The next morning, Jin woke up feeling refreshed. His system had rewarded him again, giving him another boost of influence within the entertainment industry, and he couldn't help but feel satisfied. The quiet bond he was building with Minji was progressing naturally.
As he sat at his desk, sipping on a cup of coffee, he thought about how things were changing. Not just with Minji, but with everything around him. Erika had become more assertive in their relationship, Hana was growing more attached, and now Minji, the idol trainee, was beginning to trust him deeply.
Jin smiled to himself. "It's all coming together."
Before he could lose himself in thought, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Hana.
Hana: "Are you free today? I need your help with something. Meet me at the café."
Jin smirked. He had a feeling that "something" was just an excuse to see him. He grabbed his coat and left his apartment.
---
When Jin arrived at the café, Hana was already there, sitting in a corner booth with her laptop open. She wore a casual hoodie and jeans, her long hair tied into a messy ponytail. She waved at him as he approached.
"Hey," Jin greeted, sliding into the seat across from her. "So, what do you need help with?"
Hana rolled her eyes with a playful grin. "Relax, I really do need help. Some new encryption software popped up on one of the dark web forums, and I want to test it. You're good at figuring this stuff out."
Jin chuckled. "Fine, let me see."
Hana turned the laptop toward him, and they spent the next hour tinkering with the software. It was a routine Jin had come to enjoy—working alongside Hana, sharing ideas, and occasionally teasing her when she got too serious.
"You're lucky I'm here, you know," Jin said after breaking the encryption. "You'd still be stuck on step two."
Hana narrowed her eyes at him. "Please. I let you do it so you could feel useful."
Jin leaned back, smirking. "Sure you did."
Despite her glare, Hana couldn't stop the smile tugging at her lips. "Thanks, though. You're a lifesaver."
---
After they finished, Hana closed her laptop and stretched her arms with a satisfied sigh. "Want to grab some lunch? My treat."
"Sure," Jin replied, standing up.
As they left the café and walked down the street, Hana suddenly asked, "So… what's new with you? You've been busy lately."
Jin glanced at her, considering his words. "I've just been helping some people out. You know, making connections."
Hana raised an eyebrow. "Like that idol girl? What's her name? Minji?"
Jin nodded casually. "Yeah. She's going through some trouble with blackmail. I'm helping her sort it out."
Hana tilted her head, giving him a curious look. "You sure like to help a lot of people, Jin. Erika, Minji… me."
Jin shrugged. "Sometimes people just need someone to lean on."
Hana stopped walking, turning to face him. "And who do you lean on?"
The question caught Jin off guard. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond. He smiled faintly, looking down at the pavement. "I guess I haven't thought about it."
Hana studied him, her expression softening. "You don't have to do everything alone, you know. If you ever need someone to talk to… I'm here."
Jin looked up, meeting her eyes. Her words carried more weight than he expected, and for the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of warmth spread through him.
"Thanks, Hana," he said quietly.
Hana smiled and punched his arm lightly. "Don't get all sappy on me. Come on, I'm starving."
---
After lunch, Jin returned home and decided to check on his system. The screen lit up with new notifications.
[System Update: Bond with Hana deepened.]
[Reward Unlocked: Advanced Firewall Upgrade for Organization Security.]
Jin smirked. "Good. I'll need this."
His system had always rewarded him for building connections, but what truly mattered was that these connections were becoming genuine. Erika, Hana, Minji—they weren't just tools to him. They were people he cared about, each in their own way.
Jin leaned back in his chair, staring at the system's screen. His goals were clear: power, influence, and wealth. But he also knew he couldn't reach those goals alone. The people around him were becoming more important to him, and he would protect them no matter what.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Jin frowned, standing up to answer it. When he opened the door, he was surprised to see Minji standing there, looking nervous.
"Minji?" Jin asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
Minji shifted awkwardly, holding a small paper bag in her hands. "I… I brought you something. Can I come in?"
Jin stepped aside, letting her enter. "You didn't have to bring me anything."
Minji placed the bag on the table, her cheeks slightly red. "It's just some snacks. You've done so much for me… I wanted to say thank you."
Jin smiled warmly. "That's thoughtful of you."
Minji sat on the edge of the couch, her hands clasped in her lap. "I wanted to talk to you about something."
Jin sat across from her, sensing her hesitation. "What is it?"
Minji looked down at her hands before speaking softly. "I've been thinking a lot lately… about everything you said. You're right. I can't keep living just to please everyone else. I need to live for myself, too."
Jin smiled. "I'm glad to hear that. You deserve to be happy, Minji."
She looked up at him, her dark eyes full of sincerity. "You're the first person to ever say that to me. I don't know why, but I feel like I can trust you with everything."
Jin leaned forward slightly. "That's because I'm on your side. Always."
Minji's expression softened, and she let out a small laugh. "You really are something, Jin."
For a moment, the room grew quiet, but it wasn't awkward. It was a comfortable silence, the kind that only existed between people who truly understood each other.
Jin stood up, grabbing the paper bag she brought. "Well, let's see what you brought me."
Minji smiled, watching as he pulled out a neatly wrapped set of pastries. "They're from my favorite bakery. I hope you like them."
Jin took a bite of one and grinned. "Not bad. You've got good taste."
Minji laughed softly, a sound that made Jin's chest feel lighter. For the first time in a while, she looked relaxed—like the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders, even if only for a moment.
As they sat together, talking and sharing the pastries, Jin couldn't help but think that this was exactly the kind of life he wanted to build—one where he could help the people around him while creating something meaningful for himself.
The system buzzed softly in his mind.
[System Alert: Progress with Minji achieved.]
[New Opportunity Unlocked: Influence Expansion in Entertainment World.]
Jin smirked to himself. "Step by step."
Minji glanced at him curiously. "What's so funny?"
Jin shook his head. "Nothing. Just thinking about how far we've come."
She smiled softly. "Yeah. Thanks to you."
As the evening sun began to set, Jin felt more determined than ever. This was only the beginning, and he was ready to face whatever came next.