Lee Hye-jin stood at the main entrance of Busan University, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She had arrived early — very early, actually — but she couldn't help herself. She wanted everything to be perfect.
She had spent over an hour getting ready. Her usual casual clothes had been replaced with a light summer dress that fell just above her knees, a soft floral pattern that complemented her figure. She had applied makeup carefully — not too much, just enough to enhance her features. Her hair was styled neatly, falling in soft waves past her shoulders.
She checked her phone for the tenth time. Still no message saying he was running late.
'Okay, Hye-jin. Calm down. You look good. You look really good. He's going to like it. He's going to like you. Just breathe.'
She smoothed down her dress, adjusted her hair, and tried to look casual. Inside, her heart was racing.
Then she saw him.
Han Joon-seong was walking toward her from the direction of the bus stop, and as always, he drew attention. Heads turned as he passed. Students stopped mid-conversation to stare. A group of girls nearby began whispering excitedly to each other.
He was wearing his usual outfit — a fitted black shirt that hugged his muscular frame, dark jeans, and clean shoes. Clothes that on any other person would look ordinary, but on him looked like designer brands. His hair was perfectly styled, his face sculpted like a statue, his expression calm and composed.
Lee Hye-jin felt her breath catch in her throat.
*He's so beautiful,* she thought. *How is it possible for someone to look like that?*
He approached her, a small smile forming on his lips.
"Good afternoon, Miss Lee Hye-jin," he said, his voice warm. "You look lovely today."
Her face turned bright red. "Th-thank you! You look... you look really good too."
He chuckled softly. "Thank you. Shall we?"
"Yes! Yes, let's go."
They began walking toward the campus entrance together.
---
The university was larger than Lee Hye-jin had described. Wide paths wound between modern buildings and older brick structures. Trees lined the walkways, their leaves rustling in the gentle breeze. Students milled about, some carrying books, others chatting in groups.
"So," Han Joon-seong said, looking around, "this is your university. It's nice. Very different from what I expected."
"Different how?"
"I don't know. I guess I thought it would be more... serious? But it's actually really pleasant. Calm."
Lee Hye-jin smiled, feeling more at ease. "It can be serious during exam season. But most of the time, it's pretty relaxed. I like it here."
"What do you study?"
"Business administration. I'm not sure what I want to do with it yet, but it seemed like a good choice. What about you? What do you do?"
He hesitated for a moment. "I'm... between things right now. I do some contract work here and there. Nothing too exciting."
She nodded, not pressing further. She knew there was more to his story, but she didn't want to push. She was just happy to be with him.
---
They walked past a large building with glass windows and a sign reading "Library."
"That's the library," Lee Hye-jin said, pointing. "It's actually really nice inside. They have these huge windows that let in all the natural light. I like to study there sometimes."
Han Joon-seong looked at the building with interest. "Maybe we can check it out later."
"Sure!"
They continued walking, passing a small courtyard with benches and a fountain. Students were scattered around, some reading, others talking.
"There's the cafeteria over there," she said, gesturing toward a low building with outdoor seating. "The food is... okay. Not amazing, but it's convenient."
Han Joon-seong nodded, taking in the sights. "It seems like a good place to be. A lot of people seem happy here."
"Most of them are. There are always some troublemakers, I guess. But overall, it's a good school."
---
They wandered through the campus, Lee Hye-jin pointing out various buildings and sharing small stories about her time there. The conversation flowed easily — lighter topics, nothing too deep. Just two people enjoying each other's company.
As they approached the sports complex, a group of students was gathered near the entrance. A blond man, clearly the center of attention, was surrounded by a few admirers — mostly girls, with a couple of guys hovering nearby.
One of the girls noticed Han Joon-seong approaching, and her eyes went wide. She nudged her friend, whispering something. The other girl turned to look, and her mouth fell open.
"Wow," one of them said, a little too loudly. "Who is that?"
"He's so handsome," another added, not even trying to be discreet.
"Is he a model? I've never seen him before."
The blond man's expression soured. He glanced at Han Joon-seong, then back at the girls who were now completely ignoring him.
"Who the hell is that guy?" he muttered.
His friends shrugged. One of them said, "Never seen him before. Maybe he's visiting someone?"
The blond man watched as Han Joon-seong and Lee Hye-jin walked past, the girls still whispering about him. His jaw tightened. He turned to the other guys in his group.
"Come on," he said. "Let's go have a word with him."
They approached — the blond man and three of his friends. The group cut off Han Joon-seong and Lee Hye-jin's path, forming a loose semicircle around them.
Lee Hye-jin tensed, recognizing the blond man immediately. "Jung-ho. What are you doing?"
Jung-ho ignored her, his eyes fixed on Han Joon-seong. He looked him up and down, clearly trying to size him up.
"Hey there. I'm Jung-ho. I don't think I've seen you around here before. What's your name?"
Han Joon-seong looked at him, his expression calm and neutral. "Han Joon-seong."
"Han Joon-seong," Jung-ho repeated, as if tasting the name. "And what brings you to our university, Han Joon-seong? Visiting someone?"
Lee Hye-jin stepped forward, but Han Joon-seong raised a hand gently, signaling her to stay back.
"I'm here with Lee Hye-jin," he said simply.
Jung-ho's eyes flickered to Lee Hye-jin, then back to Han Joon-seong. "Oh, really? And what exactly is your relationship with her?"
Han Joon-seong tilted his head slightly. "Why does that matter to you?"
Jung-ho shrugged, a smirk forming on his lips. "Just curious. Trying to get to know you, that's all. I'm a friendly guy."
His tone was anything but friendly. The three guys behind him shifted, crossing their arms, trying to look imposing.
Han Joon-seong didn't flinch. He met Jung-ho's gaze without blinking.
"What's your problem?" Han Joon-seong asked, his voice flat and calm.
Jung-ho laughed — a hollow, forced sound. "Problem? No problem. I'm just asking questions. What, are you looking for trouble?"
Han Joon-seong was silent for a moment. Then he spoke, his voice still calm:
"Not really. But if you are, we can have some."
The air between them grew tense. Jung-ho's smirk faltered slightly. His friends exchanged nervous glances. There was something about Han Joon-seong's calmness that was unsettling.
Before Jung-ho could respond, one of the girls from his group ran up and grabbed his arm.
"Jung-ho, come on. Let's go. Don't do this."
Another girl joined in. "Yeah, seriously. He's not worth it. Let's just go."
Jung-ho looked at his friends, then back at Han Joon-seong. For a moment, he seemed to consider pushing further. But the girls were insistent, pulling at his arm.
"Fine," he said finally, his voice dripping with disappointment — he hadn't gotten the intimidation he was looking for. "Whatever. Let's go."
He turned and walked away, his friends following reluctantly.
The girls gave apologetic looks to Han Joon-seong before hurrying after Jung-ho.
Lee Hye-jin let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "I'm so sorry about him. He's always like that — he likes to pick fights with anyone who gets attention."
Han Joon-seong shrugged, his expression still calm. "It's fine. He's clearly insecure. Not worth getting worked up over."
She stared at him in disbelief. "How do you stay so calm? He was clearly trying to intimidate you."
He smiled gently. "Getting angry would just prove him right. Besides..." He paused, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "I'm not easy to intimidate."
Lee Hye-jin laughed, the tension finally releasing from her shoulders. "I can see that. Come on, let's get out of here before he comes back."
---
They continued their walk, leaving the incident behind them. Han Joon-seong's calm demeanor had a soothing effect on Lee Hye-jin, and she quickly relaxed again.
As they approached the central plaza near the student center, a familiar voice called out.
"Hye-jin! Hye-jin!"
Lee Hye-jin turned to see Yoon Seo-yeon jogging toward them, a big smile on her face. "Hey! I didn't know you were—"
Yoon Seo-yeon's words died in her throat as her eyes landed on Han Joon-seong. She stopped mid-step, her mouth falling open.
Her eyes traced his face, his shoulders, his arms, his entire sculpted form. A faint blush crept up her cheeks.
"Seo-yeon?" Lee Hye-jin said, waving a hand in front of her friend's face. "Hello? Earth to Seo-yeon?"
Seo-yeon blinked, snapping out of her trance. "Oh! Uh, hi! I'm Yoon Seo-yeon. I'm Hye-jin's friend." She extended her hand toward Han Joon-seong, her smile a little too bright.
Han Joon-seong took her hand with a polite nod. "Han Joon-seong. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise!" Seo-yeon said, her voice a little too high-pitched. "I've heard so much about you! Hye-jin talks about you all the—"
"Okay, that's enough!" Lee Hye-jin cut in, stepping between them. She was frowning, and her cheek was puffed — she looked like an angry poodle trying to protect its owner. "We should go. We have a lot of campus to cover!"
She grabbed Han Joon-seong's arm and began pulling him away. He allowed himself to be dragged, a small, amused smile on his face.
Seo-yeon watched them go, a dreamy look in her eyes. "Wow," she muttered to herself. "Damn Hye-jin, hasn't anyone told you sharing is caring!?" She sighed and stood there for a few moments, completely forgetting why she had even come to the plaza in the first place.
She shook her head, laughing softly. "Well, good for her. She's got good taste."
---
Lee Hye-jin led Han Joon-seong to the courtyard with the fountain, finally releasing his arm. She was still a little flustered.
"I'm sorry about Seo-yeon," she said, avoiding his gaze. "She's... a lot sometimes."
He smiled. "She seems like a good friend. You're lucky to have her."
Lee Hye-jin looked up at him, her expression softening. "Yeah. I guess I am."
For a moment, they stood there in comfortable silence, the sound of the fountain filling the air.
Then Lee Hye-jin pointed toward a distant building. "Oh! There's the music hall. It's got really good acoustics. Do you want to see it?"
Han Joon-seong smiled. "Lead the way."
They walked off together, the afternoon sun warming their faces. Lee Hye-jin's heart was full, and for the first time in days, she felt truly happy.