Lee Jun-ho scoffed as he heard the surprised gasps echoing from his team behind him.
Remaining completely unfazed by their reactions, he maintained a steady, unreadable gaze.
“I need your number for something crucial,” he said calmly.
Kang Ji-won narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.
“What’s that?”
“We need to officially thank you for your help during our mission,” Jun-ho said, gesturing slightly toward the room.
“Please don’t misunderstand my gesture. I just wanted to invite you out for lunch tomorrow on behalf of myself and my team.”
Kim Tae-hyun’s face fell.
So it’s just official business.
Hmph.
I thought he was finally falling for someone after seeing such a beautiful girl.
Ji-won tilted her head, still unconvinced.
“I don’t think that’s necessary.”
A faint smirk flickered across Jun-ho’s lips before disappearing.
To think you can escape from me now that I’ve already caught you in my trap.
He replaced the smirk with a subtle frown.
“Why? Of course it’s necessary. Or don’t tell me the reason you’re refusing is because you’re hiding something?”
Ji-wion’s gaze shifted briefly around the quiet room.
“Err… Why would I be hiding anything? Of course I’ll give it to you.”
She reached for the unlocked phone, entered her number, and handed it back.
“Here.”
Without waiting for another word, she turned on her heel and hurried out of the building.
Jun-ho watched the doorway for a moment before facing his squad.
“Let’s head back. The national team will be here shortly.”
He took a couple of steps, then stopped.
His gaze returned to the phone screen.
Number: xxxxxxxxxx
Name: Fang Che.
He smirked.
We’ll find out if you’re truly Kang Ji-won by tomorrow.
By the time Ji-won returned to her room at the HK Hotel, it was already three in the morning.
She dropped onto the mattress with a tired groan and stared at the ceiling.
“Well, that was ridiculously stressful.”
The night’s events replayed in her mind—the unexpected mission, the gunfight, and the terrifying possibility that Jun-ho had recognized her.
Then she grinned.
“I actually held a gun today.”
A pause.
“A real one.”
She couldn’t help smiling as she remembered how she’d fired it.
Whatever else had happened tonight, that part still felt strangely exhilarating.
After a few minutes of basking in her own sudden badassery, Ji-won dragged herself toward the bathroom.
The moment she caught sight of herself in the full-length mirror, she stopped.
“Oh no!”
She touched the sunglasses perched on her styled hair.
“I completely forgot I came here in disguise!”
The heavy makeup, long coat, and carefully styled appearance suddenly seemed far more suspicious.
Did he recognize me?
The thought made her uneasy.
“No way. I’m sure he couldn’t…”
She examined her reflection one more time.
“…Even I barely recognize myself like this.”
After washing off her makeup and changing into her nightwear, Ji-won climbed back into bed.
“Hmm… time for some sleep.”
She closed her eyes.
Just as she was about to drift off—
Ding!
[System Activated.]
Ji-won sat upright.
“What now?”
The familiar blue screen appeared.
[Mission accomplished. Promised reward unlocking now…]
[Starter Pack Upgrade: Lv. 2.]
[50% of the original novel “Fate” has been changed.]
Ji-wion blinked.
Before she could think about it further, another notification appeared.
[Monetary Reward: 4,000,000 yuan.]
“Four million?!”
That was enough to make her sit a little straighter.
Then came the next notification.
[New Power Unlocked: Storage Space Lv. 1.]
“Storage Space Lv. 1?”
She tilted her head.
“What’s the meaning of that?”
[And lastly, upcoming danger scenarios have increased by 20%.]
Ji-won paused.
Then a small smile returned.
“Psst… So easy. Twenty percent danger with all these powers?”
Silence.
Then the system produced what sounded suspiciously like a sarcastic laugh.
[Easy? You’re too naive. What did you think this novel was? Cat and dog play?]
Ji-won’s smile disappeared.
“Hey!”
[All these rewards have limits. They don’t make things easier for foolish people. They are simply little assistance. Anyway, you’d understand as you get further into the novel.]
That took some of the excitement out of her.
[Your next mission will have to be suspended until further notice.]
“Suspended?”
[You can now begin consulting me on a few questions you’d like me to answer.]
That caught her attention.
“I…”
[You have three trials, and I’ll only answer those that are meant to be answered right now.]
Err…
Okay.
Ji-won rested her chin against her hand.
There was one question she desperately wanted answered: why had she been chosen to replace the female lead?
But something told her the system wouldn’t reveal that yet.
“Okay, first question. How can I increase the original Fate change?”
[It’s simple. Just do the opposite of what the original Kang Ji-won did.]
[ The original Kang Ji-won dated Han Yufan. Became friends with only Shen Huiling and Zhang Ran. Was poor and always bullied.]
[When you’re able to change these minor details, you’ll be able to change the storyline.]
Ji-won considered that for a moment.
So even the smallest changes mattered.
[Next question.]
“My next question is, who are the other chosen ones?”
The system took a moment before responding.
[Limited answer for that question. But let’s just say… some people you least expect.]
Ji-won’s thoughts immediately turned to the people around her.
Tang Aining?
Shen Huiling?
Zhang Ran?
Could one of them really be a chosen one?
[Next question and last question?]
She thought for a moment.
“Why are some characters bearing Chinese names while some have Korean names?”
[Oh! That? Ignore it. It was just to add a taste of hybrid relationships to spice up the novel. Understood?]
Ji-won gave a small nod.
“Okay.”
[Now, end of question and answer.]
The blue screen flickered.
[It’s best I leave now. If you ever need me for anything, don’t forget to summon me. Bye.]
The screen vanished.
Ji-won sighed and fell back onto her pillow.
“That thing really knows how to appear whenever it wants.”
She closed her eyes again.
This time, sleep came quickly.
The next morning, Ji-won woke up, got dressed, and ordered breakfast.
Once the food arrived, she ate quickly before glancing around the hotel room.
“Hmm… what do I do now?”
Shopping?
The idea immediately appealed to her.
After putting on her shoes, she grabbed her things and headed out.
An hour later, she was strolling through a famous shopping street.
Meanwhile, Kang Ha-rin had already called Ji-won’s phone several times.
“Why aren’t you picking up, Kang Ji-won?”
She tried once more.
Still nothing.
A crease formed between her brows.
Ji-won wasn’t usually this difficult to reach.
After a moment’s hesitation, Ha-rin called Shen Huiling instead.
“Hello, Huiling. I wanted to ask, is Kang Ji-won around?”
“Err… Nope. I haven’t seen her since school closed for the weekend.”
Did Ji-won really think she could escape Jun-ho that easily?
And now that he has her number, something tells me tomorrow’s lunch might not be as innocent as she thinks.
The system also decided to drop a few interesting rewards—and even more questions.
Four million yuan, a new ability, and the mysterious “chosen ones”…
But which part caught your attention the most?
Let me know your theories about who the other chosen ones might be.