While Rae Yoorin rifled through Shan's laptop in the restroom, unaware of how close she was to triggering something dangerous, Shan and Ingrid had their own silent game unraveling in the dim shadows nearby.
A few feet away, Mei Yoo Jun lay tangled in the afterglow of lust with her boyfriend, her breath still shallow, her bare skin glistening in the soft light.
Her boyfriend chuckled, dragging lazy fingers down her side. "Public places have their perks. Saves a lot on hotels."
Meanwhile, hidden just behind a thin veil of darkness, Shan's fingers trailed along Ingrid's waist, his body pressed against hers from behind, voice low and velvet-smooth.
"You're trembling," he whispered. "You sure you want me to stop?"
Ingrid stiffened. "You're impossible," she hissed under her breath—but there was heat behind her words, not rejection.
His hand slipped lower, brushing her inner thigh.
"You're wet."
"Shut up."
A quiet gasp escaped her lips—too loud.
In that moment, her phone slipped from her coat pocket and hit the floor with a hollow thud.
Mei Yoo Jun and her boyfriend jolted at the sound, their heads whipping toward the noise. Ingrid's body froze, her breath caught mid-throat. Shan, however, stayed hidden, cloaked in the shadows like a hunter watching prey.
The boyfriend straightened, suspicion darkening his features. "Hey. Who's there?"
Ingrid stepped forward into view, panic wrestling with composure. "I—I'm sorry…"
She tried to retreat, but the boyfriend stopped her.
"Wait. You dropped this."
He picked up the phone and held it out—then yanked it back just as Ingrid reached for it.
"Hold up. Were you recording us, old hag?"
Her eye twitched. Old hag? The words scraped her pride.
"Unlock it," he demanded.
His arrogance sparked something dangerous in her, but before she could respond, the air around her shifted.
Shan emerged.
Quiet. Inevitable.
His eyes were a storm of calm intensity as they locked onto the boyfriend—no words needed. It was the look of a man who didn't ask twice.
The boyfriend tensed immediately.
Mei Yoo Jun paled as recognition hit. "Wait… Mrs. Mikage… and Mr. Wolf?"
The boyfriend blinked. "You know them?"
"They're my bosses," she whispered, panic crawling into her voice.
The boy tried to save face. "I was just making sure she wasn't filming us. I'm about to be a government agent."
Shan tilted his head, unimpressed. "What semester?"
"Second," the boy answered, puffing his chest slightly.
Shan and Ingrid responded in perfect, eerie unison.
"Oh."
That single word undercut his entire existence.
Ingrid's eyes narrowed slightly. "Relax. I'm not the type who gossips. Unlike some people."
Mei Yoo Jun flinched. "Wait—what do you mean?"
"You told Rae Yoorin." Ingrid's tone was calm, but the accusation was clear.
"I—I didn't mean to—"
Ingrid waved her off. "It's fine. We weren't exactly subtle."
Then, the hammer fell.
"Yes. Shan and I are seeing each other."
Mei Yoo Jun's jaw dropped. "You're… really?"
Ingrid nodded. "Keep it to yourself."
"I will. I swear."
And just like that, the moment shifted again.
---
Meanwhile...
Rae Yoorin sat perched on the closed toilet lid, Shan's laptop on her knees. Her eyes widened.
A video.
Grainy. Shaky.
Ingrid Mikage behind the wheel.
A pregnant woman screaming—then silence.
Rae's breath caught in her throat.
"Shit," she muttered.
Outside the door: Gang Si Won's voice.
"Rae. He's coming."
She slammed the laptop shut and shoved it into Gang Si Won's arms. He slipped away, just as Shan walked in.
Shan's eyes zeroed in on Gang Si Won.
"…What are you doing with my bag, Gang. Si. Won."
His tone was clinical. Dissecting.
Gang laughed nervously. "Oh—I didn't know whose it was—"
Shan didn't even blink.
"I always leave the zippers inward. You flipped them."
A pause.
"Sloppy."
He yanked the bag from Gang Si Won's hands and walked past—but paused at the door.
"Stop being a dog for someone else's pleasure. It's pathetic."
Inside the stall, Rae Yoorin sat frozen, her fingers digging into her palms.
He knew.
---
Outside...
As Shan exited the restaurant, he spotted Ingrid getting into a cab.
He knocked on the window. She turned, eyes narrowing.
After a moment, she rolled it down.
"What do you want?"
"Talk," he said simply.
She nodded to the cabbie, who stepped out silently.
Shan slid in beside her. The doors closed.
The tension was immediate.
"You're pissed," he said casually. "But I'm not the one running people over."
Ingrid's body stiffened.
He leaned closer. "Rae found it, didn't she?"
She didn't answer.
Then, without warning, he pulled her into a kiss—rough, claiming.
Ingrid gasped, her defenses crumbling for a split second as he hauled her onto his lap.
His hands moved to her blouse—buttons flicking open. Lace shimmered underneath.
"I'm not mad," Shan murmured. "I'm impressed."
She tensed as his hands slid under her bra, thumbs grazing the peaks of her breasts. Her body betrayed her—shivering under his touch.
Then came his whisper, sharp and mocking.
"You told Ms. Yoo Jun I'm your boyfriend."
A soft laugh.
"Really, Ingrid?"
He kissed the underside of her jaw, breath hot, voice dangerous.
"You've marked me now. That's going to cost you."
Her breath hitched as his fingers traced downward again.
But deep in her chest… she wondered if this was still a game.
Or the start of war.