A piece of bad and good news for Minji and Eunji

The moment the production team exited the café, the tension in the air dissipated like steam from a hot cup of coffee. The faint chime of the door closing behind them seemed almost symbolic—Sae-ri's problems were now theirs to fix.

She turned towards Sungjun, a smirk curling at the corner of her lips. "Well, well… I definitely made the right call handing you that contract."

She playfully patted his shoulder, her tone carrying both amusement and genuine appreciation. "I swear, if I had just signed it blindly, I would've ended up with half my earnings gone and a lifetime of free labor."

Sungjun simply adjusted his mask, his expression unreadable beneath the fabric. "It's good that you checked."

Sangwoo then suddenly bowed deeply. "I apologize, Sae-ri-nim. I should have caught those loopholes myself."

Sae-ri waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, come on. It's not like you could've noticed everything. These contracts are always designed to be misleading. Even senior old managers sometimes miss things." She crossed her arms, her gaze shifting towards the empty space where the production team had been seated. "Back when I was just starting out, I didn't have the luxury to question these terms. I needed roles more than I needed a fight. If I ever dared to raise my voice, they'd just blacklist me and move on to the next actress."

Sangwoo grimaced. "That's exactly why these studios get away with such contracts in the first place. They bank on the fact that actors—especially rookies—won't question them."

Sae-ri sighed. "Times have changed, though. I'm not that desperate girl anymore. They need me just as much as I need them."

Sungjun, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke. "Still, they'll try again."

Sae-ri and Sangwoo looked at him.

"They won't make it obvious, but when they send the revised contract, they'll try to slip in something else. Maybe in a different section, maybe in the fine print. Be ready for that."

Sangwoo nodded, determination flashing in his eyes. "I'll go through it with a fine-tooth comb this time."

Sae-ri grinned. "And if we miss something, we'll just have Sungjun play detective again."

Sungjun gave a slight shrug, clearly unbothered.

Just then, their coffees arrived.

Sae-ri took a sip, exhaling in satisfaction. "Alright. Business talk over. Let's just enjoy the rest of the day, shall we?"

Sangwoo chuckled, finally relaxing. "Agreed."

Sungjun didn't respond, but the slight tilt of his head suggested he had no objections. For now, the battle was won.

Meanwhile, far away from the cafe, in Gangnam District of Seoul, at Xcess Entertainment Agency;

The wooden floor of the practice room was cool against their sweat-drenched backs as Han Minji and Han Eunji lay sprawled out, catching their breath after an intense dance session. The overhead lights buzzed softly, the rhythmic pounding of music still echoing faintly in their ears.

The door creaked open, and a staff member poked their head in. "Minji-ssi, Eunji-ssi, CEO-nim wants to see you in her office."

The twins exchanged glances.

"Now?" Minji asked, pushing herself up on her elbows.

The staff member nodded. "Yes, right away."

A feeling of unease settled between them, but they quickly pulled themselves together, wiped their sweat, and followed the staff member down the hall.

The CEO's office was sleek and modern, floor-to-ceiling windows offering a stunning view of Gangnam's skyline. Their CEO, named Kang Mi-young, a poised woman in her late 40s, greeted them with a warm smile.

"Come in, sit down." She gestured toward the plush, three-seater sofa.

Minji and Eunji settled into the cushions, their postures stiff with anticipation. CEO Kang took a seat opposite them, her fingers interlaced on her lap.

"I have something important to discuss with you," she began, her voice calm but firm. "It's about your debut plans."

Minji and Eunji sat up straighter, eyes wide.

"Originally, you were set to debut with three other members," the CEO continued. "However, there's been a change."

A heavy silence filled the room.

"Bae Somin has officially left the company." Kang Mi-young finished the sentence.

Eunji's stomach dropped. Minji let out a sharp breath. "What?" She blurted out.

CEO Kang sighed. "And Hwang Sena… she isn't ready yet. Her dance skills still need work, and we can't rush her debut. That leaves just the two of you."

Minji clenched her fists in her lap. They had trained for years, poured every ounce of their energy into preparing for this moment—only for it to crumble before their eyes.

Eunji swallowed hard and asked the question weighing on both their minds. "What happens now?"

The CEO exhaled, leaning back in her chair. "You have two options."

The twins waited, tension thick between them.

"One, you debut as a duo. A twin concept would definitely attract attention."

Minji and Eunji exchanged a wary glance.

"But," the CEO continued, "neither of you are rappers. Without a solid rap line, it will be difficult to sustain a strong fanbase. Ideally, you need a third member—a strong rapper with powerful dance skills, like Somin."

Minji's expression hardened. "And if we can't find one?"

The CEO hesitated. "Then we wait. If we find both a rapper and another qualified trainee, we debut as a four-member team. Until then… you continue training."

Minji bit her lip. More waiting. More uncertainty.

Seeing the disappointment etched on their faces, the CEO leaned forward, her tone softening. "Now, for some good news."

The twins looked up, hope flickering in their eyes.

"To give you both more exposure, I've arranged for you to perform as backup dancers for Ryu Jaesung at the upcoming awards show."

Eunji's mouth fell open. "Wait… the Ryu Jaesung?"

The CEO nodded. "Yes. It's not your debut, but it's a major stage. You'll be performing in front of thousands of people and millions watching from home. It's a great opportunity."

Minji and Eunji stared at each other, their initial disappointment melting into excitement.

A chance to stand on a grand stage with none other than Ryu Jaesung, to be seen, to make an impression—maybe this wasn't the debut they had dreamed of, but it was still a step forward.

The following morning;

The agency doors swung shut behind them, and Han Minji and Han Eunji stepped out into the crisp evening air, stretching their arms.

"Finally, a break," Minji sighed, rolling her stiff shoulders.

Eunji chuckled, slipping her hands into her pockets. "Feels weird, doesn't it? A whole Sunday off."

The CEO had granted them a rare leave, perhaps out of pity after delivering the crushing news about their debut. But instead of sulking, the twins had decided to spend the weekend at their family's Cheonghwa estate—a place they hadn't visited in months. The last time they visited was when their grandpa was alive. Back then, he invited their family to have lunch together.

As soon as they entered the mansion, Jiyeon was seen rushing toward them, her face lighting up.

"You're finally here!" she exclaimed, pulling Minji into a tight hug.

Minji, who had been chatting with Jiyeon on KakaoTalk daily, received an extra squeeze.

Eunji adjusted her glass and smirked. "What about me? Where's my special hug?"

Jiyeon pulled back and playfully flicked Eunji's forehead. "You get a regular hug."

Laughing, they made their way inside, but their first stop wasn't their room—it was their parents' bedroom.

The door creaked open, revealing Seol-ah sitting on the bed, flipping through a book. "Omma!" Minji and Eunji called in unison, rushing to her side.

Seol-ah looked up, her lips curving into a soft smile. "Oh, my girls." She hugged them, but her enthusiasm didn't quite match theirs. Something about her seemed… off. Like her thoughts were elsewhere.

Minji's brow furrowed. "Mom, you okay?"

Seol-ah nodded, patting their hands. "Of course, sweetie. I'm just a little tired."

The twins exchanged a glance but didn't press further. Instead, they chatted for a bit before the steward arrived to show them their separate rooms.

As Minji flopped onto the plush mattress in the room she and her sister were assigned, she sighed. "It was so nice here."

Eunji, lying upside down on the bed, with her glasses removed, said. "Yeah, the room is the size of the entire apartment we were sharing with those six more at the dorm. We had spacious rooms at our home too, but this is bigger."

Right then, a knock sounded at the door, followed by a voice. "Minji-yah, Eunji-yah, Appa is here…"

Minji and Eunji looked at each other. "Appa."

The door swung open, revealing Han Tae-jin, his usually composed expression replaced with a rare, joyful smile.

"My girls!"

Before they could react, he strode in and scooped them both up—one in each arm—spinning them around.

"Appa!" Minji shrieked, laughing as her feet left the ground.

Eunji squealed, gripping his shoulders. "Put us down before you break your back!"

Tae-jin let out a hearty chuckle, finally setting them down. "You've gotten heavier."

Minji pouted. "That's rude."

Eunji nudged him. "You're just getting weaker, old man."

Tae-jin ruffled their hair, his eyes gleaming with warmth. "I missed you two."

From the staircase, Sungjun watched the scene unfold, sipping his coffee with a small smile.

"Hyung acts all strict," he murmured to himself, "but for his daughters, he's just a loving father."