By the time I finally got off the subway—after getting off at the wrong stop, panicking, getting back on, and standing suspiciously close to an ahjumma who looked like she could protect me in a crisis—it was nearly dark.
My feet hurt.
My confidence was bruised.
My banana milk had curdled somewhere in my tote.
But I was alive.
I was alive, anonymous, and enrolled in Daehan University.
"A true commoner," I declared as I stepped through the doors of the Yoon estate like a conquering hero.
"Miss," Nari called from the kitchen, "did you get lost again?"
I froze. "…Define lost."
"Did you cry on the subway?"
"I glistened with emotional dew. It's different."
She didn't even flinch.
After a hot shower, three slices of honey bread, and changing into pajamas that were technically limited edition Dior but disguised as loungewear, I finally flopped onto my bed and checked my phone.
Right. That weird message from earlier.
"Yoon Ah Ra, right? Welcome to Class 1-A. Orientation's going to be… interesting. :)"
The message still sat there, smugly unread.
I typed a reply.
Me: Sorry, who is this?
Seen. No reply.
"Rude," I muttered and tossed the phone on my bed.
Two seconds later, it buzzed again.
Han Seo Yoon 💗: Oops! Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself hehe~ I'm Han Seo Yoon! I'm in our class group chat. I added you just now 😅
A notification popped up: You've been invited to [Class 1-A 🐯 Daehan Biz School]
…Oh.
So that's what it was.
Not a death threat. Just a pink-emoji enthusiast.
I accepted the request, and boom—60 unread messages exploded on my screen like fireworks.
Seungchan🐥: who here is bringing a guitar for icebreakers lmao
Eunji: NO ONE ASKED U SEUNGCHAN
Han Seo Yoon 💗: I'm so excited to meet you all~ 🥰
Sohee: Orientation is NEXT Friday!! 10am sharp! Business admin building! Don't be late!!
Seo Yoon 💗: Let's get along well, Yoon Ah Ra-ssi~ 💖
"Wait," I said to no one, blinking at my phone. "It's next week?"
I panicked a while ago for nothing?! I thought I was going to school tomorrow! I nearly bought a campus map and everything!
I texted back weakly:
Me: Haha, thanks for the add 😅 I'm excited too…
The next morning, I stormed into the kitchen in fluffy slippers and a silk robe like a betrayed heiress.
"Nari," I said dramatically. "Orientation isn't until next week."
She sipped her coffee calmly. "Yes."
"You knew?"
"I thought it was fun watching you panic."
"Unnie!" I gasped, genuinely wounded. "Do you know how many people I bumped into yesterday?"
"Three ajusshis, one sandwich board, and a trash bin," she replied smoothly. "Yes. I counted."
To distract myself from the humiliation, I decided to plan.
That's what normal students did, right? Plan?
So I made a list in my Notes app titled:
Operation: Normie Student Life 📝
1. Learn bus routes.
2. Buy school supplies.
3. Practice lying about high school.
4. Try instant ramyeon.
5. Befriend someone without mentioning black cards.
6. Don't get exposed.
I stared at the list.
Then texted Nari:
"Do we have instant ramyeon?"
She replied with a photo of the Yoon estate's kitchen pantry. There was… organic quinoa, aged balsamic vinegar, 14 types of imported tea, and a jar labeled truffle honey.
But no ramyeon.
I sighed. "I'll have to go undercover again."
An hour later, I was standing in a convenience store near Gangnam Station, frozen in front of the snack aisle like a kid at Disneyland.
It was… beautiful.
So many bright colors. So many packages yelling in Hangeul. Ramyeon cups stacked like Jenga towers. Rice balls! Triangle kimbap! Fish-shaped bread filled with red bean!
And not a single bodyguard in sight.
I clutched a tteokbokki snack cup like it was a trophy.
Nari would faint.
I bought three instant noodles, a bottle of banana milk, and one (1) unnecessary glitter pen because it had a cartoon frog on it.
I could feel myself getting more normal by the second.
Later that night, I sat cross-legged on my bed, eating spicy cheese ramyeon while watching a campus vlog on YouTube titled: "What I Wish I Knew as a Daehan Biz School Freshman 🐯📚"
The girl in the video pointed at her phone: "Tip #4 — Don't ignore your class group chat! That's where all the drama starts~"
I glanced at my phone. The Class 1-A group chat was popping off again.
Seungchan🐥: bet y'all I'm gonna be class president
Eunji: NO THANKS
Sohee: omg guys apparently one of the chaebols is attending our uni this year 👀
Han Seo Yoon 💗: Omo really? Who??? 😳
My noodles froze halfway to my mouth.
CHAEBOL?! Was this about me?! Did someone already suspect something?
Wait. No. It was probably just one of the other chaebol kids who flaunted their last names like Prada tags.
I was under a fake name. My family was sworn to secrecy.
I typed:
Me: Haha who??
Sohee: Not sure… rumor has it someone arrived at school in a Ferrari? 😬
I choked on a rice cake. What a fool. But hey, it's not me!
Han Seo Yoon 💗: Wah~ That's wild. Can't wait to find out 😅
—
A few days later, after several successful missions (I cooked instant noodles! I bought a refillable bus card! I figured out how to microwave gimbap!), I found myself walking around the university neighborhood with my tote bag and frog pen like I actually belonged.
I even made a note to try a part-time job someday.
"Maybe I could be a barista," I said dreamily.
"Have you ever made your own coffee?" Nari asked over the phone.
"…No. But I watched a barista on TikTok once."
"That doesn't count."
"I can froth with my heart."
"Please don't."
That evening, I got a private message from Han Seo Yoon.
Seo Yoon 💗: Ah Ra-ssi! Are you excited for orientation? I'm lowkey nervous haha 😅
Me: Yeah, I'm excited too 😄
Seo Yoon 💗: I feel like we'll all vibe! Btw…
What high school did you go to? Maybe we have mutual friends 🥰
Oh no.
Oh no no no.
My brain screeched like a speeding Lambo.
Think, Chae Ah. Think!
I could NOT say S University High School. Half the elite in Korea went there. One slip-up, and I'd be "Yoon Dae Guk's daughter" all over again.
Me: Uh… Just a small girls' high school in Gangwon 😅 Not very well known.
Seo Yoon 💗: Sounds so peaceful~ I went to Jiyoon Int'l. Super strict. 😩
She sent a photo of her high school uniform. It looked like a private school drama set. Pressed pleats, crest badge, even neck ties.
Seo Yoon 💗: Can't wait to meet you for real next week!! 💕
Me: Same!! Looking forward to it :)
I locked my phone and hugged a pillow.
Han Seo Yoon was cute. Friendly. Maybe a little too interested. But nice.
—
Friday finally arrived. Orientation Eve, as I'd been calling it in my head.
Here we go. Chae Ah, Let's be as normal as possible. Fighting!