DISGRACE ✴ kim rian

10 ── ᶠⁱⁿᵉ

ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ
ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ
ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ

Kim Rian leaned back in his chair, his confident, unbothered stare locked on Yun Mi-hee. It wasn’t a challenge, not exactly. It was more like an unspoken statement: I’m not moving until you give in.

Mi-hee, ever composed, mulled over her options. A walk wouldn’t hinder her plans, she reasoned. And honestly, if it would get him to leave her alone, then it was worth the small inconvenience. With a soft sigh, she pushed her chair back and stood.

“Fine. Let’s walk,” she said flatly.

As soon as she moved, Hera—still sitting at their table—opened her mouth to protest. “Mi-hee, you don’t have to—”

Mi-hee silenced her with a single sharp glance. Hera’s words died in her throat, and she sat back, thoroughly chastened.

Kim Rian smirked faintly as they walked away from the brunch spot, his hands shoved casually into his pockets. Mi-hee, maintaining her usual cool demeanor, stayed a step ahead of him until they reached a quieter area of the retreat.

“I expected some arrogant comment by now,” she said dryly, crossing her arms.

Instead, his voice came out soft, low, and—surprisingly—desperate. “I need to have Jae-i back,” he admitted. “And I need your help to make her jealous.”

Mi-hee raised a skeptical brow, but he continued before she could interject.

“It could’ve been Hera,” he said, almost to himself. “But Jae-i knows her too well. She’ll see right through it. She’ll believe it’s just for show.”

Rian stopped abruptly, his gaze shifting over Mi-hee’s shoulder. She followed his line of sight and froze.

Jae-i was perched on the back of a bicycle, smiling as Kang Ha pedaled them through the retreat grounds.

Mi-hee’s jaw clenched at the sight. What the hell? Mi-hee could make out the slight smile on his face. Did Jae-i mean more than some sick revenge to him? Kang Ha was reckless, unpredictable, and exactly the kind of person she needed to avoid. This sudden revelation made things crystal clear.

This deal with Rian wasn’t just about helping him. It was the perfect way to keep Kang Ha at arm’s length and out of her father’s radar.

“Fine,” she said, turning back to Rian. “I’ll be your girlfriend.”

Rian blinked, momentarily surprised by her quick agreement, but he quickly recovered. “Alright,” he said slowly, narrowing his eyes at her. “But let’s be real—you’re not doing this out of the goodness of your heart. What’s your profit in this deal?”

Mi-hee smirked, her mask of distant politeness dropping for the first time in his presence. If she had to deal with Rian often enough now, there was no point in maintaining her fake personality.

Instead of answering, she stepped closer to him. Rian raised a brow, already suspicious, but he didn’t have time to react.

Her fist connected with his face.

The sound was sharp and satisfying, and Rian stumbled back slightly, his hand flying to his now-bleeding lip. He recovered quickly, though, grabbing her arms in a tight grip, his expression a mix of shock and anger.

“Don’t forget, Rian,” she said calmly, meeting his furious glare with unflinching eyes. “I’m doing you a favor.”

She glanced down at her pinned arms, silently prompting him to release her. He hesitated for a moment before reluctantly letting go.

Mi-hee stepped closer again, but this time, her movements were slower, more deliberate. Her finger pressed lightly against his bleeding lip, smearing the blood just slightly.

“I sincerely wish you hell in life,” she said, her voice dripping with mock sincerity.

Then she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving him standing there with a mix of emotions swirling in his dark eyes.

As Mi-hee returned to her villa, a faint smile tugged at her lips. Part of her was genuinely relieved—she could now enjoy the rest of the retreat without Kang Ha looming over her. But another part was excited at the idea of irritating Rian. If she was going to help him, she might as well have fun doing it.

ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ
ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ
ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ