The Han family mansion was the kind of place that made silence feel heavy. The marble floors echoed with the faintest footstep, and the chandeliers dripped light like gold. Even the air seemed rehearsed, scented faintly of white lilies from the vast indoor arrangement near the staircase.
Lu Han had learned long ago that this house was less of a home and more of a performance stage. Tonight, that stage was set for yet another "serious discussion" in the study.
His parents sat behind an enormous mahogany desk, the soft ticking of the grandfather clock filling the room. His father, Han Jae-Min, folded his hands, his expression the perfect balance of businesslike concern and parental authority. His mother, Seo Hye-Jin, sat beside him in a tailored cream blouse, eyes sharp but voice soft as silk.
"Lu Han," she began, as though she were easing into dangerous waters, "you've been… so focused on training. It's admirable. But there are other parts of your life that need attention."
He knew exactly where this was going. "Such as?" His voice was even, but his shoulders stiffened.
His father glanced at a neat folder on the desk. "Kim Nana is returning to Seoul next week. You remember her, don't you? Your childhood friend."
Friend. That was a stretch. He remembered her perfect posture, perfect manners, perfect grades. The kind of girl who probably never once scuffed her shoes or came home with scraped knees.
"She and her father will be visiting," his mother continued smoothly, "and it would be… beneficial for you to spend time together. Nana is bright, poised, and she understands the responsibilities of family legacy."
Lu Han's jaw tightened. "This is about the company, isn't it?"
"Of course it's about the company," his father said bluntly. "The Han name needs stability. Publicly, you're the best boxer in the academy. Privately… you're too reclusive. A relationship with someone like Nana would elevate your image and reassure our partners."
The words landed like punches, but they were ones he had heard before. He tried to keep his tone calm. "I'm not a company project. I'm an athlete. My private life isn't for sale."
His mother's voice lost its softness. "This isn't about selling, it's about building. You can't fight forever, Lu Han. Eventually, you'll need more than boxing. Nana could..."
"Could what?" He cut her off, anger simmering. "Be the perfect match so we can merge social circles and smile for the cameras? No, thanks."
The tension in the room sharpened. His father's gaze hardened, his mother's lips pressed into a thin line.
"Think about what you're throwing away," his father warned.
"I have thought about it," Lu Han said flatly. "And I'm not interested."
Without another word, he turned on his heel and left the study, the sound of his footsteps deliberately heavy on the marble.
In his room, the air felt too tight, too still. He sat on the edge of his bed, elbows on his knees, breathing slowly until the frustration ebbed enough for him to move. He didn't want to be here, not tonight.
Grabbing his black hoodie, a cap, and a disposable face mask, he slipped out through the side door. The night air was cool, brushing against his face like a quiet invitation to breathe. He knew the paparazzi sometimes lingered near the main gates, so he took the back alley, his long strides swallowing the distance.
----
On the other side of the city, Soon Hae was pacing in her small apartment kitchen. Her father sat at the table, coughing into his hand, his skin pale under the warm light.
"Dad, you need proper medicine," she insisted.
He waved a hand dismissively. "I'm fine, Soon Hae. It's just the sea air catching up with me."
But she could hear the strain in his voice. Across the room, her stepmother clicked her tongue. "Medicine costs money, and we already spent enough this month. We have bills to pay."
Soon Hae ignored her, already pulling a small envelope from her bag the money she had been saving from her part-time job at the laundry shop. "I'll be back," she said, grabbing her jacket.
It wasn't just about the medicine. Training had been brutal lately, her body sore and her pride still stung from Lu Han's "clumsy rabbit" remark echoing in her head all day. She needed air, needed to move without orders being barked at her or chores thrown her way.
****
The streets at night felt like a different Seoul entirely. Neon signs flickered over quiet sidewalks, and the hum of distant traffic softened to a low lullaby.
Lu Han kept his head low, passing convenience stores and closed boutiques, the occasional streetlight casting shadows that stretched and twisted across the pavement.
Soon Hae, pharmacy bag in hand, was heading back from the opposite direction. She was tired, her eyes downcast, thinking about how she need to slip back into the apartment quietly to avoid waking her stepmother.
Neither of them was paying enough attention.
They collided at the corner of a small alley.
Soon Hae stumbled back, clutching the bag to her chest. "Hey, watch where you're..." She stopped, eyeing the tall figure in the black hoodie and mask. Her instincts kicked in, and she narrowed her eyes. "Are you… stalking someone?"
Lu Han blinked once, then tilted his head slightly. "That's the first thing you ask strangers at night?" His voice was calm, but there was a faint edge of amusement.
She frowned. "It's suspicious! Who wears a mask at this hour?"
He could have brushed past her, but something about her medicine bag clutched like a weapon made him linger. "Some people," he said slowly, "don't like being recognized."
Her suspicion deepened. "So you are hiding something."
The corner of his mouth twitched under the mask. "Maybe Or maybe I just like keeping people guessing."
She huffed. "Well, guess somewhere else. I have to get home."
He stepped aside with a small, almost mocking bow, his eyes catching hers just long enough to make her feel oddly unsettled.
As she walked away, she glanced back once but the tall figure was already melting into the shadows, leaving her with an uneasy curiosity.
She didn't know it yet, but this wouldn't be the last time she crossed paths with the masked man in the night.
And Lu Han… well, he was already smirking under the mask, because he had recognized her from the moment she spoke.
---