Chapter 70 – "New Steps, Fluttering Hearts"
That night, the air in Seoul felt warm but carried a quiet tension. Gevran sat still in his dorm room, heart pounding in a way he didn't understand. It wasn't about the G-Force meetings or pressure from SeoulPot—this time, it was about something else entirely.
Ah Yoon.
"I have to make a good impression," he muttered to himself, staring at his reflection in the dorm window.
Jiwan's words from earlier echoed in his mind: "You're a genius, rich, good-looking… but when it comes to girls? You're clueless. Open up a bit, bro."
Normally, Gevran brushed off comments like that. But tonight, something felt different. There was something about Ah Yoon—the way she laughed shyly, those curious, sharp eyes—that tugged at him. Not just curiosity… but a spark of something more.
He quietly slipped out of the dorm wearing a black hoodie and joggers. His destination: the Yi-Jido family home in Gangnam.
In the garage, he peeled off the cover of his metallic red Ferrari SF90 Spider—one of his most prized but rarely used possessions.
Just as he pressed the ignition and the engine purred to life, footsteps interrupted the moment.
"Oppa?" Kaeyan, his little sister, appeared in the garage wearing a sleepy bear-print pajama. "What are you doing with the sports car at this hour? Midnight racing?"
Gevran stiffened. "None of your business, Kaeyan."
"I'm telling Umma!" she giggled and ran upstairs.
Minutes later, the home's intercom lit up. His mother's voice came through.
"Gevran? Are you home? Kaeyan said you took the sports car? Are you sneaking out again?"
"I'm just borrowing it for something. Not going anywhere shady," he replied, trying to stay calm.
"But why at night? And why that car?"
Silence.
Then, in a quiet voice, Gevran said, "I'm picking someone up tomorrow. Someone important… to me."
There was a pause on the other end.
Then Kaeyan's voice chimed in with a laugh, "He's going on a date, Umma! Wants to impress a girl!"
Gevran groaned. "Kaeyan, seriously?!"
"Cieee…" His mother and sister burst into laughter through the speaker.
Red-faced, Gevran quickly closed the garage and drove the Ferrari back to campus—grateful no one had seen him leave.
---
The next morning, the final day of orientation began with a crisp blue sky and cool breeze. Gevran emerged from his dorm room looking unrecognizable: a cream-colored semi-formal suit, polished black shoes, designer shirt, and an exclusive watch gleaming on his wrist.
He turned heads as he walked through campus.
Even his closest friends were shocked.
Ryu Haesung stepped out of the neighboring dorm room and whistled.
"Whoa. Who is this? Young master from a K-drama?"
Gevran shrugged. "Just felt like dressing up."
"'Just felt'—come on, man. You usually wear beat-up hoodies and old sneakers. Now you look like a fashion ad." Haesung smirked, slapping him on the back. "If I tell Jiwan and Minjae, G-Force won't believe me!"
Gevran chuckled but said nothing.
---
Meanwhile, at Ah Yoon's home, tension brewed.
"Dad, I'm going to the closing event of orientation today," she said, slipping into a denim jacket. "I might be home late. I'll be riding with a friend."
Her father, a commanding man with silver hair and broad shoulders, narrowed his eyes. Retired General Han, former Commander of the South Korean military.
"A friend?" he asked.
"His name is Gevran Yi Jido," she said calmly. "We met during orientation."
The general studied her for a moment before nodding slowly. "Fine. But I want to know what kind of boy he is."
---
The orientation closing event was festive, with music, awards, and professor speeches. Afterward, Gevran picked up Ah Yoon at the exit gate.
"Wow… your car," she said, eyes wide. "You actually brought it?"
He smiled. "Well… it's a special occasion. And, you know… for you."
They both laughed, and she got in.
That night, they had dinner at a famous hanwoo restaurant. The food was exquisite, the atmosphere warm. They talked, laughed, and started to feel a little more at ease.
But things turned tense again when they arrived at her house.
Gevran walked her to the door, and it opened before she could even knock.
General Han stood there in a plain T-shirt, but his presence was overwhelming.
"Good evening, sir," Gevran bowed respectfully.
"So, you're Gevran?" the general said, his tone neutral.
"Yes, sir. It's an honor to meet you."
They spoke briefly. The general didn't smile, but neither was he cold. It was tense, but civil. As Gevran left, Ah Yoon smiled.
"My dad said you were polite. That's rare."
Gevran looked at her, voice soft. "I don't know where this will go. But… I'm glad I met you."
Their hearts fluttered. A new step. A new beginning neither of them expected.