Tramp Stamps | Lookism

8. Nia pt. 1

😄 heyyyyyy guyyyyyys what's up *bites lip seductively to distract you from the fact i haven't updated in months* ...sorry. anyways here's the longest chapter yet!!!

TW: child abuse & neglect, religious themes

Within the heart of Seoul stood buildings of intimidating stature— reaching altitudes mankind once could only ever dream of reaching. Within one such building, as intimidating and overbearing as the rest— perhaps even more so— there was a man. His office smelled of sandalwood and tea, courtesy to the steaming beverage resting on his polished, mahogany desk, the tea leaves brushing against the rim of the cup— mimicking the sibylline expectance of the one-armed man all too patiently sitting, predicting— knowing— that things will go according to his intricately constructed design.

"I'm back, Father," his daughter, Crystal, announced, carefully entering his office with a poised yet meek demeanor, adorning the face of a doll, "I did what you asked. I prevented Daniel Park from being purchased at the charity auction, and we confirmed Nian-Zhen Zhangzheng's identity."

"Good," he hummed, the sound orotund and stony, "That was surprisingly fast. That girl is known to be rather difficult," he took a taste of his hot tea, savoring the bitter yet citrusy flavor.

Crystal nodded, gazing out of the window positioned behind her father, "She's going by Cleo Mun, now. She attends the same school as Daniel Park. Jonggun seemed to have done his own research in the meantime and recognized her. We had a brief run-in with her before, so I managed to give her my number."

"Perfect. Do your best to earn her trust. I believe an incident may occur in the near future that will be of benefit to me— and if things go to plan, which I don't entirely expect," he closes his eyes and lets out a silent breath, leaning back into the plush chair before allowing the smallest of frowns to crack his apathetic demeanor, "Nian-Zhen will finally become the martyr to my cause."

Crystal's eyebrows furrowed, "...I see. But, why is it you don't expect things to go to plan?" she asked, visibly confused.

"...Nian-Zhen is a wildcard," he stated with a sigh, watching the floating tea leaves wildly swirl around in the porcelain cup, "When a person like her is involved, you can't expect everything to go to plan. The inner workings of her mind are a mystery. To expect everything to go perfectly with her would be..." his fingers drummed against the solid wood of his desk, conducting an assiduous rhythm to an unknown song, "...naive."

Crystal bit her lip, a testament to the unanswered questions running like wild horses throughout her mind. She was hesitant, knowing her father. Questions that weren't already answered most likely weren't meant to be quite just yet— but she wasn't an entirely complacent daughter, having a rebellious and stubborn spirit of her own. So, to satiate her starving curiosity, she asked:

"Just who is Nian-Zhen Zhanzheng?"

Her father shook his head, just as she had expected, but it made it no less disappointing, "All you need to know is that she is someone you need as an ally, not an enemy," he paused for a moment, and almost as if he was sorry he couldn't say more (he wasn't really sorry— people like him are never sorry), he continued, "Once she can confidently be called your ally, you will know who she is. I can assure you that much."

The girl grit her teeth, her mouth twitching in an uncharacteristically maladroit manner as she searched for an argument. But she caught herself. She knew better. Crystal Choi is a person of high status, high beauty, and high intelligence— she knew better. No one could go against Charles Choi. Not even his own daughter— not even her.

"I understand."

———

"Ah—choo!" a sneeze, "Ugh... Jeez. It's not even allergy season... Is it?"