"That night, my daughter was frightened in ways I couldn't protect her from. Her mother was gone. I was in another part of the city. And the person she needed wasn't someone with money or authority."
He paused.
"It was someone willing to sit beside her."
Nia lowered her eyes.
He continued.
"You didn't know who she was."
"No."
"You didn't know whether her family was wealthy."
"No."
"You didn't expect anything in return."
Nia shook her head.
Min-jae smiled sadly.
"That matters to me."
For a moment, Nia felt uncomfortable.
She didn't want to be praised as though helping a frightened child made her extraordinary.
She knew plenty of ordinary people did similar things every day.
But she understood his gratitude.
She had lost her own father.
She knew how frightening it felt when someone you loved was in danger.
So she accepted the thanks.
Quietly.
Without turning the moment into a claim that she deserved anything more.
Then Min-jae asked about her life.
Not her résumé.
Not what she could do for his company.
Her life.
And for the first time that evening, Nia told a wealthy businessman the truth about what it meant to be twenty-eight, highly educated, and still struggling to keep her family financially secure.
The conversation continued until almost one in the morning.
Nia explained that she'd been studying Korean linguistics and music when her mother became ill. She wanted to complete her graduate work, but she couldn't afford to stop earning money while Denise still needed support.
Min-jae listened.
Then asked whether she wished to return to the university.
"Yes," she answered.
He nodded.
"What would you study?"
Nia smiled.
"Language, music, and how people communicate emotion across cultures."
The businessman looked thoughtful.
She continued.
"I've always been interested in how songs can create connection even when people don't share the same first language."
Min-jae smiled faintly.
"I believe I've seen evidence of that."
Nia laughed.
Then grew serious.
"But I don't want you to think I helped Soo-bin because I expected a favor."
His expression softened.
"I don't."
She looked relieved.
He continued.
"If there is ever something you want to discuss professionally, we can do that separately from tonight."
Nia nodded.
She appreciated the distinction.
A wealthy man offering help could be generous.
But generosity became uncomfortable when it made the recipient feel obligated to perform gratitude or surrender control over her choices.
Min-jae seemed aware of that.
He didn't offer her a position she hadn't applied for.
Didn't promise to solve every problem in her life.
And didn't ask her to become a public symbol of his family's gratitude.