IDMPYU 25

IDMPYU

Posted by Fahad, Released on July 17, 2025

25. Will She Like It or Be Appalled?

Seungho leaned on his elbow, his arm draped loosely as he rested his chin on his hand. A thick book—an original English edition he was referencing for an essay—lay open in front of him, but his gaze remained fixed on Jihyun, who was sitting beside him.

The way she flipped through pages, gripping a mechanical pencil with her small hand and writing with focused intensity, was intriguing.

Whether she was doing it on purpose or was simply that focused, Jihyun hadn’t once turned her head toward him since sitting down. And so, he watched her to his heart’s content.

From her small head—making him question how it could possibly store all that knowledge—to her round nose, slightly flushed cheeks, and lips moving as she quietly mouthed words… everything about her captivated him.

Jihyun had gentle, delicate features, and most striking of all were her unusually long eyelashes. They fluttered like butterfly wings at the corners of her eyes, making it hard for Seungho to look away.

Her light-colored lashes cast shadows with every shift of her eyes. He wondered if the air of melancholy she carried came from those very lashes.

“A yellow butterfly.”

Seungho’s lips curved into a smirk. It had started with him teasing her because her lashes fluttered so much.

He’d assumed she’d at least name one of the butterflies displayed in the mansion, having run up and down its stairs so many times. But out of all the butterflies she could’ve chosen, she’d said yellow butterfly—such a plain, unimpressive name…

Even if she liked something, she always seemed to go for things like that. Common and ordinary, like the kind of butterfly you’d see in any spring flower garden.

Mockery and mischief stirred in his head toward this clueless girl.

When spring came and this winter passed… should he catch a yellow butterfly and have it preserved?

A modest, small butterfly among others with large, colorful wings wouldn’t really suit the mansion’s aesthetic.

And yet, he still wanted to preserve one. Just for one reason.

To see Jihyun’s reaction.

Would she like it? Or be horrified?

Either way, he’d enjoy it.

***

Jihyun had taken out her beloved white padded jacket for the first time in a while. Watching her, Hyunsook sighed lightly. It was the coat she had bought for her.

She’d splurged on it because she couldn’t stand seeing Jihyun wear that raggedy old jacket. But Jihyun, valuing the coat more than herself, never wore it around the mansion.

“Should’ve thrown out that tattered thing first…”

Honestly, Hyunsook’s niece looked good in anything. Every time she saw her, she was grateful that Jihyun didn’t resemble the plain looks of her father’s side of the family.

She never expected things to turn out this way, though…

For whatever reason, after Kim, the butler, spoke with Chairman Shin’s wife, the warm way he used to look at Jihyun had turned sharp and hawk-like.

“Keep an eye on Jihyun. Don’t let her loiter around Young Master Seungho and give Madam anything to complain about.”

Hyunsook had snorted at that.

“What a joke. Who’s loitering around whom?”

Normally, Hyunsook would’ve snapped back and picked a fight, but she held it in.

As ridiculous as the title “study mate” sounded, it wasn’t a bad arrangement.

Unlike her peers who could study freely, Jihyun had to work part-time jobs and had much less time to study. It wasn’t fair.

Sure, she didn’t love the idea of her niece being around Seungho—the golden boy pampered by Mr. Kim like he was his own son—but at least she could focus on studying for once.

So she accepted it.

Jihyun had told her she was meeting a friend today, the first time in a while. The spark of energy in her once gloomy face made Hyunsook feel relieved. With her still-damp hair tucked behind her ear, Jihyun looked fresh and lovely.

“Auntie, I’m heading out!”

“Don’t come back early.”

“You’re the only one who ever says that.”

“I mean it.”

“Better she stay out late than stay home and be spied on by that watchdog Kim.”

Hyunsook waved her niece off with a light heart.

“She looks thrilled.”

Seungho bit his lip as he watched Jihyun leave through the window. Minwoo had told him he was coming over today with some friends.

So Seungho had told Kim to give Jihyun the day off. He didn’t want to see her gloomy face shadowed by his guests again.

But had he known it would leave him in such a foul mood, he never would’ve done it. His eyes, already irritated, shifted toward Minwoo who was lounging around comfortably.

Minwoo, who’d always visited often, had been coming over even more since his last visit. Seungho hadn’t cared before, but lately, the flow of people in and out of the mansion was starting to bother him.

Most of the friends Seungho was close with were preparing to study abroad or had already left. They’d call him on video or message him, urging him to hurry up and join them.

Some were planning to attend local universities, but even that was mostly just for appearances.

For those at the top of the pyramid, studying abroad was a kind of escape route.

When the mansion gate, left open by Jihyun, finally shut, irritation boiled in his chest for no reason.

“Don’t you study at all?”

Seungho asked curtly, making Minwoo, half-reclining with a game console in hand, blink in surprise.

“Study? Who, me?”

As Minwoo fidgeted with the console, Seungho suddenly remembered Jihyun’s small hand clutching her pencil. He blinked blankly, following the fading image of that pale hand, when Minwoo continued in a serious tone.

“Doing something I don’t normally do could kill me. Seungho, I want to live a long life.”

Minwoo was preparing to study abroad in the UK alongside Seungho. But while Seungho was more or less ready, Minwoo still had a long way to go with his IELTS score.

His tutor had tried to add more sessions, fretting over their slow progress—but it didn’t seem to be working.

Seungho narrowed his eyes at the unmotivated Minwoo.

“You should really study.”

It was a polite way of saying go home already. But Minwoo, who hated studying, preferred enduring Seungho’s glare over facing his tutor.

“I will. Starting tomorrow.”

Seungho’s already thin patience snapped as he watched his friend remain glued to the monitor.

“At this rate, you won’t get into college. You’ll just go on a European tour.”

Without another word, Seungho stormed into the dressing room and pulled out a black oversized coat. Realizing something was off, Minwoo tossed the console aside and stood up in a panic.

“Hey, where are you going? The guys are about to show up!”

“Let them hang out without me.”

“What? You can’t just leave! I’m coming too!”

Minwoo rushed after Seungho, struggling to match his wide strides.

“You’re acting weird.”

Seungho didn’t respond, silently acknowledging that yes, he was. Even to himself, he felt unfamiliar. When had he ever felt so moody, so restless?

His usually calm emotions now surged like a storm. The irritation wasn’t fading—it was propelling him forward.

“Where are you going? I need to tell the others.”

Minwoo panted behind him, throwing out the question with a touch of frustration. But Seungho didn’t answer.

He didn’t know himself. He was just following his instincts.

“So much for today’s plans.”

Minwoo, who had rushed out in a caramel-colored coat, sighed and pulled out his phone to text the group. But just as he did, Seungho stopped in his tracks.

He nearly bumped into Seungho’s broad back and was about to complain when he saw his face—and said nothing.

Those deep eyes, swirling with madness.

It was the look Minwoo hated most. Seungho’s gaze was locked onto something inside the café. His lips, usually devoid of emotion, curled softly.