nakshu2307

Haneul Seo had always been a bright spark—cheerful, ambitious, and full of life. In her early teenage years, she had harbored an innocent yet deep crush on Ra Hyeon, the untouchable senior at her school. He was everything she wasn’t—cold, reserved, and completely out of reach. A boy with sharp eyes and an aura of effortless power, already groomed to inherit his father’s vast business empire.

For two years, Haneul loved him from afar, unaware that his heart already belonged to someone else. When she finally learned the truth, the heartbreak was a quiet storm—one that pushed her to let go and focus on her own future. And that’s exactly what she did.

Determined to prove her worth beyond fleeting high school crushes, she threw herself into her studies, earned a place at a prestigious university, and graduated with top honors. Her hard work paid off—by the time she was in her mid-twenties, she had secured a position as a legal advisor in one of the country’s most powerful corporate firms. In a male-dominated field, she was the only woman on her team, yet she thrived. Confident, fearless, and stunningly charismatic, she became a force to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile, Ra Hyeon had been living a different life—one of privilege and expectations. After completing his education abroad, he returned to Seoul, where his father wasted no time in handing him the reins of the family empire. At just 28, he became the CEO of Hyeon Group, a multibillion-dollar conglomerate. He had always been a man of control, but something about the city felt different upon his return. Perhaps it was because he was no longer the untouchable senior, and perhaps… it was because fate had other plans.

When Haneul and Ra Hyeon’s paths cross again, it isn’t as a starry-eyed schoolgirl and an indifferent senior. This time, she stands as his equal—or perhaps, even as his adversary. In a world where power and ambition rule, will the embers of a forgotten crush reignite, or will they be forced to clash in the battlefield of corporate politics?

One thing is certain—Haneul Seo is no longer the girl who once admired him from the shadows. And Ra Hyeon? He might just realize that some people are impossible to ignore.

Tangled in Fate

The lobby was already a mess—a proposal unfolding in front of Ra Hyeon, an entire audience of employees waiting for her answer, and now, as if the universe wanted to humiliate her further—her younger brother had entered the chaos.

"HANEUL SEO! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!"

Her entire body locked up.

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.

Gosh, why? Why is the universe like this?

She turned slowly, half-hoping she was imagining things.

Seung Hyeon stood at the entrance, arms crossed, face twisted in scandalized disbelief. He looked between her, the man holding a bouquet of roses, and Ra Hyeon, who remained eerily composed, watching everything unfold with an unreadable expression.

Haneul's stomach dropped.

"Seung?!" she sputtered. "What are you doing here?"

Ignoring the sea of employees now openly gawking like this was a prime-time drama, Seung marched toward her.

"I came here to pick you up," he declared, still looking thoroughly unimpressed. "AND—I got selected into the top university! I wanted to tell you in person."

Her eyes widened. "Wait—what? You got in?!"

His frustration wavered for a second. "Yes?"

"You—" she exhaled, the chaos temporarily forgotten. "Seung, that's amazing! Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

His posture relaxed a little, but then he gestured wildly at the scene.

"I wanted to surprise you," he said, exasperated. "But apparently, the real surprise is this!"

A sharp flick of his hand emphasized the utter disaster surrounding them—

The random guy holding a bouquet, still waiting for an answer.

Ra Hyeon, cold and unreadable, watching like this was just another business deal.

Haneul, caught in the middle, wishing the ground would just swallow her whole.

The lobby was dead silent.

She wanted to die.

Haneul inhaled sharply, pressing her fingers against her temple.

I swear, I'm never stepping into this lobby again.

A Surprise… and a Disaster