Chapter 26

“Do we really have to go this far?”  

“Yes, we absolutely do. This outfit is K-brand’s S/S collection, so be careful with it! I’m only lending it to you because it’s you.”  

Mi-yeon clapped her hands, impressed by Seol-rin’s more dressed-up appearance. It was a far cry from the plain shirts and slacks she usually wore to work, making her look slightly out of place.  

“Isn’t this… too revealing?”  

Seol-rin scrutinized herself in the mirror, her face full of worry. The fitted knit dress accentuated her slender yet curvy figure, making her feel self-conscious.  

“Wow, I thought you were all skin and bones, but you’re actually quite shapely, huh?”  

“Pfft, I’m not completely flat, you know.”  

Encouraged by Mi-yeon’s compliment, Seol-rin struck a model-like pose, twisting her waist dramatically. Mi-yeon shook her head in exasperation at the ridiculous sight.  

“Okay, stop right there.”  

“Ehehe…”  

“Anyway, you got what I said, right? Make sure you talk to the professor today!”  

“Whew. Do you think I’ll come off as too obvious?”  

“It’s not about being obvious; it’s about being appropriate. Give the professor a little room to interpret things. Show him that you’re interested too.”  

“I’m not confident, but… I’ll do my best.”  

Resolving herself, Seol-rin nodded. As she prepared to leave for work, Mi-yeon suddenly grabbed her wrist in alarm.  

“Hey, Jin Seol-rin!”  

“Ow, that hurts! What?”  

“What’s with those ratty sneakers? They don’t match your outfit at all!”  

“Oh…”  

If Mi-yeon hadn’t pointed it out, Seol-rin would have gone to work wearing the same old sneakers she had on at home. As Mi-yeon said, the worn-out sneakers clashed horribly with the knit dress.  

“Ugh, hold on.”  

Not only had Mi-yeon lent her a brand-new dress, but she also pulled out a pair of pristine bootie heels from her shoe cabinet and placed them in front of Seol-rin. The fact that she was willing to lend out a pair she had barely worn herself was a testament to their deep friendship.  

“These look expensive… Are you sure I can wear them?”  

Hesitating to put them on, Seol-rin looked up at Mi-yeon, who placed a firm hand on her shoulder and said resolutely, 

“No more talking. Just wear them. And make sure you repay me for this later, got it?”  

“Thank you… really…”  

With a deeply moved expression, Seol-rin slipped on the heels. The added height made her feel significantly taller. After giving Seol-rin’s outfit a final once-over, Mi-yeon nodded in satisfaction.  

“Go get him, Jin Seol-rin! Seduce the professor!”  

“Ugh, stop it.”  

The word “seduce” was so embarrassing that Seol-rin’s face turned red, but she couldn’t help but smile.  

***

The bathroom door swung open. Tae-oh stepped out, breaking through the dense steam. With a large towel wrapped around his lower body, he shook his hair dry and walked toward the dressing room with an elegance that seemed effortless.  

The lights in the dressing room flicked on, illuminating Tae-oh’s figure in a radiant glow. His jet-black hair, now damp, contrasted starkly with his marble-white skin. The muscles that adorned his body, neither excessive nor lacking, made him look like a perfectly sculpted statue.  

The dressing room, meticulously organized with coats, shirts, trousers, and accessories all neatly arranged by category, reflected its owner’s razor-sharp personality.  

Reaching for his usual white shirt, Tae-oh suddenly stopped in his tracks.  

“Am I wearing this too often…”  

It was a thought he had never entertained before. With an unusually serious expression, Tae-oh began choosing what to wear for the day.  

Instead, he pulled out a black shirt and black slacks and stood in front of the mirror. His brows knitted in dissatisfaction.  

“I look like the Grim Reaper.”  

Perhaps it was the combination of his pitch-black hair and his almost ghostly pale skin that gave off that impression. After much deliberation, he finally settled on a far more casual outfit than usual.  

A blue-toned shirt paired with beige cotton pants. While his usual attire for lectures was an impeccable suit, he figured that, with the semester yet to begin, this style might be acceptable for once.  

“My skin…”  

Even after choosing his outfit, he couldn’t shake off his concerns. His skin appeared unusually dull today, and his usual hairstyle felt awkward.  

What bothered him the most, however, were the round, silver-framed glasses he was wearing. His original horn-rimmed glasses had long since been broken—thanks to Seol-rin stepping on them—and he had been using these silver frames ever since.  

‘Professor, why do you wear glasses when your eyesight is fine? You look so much better without them.’

The memory of her fleeting comment crossed his mind, and after a moment of hesitation, Tae-oh carefully removed his glasses.  

The sharp eyes staring back at him from the mirror seemed to glare menacingly. Tae-oh silently observed his reflection before abruptly turning his head away in distaste.  

It took him another thirty minutes of deliberation to finally finish getting ready for work.  

***

“Hmm, Professor….”

Tae-oh quietly observed Seol-rin, who had fallen asleep, her head resting on the table. She was so deeply intoxicated that she resembled Snow White after eating the poisoned apple, showing no signs of waking up.  

“Assistant Jin, wake up. Seol-rin.”  

Tae-oh gently called out to her, but she didn’t so much as stir. It wasn’t even 10 p.m., yet she was completely unresponsive.  

How had it come to this? 

Shaking his head in disbelief, Tae-oh recalled what had happened earlier that morning.  

‘Professor! Are you free for dinner after work today?’ 

‘Dinner? Today?’

‘Yes! If you’re busy, it’s fine…’  

‘I’m free. Let’s have dinner.’

She had asked him outright about dinner as soon as he arrived at work. Finishing his tasks early, he had taken her to a barbecue restaurant a little distance from campus.  

Lately, Seol-rin had looked pale and seemed to be losing weight. He had wanted to make sure she ate something substantial.  

Initially, he hadn’t planned on ordering alcohol. They had awkwardly eaten a few pieces of meat when Seol-rin suddenly spoke up.  

‘Professor! Should we order some drinks?’  

‘Drinks? I drove here.’  

‘Then don’t drink, Professor! I’ll drink by myself.’  

‘Are you sure that’s okay?’ 

‘It’s fine! No problem at all! I just feel like drinking tonight. Haha.’ 

Despite her confident claim, she had passed out after only a few drinks. Tae-oh frowned. 

Was this what people meant when they called someone a ‘lightweight’?  

He found it surprising, considering how much she had handled during office gatherings in the past.  

“Assistant Jin Seol-rin, I’ll take you home, so try to pull yourself together.”  

“Mm… Just leave me here.”  

“Ha…”  

After several failed attempts to wake her, Tae-oh finally gave up. Looking around, he sighed and helped her to her feet.  

He vaguely remembered her mentioning that she lived near the school. Deciding to head back toward campus, he supported her as they made their way outside.  

Seol-rin, cradled in his broad arms, swayed like a deflated balloon. The cold night air seemed to bring her back to her senses slightly, as she mumbled in a slurred voice.  

“Professor Ma Tae-oh…”  

“Are you feeling better? Where’s your house? I’ll take you there.”  

“Hmm… Where was it again? I don’t remember.”  

“…Don’t joke around.”  

“I’m serious. I really don’t remember.”  

She was the very definition of a troublesome drunk. Despite the frustrating situation, Tae-oh maintained his calm tone and asked again.  

“Try to think carefully.”  

“Actually, I don’t have a home… I don’t have a home. Sob sob.”  

“…Your drinking habits are terrible. Seol-rin, you’ll catch a cold like this. Please, pull yourself together, okay?”  

Desperate, Tae-oh even dropped the formalities as he called out to her repeatedly. He couldn’t understand why she had chosen to wear such thin and short clothing on a day like this, and it made him even more anxious.  

He gently shook her, trying to snap her out of her drunken stupor, but it was no use.  

Most people, no matter how drunk, somehow managed to find their way home. Yet here she was, completely clueless about her own address.  

“Wait, I can’t go home like this!”  

“What are you talking about now?”  

“I need to settle something with you, Professor. Hehe.”  

“Whatever it is, I’ll listen tomorrow. Let’s just get you home, Seol-rin.”  

“Oh, come on! You’re so frustrating!”  

As Tae-oh stood there, unsure of what to do, Seol-rin finally spoke up.  

“Fine… Professor, I like you. I’ve made up my mind. Let’s go home!”  

“That’s the best thing I’ve heard all night. Alright, let’s go home.”  

Tae-oh’s expression brightened at her agreement to go home. The late winter wind was still bitterly cold, and all he wanted was to get her somewhere warm.  

“So, tell me your address.”  

“Nooo… Not my house…”  

Then, leaning her face against Tae-oh’s firm shoulder, she made an incredibly dangerous suggestion.  

“Can’t I go to your house instead?”  

“Good grief.”  

This assistant of his was truly… something else.