New Student

Inside the café near Seunggi University, where Da-Eun studies, the name "Gong Do-yun" was on everyone's lips. Both girls and some boys couldn't stop discussing the new student.

In this age of the internet with 4G technology, the exchange of information is lightning-fast. Since most of the population can access the internet via their mobile phones, they can easily log into their SNS or social media accounts and search for any information about a person.

The students diligently scoured the web for Do-yun's personal accounts on Cyworld, Facebook, Me2Day, Twitter, and even the relatively new Instagram.

However, their efforts yielded no results. They only stumbled upon articles and videos from years ago when he was just a young boy. This was because his mother, Dan Yeong-ja, a renowned actress and the long-time host of the popular lifestyle series "Lovely Day," took great pleasure in showcasing her handsome and talented son.

"He's undeniably a natural beauty," one of the female students from Da-Eun's study group couldn't help but murmur in admiration while she scrolled through her phone. They were currently at a cafe, taking a brief one-hour study session with Da-Eun, and were enjoying a ten-minute break, which naturally led to phone browsing.

Da-Eun often organized study group sessions for her classmates struggling to grasp certain aspects of their latest lessons. She did this out of genuine kindness and also to maintain a pristine reputation once she completed her studies.

"Handsome and wealthy. Honestly, he seems like a character straight out of those cheesy romance novels!" chimed in another classmate.

Da-Eun found herself in a listening role, deliberately refraining from discussing Gong Do-yun due to the ongoing rivalry between their parents. She trod cautiously, avoiding both praise and criticism.

Compliments might be misconstrued as interest, and disparaging comments could potentially impact her mother's business. Silence seemed the safest course of action.

To fill the ten-minute break and divert conversations away from Gong Do-yun, she decided to order another drink, hoping it would deter any probing questions. With her phone in hand, she diligently responded to messages from friends, creating the appearance of busyness and deterring any casual acquaintances from striking up conversations.

The presence of Gong Do-yun had made her unusually guarded among her peers. She hadn't anticipated finding herself in such a predicament. Although she typically enjoyed socializing and forming connections, for today, or perhaps even the entire week, she'd have to adopt a more reserved approach until the fervor around Do-yun's popularity waned.

After finishing her study group session, she directly went back to her dorm. She plans to avoid the library as much as possible for the time being.

Before stepping into the bathroom for a shower, she sent a quick text to Min-ji, notifying her that she had returned to her dorm. Almost immediately, Min-ji responded, indicating that she was on her way over with something important to discuss.

As Da-Eun stood under the soothing stream of water in the shower, she suddenly heard the front door swing open, and Min-ji's cheerful voice called out, "I've brought some chicken." A few moments later, the familiar sound of the TV being switched on reached her ears.

Emerging from the bathroom, Da-Eun appeared refreshed, dressed in an oversized black t-shirt paired with bright yellow pajama pants.

"Why didn't you join the study session earlier?" Da-Eun inquired as she settled down beside Min-ji.

Min-ji took a hearty sip of cola before responding with enthusiasm, "I attempted to meet up with this guy who messaged me on Cyworld. I figured it would be a good time to start dating while our schedules and classes are still relatively light. He's cute, but he's incredibly quiet. I did most of the talking earlier, and it was exhausting to come up with topics of conversation. Ironically, even though he was the one who suggested the meetup, I ended up asking more questions about him. Can you believe the nerve?"

"Dating? Won't it be a bit of a hassle for you, living with your parents and commuting?" Da-Eun asked with genuine concern in her voice.

Min-ji responded with a playful smile, "I'll try my best to work it out."

Da-Eun chuckled. "You're quite the naughty daughter. Brace yourself for your parents' wrath." She then unexpectedly added, "But I believe in you. Give the guy a chance, maybe he's just a bit shy."

"That's exactly my plan. But I can't help worrying about you. You'll be all alone if I start officially dating," Min-ji teased with a pout, a mix of cute and mocking.

Da-Eun rolled her eyes playfully. "Come on now, what am I, a child who needs supervision?" She had made a personal promise not to date while she was still an undergraduate, saving that venture for when she entered med school, hoping to find emotional support for the trauma she might experience.

"Why not give Gong Do-yun a chance? You two are so intriguing together. I can just imagine the sparks flying," Min-ji suggested with a mischievous grin. Ever since she had playfully teased Da-Eun about their enemies-to-lovers potential, Min-ji had been persistently joking and indulging in fanciful daydreams.

Da-Eun shot her a playful warning glance, even pointing a chicken drumstick in her direction.

Min-ji couldn't help but laugh. "I mean, you're both good-looking and wealthy! It's like something out of a K-drama. Although, with both of you being rich, there might be a poor girl out there poised to steal Do-yun's heart from you. Haha, just thinking about it feels so cliché and amusing." Min-ji couldn't resist weaving her whimsical tales.

Da-Eun rolled her eyes. "Are you sure you're not secretly sipping on something stronger than cola? You sound like you've had a few too many."

Min-ji chuckled. "I just find the whole situation so coincidental and peculiar. Anyway, I'll stop teasing you. But I do have some interesting tidbits to share about him from my browsing adventures."

Da-Eun leaned in, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Oh? What is it? You're building up quite the suspense here." She teased Min-ji, who had taken her time in delivering the gossip.

"He's a student in the Computer Science department. I didn't expect him to opt for that instead of Business Administration or something related to medicine, especially considering his parents own a hospital and a cosmetics company," Min-ji observed, her expression displaying genuine puzzlement.

Da-Eun offered her perspective, saying, "Studying technology is a wise choice these days. Many of the emerging billionaires are tech innovators. Perhaps he's inclined toward such a venture."

Da-Eun understood why Do-yun had chosen a different path from what people might have anticipated. Her own mother had emphasized the importance of education and a strong degree as a safeguard in case their family business faced challenges. It was a practical plan B that would secure Da-Eun's future, as her mother saw it. She had suggested dermatology as a promising field, given the bright future of Korean beauty products and techniques. While there were other potential successful careers, Da-Eun had agreed with her mother's advice and pursued dermatology.

However, some of her aunts had suggested Business Administration, hoping she would become the future chairman. But Da-Eun's mother had firmly opposed that idea, preferring her daughter to be a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist. In the event that their family business encountered financial difficulties, Da-Eun would still have her degree as a valuable asset.

Min-ji still couldn't quite comprehend, stating, "I can't help but feel it's a bit of a waste not to make use of the resources he already has."

Da-Eun reflected on this information, recognizing that both her mother and Gong Do-yun's parents had allowed them the freedom to choose their own educational paths.