Chapter 11: An Irresistible Invitation.

Shin Joowon sat down first, popped open the lid of his cup, and scooped up the whipped cream a few times before turning his head to look outside.

Yooha, unable to even touch the frappuccino as the whipped cream slowly collapsed, carefully started to speak toward him.

“I’m… really sorry about your shoes. I don’t think I apologized properly back then… I really wanted to say I was sorry.”

Shin Joowon, who casually swept the whipped cream from his lips with the tip of his tongue, widened his eyes as if he’d heard something unexpected.

For a brief moment, an excessive spark of liveliness flashed through his eyes—but Yooha didn’t notice it at all.

“I wanted to buy you a new pair… but when I looked into it, it seemed like something I wouldn’t be able to get myself….”

“I never asked you to pay for them. You actually looked them up?”

“…I felt so bad….”

Yooha’s already timid voice shrank even further in front of Shin Joowon.

Mumbling in a barely audible voice, Yooha’s head slowly drooped lower and lower.

Apparently finding something amusing, Shin Joowon burst out laughing loudly enough to echo through the lounge, then began stirring his frappuccino with the straw.

When Yooha cautiously lifted his gaze, Shin Joowon’s face was still full of laughter.

“I heard from Gihwan that you’re in Class 1.”

“Yes….”

“Then you’re coming to the department orientation on Friday, right?”

As if he had no intention of pressing further about the past incident, Shin Joowon abruptly changed the subject.

Not knowing what he meant by the question, Yooha carefully answered anyway.

“No….”

“Why? Something going on?”

“No, it’s not that, but….”

“If there’s no reason, you should go. There’s a lot we do at the orientation. Headcount matters too.”

Speaking with deliberate firmness, Shin Joowon stared straight at Yooha’s face.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never gone even once.”

Hit right on the mark, Yooha flinched.

Even if he’d had a hundred mouths, he wouldn’t have been able to say a word.

Watching Yooha nervously chew at his lips, Shin Joowon soon broke into a grin.

“Then you’re going this time, right?”

“……Yes.”

“You’re coming to the after-party too, right?”

Having no excuse left, Yooha had no choice but to agree only to fall silent again at the follow-up question.
He had never imagined the after-party would come up.

He had never attended a department event before, let alone an after-party, though he knew it was a gathering where people drank together and bonded.

For someone who wasn’t good at socializing and couldn’t handle alcohol well, it felt overwhelming.

There was also no reason to go out of his way to attend a place where classmates who disliked him would obviously be present.

On top of that, there was the 20,000 won participation fee for current students.
That amount weighed heavily on Yooha’s mind as well.

Still, unable to bring up any of those reasons to Shin Joowon, Yooha settled on what felt like the safest excuse after much hesitation.

“My house is far away… and I have a part-time job the next day… so the after-party would be difficult….”

“Where do you live?”

“…Sanyeong-dong.”

“That is far. Wouldn’t it be better to live on your own?”

“That’s a bit difficult… it’s manageable commuting from home.”

“What do you take? The subway?”

“Yes….”

Even as Yooha continued answering Shin Joowon’s questions, he felt strangely unsettled by how long the conversation was lasting.

No one had ever shown such persistent interest in him before, and being unaccustomed to conversation, he was used to giving only timid replies.

People who approached him with vague goodwill often misunderstood his passivity.

Too busy surviving each day, Yooha had unknowingly built walls that few people ever crossed.
Looking back, he’d essentially been ostracized throughout middle and high school—but he’d been too busy to even realize it.

And yet here he was, having a long conversation with someone he’d never imagined crossing paths with at all.

It felt unreal and oddly fascinating, to the point that the absurd thought crossed his mind—what if this is a dream?

After chewing and swallowing some poorly crushed ice, Shin Joowon tapped the table lightly and spoke again.

“So as long as you can get home, it’s fine, right?”

“…Pardon?”

“If the subway stops running, I’ll drive you home. Then you can come to the after-party, yeah?”

Why did the conclusion end up there…?
Unable to keep up with the swift turn of logic, Yooha could only chew at his lips without answering.

Though Sanyeong-dong was technically part of Seoul, it lay on the northeastern outskirts, closer to Gyeonggi Province.
It wasn’t a distance someone could casually offer to drive without hesitation.

He’d already caused enough trouble by ruining Joowon’s shoes and clothes.
He didn’t want to become even more shameless.

Breaking out in a cold sweat, Yooha finally managed to speak.

“N-no, it’s fine. That would be too much trouble… my place is really far….”

“It’s fine. I like driving. Sanyeong-dong? That’s doable.”

Shin Joowon smiled lightly, brushing aside Yooha’s unease.

He truly didn’t seem bothered by the distance, nor did he look annoyed at the idea of driving him home.
If anything, he looked like he was enjoying himself.

“It’ll be fun. Let’s go together.”

With all the reasons he couldn’t attend tangled together, Yooha’s mouth went dry.
But how could anyone refuse someone who so readily offered kindness, promised to take him home if it got late, and invited him along with such certainty?

Yooha had always been weak to kindness.

And when that kindness came from Shin Joowon—someone who had overlooked his mistake so generously—it was impossible to resist.

“…Okay.”

“Good. You made the right choice.”

Clutching his cup tightly with both hands, Yooha finally gave in.

Shin Joowon smiled in satisfaction, quietly watching Yooha, who still couldn’t quite meet his eyes.

He’s way more interesting than I thought.

Thinking that, Shin Joowon continued to smile.

****

In the heart of Songgye-dong, an area known as an affluent district, four massive country-style mansions occupied a plot so vast it was hard to take in at a glance.

Surrounded by towering fences, the estate exuded overwhelming grandeur.

Even the homeowner was required to undergo identity verification to enter—the security was that tight.

After passing through the iron gates and the meticulously maintained garden, the entrances to the residences finally came into view.

Shin Joowon opened the door to the largest main house and stepped inside.

Only after walking down a long, wide hallway did he finally reach the living room.

“I’m home.”

At his flat announcement, Chairman Shin—who had been seated on the sofa—and his secretary, Director Han, turned their heads at the same time.

Meeting his grandfather’s eyes, Shin Joowon smiled with a mischievous, boyish grin and walked over.

Director Han gave a slight bow toward Shin Joowon, seated across from him.
Shin Joowon returned the greeting with a silent nod.

As the person who accompanied him to the center for every checkup, Director Han was the closest to Shin Joowon among Chairman Shin’s inner circle.

“So, nothing unusual today?”

“No, Grandfather.”

Chairman Shin removed his glasses and lightly rubbed the bridge of his nose, then laughed heartily, pleased with the energetic reply.

Seeing him instantly revert into a kind, doting grandfather, Director Han quietly gathered the tablet and documents spread across the table.

“Then I’ll take my leave, Chairman.”

“Alright. See you tomorrow, Director Han.”

After straightening his clothes, Director Han bowed to both Chairman Shin and Shin Joowon before leaving the living room with measured steps.

Once he was out of sight, Shin Joowon set down his bag and cracked his stiff neck to each side.

Concern immediately clouded Chairman Shin’s face, worried that his precious grandson might be unwell.

“Are you feeling sick?”

“I’m just a bit tired from going back to school after a while. I’ll turn in early tonight.”

“I told you I’d assign Manager Kim. Why insist on driving yourself?”

“It’s more comfortable alone. With Manager Kim around, it feels like I’m being watched.”

‘Not just feels like it—there’s a real chance of that.’

Swallowing the rest of the thought smoothly, Shin Joowon smiled at his grandfather.

Though Manager Kim had long served as Chairman Shin’s driver, he had effectively been under the command of Shin Hyeongwon—the eldest grandson—for quite some time.

Shin Joowon already knew all of Manager Kim’s schemes.
He was simply waiting for the right moment to expose them, pretending not to notice for now.

If Manager Kim were put in charge of driving him, blinded by money and acting as a spy, Shin Hyeongwon would likely offer him even more cash and order him to report every detail of Joowon’s movements.

That would make it easier to secure undeniable proof—but Shin Joowon had no intention of selling his privacy just yet.

“Watched? Haha. What would this old man gain by watching you?”

“You’re always curious about what I do at school, who I’m close with.”

“That’s because I worry. What if someone harms my grandson?”

“Who would harm me? If anything, I’d be the one doing it. I’m fine, so take care of your health first.”

As usual, Shin Joowon replied with a playful smile and picked up his bag, standing.

Having spent some time chatting with his grandfather, he’d fulfilled his role as the sweet, considerate youngest grandson well enough.

Now it was time to shed the stifling mask and enjoy some solitude.

“I’m going upstairs to rest.”

“Alright.”

After giving Chairman Shin a light bow, Shin Joowon left the sofa.

When he reached the third floor via the elevator surrounded by a spiral staircase, he made eye contact with a cleaning lady mid-task.

They exchanged a brief nod, and as Shin Joowon reached for his doorknob, she called out to him.

Shin Joowon paused, his hand still on the handle.