Im Hye-Jin, a 34-year-old woman who has found success in the fashion industry. Her life changed when Ryu Sun-Jae bravely rescued her and her sister, Sol, from a severe car accident that left Sol with a disability.
The situation takes a tragic turn w...
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"A penny for the sacred Grandmother"
Hye-Jin stood quietly in the shadows, her brother's monk robe draped over her small frame, the heavy fabric hanging loose around her. The wide-brimmed hat concealed her face entirely, casting a dark shadow that kept her identity hidden. The night was still, only the distant hum of traffic breaking the silence. She shifted her weight slightly, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for Sun-Jae to appear. Tonight, she had a plan—a wild, slightly ridiculous plan, but it was her last-ditch effort to stop him from competing.
Then, she saw him. Sun-Jae was descending the stone steps, his phone pressed to his ear as he spoke to his father. Just hearing his voice made Hye-Jin's heart flutter, but she quickly shook it off. Focus, Hye-Jin, she scolded herself.
She stepped out from the shadows and positioned herself directly in his path. When Sun-Jae approached, his footsteps echoing in the quiet night, she called out in her best elderly voice, lowering her head to keep her face hidden. "Hey, kid. A penny for the Sacred Grandmother."
Sun-Jae paused, slightly startled by the figure in front of him. He squinted in the dim light, trying to make out her face, but the oversized hat shielded her entirely. "Oh, sure," he said, hesitating for only a moment before he reached into his backpack. He rummaged through it, finally pulling out his wallet and flipping it open. He began counting the bills, his brow furrowed in concentration.
Before he could finish, Hye-Jin snatched a 1,000 won bill from his wallet with swift hands. Sun-Jae blinked, surprised but not upset, assuming she was just a poor old woman in need.
"Thank you," Hye-Jin said, waving the money in the air briefly before stuffing it away, trying to suppress the giggle threatening to escape. She could hardly believe her plan was working.
"No problem," Sun-Jae replied kindly, zipping up his wallet and putting it back in his backpack. He adjusted the straps on his shoulders and started to walk past her, but before he could take more than a step, Hye-Jin moved in front of him again, blocking his path.
"You were born around when the first frost came," she began, her voice adopting an eerie, wise tone. "There's bad aura surrounding you. A ghost's gate has placed a deadbolt"
Sun-Jae stopped, his brow furrowing in confusion as he tried to make sense of her words. "What?"
She clicked her tongue dramatically, shaking her head. "You have a bad luck of a ghost locking the gate," she muttered gravely, then paused for effect. "Doesn't your body hurt somewhere these days? I mean, doesn't one of your shoulders feel heavy?"
Her words seemed to hit a nerve. Sun-Jae's expression shifted as he instinctively reached up to touch his injured shoulder. A flicker of discomfort crossed his face, though he quickly tried to mask it. "What? How...?" His voice trailed off, but before he could finish, Hye-Jin interrupted.
