January 11th.
In 2019, South Korea was as progressive as any Western nation, perhaps even more so in some respects.
Its booming semiconductor exports, nationwide 5G rollout, and cutting-edge consumer electronics were driving the economy into overdrive.
Moreover, its soft power was surging. K-dramas and K-pop had become global cultural juggernauts, drawing millions of tourists to the country.
But none of this mattered much to Jae-min.
His deepest regret from his past life wasn't missing out on those trends or failing an exam.
It was never investing in cryptocurrency when he had the chance to become a billionaire in just a few years.
Now, with fate granting him a second chance, he was determined not to let this rare opportunity slip away.
Bitcoin was trading at around $300 per coin—a price that felt nearly unattainable for someone earning in won, especially with each dollar costing 1,115 won.
The conversion alone made wealth feel just out of reach, as if true power and prosperity belonged to someone else's currency, someone else's world, no matter how hard he tried.
On top of it all, he was still just a student, trapped in the wrong economy, scraping by instead of building something substantial.
That's why he vividly recalled every detail of the incident on January 12th—the day that could change his life.
So, right after lunch, he began preparing for tomorrow.
And that, undoubtedly, led him here.
A small costume shop tucked nearly two kilometers from his Seongok High apartment complex.
The store sold stage FX gear, party masks, and discounted clothing for Halloween enthusiasts, off-brand theater clubs, and professional cosplayers.
"Hey, boss, how much for that rabbit mask?"
"Fifty-two thousand won."
The mask, meant to evoke the cozy charm of a fluffy bunny, was about as cuddly as a cactus in a bad mood. Something about it felt right in a perfectly wrong way.
"Need anything else?"
The shop owner, a middle-aged man with deep bags under his eyes, barely looked up.
People came in every day for all kinds of weird stuff; it was only natural he didn't care.
"Yeah, that thing over there. And that too."
Jae-min added a pair of black tactical gloves, a dark hoodie, and a cheap, oversized windbreaker to his haul.
With his purchases complete, he turned his focus to a new objective: acquiring a few potent substances to fuel his upcoming missions.
'I never thought I'd stoop this low, but with the whole world against me, it's only fair I use everything to my advantage.'
Next on his list were knockout spray, a cigarette laced with flunitrazepam, and, of course, heart blockers.
Finally, a few propranolol tablets to keep his own sanity intact.
...
Next Day...
January 12th.
7 p.m., Do-ban Street, Seoul.
The frost may take the flower, but spring remembers where it once bloomed.
For Lee Hye-rin, who had known nothing but pain her entire life, today felt like the day spring might finally return.
And in the damp soil of her sorrow, a new chapter of love was ready to be written.
Today was a special day, and Lee Hye-rin spent hours getting ready.
She was already a gorgeous woman in every sense.
The flowery violet top she wore made her even more enchanting, perfectly complementing her short purple hair and warm green eyes.
The soft, stretchy fabric slid over her hips and hugged her waist as if reluctant to let go.
Thin straps rested delicately on her shoulders, barely holding up the dress that strained to contain the weight of her full, voluptuous breasts.
The plunging neckline highlighted her every breath, drawing attention as her chest rose and fell.
Her creamy thighs peeked through the hem when she shifted her legs, adorned with sheer stockings featuring a lacy band hidden just beneath the curve of her dress.
Her heels clicked softly with each step, adding height and a rhythmic sway to her generous hips.
Over it all, she wore a cream-colored coat, completely unbuttoned, signaling that the person she was meeting held a special place in her heart.
In truth, given Hye-rin's upbringing, she would have never dared to wear clothes like this in the past.
But after six months of late-night conversations, messages that made her cheeks burn, and voice notes that made her feel young again…
She had no choice but to present herself as flawless, as modern, after all, the boy in question was, only twenty-six.
So Lee hye-rin truly went all out to look her best.
"I must look ridiculous… standing here like I'm in a movie or something. Why is Ray so late? I told him to meet at the café, but…"
It had been more than fifteen minutes since she started waiting for him, and a few concerns began to rise unbidden...
Does he not want to meet me? Does he hate me? Was all that a lie?
But soon, footsteps were heard.
A guy in a hoodie and jeans, with the same confident posture from the photos, waved with one hand, the other in his pocket.
His smile was anything but friendly, but she was too happy to notice.
"Ray? Is that you?"
"You're even better in person. Photos don't do justice to that body of yours, Lily."
Of course, Ray and Lily were their Facebook ID names, but they had grown attached to calling each other that, or at least, that's what she thought at the moment.
"Damn, you really wore that for me?"
"Be honest. Do I look okay? It's been a long time since I wore something like this. The last time was when…"
"It's perfect, baby! You look… expensive. Like I could sell you for a million won."
This was the first time they were meeting in person.
Only God knew how many times they had promised to see each other, but today was the promised day.
Of course, both have different agendas in mind.
One was searching for love; the other was searching for prey.
"Sell me? What are you even saying, Ray? Don't joke like that."
"You think I give a fuck about your dead husband? Your café? That sad single-mother shit you kept whining about online?"
She thought he was joking, a clumsy, awkward stab at flirting.
Yet he didn't laugh, didn't soften, just stood there, watching her, his lips curling slightly as if savoring a private joke that offended her.
"Ray, you…"
Slap!
The man, named Dong-sae, slapped her back to reality.
For him, it wasn't the first time he had seduced a woman.
He did all of this for fun, and this woman was undeniably attractive. For that reason, he had tolerated her "crap" just for this day.
Hye-rin held her throbbing cheek, tears silently spilling from her eyes, unaware of their descent.
But before she could process the pain or escape, two more threatening men appeared from behind Ray, all three staring at her with cruel, lustful eyes.
"Dong-sae, you filthy dog! You really dragged her here. She's a damn knockout, just like you bragged."
"Can't believe you were spinning your web online to snag a prize like this. Pure insanity."
"Tch, stop your bitching. I ain't keeping her to myself. There's plenty for all of us, so chill."
"Hah, my apologies, brother. You know how to share the wealth. No single man could tame that fire alone."
In fact, South Korea was packed with security cameras covering every corner, which was exactly why Dong-sae didn't lure her to a café or hotel but to this isolated spot, far from Guro Mall's bustle...
A place so remote he felt a twisted thrill that this naïve woman actually believed him and showed up.
"Ray, how could you do this to me? Who are they?"
But Ray's face had changed. The warmth she had memorized in her mind, the kindness, the spark, was gone.
"Haha! Did you hear this bitch? We're all your lovers tonight. Didn't you say your husband, even when alive, barely touched you?"
Betrayed by Dong-sae, Hye-rin's panic surged, sweat pouring from her body, her heartbeat slowing to a faint thud as her feet instinctively dragged her backward in a desperate bid to escape.
"No...it can't be..."
Hye-rin realized that the Ray who called her beautiful in the dead of night, who vowed to grow old with her, was a lie that never existed.
Her mouth opened to say something, but no sound came before rough hands grabbed her arms from behind.
Another man lunged from her left, yanking her coat down and trapping her arms.
Her heart thundered in her chest, her heels skidding against the pavement as she struggled.
"Stop! Let me go!"
"Fucking jackpot."
One of them shoved a rough hand against her chest, groping her breast like it was meat in a butcher's window.
Silver tape bound her mouth and wrists, leaving only her tears streaming down her face.
"Where the fuck is the van?"
Dong-sae had planned this ahead.
They had already told his father's man to bring a car with no license plate.
Even though it was true there were no cameras here, there were cameras in other places, so caution was mandatory.
Soon, the screech of tires echoed.
A black van pulled up fast, its headlights flaring across the alley wall.
"You bastard, what took you so fucking long?"
They tossed her inside like trash.
Clearly, they were planning to drag her somewhere she would never be able to crawl back to a normal life.
Hye-rin wanted to bite her tongue and die; there was no way they'd let her go, but even suicide wasn't an option now.
"Hey, boss, you want a smoke? I got some good stuff on the way."
For the first time, the three men and the struggling woman looked at the rearview mirror.
Only to see a man in an ominous rabbit mask.