PART 1
Yujin sprinted through the station, heart pounding like a war drum.
Her destination: a luxury café five subway stops away.
She'd never dared enter it before rumor had it a single drink there cost half her rent. and if this ridiculous system wanted "high-end," then that's what it would get. But desperate times called for desperate scams.
Step 1: Walk in like she belonged.
Step 2: Order the cheapest item on the menu.
Step 3: Sit, wait, and pray that this was enough to fool the system. Survival-level humiliation as mission completion.
When she arrived, the exterior alone made her hesitate. Floor-to-ceiling glass. Soft jazz seeping through invisible speakers. The glow of chandeliers spilling golden light onto velvet seats and marble counters. It didn't look like a café. It looked like the kind of place that charged for a photoshoot.
She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and marched in like she was reviewing it for a food blog.
Yujin gulped.
"I belong here. I belong here." She repeated it like a prayer.
Approaching the counter, she scanned the menu and nearly had a heart attack. Everything was written in French or was it Latin? She wasn't sure and not a single item looked like something she could pronounce, let alone afford.
"A… a small coffee, please," she said, trying to keep the tremble out of her voice.
The barista blinked at her with the kind of expression reserved for the hopelessly poor or tragically lost. "Madam," he said gently, "our smallest size is Grande."
She glanced at the price beside it.
35,000 won.
Roughly $27.
Yujin wanted to scream
Her soul left her body for a brief moment.
"…Grande, then," she muttered.
The barista gave a polite smile. "And the name for the order?"
Yujin froze. Her brain panicked, then landed on the first name that made her feel even remotely powerful.
"Kim Jennie," she said confidently.
If she was blowing half her grocery budget on a cup of coffee, she was damn well going to do it under an idol's name.
PART 2
She took the overpriced drink served in a cup so delicate it looked like it came with a trust fund and made her way to a quiet corner booth by the window. The cushion beneath her felt like sitting on a cloud woven by very skilled artisans and craftsmen.Ridiculous.
Pulling out her phone, she finally checked Mina's messages.
[Mina: Got something to eat. I'll swing by yours in a bit Babe.]
Yujin quickly typed a reply:
[Not home anymore. I'm at Maison de Lune.]
It was the name of the café French, pretentious, and absolutely perfect for this city's wannabe elite. The kind of place influencers came to photograph their lattes more than drink them.
As she hit send and took a cautious sip of her "Grande" coffee (which honestly tasted like mild regret and burnt flowers), a familiar chime went off.
Ding!
[Mission status: 98% complete.]
Yes!!
PART 3
She nearly screamed in triumph, her eyes wide with disbelief.
It actually worked.
This place was high-end enough.
She looked around, half-expecting the chandelier to start raining coins or for a suited billionaire or a knight or whatever to walk in and propose a business idea or wedding ring on the spot.
But no just couples on awkward dates and girls taking selfies with pastries that cost more than a utility bill.
Still, progress was progress.
She just had to sit here for two more minutes and she'd be free.
Then
A voice, sharp with curiosity.
"Wait… isn't that Dan-su?"
"Isn't he the heir to the Han Group?"
Yujin froze mid-sip.
About ten feet away, a trio of trendy-looking girls full lashes, flawless contour, and phones glued to their manicured hands started whispering excitedly. They looked like the kind of people who made social media their full-time job and treated luxury lifestyles like K-drama episodes.
"I think that's him," the girl in the green blazer whispered, clutching her phone. "He posted from a private yacht in Busan last week same watch, I swear."
"Yeah, and that story of him stepping out of a matte black Benz? It went viral," the one in the pink beret added, flipping her hair. "Total chaebol vibes."
The third girl quickly opened binstagram and started scrolling. "Wait, wait hold on. He posted a mirror selfie last month… Barely showed his face, but that suit?" She tilted the screen toward them. "Tell me that's not the exact same jacket."
Pink Beret sat up straighter, checking her reflection on her phone screen. "Should I go say hi? Maybe ask for a picture?" Or…or Maybe ask if he's single?"
Green Blazer turned to her with a sharp look. "Are you insane? Look at this geoji.You think someone like that talks to people who still mooch off me and can't even pay for their own latte?"
Cream Cardigan snorted. "Exactly. Last time I take you out anywhere. Look at this girl ready to embarrass all of us in public."
Pink Beret huffed and sank back into her seat. "muryehane!."she said.
They all leaned back, pretending not to care but their eyes kept darting toward him, curiosity still burning.
Yujin didn't even have to look. Her system did the honors.
Ding!
[A potential has entered your vicinity.]
Her fingers tightened around her cup.
No. No, no, no.
Against her better judgment, she peeked just for a second.
Dan-su Han.
Tall. Sharp features. Black suit was so crisp it practically had its own PR team. He looked exactly like someone who didn't even need to try to look expensive he just existed that way.
Yujin's head snapped back toward her coffee.
Nope. Absolutely not.
If she left now, she technically completed the mission, right?
She began to gather her things, sliding her phone into her hoodie pocket when
A loud CRASH..
Someone bumped into Dan-su, spilling coffee, sending their iced americano straight down the front of his suit. How terrible.
The café went silent. Even the milk frother behind the counter paused like it knew drama was unfolding.
"…I'm so sorry!" the guy stammered, panicked.
Dan-su didn't shout. He didn't flinch. His expression was unreadable cooled, detached.
Yujin had seen this scene in dramas before. The moment when the rich, cold CEO either:
A) Loses his temper. The fiery, lawsuit-threatening meltdown and fires everyone.
B) Silently leaves The cold walkout with ominous music in brooding anger.
Instead, Dan su did something worse.
He turned to Yujin's table.
And walked straight to her table.
And sat down.
Yujin choked on air as his expensive cologne clouded her senses.
Dan-su glanced at her, then Dan-su glanced back at his ruined suit. immaculate suit.
"…You wouldn't happen to have tissues, would you?"
Yujin blinked and stared
Her brain short-circuited.
The system dinged.
[Mission complete!]
[New mission: Impress Dan-su Han within 24 hours.]
Yujin slowly lowered her head and buried her face in her hands.
She was so, so screwed.