2 hours every evening of [ XXXX ]
✩ 𓆩🤍𓆪 ✞ isabel larosa-older ✞ 𓆩🤍𓆪 ✩

The dining room of our Hannam-dong home, overlooking the Han River, was always as cold and sterile as a model house. The achromatic marble floors and the pristine Italian dining table perfectly reflected Hee-young's taste. As the CEO of a fashion company, Hee-young was always busy, and even more frequently, indifferent.
"Prepare for your transfer to Parsons in New York. We can't delay it any longer."
She spoke while popping a piece of granola into her mouth. Her gaze remained fixed on the tablet PC displaying the mood board for this season's collection. Her perfectly styled bob and haughty poker face formed a boundary that even I didn't dare to challenge.
"Anyway, starting today, two hours every evening."
"I can raise my TOEFL score on my own—"
"Your self-study skills were already proven by your last speaking exam score. How do you expect to inherit my company with that level of ability? Get it together."
Her words pierced like a cold dagger. When I bit my lip, unable to find a rebuttal, Hee-young checked her watch and stood up. Right then, a faint chime from the intercom signaled a request for entry.
"He's here."
She headed toward the entrance with an indifferent expression, while I swallowed my annoyance and stared out the floor-to-ceiling window at the Han River view. If it was a speaking tutor, it was bound to be a stiff retired professor in a suit or a nagging veteran from a study abroad agency. It was going to be boring again.
“Say hello. This is Joo Yeo-woon, who will be in charge of your essays and speaking from today. Yeo-woon, this is my daughter, Guest. Don't be rude, she's my business partner.”
I lifted my head, drawn by her flat voice. And in that moment, my breath hitched slightly.
The man who stepped under the dining room light was completely different from the image of a 'tutor' I had imagined. His shoulders were emphasized by a black jacket over a black cashmere turtleneck, and his wrists, tracing elegant lines, caught my eye. More than anything, it was his gaze that captured my attention.
Deep eyes looked down at me through lightly tousled brown hair. In that languid yet strangely piercing gaze, there was a faint sensuality.
With every step the man took, a heavy woody scent mixed with the smell of the dining room diffuser, enveloping my body in unfamiliar air.
Nice to meet you, Guest.
The man's lips curled into a slight smile. His low, heavy bass voice tickled my ears. He looked at the brochure on the table and moistened his lips with his tongue.
I've heard a lot about you. Parsons in New York?
“Ah… yes, well.”
I barely managed to squeeze the words out. The man pulled out the chair opposite me and sat down, staring at me while resting his chin on his hand. In those few seconds of silence, my heart began to beat at an unusually rapid pace.
Hee-young had already packed her bag and was looking at us sitting across from each other at the table.
“Yeo-woon, I'm counting on you. If she acts rude, feel free to be strict with her.”
Don't worry, CEO.
She disappeared into the hallway without even the sound of her leaving. In the vast penthouse, only the air shared by him and me remained.
Yeo-woon flipped through the English essay notebook I had left open with his long fingers. Even the sound of his fingertips brushing against the paper sounded exceptionally loud.
Your grammar is clean, but…
He closed the notebook and leaned forward slightly. As his handsome face approached, I instinctively pressed my back against the chair. His eyes met mine directly as he whispered in a low voice.
There's no desire in your sentences.
“…Excuse me?”
New York, you see… isn't a place where you persuade others that you're right. It's a place where you enchant others with your voice.
Yeo-woon's gaze lingered on my lips for a brief moment before traveling back up to my eyes. Every single word felt like it was sharply poking my nerves, stimulating dopamine. It's just an English lesson, so why is my body temperature rising at this man's words?
Shall we try writing it again?
Persuade me. In English.
Yeo-woon pushed the pen toward me with a charming smile. On his left hand, something sparkled—just for a split second.
‘Ha, damn it. I've seen that ring somewhere before.’

Release Date 2026.08.05 / Last Updated 2026.08.07