New Normal - Chapter 35

“Oh wow, a migrant of vision! Overflowing with wit—guess you really are a fan of Whitman. Incredible stuff. But hey, department head, remember that building in Yeoksam-dong? The one your esteemed father passed down to you? You said you rebuilt it, right? That’s the one that won the architecture award a couple of years ago?”

Thanks to CEO Kim’s quick intervention, the whole “migrant of vision” talk was thankfully dropped. But in its place came another round of self-congratulatory bragging.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Professor Yoon was energized all over again. Everyone else at the table was quietly sighing, whether out loud or in their heads… but Yoon just laughed heartily.

“That’s the building near Ital—right?”

“Exactly! Oh, and speaking of…”

Whether it was from excitement or the alcohol talking, Professor Yoon suddenly pulled out his phone.

“You know, our architect should really be here! A place with art and alcohol—how could he not fit in? The guy’s got a brilliant sense of aesthetics. He really gets art. Plus, he’s easy on the eyes. Most of all, he’s just a good guy.”

As Professor Yoon kept going, Jisoo’s face started to stiffen. No way…

Looking far too pleased with himself, Yoon hit the call button.

“Hey, Director Chae. Sorry to call so late—got a sec?”

Wiping sweat from her forehead, Jisoo’s head snapped up. Her eyes widened.

“I was just talking about the building you designed that won the award, and I figured I’d give you a ring.”

Jisoo had mentally prepared to face Chae Juwon eventually, but definitely not like this. Not so soon. And not potentially in person. Right now.

Thankfully, Jeon Sangyoung, who hated dealing with strangers, was already glaring at Yoon with visible annoyance.

Good. Use that. Jisoo hastily gave Professor Kim Sooyeon a weak smile.

“Um, professor… I think you’re quite drunk. Should I call a cab?”

“Yeah… I’m thinking the same. Bringing in more people might drag this out. Shin, if you’re not feeling well, you can head out. Maybe take Artist Jeon with you…”

But Professor Yoon beat her to it.

“CEO Kim! Oh, and our Hansong—uh, I mean, Ms. Shin Jisoo from Uhm Museum is here too… Huh? Yeah. Yeah, sounds good. We’re at Hyeonhaetan in Nonhyeon. Come on over.”

Grinning from ear to ear, Yoon ended the call.

Ah, crap.

Jisoo clenched her jaw and swallowed a curse.

Exactly 30 minutes later—

The door opened quietly. A hush settled over the room as everyone instinctively turned toward it.

Neatly pressed shirt under a navy blazer, perfectly tailored pants, and that distinct dimple on his right cheek.

It was unmistakably Chae Juwon.

“Oh! Our Director Chae!”

“Professor, it’s been a while. I hope I’m not intruding.”

With a smooth, almost smug smile, Juwon stepped in, and the atmosphere shifted ever so slightly—undeniably.

Professor Kim raised a curious eyebrow. CEO Kim twitched his lips. Professor Yoon jumped to greet him, while Jeon Sangyoung looked away in disinterest.

Juwon slowly took in the room—the very room that had been talking about him moments ago. His gaze swept around casually… but the place it landed was anything but casual.

“Good evening. I’m Chae Juwon.”

He locked eyes directly with Jisoo.

“We meet again.”

A faint, annoyingly smooth smile tugged at his lips. Quietly persistent, almost teasing. Jisoo’s hand tensed before she even realized it.

***

Late summer nights were always a little chaotic.

As the last drunken guest was packed into a taxi and driven off, Juwon was the first to speak.

“We should talk.”

He looked down at her with that annoyingly confident stare. Standing beside him with a bit of distance, Jisoo gave a strained chuckle.

“Haha… Yeah. I guess we should.”

The dinner had pretty much ended the moment Juwon arrived. Loudmouth Professor Yoon got completely wasted in record time. Jeon Sangyoung and his manager didn’t hesitate to leave, and even Professors Kim and CEO Kim made their graceful exits, leaving just the two of them.

With Jisoo standing quietly beside him, Juwon pulled out a cigarette and lit it, taking a slow, deep drag.

“You don’t mind, right?”

He waved the cigarette in his fingers like a casual afterthought, clearly not waiting for approval.

The way he brushed off her reaction annoyed her. She had fully intended to start with an apology, knowing she’d been in the wrong. But with his smug attitude, the words stuck in her throat.

She stared at him for a moment, then held out her hand.

Juwon blinked in surprise.

“…You smoke?”

“Just one, please.”

Still silent, he handed her a cigarette. Jisoo took it and placed it between her lips. He fished out his lighter and lit it for her.

“…Only when I need it.”

“You really do only reach for things when you need them, don’t you, Ms. Shin.”

The jab hit its mark. Jisoo choked and coughed, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. Her face flushed, and she glanced at him.

He looked down at her like he found it all vaguely amusing.

“What, did I rattle you?”

The teasing tone made her face twitch with embarrassment. Honestly, she’d only smoked briefly back in college. Tonight, she was just trying to calm her nerves.

Jisoo took one puff, then quickly gave up and stubbed it out.

“That was a mistake.”

Juwon looked at her with mock pity.

Then she turned to him with resolve.

“…About that day. I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

He asked so calmly, cigarette still hanging from his lips. There was a weird blend of innocence and arrogance in his voice. His eyes rested on her with lazy ease, but behind them was a glint of mischief. A calculated patience.

He clearly wanted to hear her say it.

Jisoo could tell he wasn’t looking for an apology—he just wanted to enjoy watching her squirm.

She’d rather not talk about it at all. But this was Chae Juwon. He had that way of drawing things out, of making her explain herself.

She had the sudden urge to cut through his smugness—just once.

But instead, she lowered her gaze. If anyone needed to make peace right now, it was her. She had to hold it together.

“…For running away.”

As soon as she said it, his lips curled ever so slightly. He let out a soft breath through his nose. The look on his face—like a kid handed a toy he’d been begging for—had a certain glint to it.

Gray smoke drifted between them, quiet and unbothered.

Jisoo tilted her head back with a wince. Juwon glanced at her, then flicked his half-smoked cigarette to the ground. It bounced on the asphalt before rolling to a stop.

“Irritable bowel syndrome isn’t a crime, you know.”

“…Excuse me?”

“That night? I couldn’t sleep for days, you know.”

He tilted his head up, his eyes somewhere far off. He scratched his ear and glanced sideways at her.

“Did Miss ‘You’re My Ideal Type’ Shin sleep okay?”

Truthfully, she hadn’t been able to sleep either. But his words—saying he couldn’t sleep because of her—hit differently.

It made her remember how thrilled he had looked when she’d lied and said he was her ideal type. She flinched inside. Even if she’d been drunk, it was still a lie. And that lie had made someone really happy.

“You’re… kind of terrifying. Is that how you always were with me? Was it all fake from the start?”

Jisoo had always lived by the rule, no lies. But now, she had broken her own code.

She didn’t know what to say. Thinking of how he must have worried about her only made her feel worse. She hadn’t just run away—she ghosted him. No explanation, no excuse. Just vanished.

Unable to respond, she rubbed her forehead in frustration. As she looked up, trying to say something, Juwon smiled as if he already knew.

“I thought you just fell asleep in the bathroom that night.”