Ji-won’s breath caught as she quickly looked around.
“Wait… This is the men’s restroom?”
She stared at the toilet seat before lightly tapping her forehead.
Oh, gosh.
Kang Ji-won!
Another knock sounded at the door.
“Kang Ji-won?”
Ji-won froze again–before walking out.
The heavy door creaked open, and she stepped into the hallway as casually as possible, smoothing down her uniform skirt.
Tang Aining stood right in front of her, one hand still raised from knocking.
Her gaze shifted from Ji-won to the blue Men’s Restroom sign.
Her mouth opened.
Then closed.
Then opened again.
“Ji-won…” she finally managed, pointing at the sign with a trembling finger.
“Did you… Were you just in the—”
Ji-won didn’t flinch.
Instead, she crossed her arms and let out a deep, disappointed sigh.
“Aining, the state of the boys’ bathroom is an absolute disgrace to this school.”
Tang Aining blinked.
“What?”
“I stepped in to inspect the place, and honestly, I’m disgusted.”
Aining stared at her.
“You went in there to inspect it?”
Kang Ji-won nodded.
“It’s a disaster. No paper towels, and the sink taps are practically falling off.”
Aining’s voice rose in disbelief.
“Ji-won, that’s not the point!”
“You’re a girl! You can’t just walk into the boys’ bathroom!”
Kang Ji-won scoffed.
“Germs don’t care about gender, Aining.”
Before Aining could respond, she grabbed her wrist and started walking down the hallway.
“Now, keep moving. If anyone sees us lingering around here, they’ll give us detention out of spite.”
“Wait! But you were literally inside the—”
“Shh. Not another word.”
Ji-won continued toward the stairs without looking back.
“We have much bigger things to worry about today than bad plumbing.”
Aining opened her mouth to argue again, but Ji-won was already pulling her along.
She could only stare at the back of her friend’s head in disbelief.
What kind of excuse was that?!
The classroom….
“Wait, why is she here? And with Kang Ji-won of all people?!”
Zhang Ran’s voice rang through the classroom as he watched Ji-won and Tang Aining walk in together.
Shen Huiling immediately looked up and hurried toward them.
“Ji-won! How did it go?”
She turned to Aining.
“Where did you find her?”
Several students nearby stopped talking.
Aining?
Their gazes shifted between the three girls before dropping to Ji-won and Aining’s joined hands.
Were Kang Ji-won and Tang Aining actually holding hands?
Aining noticed the attention and quickly cleared her throat.
“I met her at…”
“Everything went smoothly,” Ji-won interrupted.
“I’m no longer being expelled.”
Huiling’s shoulders immediately relaxed.
She had been holding her breath ever since Ji-won left, and the relief on her face was unmistakable.
Without another word, she pulled Ji-won into a tight hug.
Ji-won stiffened slightly.
What’s gotten into her?
Huiling seemed almost too attached to her, as though Ji-won had done her an enormous favor.
Hmm.
I’ll have to figure that out later.
Before she could think any further, Zhang Ran approached them, his eyes fixed on Tang Aining.
“Why is she with you, Ji-won?”
Ji-won glanced at him, then at Aining.
The tension between them was impossible to miss. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
“What’s going on?”
Zhang Ran scoffed and looked away.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
A few moments later, he felt a gentle pat on his shoulder.
Assuming it was Ji-won, he turned around.
Instead, he found Tang Aining standing behind him with a pitiful expression.
“I’m really sorry about what happened last time, Zhang Ran.”
He blinked.
“I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”
His eyes widened.
“You’re… You’re actually apologizing to me?”
Aining nodded.
“Yes.”
For a brief moment, his expression brightened.
Then she added, “But only because you’re Ji-won’s friend.”
His face fell.
“Whatever.”
Aining burst into laughter.
“You’re so cute! I wonder why I ever beat someone like you.”
She paused, pretending to think.
“Oh, wait. It’s your attitude.”
Before he could respond, she lightly patted his cheek.
Zhang Ran’s expression stiffened.
With her face so close to his, he suddenly found himself at a loss for words.
He quickly pushed her hand away.
“Enough!”
Aining only grinned.
Watching them, Ji-won finally pieced things together.
So Zhang Ran has been on the receiving end of Tang Aining’s temper before.
“Alright, that’s enough,” she interrupted.
“Let’s go somewhere else and talk. We’re attracting too much attention.”
“No need. It’s almost closing time anyway.”
Zhang Ran glanced at his wristwatch.
Ji-won’s eyes immediately settled on it.
A luxury watch?
She studied it for a moment.
Where did Zhang Ran get something that expensive?
Before she could ask, the final bell rang.
The classroom erupted into movement as students began packing their things.
Ji-won decided to leave the question for another time.
Back home, Ji-won washed up and settled onto her bed.
[System Activated]
[Welcome back, Kang Ji-won. You summoned me?]
“Yes.”
She leaned back against her pillows.
“We didn’t finish our conversation earlier.”
[You’re right. But I don’t think I need to tell you anything else.]
Ji-won scoffed.
“Look who’s talking. You called me dumb, yet you forgot something so basic. You didn’t even tell me my flight time.”
[So you’re calling me dumb too? Fine. Let’s both be dumb. Goodbye.]
“Oh, wait! Wait!”
The system screen vanished.
Ji-won stared at the empty space in front of her.
Then she groaned.
“Oh, come on! You’re getting petty over something so small? Gosh, you’re so immature!”
[I heard that.]
The screen appeared for barely a second before disappearing again.
Ji-won rolled her eyes.
“I don’t need your help anyway. I have a phone.”
She grabbed it and opened an airline website.
But as soon as the booking page appeared, she froze.
“Wait… How am I supposed to fill this out?”
She stared at the form.
She had no idea what information she was supposed to enter, and the thought of making a mistake was already giving her a headache.
Just as she was considering what to do next, a notification appeared.
[Departure: 8:00 PM.]
Ji-won’s eyes widened.
“When did…”
She stared at the notification.
The system.
Of course.
It had already taken care of everything.
Before she could question it further, footsteps sounded in the hallway.
“Mom?”
The door opened, and Kang Ha-rin stepped inside.
“How was your day today, Ji-won?” she asked warmly.
“It was good.”
Ji-won quickly swiped away her browser before turning to face her mother.
“Mom, I might not be around for the next two days. I wanted to check if that’s okay with you.”
Ha-rin looked surprised.
“You don’t need to ask for permission, but where are you going? Tomorrow’s the weekend. You should be resting after all that school stress.”
Tomorrow’s the weekend?
Perfect.
Ji-won smiled.
“I’d love to stay home, but I’m going out with Huiling. She’s been feeling down lately because of what happened at her house, so I thought I’d take her somewhere to clear her head.”
Ha-rin’s expression softened.
“That’s very thoughtful of you.”
Ji-won returned her smile.
“Of course. She’s my best friend.”
Ha-rin nodded, seemingly pleased with her daughter’s consideration.
Ji-won quietly let out a breath.
That was easier than I expected.
The next morning, before Kang Ha-rin had even woken up, Ji-won was already dressed and preparing to leave.
She paused at the door, suddenly remembering something.
Wait…
What if someone recognizes me at the airport?
She glanced at her reflection.
That wouldn’t do.
If she wanted to travel without drawing unnecessary attention, she’d have to change her appearance.
And she already knew exactly how.
At the airport, Lee Jun-ho and his team walked through the terminal together.
Their coordinated movements and commanding presence immediately drew attention.
A few teenagers nearby stopped to stare.
“Whoa! Who are those guys? Are they celebrities?”
“I don’t think so. Look at how they walk. They look like high-ranking officials or wealthy heirs.”
“Definitely second-generation rich!”
Jun-ho ignored the whispers and continued toward the VIP boarding area.
Behind him, his teammates exchanged amused looks.
Kim Tae-hyun, Park Do-yoon, Baek Min-jae, Ryu Do-hyun, and Seo Ji-han were clearly enjoying themselves at their captain’s expense.
“Will you guys cut it out?”
Jun-ho suddenly turned around.
His sharp glare silenced them immediately.
All five straightened.
With a low sigh, Jun-ho turned back around.
At that moment, a stylish woman walked past them.
She wore dark sunglasses and carried herself with quiet confidence.
She didn’t spare the group a glance as she continued toward the check-in counter.
Jun-ho’s gaze followed her for a second.
Something about her…
He frowned slightly.
The feeling was strangely familiar.
For a brief moment, the image of Kang Ji-won flashed through his mind.
But the woman was already gone.
Jun-ho looked away.
He couldn’t explain why, but somehow, he’d felt like he’d seen her before.
Poor Aining is still trying to wrap her brain around Ji-won’s “restroom inspection” excuse!
But wait…
Jun-ho’s instincts are way too sharp!
He almost recognized her right then and there!
Do you think he’ll figure out her disguise once they both land in Country A?
See you all tomorrow!