TANTIANA UNIVERSITY | RED

CHAPTER 6: THE FINE LINE BETWEEN FATE AND HATRED

Mark, Jeno, and Donghyuck had never asked for this. They were transferred to Tantiana University under the strict orders of their grandfather, a man whose word carried the weight of the family legacy. The Lees were known for their impressive line of doctors and lawyers, and the pressure to follow in those footsteps was relentless.

Mark was meant to follow in his father's footsteps as the next engineer, while Jeno and Donghyuck were expected to carry on the family tradition in business. No one questioned the decisions of the older generations, especially when it came to education. The boys had always been told that they didn't get to choose—they simply had to comply. The family fortune relied on their obedience.

Yet here they were—sitting in the cafeteria, witnessing a scene that was as unexpected as it was inconvenient.

Donghyuck stared at the girl in front of him, who was devouring her food with such intensity that it almost seemed like she hadn't eaten in days. The way she shoved spoonfuls into her mouth with no care for the world around her had a strange effect on him—he felt a slight tension building up in his chest. It was like her hunger was his, too. He hated the feeling.

"Can you slow down?" he asked, his tone sharp.

Gayoon paused mid-bite, glaring up at him with a mouth full of food. "What?"

"I said, slow down. I'm not saving your life if you choke," he added, his eyes narrowing.

"Attorney, sir, I can take care of myself," Gayoon replied coolly, taking a sip of her drink as if nothing had happened. "Also, why are you still here?"

Donghyuck scoffed. "Right, why am I still here?" He leaned back, crossing his arms. "I need to see you eating properly, lady. Last time, your anger pissed me off, and now I can feel your hunger. That's not how this works."

"I'm sorry," Gayoon said, her expression faltering for a moment. "I won't do it again."

She abruptly stopped eating and slammed her spoon onto the table, causing a small stir in the otherwise quiet cafeteria. Donghyuck's gaze snapped back to her, confusion swirling in his chest.

She glared at him. "You."

"Me, what?" he asked, leaning forward slightly.

Gayoon clicked her tongue, her eyes narrowing. "Oh, you think I forgot something, huh?" She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms defiantly. "You're here, getting mad at me for subconsciously feeling my emotions, while you've been inconsiderate yourself. Remember last week when you were drinking yourself into oblivion?"

Donghyuck's eyebrows furrowed, irritation bubbling up. "Now we're talking about that?"

"I didn't get mad at you, did I? If anything, I checked on you when you were practically a walking ghost and gave you a sandwich." She raised an eyebrow. "Did I ask for anything in return?"

"And I didn't ask for you to babysit me, did I?" Donghyuck shot back, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Well, did I ask for you to drag me here and watch me eat?" Gayoon retorted, her tone sharp.

Donghyuck's jaw clenched. "Well, I don't want to deal with any of your feelings, okay? If I have to sit here every day and make sure you eat properly and don't get angry, I will."