Chapter 6: Puppy Love and Blushing Secrets

...Song Yun was deeply moved by Woo-seok’s kindness and the way he had helped her father, but she couldn’t shake off her ingrained dislike for wealthy people. Growing up, she had seen the cruelty and arrogance of the rich toward those of her social class—people like her father who worked hard every day just to make ends meet. Though Woo-seok had shown her a different side of wealth, she couldn’t let herself be swept away by her emotions....

...When he had asked her to go on an outing with him, she had agreed in the moment, but as soon as she returned home, she resolved to keep her distance. She couldn’t afford to let her guard down. Woo-seok might be kind and generous, but he was still part of the world she had learned to distrust....

...Meanwhile, at Woo-seok’s home, the atmosphere was completely different. The usually cold and stoic CEO was bouncing on his bed, grinning from ear to ear....

..."She’ll come with me! Yeayyyyyy! Wowwwwww! Oh my God, is this a dream?" he exclaimed, laughing as he flopped down onto the mattress, only to jump up again. "Ahaaww! No, no… nooo… it’s not a dream! She’s impressed by me! Yeayyyyyy!"...

...But suddenly, his jubilant celebration was cut short by a sharp, familiar pain in his chest. His laughter turned into a groan as he clutched his chest, feeling the old ache of his heart condition flare up. He sank onto the bed, his breath coming in shallow gasps as he clenched his chest. The pain was intense, but Woo-seok gritted his teeth, determined not to let this weakness show in front of anyone—especially not Song Yun. He couldn’t bear the thought of her seeing him as inferior....

...The next day, Song Yun found herself at the university, laughing and chatting with Ji-eun, who had quickly become one of her closest friends. Ji-eun, who was oblivious to her brother’s condition, listened with wide eyes as Song Yun told her about how Woo-seok had helped her father and how sweet he had been....

...Ji-eun’s jaw dropped, and she smirked at Song Yun. "Oh, a bossy CEO is literally a cute, lovey-dovey puppy in front of you, huh? I swear I’ve never seen him so cheerful like this when he’s with you."...

...Song Yun blushed at Ji-eun’s teasing, trying to shrug it off. "He’s just being nice. But… I don’t know. I still have to keep my distance."...

...Ji-eun grinned, clearly not convinced. "Sure, keep telling yourself that." ...

...The two girls got ready for their science lab, where they had to conduct a chemistry experiment. As they were carefully mixing chemicals, a sudden accident occurred. A student nearby accidentally knocked over a beaker of acid, and before Song Yun could react, Nam Ju, who was in the lab with them, jumped in front of her, shielding her from the dangerous spill. The acid splashed onto his hand, causing an immediate, painful burn....

..."Nam Ju!" Song Yun gasped, quickly grabbing the first aid kit. She gently applied the burn ointment to his hand, her fingers trembling slightly as she tried to be as careful as possible. Nam Ju winced but didn’t pull away, instead, he looked at her with a warm, appreciative gaze....

..."Thank you, Song Yun," Nam Ju said softly, his voice laced with gratitude. "You’re really kind."...

...Back at Woo-seok’s house, Ji-eun had returned from the university and was in a playful mood. She found her brother in the living room, and without missing a beat, she started teasing him....

..."Listen, Mommy," Ji-eun called out to their mother, who was busy with her own tasks. "You know what? My brother has started liking a girl! See how he’s blushing, you blusher! Hehe!"...

...Their mother, intrigued by this news, looked up with a hint of surprise. "Thank God, at least he’s started liking girls. I thought he might be interested in boys," she joked lightly. "I don’t understand why he’s so arrogant and cold. Who’ll love him? Has the girl liked him back?"...

...Ji-eun giggled, enjoying her brother’s discomfort. "Umm… she’s my friend, but not yet. But she’ll like my brother soon. I’m sure of it."...

...Woo-seok, who had been pretending to ignore them, suddenly turned his head in a full 180°, his expression transforming from a giggle to his usual serious, cold gaze. "Ya, Mom and Ji-eun, that’s enough. That’s none of your business," he said in a deep voice, clearly trying to maintain his stern facade despite his embarrassment. He then stood up, turning his back to them as he left the dining room with an air of dignity....

...But as he walked away, Woo-seok’s thoughts weren’t on the teasing or his mother’s comments. All he could think about was Song Yun—the way she looked at him with those teary eyes, the way she smiled, and how much he wanted to be close to her, despite the walls she had built around herself. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, but he was determined to find a way into her heart....

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