Jun-ho's hand clenched tightly around Min-ah's phone. The article glared back at him in bold, ruthless fonts, each headline worse than the last.
"CEO Yoon Ha-eun Caught in Scandal with College Student."
"Secret Rendezvous: Younger Man at the Center of Yoon Group Controversy."
"Refusal of Suitors Explained?"
He scrolled lower. The comment section was a battlefield.
"Shameless."
"She's been rejecting suitors but sneaking around with a boy half her age?"
"What the f**k do you mean by half her age, she's not even 10 years older than him."
"He is still in college which makes him a kid, she's a full grown woman."
"And he's also a full grown man, stop hating and get over yourself."
"Who knows how long this has been going on and if he's the first. I hope she doesn't target high schoolers too."
"Yoon Ha Group is going to crumble if this is true."
Jun-ho's throat tightened. Not one word about him. Every attack was aimed at her.
"Jun-ho," Se-jeong's voice was tight, urgent. "You need to explain. What the hell happened last night?"
Min-ah's lips were pressed thin, her eyes sharp with jealousy as she crossed her arms. "So it's true? You and… her?"
But Jun-ho ignored them both, eyes glued to the merciless screen.
Then, suddenly—silence.
It rippled through the lecture hall like a switch had been flipped. The whispers stopped, the air heavy, suffocating.
Se-jeong poked Jun-ho's arm once. Twice. Then again, more frantically.
"What?" Jun-ho snapped, finally looking up—
—only to find Se-jeong frozen, eyes wide, locked on the classroom door.
Jun-ho turned. His stomach dropped.
Yoon Jae-hun.
The chairman's grandson stood there, jaw clenched, fury radiating from him. His friends flanked him like shadows, their presence enough to make students shrink in their seats.
Jun-ho looked away, muttering under his breath. "…Shit."
The heavy footsteps drew closer until Jae-hun towered over his desk.
"You," he spat. His voice cut through the room. "Are you the one?"
Jun-ho said nothing.
The desk rattled violently as Jae-hun slammed his palm down. Jun-ho's pen rolled to the floor.
"Are you deaf?" Jae-hun barked, his face red with rage.
Jun-ho finally turned, meeting his glare. His voice was calm, low. "What do you want?"
"What do I want?" Jae-hun's voice exploded, echoing across the hall. "I want to know if you're the one fucking my sister!"
Gasps broke through the classroom like shattered glass. Murmurs rose, echoing against the walls.
The door banged open again. The lecturer strode in, startled by the chaos. "What on earth is going on back there?"
But Jae-hun wasn't listening, his glare locked on Jun-ho.
Jun-ho, jaw tight, shoved his books into his bag. Without a word, he stood, slinging it over his shoulder.
"Hey! I'm talking to you—"
Jun-ho walked right past him, ignoring the poisonous glares that followed. The door clicked shut behind him.
The lecturer sighed, rubbing his temple as the students erupted again. "Class dismissed. Go home before you all combust."
Then, after a pause, he walked out.
______________
The heavy double doors creaked open as Ha-eun stepped into her grandfather's study with Se-mi trailing close behind.
Inside, Chairman Yoon Dae-han sat behind his grand oak desk, his sharp eyes glittering with amusement as he studied something on a tablet. Across from him stood Oh Yoon-gi, Se-mi's father, arms crossed and lips curved into a small, knowing smile.
Both men looked up at her entrance.
"Ha-eun-ah," her grandfather said warmly, his chuckle rolling out like thunder.
Ha-eun slowed, confusion flickering across her face. Se-mi mirrored her expression, brows furrowed as if trying to decode the scene.
She cleared her throat, stepping closer. "Grandfather… I can explain—"
But Chairman Yoon suddenly laughed harder, slapping the tablet against the desk. "Explain? Why on earth would you need to explain seeing someone?"
Her stomach dropped.
He leaned forward, his grin mischievous. "So this is why you've been so stubborn about your suitors? How long have you been seeing this young man? And why keep him such a secret from me?"
Ha-eun froze. Her lips parted, but no words came. She darted a desperate glance at Se-mi.
Without missing a beat, Se-mi blurted out, "She wanted to wait until he graduated before announcing it!"
Ha-eun's eyes widened. What the hell, Se-mi?!
Yoon-gi arched a brow. "Graduated? How long has this been going on?"
Ha-eun stammered, "I—uh—"
"Over a year," Se-mi supplied smoothly, smiling too brightly.
Ha-eun whipped her head towards her, glaring daggers, but Se-mi only pressed her lips in a thin line, silently mouthing, Go with it.
Her grandfather hummed, clearly delighted. "Over a year? And you hid it this well? Then why did you two suddenly come out in public like that? Of all places!"
Ha-eun scrambled for words. "He… he wasn't supposed to be there. But I had something important to tell him, so I asked him to come."
The chairman's brows lifted. "Something so important that it couldn't wait? I know how important business matters are for my little girl?"
She gave an awkward smile, panic burning at the back of her throat.
Then his gaze flicked down—right to her stomach. His eyes widened in sudden realization. "Wait, don't tell me—"
"No!" she cut in quickly, her voice shrill. "We—we got engaged!"
The room went still.
"…What?" Se-mi choked.
"…What?" Yoon-gi blinked.
"…WHAT?" Ha-eun herself gasped, her own brain catching up to her mouth.
Her grandfather's face broke into the widest grin she'd seen in years. "Engaged? And you didn't tell me?"
"I—he proposed some days ago," Ha-eun lied on instinct, her cheeks burning hot. "I wasn't sure at first, but when I heard Father was arranging another marriage… I called him over immediately and accepted."
Chairman Yoon leaned back in his chair, laughter booming through the room. "Ha! Finally! My little girl makes a decision on her own terms!"
He reached for the tablet again, tapping the profile of Jun-ho's picture. "Lee Jun-ho… Seoul National University, civil engineering. I can't wait to meet this young man."
"Grandfather, I really should get back to work," Ha-eun said quickly, her smile so forced it hurt her cheeks. She grabbed Se-mi's wrist and tugged her toward the door.
"Bring him home for dinner soon!" Chairman Yoon called after her.
The doors shut behind them with a thud.
Ha-eun leaned against the hallway wall, dragging in a shaky breath. Se-mi pressed a hand to her forehead.
"What…" Ha-eun croaked, eyes wide with horror, "…have we just done?"