Chapter 02

Minju stared at him, frozen in place.

The staff’s instructions gradually faded into the distance, and instead, she could hear only the clear sound of her own heartbeat.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Her fingertips turned cold, and her breathing grew faster.

Why now, of all times, and here of all places…?

She had vaguely thought that perhaps they might meet again someday.

But she had never once imagined a reunion like this.

He briefly lowered his head and lifted the corners of his lips.

It was too composed to be called a smile, yet too cold to be considered a greeting.

“Hello.”

His low, firm voice resonated through her chest, as if scratching at an old wound.

At that moment, the memories from ten years ago that she had believed she had forgotten—or rather, had desperately struggled to forget—came rushing back all at once.

That night when she had run out after receiving his final text message.

The door that refused to open no matter how hard she knocked throughout the night.

The reply that never came, even after she sent him voice messages filled with tears.

The memory of being abandoned without even being able to ask why came crashing over her like a wave.

But there was no trace of the man from that time in the man standing before her now.

His sharp jawline, his deeply sunken gaze, even his neatly combed-back hair.

Everything about him seemed like that of a completely different person.

After finishing his greeting, Kwon Seok-jun walked toward his seat.

Was it because of his model-like height, his confident stride, or perhaps that intimidating atmosphere that made him difficult to approach?

The women followed him with captivated gazes, while even the men subtly stole glances at him while pretending not to care.

Kwon Seok-jun seemed completely unaware of those looks and calmly sat down in the seat across from her.

While the other contestants sat upright with tense expressions, he leaned comfortably against the sofa as though he were sitting in his own home.

And yet, strangely, he didn’t look arrogant or impolite.

At that moment, Kwon Seok-jun raised his head.

Their eyes met before she had a chance to avoid them.

Minju froze as though her breath had stopped.

Ten years had passed, but his gaze alone had not changed.

That cold, deep stare pierced into her chest as if it could see right through her.

The cameras, the lights, and the murmuring voices of the people around them all seemed to disappear.

It felt as though only the two of them existed in the vast space, and the air itself had somehow become distorted.

Minju instinctively tried to avert her eyes, but she couldn’t move at all, as though she were bound by an invisible thread.

Unlike her, frozen like a plaster statue, he showed no particular change in expression.

He simply stared at her steadily with an unwavering gaze.

What is this? Why does he look so completely unaffected?

Could it be that he knew I was going to be here?

But that couldn’t be.

Her family was the only ones who knew that she was appearing on Love Camp.

She hadn’t even told her company.

When she suddenly took all the vacation days she hadn’t used, her coworkers had asked curiously where she was going on vacation, but Minju had vaguely told them that she was just going to stay home and rest.

Even without the writer’s request to keep it a secret until the program aired, she hadn’t wanted rumors spreading before the show had even begun.

So there was no way he could have known in advance that she would be appearing.

Perhaps that expressionless face simply meant that he no longer had any feelings for her.

Ten years ago, he was the man who had grown tired of her and left. There was no way he could still have feelings for her after all this time.

Minju gave a bitter inward laugh at herself for briefly allowing herself to hope.

Then the Love Coach’s voice broke the silence.

“All of the contestants have gathered now.”

At those words, the gaze that had been persistently fixed on her slowly moved away.

Only then did Minju realize that she had been holding her breath the entire time.

It’s only because I haven’t seen him in so long. Get a grip, Seo Minju.

She exhaled the breath she had been holding and finally returned to reality.

“Before we move to the accommodation, let’s start with a brief self-introduction.”

The Love Coach lightly raised the tablet he was holding.

“Today, please tell us only your name. The emotions you feel from a first impression are actually revealed more accurately through breathing and facial expressions than through words.”

Once the Love Coach finished explaining, the first female contestant stood up.

“Hello. I’m Na Seon-young, and I’ve come here to find my destined partner.”

Her glamorous wavy hair, vivid red lips, and confident expression were striking.

After her brief introduction, she glanced at Seok-jun and gave him a slight smile with her eyes.

Her expression seemed to say that she knew it was one of her strongest weapons.

She wasn’t the only contestant who had fallen for him.

It was obvious that the other female contestants were also trying to make an impression on him.

Some raised their voices a little, some laughed while brushing back their hair, and others deliberately held his gaze for a little longer.

It seemed everyone wanted even a few seconds of his attention, and a subtle atmosphere of competition filled the air.

Next, the fifth contestant, who had spoken to her earlier, placed a hand over her chest and stood up.

“It’s my first time doing something like this, so I’m really nervous. I’m from Incheon… Ah, right. We were only supposed to say our names. I-I’ll start again.”

The fifth contestant’s cute mistake made not only the contestants but also the staff burst into laughter.

The awkward atmosphere immediately became much lighter.

When the cue came again, she properly introduced herself this time.

“I’m Baek Seol-hee. I hope we can make lots of good memories over the next ten days.”

After Baek Seol-hee’s introduction, which brought smiles to everyone’s faces, it was her turn.

As Minju slowly stood up, the gazes of all the male contestants across from her turned toward her.

Of course, Kwon Seok-jun’s gaze did too.

To prevent the unfortunate incident of their eyes meeting again, Minju slightly turned her head away.

Perhaps noticing that she was avoiding him, the corner of his lips lifted ever so slightly.

It could have been mockery, or it could have been a meaningless smile.

“Hello. I’m Seo Minju.”

She had a neat appearance, with her long, straight hair tied low.

A simple beige shirt and black slacks, with nothing excessive about her outfit.

Among the other contestants dressed up more extravagantly, Minju’s neat appearance actually stood out more.

Several of the male contestants exchanged glances.

Once her introduction was over, the male contestants began introducing themselves.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Han Sang-ho.”

The third male contestant had a gentle appearance and was dressed in a neat shirt. The wrinkles around his eyes when he smiled were particularly charming.

“I look forward to getting along with everyone.”

When he raised his head, his eyes met Minju’s.

For that brief moment, his gaze passed over her gently.

As Minju unconsciously smiled back at his reassuring smile that helped ease her tension, a familiar voice cut through the air.

“I’m Kwon Seok-jun.”

She turned her head and met Kwon Seok-jun’s gaze head-on.

As the tension rose again, the smile gradually disappeared from Minju’s face.

“You never know when or where you’ll meet someone again because of fate…”

His tone was calm, but every word he said sounded strangely significant.

Perhaps interpreting Minju’s increasingly stiff expression in some way, he gave her an inscrutable smile.

“Since I’ve been given such a good opportunity, I won’t let it pass me by.”

The contestants applauded his confident attitude, but Minju’s heart pounded anxiously.

His words didn’t feel like a simple greeting.

They felt as though they were directed specifically at her.

Seo Minju, don’t get the wrong idea.

It’s already over between you and Kwon Seok-jun.

So don’t read anything into it anymore.

The cold voice of reason gradually cleared her clouded mind.

Her turbulent emotions slowly began to settle.

“Now that the introductions are over, please vote for the person of the opposite sex who caught your attention.”

At the Love Coach’s words, Na Seon-young widened her eyes in surprise.

“Already? We haven’t even had a chance to talk yet.”

“As I mentioned, the eyes can often tell us more than words.”

The Love Coach continued with a calm smile.

“Please write down the name of the person you’re most attracted to at this moment. And for couples who choose each other, we’ll give them the opportunity to go on their first date today.”

At the words first date, anticipation and excitement spread among the contestants.

Then Seol-hee, sitting beside her, leaned toward her and whispered.

“Who are you going to choose, Minju?”

She had noticed it earlier as well, but considering how naturally Seol-hee started calling her by name immediately after the introductions, she seemed like the type of person who became close to others very quickly.

“…I’m not sure.”

“Everyone who came here seems great, so I’m having a hard time deciding too.”

Unlike Seol-hee, who was seriously considering whom to choose, Minju’s thoughts were complicated.

She carefully picked up the tablet and began swiping through the faces one by one.

Then her finger stopped on Kwon Seok-jun’s photo.

A relaxed smile, a gaze filled with confidence.

His eyes seemed to be staring directly at her even through the photograph, making Minju feel strangely suffocated.

Uncomfortable, she quickly swiped to the next photo, and this time Han Sang-ho’s face appeared on the screen.

A warm smile and gentle eyes.

The calm atmosphere she could somehow sense even from his photograph made Minju relax without realizing it.

After hesitating for a moment, her fingertip slowly pressed down on the screen.