The thread between us

The next morning, Ji Ah noticed something in Ryu Hwan's hand—an elegant black envelope sealed with silver wax. Her sharp eyes immediately caught the familiar emblem printed on it.

"That symbol… this is the same diamond exhibition I was assigned to infiltrate. Why does he have an invitation?"she wondered.

Feigning innocence, she asked, "What's that invitation for? Are you going somewhere?"

Ryu Hwan glanced at the envelope and replied casually, "Oh, it's for a diamond exhibition. I've been invited as a guest. But…"

Ji Ah narrowed her eyes. "But what?"

He shrugged dramatically. "It's the kind of event where people usually go with their lovers. There's a whole evening of dance and fun after the exhibition. Sounds boring to go alone, doesn't it?" He raised the invitation as if to tear it up and toss it in the trash.

"Wait!" Ji Ah blurted. "I could come with you. As your fake lover."

Ryu Hwan stopped mid-motion, looking at her with amused surprise. "You? As my fake lover?" He slowly approached her, smirking. "Why fake? If you want, you could be my real lover. Don't tell me you've started liking this monster."

Ji Ah quickly masked her flustered reaction. "Actually, I have a mission at the exhibition. Someone is planning to show up there in disguise. I need to stop them."

Ryu Hwan's smile widened. "Oh, so Miss Hunter is on a hunt again… and bumped into me. How poetic."

Ji Ah began to second-guess her decision. 'Did I just reveal too much to a psycho?'

Trying to stay composed, she said, "You said you didn't kidnap me, right? So we can just go together. You handle your guest duties, and I handle my mission. All I need is your help to get in."

Ryu Hwan smirked with mock resistance. "Hmm… not so fast. First, say please."

Ji Ah rolled her eyes internally. Is he serious? Say please? To this lunatic?

He raised the invitation teasingly. "No 'please'? Maybe this mission isn't that important to you after all. I should probably tear this up."

"No, no! Please, Ryu Hwan. Help me," Ji Ah said, reluctantly but sincerely.

He burst into laughter. "How cute."

Annoyed, Ji Ah stomped her foot and turned to leave. "How does anyone tolerate someone as stubborn and insane as you?!"

Ryu Hwan called after her, "We're leaving this evening. Go check your cupboard—there's a gift waiting for you."

---

That afternoon, Ji Ah opened her cupboard. Her eyes widened.

Inside hung a stunning vine red bodycon dress, tailored perfectly for a glamorous evening. Since she was on a mission, Ji Ah hadn't brought many clothes—just essentials. She had occasionally borrowed a few pieces Ryu Hwan had lying around. Now, it seemed he had added a few more casual clothes for her.

Curious, she opened the lower drawers. One had makeup, hair accessories, and elegant jewelry. The bottom drawer contained matching heels for the dress.

Then she noticed a sticky note stuck to the corner of the wardrobe door. In neat, slightly messy handwriting, it read:

"If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask. I know you won't say it directly, but you can always leave me a note. Cute idea, right?"

Ji Ah smiled despite herself.

---

That evening, Ryu Hwan waited downstairs. He wore a sleek black suit, a subtle red dragon brooch pinned to his blazer. Ember, perched on his left shoulder, glanced at the clock with him as they waited.

Then, the door opened.

Ji Ah stepped out in the red dress, her curves elegantly framed. A slit on the left revealed her toned thigh, adorned with a black chain. High heels clicked softly as she walked, her hair styled into a perfect bun.

Ember chirped excitedly and fluttered in the air. Ryu Hwan simply stared, captivated.

Even the twin brothers whistled. "Wooow. We didn't know you could look this beautiful."

Ryu Hwan stood, approaching her. Ji Ah looked a little nervous under his gaze.

"Looking like that... who would want to leave the house?"he murmured.

Ji Ah blushed and offered an awkward smile. "The dress fits perfectly. How did you even know my size?"

Ryu Hwan merely smiled, extending his hand. "Shall we, Miss Hunter?"

---

The exhibition buzzed with elegance and security. As they entered, a man approached Ryu Hwan—likely the one who had sent the invitation. Ryu Hwan turned to Ji Ah.

"Enjoy the event. I'll be back soon, just a bit of business."

Ji Ah watched him go, confused. "Wasn't he the one who wanted to enjoy? I'm the one with a mission!"

Shaking off her thoughts, she scanned the diamond displays, eyes sharp for suspicious activity. Then she spotted someone—a man behaving oddly near the elevators. Instinct told her he wasn't just a guest.

She began following him, but just as she neared the elevator, a sudden explosion rocked the hall.

One of the display tables had burst into flames, triggering chaos. Screams echoed, people ran in panic.

Ji Ah turned back, eyes darting through the smoke and confusion.

The man was gone.

A firm grip caught her wrist. She spun around to see Ryu Hwan.

"You alright?" he asked, his tone sharp, alert.

She nodded. "We need to find that man. He was near the elevator before the blast."

 Ryu Hwan replied. "Let's go."

As alarms blared and guards scrambled, Ji Ah and Ryu Hwan disappeared into the smoke, chasing shadows beneath the sparkle.