Chapter 15 : An Offer at Dusk

A few hours earlier…

The evening sky cast a dull orange hue over the city as a young woman pulled her car over by the roadside.

"Ughhh… It's so hard to find a test subject for this product," she muttered, brushing her hair back in frustration.

She looked visibly irritated. Night was approaching fast, and her assignment remained incomplete.

Just then, she spotted someone stepping out of a convenience store—a woman with a visibly rough appearance.

It was Kang Han-na, exiting the store with two plastic bags filled with cheap groceries. The occasional honk of a car horn and hum of engines cut through the otherwise quiet street. Her body was exhausted, her hair messy from the wind, and sweat had caused the back of her shirt to cling to her skin.

"Perfect," the young woman said, immediately stepping out of her car.

Meanwhile, Han-na walked calmly, though she remained alert—just as she always did. After all, anything could happen in a split second. The world was far too cruel to those who looked weak and unattractive.

From across the street, she noticed the young woman waving at her. The woman stood out—fashionable in an ivory-white coat that matched the luxury car beside her. Though the streetlights hadn't turned on yet, her presence alone drew attention.

Han-na eyed her cautiously as the woman crossed the road and approached. Unsure whether the gesture was directed at her, she glanced around. There was no one else nearby. Still, she didn't recognize the woman.

The woman stopped in front of her.

"Excuse me, miss—may I have a moment of your time?" the woman greeted her politely, though with a bit too much confidence. She looked like she meant to offer a handshake but hesitated, clearly uneasy with Han-na's appearance.

Han-na frowned. "Uh… are you talking to me? What's this about?"

"I'm Kim Areum, from the product research department at J.O.Y CosmeTech. We're currently recruiting candidates for a new beauty project and... you're a great fit."

Han-na almost laughed. "Me? A great fit?"

The woman smiled gently. "We're looking for someone with, well… extreme skin conditions—and you're... very, very ideal."

Han-na held her breath. It stung—but it was honest.

"Sorry. I'm not interested," she replied.

Kim Areum didn't seem fazed. She calmly pulled out a business card and handed it over. The design was elegant, the company name printed in bold: J.O.Y CosmeTech.

Han-na knew of the brand. Not a major corporation, but their products were popular enough—frequently recommended by mid-tier beauty vloggers. Face masks, brightening serums, and herbal cosmetics.

"We'll compensate you. All expenses covered. No surgery involved—just skincare therapy and appearance treatments. You'll see the results within a month," Areum added. "And we offer full medical insurance in case you're still unsure."

Han-na stayed silent. Her eyes searched the woman's face for signs of deceit. But Kim Areum appeared genuine. Her manner was professional, if a bit rushed, and her car definitely wasn't cheap. The offer… felt too good to be true.

After a long pause—and listening to more of Areum's persuasive words—Han-na gave in.

What ultimately swayed her was her current reality. She had nothing to lose. If the program failed, not much would change. She'd still be the same Han-na with damaged skin. But if it worked? Maybe—just maybe—her life could change.

She finally asked in a quiet voice, "I don't have to pay anything?"

"Nothing. In fact, you'll be paid. Two million won for the first stage."

That number hit Han-na like thunder. More than enough to cover a month of living expenses.

Minutes later, Han-na sat inside the car. The seat was warm, and the scent of the car's perfume smelled expensive. Kim Areum drove herself—polite, but swift.

The ride to the J.O.Y headquarters took some time. They spent most of it discussing Han-na's condition—especially the details of her physical state.

Eventually, they arrived at a modest-sized building. Clean, in cream-white tones, with the company logo visible in the lobby. Everything looked official.

Inside, Han-na was guided straight to a contract room. A legal staff member explained the terms, then handed her a thick 13-page agreement. There was no time to dwell. Her choices were simple: sign it, or return to her old life.

She signed.

After that, she was given a schedule to begin treatment the next morning, along with cash for transport and an upfront payment. That added to the sense of legitimacy—this wasn't a scam.

As she walked out toward the waiting taxi, Kim Areum walked beside her.

"Please be on time tomorrow," she said, opening the car door for Han-na.

Han-na nodded, still slightly dazed by everything that had just happened.

The taxi drove off.

And behind the glass wall of the building lobby, Areum stood still, smiling.

But this time, her smile… had changed. It was no longer just professional. There was something else—something hidden—beneath it.

The night sky deepened.

On her way home, Han-na passed a wide, mostly empty district. From a distance, she noticed a figure that looked strikingly like Jinhyuk stepping out of a large building. Though the distance blurred her vision, the man appeared to be running into an alley beside the structure.

The next moment, as the taxi passed that alley, her eyes widened in horror.

In the narrow, shadowy alleyway—she saw the Jinhyuk lookalike getting attacked by someone.

"Stop the car!" she shouted at the driver.

The taxi halted with a screech. Han-na scrambled to pay and immediately dashed toward the scene. But when she got there, the man—who she now realized was Jinhyuk—was gone.

All that remained was a phone—his phone—lying on the ground, like it had fallen when he was dragged away.

Panicked, Han-na called the police.

---

Elsewhere—a dim, slightly damp warehouse—Jinhyuk stirred awake, tied to a pillar.

His head throbbed. His body was stiff.

Beside him, a teenage girl lay unconscious. Her long black hair, though messy, was glossy and well-kept. Her casual clothes were clearly branded and expensive—she looked like a high school student from a wealthy family.

But her face… was bruised. Her temple was bleeding. Her breath shallow.

She looked familiar somehow. But for now, Jinhyuk focused on grasping the situation.

What the hell… happened?

He tried to analyze. As far as he knew, he didn't have any enemies—none that would go this far. His life was ordinary. The only possible conflict was with the university chairman's kids.

But… would they really take things this far?

Besides, wasn't I already being punished on campus? Why go this far? Unless… they wanted to completely remove my chance of repairing my image. But then… what does this girl have to do with it?

Trying to stay calm, Jinhyuk worked to free himself—recalling every escape trick he'd ever seen in survival and life hack videos online.

None of them worked.

"Urghhh… damn fake hacks. I want my data and screen time back…" he muttered internally.

A few minutes later, the girl beside him stirred. She slowly opened her eyes, trying to gather her senses. Her hands trembled. Her face winced in pain.

She turned and saw Jinhyuk.

"…Ahjussi? What… what's going on?"

Jinhyuk stared at her—shocked, slightly annoyed.

Ahjussi? Seriously?

Before he could answer—

Creak—

The warehouse door groaned open.

Two large men with menacing faces entered the room.

Their footsteps were heavy. The air instantly turned grim.

---