Episode 03
“He’s the ambassador for both Company B and Company T — a so-called nepo baby, but he silenced every critic with his looks and talent alone.”
“In a land where the bloodline of handsome men had supposedly ended, he appeared like a savior…”
“And the good deeds! Remember that photo of him carrying an injured model with a torn ligament to the hospital? Absolutely perfect.”
“I saved that picture three times. Personality, talent, background — he’s Britain’s last true hope in this era…”
“Please, just one movie with that face. What are the directors doing when that masterpiece is walking around?”
Huh. In K-pop, doing personality PR like this is taboo…
Yuha calmly spooned her raspberry mousse cake, observing the two fangirls’ spirited conversation. Apparently, they were both hardcore fans of Geoffrey Hester, because the dialogue flowed effortlessly.
So this is what British fangirling looks like…
“Did you see him two years ago, when he dyed his hair black? He was literally Heathcliff.”
“No, Darcy.”
“Darcy?”
“Yes, Darcy!”
“Well, Heathcliff’s supposed to be wilder… but honestly, Jeffrey Hester with black hair was wild.”
Wuthering Heights, then Pride and Prejudice — now they were fan-casting him in literary roles.
It seems the language and culture might differ, but the passion of fans is universal.
Yuha, slightly overwhelmed, watched them rave on. Rashid, sitting next to Daisy, looked equally subdued — quietly eating mousse like her, not daring to interrupt.
“Eve, Eve — have you read Pride and Prejudice or Wuthering Heights? You know what they’re about, right?”
“I’ve read Pride and Prejudice in the original, and both in translation, yes.”
“Perfect! Then you decide.”
Daisy thrust her phone at Yuha. Narrowing her eyes, Yuha recognized the black-haired boy in the photo — the same boy from earlier.
“Darcy or Heathcliff?”
At Daisy’s blunt question, Yuha rubbed her brow, knowing exactly why she asked.
She met the same gray eyes in the photo — cool, indifferent, and a little bit chilling. The same gaze she’d seen in real life.
Something about this gives me the creeps.
Swallowing her real thoughts, Yuha turned to Daisy.
“Personally, I think blonde suits him better.”
It was a smooth dodge. Daisy blinked.
“Oh… really?”
“Yeah. To me, he looks better blonde.”
“I see. Fair enough. The blonde look is legendary right now.”
“…Anyway, if I get the chance, I’ll thank him properly later.”
“Mhm, sure.”
Daisy slid her phone back into her pocket, mumbling something that sounded suspiciously like “Lucky girl.”
Yuha wisely pretended not to hear it.
Lucky? Hardly.
Some people might use that incident as an excuse to get close to that shiny, glamorous guy, but not her.
A stunningly handsome nobleman, a famous model — a whole garland of intimidating titles. Whether you get involved in a good or bad way, it’s nothing but trouble.
Her life was already uncertain enough. Why add more chaos?
No thanks.
“If I ever see him again, I’ll just say thank you and run at least twenty li away.”
She made up her mind, sipping the last of her wine.
Yuha realized her plan was physically impossible only after she arrived at the dorm gates, tipsy and disoriented.
After the dinner full of drama, Daisy and Rashid had taken her back to the college. There, they’d opened another round of drinks with the “famous Everet ginger ale.”
Though Yuha could handle her liquor, Daisy’s liver was on another level.
“You can really drink.”
In front of Daisy stood twelve empty beer glasses. Rashid had thankfully passed out, or they’d have been drinking until midnight.
“Ugh, my head…”
Yuha rubbed her temples, trying to remember what she needed to do.
In front of her stood the dorm’s main door — locked tight.
She hadn’t gotten lost, but the entrance itself was her obstacle.
Then she remembered — she needed her electronic key. Every Everet student had one to access both the main dorm door and their own room.
So, step one: find the key.
“Where’s my key…”
She patted her coat pockets, searching. Then — footsteps behind her.
She turned abruptly.
Under the somber moonlight,
a head of pale golden hair shimmered.
She instantly recognized him — Geoffrey Hester.
But he looked colder tonight, sharper under the cloudy sky.
Her mind lagged from the alcohol. She pressed her forehead, trying to focus, until she suddenly noticed his gaze — that chilly, irritated stare.
Wait… irritated?
Am I imagining that?
Yuha blinked rapidly. The moonlight caught on his golden hair, and below it, those gray eyes raked over her from head to toe — analytical, detached, as if she were an object.
“What are you hoping to get by coming here?”
“…Huh?”
“You think saving you once makes you special? Where do you get the confidence?”
“…What?”
“I have zero interest in getting involved with you. So sober up, stop dreaming, and get lost. I don’t know how you found out I live here, but the stench of alcohol is disgusting. Do me a favor and disappear from my sight.”
Yuha massaged her temples again.
His irritation only seemed to grow as she stayed silent. His eyes literally sparked.
“I don’t know how you found out I live here, but—”
Ah.
Now she understood his misunderstanding perfectly.
He thought she came looking for him.
She resisted the urge to snap, “You’re really overestimating your importance.”
It was infuriating, but — well, she did owe him for earlier.
“Hey.”
“I live here.”
She pointed at the dorm building.
“Room 302. I was just looking for my key.”
For a moment, Jeffrey Hester looked… human. Shock, then embarrassment, flickered across his face.
He didn’t apologize, but Yuha didn’t care.
She left the frozen statue of a boy behind, kept digging through her pockets, and finally found the key.
Thank God.
Losing it meant going to the dorm office and paying 5 pounds for a replacement.
Saved myself a precious five quid.
She opened the main door, glanced back once. Jeffrey, still stiff, moved at her nod and followed quietly inside.
Click. The door shut behind them.
Overhead, the sensor light flicked on, spilling bright white over the hallway.
Yuha started up the stairs, Geoffrey trailing a few steps behind.
Guess he doesn’t live on the first floor.
“Hey, I’ve got two things to say to you.”
She murmured as she passed the first landing.
Even without turning around, she could feel his gaze on her back — sharp and unyielding.
