The moment class ended, Seo Yoori grabbed her bag, stood up, and marched straight out—never once sparing Raizen a glance.
She walked to the far end of the hallway where her tight-knit group of friends always waited. Their chatter cut off the moment they saw her approach.
Yoori's mask finally cracked.
"Yoori, you look pale—"
"Is it about that guy from earlier?" one of them asked sharply.
She nodded.
The air thickened.
Her closest friend, a tall girl in a cropped cardigan and knee-high boots, stepped closer. "Did you find something?"
Yoori lowered her voice. "I think… I know who it was."
The girls tensed.
"What?! Who?!"
"Is it someone from our class?!"
Yoori's expression darkened. "It's Hanazawa Takumi."
They froze.
Then—
"That loser?! You're kidding!"
"Wait—he's that guy who's Xuē's… pet, right?"
"I always thought he was a creep. Who chooses to be someone's pet?!"
One girl frowned. "Then it was him? He's the one who touched you that night?"
"That's the problem," Yoori muttered. "I'm not a hundred percent sure."
Silence.
Another friend finally said, "Then report him anyway. Let your family take care of it. One call from your dad, and that guy's career is over—maybe even his life."
Yoori shook her head. "No."
"What? Why not?"
"I don't want them involved. If I'm wrong—if it's not him—I'll just be dragging my family into something stupid. And if I'm right… then I'll deal with him myself. I'm capable of handling someone like him."
The group fell quiet.
"Deal with him? Yoori, what do you even mean by that?"
Another girl crossed her arms. "So what, you're gonna investigate him now?"
"I guess I have to," she muttered, eyes distant.
"How? Hire a private investigator?"
"No." She shook her head. "I can't trust one to keep a secret. They'd probably sell the info to my father just to get on his good side."
Someone leaned in. "Then try luring info out of him. Pretend to get close. Observe him."
"That's risky," another added. "But it might work…"
Suddenly, a sly voice cut in—
"Why not seduce him? Pretend you remember him from that night. See how he reacts. If he's guilty, he'll panic."
Yoori's face turned red. "I— I can't do that!! I'm not giving that creep more pervy thoughts about me!"
The girls laughed.
"Then you're in trouble."
Yoori bit her lip.
Is that really the only way…?
"If I confront him and I'm wrong… I'll never forgive myself. But if I stay silent and I'm right? That would be worse"
"I'll start by asking Xuē."
The others nodded.
After eating dinner at one of the finest restaurants near the campus her friends waved goodbye to her while she drove off to Xuē's famous bar from a nearby district.
⸻
Later That Day – Xuē's Bar
Yoori pushed through the doors of Xuē's bar, heels clicking against the polished tiles. Her face was cold, her movements sharp.
"Welcome—"
"I'm here to see your mistress. Xuē Liuyue."
The staff stiffened. They recognized her. One of the few woman in the city with a status that could rival their mistress.
Five minutes later, the infamous mistress of the bar emerged, gliding in her embroidered hanfu with elegant, deliberate grace. Purple-highlighted hair shimmered under the lights. Crimson lips curved into a smile.
"Oh?" Xuē said. "If it isn't the heiress herself. What brings you to my humble temple?"
Yoori's voice was clipped. "I need to talk to you. Now."
They sat across from each other in a velvet-draped side room. Candlelight flickered between them.
Xuē sipped her tea. "So. What's on your mind?"
"Hanazawa Takumi. Your toy. Your pet."
Xuē raised a brow. "So many titles. She's not my pet anymore, though. But him?"
Her eyebrow lifted playfully, curiosity dancing behind her smirk.
"I want to know where he was during the Astro Festival."
Xuē blinked. "Why?"
"I just need to confirm something."
Xuē tilted her head. "You sound like a jealous girlfriend. Didn't know you two were close."
Yoori narrowed her eyes. "Don't play dumb."
Xuē's inner thoughts:
So something happened that night… that explains the stress in her voice. I saw Takumi at the festival. He was with that idiot Ryo, gawking at girls across from my booth. Something must've happened between them. She looks like she's trying to piece it together… but she doesn't know everything yet.
Xuē smirked. "The heiress digging up on a nobody. Did something happen between you two?"
"N-no!" Yoori's cheeks flared.
Xuē leaned in, eyes gleaming. "Maybe you kissed?"
Yoori glared, trying to hide her panic.
Xuē's smirk widened. "Oh? Maybe even further?"
"…"
Xuē's thoughts:
So something messy did happen. I remember hearing her friends asking around during the festival. Maybe she was drunk? I did also hear whispers that one of her company's projects flopped… She must've snapped. But what's Hanazawa's role in it? Did that perv really take advantage of her?
Xuē leaned back, swirling her tea as she dissected every detail. Her smile turned devilish.
Yoori saw that face and froze. She knew Xuē too well. They had been rivals since childhood—forever compared, forever at odds. One of Xuē clan's biggest clients was Yoori's family. They were forced into proximity… and competition that started from an early age of being compared with one another.
She knows something.
Yoori leaned in. "Did you plan it? Did you send him that night? Was this your way of humiliating me?"
Xuē's voice turned honeyed. "Oh no. Did something happen? My poor little princess… was your perfect image shattered?"
Yoori stood. "I'm warning you.."
Xuē stood too, matching her height. "And I'm advising you… pick your battles. You're better at business than revenge."
"And why are you even accusing me?" she added lightly. "Have you even talked to him yet?"
"…"
Xuē chuckled. "So that's it… You're too scared to face him yourself. So you came here to sniff around. Classic princess—always making someone else clean up her mess."
Yoori bristled. "It was a mistake asking you for anything. As usual, you're useless."
Xuē's eyes flashed. Fire met ice.
Their glares clashed like drawn swords.
Xuē's inner thoughts:
So she's on a warpath… but doesn't know who she's even aiming at. And that idiot? I bet he has no idea she's hunting him. Oh, this is better than my late-night dramas. I can't wait to see which one cracks first.
Yoori turned sharply, ready to storm out. But at the doorway, she spun around—eyes like daggers.
"If I find out you had anything to do with that night… I'll make your life even more miserable than it already is."
Xuē raised her teacup again, smirking behind it.
"Game on, Ice Queen. Let the fireworks begin."
Xuē watched her leave, still smirking. She wouldn't interfere yet… but if Takumi was involved? She had a few questions of her own.