The next morning, the street outside Ha-Joon's mansion looked peaceful.
Which made the situation at the gate even more suspicious.
A head slowly popped up over the tall iron bars.
Ji-Ah.
A second head appeared above hers.
Soo-Min.
And above that was Min-Jea… balanced awkwardly on Soo-Min's shoulders like a tall, unstable totem pole.
"Min-Jea," Soo-Min hissed quietly. "If you fall, I'm not catching you."
"I'm not falling," he whispered.
His foot slipped slightly.
"I might fall."
Ji-Ah squinted into the mansion yard.
Two bodyguards stood near the entrance.
No one else.
She looked up at the human tower.
"Okay," she whispered.
Soo-Min straightened proudly despite the extra human weight.
Ji-Ah pointed dramatically.
"Soo-Min, guard the gate. If he comes back, signal us."
Soo-Min nodded like a professional spy.
"Got it."
Ji-Ah turned to Min-Jea.
"You bring the motorcycle."
Min-Jea blinked.
"Just the motorcycle?"
"Yes."
"Not the expensive cars? The statues? Maybe a chandelier?"
Ji-Ah gave him a look.
"The motorcycle."
Min-Jea nodded seriously.
"Understood. Operation: Save the Bike."
They climbed over the gate and landed inside the yard.
Outside, Soo-Min crouched behind the bushes like an extremely determined but slightly confused lookout.
Min-Jea slipped toward the garage.
He peeked inside.
And there it was.
Ji-Ah's motorcycle.
Shining beautifully like a loyal metal horse waiting to escape.
Min-Jea wiped a fake tear.
"There you are… my majestic steel princess."
He carefully rolled the bike toward the garage exit.
Quiet.
Quiet.
Almost there—
Two bodyguards walked past outside.
Min-Jea froze instantly.
The motorcycle froze too.
One guard stopped.
"…Did you hear something?"
Min-Jea panicked.
Without thinking, he made a sound.
"Meow."
The sound echoed.
Both guards turned slowly.
"…Did that cat sound like a grown man?" one asked.
Min-Jea's eyes widened.
He slapped both hands over his mouth.
Why did I meow.
The guards stepped closer.
"Who's there?"
Min-Jea whispered desperately to himself,
"Think. Think. Think."
Just then, something CRASHED loudly somewhere across the yard.
Both guards turned their heads.
"What was that?"
"Probably the gardeners again."
They walked off toward the noise.
Min-Jea collapsed against the motorcycle in relief.
"Oh thank goodness."
Then he whispered dramatically,
"I hope Ji-Ah is doing okay…"
Meanwhile, outside the gate, Soo-Min peeked through the bars.
She squinted toward the mansion.
"…Why do I feel like Ji-Ah is causing a disaster in there?"
Inside the mansion, chaos was unfolding quietly.
Very quietly.
Ji-Ah crouched behind a sofa, holding Earth, her majestic white cat.
The problem?
Earth had wrapped himself around Yuki like a furry octopus and refused to let go.
"Earth," Ji-Ah whispered desperately. "Baby. Sweet angel. Let go."
Earth tightened his grip.
Yuki looked deeply offended by the entire situation.
Across the living room, Arisoo sat on the couch while little Nikki played beside her with toy blocks.
Ji-Ah finally managed to pry Earth loose.
Victory.
She lifted him into her arms.
"Got you."
But just as she turned—
Nikki looked up.
Their eyes locked.
The boy's mouth opened.
"Ji—"
Ji-Ah's eyes widened. She immediately raised a finger to her lips.
"Shhhhh!"
Nikki froze.
Then slowly nodded like they had just entered a secret spy alliance.
He whispered dramatically, "Okay."
Mission Cat Retrieval: Success.
Now only two things remained.
Her motorcycle keys.
And her helmet.
Ji-Ah carefully slipped toward the staircase.
Step by step.
Earth rested in her arms like a fluffy criminal accomplice.
At the top of the stairs she peeked into the hallway.
Then suddenly—
A door opened.
Ji-Ah immediately spun around and ducked behind the wall.
It was Yoo-Na.
She stepped out of her room, walked calmly down the hall, and entered Madam's room.
Ji-Ah quickly covered Earth's mouth.
"Don't," she whispered.
Earth blinked slowly.
The door closed.
The hallway fell silent again.
Ji-Ah exhaled.
"Okay…"
Outside the gate…
Soo-Min paced nervously.
Suddenly the garage door creaked.
Min-Jea rolled out triumphantly with the motorcycle.
He grinned like a man who had just rescued a royal treasure.
Soo-Min ran a hand through her hair in relief.
"You actually did it!"
Min-Jea bowed.
"Operation Save the Bike was successful."
They both looked toward the mansion.
"…Where's Ji-Ah?" Soo-Min asked.
Right then—
A sleek black car approached the gate.
Both of them froze.
The gate opened.
Ha-Joon's car slid inside the driveway.
"RUN," Soo-Min whispered.
She quickly typed on her phone.
ABORT ABORT ABORT
Message sent to Ji-Ah.
But inside the mansion…
Ji-Ah never saw it.
Outside, Soo-Min grabbed Min-Jea's sleeve.
"We're leaving!"
"But Ji—"
"MOVE!"
And the two of them ran.
Inside the mansion, Ji-Ah was still tiptoeing through the hallway.
She passed Nisa and Do-Hyun's room successfully.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Then she reached the worst part of the hallway.
Madam's room.
Her own room was all the way at the end… annoyingly close to Ha-Joon's room.
Ji-Ah muttered quietly.
"Why did I choose the worst bedroom in this house…"
Just as she stepped forward—
CLICK.
Madam's door opened.
Ji-Ah panicked.
With Earth in her arms she lunged for the nearest door and slipped inside, pressing her back flat against the wall.
The hallway outside went quiet again.
Ji-Ah sighed in relief.
Then she slowly opened her eyes.
And froze.
"…Oh no."
She knew this room.
Ha-Joon had told her one thing very clearly once.
Never open this door.
And now she was standing inside it.
The room was filled with paintings.
Beautiful paintings.
Large ones. Small ones. Sketches, framed canvases, unfinished works.
But in the very center stood a single painting covered by a cloth.
Around it…
Were photographs.
Photos pinned along the walls.
Photos on tables.
Photos in frames.
All of her.
Ji-Ah.
Laughing.
Sleeping.
Riding her motorcycle.
Drinking coffee.
Even one picture of her yelling at someone.
Scattered among the photos were small objects.
A hair tie.
One shoe.
A bracelet.
A perfume bottle.
A necklace she thought was hers but never was.
Ji-Ah's breath caught.
"…What?"
Her hand slowly reached for the cloth covering the central painting.
Just as her fingers touched the fabric—
A voice sliced through the room.
Sharp.
Cold.
"What are you doing here?"
Ji-Ah jumped.
Earth jumped too.
Both of them froze like guilty statues.