Chapter 39

“What brings you here……?”  

The person who barged into the department office without even knocking was none other than Gu Yu-na. She scanned both Seol-rin’s face and the office as though trying to find something to criticize.  

“I just came to see if you’re doing well.”  

Her words were absurd. She wasn’t Seol-rin’s direct supervisor, and there was no reason for a graduate student to assess whether an assistant was doing their job properly.  

When Seol-rin openly displayed her disbelief, Yu-na pouted her lips and added,  

“You’re getting paid with my tuition money, aren’t you?”  

“As you can see, I’m swamped with work. Just trying to earn that measly salary your tuition pays for.”  

Seol-rin gestured at the mountain of handouts piled on the desk as she shot back, but Yu-na still glared at her with dissatisfaction.  

‘Why does she get to stick around for so long? What does she have that I don’t?’  

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t understand. Unlike herself, who was dismissed within a month, Seol-rin had been holding onto the assistant position for several months now.  

What’s more, Seol-rin wasn’t even a graduate student of the university. She was someone who couldn’t land a proper job and had crawled into the assistant position out of desperation. Watching her act so full of herself made Yu-na’s stomach churn.  

“Jin Seol-rin, you.”  

“……?”  

“You don’t like Professor Ma Tae-oh, do you?”  

“……W-what are you talking about all of a sudden?”  

“Let’s be honest. A professor like him isn’t that much older than us, right? His looks could rival any celebrity and he’s so competent… It’s enough to make anyone go crazy. Don’t you think so?”  

Yu-na had a reason for being so direct. Every assistant who had worked for Professor Ma Tae-oh so far had fallen for him, only to be dismissed as soon as they did.  

Even she, who had confidently entered the position with the intention of seducing him within a month, ended up falling head over heels for him, confessing her love in a way that wasn’t part of her plan. It was truly baffling.  

The fact that Jin Seol-rin, who seemed utterly insignificant, had managed to stay as his assistant for so long could only mean one of two things:  

Either Jin Seol-rin had no interest in Ma Tae-oh at all…  

‘Or Professor Ma Tae-oh has started to take an interest in Jin Seol-rin.’  

Thinking it had to be one of the two, Yu-na raised her head and stared at Seol-rin. Her sharp gaze seemed as though it could pierce straight through Seol-rin’s soul.  

Meanwhile, Seol-rin, who was facing Yu-na alone, felt her pupils tremble with unease. Not long ago, she had secretly returned after a conversation with Tae-oh in his research lab. She was well aware that the start of a semester always brought various rumors, which made it all the more important to be cautious with her actions—especially in front of a cunning fox like Gu Yu-na.  

Quickly composing herself, Seol-rin looked at Yu-na with a calm expression. If she hesitated or stammered like an idiot, the consequences would fall entirely on Professor Ma Tae-oh. The last thing she wanted was for him to suffer because of her.  

“……Why would I like Professor Ma Tae-oh?”  

“You don’t?”  

“No, I don’t.”  

“Well, I guess it makes sense. You not being interested in the professor seems more likely.”  

It was far more natural for Jin Seol-rin to have no interest in Ma Tae-oh than for the great Ma Tae-oh to take an interest in Jin Seol-rin. Yu-na smirked.  

“I hope you keep that attitude toward the professor. That way, I’ll feel less bitter about it.”  

“……I don’t really understand what you’re saying. Could you leave now? I’m working. This is my workplace, after all.”

A rather firm voice resonated throughout the assistant’s office. Soon, Yu-na waved her hand dismissively and left the room. By the time the sound of her clicking heels faded completely, Seol-rin sank into her seat with a complicated expression.

***

After the semester began, both Seol-rin and Tae-oh became noticeably busier. Since becoming a couple, they had enjoyed small dates, such as eating lunch or leaving work together. However, even those moments had become rare recently.  

With the influx of people on campus, they had to be extra cautious with their actions. Additionally, at the start of the semester, the assistant’s office was constantly visited by students and professors alike. By the time they finished handling the endless stream of tasks, it was already well past quitting time.  

Moreover, Tae-oh was preparing for an important paper review in the first half of the year. Rumor had it that not only the University President but also the media were paying close attention to his paper.  

In recent days, even journalists had been visiting the department office, causing Seol-rin considerable trouble. Of course, Tae-oh refused all interview requests.  

At times like this, Seol-rin was painfully reminded of the stark difference between them—a mediocre, temporary contract assistant and a highly capable professor in the public eye.  

Though she often fell into despair, thinking theirs was a relationship with no real connection, all her worries and concerns melted away like snow whenever she saw Tae-oh’s gentle gaze.  

“Will he be working late again today?”  

As the submission deadline for his paper approached, Tae-oh’s late nights had become more frequent. Sometimes, it seemed he even stayed overnight in his research lab. Seeing his increasingly gaunt face made her feel uneasy.  

Lingering in the hallway for no particular reason, Seol-rin glanced around near Tae-oh’s research lab. When she saw no one else around, she quickly tried to open the door and step inside. But just then, hearty laughter echoed from within.  

“The Chairman is very interested in your paper, Professor Ma. Humanities might all seem the same, but your research is widely praised for its innovative approach. Expectations are high. I heard even the press reached out to you?”  

“Yes.”  

“I heard you turned down all interviews?”  

“I want to focus solely on my research right now. Besides, it’s been hectic since the semester began.”  

“Right, right. If you need anything, just let me know. I’ll support you in any way I can. Let’s arrange a meeting with the Chairman sometime.”  

The University President’s voice continued without pause, as if he had endless things to say. Realizing there was no chance of leaving work together today, Seol-rin took out her phone.  

[Professor! It seems you’re in the middle of a conversation, so I’ll head out first. Have a great weekend!]  

“Sigh. How will I endure the weekend without seeing him?”  

After sending the message, she trudged away, feeling drained. At times like this, she wished she could bury herself in his warm embrace, even if just for a moment. As she tried to recall his distinctive musky scent, she was nearly at the campus gate when her phone buzzed.  

‘Could it be the professor?’  

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation, hoping she might get to go home with Tae-oh after all.  

“Huh…?”  

But the sender wasn’t who she had been waiting for. Upon reading the message, her expression darkened noticeably.  

***

At an izakaya near Sinchon:  

“Seol-rin! Over here!”  

Mi-yeon waved her hand enthusiastically from among a group of friends who had already gathered. With an awkward smile, Seol-rin sat next to her.  

Just the day before, she had received a text from Mi-yeon. A small reunion had been planned with three or four friends she used to be close with in college.  

At first, she hadn’t planned on going. Compared to Mi-yeon and the others, who had secured stable jobs and were steadily building their careers, she felt inadequate.  

Sure, she had landed a job as an assistant, but it was only a one-year contract. Once the contract expired, she could easily find herself back in the position of a job-seeker.  

However, Mi-yeon’s persistent persuasion eventually changed her mind. She reminded Seol-rin that they weren’t just acquaintances—they had all been close friends. What did it matter if she wasn’t in the best position right now? Everyone wanted to see her.  

“Wow, Jin Seol-rin! You haven’t changed a bit.”  

“Seol-rin, it’s been so long. How have you been? We’ve managed to meet up a few times, but you’re so hard to track down.”  

“Yeah, I’ve been doing fine.”  

But once she was there, meeting her friends after so long, she felt glad she had come. Sitting around the table and reminiscing about their college days brought a natural smile to her face.  

Back then, she had juggled mountains of assignments and grueling part-time jobs, yet she didn’t recall feeling overwhelmed.  

Perhaps it was because she had clung to the hope that life would improve after graduation—that once she got a job, a whole new world would open up. She had gritted her teeth and endured with that belief.  

As her job-seeking journey dragged on, her anxiety grew. She desperately wanted to escape her struggles, but the harder she tried, the deeper she seemed to sink. It was truly a nightmare.  

That’s why the assistant position had been so important to her. She had repeated to herself countless times that she couldn’t afford to lose it. It was also the reason she had kept her distance from Tae-oh. Looking back now, everything seemed like a fond memory.