Chapter 16: Kim Tae-hyun Meets Soo-jin

"Miss Kim Soo-jin, which manor would you like to contact?"

As Soo-jin heard the security guard, she removed the paper from her pocket where she had written Joon-ho's address. Looking at it, she spoke, thinking what a grandiose name:

"Crystal Haven."

When the security guard heard the words "Crystal Haven," his eyes widened. Hiding his shock professionally, he dialed the number, thinking internally:

Young Master Kim Tae-hyun has never been rumored to be with a girl. Does this young lady really know Young Master Kim?

Soo-jin, taking the phone the security guard offered to her, listened to the bell ringing. She was thinking, What if Joon-ho's mom or dad picks up the call? What should I say? Should I introduce myself as Joon-ho's friend or classmate? What should I say? After all, first impressions matter.

As Soo-jin was thinking nervously, straightening her dress, she heard the call connect. In a polite manner, she spoke:

"Hello, sir. I am Kim Soo-jin, here to see Mr. Kim Joon-ho. Is he there?"

As the guard heard her say she was here to see Kim Joon-ho, he smiled, thinking, What was I thinking? She is definitely not here to see Young Master Kim. How could I doubt Young Master Kim's character

When the person on the other side heard what Soo-jin said, he was confused because he had never heard of the name Kim Joon-ho. He was a new employee but was pretty sure that no young master named Kim Joon-ho lived here.

The job of picking up calls and receiving guests belonged to the late master's butler, but due to his advancing age and sickness, he was unable to make it today. That's why the new employee was given the task of answering calls.

Many times, the late master's butler was told to retire, but he wished to continue working, saying serving the Kim family was his last wish. If he had been there, he would have been overjoyed to see Soo-jin looking for Joon-ho.

As Soo-jin waited for the other person on the call to reply, as he was taking a long time to answer, she wanted to speak again, but he spoke first.

"Sorry, ma'am, I don't think anyone with the name Kim Joon-ho lives here."

When Soo-jin heard that and was about to reply, a burly security guard snatched the phone from her hand. Looking at her with an angry glare, he spoke on the phone.

"Sorry to disturb you, sir, this mistake will never happen again."

Saying that, the security guard, who looked like a captain, cut the call and said to Soo-jin:

"Miss, please leave."

As Soo-jin heard his intimidating voice, she complied and started to leave because there was no reason to stay anymore. As she was leaving, she heard the security guard's captain scolding others.

"You new recruit, don't you have eyes? Don't you know where you're working? How can a girl wearing those shabby clothes know people in this area? This is your last chance. There will be many people coming like that, claiming to know the owner or claiming to be their relative. Absolutely do not send them inside or let them disturb the owner's. You all, why didn't you stop this new recruit? Now, you all go to your posts!"

Placing his hand on his forehead and knitting his brows, he muttered,

"Sigh, these people... How many times do I need to tell them? If this incident reaches the master, I will definitely get fired. Ah, these dumb heads are going to kill me someday."

While she was leaving in a depressed mood, unable to find Joon-ho and having to hear the sarcastic remarks, a Rolls-Royce car exiting the Hanam-dong gates stopped beside her.

As the car's back door opened, a young man wearing a suit stepped out. Looking at his physique, no one would guess he was just 18 this year. With a straight jawline and handsome appearance, he elegantly walked towards Soo-jin.

It was none other than Kim Tae-hyun as he spoke, carrying a friendly smile,

"What a pleasant surprise, Miss Kim Soo-jin."

When the security guards heard Kim Tae-hyun speak, they were all dumbfounded, especially the security guard captain, with his mouth gaping. His world was shattering, thinking, How can this be? This can never happen. In his 30 years of experience working here, this had never happened. All the people claiming to be relatives or friends of the owner living here were just here to disturb them. How can this be happening?

A few moments ago while Kim Tae-hyun was on his way to his newly formed company, looking outside, he saw Soo-jin from the window. He told Seo Jin-woo to stop the car. Adjusting his expression with his heart pounding rapidly, he went outside, but internally he was nervous—nervous to the extreme—because this would be the first time he would be speaking to Kim Soo-jin after a long, long time.

Did she remember me, or would she have forgotten me? I shouldn't speak informally; if she has forgotten who I am, then it will be a problem.

As Kim Tae-hyun arrived near Soo-jin, he extended his hand for a handshake, saying with a friendly smile,

"What a pleasant surprise, Miss Kim Soo-jin."

Soo-jin was first surprised, thinking, How does this man know my name? Then, raising her guard and donning the cheerful and approachable girl's mask, she expertly manipulated her expressions and awkwardly said shacking his hand,

"Hello, sir. Nice to meet you as well. Sorry, but I don't really recall where we have met."

As Kim Tae-hyun heard her reply, he was disappointed and heartbroken, though he hid his inner grief and responded with a smile,

"Oh, don't you remember? I am Kim Tae-hyun, the new student who joined today in the acting major."

Hearing Kim Tae-hyun, Soo-jin was shocked because she could not make any resemblance between the boy who looked like a hooligan gangster—arrogant at first glance, with two buttons of his shirt open, collar up, and sleeping through every lecture on his first day—and this elegant, refined, calm, collected, and well-spoken gentleman.

While Soo-jin was in shock, she muttered under her breath,

"He looks nice, totally different from the hooligan look in the university."

As Kim Tae-hyun heard her muttering, he chuckled and spoke once more, not knowing whether he should be angry or happy. Sighing in his head, he decided to take it as a compliment,

"Thank you for the compliment, Miss Kim Soo-jin."