Night—
The office was almost empty.
But not silent.
A different place.
A different room.
Hidden.
Two people stood inside.
One near the window.
One in the shadows.
"…So they finally figured it out," a voice said.
Calm.
Cold.
Tan Lin.
She didn't turn.
Her eyes stayed on the city lights.
"…Not everything," she added.
Behind her—
A soft chuckle.
Min Ho stepped forward.
"…They're getting closer," he said.
"…Closer than you expected."
Tan Lin smiled faintly.
"…Let them."
A pause.
"…It makes things more interesting."
Min Ho leaned against the desk.
Watching her.
"…You still want him?" he asked.
No hesitation.
"…I do."
Tan Lin finally turned.
Her expression steady.
"…Shen Yan was never supposed to stand against me."
"…But he chose his own path."
"…And now—"
A small pause.
"…I'll make sure he loses everything."
Silence.
Min Ho's eyes shifted.
"…And the company?"
Tan Lin's smile deepened slightly.
"…It comes with him
Min Ho looked away.
Out the window.
"…You're too focused on him," he said quietly.
"…Don't forget why I'm here."
Tan Lin's gaze moved to him.
"…I didn't."
A pause.
"…Jisoo."
The name lingered.
Min Ho's expression softened—just slightly.
Not gentle.
But familiar.
"…She was my first friend," he said.
"…Before everything changed."
"…Before she forgot."
Tan Lin watched him carefully.
"…And now?"
Min Ho's voice lowered.
"…Now I take her back."
A pause.
"…One way or another."
Silence filled the room.
Not empty.
Dangerous.
Tan Lin walked slowly toward the desk.
Picked up a file.
Opened it.
Photos inside.
Jisoo.
Shen Yan.
Minji.
Mr. Kim.
All of them.
Watched.
Tracked.
Planned.
"…Phase one worked," Tan Lin said.
"…Break them."
She flipped a page.
"…Phase two—"
Her voice sharpened slightly.
"…Rebuild trust."
Min Ho smirked.
"…So they feel safe again."
Tan Lin nodded.
"…Exactly."
Another page.
"…Phase three—"
A pause.
"…Take everything while they're together."
Silence.
Min Ho stepped closer.
"…And the final step?"
Tan Lin closed the file.
"…Separation."
Her eyes darkened slightly.
"…Permanent this time."
Back at the office—
Jisoo felt something.
A sudden uneasiness.
She looked toward the door.
"…Did you feel that?" she asked quietly.
Shen Yan turned to her.
"…What?"
A pause.
"…Like someone's watching."
Silence.
Minji looked around.
Mr. Kim's expression turned serious.
"…They are," he said.
Shen Yan stepped forward slightly.
"…Then we stop reacting."
A pause.
"…We make them react."
Jisoo looked at him.
Understanding.
"…We turn the plan around."
Minji nodded.
"…Let them think they're winning."
Mr. Kim added—
"…And expose them when they act."
Silence.
But this time—
It wasn't fear.
It was strategy.
Far away—
Tan Lin closed the curtains.
Cutting off the outside view.
"…Let's see how far they can go," she said softly.
Min Ho smiled slightly.
"…Not far enough."