WW | Chapter 56

The icy voice over the phone made Minjae flinch momentarily.

What’s with these two? Seriously, what’s going on?

In truth, Minjae didn’t know the exact nature of the relationship between Kang Yoonjo and Yul. He had stumbled upon the fact that Yoonjo was looking for Yul and threw out the “rubber shoe” comment as a joke, but Yoonjo had taken the bait immediately. This was surprising for someone as indifferent to others as Yoonjo.

Minjae glanced slyly at Yul. Seeing her innocent expression gave him a faint sense of guilt, but his curiosity about their connection outweighed it. Taking a couple of steps back to ensure Yul wouldn’t overhear, Minjae replied to Yoonjo.

Meanwhile, Yul, watching Minjae step away for the call, felt like she was eavesdropping and averted her gaze. Jieun and Hyuntae, seemingly of the same mind, resumed their playful banter. Having gotten used to them to some extent, Yul tuned them out and focused on the stage. By now, the hall was packed, and a famous alumnus who had become a newscaster climbed onto the podium as the host.

“Wait a second.”

Yul’s eyes widened as she spotted a familiar face below the stage. Though the distance made it hard to see clearly, she was sure it was Jung-woo, standing and conversing with the student council president and professors. Every so often, he would glance around the audience, seemingly looking for someone. Realizing he might be searching for her, Yul quickly lowered her head, covering her forehead with her hand. She had no desire to catch his eye or acknowledge him. Ultimately, he failed to spot her and returned to his seat.

“That idiot. Why the hell did he go to Yangpyeong?”

Minjae grumbled, ending the call. As soon as he saw Yul, his face lit up with a friendly smile.

“See you later at Haemyeong Hall, Yul. You’re coming, right?”

“Yes.”

Yul responded with a faint smile. The entrance ceremony was divided into two parts, with students then moving to their respective department locations for a welcome event. Yul planned to attend the department session since it seemed more practical to hear details about her major. Although her part-time job schedule was tight, she figured she could leave after the explanation.

“Alright. Enjoy the ceremony, little chicks.”

“See you later, senior. Peep peep.”

Hyuntae playfully bowed, earning a headshake from Jieun.

“That guy… He’s definitely a bit of a nutcase.”

Yul stifled a chuckle, opting not to comment that Jieun seemed equally quirky.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Korea University. We are delighted to have you join us.”

With the host’s opening remarks, the ceremony finally began.

“Wow. I thought I’d die of boredom. Our high school principal has finally met his match in the university president’s long-winded speeches. What about you, Yul?”

On the way to Haemyeong Hall, Jieun looked utterly drained as she asked Yul.

“Well….”

Before answering, Yul pondered when she had started speaking casually with Jieun and how she had ended up walking to Haemyeong Hall with these two. More importantly, how was she supposed to process her relationship with them?

When her silence stretched, Hyuntae stepped in to answer for her.

“Let me guess—back in school, you were the worst among the smart kids, right?”

“Why?”

“You seem to have a short attention span.”

“And you must have concentrated so well that you slept with your mouth wide open?”

“Hey, I wasn’t just sleeping. I was dreaming big dreams.”

“Yeah, drooling all the while?”

Like Tom and Jerry, the two bickered endlessly from the moment they met. Although Yul paid attention from beginning to end, she couldn’t deny that their antics were relatable. After all, the university president’s lengthy welcome speech, the student council president’s remarks, the freshman representative’s oath, and the scholarship ceremony weren’t exactly thrilling.

“It wasn’t so bad for me….”

Yul’s soft comment was almost drowned out. For her, even the first part wasn’t unbearable, and the cheerleading performance and guest singer’s concert in the second part were enjoyable. The congratulatory messages from alumni were touching, making her eyes sting with emotion. Maybe because she had worked so hard to get here, everything felt fresh and meaningful. It even made her curious, albeit uncomfortably, about her newfound classmates.

“Oh, right, Yul. Are you coming to the afterparty?”

“No, I can’t. I have work.”

“Work? Where?”

“Near campus.”

Yul briefly mentioned her workplace, smiling wryly. There was no point debating whether to attend the afterparty; her boss had outright refused her request to take the day off, citing a busy schedule. She understood but couldn’t help feeling disappointed. It wasn’t that she wanted to socialize desperately, but she didn’t want to miss out on the start of something new.

“Too bad. I’ll have enough fun for both of us.”

“Sure.”

Yul smiled back at Hyuntae’s cheerful reply.

Their chatter carried them to Haemyeong Hall. With the delay in the events, Yul realized she might end up late for work. Deciding it was better to inform her boss ahead of time, she pulled out her phone.

“Go on ahead. I’ll catch up after this call.”

“Alright, see you later.”

Jieun waved breezily and headed inside. Yul was about to dial when a sleek, expensive foreign car pulled up to the parking lot in front of the building. The vehicle’s luxury was unmistakable, but it wasn’t the car that caught her attention—it was the man stepping out of it.

Her hands, holding the phone, started trembling uncontrollably.

Tall, broad-shouldered, with striking features and short hair, the man wore a white turtleneck and a beige coat. He exuded a cool, imposing aura as he strode briskly into Haemyeong Hall.

Three years had passed, but Yul recognized him instantly.

“Kang Yoonjo….”

She muttered in a daze, blinking as her heart pounded violently. Blood seemed to rush through her veins at an alarming speed. This couldn’t be real. Kang Yoonjo couldn’t possibly be here. A guy who barely stayed awake in class, let alone submitted test papers, couldn’t have made it to Korea University’s architecture department. So why was he here? Did he know she was here and come looking for her?

Her mind raced in chaotic loops, incapable of coherent thought. Yet one thing was clear—she had just seen Kang Yoonjo, and if she went upstairs, she would run into him.

Clutching her phone, Yul hurriedly walked away as though fleeing. She didn’t even think about the welcome event or that Jieun and Hyuntae were waiting. She simply couldn’t face Yoonjo.

The restaurant had been busy all day. A new hire was supposed to help but was more of a burden since he needed constant guidance. On a day like this, even existing worries should have been pushed aside, but Yoonjo’s sudden appearance loomed over Yul’s thoughts like a dark cloud, making her increasingly distracted.

“Yul, I get that today’s tough, but we have to see it through until the end of February, alright?”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

Yul bowed apologetically to her boss, swallowing back her irritation. She had plenty to say but neither the energy nor the will to argue.

The relentless wave of customers finally subsided after dusk. Just as she thought she could take a quick break, her boss handed her a delivery order.

“Yul, can you quickly deliver this?”

“Now?”

“Yeah, to the apartment across the street. It’s nearby.”

Holding the packed chicken in her hands, Yul sighed but nodded.

Outside, the sharp evening air made her shiver. She crossed the street and entered the upscale apartment building, its clean, luxurious exterior a clear sign of its high price. Riding the elevator to the 17th floor, she found the correct apartment and rang the bell.

“Chicken delivery!”

She called brightly, waiting as she heard faint movement. The door opened with a soft click.

“Here’s your—”

Yul froze mid-sentence. Standing before her was the last person she expected.

“Kang Yoonjo?”

Her grip on the chicken bag loosened, letting it fall to the ground. Her mouth went dry, and her breath caught in her throat. She wanted to vanish.

“Why… why are you…?”

Before she could finish, her feet carried her away. She turned and ran towards the stairs, driven by pure instinct. She couldn’t face him—not here, not like this.

“Taking the stairs?”

His voice, cold and tinged with amusement, stopped her in her tracks.

“Seventeen floors?”

Her back burned under his gaze. Slowly, she turned to see him standing on the stairwell above her, hands in his pockets, watching her with those sharp, deep eyes that were impossible to read.

“At least you know you’ve done something wrong,” he said coolly, taking a step forward as the stairwell lights flickered back on.

“Running away like a rat.”

Yoonjo descended leisurely, step by step, until they stood on the same level, face to face for the first time in years.

“Long time no see, Seomun Yul.”

“….”

“Or should I say… Yul.”

He smirked coldly, lifting his chin as his words cut through her like ice.