The old stone buildings of the university campus exuded a quiet, classical charm.
Autumn leaves, brittle and fading, fell helplessly from the trees, hinting that winter was drawing near.
Yoojin, dressed in an oversized sweatshirt layered under her department jacket, walked quickly across the campus. Her hair was loosely tied, and a large backpack bounced against her back.
She wore clothes far too big for her frame—deliberately hiding her elegant figure beneath casual, shapeless layers.
But no matter how she dressed, she couldn't disguise the delicate features of her small face, her pale skin, or the faint melancholy in her eyes. People couldn't help but glance back at her.
"Korean National University."
As expected from the nation's top school, the campus was plastered with posters—competitions, internships, and open recruitments everywhere.
Yoojin hurried toward her lecture hall to take the last midterm before graduation.
Her eyes felt dry after staying up all week to study, but soon she would finally be able to rest.
"Yoojin!"
"Unni!"
A woman with short permed hair and thick black glasses smiled brightly as she walked over.
"Off to take your exam?"
"Yes! Did you study a lot?"
Her senior, Jang Seo-hee, was three years older.
In her previous life, Yoojin had been the older one—but in this life, she'd already adapted to being the younger.
"Who knows. I'll just wing it. I'm too tired to care anymore."
"Come on, you always say that, and then you ace everything."
Yoojin looked at Seo-hee, admiring the intelligence that radiated from her face.
Since entering this prestigious university, she'd come to understand what true collective intellect meant—learning and growing among the brightest minds of her generation.
She had originally attended a regular high school, but halfway through, she couldn't stand wasting time reliving her teenage years.
Friendships and memories meant little compared to her goals.
She convinced her mother to let her take the GED, passed the college entrance exam the following year, and entered university at eighteen.
Now, at twenty-one, she was about to graduate.
"Yoojin, you're something else. How do you graduate without a single break? And at the top of the class?"
"I know. Maybe I should've taken a break."
"Come on, who graduates college at twenty-one? I'm twenty-four! Everyone else our age is still in school."
"Haha."
Seo-hee gave her a look of mock pity—already picturing Yoojin's twenties being consumed by corporate life.
"Isn't Samho Group's open recruitment result coming out tomorrow?"
"Yes. If not that, I'll apply somewhere else."
"You should've tried Gangrim Group, too."
Yoojin flinched slightly at the familiar name, then smiled faintly without answering.
"What? Their benefits are amazing."
"No, it's fine. I just prefer Samho Group."
Yoojin remembered her last encounter with Choi Hyun-oh.
After much thought, she realized she could never completely escape his obsession—so she decided to move in the opposite direction.
If she couldn't erase him, she would build her own world far away from him.
Her plan was simple: major in business at a top university, then join Samho Group, the rival of Gangrim Group.
And she had made it this far, step by step.
"God, the system simulation course was brutal."
"Tell me about it. I thought my brain was going to explode."
"Why is engineering even a requirement for business majors?"
"Right? I had to buy a whole new calculus book!"
"You're insane. I just memorized everything."
"Wait, unni—you know there are problems in the lecture materials, not just the assignments, right?"
Seo-hee blinked.
Here she goes again.
"Unni, how about we go over it together before the exam?"
Seo-hee grinned—of course she'd agree. Studying with Yoojin always worked in her favor.
Yoojin's mind was sharp, methodical, and relentless.
She never moved on until she understood something completely.
Even the most difficult concepts, she broke down to their core, rebuilt them from scratch, and absorbed them until they became second nature.
"Sure. Then I'll buy you lunch later, okay?"
"Sorry, unni. I can't today. I'm meeting a friend."
"Oh, that middle school friend?"
"Yeah."
At the mention of Se-ryun, Yoojin smiled softly.
Seo-hee watched that rare smile and thought how strange—and endearing—it was that she was one of the few people allowed into Yoojin's quiet circle.
Still, she couldn't help feeling a bit protective.
Yoojin would soon be stepping into the world of adults, and Seo-hee felt a sisterly urge to look out for her.
Seo-hee was sure Yoojin would get in.
Maybe she should apply to Samho Group too—so she could be there when Yoojin stumbled through the chaos of her first job, and help her along the way.
After finishing her exam, Yoojin walked through the busy street outside campus to meet Se-ryun.
Her body finally relaxed—the weight of midterms had lifted.
"Excuse me, miss?"
"Oh—yes?"
A short, stocky middle-aged man approached her, looking apologetic as he fumbled for a business card.
A luxury watch gleamed on his wrist as he handed it over.
"Sorry to bother you. Here—my card first."
Cho Tae-jin, Director, Spring Entertainment.
Spring Entertainment—one of the nation's biggest talent agencies, managing top actors and idols.
"Sorry again. I don't usually hand out cards like this. I just had to. Hope I didn't scare you."
"It's fine."
"Are you… a dance major by any chance?"
"What?"
For a moment, Yoojin was speechless.
Could he not see the thick textbooks and laptop she was carrying?
No matter how far she ran, ballet always seemed to cling to her shadow.
"No, I'm not."
As she stepped back cautiously, the director hurried to explain.
"Oh, don't get me wrong! We're not some shady company. You've heard of Spring Entertainment, right? We manage ASH, MA-FIM—big girl groups and boy bands. Also Kim Hyun, Lee Woo-jin, Choi Seo-rim… all famous actors. We handle production and talent management. We're very professional—"
He went on and on, clearly not used to being ignored.
Yoojin was used to this kind of street scouting.
It happened often. Usually, she'd just bow politely and leave.
"Would you at least do a camera test? Just once?"
"I'm sorry, but I'm focused on my studies."
She bowed slightly. The heavy backpack shifted on her shoulders.
Director Cho sighed, watching her go, regret written on his face.
"Keep that card, student! It's valuable! Call me, okay?"
Yoojin turned into a side alley and disappeared from sight.
She knew these streets better than anyone and soon arrived at the meeting spot.
Yoo Jung Yoo Tteokbokki—a local favorite that served spicy rice cakes topped with freshly fried chicken, and cold beer on the side.
It was Se-ryun's absolute favorite.
Two of her favorite things on one plate—she called it "the kindest meal in the world."
Yoojin had just ordered when Se-ryun burst into the restaurant.
"So you got scouted again? Spring Entertainment this time? Girl, that's a talent in itself."
She snatched the business card from Yoojin's hand and slipped it into her own bag.
"Why do you always take those?"
"What? I'm living vicariously through you, duh. But seriously—you've gotten cards from every major agency by now! Yoojin, just try an audition once, will you?"
Yoojin shook her head firmly.
"No way. I'm going to be an office worker."
"Please. You think you can survive on a salary in this YOLO generation? Celebrities make real money."