The incident from last time still lingered in Hyebin's mind, even though several days had already passed. But the girl was still plagued by doubt: should she send Jeongmin an apology for unilaterally canceling their plans the day before yesterday, or not?
"Ugh, what should I do? If I don't apologize, I'll seem incredibly unprofessional as a partner. But if I apologize first... hmm, my pride won't let me," Hyebin muttered to herself.
Her hand moved the pointer across the laptop screen open in front of her. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she typed Jeongmin's full name into the campus academic portal and a professional networking account. Hyebin bit her lower lip, staring intensely at the screen. The curiosity she'd been suppressing since yesterday finally burst free.
"Born in Sydney... transferred to Chin-sun International University this semester," she murmured as she read the first line of Jeongmin's profile.
Hyebin's eyes widened as she read through Jeongmin's academic status fields. His specialization was clearly listed there: Double Major—Biology & Applied Biotechnology.
"That's insane... A double major in two difficult fields at once?"
The girl scrolled farther down, entering the section on achievements and scientific publications. That was where Hyebin's pride truly crumbled. Jeongmin wasn't just some ordinary student who had good looks, an elitist style, and a luxury car.
Her laptop screen displayed a long list of achievements that was more than a little intimidating:
• 1st Winner—National High School Biology Olympiad (Australia Division) • Co-Author on International Research Paper: "Genetic Sequencing and Gene Editing in Avian Species" (Published in the Journal of Molecular Biology) • Recipient of Outstanding Academic Excellence Award (2025) • Active Member of the International Society of Biological Sciences
Hyebin leaned back against her chair and let out a long, heavy breath. "A genetic journal on avian species? He was already a co-author on international research before even entering this campus?"
That fact struck a devastating blow to Hyebin's pride. No wonder Professor Kang had appointed Jeongmin as her partner for this joint Veterinary Medicine and Biology project without hesitation. Jeongmin's skill in pure genetic analysis was the perfect puzzle piece to cover for the weaknesses in Hyebin's research data that had caused her grade to plummet last semester.
Hyebin propped her chin up with one hand, her eyes tracing Jeongmin's professional profile photo on the screen. In the photo, Jeongmin wore a formal shirt without a tie and gave the camera a faint smile, his eyes shining with confidence and intelligence. He looked completely different from his relaxed, cocky, teasing self on campus.
"A double-major student with an almost perfect GPA, a popular baseball athlete, published in academic journals... and yet he's annoying as hell."
Yet beneath her irritation was a seed of admiration she couldn't deny. The man in front of her was truly a genius academically. Learning how impressive Jeongmin's portfolio was only made Hyebin's guilt grow. Someone at Jeongmin's level had deliberately made time for this project, but Hyebin had canceled their first study session just like that, all because of a momentary burst of emotion over her ex-boyfriend.
"Argh, Han Hyebin! You're being so childish!"
With a resigned sigh, she closed the browser tab on her laptop and reached for the smartphone lying beside her coffee cup. The screen lit up, displaying an empty chat under the name Yang Jeongmin. Her thumb hesitated above the keyboard.
Meanwhile, across the street from the bakery stood a modern coffee shop. Jeongmin was sitting in its outdoor seating area with two friends, Khai and Minjae. But Jeongmin's attention wasn't on his friends' conversation at all.
His eyes had narrowed as he watched across the street, where Hyebin sat alone behind the bakery's transparent glass. The girl appeared to sigh repeatedly as she stared at her laptop. A faint smirk appeared on Jeongmin's handsome face. Without wasting any time, he picked up his phone and began typing a series of messages.
Yang Jeongmin: [Hey! Are you busy today?] [If not, how about our Biology project? We need to start outlining the first chapter.]
Inside the bakery, Hyebin froze when her screen suddenly lit up, displaying the name of the sender she'd just been thinking about. Her heart fluttered. The beautiful girl hurriedly read Jeongmin's messages, then nimbly typed a reply.
Han Hyebin: [I'm free right now.] [And... I'm sorry about what happened last week. I suddenly had an emotional situation I couldn't put off.]
Yang Jeongmin: [It's okay. I understand.] [Then I'll come pick you up now.]
"Hey! Where are you going?" Khai asked when Jeongmin suddenly straightened the books on the table, put his iPad into his bag, and stood up.
"Sorry, guys. I have to go work on Professor Kang's big assignment! See you later!" Jeongmin called as he hurried away.
"Wow, this guy sure gets fired up when it comes to the joint project," Minjae remarked, shaking his head.
Han Hyebin: [You don't have to pick me up.] [I'm not at home or on campus.]
Yang Jeongmin: [I know. You're at the bakery, right?]
Han Hyebin: [How did you know?]
Yang Jeongmin: [Look outside through the glass to your right right now.]
As soon as Hyebin read the message, she instinctively turned her head toward the large window on her right. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw Jeongmin standing on the sidewalk outside the café across the street, waving at her with a wide grin. Hyebin slapped her forehead, feeling like she'd been caught red-handed.
Han Hyebin: [All right, I'll come out in a minute then.]
Yang Jeongmin: [Wait there. Don't cross the street. It's busy. I'll come to you, okay?]
Han Hyebin: [Okay.]
Jeongmin quickly retrieved his car from the café's parking area, drove across the street, and stopped right in front of the bakery where Hyebin was waiting. The moment he saw Hyebin come out carrying a paper bag filled with bread, Jeongmin briefly turned off the engine and got out of the car. He walked around to open the front passenger door for her.
"You didn't have to go to the trouble of getting out to open the door," Hyebin said awkwardly.
Jeongmin smiled warmly. "It's no trouble. Consider it special service for my project partner. Come on in..."
As Hyebin stepped inside and ducked her head, Jeongmin reflexively placed his palm above the door frame, shielding her head from hitting the top of the car door. That small gesture of consideration made Hyebin's chest flutter strangely.
"T-thank you."
"You're welcome."
Jeongmin walked around the car and returned to the driver's seat. They soon set off through the city streets toward Jeongmin's parents' house. During the drive, Hyebin fidgeted with the edge of her bag. Jeongmin occasionally glanced at her with a restrained smile, secretly finding her adorable.
Unable to bear the increasingly thick awkwardness, Hyebin finally cleared her throat softly, trying to shift her focus away from her nerves. She tilted her head and looked at Jeongmin's side profile.
"You... you were at that coffee shop across the street the whole time?" Hyebin asked, her voice hesitant.
"Yup." Jeongmin glanced at her, his signature cocky smile slowly spreading across his lips. "I was sitting there with Minjae and Khai from ten this morning."
"Ten?" Hyebin raised both eyebrows in surprise. "That means you were already there when I first got to the bakery?"
"Maybe," Jeongmin replied, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel to the rhythm of the faint music playing. "But honestly, I kind of regret it."
Hyebin furrowed her brow. "Regret what?"
"I realized you were there and noticed you too late," Jeongmin said, turning to her briefly, his eyes shining with sincerity. "I was busy arguing with Minjae about baseball pitching strategies. If I'd known from the start that you were sitting alone in that bakery... I would've crossed the street and come to you two hours ago."
"Huh?" Hyebin's cheeks suddenly felt warm. She quickly turned her gaze toward the window, hiding the faint flush rising on her skin. "W-who said I wanted you to come over?"
"I'm kidding." Jeongmin chuckled softly. "But seriously, Hyebin-ah... where's Ji-a? Aren't you two usually like conjoined twins who never separate?"
"Ji-a has a makeup class with a professor from her law department," Hyebin replied, grateful that the conversation had shifted away from her. "Our schedules are different today. That's why I'm alone."
"Ah... no wonder." Jeongmin nodded in understanding. "That explains why I saw Khai sitting alone and staring into space at the café before I came over. When those two are apart even for a little while, it feels like the world is about to end."
"You're right." Hyebin couldn't hold back a faint smile. "Ji-a even cried her eyes out this morning just because Khai forgot to bring her coffee."
"Seriously?" Jeongmin turned to her in disbelief. "Then Khai's in serious danger tonight."
The car slowly passed through a major intersection. Hyebin let out a short breath, then glanced at the two thick books in her lap. Remembering the main reason they were meeting today, she decided to break the awkwardness by bringing up their coursework.
"By the way... Jeongmin."
"Yes, Partner?"
"About our joint project draft... Professor Kang said you have some special materials and reference books that aren't available in the campus library? Are those books at your house?"
"Of course. When I moved here from Sydney last month, half the contents of my suitcase were foreign-published reference books on genetic research and biochemistry. That includes a few limited-edition international journals about animal tissue mutations."
"Limited editions?" Hyebin's eyes widened slightly. As a Veterinary Medicine student obsessed with quality literature, the information sounded like buried treasure. "You have that blue-covered Veterinary Molecular Science journal too?!"
"I do. There are three complete editions on the bookshelf in my study," Jeongmin replied casually, deliberately showing off his 'collection' to stir Hyebin's enthusiasm.
"Wow... seriously?" Hyebin leaned slightly toward Jeongmin without realizing it, her eyes shining brightly. "That journal is incredibly hard to access in the campus library! Even Professor Kang said only senior professors had access to copies!"
"Seriously, Hyebin. That's why I invited you to work at my house," Jeongmin teased, glancing at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You can read to your heart's content there. Consider it a special perk since you agreed to be my partner."
Hyebin suddenly realized that she'd leaned far too close to Jeongmin. She quickly straightened up and cleared her throat awkwardly, adjusting her shirt.
"I-I was just impressed by your book collection. Don't get any weird ideas!" Hyebin insisted, turning her face toward the window.
"Who said I was getting any weird ideas? I just learned that academic journals can get you this excited..." Jeongmin glanced at Hyebin from the corner of his eye, a teasing smile etched across his lips. "...so all it takes to make you smile is a stack of thick books, huh? I'll remember that."
"Yang Jeongmin!" Hyebin scolded him, putting on a fierce expression that unfortunately failed completely, since the flush on her cheeks was only becoming more obvious. "Can't you just focus on driving?"
"I am focused," Jeongmin replied, tightening his grip on the steering wheel as the car turned at the intersection. "Almost too focused... to the point where it's hard to look away."
Hyebin glanced at him. "W-what do you mean?"
Jeongmin stopped the car right in front of a red light that had just changed. He turned slightly toward Hyebin, rested his chin on one hand atop the steering wheel, and stared straight into her eyes without blinking.
"I mean, my focus is on the road ahead, but the view beside me is much more interesting. What am I supposed to do?"
"Oh, please. Your pickup lines are so cheap, you know that?" Hyebin retorted, trying to hide her nervousness with a sarcastic snort.
"Cheap, but they make your cheeks turn that red?" Jeongmin teased again with a soft chuckle. When the light turned green, he took control of the car with one hand again. "Relax, Hyebin. The amenities at my house aren't limited to rare-edition journals... you also get full access to their owner."
"Remind me never to compliment you again," Hyebin muttered, patting her hot cheeks while Jeongmin beside her wore an increasingly triumphant smile.