* * *
As always, the exhibition hall was packed, chaotic, and filled with all kinds of furniture.
Wookyung busily moved around, taking pictures and posting them in the group chat.
The design team had wanted to come but could only attend the exhibition tomorrow, so he was helping them out by sharing previews.
With over a thousand brands participating and three massive halls to cover, it was impossible for them to see everything in one day.
[Senior Associate Sun: Assistant Manager Gil, the booth you just passed!
Senior Associate Sun: Can you take a closer shot? A video would be even better.]
Requests like these meant he had to double back constantly, making the visit feel never-ending.
“Hey, is that Wookyung? Wookyung, right?”
Just as he was recording a showroom per Sun’s request, a voice called out.
Lifting his head, he saw a man in a suit looking at him with uncertainty.
He had gold-rimmed glasses that gave off a studious impression, but his face wasn’t familiar.
“What, you don’t recognize me? That’s harsh. It’s me, Jung Hojun!”
Even hearing the name didn’t spark any recognition.
As Wookyung blinked in confusion, the man slumped his shoulders, realizing he still wasn’t remembered.
“Come on, we were in the same class in High School—eighth and ninth grade—and first year of high school. I was even class president!”
“Ah…….”
The mention of “class president” finally brought up a faint memory.
He recalled someone with thick black-rimmed glasses.
Was that him?
“Now you remember? Man, I can’t believe I’m seeing you here! Are you exhibiting too? Which booth?”
Was he always this talkative?
Wookyung hadn’t even responded yet, but Jung Hojun was already chattering excitedly.
“No, I’m just here to look around.”
“Really? I’m over at Best Beds—see that booth over there? If you have time, let’s grab a coffee.”
At the mention of his company’s name, Jung Hojun scratched his nose.
It made sense.
Best Beds was founded by a former HK Furniture employee and had since gained recognition as a top mattress brand.
“You know how we’re the best when it comes to beds, right? So we got a pretty big booth. Since you’re already here, you might as well check it out.”
He seemed really proud of his company.
Wookyung wasn’t particularly interested, but as he glanced in the direction of the booth out of politeness, he spotted a very familiar figure.
“Wait, when did Director Choi go over there? Without saying a word?”
He had been so absorbed in looking around that he completely forgot they were supposed to be together.
Frowning, he quickly walked toward him.
But he couldn’t call out—Director Choi was deep in conversation with a man who looked to be in his sixties.
“What a surprise, running into you here! I’d heard you were back in Korea. What brings you to the exhibition?”
“Just looking around.”
“Really? That’s unexpected.”
Judging by his friendly tone, the older man seemed quite familiar with Director Choi.
At least, he seemed to think so.
“But you’ve changed a lot…… Must be the American influence.”
His tone was rather arrogant.
“How old were you when you went abroad again?”
“Sixteen.”
“Right, right. What school did you go to? It wasn’t the same as my kids’, was it?”
Was he a relative?
He spoke as if he already knew but was asking for confirmation.
“D High School.”
At Director Choi’s answer, Wookyung’s eyes widened.
That name was all too familiar.
“Ah, back then you hadn’t manifested yet, right? That’s why you went to a different school from my kids. But D High School, really?”
The conversation continued, but Wookyung could barely hear it.
“No way……?”
That was his school. And since they were the same age, that meant—
…A possibility of being classmates?
But no face comes to mind.
Well, earlier, he couldn’t even remember a classmate he spent three years with, who was even the class president.
‘Still, how could someone with that face and build go unnoticed?’
Even among hundreds of thousands of people, Director Director Choi stood out distinctly.
His strikingly foreign-looking features made him even more noticeable.
“If you were going to go there, you should’ve chosen HK High school instead. If you had, Heejung’s son would’ve taken good care of you. Tsk tsk.”
Another unfamiliar name.
However, HK High School was at least familiar to Wookyung.
The high school that the main couple attended belonged to the same foundation.
As the name suggests, it was also affiliated with HK Group.
“That’s why you got bullied for being a beta. What would’ve happened if Heejung hadn’t stepped in back then? You should be grateful to Heejung. The faculty also backed her up properly.”
Bullied? Director Choi, had a past like that?
Who would dare bully such a high-ranking alpha?
Wait, did they mention something about being a beta earlier?
Wookyung flinched at the last part the middle-aged man added.
Three key terms—Heejung’s son, HK, and faculty—were all pointing to one person.
“…No way.”
Wookyung muttered unconsciously before quickly shutting his mouth.
If they heard him, it could be bad.
But since the man kept rambling on, it seemed like he hadn’t noticed.
He shouldn’t listen anymore.
He had to follow the warning sirens blaring in his head.
Slowly, he started to step back.
“Hey, Gil Wookyung. Why are you just leaving without saying anything? That’s rude.”
A voice suddenly called out from behind, loud enough for anyone nearby to hear.
“…Ah.”
The first to look in Wookyung’s direction was the middle-aged man.
He wore a puzzled expression, but after spotting Jung Hojun standing beside Wookyung, his face shifted to one of understanding.
“Assistant Manager Jung, is he a friend of yours?”
“Yes, sir. I happened to run into an old classmate from middle and high school.”
“Really? Which High School did you go to again?”
“D High School, sir.”
“Oh, so you’re from there too.”
Before Wookyung could interject, the middle-aged man and Jung Hojun continued their conversation at a rapid pace.
“Yes, sir.”
“Oh… this guy here went to the same school too. What a coincidence, three alumni meeting out of town like this!”
The middle-aged man chuckled and patted Director Director Choi on the shoulder.
He probably thought he was showing off their closeness.
‘With that height difference, it’s like a dwarf trying to cling to a giant…’
It looked awkward, and it didn’t really suit him.
Wookyung was thinking that when his eyes suddenly met Director Choi’s.
“Huh? This guy too? Who is he?”
So, it wasn’t just Wookyung who didn’t recognize that Choi was an old classmate.
“Which class were you in?”
“I was in Class 5 during my third year.”
As soon as Choi answered the middle-aged man’s question, Jung Hojun widened his eyes.
Wookyung was also slightly surprised.
“We were in the same class. What’s your name?”
Jung Hojun asked, but Director Choi kept his gaze fixed on Wookyung as if expecting him to recognize him.
“Choi Saheon.”
As if to say, ‘You still don’t remember me?’
“Ah!”
Unlike Wookyung, who still couldn’t recall him, Jung Hojun, who had been class president, seemed to remember immediately.
He scanned Choi from head to toe, then back up again.
“Wow… no wonder I didn’t recognize you. You look completely different.”
“I grew a bit taller.”
“Not just taller—your build got bigger, and your whole vibe changed. You suddenly dropped out back then… what, did you go somewhere to transform?”
Jung Hojun lightly tapped Choi’s arm, joking.
“Ah, Assistant Manager Jung, you don’t know? This guy, Choi Saheon, is the nephew of Choi Heejung, the HK Furniture CEO. When Choi Heejung heard that her nephew was getting bullied at school, she said it was because he hadn’t awakened yet. So, she sent him to the U.S. for treatment and study abroad.”
But the one who answered wasn’t Director Choi—it was the middle-aged man beside him.
‘Why is he airing out such personal details like it’s nothing?’
Were they actually related by blood or something?
Even if they were, who just spills someone else’s business like that?
The guy had zero sense of propriety.
Clicking his tongue internally, Wookyung rolled his eyes, only to find himself once again locked in Director Choi’s gaze.
As if he didn’t hear a single word the others were saying.
‘Why is he looking at me like that…?’
His eyes practically screamed for recognition.
But even after hearing the name ‘Choi Saheon’, nothing came to mind.
Then, suddenly, one word from the conversation earlier resurfaced.
‘Bullied.’
No way… It couldn’t be.
* * *
Jesus, you are so slow 😂