Elena arrived at the Grand Emerald's rooftop restaurant at exactly 7:00 PM. She was wearing the midnight-blue gown Min-jun had delivered days ago. She felt like a lamb walking into a lion's den, but curiosity was a stronger drug than fear.
Min-jun was already there, silhouetted against the city lights.
"You came," he said, not turning around.
"I wanted to see the monster we created," Elena replied, her voice steady. "How did you do it, Min-jun? People don't just... change like this."
"They do when they realize the person they loved was the one holding the knife," he said, finally turning to face her.
The waiter arrived, trembling as he set down two plates of... extremely spicy rice cakes from a street stall.
Elena blinked. "This is a five-star restaurant. Why are we eating $3 street food?"
Min-jun grinned, a flash of his new, mischievous comedy. "Because Old Man Kang said if I spent more than fifty dollars on dinner, I'd have to scrub the industrial dryers for a week. Revenge is expensive, Elena. I have to budget."
Elena couldn't help it. She laughed. A genuine, startled sound that she hadn't made in years. "You're insane."
"I'm efficient," Min-jun corrected. He leaned in, his eyes turning serious. "The CEO is planning to flee the country tonight. He's taking the 'Ghost Files' with him—the ones that prove your innocence, and his guilt."
Elena froze. "How do you know about the Ghost Files?"
"I've been washing the CEO's shirts for a week," Min-jun smirked. "You'd be surprised what people leave in their pockets. Codes. Microchips. The smell of fear."
Suddenly, the restaurant's glass windows vibrated. A black helicopter was rising from the Aegis Corp helipad across the street.
"That's him," Elena whispered.
Min-jun stood up, tossing a napkin onto the table. "Stay here. Finish the rice cakes. They're delicious when they're hot."
"Where are you going?"
Min-jun checked his watch. "I have a 7:15 appointment with a helicopter. And Elena?"
"Yes?"
"You look better in that dress when you're not trying to hide your heart."
He stepped off the edge of the rooftop. Elena screamed, rushing to the railing, only to see Min-jun swinging from a pre-set grappling line, soaring through the neon-lit sky toward the Aegis tower like a shadow.