwell to keep staying at sauna houses.  

Moreover, Yeon-woo’s house was so luxurious that it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Still, she eventually shook her head.  

‘No matter how broke or desperate I am, this isn’t right.’  

After all, she was an assistant. She couldn’t impose on the home of a freshman who hadn’t even started school yet.  

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll just take your kindness to heart. I have to go to work tomorrow anyway.”  

“Then at least stay until tomorrow morning. It’s late, and you still need to finish the IV drip. Please?”  

Yeon-woo’s drooping eyes looked like those of a puppy abandoned by its owner. When she first met him, she thought he was an arrogant brat, but now she realized he had a soft heart.  

Sensing an opportunity, Jin-hyung chimed in.  

“Well, you can stay until morning. Yeon-woo has a schedule in the provinces tomorrow morning, so we can drop you off at school.”  

“Oh…”  

“See, Noona? Just make yourself at home.”

Seol-rin hesitated, and Yeon-woo’s eyes sparkled as he nodded eagerly.  

“Then, I’ll just impose for today. Thank you so much…”  

“Oh, it’s nothing! Then rest well, Noona! Hyung, let’s go out and let Assistant-noona rest.”  

Fearing she might change her mind, Yeon-woo hastily got up, dragged Jin-hyung out of the room, and closed the door behind them.  

“Noona, I’ll turn off the lights.”  

“Ah, w-wait!”  

Her breath caught in her throat. Even in her cramped rooftop room, she always slept with a nightlight on. If the lights were turned off in such a large room, she wouldn’t be able to endure the terrifying darkness.  

“Hm? Noona, why?”  

“Well… I’m sorry to ask since I’m already imposing, but can you leave the lights on while I sleep? I’m scared of the dark.”  

“What? Noona, you’re scared of the dark?”  

“Mm-hmm…”  

“Of course, of course. You can leave the lights on as much as you want.”  

Yeon-woo’s expression changed with every word Seol-rin spoke. Watching this, Jin-hyung clicked his tongue in disapproval.  

‘What’s wrong with that kid all of a sudden?’  

From his days as a hungry trainee to becoming a top idol, Yeon-woo had always been indifferent to women. Perhaps the ordinary nature of this woman sparked his curiosity after being surrounded by only the most glamorous women in the entertainment industry. Jin-hyung couldn’t understand Yeon-woo’s reaction.  

To him, Seol-rin seemed like just an ordinary, plain woman. Seeing Yeon-woo react so strongly to her every word was baffling.  

Soon, with a soft click, the door to Seol-rin’s room closed. Jin-hyung turned to Yeon-woo, who was grinning from ear to ear, and asked bluntly,  

“Do you like that assistant?”  

“W-what!”  

Yeon-woo jumped as if he’d been ambushed. His face turned pale, worried that Seol-rin might overhear from inside the room.  

“Hyung! What if Noona hears you!”  

“Hear what? Do you know how much I invested in soundproofing this apartment just to suit your picky tastes, Cha Yeon-woo?”  

“…That’s true.”  

“Anyway, be honest with me.”  

“About what?”  

“When did you start liking her?”  

“Um…”  

Yeon-woo’s face grew serious. He wasn’t so oblivious as to not recognize his feelings. The main reason he wanted to start school as soon as possible was to see Seol-rin again.  

Even during interviews or photo shoots, Seol-rin would suddenly pop into his mind.  

“I don’t know. Maybe… that day when I asked her to write my academic plan for me. Assistant-noona told me to make sure I ate properly.”  

“She told you to eat properly? What’s so special about that?”  

“Exactly. It’s nothing special, but somehow it became special to me.”  

“Aish, I don’t get it.”  

Jin-hyung shook his head, exasperated. How could he stop a young man in love? At least the person Yeon-woo had fallen for was an older, mature assistant at the university. She seemed like a sensible woman who would know how to handle the situation.  

“At any rate, don’t say anything weird to her, Hyung.”  

“Alright, alright.”  

As expected, Yeon-woo warned Jin-hyung sternly. Jin-hyung, feigning innocence, glanced at Yeon-woo’s earnest expression again.  

He was only twenty-three. An age when others would be dating and falling in love like it was nothing, but for Yeon-woo, it was a careful and delicate matter.  

With a bitter smile, Jin-hyung bit his lip for a moment before steeling his resolve.  

***

“Really, you don’t have to drive me to school…”  

“What are you talking about, Noona? Of course, I’ll take you!”  

“Hey, Cha Yeon-woo. I’m the one driving, okay? Technically, I’m the one taking the assistant to school!”  

The van was filled with noise from early in the morning. Yeon-woo had insisted on personally escorting Seol-rin to her workplace.  

Fortunately, thanks to the IV drip she had received overnight, Seol-rin’s condition had improved significantly. Grateful for the help she had received, she said,  

“Cha Yeon-woo, thank you so much for everything. Once the semester starts, come visit the assistant’s office. I’ll treat you to a meal.”  

“Really?”  

“Of course.”  

“Then I’ll use this first.”  

Yeon-woo pulled something out of his wallet. Upon closer inspection, it was a crumpled meal ticket.  

“Remember the meal ticket you gave me? I still haven’t used it. When the semester starts, I’ll use this first. Promise?”  

“Pfft, okay.”  

Finding it endearing, Seol-rin smiled softly. The more she got to know him, the more surprising he seemed. Despite living in such a luxurious home, he had treasured a simple meal ticket. Cha Yeon-woo was full of unexpected traits.  

As they chatted, they soon arrived at the university. Yeon-woo, wearing a cap and mask, insisted on walking her to the department office.  

Though a little flustered by his excessive kindness, Seol-rin reluctantly walked with him. Thankfully, it was still early before work hours, and the campus was relatively empty.  

When they reached the office, Yeon-woo looked visibly disappointed.  

“Assistant-noona, please take care of your health. Don’t collapse again, okay?”  

“Yes, thank you. Now hurry back. Your manager must be waiting.”  

“Ah, I can’t wait for the semester to start so I can see you every day.”  

“What?”  

“Nothing, nothing! I’ll get going now. See you soon, Noona!”  

Yeon-woo waved enthusiastically as he walked away, his cheerful smile making Seol-rin unconsciously break into a motherly smile.  

“So this is why people become idol fans. He’s just too adorable.”  

“Who’s so adorable?”  

“…Professor!”  

Startled by the voice behind her, Seol-rin turned around to find Ma Tae-oh standing there with his usual dignified expression.  

His cold gaze swept over her, scrutinizing her appearance. His expression grew even more severe.  

“You’re wearing the same clothes as yesterday.”  

“Oh…”  

Only then did she realize she hadn’t brought a change of clothes. In her rush to leave the house, she hadn’t packed properly. And since she had spent the night at Cha Yeon-woo’s house, she hadn’t had the chance to change.  

Tae-oh’s sharp gaze bore into her. His displeasure was evident as he furrowed his brow deeply.

‘You came with Cha Yeon-woo.’  

In truth, he had been watching closely since Cha Yeon-woo’s van entered through the main gate. He wondered why that guy suddenly came to the school, but then he saw that the person getting out of the van with him was Seol-rin.  

He wanted to ask her outright if she had been with Cha Yeon-woo last night. However, he held back, thinking it might be rude to Seol-rin.  

After all, the two of them maintained an ambiguous relationship as professor and assistant—nothing more, nothing less. Tae-oh called out to Seol-rin in a low voice.  

“Jin Seol-rin.”  

“Yes, yes?”  

At his unusually cold tone, Seol-rin swallowed hard. She didn’t think she had done anything wrong, but his expression made her feel like she needed to kneel and beg for forgiveness right away.  

Meanwhile, as Tae-oh called her name, he felt a whirlwind of strange emotions surging from deep within him.  

At first, he couldn’t figure out how to express the twisted feelings inside him, but when he looked into Seol-rin’s round eyes, he realized it instantly.  

“We need to finish the conversation we started, don’t we?”  

What he felt was unmistakable jealousy.  

“There’s herbal tea and coffee. Which one would you like?”  

“Uh, um… herbal tea, please.”  

“Wait here for a moment.”  

“Okay…”  

Before she realized it, she was already in Professor Ma Tae-oh’s research lab.  

Even though there’s a saying that you can survive even in a tiger’s den if you keep your wits about you, Tae-oh, who had been maintaining a cold expression, felt scarier to Seol-rin than any tiger.  

Soon, Tae-oh, who was sitting on the sofa across from her, carefully handed her a steaming paper cup.  

“Drink.”  

“Oh, yes. Thank you.”  

For a while, neither of them said a word. Seol-rin repeatedly sipped her tea, stealing glances at the professor. Her mind was racing.  

‘Ugh, this is so awkward I could die.’  

There was no way to retreat or escape now. The only option left was to face it head-on. She decided she would admit her mistake and apologize to the professor.  

She couldn’t keep avoiding him forever. Besides, Tae-oh’s expression looked extremely displeased. If she dragged this on any longer, who knew what might happen?