The Sweet Discipline of June
Back home, Zohi was so emotionally drained that even the thought of opening a book felt like climbing a mountain. But June was relentless. His texts arrived in a steady rhythm, nudging her toward her study desk.
"Please, June, not tonight," she typed, her thumbs heavy. "I'm exhausted. It's been a long day. I'll make up for it in the morning."
June wasn't about to let her slide. Suddenly, her phone erupted with a video call notification. Panic flared—Zohi scrambled to wipe her eyes and smooth her tangled hair before hitting 'accept.' On the screen, June appeared with a soft, knowing smile.
"Why are you such a study-dodger, Zohi?" he teased, though his eyes remained serious. "You need to start now. Rankings are everything at this school, and if your grades aren't top-tier, you won't qualify for the Olympiads. Don't you want to prove what you're capable of? Sit down, open the book. I'm staying right here on the line."
Defeated by his stubbornness, Zohi settled in. Whenever she stumbled, June—the school's undisputed topper—patiently guided her like a true friend. Math, however, was her personal dragon. She tried to pivot. "Let's skip the math for now, June. I'll finish these subjects first."
But eventually, the dragon had to be faced. As they dove into equations, Zohi felt like she was drowning in a sea of numbers. Seeing her look of sheer helplessness, June let out a soft laugh. "Alright, Zohi. I won't push you any further tonight. Just get to school a little early tomorrow. I'll explain everything in person." At his words, the tension finally bled out of her shoulders.
AGrandfather's Love
Across the city, Taiyang's room was as silent as a tomb. He hadn't touched food since noon, nor had he spoken to a soul. When a firm knock sounded at his door, he shouted, "I'm busy! Leave me alone!"
"Taiyang, it's Jack. Open the door for your grandfather, won't you?" The voice was gravelly but thick with affection.
Taiyang held a deep reverence for his grandfather, the only person who truly saw him. He unlocked the door. His grandfather stepped in, resting a weathered hand on his grandson's head. "Why so much gloom, boy? You canceled the meeting today. A company can't run on silence, and one day, the weight of all this will be on your shoulders."
Taiyang offered a bitter smile. "Grandfather, I don't want this corporate life. I just want to be like I was as a child, wandering the world with my mother. I miss her so much."
The old man sighed. "I know, Taiyang. She was a rare soul. Come now. Let's sit at the table together. Just an old man and his grandson." In that moment, the arrogant prince vanished; Taiyang became nothing more than a heartbroken child seeking shelter.
Hidden Tears of a Titan
From the balcony of the grand hall, Mr. Ling watched his father and son eating together. Seeing a flicker of a smile on Taiyang's face felt like a massive weight lifting from his chest. He retreated to his private office, exhaling a breath he felt he'd been holding for years.
But as he sat down, his gaze drifted to the portrait of his late wife hanging on the wall. He stood before it, his stony facade finally cracking. Tears, rare and heavy, pooled in his eyes. "Why did you doubt me so much?" he whispered to the canvas. "If only you had listened, our family wouldn't be in ruins. You, me, Taiyang... we could have been so happy."
The man the world knew as a cold, ruthless businessman collapsed in front of the portrait, broken by the ghost of a mistake he could never undo.
The Policeman's Tale
Meanwhile, Sijun was immersed in her studies, her face glowing with a quiet contentment despite the day's fatigue. When the doorbell rang, she sprang up.
"I'll get it, Mom!" she called out, racing to the door.
It was her father, a dedicated police officer. Sijun's face lit up at the sight of him. "Dad! You're home! How was your shift?"
Her father collapsed onto the sofa with a weary smile. "Sit with me, sweetheart. Let's just talk for a moment."
Sijun leaned in, curious. "Tell me a story from today, Dad. Anything interesting happen?"
He thought for a moment. "Nothing special, really. Though we did have a scuffle in an alley this evening. A few boys and a girl. We took them all to the station."
Sijun listened intently. "One of the boys was from a very influential family," he continued. "His bodyguards came and whisked him away in no time. But the girl... the thugs tried to pin everything on her. We interrogated her for hours. She was terrified, poor thing. We let her go eventually because there wasn't a shred of proof against her."
"That's awful," Sijun said, her heart aching for the stranger. "She must have been so scared."
A Name in the Dark
Her father shifted the subject. "How's the new school? Made any friends yet?"
Sijun smiled shyly. "Yes, Dad. I met a girl named Zohi. She's wonderful."
Her father's eyebrows shot up. "Zohi? That's a beautiful name. Is she a good student? Focused?"
"She's very kind, Dad. Quiet and sweet. I was thinking of inviting her over sometime."
"You should," he agreed warmly. "Good friends are hard to find."
After a late dinner filled with laughter, Sijun kissed her father's forehead. "I'm heading to bed, Dad. School tomorrow. Goodnight." She walked to her room, blissfully unaware of the thin thread connecting her best friend to her father's evening shift.
The Grimy Cottage
When Jinsy finally returned to her dilapidated shack after leaving Shio's house, the night was old. Under the flicker of a dim bulb, her grandmother was waiting. A single bowl of plain noodles sat on the table—the eternal symbol of their struggle.
"Eat this, Grandma," Jinsy said softly. "I've already eaten." She pressed the money Shio had given her into the old woman's hand.
"Where did this come from, Jinsy?" her grandmother asked, suspicion warring with relief.
"I borrowed it from Shio. Don't worry. Once I finish school and find a real job, I'll earn money the right way. I'll buy you the best food every single day."
Tears welled in the old woman's eyes. She knew the hardness in Jinsy was a shield against the world. What choice did she have? the grandmother thought. Her parents gone, nothing but hunger to raise her while girls her age live in palaces. Jinsy lay in her dark room, staring out the window. A volatile mix of ambition and resentment swirled in her chest. Why isn't the world equal? she wondered.
Morning Revelations
The next morning, Zohi arrived at school early, just as June had asked. A white bandage was wrapped around her hand—a memento of the night's struggle. June was already waiting at their corner table in the library, waving her over with a grin.
But the moment she sat down, his smile vanished. He caught sight of the bandage. "What happened to your hand, Zohi? You said you were safe last night!"
Zohi fumbled for an excuse. "Oh, this? I just... I tripped in the dark when I was getting home. It's nothing serious." She couldn't bring herself to tell him about the police station.
June didn't press her, but his eyes lingered on the injury before he opened the math book. "Alright then. Look at this theorem. Once you get this, the rest of the problems will be as clear as water."