Arisoo wasn't looking for trouble.
She was looking for Nikki.
That was it.
A simple goal.
Down the hallway, past the sitting room, one hand lightly trailing along the wall as she called out—
"Nikki?"
No answer.
She frowned slightly, turning the corner—
and that's when she heard it.
Voices.
Low.
Behind a half-closed door.
She didn't mean to stop.
But she did.
Because one of them—
was Madam's.
And the other—
Min-Ji.
Arisoo's steps slowed.
Then stilled.
The door wasn't fully shut.
Just enough space for sound to slip through.
"…he rejected me."
Min-Ji's voice—tight, controlled, but fraying at the edges.
Arisoo's expression shifted slightly.
She didn't move closer.
Didn't lean in.
But she didn't walk away either.
Inside, Madam didn't respond immediately.
"…you pushed too far," she said calmly.
A pause.
Then Min-Ji laughed.
Sharp.
Disbelieving.
"I did exactly what was necessary."
"Necessary?" Madam repeated.
"Yes," Min-Ji snapped. "He would've continued ignoring everything if I didn't force it."
Force.
The word sat wrong.
Arisoo's eyes narrowed slightly.
Inside, Madam's tone didn't change.
"And what did forcing him achieve?"
Silence.
Then—
"It made him react," Min-Ji said.
"Not the way you wanted."
A beat.
Then, colder now—
"I don't need him to want it yet."
That—
made Arisoo go still.
Completely still.
Min-Ji's voice dropped, quieter now.
"But he will accept it."
Madam didn't interrupt.
Didn't correct her.
"…you're assuming too much control," she said instead.
"I'm taking control," Min-Ji replied. "Because no one else here is doing anything."
A faint scoff.
"You think waiting will solve this? It won't. Ji-Ah is already in the picture."
Arisoo's gaze sharpened.
Inside—
a pause.
Then—
Min-Ji continued, more deliberate now.
"I saw the way he looks at her."
Silence.
"He doesn't look at me like that," she added.
For the first time—
something real slipped through.
Not just calculation.
Something closer to frustration.
Maybe even insecurity.
But it didn't last.
Her voice hardened again.
"So I'll change that."
Madam's response came slow.
Measured.
"And how do you plan to do that?"
A small pause.
Then—
"I'll remove the distraction."
The words landed softly.
But they echoed.
Loud.
Arisoo's fingers curled slightly at her side.
Inside, Madam finally shifted.
"…be careful," she said.
"Of what?"
"Of creating consequences you can't control."
Min-Ji let out a quiet breath.
"I don't lose control."
Arisoo's expression changed.
Not shock.
Not fear.
Something sharper.
Colder.
Because that wasn't confidence.
That was blindness.
And it always came with damage.
Inside—
chairs shifted slightly.
Movement.
The conversation ending.
That was Arisoo's cue.
She stepped back.
Quiet.
Seamless.
Gone from the doorway before it opened.
By the time footsteps approached—
she was already halfway down the hall.
Walking.
Calm.
Like she hadn't heard a single word.
But her mind—
wasn't calm.
Not even close.
"…remove the distraction," she murmured under her breath.
A humorless exhale followed.
"Try it."
Her steps didn't slow.
Didn't hesitate.
They changed direction instead.
Straight down the corridor—
toward a door she didn't need to knock on.
Ha-Joon's Room
She pushed it open.
"Ha-Joon."
He turned immediately.
Standing near the window again—
like that had become his place.
His expression was neutral—
but something in it shifted the second he saw her.
"누나."
Arisoo stepped inside, closing the door behind her.
No smile this time.
No lightness.
Just focus.
"We need to talk."
That alone was enough to change the air.
Ha-Joon straightened slightly.
"…what happened?"
Arisoo didn't answer right away.
She walked further in—
then stopped.
Facing him fully.
And when she spoke—
her voice was calm.
But firm.
"Min-Ji isn't just being persistent."
A pause.
Her eyes held his.
"She's planning something."
Silence.
Not confusion.
Not disbelief.
Just… understanding settling in.
Because somehow—
that didn't surprise him.
"…what kind of something," he asked.
Arisoo didn't soften it.
"Something that involves Ji-Ah."
That—
did it.
His expression changed instantly.
Sharp.
Focused.
Dangerously quiet.
"…what did she say."
Arisoo held his gaze.
Every word clear.
"She said she'll remove the distraction."
The room went still.
Completely still.
And Ha-Joon—
didn't need anything else explained.
Ji-Ah stood in the kitchen, slicing fruit with careful hands.
Apple first.
Then pear.
Then orange.
Small neat pieces lined up on the plate like she was trying to organize thoughts she couldn't quite settle.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
The kind of quiet that made every sound louder—
the knife tapping the board,
the kettle humming,
the soft sigh she didn't realize she made.
Footsteps approached.
Seo-Yeon entered slowly.
One look at her face—
and Ji-Ah immediately looked up.
"…what happened?"
Seo-Yeon shook her head too fast.
"Nothing."
It was the saddest "nothing" Ji-Ah had heard all week.
She set the knife down.
"…you miss Min-Hyuk."
Seo-Yeon's eyes dropped.
Ji-Ah wiped her hands and leaned lightly against the counter.
"Then go back to him."
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Firm.
Ji-Ah blinked.
Seo-Yeon sniffed once and folded her arms.
"You're my sister."
A pause.
"They don't treat you well there."
Ji-Ah frowned.
"That is Min-Ji."
Seo-Yeon looked up.
Ji-Ah continued quietly.
"They treat her well."
Then she thought for a second—
blinked—
and added dryly:
"…actually, since I was in that house, nothing bad really happened."
A beat.
Then her face changed.
"Except Yoo-Na murdering my cat."
Seo-Yeon stared.
Ji-Ah shrugged faintly.
"…other than that."
Despite herself, Seo-Yeon let out a short laugh through her sniffle.
Ji-Ah smiled a little.
"I know we're poor," she said softly. "I know why you worry."
Seo-Yeon's eyes filled again.
"I just wanted to support this family."
Ji-Ah nodded.
"I know."
No judgment.
No blame.
Just understanding.
The kind that hurt more than anger.
Then—
ding dong.
Both of them froze.
Another ring.
They looked at each other.
Then toward the living room.
Then back at each other.
"…who is that?" Seo-Yeon whispered.
Ji-Ah already knew it was trouble.
They walked out together.
And stopped.
Because people were already entering.
Shoes being removed.
Voices filling the doorway.
The room that usually felt small suddenly felt crowded with importance.
Their father, Mr. Park, was already standing awkwardly near the sofa, looking half-confused, half-terrified.
And seated with all the calm of someone arriving exactly where she belonged—
Halmoni.
Beside her sat Arisoo, elegant in a soft cream blouse and tailored trousers, hair neatly tied back, expression warm but observant.
Next to Arisoo—
Min-Hyuk, in a simple dark knit and slacks, looking unfairly composed for someone who had clearly been dragged into family diplomacy.
And somehow—
Jeon-Seo was there too.
Sixteen years old.
Arms crossed.
Looking like he paid taxes and distrusted politicians.
He glanced at Ji-Ah once and nodded like an overworked uncle.
"…you're late," he said.
Ji-Ah blinked.
"This is my house."
He shrugged.
"Still."
Seo-Yeon muttered, "Why does he act forty-two?"
No one answered because everyone agreed.
Ji-Ah and Seo-Yeon quickly bowed.
"Halmoni."
Halmoni clicked her tongue.
"Come here first, respect later."
Ji-Ah immediately hurried over with the fruit plate she had just prepared.
"Take fruit," she said automatically.
Halmoni looked delighted.
"See?" she announced to the room. "This is why I like her."
She pointed dramatically.
"This girl gives me tea, massages my legs, brings fruit, listens to my stories, and laughs at my jokes even when they are weak."
"They are not weak," Ji-Ah said politely.
"They are terrible," Arisoo said dryly.
Halmoni gasped.
"Traitor."
Even Seo-Yeon laughed this time.
Arisoo smiled at Ji-Ah.
"I have very good memories with you," she said. "And Nikki still asks about you."
Ji-Ah softened immediately.
"He does?"
"He misses the snacks you sneak him."
"That child extorts me."
"He learned from family," Arisoo replied.
Min-Hyuk cleared his throat.
"She's really nice," he said, looking vaguely uncomfortable saying feelings aloud in public. "The house was… better with her there."
Then he looked at Seo-Yeon.
"And you should stop glaring at me. I didn't do anything today."
Seo-Yeon sniffed.
"You're associated with them."
"That's harsh."
"Live with it."
Halmoni waved both hands.
"Enough. Sit down. I came to fix this matter."
Everyone obeyed except Jeon-Seo, who remained standing like security.
Halmoni narrowed her eyes at him.
"Why are you standing there like a disappointed landlord?"
"I don't agree with this," he said bluntly.
Mr. Park immediately panicked.
"Go read upstairs."
"I already finished reading."
"Then read again."
"…there are no more pages."
"Make pages!"
Jeon-Seo sighed the sigh of a man burdened by foolish adults, then went upstairs anyway.
Halmoni nodded approvingly.
"Good boy. Too serious. But good boy."
Then she turned to Ji-Ah.
"Now. Come back."
Straight to the point.
Ji-Ah blinked.
"…No."
The room paused.
Halmoni blinked back.
"No?"
Ji-Ah sat straighter.
"I don't want to."
Arisoo leaned forward slightly.
"Before you decide fully," she said calmly, "you should know Min-Ji is becoming bolder."
Ji-Ah's expression changed.
Mr. Park looked between everyone like he needed subtitles.
Arisoo continued.
"She is acting as if the house already belongs to her."
Halmoni scoffed loudly.
"Over my stylish dead body."
Min-Hyuk rubbed his temple.
"She's causing tension."
Seo-Yeon muttered, "Shocking."
Mr. Park looked at Ji-Ah carefully.
"Do you want to go back?"
Ji-Ah was quiet for a long moment.
The room let her think.
Then she exhaled.
"…I'll only go back for one reason."
Halmoni leaned in.
Ji-Ah's eyes sharpened.
"To get rid of Min-Ji."
Seo-Yeon sat up straighter.
Arisoo smiled slowly.
Min-Hyuk looked impressed despite himself.
Ji-Ah continued.
"She thinks she can push everyone around. She thinks no one will challenge her. She thinks I'll just disappear."
A pause.
"She's wrong."
Halmoni slapped her knee.
"That's my girl!"
Ji-Ah pointed lightly.
"I'm not going back to suffer."
"Good."
"I'm not going back to beg."
"Excellent."
"I'm going back because I'm tired of her acting like she won already."
Halmoni beamed.
"Perfect. Terrifying. Elegant."
Mr. Park blinked.
"…should I be worried?"
"Yes," said three people at once.
Halmoni stood up with surprising speed.
"Then today."
Ji-Ah looked at her.
"Today?"
"Today," Halmoni repeated. "Before that girl rearranges my furniture and my blood pressure."
Ji-Ah hesitated only a second.
Then nodded.
"…okay."
Halmoni pointed grandly toward the door.
"I will wait for you outside like a queen in exile."
"You are not in exile," Min-Hyuk said.
"Silence."
She stood.
Arisoo stood too.
Graceful.
Composed.
Min-Hyuk followed, already resigned.
Ji-Ah and Seo-Yeon looked at each other.
And just like that—
the quiet little house had become the center of a family storm.