FATE

Park Ji Young walked around Felix slowly, eyeing the dark stain on his ruined robe.

"Please take off your clothes," Ji Young said casually.

Felix raised an eyebrow, his expression turning ice cold. "Why would I do that?"

Ji Young rolled his eyes. "Relax. I need your measurements. I'm not a pervert, I promise."

Felix exhaled sharply and, after a brief pause, slipped off his robe, revealing a traditional sleeveless garment underneath — something ancient and elegant, like the inner robes worn in old Chinese dynasties. It wrapped around his waist and thighs, exposing the toned structure of his upper body.

Ji Young blinked. Then blinked again.

"Wow. You have the body of a demigod... seriously, it's just—wow."

Felix shot him a look that could kill. Ji Young quickly straightened up and began taking his measurements while muttering something about professionalism.

"I'll check for a robe in your size," he said, disappearing behind the curtain. Moments later, he returned with a guilty look. "Apologies, but I can't seem to find anything in-store that fits your build. However, I know a place where I might. Please wait here. I'll be right back!"

And with that, Ji Young dashed off, leaving Felix standing in the middle of the room, half-dressed and surrounded by rolls of fabric.

---

Meanwhile...

Lu Zhuhai was walking through the corridor of their shared home, arms full of boxes labeled textiles and sharp tools. Her brow furrowed.

"Why were these in my study room?" she muttered under her breath.

She trudged down the hall toward Ji Young's workspace. "Hey, Ji Young, I found some of your—"

Before she could finish, she collided with something — or rather, someone. The boxes flew from her hands, crashing to the floor. A pair of sharp scissors spun through the air, heading straight for her face.

She shut her eyes tightly, bracing for pain.

Clink.

Silence.

Then she heard a voice — low, cold, and annoyingly familiar.

"No, this isn't heaven. This is hell, and I'm the devil. Now get up."

Lu opened her eyes slowly, heart pounding. Above her stood Felix, his expression unreadable, holding the scissors just inches from her forehead.

"You!?" she gasped.

"Yeah. It's me," he said, tone flat and unimpressed.

Lu Zhuhai quickly scrambled to her feet, brushing dust from her skirt and rubbing her eyes, as if trying to process the absurdity in front of her.

"Why are you here?" she blurted out, eyeing Felix suspiciously. "And—why aren't you wearing the rest of your clothes?"

Felix crossed his arms, completely unfazed. "Do I need to explain myself? Or perhaps you should be explaining. What are you doing here?" His gaze sharpened. "Do you have a death wish or something?"

Lu scoffed, hands on her hips. "Die? Seriously? I work here, Mr. Devil Guy."

Felix narrowed his eyes. "You work here... So fate sent you to me twice already." He stepped closer, voice cold and ominous. "If I see you a third time, I'll definitely kill you."

Lu blinked, then let out a dry laugh. "Kill me?" she repeated, unimpressed. "What do you think you are, huh? Some dark prince of doom?"

He leaned in slightly, voice quiet and deadly. "Something like that."

She refused to back down. "You're not scary, you're just dramatic and rude."

Felix tilted his head. "You should be careful how you speak to people like me."

"Oh yeah?" she shot back. "Well, maybe you should be careful around women with scissors next time."

He raised a brow. "Is that a threat?"

Lu grinned, unapologetically. "No. Just a promise."

The tension between them hung in the air, thick and electric. For a second, neither spoke. Then suddenly—

"AHEM!"

Ji Young's voice echoed from the hallway as he stepped in, holding a neatly folded robe. "Sorry for interrupting whatever this is," he said, waving his hand between the two. "But I found the perfect robe for you, Felix."

Lu looked away quickly, her face flushed red.

Felix smirked, grabbing the robe. "Took you long enough."

As he walked off to change, Lu mumbled under her breath, "You're welcome for not dying, devil."

Felix paused at the door, glancing over his shoulder. "You're still alive... for now."