Chapter 1 – The Rebellious Girl
The city never truly slept, at least not in the part where Han Soo-yeon roamed on most nights. Neon lights reflected in puddles on the sidewalks, honking cars sped past, and somewhere, a street performer's guitar strummed a lonely tune that echoed against tall buildings. Soo-yeon walked with her hands stuffed in the pockets of her oversized hoodie, her black sneakers hitting the pavement with casual defiance.
Eighteen. Almost an adult, yet somehow still feeling like a caged bird. Her father's warning from last night echoed in her mind:
"Soo-yeon, one more late night, and you'll regret it."
She smirked to herself.
"As if he'd ever understand…"
The words tasted bitter yet familiar. Her life had become a constant tug-of-war between her desires and the expectations imposed upon her. By day, she was a high school student juggling classes, assignments, and social drama. By night, she escaped to the pulsating lights of clubs where music drowned out the constant nagging of responsibility.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Yoo Se-ra. A flicker of relief passed through Soo-yeon's chest. Se-ra was her anchor, the friend who understood her sarcasm, her late-night restlessness, and her refusal to bow to any authority—even parental.
"Where are you?" she typed quickly.
"Club Eclipse. Don't be late. And yes… don't tell your dad," came the reply.
The smile that tugged at her lips was rebellious and defiant. That tiny disclaimer, "don't tell your dad," was the thrill she craved. It made her pulse quicken, the rush of sneaking away, of doing exactly what she wasn't supposed to.
She reached the entrance of Club Eclipse. The bouncer, familiar with her mischievous streak, gave her a knowing nod and waved her through. Inside, the beat of the music hit her like a tidal wave. Colored lights sliced across the dance floor, and bodies moved in sync with the rhythm. The energy was intoxicating, wild, and freeing.
Soo-yeon spotted Se-ra immediately, waving from the corner booth. Sliding into the seat, she let out a long breath, the tension of the day—the scolding, the endless pressure, the fights with her parents—melting into the bass of the music.
"Finally," Se-ra groaned, rolling her eyes. "You're late, as usual. Did you even eat?"
"Dinner is overrated," Soo-yeon shrugged. She could almost hear her father scolding her for such a reply if he were here, but the thought only made her smirk wider.
The night went on, hours passing unnoticed. Drinks, laughter, stories, and reckless dancing filled every second. For once, Soo-yeon felt untethered from all the expectations that weighed on her. She was just herself: chaotic, bold, and alive.
Yet, even the loudest music could not drown out reality forever. Her phone buzzed again. Unknown number.
"Han Soo-yeon, see me at home tomorrow. –Father"
The stern tone in the message made her stomach churn. She had known this day would come eventually. She tucked the phone back into her pocket, trying to push away the creeping anxiety. But it was there, a small, persistent knot that refused to untangle.
Morning came too quickly, sunlight piercing through her curtains with ruthless insistence. Soo-yeon groaned, burying her face into her pillow. Breakfast was quiet, tension thick in the air. Her father's gaze was calm, yet it carried a weight that made the room feel heavy. Her mother, Lee Hye-jin, tried to smile, but the anxiety in her eyes betrayed her. Soo-jin, her elder sister, ate quietly, observing Soo-yeon with a mix of judgment and concern.
"Soo-yeon," her father began, voice steady and authoritative, "we need to talk about your future. Now."
Soo-yeon's heart skipped. Something in that tone, so calm yet so firm, told her that this conversation was different from all others. She knew, deep down, that her rebellious streak had finally led to consequences she could not simply brush aside.
"I… don't understand, Dad," she said cautiously.
"You will," he replied, placing a thick envelope on the table. Her name was written neatly on the front. Inside, a single sheet of paper bore words that made her chest tighten:
"You are to be engaged to Kang Ji-hoon, CEO of Kang Industries."
The room seemed to freeze. Her mother gasped, her sister's eyes widened, and Soo-yeon felt as if the ground beneath her shifted. She barely knew this man—he was twenty-five, cold, a rising young CEO, and now… her fiancé?
"Engaged? I… I can't… This isn't fair," she stammered.
"It is final," her father said calmly. "This is not just a family matter—it is an arrangement to secure your future. You will meet him next week. Consider it an opportunity, not a punishment."
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Soo-yeon tried to focus on her schoolwork, but every glance at the clock, every message notification, made her mind whirl with questions. Who was Kang Ji-hoon? Would he be cold, cruel, understanding, or… worse, indifferent? Could she stand this forced connection without losing herself?
Her friends tried to distract her. Se-ra insisted, "It's just a week. Just survive it. And maybe… maybe he's not as bad as your dad says."
Soo-yeon wanted to laugh. Survive it. She knew that surviving wasn't the issue—thriving while being forced into a bond she hadn't chosen? That was a different challenge altogether.
The day to meet him arrived, and the office of Kang Industries was a world away from her chaotic nights. Sleek, polished, intimidating. Soo-yeon felt her heartbeat spike as she entered. And then she saw him: Kang Ji-hoon. Tall, composed, precise. His eyes met hers—dark, intense, unreadable.
"You must be Han Soo-yeon," he said, voice low and steady.
"And you must be Kang Ji-hoon," she replied, keeping her tone even but adding a hint of sarcasm, her way of asserting control.
Their eyes locked, two strong wills sizing each other up. Not friendly, not hostile, but charged with a silent acknowledgment: this encounter would not be simple.
"I've heard a lot about you," Ji-hoon continued. "Most of it exaggerated, I'm sure."
"And I've heard about you too," Soo-yeon said, a small smirk forming. "Mostly that you're cold and boring."
A flicker of amusement crossed his face. Brief. Yet enough to make her pulse quicken, a mixture of annoyance and curiosity stirring within her.
As the meeting concluded, Soo-yeon walked out with her mind buzzing. This engagement wasn't just an event to survive—it was the beginning of something neither of them could predict.
Back on the street, the city lights mirrored the storm inside her. She laughed softly, a mixture of defiance and anxiety. Nights had always been her sanctuary. Now, they seemed to signal a challenge: to survive, to resist, to grow, and perhaps—unexpectedly—to feel.
Somewhere in the quiet corridors of Kang Industries, Ji-hoon might be thinking the same. Two worlds. Two strong personalities. Set on a collision course neither fully understood.
And for Soo-yeon, the rebellious girl who had always done what she wanted, the greatest challenge was just beginning.
Soo-yeon wandered aimlessly down the bustling streets after leaving Kang Industries. The city, alive and oblivious, continued its nightly rhythm: neon signs flickered, car horns echoed, and laughter spilled from cafes and shops. But for Soo-yeon, it felt as if the world had shifted beneath her feet. Everything familiar—the nights out, her friends, the small rebellions that defined her life—suddenly seemed fragile in comparison to the weight of what her father had announced.
Her phone buzzed. Se-ra.
"You okay? You look like someone just threw you into a volcano," the message read.
Soo-yeon smirked weakly at the screen, though inside she felt more like she had been trapped in one. "I'm fine," she typed back, though she knew she wasn't.
In truth, she didn't know what "fine" even meant anymore. Engaged? To a CEO? At twenty-five? Her world had always been hers, chaotic but hers. Now someone else's expectations loomed over her like a storm cloud she couldn't escape.
When she reached home, the quiet was suffocating. Her mother greeted her with a weak smile, avoiding direct eye contact. Her sister, Soo-jin, pretended to be engrossed in her phone, though the raised eyebrow told a story Soo-yeon didn't need to read.
Her father, Han Min-woo, sat at the dining table with a calm expression that only made Soo-yeon's anxiety worse. He didn't need to speak for her to know that the conversation wasn't over.
"Sit," he said simply.
Soo-yeon obeyed, sliding into the chair across from him. She wanted to run, to yell, to protest—but her feet felt heavy, her body tense. She hated the feeling of being small in front of him, of knowing that his decision could reshape her life.
"You must understand," her father began, his tone calm yet firm, "this engagement is not a punishment. It is a responsibility. Your mother and I have considered your future carefully. Kang Ji-hoon is a man of integrity, intelligence, and influence. This will provide you with opportunities you could not reach alone."
Soo-yeon opened her mouth, then closed it. She wanted to argue, to tell him he had no right to make this decision for her, yet something in her chest—fear, frustration, and a reluctant curiosity—kept her silent.
"I know you think this is unfair," her father continued, "but life is rarely fair. What matters is how you respond."
Soo-yeon's fingers clenched around the edge of the table. "Respond? You mean… obey?"
Her father's eyes didn't waver. "Consider it… learning to navigate responsibilities you cannot escape."
Her mother intervened softly, "Soo-yeon, I know this is hard. But maybe—just maybe—you'll see something you didn't expect."
"Or maybe I'll hate every second of it," Soo-yeon muttered, more to herself than to anyone else.
Later that evening, she retreated to her room. Her sanctuary. Posters on the walls, dim lighting, her bed piled with pillows—everything seemed unchanged, yet the room felt different. Heavy. Confined. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering what meeting Ji-hoon had been like. His composure. The intensity in his eyes. That flicker of amusement when she teased him.
Soo-yeon felt a strange mixture of irritation and curiosity. He was infuriatingly calm, annoyingly composed, yet somehow… intriguing. It scared her a little. She wasn't used to feeling this way about someone she barely knew, especially someone forced into her life.
Her phone buzzed again. A message from Se-ra:
"So… CEO boyfriend vibes? Or did he scare you to death?"
Soo-yeon laughed softly, a short, bitter sound. "Scared? Maybe. Annoyed? Definitely. Intrigued? Ugh… maybe."
The night passed slowly. She couldn't sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she imagined Ji-hoon's calculated expression, the crisp line of his suit, the way he spoke as if he measured every word before releasing it. Soo-yeon prided herself on being fearless, unpredictable—but now, confronted with him, she realized she was… cautious. Careful. A feeling that unnerved her more than she expected.
The following days at school were surreal. Friends noticed her distraction, whispering and nudging. Teachers tried to catch her attention, but she floated through classes, thoughts elsewhere, rehearsing conversations she might have with Ji-hoon. Each scenario ended the same: her defiance clashing with his calm authority, sparking a tension she could feel even from a distance.
During lunch, Se-ra leaned over, whispering, "So… what's he like, really? The mysterious CEO fiancé?"
"Like… someone I'm supposed to fear but can't ignore," Soo-yeon replied, eyes scanning the crowded cafeteria. "He's… irritatingly perfect."
Se-ra laughed, shaking her head. "Soo-yeon, just survive the meeting next week. You don't have to like him… yet."
Soo-yeon nodded, though she knew it wasn't that simple. Liking him wasn't the issue—surviving his presence without losing her pride and independence was the real challenge.
Back home, the tension with her father remained. Every glance, every word from him carried weight. Soo-yeon realized she had two choices: fight every step of the way and risk constant conflict, or find a way to navigate the engagement while keeping her independence intact. Neither option was easy.
She sank into her bed, phone in hand, staring at Ji-hoon's name in her thoughts. The city outside her window was alive with possibilities, yet she felt trapped in her own private storm. Questions swirled: Could she learn to live with him? Would she ever understand him? Or was this engagement just a cage in fancy clothing?
Soo-yeon didn't have answers yet. All she knew was that her life, as she had known it, was changing. And for the first time, she felt a flicker of… anticipation, tangled with anxiety and defiance.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges: school, friends, homework, and the looming reality of a future intertwined with someone she didn't yet know. But tonight, in the quiet of her room, she allowed herself a small, secret thrill. Perhaps the storm ahead wasn't just a threat—it might, somehow, shape her into someone stronger.
She closed her eyes, a small smirk tugging at her lips. Han Soo-yeon had never been one to bow easily, and she had no intention of starting now.