A/N: Thank you to everyone who is reading this story. I appreciate the support!

glorialopezgl534.03: Thank you for your review. I think you'd enjoy the scenes I have planned for both the couples in the next few chapters.

Phantomstimeturner: Thank you for your review. Sorry about your cheese. I'm glad you liked the chapter though.

Special thanks to my beta Vnillachamomile for helping out with this chapter. Enjoy, guys!

Jae Kyung looked at the internship acceptance letter and smiled. Her parents would be so proud. She'd learned all the essential life skills. Her GPA jumped up significantly. Yo Na, one of the most promising young entrepreneurs of their generation, granted her an internship.

She fixed her dress. This meeting was going to be awesome.

With her spirits high, she entered the restaurant. Spotting her parents seated in the back, she ran towards them.

"This is a nice place," said her father. "Stop running around like a hooligan.

"I'm sure she was just excited, honey," said her mother.

She sat down.

"Sweety, posture," said her mother.

Jae Kyung straightened, but not quickly enough.

"Slouching is unbecoming for a young lady," said her father. "How many times must we go over this before—"

The waitress materialized, saving Jae Kyung the lecture.

"Ratatouille," said her mother.

Jae Kyung peeked her head out from the menu. "A small pizza."

Her father shook his head. "You haven't changed a bit, have you?"

She fiddled with the napkin. A lecture was incoming. A big one. She could smell it. Before things derailed completely, she needed to save the meeting. "I got the internship!"

Confused faces stared back at her. "Which one?"

They forgot? But she just told them last week. She fought through the disappointment. Running a company was busy work. Sometimes things slip through the crack. "The one with Yo Na. At her new media company. It's so cool. Last week, she launched her—"

"Yes, yes. I'm sure it's all interesting." He browsed through his phone. "How are your studies going?"

She gave him a quick run-down of her grades.

"Still not all A's." He shook his head. "No matter. We'll arrange a macroeconomics tutor in the States."

She shuffled some food around. "About that. It's a bit... sudden. Can I join you in a few months? I've that internship and—"

"There are better companies to shadow in New York," said her mother. "The KMC, for instance. Su Jin started leading the branch there. He'll be happy to show you the ropes."

Su Jin Kim was the only son of her parents' most recent business associate. To her parents, he was the model child: obedient, prim, proper, and hard-working. To Jae Kyung, he was as dull as a rock, and in her least charitable moments, a bit of a snob. "But I'll learn much more from Yo Na. Since it's a small company."

"She hasn't even broken even yet. What will she teach you?"

"It's a new startup. It's barely been—"

Her father stabbed his plate. "I thought being on your own would teach you some responsibility, but—"

Her mother squeezed her father's shoulder. "Honey."

"You are no longer a child. It's about time you took your duty seriously."

"I am. I got a job. My own apartment. I—"

"Have you paid any of your old friends a visit? Darla has been in Seoul for a week now."

Darla was never her friend. "Well, no, but—"

"If you are going to represent the JK group in the future, you need to be more mindful of the company you keep. Get your stuff in order. We leave in a week."

Jae Kyung stared down at her half-eaten pizza, no longer hungry.

"Sweety," her mother said. "I'm sure we can come up with some remote arrangement for your internship." She took Jae Kyung's hand. "It has been more than a year. Please come back home."

A ghost of a smile graced Jae Kyung's features. Her mom wasn't the PDA type. She must have really missed her.

Her mother glanced at her watch. If we're to make our 3 p.m. meeting, we must leave immediately." She faced Jae Kyung. "Have Chen escort you back."

Jae Kyung shook off the disappointment. It'd be nice to see her old bodyguard again.

_oOo_

"Just park the car right here, thanks," Jae Kyung told the driver.

"Young Mistress," Chen said. "They were just stressed about work. Don't take their words to heart."

She forced a smile. "Thanks."

They climbed the steps to Song Manor. "Do you want me to wait outside?"

"No need. I'll be a while."

"Not a problem. I'll just explore the park outside. Call me when you wish to leave." Chen turned to walk away.

"Chen," Jae Kyung called out. "Thanks. For having your friends keep an eye out for me."

Surprise flashed across her face.

"They weren't the most discreet bunch." Over the past year and a half, Jae Kyung had spotted them at least forty times.

"Young Mistress, it was only for a short time. I didn't mean to—"

Jae Kyung met her old bodyguard's gaze. "Don't fret it. It was kind of sweet." She turned to walk away but stopped at the last second. "Did my parents—"

"Not explicitly. But your mother appreciated the updates."

Yet the few times they talked this past year, her mother remembered none of the details. She swatted the thought away. The life of an executive was busy. Jae Kyung should extend her some grace.

Flashing Chen one last smile, she entered the mansion.

"Jae Kyung." Gran enveloped her in a hug. "I missed you so much, child. Come join me for dinner."

Jae Kyung settled next to Gran on the dining table. "So, where's Woo Bin?"

"Out with Yi Jeong. He won't be home for another couple of hours." She glanced at Jae Kyung's plate. "Careful with the fish, dear. Lots of small bones. Let me give you a hand."

"Gran, it's fine. You don't need to..."

Not paying her protest any mind, Gran separated the fishbones bit by bit. Once she finished with a piece, she'd place it back on Jae Kyung's plate.

Jae Kyung stared down at her lap, a small smile on her face. Her parents' household staff had done this a million times, but this felt different somehow. It wasn't done out of duty, but love.

"Eat up, dear. While it's still warm." She added another piece of fish to Jae Kyung's plate. "How has your week been so far? I heard you made the list for Cho Yo Na's internship."

"Yep. It starts next week."

They spent the next half hour discussing Yo Na's company. Gran had met her a few times at business parties and found her ideas interesting.

"I always liked that girl." She refilled Jae Kyung's plate. "She kind of reminds me of you."

Jae Kyung's eyes lit up. "You think so."

Gran's face broke into a smile. "You both have the same fire."

An hour later, a much happier Jae Kyung left Gran's house.

_oOo_

The good mood didn't last. A few feet from her building's lobby, Jae Kyung's phone buzzed. She stared at her father's display picture. Might as well get this over with .

"Good evening, father."

A few minutes in, and Jae Kyung found herself embroiled in the same conversation as before.

"I thought a few days out in the world would've set you straight, but no. I'm sick of your childishness! This is not a request. The Kims have magnanimously invited you to their estate in New York, so you WILL show up."

She paced the lobby. "But—"

"Enough. Get your things packed by Friday."

With that said, he hung up the phone.

Jae Kyung stroked her keychain. Gran never spoke to Woo Bin like that. No matter what he did. She bit her lips. That was unfair. People had different parenting styles.

"Young Mistress," said Chen. "Is everything alright?"

They entered the elevator.

"Do you not want to go to New York?"

She took a second to answer. "I don't know. I miss my parents, of course. But I've a life here. I'm not sure I'm ready to leave it all behind."

Chen regarded her for a second. "Whenever I looked over the pictures Jacky sent—"

"Your friend who was spying on me?" Jae Kyung asked while exiting the elevator.

"Not spying, merely keeping a lookout."

"Sure. You were saying?"

"I haven't seen you this happy in a very long time."

"That's not—I loved traveling the world."

She took a second to answer. "Of course, Young Mistress."

Jae Kyung opened her apartment door. "Want to come in for a bit?"

"No, that's alright." Seconds before Jae Kyung shut the door, Chen added. "No matter what happens, just remember, two more years and you'll be old enough to access your trust fund."

Jae Kyung froze. "What do you mean, 'No matter what happens?' What do you think will happen, Chen?"

"Nothing. I only meant that if things go south, you have a safety net."

"My parents won't disown me for disagreeing with them. They love me. Once I prove myself, they'd—"

"Of course. I didn't mean—I am sure everything will work out."

_oOo_

Jae Kyung sank to the floor. A year and a half had gone by, but the ugly fight that led her to leave home still stung.

Most days, she succeeded in shoving it all down. But today's encounter made that impossible. Despite her best efforts, it all came crashing back.

Every detail crystal clear.

Where everyone stood. What she was wearing. The exact words her father used.

They'd returned from another stuffy party. She stood in the drawing room, watching her father get angrier by the minute.

The vein in his forehead throbbed. That was never a good sign.

"Do we need to go over proper conversation etiquette with you? Like you're still in Kindergarten?" he said.

Her hands trembled. "We were discussing future plans. So, I thought—"

"Don't you dare lie to me, young lady. After everything we've done for you, this is how you repay us? With blatant disobedience?"

Her lips quivered. "No, I was just—"

"Jae Kyung," her mother said. "This isn't the first time."

She pushed down the guilt. It wasn't. This was the third time she attempted to scare off an arranged date. Most days, it was a cakewalk. All she had to do was let her inner self loose.

Unfortunately, Su Jin was shaping up to be a real tough customer. Despite her father's hysterics, her ideas unfazed him. Either he thought a new hit TV venture titled Can You Eat That was inspired, or he didn't listen to a single word she said. Jae Kyung was leaning towards the latter. He was a remarkable young man, with many talents.

Listening wasn't one of them.

"Su Jin Kim is a nice young man from a respectable family," said her mother.

"You should be grateful. It's a wonderful match," said her father. "I thought you'd learn something from your last foolish dalliance, but no."

Jae Kyung bit her lips. Chen told them about Yoo Jin? But that was so unlike her. She almost never broke confidence. "That was an unfortunate misunderstanding, but—"

Her father put his hand up. "You will pay the Kims a house call tomorrow. And be the picture-perfect lady. No shenanigans. It's about time you accepted some real responsibility."

"I'm not trying to avoid my responsibility. I just don't want to date right now. But I would love to learn more about the business. I have so many ideas. If you give me a chance, I am sure I'll—"

Her father's eyes blazed with anger. "You got some nerve. You constantly skip out on official parties—"

"Only near the very end. And only the ones where no one's my age."

He advanced closer. "You never stick to one place—"

"None of us do."

"You are flighty. And impudent. And constantly find new ways to embarrass us. But you want me to entrust you with the business?"

"I can learn. If you just trust me—"

"Trust you? After all the stunts you've pulled, young lady, I have half a mind to kick you to the curb."

"Honey," said her mother. "That may be taking it—"

"She's old enough. A few months out there on her own ought to teach her how the world actually works."

The sound of footfalls brought Jae Kyung back to the present.

Both Jan Di and Ga Eul stood in front of her. When did they get here?

"Unnie, are you okay?" asked Ga Eul.

"Yep, grand," she said.

They joined her on the floor.

"How did the meeting go? With your parents?"

"Have you decided what you're going to do?" asked Jan Di.

Jae Kyung fiddled with her keychain. It ended like it always did: with her parents disappointed. She glanced at Ga Eul. Despite their reservations, Ga Eul's parents stood by her. They never called her dreams stupid.

Ga Eul scooted closer. "Unnie…"

"My parents love me, right?"

Jan Di and Ga Eul exchanged worried looks.

"They're just stressed about work." She hugged her knees. "I'm their only child. They must."

Ga Eul engulfed her in a hug.

Jae Kyung bit her lips. "They're just a little rough around the edges. Corporate does that to you."

"You shouldn't go," Jan Di blurted out. She looked at Ga Eul's alarmed expression. "Don't give me that look. You know I am right."

Ga Eul didn't answer.

Undeterred, Jan Di continued, "Were you happy living with them? Be honest."

What kind of question was that? Of course she was. Her old life rocked.

"Because a lot of your stories made your life sound rather lonely."

"I wasn't lonely. I had friends. And Chen. And my parents spent time with me when they could."

Ga Eul elbowed Jan Di. "Of course. She only said that because we're going to miss you."

Jan Di opened her mouth but then promptly closed it.

Ga Eul linked their arms together. "No matter what you decide, just know that we'd always be friends."

In response, Jae Kyung engulfed both of them in a group hug.

_oOo_

Yi Jeong stood outside Jae Kyung's apartment, a nervous wreck. He fixed his tie. This was a terrible idea. What was he supposed to say to her? He should head back.

Woo Bin's sad face flashed before him. Turning back wasn't an option. His bro needed this.

After another calming breath, Yi Jeong rang the doorbell. Before second thoughts could take hold, the door swung open.

"Yi Jeong," said Jae Kyung. "Ga Eul went to the market."

"I came to see you, actually."

After the initial shock wore off, she moved aside to let him enter. "So what can I do for you? Is this about Ga Eul? Do you need love advice?"

"Ga Eul? No. It's about—" Yi Jeong rubbed his hands together. Might as well get this over with. "You can't leave Korea."

Her stunned face stared back at him.

"You're in the middle of your degree. It won't look good."

"I can finish remotely."

"Long distance never works out."

"I've done it before. It can be a struggle at times, but it's not unmanageable."

"But you can't just abandon—your professors."

"I don't think they'd care."

"I beg to differ. I don't know how it works where you're from, but that's not how we do things here. You can't just leave peop—college. You can't just leave college."

"You feel oddly passionate about this."

"Well." He adjusted the lapel of his jacket. "I care a great deal about your education."

Jae Kyung regarded him with a puzzled expression. She probably thought he'd lost his marbles.

A few more seconds passed before she spoke. "Thanks, I guess."

_oOo_

Jae Kyung opened up her suitcase. Her parents would be here in a few hours. Unless she wanted another lecture, she should get some packing done. Opening her closet, she glanced at the neatly stacked pile of clothes. No. She couldn't start with the big-ticket items. They'd make the move feel too real. Books seemed like the safer choice.

It wasn't. When she opened the desk drawer, the art supplies from Woo Bin stared back at her. What would her father say if he caught her painting? Probably something about frivolous time-wasting.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Come in."

"Unnie," said Ga Eul. "I made you some stew. It's on the dining table."

Jae Kyung smiled. Most people don't spend their free time cooking comfort food for friends. She was incredibly lucky.

"Thanks."

Ga Eul glanced at the suitcase. "You've made up your mind, then?"

"Just a precautionary measure."

She took a second to respond. "Unnie?"

"Yes, Ga Eul."

"We love you."

"I know. Like you said, we'd remain friends no matter what."

She squeezed Jae Kyung's hand. "I've chef class now, but I'll help you pack when I get back."

Once Ga Eul left, Jae Kyung opened up her box of letters. Shuffling through, she removed the four she received on her birthday. One from Gran, one from Ga Eul, one from Jan Di, and one from Woo Bin.

She brushed her fingers over Woo Bin's handwriting. She meant what she said on the Eiffel Tower. While she never lacked friends, none of them were as close as the ones she had now.

An hour later, when Jae Kyung's parents arrived, her suitcase still remained empty.

"You're still not packed? For the millionth time, until you stop procrastinating, you'll get nowhere in life," said her father.

"Not now, honey," her mother whispered. "Jae Kyung, your father has something to say." She nudged him. "Honey?"

"While I still think you're being stupid, you don't have to meet Su Jin unless you want to," he said.

"It was merely a suggestion, Sweety. That's all." She took Jae Kyung's hand. "Now, would you just come home?"

Jae Kyung gathered her courage. "I want to finish my degree first."

"You can do that remotely."

"I want to do it in person. It'll be better for my career."

Her father's nostrils flared.

"I'm trying to take my education more seriously. Isn't that what you always wanted?"

"Is that what this is about, your education? Because your grades speak otherwise."

Her mother squeezed his shoulder. "Honey, we talked about this." She turned to Jae Kyung. "But you're on summer break now, right? You can come with us for a few weeks."

"I can't. I need to focus on my internship."

"This again?" he said. "What can that uppity—"

"Honey."

Jae Kyung met her father's gaze. "Whatever else you may think about Yo Na, she has contacts. If I play my cards right, it could be an excellent networking opportunity."

"I know full well the kind of contacts your Yo Na has."

"Honey!"

He turned to Jae Kyung's mother. "Is this what you want? For our daughter to continue interacting with uncouth social climbers."

Her mother pursed her lips. "That's enough."

They spent the next few seconds locked in a staring contest, neither willing to look away first.

Her father broke eyes contact. "Fine. Have it your way. Just remember, she can't escape her duty forever."

Jae Kyung wasn't trying to. Her definition of duty just differed from his.

_oOo_

Woo Bin bounced the ball against the wall. "Maybe it won't be that bad. Lots of people maintain long-distance friendships. We'd be fine. It'd all work out."

Yi Jeong joined him on the floor. "Going by how my conversation went. You might have to."

He dropped the ball. "You spoke to her? What did she say? Does she plan to leave? Is it certain?" Yi Jeong's tense expression did not give him hope. He got up. "Guess it's a sure thing then."

"I can try to talk to her again."

"No. Once she's made up her mind, there's no changing it."

"Still. Maybe—"

Woo Bin's ringing cell phone cut off the conversation. It was for the best. He wasn't in the mood for a long winded discussion.

"Hey," said Jae on the other line.

He spoke too soon. The uncomfortable discussion didn't sound so bad anymore. "Hey. Packed?"

"Nope. I decided to stay."

"Until you finish your internship, or…"

"Until I finish my degree, at the very least." She paused. "I can't leave my mission unfinished. Besides, the deal was to return once I learned that life isn't all sunshine and rainbows."

Woo Bin leaned back against the wall, a huge grin on his face. "We should celebrate."

"You wanna meet up?"

"I'll pick you up in half an hour."

Pocketing his phone, he skipped to the door.

"I am guessing it's good news," said Yi Jeong.

Woo Bin turned to face him. "She's staying."

"Guess I did talk some sense into her."

That sounded ludicrous. While Woo Bin didn't know what changed Jae's mind, he was certain it wasn't Yi Jeong. Still, it was sweet of his bro to try, especially since Woo Bin never asked him to. "Hey." He scratched his neck. "I am sorry. About the Ga Eul-Paris situation. I should've been more supportive."

A/N: So, did you guys enjoy the chapter? What was your favorite part? Tell me in the reviews.