Chapter 14
The gentle clinking of cutlery and soft classical music filled the grand hall as dinner was served. Plates of carefully arranged dishes glistened beneath golden chandelier light. Laughter and polite conversation floated through the air.
At the head table, Yuna sat with a composed smile, elegantly engaging in conversation with a group of top-level figures—board directors, international investors, and ministers. Her tone was calm, her words precise, her eyes sharp. She spoke of projections, global expansions, and regional development—effortlessly commanding respect with every syllable.
Meanwhile, I leaned slightly toward Hyunjae, whispering, "This steak is the best I've had in my life."
Hyunjae grinned and nodded. "Seriously. I don't even care if it's awkward—I'm getting seconds."
Around us, the other students chatted with Harin, who sat gracefully beside Professor Lee. Though polite, she remained subtly distant, responding with poise.
"I've been with Nara Group for seven years now," Harin explained to one of the girls. "I started in Strategic Relations."
"Are you… um, single?" another student asked, eyes hopeful.
"I'm married to my job," Harin replied smoothly, causing a round of laughter. Her presence alone made our table feel like we were sitting next to someone powerful—almost too powerful. Everyone could see she wasn't just an assistant. She was the CEO's right hand.
Even Kang Dohyun tried to impress her, straightening his collar. "So, Assistant Director Yoo, you must travel a lot. International meetings and all?"
"I do," she answered without looking at him directly, giving nothing away.
A few students whispered behind their napkins, "Do you think we'll get to talk to the Chairwoman?"
"She's over there with all the executives… no way."
In the middle of sipping my drink, I glanced instinctively toward the head table—and froze.
Yuna was already looking at me.
Our eyes met across the crowded room.
She didn't move, but the corners of her lips lifted—just a little. A soft, knowing smile.
I blinked. And smiled back.
Then she turned, as if nothing happened, and resumed speaking to the chairman beside her.
Dinner slowly came to an end. Dessert plates were cleared. And soon, the crowd began moving toward the adjacent section of the hall—an open space framed by high ceilings and gilded walls, designed for post-dinner networking.
Harin accompanied our group to the space, staying by Professor Lee's side. Several elite guests recognized her and offered brief greetings, bowing with respect.
"You're truly the Chairwoman's most trusted aide," one Japanese investor said in fluent Korean.
"Assistant Director Yoo, it's always a pleasure," said a German executive, shaking her hand with admiration.
I could see everyone's eyes widening again.
"Everyone knows her…"
"I think she's the second most important person in the company."
"We're so lucky she's sitting with us."
We all looked around nervously. Yuna hadn't moved yet from her earlier circle—she was still surrounded by Korea's top industrial figures and foreign dignitaries. Everyone in the room seemed to be waiting for their chance to greet her.
"No way she's coming here," someone whispered. "Why would she—"
But before they could finish the sentence, the crowd began to shift.
Heads turned. Voices fell quiet.
Yuna was walking toward us.
Followed by few other directors including Director Baek. She walked with quiet authority, the kind that made people instinctively move out of her way.
And she was headed straight for us.
My breath caught.
Beside me, Harin stepped slightly to the side and lowered her head in a subtle bow. "Chairwoman."
Everyone scrambled to stand, chairs screeching. Professor Lee bowed. We followed, stunned into silence.
Yuna stopped in front of us and gave the smallest nod.
"Good evening," she said.
Her voice wasn't loud—but all of us heard it.
The tension in the group broke like glass.
Professor Lee immediately bowed deeply. "Chairwoman Seo—this is… far more than we deserve. Thank you for joining us. We're honored."
"We really didn't expect you to come greet us personally," he added nervously, his voice unsteady.
Yuna smiled and nodded slightly. "There's no need to be nervous. You're guests of Nara Group tonight."
Her gaze slid across the group, pausing for a second longer on me.
Then she turned back to Professor Lee. "I trust your visit today went smoothly?"
"Yes, very much so," Professor Lee answered quickly. "And I'd like to thank you personally for sending Assistant Yoo to accompany us. She was incredible."
"She's reliable," Yuna said simply.
Behind me, I could hear our classmates whispering.
"She's so pretty I can't stop staring…"
"How does someone look like that without makeup?"
"No way that's her real skin, right? She's glowing."
"She didn't even wear makeup and she looks like that—what kind of gene pool…"
Hyunjae, sitting beside me, leaned in and muttered under his breath, "Bro. Bro. Tell me I'm dreaming. Is that really her?"
I gave him a confused look. "Who?"
"The Chairwoman. Seo freaking Yuna. I swear she looked straight at you. What if she—wait—what if she's the type who turns people to stone or something?"
This guy.
Then Director Baek took a small step forward and gestured toward Kang Dohyun. "Chairwoman, this young man here is the son of my old friend. Kang Jisung of Hanyoung Shipping."
Dohyun offered a polite bow. "It's an honor to meet you, Chairwoman."
Yuna gave a faint nod. "I see." Her voice was polite but distant. Her disinterest couldn't be clearer.
Before anyone else could speak, she turned back to Professor Lee.
"I've arranged something for your students," she said. "Starting next term, we'll be offering an exclusive internship program. Only available to XXX University's Department of Economics and Finance."
We all froze.
Even Professor Lee blinked.
Yuna continued, calm and composed. "Those who perform well will be guaranteed a position within Nara Group after graduation. I hope they study well—and take the opportunity seriously."
Whispers erupted behind me instantly.
"Wait—did she just say guaranteed job?!"
"Are you kidding?!"
"This is insane."
"Please tell me someone recorded that!"
Professor Lee finally found his voice. "Chairwoman… I—on behalf of the department, we can't thank you enough. This is… unbelievable."
Yuna simply gave a curt nod, then turned slightly.
Just as she was about to excuse herself, Soojin blurted nervously, "Chairwoman… I know this might be a lot, but… could we possibly take a photo with you? Just one group picture?"
Professor Lee turned quickly, his face pale. "Soojin, that's inappropriate—please, don't trouble—"
"It's fine," Yuna interrupted calmly. "We can take one. All of you."
Gasps erupted.
"You're serious?!"
"She's actually letting us take a picture?!"
Hyunjae nearly dropped his napkin. "Are we on a hidden camera show?"
I elbowed him lightly. "Calm down, you idiot."
Every person inside the hall felt jealous of us. No one else had dared to ask Chairwoman Seo for a photo, let alone stood close enough to try. And yet, here we were—a group of university students taking a picture with the most untouchable woman in the room.
Seo Yuna stood at the center.
Still. Regal. Impossibly beautiful. Her eyes didn't smile, but she allowed the photo, letting the moment happen.
The camera flashed.
They all knew—this was the moment of the night they never forget.
________
After we took the photo, Yuna gave a small nod toward Professor Lee. "I'll take my leave now. I still have a few guests to speak with."
"Thank you so much for your time, Chairwoman," Professor Lee said, bowing deeply.
"Thank you!" the rest of the class echoed, voices filled with awe and excitement.
Yuna simply nodded once more, then turned to leave.
Her directors—quietly followed behind her, adjusting their pace to match her unhurried but commanding stride. Even after she disappeared beyond the polished glass doors, the weight of her presence lingered like perfume in the air.
"That was insane…" someone whispered behind me.
"She's not just beautiful… she's unreal," Soojin muttered under her breath, clutching her phone like it had become a relic.
A few minutes later, Harin returned, stepping lightly back into the hall to guide us once more.
She smiled politely. "It's time. I'll escort you to the main entrance where your bus is waiting."
The mood was reluctant—they didn't want to leave just yet—but they followed her obediently down the corridor. As we passed through the same grand hallway we came in from, I noticed how quiet everyone had gotten. Still in shock, probably.
At the entrance, the cold evening air greeted us.
Professor Lee bowed first. "Assistant Director Yoo, thank you again. You've gone above and beyond today. We're truly grateful."
Harin returned the bow with a professional smile. "It was my pleasure. Thank you for coming. I hope you all return safely. Study well."
We bowed as one. "Thank you!"
We boarded the bus in a strangely organized silence, but the moment the doors closed behind us and the engine started to hum, the entire bus erupted.
"That was insane!"
"We got a photo with Seo Yuna!"
"I still can't believe it. That's going on my resume!"
"Did you hear what she said about internships?! I'm not sleeping for the rest of the semester!"
"Right? If we perform well, we might actually land jobs at Nara Group?!"
Hyunjae dropped into his seat next to me, shaking his head. "Dude. This day. This whole day. I'm still processing."
I leaned against the window, the corner of my lips lifting. "Yeah. Me too."
He turned to me with a teasing grin. "And you. Sitting next to Yoo Harin in the elevator? Walking out like you were her coworker?"
"I told you, it was just a coincidence," I said, half-laughing.
"Bro, she sat with us during dinner. People would kill for that. We're probably the first outsiders to even eat that close to the Chairwoman."
Another voice from behind chimed in. "It felt like we were royalty."
As everyone kept chattering, still starstruck and giddy, I looked back out the window. The Nara Group building slowly disappeared into the skyline behind us.
Everyone was still buzzing with excitement by the time our bus pulled back into campus. The moment we stepped off, Professor Lee gathered us one last time near the main building.
"I hope today gave all of you something to remember," he said with a proud smile. "Not just about Nara Group, but about the kind of future you're working toward. Let this be a reminder—hard work, character, and readiness open doors you never imagined."
We all clapped, and a few of us even bowed again, still too stunned to believe any of it was real.
Then, Hyunjae leaned in with a laugh. "Bro, I go first. Don't keep playing around. Don't make your wife wait—unless you're aiming for divorce before graduation."
I laughed under my breath. "Yeah, yeah."
Then, one by one, everyone began to disperse—some walking back to their dorms, some calling family or posting photos, still glowing from the experience.
As the last of my classmates disappeared into the distance, I slipped my hands into my coat pockets and headed toward the bus stop at the corner.
The streets were quiet, lit by the pale glow of orange street lamps. I pulled out my phone and tapped it to check the time. 9:02 p.m.
A new message lit up the screen.
[Yuna]: I'm home. Come back now.
I smiled faintly. Short. Cold. Typical of her.
I quickened my steps. But just as I reached the edge of the road, a thought hit me.
Wait—my USB.
I had left it plugged into the campus library computer before we went out, and I needed that file for my upcoming midterm project.
"Ugh, seriously?" I muttered under my breath. I sighed and turned around to head back toward campus, hoping I could grab it before the library closed.
I was halfway across the small side street when I heard the sound.
A rush of tires—
A sharp screech—
And then—
Everything went black.