The Night Before
Don Uhi lay on his back, staring at the ceiling of his lavish bedroom. The chandelier above him swayed gently with the hum of the air conditioning, but his mind was far from still.
His jaw still ached from the punch Xia had ordered. His pride was bruised. His ego? Shattered.
But that wasn't what kept him awake.
> "Why do I desire that woman?" he thought, fingers twitching against the silk sheets. "After everything she's done… after she humiliated me… why do I want her?"
He could still feel the sting of the coffee. Still hear her voice—calm, sharp, unbothered. She hadn't flinched. Hadn't begged. She had owned the moment.
> Don (muttering): "What the hell is wrong with me…"
He closed his eyes, but all he saw was Liu's smirk.
---
The Morning Mood
The dining hall buzzed with quiet clinks of silverware and the rustle of newspapers. Xia sat at the head of the table, dressed in a charcoal suit, his hair slicked back, his expression unreadable as always.
Liu entered last, her steps slower than usual. Her robe was tied a little too tightly, her eyes slightly puffy. She didn't greet anyone. Just sat down and reached for her tea.
> Xia (without looking up): "You're late."
> Liu (flatly): "I'm aware."
He slid a folder across the table toward her. She blinked, then opened it.
Inside were crisp documents—an official acceptance form from the Tokyo Imperial Medical Academy, along with a schedule for a written exam later that day.
> Xia (calmly): "You'll need to fill that out and show up by noon. Don't be late."
Liu stared at the papers, then smiled softly—not because of the opportunity, but because of what it meant.
> "He could've bought my way in. But he didn't. He wants me to earn it."
She looked up at him, her voice lighter now.
> Liu: "So… what's your day looking like, Mr. Billionaire?"
> Xia (nonchalantly): "Meetings. Lunch with a client. Maybe a gala. Depends on how many women throw themselves at me."
> Liu (mock gasp): "Oh no. Should I be worried?"
> Xia (smirking): "Only if you're the jealous type."
> Liu (grinning): "I'm not. I'm the vengeful type."
They locked eyes. A flicker of amusement passed between them.
> Don (under his breath): "Get a room."
Liu didn't even glance at him.
---
The Car Ride
After breakfast, Liu changed into a sleek navy-blue dress and tied her hair into a high ponytail. She stepped outside, ready to head to the academy.
But the moment she opened the car door, her smile vanished.
> Liu (scowling): "Why is your stupid face in my car?"
Don sat in the backseat, arms crossed, sunglasses on, looking like a sulking celebrity.
> Don (dryly): "Xia's orders. I'm your escort."
> Liu: "Escort? I don't need a babysitter."
> Don: "Tell him that. I'm just following orders."
She sighed and slid into the seat, slamming the door harder than necessary.
> Liu (muttering): "Of all the people in this mansion, he sends you…"
> Don (smirking): "Maybe he thought I'd keep you in check."
> Liu (snorting): "You? Keep me in check? Please. You're still recovering from the last time I 'checked' you."
> Don (gritting his teeth): "You're lucky I'm not the type to hit women."
> Liu (smiling sweetly): "Oh, but you are. You just learned the hard way that I hit back."
The driver tried not to react, eyes fixed on the road.
Silence settled for a moment.
Then Don spoke again, quieter this time.
> Don: "You really think you're better than everyone, don't you?"
> Liu (without looking at him): "No. I just know I'm better than you."
He turned to her, jaw clenched, but said nothing.
She didn't flinch. Didn't even blink.
> "Why does she get under my skin like this?" Don thought. "Why does she make me feel like I'm the one being tested?"
The car rolled on, the tension thick as smoke.
---
The car ride to the Tokyo Imperial Medical Academy was long, but the silence between Liu and Don made it feel even longer.
Liu stared out the window, watching the city blur past—sleek towers, neon signs, and the occasional cherry blossom tree still clinging to its last petals. Her fingers tapped against her thigh, not from nerves about the exam, but from the irritation sitting beside her.
Don, for once, wasn't smirking. He sat stiffly, arms crossed, sunglasses still on, but his jaw was tight, and his foot tapped restlessly.
> Liu (without looking at him): "You're breathing too loud."
> Don (flatly): "You're welcome for the company."
> Liu (scoffing): "Company? You're like a migraine. Persistent, loud, and completely unnecessary."
> Don (grinning): "And yet, here I am. Riding shotgun to your little schoolgirl fantasy."
> Liu (turning to him): "It's not a fantasy. It's a goal. Something you wouldn't understand."
> Don: "Oh, I understand goals. I just don't chase ones that already belong to someone else."
Liu blinked. That was… pointed.
> Liu (coolly): "Then maybe you should stop looking at me like I'm one of them."
Don didn't respond. But he didn't look away either.
---
At the Academy
The car pulled up to the grand gates of the Tokyo Imperial Medical Academy. The building loomed like a cathedral of knowledge—glass and stone, modern and ancient all at once.
Liu stepped out, adjusting her blazer. She looked sharp, focused, and unshakably composed.
> Don (leaning out the window): "Try not to burn the place down."
> Liu (smiling): "Try not to miss me too much."
She walked through the gates without looking back.
---
Cliffhanger Ending
Inside the academy, Liu was led to a private testing room. The proctor handed her a sealed envelope and a pen.
> Proctor: "You have two hours. Begin when ready."
Liu opened the test.
Her eyes scanned the first question.
And then—her heart stopped.
There, printed in bold at the top of the page, was a name she hadn't seen in years.
Professor Hoshino.
Her former mentor.
The one who had promised to help her.
The one who had betrayed her.
> "He's here?" she thought, her hands trembling slightly. "He's the one grading this?"
Outside, Don sat in the car, watching the academy gates.
> Don (to himself): "What the hell are you hiding, Liu Lingin?"
[END OF CHAPTER 5]
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