No Intention to Study
"I have no intention to study." A few days ago.
"Huh?" I couldn't help but widen my eyes at the email that had arrived in my inbox. It was a proposal asking if last year's perfect scorer could tutor a retaker. It had been about twelve hours since I'd posted on various job sites at the suggestion of a college friend who said, "Why not try tutoring instead of a part-time gig?" There was no reason to be surprised by the email now.
But.
I had to doubt my own eyes for a moment.
Sangyeon Group? Is this for real?
Sangyeon Group. It was from Korea's number one conglomerate, a name no Korean could possibly not know. I searched the internet to check if it was some kind of scam, but astonishingly, it was legit. A real email from Sangyeon Group.
Why the hell would Sangyeon Group contact me? I felt flustered. Why would they be looking for a mere tutor? After pondering the reason...
"Ah!"
It hit me—maybe the retaker they mentioned was someone from the Sangyeon family.
And I was more than qualified to teach a chaebol kid. This wasn't arrogance. Last year's college entrance exam was notoriously brutal, a real bloodbath. And I was the sole perfect scorer who emerged unscathed. That alone should catch the eye of chaebol parents obsessed with their kids' education.
Feels kinda proud. A smile crept onto my face. Being recognized by a massive corporation lifted my spirits.
I'd always been good at studying. Growing up in an orphanage from infancy, my innate learning ability was my one and only pride. I couldn't be an Isaac Newton or Albert Einstein who changed the world, but I was a genius at rote education. Without a lick of private tutoring, just by paying attention in class, I got into a top high school. There, I crushed most of the "study kids" and proudly entered Korea University, the nation's best.
At the orphanage, I soaked up all the kids' jealousy and admiration. At school, teachers endlessly praised me as the school's greatest pride. I was the perfect embodiment of "a dragon rising from a slum."
Even I felt a bit tense in the face of contact from Sangyeon Group. And why not? It was that Sangyeon. Their influence was so vast that you wonder if there's anyone in Korea who hasn't benefited from them at least once. Hell, I was using a smartphone made by Sangyeon, so of course I felt a surge of emotion.
I'd thought about trying to get a job at Sangyeon after graduation... but I never expected a connection like this.
Well, good is good, right? With that thought, I replied to the email from Sangyeon Group. I said I'd like to meet and discuss details.
The next day, arriving at a luxurious mansion, I once again doubted my eyes.
"...Chairman?"
Sang-cheol Yeon, the current chairman of Sangyeon Group, was smiling warmly at me.
That's right. This was none other than Sang-cheol Yeon's Mansion.
Sangyeon Group Education Division
"I'm Do-yoon Lee."
"Hahaha!"
I immediately bowed at a perfect ninety degrees, and Chairman Yeon burst into hearty laughter.
"Nice to meet you, Do-yoon."
He extended his hand for a shake right away. After shaking hands with him, I followed the housekeeper to the drawing room. Sitting across from each other on plush sofas, the chairman and I chatted about this and that for a while. I was still so dazed I barely registered what I was saying.
Am I dreaming? I couldn't believe a mere college student good at studying was conversing with someone this high up.
And Chairman Yeon—he always looked stern on TV, but in person, he was incredibly warm and affable. Of course, as a conglomerate owner, he probably had a ruthless side, but he seemed very kind to people he met privately.
Anyway, small talk done. Time for the main point.
"The thing is, my youngest daughter is a retaker... I'd like you to tutor her, Do-yoon. My wife and I may have spoiled her rotten, but I still want her to get into a good university."
The student I'd be teaching was Chairman Yeon's daughter. I'd half-expected it the moment I saw him, but it was still daunting.
"But... are you sure I'm qualified? I got a perfect score last year, but I have no teaching experience..."
I asked cautiously, and he let out a deep sigh.
"Truth be told, we've had plenty of tutors try before, but she didn't like any of them. She tends to dismiss older folks as old fogeys."
"Ah."
"So I thought someone her age, like you, might work. That's why I'm proposing this."
His youngest was twenty, same as me—a freshman. Spoiled as a late blessing, she'd turned into quite the tomboy, causing him headaches.
"I see..."
Honestly, up to that point, I was debating whether to accept. It felt burdensome. Teaching the chairman's daughter? Tutoring some ordinary kid might be less stressful.
But then...
"We're planning to pay around this much monthly..."
"?!"
I changed my mind the instant I saw the pay. It dwarfed what I scraped together from grueling part-time jobs after rent and tuition. And bonuses if grades improved.
"I'll do it."
We drew up the contract on the spot. For an orphan like me—still poor despite scholarships and hustling—this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.
Just like that, I became the chaebol family's youngest daughter's tutor.
"Could you start this evening?"
"Of course!"
I was to start immediately.
"I'll text you her contact and address later. Take good care of our girl, Do-yoon."
"Don't worry, Chairman! I'll boost her grades for sure!"
I flashed a confident smile and bowed.
Even on the way back to my studio apartment from his mansion, my lips wouldn't stop grinning.
"...Heh heh heh."
I couldn't hold back the smile. Imagining the money I'd earn sent dopamine exploding through me. I almost wanted to skip a real job and tutor forever.
Anyway, that evening, I headed to my same-age student's house.
Fitting for Sangyeon Group's pampered youngest, her home was an ultra-luxurious mansion. No way could you think a twenty-year-old woman lived here alone. Not as grand as the chairman's estate, but plenty big—it made me tense.
Maybe because I'd messaged ahead, the front gate in the yard was wide open. I approached the entrance and rang the doorbell.
Click.
The door opened right away.
"Hi."
Peeking through the gap was my same-age student, waving with a fresh smile.
"You're my teacher?"
She eyed me with curious interest.
"Ah... yeah. I'm Do-yoon Lee."
I could only stare at her in a daze.
She's way too pretty. What the hell?
No joke, she was stunning. Her face was innocently pure, her skin flawless like white jade, her black hair soft and fragrant with shampoo. Her sharp, sensual eyes and cherry-blossom irises gave off mischievous fox vibes.
Makes sense. Chairman Yeon was a handsome middle-aged stud, and his wife was a famous actress known for her beauty in her youth.
Anyway, she was a beauty the word "beautiful" fit better than anyone—a perfect match for my same-age student and Sangyeon Group's youngest daughter, Seol-ha Yeon.
"Come on in."
"Sure."
I nodded and stepped inside, swallowing hard and sneaking glances at Seol-ha. She wore a white t-shirt and black dolphin pants. The tight shirt hugged her ample curves, and the shorts were so short her thighs peeked out. With so much skin exposed, I didn't know where to look.
Probably just her usual loungewear. Even knowing a male tutor her age was coming, she dressed this revealingly. Shocking.
With her looks, she'd be total popular girl material. Do trendy girls these days not care? Or am I just too uptight? It's not like she flashed underwear. Her house, her comfort.
Truth is, I'm a total loner virgin with zero dating experience. Barely talked properly to girls my age, so I don't get them.
Anyway. The house was huge for one person, but surprisingly tidy. Probably had a housekeeper clean, being chaebol spawn.
Way cleaner and bigger than my dump. Gazing around as I trailed Seol-ha's rear...
"You're my age, right? I'll be casual too, so drop the formalities."
She turned, flashing a grin.
"Uh... sure."
Her bright smile made my heart pound. She was so ridiculously pretty, I felt like I'd zone out hypnotized.
That's when it hit me—her looks could rival the hottest female idols right now, no contest.
...So this is it. I'm her teacher now, to a girl this gorgeous.
Of course, no funny thoughts. She's Sangyeon Group's princess. A guy like me—talentless except studying—has no business lusting. Best to teach well, collect pay, and go.
Thinking that, we soon reached Seol-ha's room.
"This is my room."
"...Kinda ordinary."
"I don't like decorating much."
Like the living room, it was neat. Minimalist, not girly or frilly.
"Yaaawn~"
She covered her mouth, yawned, and flopped face-down on the bed.
"Huh? Aren't we studying?"
"......"
I asked, flustered, but got no reply. Feeling awkward, I scratched my neck and sat in a chair by the desk. Pulling out books and paper from my bag, I said,
"Um... Seol-ha?"
"Yeah?"
"I brought a short test."
"Oh. Cool."
"I... don't know your level yet, so I figured this to gauge. Just two problems per subject—won't take long. For today, let's—"
"Nah."
"Huh, what?"
"I said no."
Deadpan, she lay there scrolling her smartphone, chuckling to herself. Then, in a playful tone,
"Just go home, teacher~ I have no intention to study~"
I was floored. Cold sweat trickled down my forehead.
This... something's seriously wrong.