DH ✦ Ch 1

✦ Chapter 1 ✦

The spring semester had ended.

The shadows cast by the stately, temple-like campus were fleeting.

As Gayoung stepped out from her last class, it felt like only the golden sunlight dared to touch her feet.

Columbia University, incongruously nestled in the concrete jungle of Manhattan, New York, was Gayoung’s domain. She had just completed her third year in the business program, and her final grades—checked today—were all A+.

Her proud steps moved with the rhythm of a song.

“Perfect.”

The words slipped from her lips. Today was, without a doubt, the most perfect day of her not-so-long life.

She had achieved all three goals she’d chased after for the past four years: academics, part-time work, and filial piety. All three had come to fruition today.

At twenty-three, Yoon Ga-young’s life had been defined by blood, sweat, and tears.

Back in Korea, she had been a top student throughout high school, without the help of private tutoring.

She had entered Columbia on a government scholarship and fought tooth and nail in academic competition with native English speakers. She worked the maximum number of hours permitted for international students to earn her living expenses.

Ten days from now, during the June summer session, she would begin an internship at a company that guaranteed a U.S. green card. The salary was higher than any part-time job she’d had.

A year from now, with a brilliant diploma in hand, global companies in Manhattan would welcome her with open arms.

Her steps across campus led her to a dormitory that looked strikingly like Hogwarts. Ga-young headed straight to the student cafeteria in the basement.

Although it was just past 1 p.m., the place was quiet, with few diners.

“My beauty, come on in.”

The general manager at the front counter greeted her with his usual cheeky smile.

Gayoung responded with a bright smile and a wave, then headed straight to the kitchen.

There weren’t many dishes to wash at the sink. The end of the semester meant fewer students and less mess.

She turned on the tap and began emptying ice from the used tumblers. The ketchup and grease from the plates were already beginning to rinse away with the water.

“This’ll be over soon.”

She bobbed her head to an invisible tune as she worked.

Roughly one hour from now, her student job would officially come to an end—once she polished the kitchenware to a shine.

As she grabbed a sponge soaked in detergent, her phone rang. She ripped off her rubber gloves in a hurry and let out a joyous cry.

“Auntie!”

It was the call she’d been waiting for since she woke up that morning.

—“Ga-young.”

“Did you just arrive?”

—“Yeah, just got through immigration. Why are there so many people? White folks, Black folks, all over the place. I feel like my heart shrunk.”

Her aunt and uncle had flown in to visit her in New York. They had taken Ga-young in and raised her like their own daughter after she was orphaned at the age of nine.

“Isn’t it disorienting? I told you I’d come meet you.”

—“You think we’re kids? It’s Columbia University. We’ll find our way there.”

“Okay. There are plenty of taxis in front of the terminal, so make sure you take one. Just tell the driver ‘Columbia University,’ and they’ll take you straight to the main gate. I’ll be waiting for you there.”

—“You’ve said that like ten times. We get it. Don’t worry.”

Gayoung urged them to be careful and hung up.

Today, already perfect, would peak with her aunt and uncle’s arrival.

It had been her plan from the beginning of her time abroad to invite the two people who had never traveled internationally before.

Her Dream Scholarship not only covered tuition but provided a small living stipend. With that help, she’d worked multiple part-time jobs from the moment she arrived, and she had saved up a substantial amount.

With that money, she had gifted a dream trip to her aunt and uncle, who were both turning sixty this year.

She had sent them round-trip plane tickets, booked a clean motel—not a five-star hotel, but good enough—and planned an itinerary from New York to Niagara Falls. A rental car had been reserved for the week-long trip starting tomorrow.

It took about an hour by taxi from JFK Airport to Columbia University. Gayoung, suppressing the urge to run straight to meet them, redoubled her efforts at the sink.

While wiping the dishes, someone unwelcome entered the kitchen.

“Hey, Gayoung.”

It was Gavin, a fellow business major and persistent pest. For the past two years, he’d kept asking her out despite constant rejections.

Gayoung raised a skeptical brow. Gavin leaned casually against the doorframe, grinning.

“Still not coming? Be my partner, please.”

Here we go again. Yet another desperate plea to attend one of their ridiculous parties.

Some of the business students—mostly from Manhattan’s elite—held wild parties at the end of each semester. These events included booze, dancing, hookups, and even legally smoked marijuana.

It wasn’t like these students partied all the time. They studied hard and followed elite etiquette. But on the last day of the semester, they went completely wild.

Gayoung had only heard rumors—she’d never seen one of those parties for herself.

Every semester, she received an invitation. And every time, she ignored it.

“You need to get your ears cleaned.”

“What?”

“How many times do I have to say no for you to understand?”

“Just come this once, please? You’re wasting your youth buried in economics books. Blow off some steam for once.”

Ga-young let out a cold laugh.

Easy for a rich kid who only has to study. These kinds of boys were just immature little brats in her eyes.

“Unlike you, I have no stress to blow off. Life’s already a full-time job.”

“Oh, come on, Ga-youuuung.”

“Could you please leave? You’re in the way.”

“You’re really something, you know. After over ten invitations, people usually give in at least once.”

“Well, not in any law I follow.”

Eventually, Gavin walked out, lips pouting like a duck’s beak.

Ga-young glanced at the wall clock. Her frown from dealing with the silver-spoon pest melted into a smile. Her aunt and uncle were expected in twenty minutes.

“They’re going to be so happy.”

Joy and excitement bubbled within her.

It was her first time doing something truly adult in the name of filial piety—and her own first trip, too.

But the soft flutter of her heart was soon shattered by a devastating shock.

As she was taking off her apron, her phone rang again—from an unknown number.

“This is Yoon Ga-young speaking.”

She answered brightly, but the voice on the other end was urgent.

—“This is 911 emergency services. Are you the guardian of Korean nationals Bong-man Kim and Soon-hee Yoon?”

May in New York was festival season.

Art and cultural events blooming on buildings and street corners added life to the gray city.

After an hour in a small gallery, the narrow two-lane road between buildings was suddenly buzzing. A parade was passing by—people dancing to hip-hop, which originated in this very Harlem neighborhood.

He stretched his long legs slowly across the crowded sidewalk.

He decided to enjoy the moment. After all, such freedom in the middle of chaos was impossible back in Korea.

He had deviated from the official GB Group business itinerary. Originally, his business trip to New York was scheduled for the following Monday. But he took a personal day on Friday and flew out Thursday night—alone and unburdened.

Thanks to that, today he was enjoying a rare moment of freedom. Of course, he expected scolding from Korea soon enough.

As if on cue, a call from Korea came through just as he finished the thought.

—“Executive Director Shin Hyun-jae, why are you in New York right now?”

The stern voice made no effort to hide its displeasure.

—“I specifically told you to clear your weekend schedule. Why did you fly out three days early?”

The caller was Kwon Sun-jin, the overall chairwoman of GB Group—and Hyun-jae’s maternal grandmother.

Hyun-jae scoffed inwardly but maintained formal courtesy.

“I had personal matters to attend to. It’s surprising that someone as respectful of privacy as you would get so angry over such a small issue.”

—“How can I not get upset? I told you a hundred times we arranged a formal meeting with Chairman Kim’s granddaughter this weekend!”

Hyun-jae pulled his phone away from his ear.

He found it easier to remain calm if he simply didn’t listen. His grandmother was obsessed with getting him married. Arguing was pointless, and debate a waste of time.

When the nagging finally paused, he casually returned the phone to his ear.

“Sorry, what was that? The signal here’s terrible.”

—“I said, the blind date has been pushed back to next week, so make sure…”

“I can’t hear a thing. Looks like I’ll have to hang up. Sorry.”

—“Hyun-jae! Hyun-jae…”

Click. He hung up on her without hesitation and put his phone on silent mode.

Reclaiming his pleasant solitude in the crowd, he turned his attention back to the parade—not exactly his taste, but entertaining enough to hold his interest.

Just then, someone bumped into his arm from behind.

The impact was light, so he turned calmly—only to see a young woman stumbling awkwardly to the ground.

She looked young, perhaps still a student.

Without even apologizing for causing a scene in the crowded street, she quickly picked herself up and rushed ahead as fast as she could through the crowd.

There must have been some urgency.

Hyun-jae watched her retreating figure.

Tall and slender, she wore loose jeans and a plaid shirt with effortless style. Her long jet-black hair streamed behind her as she ran.

He guessed she was a Korean international student—her backpack was from a Korean brand.

For some reason, her back reminded him of someone else. He regretted not seeing her face.

A faint smirk curled on Hyun-jae’s lips.

“Wasn’t that girl supposed to be studying abroad in New York?”