Early Morning – Aurora Hills, Kitchen Lounge
A warm breeze fluttered through the open windows. The estate's morning calm was undisturbed, save for the soft hum of the espresso machine and the quiet crackle of eggs frying on the induction stove.
Jiwoo stood in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, flipping pancakes. Beside him, Noeun Han was reading aloud from a literature book, her voice as soft as morning fog.
"…and so, even in silence, the world could be remade."
Yoori entered with a sleepy smile. "Is today a special occasion?"
Jiwoo looked over. "No. But sometimes peace is the occasion."
> [Inner Circle Mood: +15% | System Notice: "Comfort Level Increasing"]
The girls slowly gathered one by one: Nayun with a sketchbook tucked under her arm, Jihye carrying reports from her education fund initiative, and Mirae humming softly, guitar still slung across her shoulder.
Breakfast was never grand.
But it was sacred.
---
Midday – Downtown Seoul, Inside a Luxury Car
Inside the backseat of a black luxury sedan, Soyeon stared at the towering skyline in silence. Her driver glanced at her through the mirror.
"Miss Soyeon… shall I take you to the gallery as planned?"
"No," she murmured. "Take me to the Sinsa flower shop."
He blinked. "That small one?"
"Yes."
She didn't explain why.
She didn't need to.
As the car turned into the narrow alley, her heart pounded.
---
Sinsa-Dong Flower Shop
Soyeon entered quietly, the bell jingling above the door. The old shopkeeper looked up with a kind smile.
"Back again, young lady?"
Soyeon nodded. "I… I'm looking for the boy who bought tulips last time."
The shopkeeper chuckled. "That gentleman comes every few days. Never gives his name. Just smiles, buys simple flowers, and leaves."
"Do you know where he lives?"
The old woman narrowed her eyes, half suspicious, half protective.
"…Why do you want to know?"
Soyeon hesitated. "Because I think I made the worst mistake of my life."
The shopkeeper paused, then handed her a card.
Not Jiwoo's address.
Just one line handwritten in soft ink:
> "If your heart is sincere, you will find him."
---
Elsewhere – Aurora Hills Study Hall
Jiwoo stood beside Jihye, going over documents for the Aurora Scholarship Program.
"This looks solid," he said, flipping through the plans. "A free education fund for slum students, vocational training centers in neglected cities, and no branding tied to me?"
Jihye nodded proudly. "We'll call it 'Tomorrow Begins.' They'll never know who funded it. Just that it came when no one else did."
He smiled. "That's the way I want it."
> [System Update: "Tomorrow Begins" Initiative Launched]
[Public Goodwill: +12%]
[Anonymous Influence Level: Rising Steadily]
Across the room, Seo Mirae sat with Nayun and Noeun, teaching chords on the guitar. Yoori brewed tea while humming softly.
Jiwoo stepped back to admire the scene.
The system pinged again.
> [New Candidate Identified]
[Name: Kang Sena | Age: 20 | Profession: Part-time translator | Lives alone | Highly Intelligent | Struggling with isolation and emotional detachment]
[Current Mood: Cold Shell, Deep Yearning]
Estimated Compatibility: Very High (Lonely Genius Type)
Jiwoo stared at the profile, then whispered, "Another one… right on time."
---
That Night – Han River, Public Bench
Kang Sena sat alone, typing furiously on a secondhand laptop. The light of the bridge above reflected in her glasses. Her world had shrunk to freelance tasks, money goals, and absolute solitude.
No friends. No family. No distractions.
Only progress.
But the fatigue behind her eyes was undeniable.
She hadn't laughed in months. Not truly.
Jiwoo approached slowly and sat a respectful distance away.
"I hear the river speaks, if you're quiet enough," he said.
She glanced sideways. "Metaphors don't work on me."
"Then maybe music will."
He placed a pair of wireless earbuds beside her. She stared.
A song began to play through them — Seo Mirae's latest unreleased melody, recorded just yesterday.
It was raw. Soft. Beautiful. It felt like someone trying to put a cracked heart back together.
Sena froze.
"…That voice…"
"She lives in a place where you can rest," Jiwoo said. "You don't have to keep freezing just to protect yourself."
She didn't respond. Not immediately.
But she didn't move away.
> [Candidate 6 of 7: Kang Sena – Observation Phase Initiated]
[Relationship: Intellectual Curiosity – Level 1]
[Effect: If accepted, boosts logistics, language support, AI development, and communication across Jiwoo's projects]
Jiwoo stood slowly.
"I'll leave now. But if you ever feel like letting go of the weight, come to this address."
He placed a card in her bag.
---
Meanwhile – Soyeon's Apartment
Soyeon sat curled up on her designer sofa, staring at old pictures of her and Jiwoo on her phone. They were simple moments—convenience store lunches, walks near the river, evenings sitting under neon lights.
None of it was expensive.
But it was real.
Now, her penthouse felt colder than ever.
Her phone buzzed.
> Group Chat – "Elite Circle Seoul"
[Minji 💄]: "The Polaris guy just opened a youth shelter in Busan. Fully funded, zero sponsors, no press. Who is this man?"
[Seojin 💅]: "People say he walks among us. Maybe someone we used to know…"
Soyeon threw her phone onto the couch and stood abruptly.
"I have to find him."
> [System Update: Soyeon's Regret Level has reached 82%.]
[A Confrontation is Inevitable.]
---
Nightfall – Jiwoo's Rooftop Garden
The wind was calm.
The sky, endless.
Jiwoo stood alone, watching stars shimmer like silent answers.
Yoori joined him with a fresh blanket.
"You found someone new again, didn't you?" she asked.
He nodded. "Someone brilliant. But hidden behind ice."
"She'll melt eventually," Yoori whispered. "Everyone does here."
He looked down at his golden notebook.
Now six names were glowing:
1. Ha Yoori – Peaceful Pillar
2. Park Nayun – Creative Bloom
3. Noeun Han – Quiet Devotion
4. Eun Jihye – Unshaken Flame
5. Seo Mirae – Healing Voice
6. Kang Sena – Frozen Star
Only one circle remained.
And somewhere in the city… a regretful heart was racing toward him, desperate to be seen again.
---