"Benny!"
The familiar voice carried above the chatter of passing students.
Benny turned just in time to see a young woman hurrying toward him, weaving effortlessly through the crowd. Her chestnut-brown hair bounced against her shoulders as she waved both hands high in the air.
"There you are!" she exclaimed the moment she reached him.
Benny laughed softly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Sorry. I guess I wandered off again."
"You guess?" Daisy placed both hands on her hips and narrowed her amber eyes at him. "I've been looking for you for almost twenty minutes!"
"Really?"
"Really."
He gave her an apologetic smile.
"I was at the library."
"I know," she sighed dramatically. "The librarian told me you left almost half an hour ago."
"...Oh."
"So where did you disappear to after that?"
Benny glanced at the strawberry lollipop in his hand before pointing toward a nearby bookstore.
"I was looking at programming books."
"You already own enough programming books to start your own library."
"They were on sale."
"You still wanted to buy them."
"...Maybe."
Daisy couldn't help laughing.
"You're unbelievable."
Benny only grinned, revealing the little bunny teeth she loved teasing him about.
"There it is."
"What?"
"Your bunny smile."
"I don't have a bunny smile."
"You absolutely do."
"I don't."
"You do."
He puffed out his cheeks in protest.
"I think you're imagining things."
"Oh? Then smile again."
Without thinking, Benny smiled.
Daisy burst into laughter.
"There!"
He blinked.
"What?"
"Your bunny teeth!"
A faint blush crept across Benny's cheeks as he quickly looked away.
"You always tease me."
"Because it's cute."
"..."
"You know, if I were a photographer, I'd take a picture every time you smiled."
"Please don't."
"Too late."
"You don't even have a camera."
"I have my phone."
Benny covered his face dramatically.
"I'm surrounded by bullies."
She giggled before taking a small paper bag from behind her back.
"Fine. I'll stop teasing you."
His curiosity immediately replaced his embarrassment.
"What's in the bag?"
Instead of answering, Daisy slowly pulled out a small cup decorated with colorful cartoon rabbits.
The moment Benny saw it...
His emerald eyes sparkled.
"Ice cream!"
She smiled proudly.
"Chocolate cookies."
"My favorite!"
"I know."
She handed it to him together with a tiny plastic spoon.
Benny accepted it as though it were the greatest treasure in the world.
The first spoonful melted across his tongue, and his eyes instantly curved into crescents.
"So good..."
Watching his expression made Daisy laugh again.
"You really are easy to please."
"It's ice cream."
"So?"
"So... ice cream makes everything better."
"What if someone steals your wallet?"
"Ice cream."
"What if you fail an exam?"
"Ice cream."
"What if someone kidnaps you?"
"...Can I bring ice cream?"
She laughed so hard she nearly doubled over.
"I can't believe you."
"It's true."
"You have the appetite of a five-year-old."
"And yet I'm still alive."
"Barely."
The two friends continued walking together, enjoying the cool afternoon breeze.
After a moment, Daisy cleared her throat.
"Oh, right."
"Hm?"
"I almost forgot why I was looking for you."
"You had another reason?"
She nodded.
"My little sister's birthday is tonight."
Benny smiled warmly.
"Really? Happy birthday to her."
"She'll be happy if you tell her that yourself."
His steps slowed.
"...Me?"
"I invited you."
"I don't think I should."
"Why not?"
"I'd just be a stranger."
"No, you wouldn't."
"My parents already know who you are."
"They do?"
"I talk about you all the time."
"...Should I be worried?"
"Very."
She laughed before gently bumping his shoulder.
"My mom has been asking when you'll finally visit."
Benny looked genuinely surprised.
"They... want to meet me?"
"Of course."
He lowered his gaze for a moment.
No one's parents had ever wanted to meet him before.
A strange warmth spread through his chest.
"...I'd like that."
Daisy smiled.
"Then it's settled."
"What time?"
"Around six."
"I'll meet you there."
She immediately shook her head.
"No."
"No?"
"I'll come pick you up."
"You don't have to."
"I know."
"I can find the address."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Can you?"
"..."
"You got lost going to the convenience store last month."
"..."
"And somehow ended up behind the train station."
"..."
"Which is in the opposite direction."
Benny coughed awkwardly.
"I have... a terrible sense of direction."
"A terrible sense?"
"It's legendary."
She sighed.
"Exactly why I'm picking you up."
He finally surrendered.
"...Fine."
"Good."
Just then—
SPLASH!
A speeding sports car tore through a muddy puddle beside the road.
Cold, dirty water exploded into the air.
Before Benny could even react...
The muddy wave crashed directly into him.
Silence.
His golden hair clung to his forehead.
His white shirt was soaked.
Brown water slowly dripped from his sleeves onto the pavement.
Daisy stared in horror.
"..."
"..."
Then—
"Oh my goodness!"
She hurried toward him, frantically taking tissues from her bag.
"I'm so sorry!"
Benny blinked twice before looking down at himself.
For a second...
He simply stood there.
Then he laughed.
"It's okay."
"Okay? You're completely soaked!"
"I'll just go home and change."
She frowned.
"But—"
"It's really fine."
His calm smile somehow made Daisy feel even guiltier.
"I'll still pick you up at six."
"I'll be ready."
She nodded reluctantly before watching him walk away.
Neither of them noticed...
Across the street...
A black Rolls-Royce had quietly come to a stop.
Inside the luxurious car, silence filled the cabin.
The driver glanced into the rearview mirror.
"Chairman Cooper?"
No answer.
The man seated in the back remained motionless.
His sharp sapphire-blue eyes stayed fixed on the drenched young man walking away with a smile that somehow hadn't faded despite his miserable appearance.
Nathan Cooper.
Twenty-five years old.
CEO of Cooper Enterprises.
The youngest business genius in the country's history.
A man feared in both the corporate world and the underworld.
Cold.
Merciless.
Untouchable.
Yet for reasons he couldn't explain...
His gaze refused to leave the cheerful blond.
Even soaked in muddy water...
The young man was smiling.
Nathan's fingers tapped lightly against the leather armrest.
"Who is he?"
The driver blinked.
"Sir?"
Nathan didn't repeat himself.
His eyes remained on Benny until the young man disappeared into the crowd.
For the first time in years...
Someone had caught Nathan Cooper's attention.