BSMF | 27

Chapter 27

Because I Want to See Her

Everyone in the lab was left speechless at Woo-geon’s unexpected actions.

“Sir….”

Seeing him, So-hye looked back with fear in her eyes, as if scratching an itch only to make things worse.

But in situations like this, the best approach was to face it head-on.

If she tried to cover it up halfheartedly, it would likely ignite a bigger fire later.

“The situation is getting interesting,”

Hee-wook, who had first raised objections, let out a small, awkward laugh and then hardened his gaze even more.

To have Woo-geon, who was meticulous and disciplined in his studies, bring his girlfriend into the lab—it was shocking.

Hee-wook truly respected Woo-geon, learning from him despite being the same age. But this behavior was utterly disappointing.

“Others would do anything to get in here, and yet you just walk in….”

Woo-geon was well aware of what Hee-wook was thinking. Hee-wook valued the lab’s sanctity above all else.

“Hee-wook, I understand what you’re worried about,”

At first, Woo-geon considered not revealing that she was his fiancée. He was confident that So-hye’s drawing skills alone would convince them.

But rumors always spread. It was better to directly clarify the truth than let a distorted rumor circulate.

Ultimately, whether they accepted it or not was their choice.

“But the reason I brought So-hye here isn’t just because she’s my girlfriend.”

Woo-geon gestured toward a storage cabinet in a corner of the lab.

“You’ve all seen the illustrations I made of specimens slated for disposal, right?”

“…….”

“The one who drew those illustrations was So-hye.”

Everyone looked at So-hye in surprise.

“Are you saying she did all of that herself?”

“…Yes,”

Se-ho asked in astonishment, and So-hye nodded faintly.

The butterflies that had never been discarded in research had been meticulously illustrated, almost like photographs. Everyone had been impressed.

And now, learning that this woman—Woo-geon’s girlfriend—was the artist transformed her instantly in their eyes from “Woo-geon’s woman” to a “professional artist.”

“I think So-hye’s skills will continue to be valuable to our lab,”

Even now, would anyone dare oppose that?

Woo-geon shot a firm glance at Hee-wook.

Hee-wook still looked displeased, but he knew that opposing it further would only be stubbornness.

“…Do as you like. Whether the lab’s atmosphere is ruined because of her or not.”

“Not ‘her,’ but Baek So-hye.”

“….”

“Everyone in the lab should address each other properly, Hee-wook. Here, aside from me, everyone is an assistant.”

Woo-geon normally didn’t emphasize formality, but now hierarchy was necessary.

A tense atmosphere stretched between the two men, like the air might explode at any moment.

“Leaving first,”

Finally, Hee-wook exited the lab.

Bang!

The door slammed with a sharp thud, shattering the tense air.

So-hye, holding her breath, nervously glanced between Woo-geon and the door.

Se-ho, trying to reassure her, smiled brightly.

“Don’t worry. By tomorrow, he’ll act normally. He’s just very shy, that’s all.”

“Shy isn’t the word…,”

So-hye’s heart sank, thinking she had caused trouble from her first day.

“You didn’t do anything wrong. That’s just how he is,”

Seeing her downcast, Woo-geon tried to ease the tension.

Seok-tae and Jae-woo also looked unbothered, as if this was nothing new. He was the only one who hadn’t adapted.

So-hye watched Hee-wook’s departing figure with concern, swallowing a heavy sigh.

“Am I really going to be okay here?”

It was a first meeting filled with worry.

The next day, Woo-geon left early for school, leaving So-hye to arrive at the lab alone.

It was 8:30 a.m.

She opened the door cautiously, greeted first by the silence. No one had arrived yet.

“Phew, good…”

Seeing the empty lab, she sighed in relief. She had been worried Hee-wook might have come first.

After all, the first encounter hadn’t gone well, and she wanted to avoid being alone with him.

She had also arrived an hour and a half earlier than usual.

“Well, coming early is good. I can clean and organize the space first,”

She shrugged and entered.

But perhaps because of the clutter, she accidentally kicked over a stack of books reaching up to her waist.

“Ahh…!”

She barely caught the falling books. If she had been even a moment later, the other books would have collapsed as well.

Her heart thumped as she pushed the pile aside.

“I mustn’t make mistakes. Especially not things that could reflect poorly on him.”

Even if she was recognized for her skills, a single misstep here would be seen not as incompetence, but as favoritism for being Woo-geon’s girlfriend.

She couldn’t be the troublemaker on her first day. She had to be extra careful.

Especially in front of Hee-wook.

“Maybe it’s uncomfortable… but I should greet him first?”

Even if the first impression wasn’t good, a warm greeting might help him open up.

“Where should I sit?”

Since yesterday was only introductions, she hadn’t been assigned a seat.

“Can I just sit anywhere?”

She looked around, and her eyes fell on a relatively neat corner.

That would be her spot. She could see people entering and work quietly without disturbing others.

As she turned to pull out the chair,

“Ahhh!”

She screamed in shock.

Hee-wook was sleeping at the chair she intended to use.

“What… what?!”

Startled by her scream, he tumbled from the chair. Dust puffed onto his body.

“Are you… okay?”

“Ah… my back…”

He held his waist, a pitiful sight.

For a moment, he seemed to groan in pain. Then, his head slowly turned toward her.

“You…”

His sharp eyes, tiger-like, glared fiercely.

“Did you scream just to scare me?”

So-hye shook and flailed her hands.

“N-no! I didn’t see anyone and… I really didn’t mean to…”

Startled, she stammered.

Seeing her panicked, Hee-wook’s expression grew more annoyed.

“Did you find a corner just to avoid me?”

“N-no….”

Biting her lower lip, she hung her head and extended her hand.

“I’m really sorry. I’ll help you up…”

“Enough. Move aside.”

Hee-wook ignored her and got up by himself, brushing past her with the coldness of a winter breeze.

He muttered,

“If you sleep in the lab twice, someone’s going to die.”

He had completely unsettled her.

So-hye turned reluctantly, realizing she hadn’t just failed to win him over—she had probably made him dislike her more.

Just then, Se-ho entered cheerfully.

“Good morning! …I guess.”

He frowned at the cold atmosphere.

“What happened? Did something occur?”

But So-hye couldn’t speak. She just nodded awkwardly.

Hee-wook didn’t even respond.

Se-ho had to endure the awkwardness.

Fortunately, after 10 a.m., Seok-tae and Jae-woo arrived, and the lab became lively again.

As the mood settled, Se-ho approached So-hye.

“Ms. Shin has classes until after 3 p.m., so you can just rest until then.”

“Is there anything I can do? I can help move things.”

So-hye wanted to help, even if not with drawing.

But the reply came from elsewhere.

“Staying still is helping.”

Hee-wook’s sharp gaze fell on her.

“The princess should be quiet.”

“….”

He looked down on her, implying she shouldn’t get in his way.

“When your husband comes, then you can do as you like.”

To him, she was still just Woo-geon’s immature girlfriend, nothing more.

His condescending tone made the lab feel cold again.

“Hey, Hee-wook, you’re overdoing it. You’re going to make him misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand? About what?”

Se-ho tried to intervene, but it was useless.

“This is meant to make you feel bad,”

Hee-wook tilted his lips disdainfully.

So-hye exhaled in frustration. No matter how much he disliked her, this was excessive.

“And he said nothing yesterday when he saw my drawings…”

Se-ho quickly tried to mediate, seeing her hardening expression.

“Enough, enough! Don’t take it too far, hyung.”

Seok-tae and Jae-woo sided with her.

“You didn’t bring her here just because she’s your girlfriend. And she drew all those pictures—why treat her like this?”

Hee-wook slammed down the box he was holding.

“People who live worrying about Woo-geon.”

And, like yesterday, he stormed out again.

The lab fell silent.

“Even he’s worried about….”

Se-ho’s lonely mumble filled the stillness.

So-hye glared at the departing Hee-wook.

Why was he so angry at her?

Because she was Woo-geon’s girlfriend?

Because she had managed to enter a place others couldn’t?

She had already shown her skills, yet he continued to act this way. She didn’t know what to do.

“If I’d known this, I shouldn’t have told him we were a couple.”

But the truth couldn’t be hidden now.

The lab needed to know their relationship, especially for unexpected situations.

But she didn’t want Woo-geon to blindly defend her.

“…I can’t stay here like this.”

She decided to confront it head-on.

“I’ll just step out for a bit.”

“Huh? Where are you going, So-hye? Lady!”

Ignoring Se-ho, she left the lab.

Throughout the class, Woo-geon’s mind was filled with concern for So-hye.

He was already worried leaving her alone in a male-dominated lab, and with Hee-wook there, his anxiety increased.

‘Should I have given him a heads-up?’

Hee-wook was strictly merit-based. He didn’t tolerate interference, no matter how kind or passionate the person was.

Many assistants had left under his pressure. So-hye, with Woo-geon as her support, would naturally draw his displeasure.

“Class dismissed.”

“Attention, salute.”

Woo-geon left the classroom and crossed the corridor.

He ignored the curious gazes and awkward greetings from students.

He considered checking on the lab, but he would be late for the next class. The main building was far from the museum.

He went to the staff room instead.

A few Korean teachers were gathered around an oil lamp, chatting.

Exchanging a glance, he sat.

One teacher spoke.

“Mr. Shin, I heard a very interesting rumor recently.”

“What rumor?”

“I heard you employed your girlfriend as a lab assistant. Is it true?”

It came sooner than he expected. Someone from the lab must have spread it.

He had anticipated the school would be abuzz.

Woo-geon calmly admitted it.

“My fiancée’s drawing skills are excellent, so I sometimes have her do record-keeping. I’ve officially hired her to work with us now.”

“The male students will be all over her… Are you sure that’s safe?”

It should be safe, but he didn’t feel that way. He had spent the entire class worrying about her.

He had brought her here to protect her, yet it felt like taking her into a den of hyenas.

“Still, be careful. Close people are often the most dangerous.”

The other teachers chuckled quietly. They must have been referring to the lab assistants.

Woo-geon’s gaze sharpened.

‘Why am I listening to people who only gamble and drink?’

He scanned them with dark eyes and stood. His nerves were on edge.

“Thanks, but I’ll ignore your advice.”

“….”

“I don’t take kindly to people who insult my team.”

He left the staff room, ignoring the clicking tongues behind him.

Better to check on the lab than deal with them.

“Tell Class 5 they should study on their own; I’ll be a little late.”

He passed on the message to a student and headed to the lab.

He couldn’t endure it any longer.

Baek So-hye… because he wanted to see her.