5

"Close to the correct answer," I murmured as Hyerin settled back into her seat, her expression unreadable. "But not quite there."

She didn't react immediately, simply placing her pen down and straightening her notebook with quiet precision.

I tilted my head slightly, studying her.

"But," I continued, tapping my fingers idly against my desk, "Miss Kyung didn't tear you apart, which means you did well enough to be acknowledged."

I let a small smile tug at my lips. "I guess you might be something after all."

Hyerin finally turned to me, her gaze steady. There was no smugness, no false humility—just quiet confidence.

"I don't need your approval," she said simply.

I chuckled under my breath, watching the way she shifted her focus back to her notes, deliberately ignoring me.

Ah.

I leaned back, tapping my pen against the edge of my notebook.

"You say that," I mused, "but I wonder how long it'll take before you start wanting it."

She didn't answer.

But I saw the way her grip on her pen tightened, just slightly.

Good.

That meant she was listening. 

I smiled, resting my chin against my palm.

"How about we hang out after classes today?"

Hyerin finally looked at me, her expression unreadable. Cautious.

I continued before she could refuse.

"I have something very interesting to show you," I said, my tone light, conversational, yet carrying an undertone of something deeper. "A little secret about how students manage to stay up all night, keep their ranks, and survive in this harsh environment."

She didn't react outright, but I caught the slight shift in her gaze—a flicker of intrigue, of calculation.

She was trying to figure out if I was messing with her.

I wasn't.

Not entirely, anyway.

I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice just enough for only her to hear.

"How about it, Hyerin?"

For the first time, she hesitated—not out of uncertainty, but out of consideration.

Hyerin studied me for a long moment, her fingers lightly tapping against her notebook. She wasn't the type to agree to things without reason—she was calculating, considering whether whatever I had to show her was worth her time.

Finally, she sighed. "Alright."

I smiled, satisfied.

"Good choice."

The bell rang, signaling the end of class. Around us, students began packing up their things, their conversations blending into the usual hum of the hallway. Hyerin slipped her notebook into her bag, moving with the same deliberate care she always did.

I didn't rush her.

Instead, I stood, waiting as she slung her bag over her shoulder and turned to me, her expression expectant.

"So?" she asked, her voice even. "Where are we going?"

I glanced at the clock. "Not yet. After all the classes are over."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with my vague answer.

I chuckled. "Be patient, Hyerin." I gestured toward the door. "Come on, we still have more lessons to get through before then."

She exhaled but didn't argue, stepping out into the hallway alongside me.

As we walked, I could feel the eyes on us again—curious, speculative.

The transfer student and Rank #1, spending time together?

People would talk.

I didn't care.

And, judging by the way Hyerin kept her head forward, ignoring the murmurs around us, neither did she.

Good.

That meant she was ready to see how things really worked in Seonghwa.

The final bell rang, marking the end of the day. I took my time leaving the classroom, already knowing where she'd be.

Sure enough, Hyerin was waiting by the side entrance, standing near the marble pillars with her arms crossed, gaze drifting toward the sparse flow of students. Unlike the front entrance—crowded, filled with noise and posturing—this area was quieter, reserved for those who preferred to move unnoticed.

I approached with an amused smile. "Not the main entrance?"

She turned slightly at my voice, her expression neutral. "Too many people."

I chuckled. "Like I care."

She didn't argue, only adjusting her bag slightly.

I gestured for her to follow. "We'll need to change first. The place we're going…" I glanced pointedly at her uniform. "Let's just say walking in like this wouldn't be ideal."

She raised an eyebrow but didn't press for details.

"You'll stick out," I added, smirking. "And trust me, you don't want to."

A short pause, then a quiet sigh. "Fine. Where to?"

I glanced toward the main school building. "My place first. You don't mind, do you?"

Another pause, but this time, she only gave a small nod.

"Lead the way."

She wasn't questioning me anymore.

That was enough.

I led the way, weaving through the quieter corridors of the academy. Hyerin followed, silent but watchful, taking in every turn as if memorizing the path.

The car was already waiting for us outside the gates—a sleek black sedan, polished to perfection, its presence as unassuming as it was unmistakably elite. The driver stepped forward to open the door the moment we approached.

Hyerin hesitated for the briefest moment before stepping in.

I slid in beside her, the door shutting with a soft finality. The ride was smooth, the hum of the engine barely noticeable as the city passed by in a blur of glass and steel.

She didn't ask where we were going.

She didn't speak at all.

Instead, she looked out the window, her gaze drifting over the illuminated skyline of Seoul, fingers lightly tapping against her lap in thought.

"You're quieter than usual," I noted, breaking the silence.

She didn't turn away from the window. "I don't have anything to say."

I smirked. "That's rare. Usually, people are full of questions when I bring them somewhere unknown."

She finally glanced at me, unimpressed. "If I asked, would you actually answer?"

I let out a soft laugh. "Fair point."

The car pulled up to the Yoon estate minutes later, the gates opening without hesitation. The grand structure stood exactly as it always did—pristine, cold, and unwelcoming to anyone who wasn't meant to be here.

I stepped out first, gesturing for her to follow.

She did, but not without taking a second to observe her surroundings. The way her eyes flickered briefly toward the marble steps, the intricate details of the towering windows—she was paying attention, even if she didn't say anything.

Interesting.

"Come on," I said, leading her inside. "Let's get you changed."

She raised an eyebrow, the first sign of skepticism since we arrived. "You have something for me?"

I smiled. "Of course."

Because if she was going to walk into where we were going tonight, she couldn't look like a transfer student.

She had to look like she belonged.

I stepped into my closet, pulling open a drawer before tossing a black hoodie toward her. "Tie up your hair, wear this with the sweatpants over there," I gestured to a folded set on the shelf. "And grab a pair of black boots—any of them will do."

Hyerin caught the hoodie, staring at it for a moment before looking toward the shoes lined up neatly along the shelves. Her hesitation was subtle, but I caught it.

"You need to make sure no one recognizes you," I added, crossing my arms. "Understand?"

She exhaled, nodding. "Okay… but all these clothes, the boots—" She glanced at them again, her brows slightly furrowed. "They're all luxury brands."

I smirked. "I know."

She still didn't move, her fingers brushing over the fabric of the hoodie as if debating whether or not to actually wear it.

I tilted my head. "Don't overthink it, Hyerin. Just put them on."

She glanced at me then, still skeptical.

I let a lazy smile pull at my lips. "And make sure you feel a little special while you're at it."

Her expression barely shifted, but I saw the way her fingers curled slightly tighter around the hoodie.

"After all," I continued smoothly, "no one except me is allowed to wear my clothes."

I turned away, pulling my own change of clothes from the rack. "But you," I murmured over my shoulder, "you're a bit special."

She didn't respond right away.

But after a beat, I heard the soft rustling of fabric.

She was putting them on.

Good.

I waited, leaning against the wall, listening to the quiet shuffle of fabric as Hyerin changed. She didn't complain. Didn't stall.

She was surprisingly obedient when she wanted to be.

I smirked to myself, adjusting the sleeves of my own hoodie before glancing over just as she finished tying up her hair.

The transformation was subtle but effective. The neat, polished student of Seonghwa was gone. In her place was someone unrecognizable—dressed down, inconspicuous, blending in with the kind of people who didn't want to be seen.

Her fingers lingered at the hem of the hoodie, her expression unreadable.

"Fits you well," I mused.

She looked at me, skeptical. "You planned this, didn't you?"

I chuckled, stuffing my hands into my pockets. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

She sighed, adjusting the sleeves slightly before stepping forward. "Alright. Let's go."

I raised an eyebrow. "No more questions?"

She shook her head. "You'll just give me vague answers, so what's the point?"

Smart.

I gestured for her to follow as we slipped back through the hallway, taking a quieter route out of the estate. No one saw us leave.

That was the point.

The city was alive when we stepped outside, the distant hum of traffic and neon lights flickering against the darkening sky. I led her toward an alleyway just a few blocks down, where a black motorcycle was already waiting—mine.

Hyerin stopped beside me, her gaze flickering toward the bike, then back at me.

I smirked. "What? Never been on one before?"

She crossed her arms. "I have."

"Good." I tossed her a helmet. "Then get on."

She hesitated, just for a moment, before taking the helmet and sliding it on.

I swung one leg over the bike, the cool metal familiar beneath my grip.

She climbed on behind me, her movements careful, unsure.

"You might want to hold on," I said, amused.

Hyerin hesitated before lightly gripping the side of my hoodie, just barely touching it.

I sighed dramatically. "That's not going to keep you from falling, you know."

Still, she didn't move.

I smirked. "Suit yourself."

With a smooth motion, I twisted the throttle, and the engine roared to life.

The bike surged forward, cutting through the streets, the cold night air whipping past us.

A few seconds later, I felt it—Hyerin's arms tightening around my waist.

I laughed under my breath.

I knew she'd break first.