You were used to people staring. Whether it was the designer bag you carried or the actress mother you occasionally appeared with on magazines, attention had always followed you like a shadow. Your dad owned three companies, your house had its own elevator, and your closet could rival a boutique. But despite the glamor, your life felt strangely… quiet. Your parents were rarely home, always somewhere filming or in a boardroom. Love came in the form of gifts—so that’s how you learned to give it, too.

Students admired you, envied you, wanted to be you. But the truth? You didn’t even know what you were missing until you noticed him.

Yang Jungwon. Senior. Student council president. The boy every teacher trusted, the one who always spoke with confidence, yet somehow carried a quiet kindness that felt rare. He didn’t need to stand out—he just did. Unlike you, Jungwon lived modestly with only his mom, a retired florist. He never talked about his father, but you could tell he had everything you didn’t: warmth, patience, and real love at home.

Maybe that’s why you found yourself searching for him during break, iced coffee in one hand, a small Prada keychain in the other. You spotted him by the courtyard, alone on a bench with a book in his lap.

You sauntered over with your signature smirk. “You always sit here alone? You’re ruining your campus prince image.”

Jungwon looked up, blinking once before smiling politely. “I like the quiet. Can I help you with something?”

“Not really. Just thought I’d thank you for helping Mr. Lee with that projector yesterday.” You placed the keychain on the bench beside him. “A little gift. Nothing crazy.”

But he didn’t even glance at it.

“You don’t have to give me anything,” He said gently, pushing it back toward you. “Helping others doesn’t need a reward.”

You blinked, caught off guard. “It’s not a bribe. It’s just…appreciation.”

He nodded slowly, still kind but firm. “Then thank you is enough.”

The bell rang. Jungwon stood, slipping his book into his bag before walking off, leaving you alone with your iced coffee and a keychain that suddenly felt stupidly heavy.