The next day—
Jisoo didn't come alone.
Neither did Shen Yan.
Minji was already there.
Mr. Kim stood beside her.
For the first time—
All four of them were together.
Not casually.
Not by coincidence.
But for one reason.
Truth.
A quiet meeting room.
Door closed.
No interruptions.
Only answers.
Jisoo looked at Minji.
Then at Mr. Kim.
Then at Shen Yan.
"…Start," she said softly.
Minji took a breath.
"…It didn't begin with you two," she said.
"…It began with the company."
Jisoo frowned slightly.
Mr. Kim stepped forward.
"…There were internal conflicts," he explained.
"…Power. Control. Positions."
"…Shen Yan became a problem."
Jisoo's eyes shifted.
"…Because of his work?"
"…Because of his influence," Mr. Kim replied.
"…And because he refused to follow certain decisions."
Silence.
Shen Yan didn't interrupt.
Because he already knew this part.
Minji continued.
"…They couldn't remove him directly," she said.
"…So they targeted something else."
A pause.
Her eyes moved to Jisoo.
"…You."
Jisoo's breath slowed.
"…Me?"
"…You were the easiest way to break him," Minji said quietly.
"…And the easiest way to control the situation."
The words settled heavily.
Jisoo looked down.
Thinking.
Remembering.
"…The misunderstandings…" she whispered.
Shen Yan nodded slightly.
"…Were created," he said.
"…Messages changed. Situations arranged."
"…People placed at the right time."
Mr. Kim added—
"…Even your arguments were pushed."
"…So you would both react emotionally."
Jisoo closed her eyes for a second.
Everything started making sense.
"…And the shadow?" she asked.
The room fell silent.
Minji and Mr. Kim exchanged a glance.
Shen Yan's expression hardened.
"…That's the part we don't fully know," he said.
"…But they're connected."
"…To all of this."
Jisoo looked up again.
Stronger now.
"…Then we find them."
A pause.
Mr. Kim nodded.
"…We've already started."
Minji stepped closer.
"…We're not letting this happen again."
Jisoo looked at her.
For a moment—
The past stood between them.
Then—
Slowly—
It faded.
"…No more hiding things," Jisoo said.
Minji nodded.
"…No more."
Shen Yan looked at all of them.
"…We do this together."
Mr. Kim gave a small, firm nod.
"…Together."
Silence.
But this time—
It wasn't uncertain.
It was decided.
Outside the room—
Someone stood.
Listening.
Still.
Careful.
The same shadow.
But closer now.
Closer than ever before.
And this time—
A faint smile appeared.
Because the game—
Was finally beginning.