Chapter 13
After we stepped out of the garden and returned to the lounge, Yuna gave a small nod to Harin, then turned to me.
"I'll head to the dinner hall with security," she said. "You go first with Harin."
I nodded. "Okay."
Her gaze lingered on me for a moment before she turned and walked away. I watched her until she disappeared around the corridor, then followed Harin toward the elevator.
Neither of us spoke at first.
But just before the elevator arrived, Harin glanced at me, her expression hesitant.
"…Sir."
I turned to her. "Yeah?"
"I hope I didn't interrupt anything earlier," she said, voice soft. "In the garden, I mean."
I blinked. "Oh."
She gave a small smile, looking a little awkward. "The moment between you and the Chairwoman… it seemed peaceful. I hope I didn't cut it short."
I shook my head. "No, it's okay. Really."
She nodded politely, but the faint guilt in her expression didn't go away.
The elevator doors slid open, and we both stepped inside.
The descent was quiet, the soft hum of the elevator filling the space between us. I leaned slightly back against the wall, eyes fixed on the numbers counting down. My heart still hadn't settled completely from earlier. That time with Yuna—it felt unreal.
I wanted to hold onto it a little longer, but the lobby floor was fast approaching.
When the doors finally opened, I stepped out into a crowd.
Most of the students had already gathered. The lobby buzzed with quiet chatter and excitement. Some were adjusting their jackets or checking their phones, others stealing glances toward the ornate doors that led to the grand dining hall.
I spotted Hyunjae near the back, pacing a little.
"Where the hell is Haemin?" he mumbled aloud. "Don't tell me he actually got lost in a hallway."
Then he looked up and saw me walking out of the elevator next to Harin.
His face froze. "Huh?!"
And it wasn't just him.
Half the group turned their heads. I could feel their eyes land on us instantly—me, stepping out of the elevator beside the most well-known woman in the company after Seo Yuna herself.
Kang Dohyun and a few other students who had just finished talking with Director Baek also looked up. I saw them pause, visibly surprised, their gazes locked on me and Harin walking side by side.
No one said anything at first.
The silence was loud.
Before anyone could ask, Harin took a professional step forward and addressed the group.
"There's no misunderstanding," she said calmly, voice clear. "Mr. Kim visited one of the company's internal floors for a short tour, and I happened to be on the same floor handling documents for the Chairwoman. We simply came down together. It was a coincidence."
She didn't blink as she spoke. Even I was a little surprised by how smoothly she said it.
Still, a few students—especially the girls—couldn't hide their curiosity. They glanced between me and Harin, then at each other. I heard someone whisper, "He must be some kind of VIP…"
Of course, Hyunjae wasted no time.
He slipped up next to me and nudged my arm. "Are you secretly dating someone important in Nara Group?"
I gave him a dry look. "Drop it."
He grinned. "You're blushing."
"I'm not."
"You totally are."
I sighed and shook my head.
"Alright," Harin said again, her tone returning to business. "If everyone is gathered, I'll lead you to the grand dining hall."
The crowd began moving behind her, buzzing with renewed excitement.
As we walked, I felt everyone's eyes still lingering a little too long on me.
But I kept my gaze forward.
———
Harin led our group down the long corridor. We followed in a slightly uneven line, our chatter growing louder with every step as curiosity buzzed through us.
As we approached the end of the hallway, two tall security officers in sharp black suits stood guard at the double doors—polished dark wood with brass handles that shimmered under the overhead lights. The moment they spotted Harin, both men bowed deeply.
"Welcome, Assistant Director Yoo," one of them greeted respectfully.
Without a word, they stepped aside and opened the heavy doors in perfect synchrony.
The moment they did, a collective gasp echoed from behind me.
We stepped into the Grand Hall of Nara Group.
And it was… overwhelming.
The room stretched endlessly, bathed in golden light from chandeliers that glittered like constellations. The ceiling was painted with detailed fresco art, like something from a European palace. Elegant floor-to-ceiling windows framed the nighttime skyline of Seoul in breathtaking clarity. Everything gleamed—from the glossy marble floors to the silver-edged cutlery that rested beside crystal glasses.
Dozens of round banquet tables were arranged in symmetrical order, each covered with ivory linen and adorned with fresh floral centerpieces. Waitstaff dressed in tailored black uniforms moved with precision between the tables, carrying platters of food so beautiful it barely looked edible.
And more than anything… the people.
Men and women in custom-tailored tuxedos and designer gowns. Foreigners in sleek suits, laughing politely as they clinked glasses with South Korea's most powerful business leaders. Government advisors. Global investors.
It was like stepping into a world we didn't belong to.
"Whoa…" someone behind me whispered.
"Is this for real?"
"Are those foreign CEOs?"
"Look at that chandelier… that thing probably costs more than my tuition."
Even Professor Lee, who always kept his composure, seemed stunned. He turned to Harin and asked, "Are we even allowed to be here?"
Harin offered a small smile. "It's the Chairwoman's decision. She personally wanted you all to attend."
We stared at her with wide eyes, but before anyone could ask more, several foreign guests near the side of the hall noticed our group and began making their way over.
One of them—a tall European man with silver hair and a navy velvet suit—raised his glass slightly and addressed Harin in perfect Korean. "Assistant Director Yoo. A pleasure as always."
Harin bowed politely. "Mr. Hanes. Thank you for coming tonight."
Another woman—possibly from a Middle Eastern delegation—smiled and said in Arabic, "You still run things as smoothly as ever, Ms. Yoo."
"Thank you," Harin replied in fluent Arabic. "And thank you for making time for us this evening."
We were stunned into silence.
One of us whispered, "Did she just switch languages without blinking?"
"I told you she wasn't just a secretary," someone else muttered.
"She speaks like an ambassador," another student murmured beside me, clearly impressed.
And then, just as naturally, Harin turned and introduced us.
"These are our university guests. They're from XXX University—Department of Economics and Finance. They've been touring our departments today as part of our annual outreach."
The foreign investors nodded with interest, offering brief greetings and smiles, some even shaking hands with Professor Lee and the more forward students like Kang Dohyun.
After a moment, Harin gestured gracefully toward a long table arranged elegantly near the front.
"This way. Your seats have been prepared."
We followed.
And that's when I noticed where she was leading us.
Not toward the back of the hall.
Not to some quiet corner.
But toward a table situated just four tables away… from the Chairwoman's own.
The table where the head of Nara Group—Seo Yuna—would sit.
Gasps rippled through our group again.
"You've got to be kidding…"
"Isn't that… too close?"
"Are we even allowed to sit here?"
Professor Lee looked just as surprised. "I… I suppose we are."
"This is crazy," Hyunjae whispered to me. "We're basically sitting next to the royal throne."
I gave a small smile, though my stomach tightened.
Yeah. It felt crazy. Especially when the woman at that throne was my wife.
Once we were all seated, servers began pouring water and setting the first course in front of us.
The sound of clinking glasses and murmured conversation filled the air, until the lights dimmed slightly, and a spotlight appeared near the stage at the front of the hall.
A man in a sharp tuxedo stepped up to the podium.
The emcee of the evening.
He tapped the mic gently. "Ladies and gentlemen. It is with great honor that I welcome you to tonight's Grand Investment and Partnership Gala, hosted by Nara Group."
Applause filled the hall.
The emcee continued with a warm voice. "Tonight is not just a celebration of progress, but also of connection. Across industries, across nations—we gather under one roof as partners, visionaries, and innovators. Nara Group remains committed to building the future of Korea and beyond, and we are grateful to share this moment with all of you."
He looked across the room. "And tonight is made even more special by the presence of young minds from XXX University. You represent the future generation of leadership, and we're proud to have you here with us."
We straightened in our seats, clearly honored.
"And now," the emcee said with a proud smile, "it is my privilege to invite to the stage the woman who built Nara Group into what it is today. The youngest chairwoman in corporate history. Please welcome—Chairwoman Seo Yuna."
The applause exploded like thunder.
Every head turned toward the stage.
Because even in a room full of global elites and high-ranking executives, catching a real-life appearance of Seo Yuna—Chairwoman of Nara Group—was a rare privilege. Some had waited years just for the chance to see her up close.
And now, there she was.
Seo Yuna appeared at the far end of the hall, walking down the center aisle with ten elite security personnel surrounding her in formation—like a modern queen descending from her throne. Her presence alone was enough to quiet the room, but her appearance left them breathless.
She wore an elegant tailored gray pantsuit—the cut sharp, the fabric whisper-soft under the lights. The jacket framed her waist perfectly, flaring subtly at the hem, paired with straight-leg trousers that flowed with grace. A silk inner blouse in off-white peeked just slightly from beneath the lapel, and a minimalist brooch gleamed at her collarbone.
Her blonde hair, lightly waved, was swept behind one shoulder. Her skin was luminous, her features naturally perfect. It wasn't the artificial beauty that came from cosmetic touches—it was the kind that made people stop breathing just to look a second longer.
Whispers filled the air.
"She's even more beautiful in real life…"
"Unbelievable…"
"Is that really her?"
I could feel how stunned everyone was. Even Hyunjae just stared. One of the girls beside me whispered that she wanted to work at Nara Group just to see Seo Yuna every day.
Yuna stepped up to the podium with perfect composure, her posture straight, her gaze commanding yet unreadable. The room fell into silence, every eye locked onto her as if waiting for permission to breathe.
"Good evening," she said, her voice clear and smooth. "I am Seo Yuna, Chairwoman of Nara Group. Thank you for being here tonight—for standing with us as we continue building something beyond profit, beyond numbers. What we do at Nara is not just business. It's legacy."
She continued to speak a little more, addressing global partnerships, her hopes for the future, and her brief but impactful encouragement to the students attending. And then, with her signature calm authority, she ended her speech with a graceful nod.
"Thank you, everyone. Enjoy your dinner."
Applause burst out again—more thunderous this time.
As she stepped off the stage and walked toward her designated table, the energy in the hall remained electric. At her table sat top Nara Group directors, including Director Baek, and several of Korea's and Europe's most influential elite figures.
But even as the room buzzed again with conversation, attention was drawn to our group.
Because sitting right beside us—at our own table—was Yoo Harin.
The Chairwoman's personal assistant. Her right hand. The woman known to be the second most powerful figure within Nara Group.
"Why is she sitting with them…?"
"Isn't that the Chairwoman's assistant? I thought she only sits with board members…"
"Do they know how impossible it is to even book a meeting with that woman?"
I heard the whispers around us, laced with jealousy, as Harin sat quietly beside Professor Lee, answering his polite remarks with a calm smile. Her presence alone elevated our table's status.
The students were visibly tense, trying not to fidget under the weight of attention from all sides. But they also looked incredibly proud.
Even Hyunjae leaned over to whisper in my ear, "Bro… what kind of luck did we step into? We're literally sitting next to her. And Chairwoman just gave a speech that made half the room swoon."
I just gave a quiet laugh and picked up my glass of water.