I was home, finally.
And my father wasn't.
Perfect.
The Yoon estate was silent, the kind of quiet that felt heavier than noise. The air was still, undisturbed, the dim hallway lights casting long shadows against the pristine floors.
There was something I needed to do.
I moved through the hallways with purpose, my steps soundless against the marble. No hesitation. No second thoughts.
When I reached my father's office, I barely paused before pushing the door open.
The room smelled like expensive leather and aged paper, a mix of cologne and authority that clung to the air. Everything was in its place—perfect, untouched. Just like always.
The massive desk sat in the center of the room, polished and empty, save for a few neatly stacked legal documents. But I didn't care about what was in plain sight.
I walked past it, straight to the cabinets.
Cabinets upon cabinets, filled with files, documents, cases. Some public, some private. Some that were meant to never be found.
My fingers trailed along the cool metal handles before I stopped, scanning the neatly labeled folders.
I muttered under my breath, flipping through the tabs. "Yeon Minsu… Yeon Minsu…"
Nothing under the main records. Of course.
I moved lower, checking the files that were hidden behind layers of outdated paperwork, the ones buried on purpose.
And then—there it was.
I pulled out a slim, unassuming folder.
"Ah," I murmured, a smirk tugging at my lips. "There we go."
The paper was slightly worn from time, but the name was still clear.
Yeon Minsu.
I exhaled, stepping back and flipping it open.
The first page was the case summary—brief, clinical, listing the accusations against him in neat, objective language.
Money laundering. Tampered financial records. Direct evidence linking him to an offshore account used for embezzlement.
Except I already knew that wasn't the full truth.
I turned the page.
The second was a court document. My father's signature stamped neatly at the bottom—the final dismissal order.
A decision made quietly. Deliberately.
And then, the third page—a list of names.
Witnesses. Prosecutors. Judges who had been involved.
I ran my finger down the list. Some of these people were still active. Some weren't.
But one name in particular caught my eye.
A judge. The one presiding over the case at the time.
I clicked my tongue. Interesting.
I closed the folder, tucking it under my arm before turning toward the door.
This case was more than just an unfortunate event buried in the past.
It was something my father wanted erased.
But if I really wanted to uncover everything—every missing piece, every buried truth—I needed to wait. To be patient.
Because timing was everything.
Right now, my father was untouchable. He wasn't just at the top of the legal world—he was the legal world. Every case he touched, every ruling he influenced, every connection he secured made him more powerful than the law itself.
And going against that?
It would be suicide.
At least for now.
So I took a breath, forcing down the restless energy buzzing at the edges of my mind.
I needed to be careful. I needed to be smart.
And above all—I needed to be patient.
But there was one thing I managed to secure tonight, something just as valuable as the file in my hands.
Yeon Hyerin's phone number.
A grin tugged at the corner of my lips as I pulled out my own phone, staring at the freshly saved contact.
She didn't give it to me willingly, of course. I had to find my own way.
But now?
Now, I had direct access.
I let out a quiet chuckle, then turned back to the cabinets, carefully slotting the file back into its original place. Neat. Precise. Like I was never here.
No evidence. No trace.
I smoothed out the last folder, stepping back, surveying the office. Everything was exactly as it had been.
Satisfied, I turned toward the door, slipping out the way I came, my mind already two steps ahead.
With a smirk, I pulled out my phone and scrolled down to my newest contact—Yeon Hyerin.
I tapped the call button.
The phone rang. Once. Twice. Five seconds passed.
Then, finally—
"Hello…?"
The hesitation in her voice was so obvious, so cautious that I almost laughed.
"Hyerin," I drawled, leaning back against my chair. "It's just me."
A brief silence. Then—
"Saehwa?" Her tone shifted, sharp with suspicion. "How'd you get my phone number?"
I chuckled, stretching out my legs. "I have my ways."
She sighed, clearly unimpressed. "Of course you do."
I smirked. "Anyway, what are you doing right now?"
"Nothing," she replied, then hesitated. "Actually… I was thinking of asking you something."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Hmm?"
Another pause. Then, in a quieter voice, almost reluctant—
"I felt like I should repay you."
Oh?
She continued before I could interrupt. "So… let's hang out? It'll be my treat."
I blinked.
Then, slowly, my lips curled into a smirk.
"Repay me?" I repeated, amused.
"Yeah," she muttered. "For, you know… earlier."
Ah.
So, this was her attempt at balancing the scales.
I leaned forward, resting my chin against my palm. "And what exactly do you have in mind, Hyerin?"
She exhaled, and I could almost see her rubbing the back of her neck.
"Coffee?" she offered. "Or dinner. Something simple."
Something simple.
I hummed. "And this is really your treat?"
"Obviously," she muttered.
I chuckled, letting the silence stretch before responding.
"Alright," I finally said. "I'll let you treat me."
Hyerin let out a breath, almost like she was relieved.
"Good," she said. "Tomorrow, after school."
I smiled, eyes flickering back to the cabinet where I had just hidden the file.
Tomorrow was perfect.
"I'll be looking forward to it," I murmured.
She hesitated, then muttered, "Yeah… me too."
The call ended with a quiet click, but the smirk on my lips didn't fade.
Yeon Hyerin.
You keep surprising me.
I tapped my fingers against the surface of my desk, the quiet rhythm filling the otherwise empty room. She had invited me out.
Willingly.
That wasn't something I had expected so soon.
Not that I minded.
Tomorrow, after school.
I'd let her have her little moment of repayment.
But more than that—I wanted to see just how far she was willing to let me in.
Would she be guarded? Would she try to keep a distance between us? Or… would she start to slip?
The fun part was always watching people unravel.
And Hyerin?
She was already starting to pull at the seams.
I glanced at the clock. Late.
I should sleep.
But instead, I found myself pulling out my phone again, my thumb hovering over our call history. A fresh number saved under her name.
A small laugh escaped me.
I could text her. Say something unnecessary just to see how she'd react. Push her a little.
But no—not yet.
Let her wonder for now.
I placed my phone down, exhaling slowly before leaning back into my chair.
"I'll go get some rest."
The next day arrived faster than expected.
Seonghwa's halls buzzed with their usual rhythm—whispers of competition, ambition, and quiet power struggles laced into every conversation. But today, there was something else.
Something subtler.
The lingering gazes, the hushed murmurs that followed me whenever I passed.
Ah.
Word had spread about what happened with Gaeun.
Of course, it had.
I ignored it, weaving through the halls with my usual ease, my focus elsewhere. There was something far more interesting today than meaningless gossip.
Yeon Hyerin.
I found her exactly where I expected—at her desk, flipping through her notes, her expression calm, unreadable. Like she hadn't been the center of attention yesterday. Like nothing had happened at all.
I smirked, slipping into my seat.
"Morning," I drawled.
She didn't even look up. "Morning."
I studied her for a moment. No hesitation. No awkwardness.
She really wasn't going to acknowledge it, huh?
Interesting.
I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice just enough so only she could hear.
"Still planning on treating me later?"
She finally glanced up, eyes meeting mine.
"Unless you've changed your mind," she said.
I chuckled. "Not at all. I'm looking forward to it."
She didn't react much, just nodded before going back to her notes.
But I caught it.
That brief flicker of something in her expression—something unreadable, something just a little unsure.
"Instead of right after class," Hyerin said, her voice even but deliberate, "can you meet me at Kyo's Koffee an hour later?"
I tilted my head slightly, intrigued.
She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I thought I should dress up a bit… wearing the school uniform feels a little awkward."
Interesting.
She wanted to change. Wanted to make this feel different from just a casual meeting between classmates.
I smiled, slow and amused. You really are adorable, Hyerin.
"Of course," I murmured, resting my chin against my palm. "I'll wear something nice too."
Her eyes flickered toward me, as if surprised I agreed so easily. Then, almost shyly, she glanced away, focusing back on her notes.
I let the silence stretch, watching the way she shifted slightly in her seat, the subtle tension in her posture.
She had no idea, did she?
Just how much she was revealing without saying anything at all.
I smirked, finally leaning back in my chair.
This was going to be fun.