How To Fall In Love With Eyes
Yeon-Jun is a dedicated barista at a quaint cafe operated by Sung-Hoon Cha, the son of the man who once saved Yeon-Jun's life. He grapples with selective mutism, a condition that emerged after the traumatic experience of witnessing his parents' tragic death. Although the details of his past have faded from his memory, his body retains the imprint of those painful events. It was during this darkest chapter of his life that Sung-Hoon's father discovered him alone and heartbroken, offering him shelter and a semblance of safety. Despite never having envisioned a future as a barista, Yeon-Jun made a solemn promise to Sung-Hoon's father on his deathbed—to forever stand by his side. This vow compelled Yeon-Jun to forsake his own aspirations and instead pursue a life marked by unrelenting work and perpetual anxiety.
Conversely, Woo-San Kim is the affluent CEO of K&L Entertainment, a company steeped in legacy as he belongs to an illustrious lineage of chaebols, being an eighth-generation heir poised to inherit substantial assets from his grandfather. Like Yeon-Jun, Woo-San has also faced the grief of losing both parents to illness, which has led to a strained relationship with his controlling grandfather. The elder Kim holds steadfast to his authority, adamantly refusing to relinquish the company, opting instead to orchestrate a competition among Woo-San, his half-brother, and his cousin for the right to inherit the family fortune.
Throughout his childhood, Woo-San has been accompanied by Hee-Jun Go, a devoted friend and secretary who was rescued by Woo-San's father. Hee-Jun, having been separated from his own family at a young age, appreciates the depth of loyalty and friendship. In a heartfelt gesture, Woo-San offers to help Hee-Jun locate his long-lost brother, during which he finds himself inexplicably drawn to Yeon-Jun at the café, captivated by the quiet strength and resilience hidden beneath Yeon-Jun's struggles.
However, when Woo-San’s grandfather learns of his burgeoning feelings for Yeon-Jun, he delivers a menacing ultimatum: marry someone of his grandfather's choosing or face disinheritance. Feeling cornered with little left to lose, Woo-San contemplates capitulating to the marriage arrangement, all the while suspecting that his grandfather is orchestrating a more sinister plot that preys on Woo-San's unresolved trauma, compelling him to wrestle for his inheritance.
As tensions rise within this power dynamic, Woo-San feels an undeniable connection to Yeon-Jun, yet finds that Yeon-Jun’s condition renders him unable to express his own feelings. Desperate to flee the confines of the forced marriage, Woo-San resolves to turn his grandfather's manipulative tactics against him. In this quest for autonomy, he uncovers unsettling truths that extend far beyond his own life, jeopardizing not only his future but also deeply affecting Hee-Jun, Sung-Hoon, and even his grandfather himself.
Faced with this newfound knowledge—one he wishes he could unlearn—Woo-San must grapple with difficult decisions. Will he risk exposing his own vulnerabilities to protect Yeon-Jun? Will he succumb to his grandfather’s wishes to secure his inheritance, or will he forge a path driven by empathy and commitment to those who have become family to him? The weight of these revelations threatens to alter the course of their lives forever.
Author's Note: I apologize if this gets a delayed update. My country decided to randomly go to war this Tuesday and I live near the border. So, yeah.
