A flicker of panic crossed Choi Bora's face as she found herself in the very trap she had set for Yun-ji. The scene unfolded before their classmates, who had gathered in concern. Their hushed voices quickly turned into whispers of discontent.
"I never imagined Bora could force her sick sister to go out to dinner like this," one student murmured, pity lacing their tone.
"Is a casual dinner more important than Yun-ji's health? Bora's always acted like the perfect, caring girl. But now... we're seeing her real colors," another whispered, disgust creeping into their voice.
"Must be exhausting, pretending to be kind all the time. I guess people's true selves come out at home," a third added with a sharp edge of judgment.
The growing murmurs stung Bora, each word cutting deeper than the last. The disapproving stares from her classmates were like daggers aimed at her pride, causing her throat to tighten. *This shouldn't be happening*. The humiliation, the contempt—it was meant for Yun-ji, not her.
Bora clenched her fists, her mind racing. Let them talk she thought bitterly. It won't last long. She recalled the juice Yun-ji had so unsuspectingly drunk earlier, laced with the substance that would soon wreak havoc. Once the effects kicked in, Yun-ji would be the one drawing everyone's attention—for all the wrong reasons. Just a little longer, Bora reminded herself. In a few minutes, my plan will succeed, and Yun-ji will be the one facing their scorn.
Bora steeled herself, trying to block out the painful whispers. She just needed to endure the moment. The victory was within reach.
"I need to use the restroom. I'll be back soon," Yun-ji said casually, glancing down at her phone. A single message flashed on the screen: "Done." The word, though brief, carried an unmistakable air of dominance. Yun-ji felt a chill but shrugged it off—this was the most she could expect. She had learned not to ask questions, especially when things were in motion.
Wang Da, ever watchful, took the opportunity to speak. "I'll come with you. I need to go too, and it's safer if we stick together, right?" Her tone was sweet, but Yun-ji could sense the calculation behind it.
Yun-ji nodded, her lips curving slightly. Having Wang Da by her side was part of the plan. She needed her close.
After a few minutes in the restroom, something felt off. As Yun-ji made her way back, the room seemed to tilt. Her vision blurred, and her steps wavered. Wang Da, ever so vigilant, noticed immediately. A subtle smirk tugged at her lips as she rushed to "help."
"Let me get you to a room I booked. Some friends wanted to crash here tonight, so I have booked some rooms for our use" Wang Da said, her voice laced with false concern. Yun-ji was too dizzy to argue and leaned against her, playing her part.
Inside the dimly lit room, Wang Da eased Yun-ji onto the bed, satisfied with her handiwork. She took a moment to admire the scene—Yun-ji, lying on the bed, drugged and helpless, about to become a joke by morning. She savored the thought, losing herself in smug fantasy.
But as she stood to leave, she failed to notice Yun-ji's fingers twitch. In the haze of drug-induced fog, Yun-ji's training came back to her. She focused, steadying her breath, and with a slight flick of her hand, a thin acupuncture needle found its mark, piercing the space just below Wang Da's nose.
Wang Da flinched, thinking it was a mosquito bite. She brushed at her face absentmindedly, turning toward the door. But a wave of dizziness washed over her. Her steps faltered, and before she could make sense of what was happening, she collapsed onto the floor, unconscious.
Yun-ji, still fighting the effects of the drug herself, opened her eyes. She had pinched her skin hard enough to keep the faintness at bay, using pain to keep her mind clear. In her past life, after this hotel scandal she has painstakenly learned the martial arts while she was Abroad. Her movements were slow but deliberate as she approached Wang Da, pulling her onto the bed.
With practiced ease, Yun-ji grabbed Wang Da's phone and typed out a message: "All done, Bora. I got an urgent call from my parents, so I'm leaving now. Good luck." She smiled, knowing this message would only deepen the web of deceit.
She dimmed the lights, slipped the phone back into Wang Da's hand, and moved toward the window. A quick glance outside revealed no one nearby, so Yun-ji slipped through the window and leaped to the adjacent balcony. The door was unlocked, just as she had anticipated.
Yun-ji's eyes narrowed as she glanced up from her escape, coming face to face with a man whose presence exuded coldness. Kim Won-Shik stood there, seemingly unbothered by the chaotic scene she had just fled. He was tall—taller than she had expected—with a sharp, athletic frame that seemed carved from stone. His tailored suit, dark and flawless, clung perfectly to his broad shoulders, hinting at wealth but not the showy kind. His whole appearance spoke of power—control, even in simplicity.
His jet-black hair was slicked back, revealing a striking face with high cheekbones and an almost unnatural calm. His gaze, however, was what captivated her attention. His eyes were dark, bottomless pools that seemed to pierce through the layers of her as if he could see every secret she carried from her past life. A coldness lingered there, a detached aura that hinted at a man accustomed to getting what he wanted with ruthless precision.
Yun-ji's heart tightened, but she didn't show it. He was too perfect, too calculated, like someone playing a long, quiet game. She couldn't tell if he was an ally or a future threat. But one thing was certain. Kim Won-Shik was no ordinary man.
They stood facing each other, the air between them thick with unspoken tension, as if both were silently trying to unravel the other's thoughts. For a brief moment, even the room seemed to hold its breath.