No Strings Attached

CHAPTER 2: D-0

"Oh," he said lightly. "That?"

"Yes. That."

"Why?" He shrugged. "Did it bother you?"

"No," she replied instantly, then added, "But it is... inconvenient."

"For you?"

"For everyone."

He laughed again, low. "I'll tell you later."

"I prefer 'now.'"

"And I prefer 'later.'"

She stared at him, unblinking.

He met her stare, unbothered.

Finally he said, "Relax. I didn't stalk you."

"I did not imply that."

"You implied something."

"I merely questioned your methods."

"And I said I'll tell you when I feel like it."

"...You're deliberately evasive."

"Sometimes," he said with a shrug, "it's fun."

She didn't like that answer—he could tell by the subtle shift of her jaw—but she didn't push further.

Instead she stepped back slightly, arms crossing under her sleeves.

"You may leave now," she said calmly.

Jaehyun grinned. "Kicking me out already?"

"It is late."

"You're acting like I broke into your house."

"You forced your way past trained guards."

"I walked."

"Through them."

"Still walked."

One guard coughed, trying desperately not to react.

Yerin exhaled again—soft, quiet. Her version of being done with the argument.

"Goodnight, Kang Jaehyun."

He took a small step back, eyes still on her.

"Night, Baek Yerin."

She turned toward the door.

And then—

"Hey," he said suddenly.

She stopped, half-turned.

"Don't overthink this," he said, voice casual but not empty. "I just wanted to see you. That's all."

Her hood shifted slightly, revealing a sliver of her expression.

Neutral.
Unreadable.
But not cold.

She didn't reply.

She just walked inside.

The guards exhaled in relief as the gate closed.

Jaehyun shoved his hands back in his pockets.

"Whatever you say Professor Baek," he muttered.

Then he turned and walked off into the night.

The heavy front door shut behind Yerin with a soft thud, sealing her back inside the Baek residence. She didn't look back through the glass panel, didn't check if Jaehyun was still there—she simply walked deeper into the entry hall, hood still up, breath steady.

Outside, the motion-sensor lights flickered as Kang Jaehyun stepped off the last marble stair and onto the long driveway. His hands were deep in his pockets, shoulders relaxed, but the guards were anything but relaxed.