Yun-ji knew that in order to execute her plans, she needed to secure her own funds, and she needed them fast. Her first objective was to purchase the house next to the Choi residence. This would give her a secure space where she could work in secrecy, away from her deceitful family's eyes. Additionally, Yun-ji was determined to start her own business, establish herself, and use her newfound power to track down her biological family.
She spent hours browsing online, studying the latest financial news. Although she didn't have any personal bank accounts yet, she had been given a card by Kim Won-Shik for her use. However, Yun-ji refused to rely on his money. She resolved to consider the amount as a loan, planning to repay it once she began earning substantial profits. To that end, she signed up for the stock and share markets, relying on her knowledge from her past life. Back then, when she lived abroad, financial news had been her only connection to home, and she often followed market trends as a form of entertainment. Now, she intended to turn that passive knowledge into an advantage.
She vividly remembered a company called 'Nanotechs' whose shares had once plummeted, only to skyrocket after a new product launch. Many had regretted selling off their shares too early, missing the boom. Armed with this foresight, Yun-ji bought every available stock in Nanotechs. She was confident the value would soon increase tenfold. All she needed was patience.
Afterward, Yun-ji spent hours researching the purple crystal necklace and the mysterious girl she had seen in her vision, scouring the internet for any clues. Despite her relentless search, she found nothing that matched what she had witnessed. Frustration built as the day wore on, and as evening approached, exhaustion finally caught up with her. Admitting defeat for now, she sighed and decided to call it a day, leaving the unsolved mystery for another time.
Meanwhile, Kim Won-Shik was in the middle of an intense meeting with his subordinates. The atmosphere was so tense that his employees feared leaving work on time, knowing they might be forced to stay late if he didn't approve their progress. Suddenly, his phone lit up with a notification. The staff froze, expecting a backlash—they all knew how much he despised interruptions during work.
Kim's eyes scanned the message, which reported a large money transfer to the stock market under the name of a company. At first, he was surprised that Yun-ji had finally used the card he had given her. But his surprise deepened when he saw the stocks she had bought—Nanotechs, a company currently in decline. A part of him figured she didn't understand the intricacies of the stock market, given her age and high school status. With an amused yet affectionate smile, he thought, She's trying, even if she doesn't quite know what she's doing yet.
His staff exchanged bewildered glances. It was rare to see Kim Won-Shik smile, let alone with such a soft expression. None of them dared to comment, but the room's tension briefly lifted as they watched the scene unfold.
The next morning, Yun-ji woke up at 5 a.m., freshened up, and set out for a morning run. Her body was still weak, but she knew she needed to grow stronger to face the challenges ahead. She headed toward the mountain trails behind the Choi residence, choosing the rugged terrain to push her limits. After an hour of intense running, she returned to the residence and continued her training with a half-hour martial arts session in the garden. In her previous life, while abroad, Yun-ji had mastered martial arts to defend herself after the traumatic hotel incident.
Following her workout, Yun-ji took a warm shower and prepared for school. In her past life, she never had the opportunity to finish high school or graduate, but this time, her goals were different. She was determined to become a doctor—a great one. She planned to combine modern medicine with her deep knowledge of ancient techniques to heal her future patients.
As everyone in the household slept except the maids, Yun-ji quietly left the residence and took a cab to school. At the cafeteria, she grabbed a quick meal before heading to the morning study session. Her sudden appearance caused a stir among the students, who were surprised to see her arrive so early. Yun-ji had rarely attended morning study sessions before and deliberately kept her grades low to avoid outshining Choi Bora, her sister, and stirring tensions at home.
Ignoring the curious stares, Yun-ji walked to a corner desk. She opened her science book and began reviewing the material, taking notes with full focus.
She was so immersed in her studies that she didn't notice two piercing stares at her. A boy nearly her age stood there and stared at her with anger and lazy appearance. Seeing her ignoring him, he took her book and threw it to the ground. She was filled with anger at this scene and starred at him with an angry look. The atmosphere turned cold as her stare intensified. The boy was terrified for a moment as he thought this look resembled that devil he had known from childhood.
He collected himself and said, 'Don't think I will look at you by sitting at my desk and purposely ignoring me. I have seen lots of petty things than this. If you want to continue your studies here, you better apologize to me and go out'.
Yun-ji immediately recognized him: Lim In-Su, the eldest son of the Lim family, one of the four most prominent families in Iseul alongside the Kim, Lee, and Cheong families. The Choi family, like many others, constantly schemed to elevate their status by either pulling these families down or trying to connect with them. She remembered Lim In-Su clearly because Choi Bora had always tried to catch his attention, despite already being involved with Man-Tae.
Yun-ji remained calm despite Lim In-Su's outburst. In her past life, she might have shrunk under such pressure, but not this time. She bent down, picked up her book, and straightened her posture, meeting his gaze without a hint of fear.
"I don't owe you an apology," Yun-ji said coolly. "If you have an issue with my presence, that's your problem, not mine."
Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, Lim In-Su was stunned. No one had ever spoken to him like that before. Most people would bend over backward to gain his favor, but here was Yun-ji, standing her ground as if his status meant nothing to her. The icy tension was palpable, but Yun-ji was unshaken. She turned away from him, returning her attention to her book as though the exchange never happened.
Lim In-Su's expression darkened, but as he looked at her, something in her demeanor struck him. This wasn't the reaction of other girls he had observed in the past—this was something different. A surge of curiosity gripped him.
"You aren't interested in me," he muttered, more to himself than to her. His anger subsided, replaced by a strange sense of respect. He turned and walked away without another word, but he wasn't done with Yun-ji. He had a feeling their paths would cross again.