Ji Hyun stared silently at the caramel latte placed in front of her for a while. She had thought about it when ordering Seung Ho’s coffee, but it was expensive considering the state of her pockets. But she really wanted to try it.

A sweet coffee ordered just for herself, not for an errand…

With a trembling heart, Ji Hyun picked up the cup and brought the coffee to her mouth. The coffee mixed with rich milk foam and caramel syrup tasted surprisingly good.

One time, the helper lady who worked in the kitchen had made her coffee using an espresso machine.

The lady of the house, who usually ordered a double shot coffee, only took a single shot that day, so there was one cup left over, and the helper lady made coffee for Ji Hyun.

The coffee at that time was very bitter. The moment she took a sip, she couldn’t help but frown. The helper lady looked at Ji Hyun with a knowing face and said with a smile,

“Ji Hyun still doesn’t know the bitterness of life, so you can’t appreciate the taste. Just wait and see. One day, you’ll only seek out bitter coffee.”

No way, that can’t be…

If life was bitter like the lady said, Ji Hyun vowed to only drink sweet coffee.

Savoring the lingering caramel aroma in her mouth, Ji Hyun looked around. Even on the weekend, there were still many customers who looked like students.

Overhearing their conversations, it seemed that most of the students had come out for extra academy classes to prepare for exams. Thinking about the upcoming final exams and study plans, her thoughts went from Mi Ri and Ha Jun to the famous Shin Seung Ho at Seomun High School.

‘Why does Shin Seung Ho like black coffee when there’s this kind of coffee?’

Ji Hyun couldn’t understand Seung Ho, who enjoyed drinking bitter Americano. No, to begin with, he was a person beyond her understanding.

Just recalling what happened last week, Seung Ho was from a completely different world than her. On a peaceful weekend afternoon, a call came to the mansion looking for Ji Hyun.

−You left your cell phone. Come to the top floor of the cafe building that says ‘Four-way Paradise’.

“I don’t know where that is…”

−Find a way to get here. As soon as possible.

When she hesitated, half not wanting to go and half afraid, he replied coldly and hung up the phone unilaterally. Kim Sil Jang said this doesn’t happen often and handed Ji Hyun the cell phone Seung Ho had left behind.

Not knowing the way, Ji Hyun had to sigh several times and wander around looking for the cafe. To reach the top floor that seemed to be used as a penthouse, Ji Hyun had to press the security bell several times.

“Who is it?”

The person who opened the door was a cute girl with short hair who looked to be the same age.

“I’m looking for Shin Seung Ho.”

With a small sense of pride remaining, Ji Hyun deliberately omitted the words ‘young master’. The girl rolled her eyes and looked Ji Hyun up and down.

“Seung Ho? The Shin Seung Ho I know?”

Annoyed by the disbelieving tone, Ji Hyun held out his cell phone. There was no need to stay here any longer. Her job was done…

“Please give this to him. He said he left his cell phone behind.”

At that moment, a man with a loud voice interrupted her and approached the front door.

“Oh? Who’s this?”

Surprised, Ji Hyun blinked and stared at the owner of the voice.

As tall as Shin Seung Ho, with dyed brown hair and playful eyes that vaguely resembled Seung Ho, but with a completely different vibe, the boy was looking at her.

“What is it, Kwon Min Woo, do you know her too?”

The gaze of the short-haired girl, which had been fresh, softened considerably.

“To be precise, it’s someone Seung Ho knows, not me. Don’t just stand there, come in.”

“No, I’m just going to give this and leave.”

“Then Seung Ho won’t like it.”

Min Woo spoke meaningfully as if he knew something. Meeting his mischievous eyes, Ji Hyun felt a chill run down her spine.

Those who grew up abundantly seemed to be treating her like an object rather than a person. Ji Hyun had no choice but to follow Min Woo through the entrance.

The cold temperature of the marble floor rose through her socks, but there was no time to put on slippers.

There were a few other people in the house besides them.

The dazed eyes looking at Ji Hyun as she took steps and the unfamiliar air enveloping her naturally separated her from them.

She tried not to look around and just walked forward.

The short-haired girl who had asked Ji Hyun who she was took care of the sprawled kids with a familiar attitude as if she were the owner of the house.

The boy called Min Woo hummed and walked a few steps ahead as if guiding her. On the sofa in the spacious living room, there he was.

Shin Seung Ho, sitting neatly unlike the others who were out of their minds…

The sight of him swirling a glass with ice in it didn’t look very good, but his characteristically arrogant and dignified atmosphere was truly unrivaled.

She naturally thought of her own friends. It was really fortunate that the pure Mi Ri and Ha Jun were from a different world than these people.

Min Woo circled around Seung Ho and politely stretched out his arm to point at Ji Hyun as if introducing the best product.

“She’s finally here. The one you’ve been waiting for desperately…”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“The cell phone. The cell phone.”

Frowning at Min Woo’s sly change of words, Seung Ho turned his head and his eyes met Ji Hyun’s for a moment. Nothing could be felt from his expressionless face looking at her. Regardless, Ji Hyun held out the cell phone in front of him.

“Here’s what you told me to bring.”

Seung Ho didn’t take the cell phone she offered and just stared.

‘Maybe he’s staring because I spoke informally to him unlike inside the house.’

Ji Hyun, who had unilaterally spoken informally, felt a pang in her stomach, but leaving this place was more important, so she quickly put the cell phone down on the table with a thud.

“I’m done with what I had to do, so I’ll get going now.”

“…”

“Who is she?”

Just as she was about to turn around, relieved by the silence, the short-haired girl blocked Ji Hyun’s way this time.

“Who are you? What’s your relationship that you’re bringing Shin Seung Ho’s cell phone?”

The quite pretty girl scrutinized Ji Hyun even more closely with a mixture of curiosity and hostility in her eyes.

“Judging by the clothes you’re wearing, it doesn’t seem like you’re one of us…”

The girl tilted her head and urged Seung Ho for an answer. The few people who had been chatting with each other also focused their attention here.

It was clear that they were waiting with interest for the answer that would come from him. Min Woo, glancing at Seung Ho, waved his hand and said loudly,

“Hey, just let her go. She’s a busy girl too.”

“So, who is she that she has Shin Seung Ho’s cell phone?!”

As no answer came back, the girl’s voice became even sharper. Ji Hyun thought for a moment if she should speak, but soon gave up.

Anyway, it had nothing to do with her. Min Woo alternately looked at the girl and Seung Ho with a perplexed look. Ji Hyun, who suddenly became the center of attention, felt exhausted. She wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.

“I’m…”

“She’s nothing.”

The moment Ji Hyun opened her mouth, unable to bear the silence, Seung Ho intervened. Leaning back at an angle, a sneer flashed in his black eyes looking at Ji Hyun.

“…What?”

The one who was surprised was the girl who had been arguing. Seung Ho confirmed it once more, instead of her who was stammering, not knowing what to say.

“It’s exactly as I said. Ah, since she works at our house for money, should I say she’s an employee or a servant.”

Tilting his head as if in serious thought, light reflected in Seung Ho’s eyes. One of the group joined in on his words, holding back laughter.

“Hey, servant is a bit harsh. It’s not like we’re in the class era…”

“Harsh? If you get paid to do chores and run errands, you’re a servant.”

Ji Hyun’s face, properly ridiculed, turned red in an instant.

Even though she thought Shin Seung Ho’s way of mocking her was incredibly childish, she felt like her worth had plummeted at the word ‘servant’.

She tried her best to maintain a calm face, but a hot lump weighed heavily on her chest.

“Is that what it was? I thought…”

The short-haired girl muttered with a deflated face. She had no interest in how the situation was unfolding now. She was simply relieved that Ji Hyun was nothing to Seung Ho.

“Seeing the way they’re talking, you’d better go quickly. Get out fast.”

Min Woo, who had been alternately looking at the two and repeatedly swallowing dry saliva, finally couldn’t take it anymore and grabbed Ji Hyun’s arm to lead her to the front door. Seung Ho, with one corner of his mouth slightly raised, didn’t take his eyes off Ji Hyun as she moved away.

“Um, sorry. They’re not as bad as they seem, so don’t take it to heart and forget about it. And about telling you to come in earlier…”

Min Woo continued with something like an excuse for the embarrassing situation, but Ji Hyun didn’t listen to the end and left the place. She had clearly intended to reveal that she worked at his house, but her position heard from someone else’s mouth was unspeakably miserable.

Tears welled up, not knowing if they came from sadness or anger, but Ji Hyun gritted her teeth and endured it.

After that incident, Seung Ho didn’t look for Ji Hyun all of last week.

Rather, it was for the best, Ji Hyun concluded positively. Thanks to that, she didn’t have to run errands ordered by Seung Ho and gained free time.

Now she could go to the library on weekends or meet her friends. Finishing the rest of her coffee, Ji Hyun got up with a refreshed face.

‘Next time, I must meet Mi Ri on the weekend.’

“Choi Ji Hyun?”

Startled by the name calling her, Ji Hyun lifted her head and soon smiled brightly.

“Ha Jun!”

“It really is you? I thought it might be… But why are you here?”

Ha Jun, who returned her smile just as brightly, approached Ji Hyun with quick steps, his gaze fixed on her. Wearing a black sweatshirt and light-colored jeans instead of a school uniform, Ha Jun looked much more relaxed than when she saw him at school.

“Just…”

Instead of answering, Ji Hyun smiled faintly. It was difficult to know what to say when Mi Ri and Ha Jun asked about her.

“What kind of answer is that?”

Ha Jun patted her head as if he found such Ji Hyun cute, his smile not fading from his face.

“What about you then?”

Instead of answering, Ha Jun shrugged and showed the textbooks in his hand.

“I’m here for extra academy classes.”

“You really study hard.”

“Harder than Mi Ri. Where are you going?”

“Yeah. Home…”

Looking at the empty coffee cup and Ji Hyun in turn, Ha Jun didn’t hide his disappointed expression.

“I just got to the cafe, stay a bit longer.”

“Hmm…”

To Ji Hyun who was hesitating about what to do, Ha Jun quickly suggested,

“I’ll buy you a drink instead. I’ll buy you bread too.”

Somehow, his attitude towards Ji Hyun was much friendlier and more active than at school. Almost dragged to the bakery corner, Ji Hyun agonized over what to choose and glanced at Ha Jun beside her.

Strangely flushed, Ha Jun looked to be in a very good mood.