Chapter #1

The iron gates of Hanseong International University opened to another ordinary Monday.

Except nothing about Hanseong was ordinary.

Students arrived in chauffeur driven cars worth more than most apartments.

Security guards greeted heirs by name.

Luxury brands filled the parking lot more often than bicycles.

It was less a university and more a place where Korea's future leaders quietly crossed paths before taking over their families' empires.

For some...

It was the start of a new life.

For others...

It was a return.

A matte black Bentley glided through the main gate.

The moment it stopped, conversations around the entrance softened into whispers.

"Is that...?"

"No way."

"He's actually back."

"I heard he transferred from London."

"They said he'd finish his degree overseas."

The rear door opened.

A tall young man stepped out, blond hair catching the morning sun.

Dark eyes.

An athletic build.

A smile that came naturally, as though the attention around him barely existed.

Kang Jun.

Twenty years old.

Second-year student.

Heir to Kang Group.

Back at Hanseong after more than a year abroad.

He adjusted the strap of his backpack and thanked his driver before looking up at the familiar campus.

"So... nothing's changed."

"Except you."

Jun turned to see his old friend, Seo Do Hyun, jogging toward him.

"You got taller."

"You just forgot how short you are."

Do Hyun rolled his eyes.

"You leave for London and come back thinking you're funny."

"I always thought I was funny."

The two laughed as they walked through the courtyard together.

Every few steps someone greeted Jun.

Some recognized him from before.

Others only knew him through rumors.

"The Kang heir is back."

Across campus...

A small black sedan stopped quietly near the freshman building.

No one paid it any attention.

A girl stepped out, clutching a timetable against her chest.

Long black hair tied neatly behind her.

Simple clothes.

Round glasses.

She looked nervous enough to turn around and go home.

Kang Jina.

Nineteen.

Freshman.

Unlike her brother, she wanted one thing.

To disappear into the crowd.

Very few people knew the Kang family had a daughter.

And today...

No one knew she was related to Kang Jun.

Exactly as she wanted.

She took a deep breath.

"First day..."

Then walked toward orientation alone.

Near the Arts Building...

Another luxury car pulled to a stop.

This time...

Heads turned automatically.

Not out of curiosity.

Out of habit.

Song Hye Rin stepped out wearing a tailored ivory blazer over a black dress, sunglasses resting lightly on her face.

Her long, dark purple-black hair moved gently in the breeze.

Every camera nearby found its way toward her.

A professional model.

Final-year student.

Heiress to Song Group.

The face of international fashion campaigns.

Some students admired her.

Others envied her.

Most simply accepted one fact.

Song Hye Rin ruled Hanseong.

She acknowledged greetings with a brief nod before continuing toward the main building.

An assistant hurried beside her.

"Miss Song, the magazine wants to move tomorrow's shoot to the afternoon."

"Fine."

"And the charity gala guest list..."

"Later."

Her phone vibrated.

Min Woo ♡

A faint smile crossed her face.

Can't have lunch today.

She stopped walking.

Again?

A few seconds passed.

His reply came.

Something came up.

She stared at the screen.

She wanted to ask what.

Instead...

She locked the phone and slipped it back into her bag.

Her expression remained unreadable.

Only her assistant noticed the almost invisible sigh.

On the opposite side of the courtyard...

Jun looked toward the crowd gathering around the Arts Building.

"Who's everyone looking at?" he asked.

Do Hyun blinked.

"You've really been gone."

Jun shrugged.

"I've missed a lot."

Do Hyun followed his gaze.

"Song Hye Rin."

"The model?"

"The one and only."

Jun recognized her immediately.

Not because of the crowd.

Because he'd seen her countless times over the years.

Charity auctions.

Business galas.

Fashion events.

She had always been beside another familiar face.

Cha Min Woo.

They'd never spoken.

Not once.

She probably didn't even know Kang Jun existed.

Still...

Something about her presence had always stood out.

Elegant.

Confident.

Untouchable.

Almost...

Too perfect.

Before Jun could look away, another young man approached Hye Rin.

Cha Min Woo.

He leaned down just enough for her to hear him.

She smiled warmly.

He checked his watch.

Said something.

Then left less than a minute later.

The smile remained on her face until he disappeared into the crowd.

The moment he was gone...

It faded.

Not dramatically.

Not enough for anyone else to notice.

Just enough to leave behind a quiet emptiness.

Jun caught it.

Only because he happened to be looking.

"...Strange."

"What is?" Do Hyun asked.

Jun looked away.

"Nothing."

He wasn't sure why that tiny moment lingered in his mind.

After all...

They were complete strangers.

Yet for reasons he couldn't explain...

The image of Song Hye Rin smiling for everyone except herself stayed with him long after the morning ended.

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