The night air was cooler now. The bright studio lights faded behind her. Seri walked out alone, her heels clicking quietly on the pavement. She exhaled…tired, but composed.
Suddenly, the hum of an engine. A sleek Genesis G90 pulled up nearby. Out stepped Lee Taehyun, casual but devastatingly polished. His laugh carried as he chatted with two stylish women from the media team. "Wait, are you an actor? Or… a secret celebrity we missed?" one woman teased.
"An actor? Maybe I should audition one day… How's my angle?" Taehyun smiled like he was in a drama. The women laughed, swooning. "Should I say I'm here filming a romance drama?" he grinned.
Behind them, Seri watched from a short distance. Her jaw clenched.
"He's taken, actually," Seri cut in dryly.
The women blinked. Seri walked in, calm but clearly not amused. "Married to one of Hanna's staff. Top secret office romance. Very forbidden. You didn't hear it from me," she added with sarcastic grin.
"Wait, seriously?!" one woman gasped.
Taehyun blinked, caught off guard by her sudden interruption."Ah… my cover's blown," he said, scratching his neck with an exaggerated sigh, playing along.
"Better run before your 'wife' comes looking," Seri said straight-faced.
The women exchanged awkward glances, then excused themselves with nervous laughs. "We'll… catch you later, Mr. Lee," one muttered as they scurried off.
"That was cruel," Taehyun said, amused.
"No. That was efficient," Seri replied flatly. "What are you really doing here?" she asked suspiciously.
"I heard the interview was happening tonight. Thought I'd stop by, watch the Kang Jungho charm in action… but clearly, I was late," Taehyun said with a small grin.
"I didn't think things like this would entertain someone like you," Seri said.
"How would you know? You don't know me. Not anymore. I'm not the thirteen-year-old kid you used to yell at for stealing your doll. You didn't even recognize me at first. But I knew it was you…instantly."
"Maybe because Uncle Iwao gave you my photo?" she said curtly.
"I never saw your adult face. The only one I remember… was that stubborn little girl who never stopped trying to beat me in everything," Taehyun said sincerely.
She faltered slightly… emotion flickered… but she didn't say a word. Her gaze sharpened. Still silent. Still expecting. Taehyun offered a soft chuckle, avoiding her eyes. But she didn't move… didn't smile… didn't blink.
Taehyun finally surrendered, a small sigh escaping as he glanced at her again. "Come with me. There's something I want to show you," he said, casual but purposeful.
"Why should I?"
"Because it matters. To you. To this mission."
She was about to answer, tension rising…when a familiar voice sliced through the air. "Oh… I see you came. Mr. Lee, wasn't it?" Hanna's syrupy tone came from behind. "Didn't get to catch my show? Shame. I would've waved."
Taehyun and Seri both turned. Hanna stood perfectly composed, smug and sharp-eyed. Taehyun smiled politely. Seri's jaw tightened, the storm brewing again. The sound of footsteps. A tall shadow appeared behind Hanna. It was Jungho, hands in pockets, eyes unreadable. A few media crew members gathered nearby, preparing to leave.
"Apologies for missing the performance. Work keeps pulling me away from all the good scenes," Taehyun said with a charming smile.
"Well, next time, book front row. I shine brighter up close," Hanna said with a small laugh. She glanced sideways, noticing Jungho's cold gaze fixed on Seri. His jaw slightly clenched.
"I don't recall any Baekdu-related business here. So… what exactly brings you here, Mr. Lee?" Jungho asked flatly.
"Oh, I just thought I'd offer some moral support to the stars of the show. Maybe even get myself scouted. I do have a decent side profile," Taehyun said smoothly, glancing at Seri.
Jungho didn't find it amusing. His stare sharpened. Hanna picked up the rising heat and threw fuel on it. "Are you two… close now?" she tilted her head.
A beat. Seri's eyes narrowed slightly. Jungho glanced at her, waiting. Taehyun just smiled. "Well… I don't have a problem getting close to someone, if it's for the right reasons," Taehyun said with a playful grin. "Unless they come with warning signs and a tendency to throw pens like daggers. Then I proceed with caution. Maybe even armor."
Junho looked at Taehyun with a flat gaze, the silence speaking louder than words.A brief smirk tugged at Taehyun's lips…too casual, too knowing. It didn't sit well with Junho. His jaw tensed, and his gaze sharpened. Hanna noticed the tension. Her eyes shifted between Junho and Taehyun, trying to read what had just passed between them. Something unspoken hung thick in the air, something that made her wonder.
Before the silence could settle deeper, Taehyun took a small step forward, voice calm but firm. "Anyway… should we head out?" Taehyun shifted the tone gently, looking at Seri. "You ready to go?"
Hanna clapped her hands once, slowly. "Aww… you two are leaving together?" Hanna said sweetly mocking. "How thoughtful of you, Mr. Lee. So sweet to offer Seri a ride. That's… very generous of you." Her eyes flicked to Jungho.
Taehyun smiled and gave a slight nod to Seri, wordless but clear… as if saying, it's time. "Good work today. I'll see you tomorrow, Director Kang," Seri said firmly, composed. She bowed lightly. "Have a good night."
Hanna offered a small bow, lips tight but smiling. Jungho was silent, only nodding…but his eyes never left Seri's back as she walked away.
Taehyun and Seri disappeared into the distance. Silence lingered like mist around the luxurious cars. Hanna stood beside Jungho, arms crossed, her eyes locked in the direction Seri left. She didn't like the way Jungho's gaze lingered.
"Don't tell me…" Hanna said quietly, suspicious.Her words stopped there. Jungho slowly turned to look at her. His expression? Tired. Guarded.
Hanna blinked, caught off guard. For a moment, she didn't know what to say. But she lifted her chin anyway, pride first.
"Let's go back… Queen Hanna," Jungho said. He didn't say it fondly. He said it like it meant everything and nothing at once.
The sleek black Genesis G90 weaved quietly through a narrow path, winding between tall trees and stone walls. A towering private estate loomed in the distance, heavily guarded. Remote, silent, almost too quiet. Seri sat calmly, but her eyes flicked between the trees and the tight security stationed around the property. She didn't ask questions, not yet.
"I'm guessing you're not entirely familiar with this place…" Taehyun glanced at her casually.
The car stopped in front of large double oak doors.Two guards in suits immediately approached. One opened the car door without a word. Seri stepped out, scanning the surroundings. Eyes sharp but guarded.
The inside was sleek, traditional but high-tech. Art lined the walls. The lighting was warm, but the atmosphere cold. A man in his 40s, stone-faced and sharp, walked toward them. The aura around him said…Head of Operations. Dangerous. Loyal. He nodded once, respectful but direct."This way," the man said.
He led them down a long corridor… into a massive library-like study, lined with old books and rare antiques. He stopped. Without a word, he pulled on a small sculpture beside the shelf.
Click.
The bookshelf slid open, revealing a hidden metal security door embedded in the wall. Seri stepped back slightly, just enough to show she wasn't expecting that.
Footsteps echoed along the dim, sleek hallway. Cold steel and stone lined the walls, illuminated by strips of amber lights on the floor. The air hummed faintly, like a hidden heartbeat of something larger.
Seri walked just behind the Head Operative, eyes sharp. Taehyun followed silently, hands in his pockets, completely at ease. "We could've just met in the garden. Or the living room. You know, like normal people," Seri said flatly.
"Where's the fun in that?" Taehyun smirked.
The hallway opened into a concealed chamber. Wide, high-ceilinged, and eerily pristine. The room was part tactical command, part private arsenal, and part something else… something shadowy. To the left, a wall of customized weapons, silencers, modified handguns, encrypted devices, knives with serial codes scratched out.
To the right, a collection of tailored outfits,corporate suits, high-end uniforms, even traditional wear. Every single piece looked ordinary… but wasn't.
In the center, a table with high-tech monitors showing global maps, red pings glowing on several regions—Seoul, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hong Kong.
And then…
A silhouette stepped out from the shadows. Tall. Calm. Sharp eyes beneath silver-streaked hair. Not Uncle Iwao. But another high-ranking figure in the group. The one they called Kenji Saito. Uncle Iwao's trusted second-in-command. Cold as steel. Known for his emotionless killings and flawless execution. He was rarely seen and never without a reason.
"Im Seri. It's been a while," Kenji said softly, almost eerie.
Seri's expression hardened. Her lips parted. She stiffened,eyes locked on him and suddenly, her breath caught. "…Kenji?" she whispered.
Without another second, she choked back a sudden sob and ran straight to him.
"Kenji—!" she cried, strangled.
She crashed into him, arms wrapping tight around his waist like a lost daughter finally found. The cool assassin didn't resist—instead, he gently placed a hand on her back, holding her with unexpected care.
"I couldn't wait around for Iwao to give the order… So I came on my own. Had to see for myself how my favorite person in the world was doing," Kenji said gently with a smile.
Taehyun watched from behind, arms crossed, wearing a small, quiet smile the tension in his shoulders finally easing.
Seri stood still in Kenji's embrace, her breathing steady now, but her eyes locked on the glowing maps. This wasn't just a reunion. It was a warning.