Chapter Three: The Invitation

The sun had barely dipped below the horizon, casting golden hues across the quiet corridors of the science building, when Professor Han stepped into the lab. Minji was at her workstation, carefully logging her notes from the day’s experiment—her brows furrowed, fingers smudged with graphite from sketching molecular pathways in the margin of her notebook.

She didn’t notice the professor approach until he cleared his throat.

“Minji Park,” he said, his voice holding that familiar blend of sternness and admiration. “You have a minute?”

She looked up, her expression softening. “Of course, Professor.”

He stepped closer, glancing briefly at the work she was doing before cutting to the point. “Tomorrow’s university donation seminar. You’ve heard about it?”

She nodded. “Yes, sir. They made the announcement today. Some corporate figure is visiting.”

“Not just some figure,” he corrected. “He’s the CEO of one of Korea’s largest conglomerates. He’s made it a tradition to donate generously to our university. And this year, the dean wants a student to represent us—to speak, welcome him formally, and express our gratitude.”

Minji tilted her head slightly. “Okay... and?”

Professor Han gave a faint smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “The staff has unanimously agreed. We want you to do it.”

For a second, the air seemed to shift. Minji blinked. “Me?”

“Who else?” he said plainly. “You’re confident, articulate, and far more poised than most faculty members, let alone students. You carry yourself like someone who belongs on a stage.”

Minji hesitated. It wasn’t that she was nervous—public speaking had never been her weakness. But there was a strange tension in the professor’s voice, something beneath the surface that made her pause.

Still, she nodded. “Alright. I’ll do it.”

“Good,” Professor Han said, relieved. “Be at the main hall tomorrow by ten. You’ll meet the coordinator beforehand for your cue and notes. Just... be your best self.”

She gave a short laugh. “Aren’t I always?”

He chuckled, then left just as quickly as he’d arrived.

The moment the door shut, Mia popped her head in from behind a cabinet, where she had been pretending to organize samples. “You’re gonna anchor the seminar?”

Minji rolled her eyes. “You heard everything, didn’t you?”

“I breathed everything,” Mia grinned, tossing a lab coat aside and walking over. “Girl, you’re going to be on stage, welcoming the hottest, richest, most mysterious man in Korea. Do you even realize what that means?”

“I’m thanking a donor, not dating him.”

“Details, details,” Mia waved her hand. “Mark my words, you’re going to charm the hell out of that man. You don’t even try and people fall in love with you.”

Minji laughed. “Mia, stop.”

“No, you stop—stop pretending this isn’t a huge deal. The CEO of the Choi Group is practically royalty. He never does public appearances, but somehow he always shows up here once a year. You’re going to be the first student to greet him.”

Minji grabbed her bag. “Well, in that case, I better look the part.”

Mia followed close behind. “Ooooh, what are we thinking? A power suit? Red lipstick? That deadly smirk you save for game nights?”

“Maybe I’ll just wear my lab coat and remind him how smart girls run the world.”

They both burst out laughing as they stepped into the evening air.

Later that night, after an intense round of karaoke (where Minji predictably crushed both vocals and high-energy dance routines), the girls sat beneath the neon lights of a tiny street food stall, sipping warm broth and teasing each other over song choices.

But even as Minji laughed and sang along, something in the back of her mind itched—like an invisible thread had already been tugged. The stage had been set. The lights were warming. And somewhere out there, a stranger she had never met was already stepping into her story.

Tomorrow, everything would begin to change.

Are you exciting for next chapter

 I hope you guys support my work

 please do like and comment on my story and if you want to  ask you can ask

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***