Episode 5
“Was it… a dream?”
But as if mocking Yeon-woo’s attempt to deny reality, the memory of her ripping that man’s pants off with her own hands forced its way back into her mind.
Her face turned pale as she muttered toward the image of herself in that fragmented memory.
“Did I really do that? Me?”
No matter how many times she tried to deny it, nothing changed. In fact, the more she resisted, the clearer the fragments became.
If only the memory had vanished completely—but instead, vivid flashes came back in pieces.
And judging from how swollen her lips looked in the mirror, she must’ve rubbed them against someone’s far too much the night before.
The corners of her mouth even stung—split open from friction.
The clearer the evidence became, the more confused Yeon-woo felt.
Because if that memory was true, there was no way she should be standing here in her bathroom, completely unharmed.
“Am I… really okay right now?”
There was a reason for Yeon-woo’s trembling anxiety.
For a fox , once she passed her fox marble to someone, she could never be with another.
To a fox beastkin, the bodily fluids of anyone who wasn’t their destined partner were like poison.
She remembered—back when she had just become an adult—being sexually harassed by a manager at her part-time job.
He had cornered her in a storeroom and tried to grind his body against hers.
Yeon-woo had fought back, throwing him to the ground, but on her way out of the police station afterward, she’d collapsed—vomiting blood.
The doctors had said it was stress, but she knew better. The cause had been the man’s saliva that had gotten into her mouth during the struggle.
That was how dangerous any physical contact involving saliva was for her.
So the fact that her body was perfectly fine now made no sense.
Even the fragments she remembered were enough that, normally, she should’ve been bleeding out or dying.
“Could there… be an exception I don’t know about?”
Yeon-woo checked her body again, carefully.
No blood. No nausea. Just the uneven, reddish marks all over her skin.
She had grown used to a life of misfortune since losing her fox marble long ago,
but the impossibility of physical intimacy had never been a concern—she’d been too busy trying to survive.
Sitting in the bathroom, huddled on the floor, Yeon-woo finally stood up.
She shoved the pants by the door deep into her closet corner.
“Forget it. Just forget it. I’ll never see him again anyway.”
But just like the stubborn red bruises on her skin, her anxiety refused to fade.
For the next two days, Yeon-woo slept almost nonstop.
Normally punctual and disciplined, she didn’t even bother eating.
It was as if she’d swallowed sleeping pills.
Today was the day she was supposed to meet Hyun-min for her upcoming birthday.
Her body felt refreshed after sleeping for two full days, but her mind was still tangled in unease.
“…I’m hungry.”
After lazing under her blanket for a long time, Yeon-woo finally forced herself to get up.
She grabbed a quick bite, then called Hyun-min before leaving—but the call didn’t go through.
Knowing how erratic his schedule was, she simply hid her ears and tail, finishing her preparations before stepping out of her rooftop home.
Even after she reached the broadcast station, the message she’d sent still showed “unread.”
She had arrived earlier than expected, so there was still time before their meeting.
“He must’ve pulled another all-nighter again. He’s flying out tomorrow—he really needs to take it easy.”
Since joining the broadcasting team, Hyun-min had worked himself to the bone, giving up even weekends.
Labor laws clearly didn’t apply to him.
Yeon-woo sat near the parking lot entrance, tucked into a corner where she could see people coming and going without being seen herself.
Pulling her hood up, she sat down. The warmth made her drowsy.
To stay awake, she fished a candy from her pocket and popped it into her mouth.
Maybe I should’ve just waited inside the lobby instead… at least I’d get some sunlight.
After a while, her head started to nod. She didn’t even notice she’d dozed off until she felt someone’s presence nearby.
When did I fall asleep?
Startled, she grabbed her phone to check the time. It was just past one o’clock—their meeting time.
Maybe I should just tell him we’ll meet later.
Despite sleeping for two days, she was still groggy. Her thoughts were restless too.
But knowing Hyun-min, he’d insist on seeing her today, even if it was late, just to celebrate her birthday.
As she debated, her phone vibrated—Hyun-min had finally texted.
Hyun-min
Sorry, something urgent came up.
I’ll be right down soon!
1:03 PM
Yeon-woo
I’m sitting near the underground parking lot. Hurry, I’m starving!
1:03 PM
He replied saying it would take at least ten more minutes and told her to wait in a café.
Instead of replying, Yeon-woo snapped a photo of her feet on the ground and sent it.
Click.
The sound had barely faded when she sensed someone approaching.
It couldn’t be Hyun-min—he had just said it would take ten minutes.
Clearing her throat slightly, Yeon-woo fixed her gaze on her phone, waiting for the person to pass.
But the footsteps stopped right in front of her.
Perplexed, she glanced up—and saw an unfamiliar pair of shoes.
“Delete it.”
“…Excuse me?”
Looking around in confusion, Yeon-woo realized the man was talking to her.
As soon as their eyes met, the man snatched at her phone.
Startled, she stood up and clutched it tight.
“What are you doing—?”
But then she froze.
Even under the brim of his hat, his face was striking—so striking it made her forget to breathe.
Wait a second… I’ve seen that face before.
Such a face wasn’t easy to forget.
A celebrity? Maybe I saw him in an ad somewhere?
While Yeon-woo gawked in confusion, the man also stared blankly at her.
When she finally tried to snatch her phone back, it slipped from their hands—
Crack.
Even without looking, she knew the screen was shattered.
“Hey! What the—!”
Before she could finish, the man interrupted coolly.
“So it really was you.”
“…What?”
His words made her blink in confusion.
“Did you pretend not to know me that night too?”
“Excuse me?”
What was he talking about?
His sharp glare made her instinctively shrink back.
She couldn’t retreat any farther—the corner trapped her.
“How long have you been stalking me?”
“What nonsense are you—?”
Despite her rising fear, Yeon-woo squared her shoulders and glared right back.
She’d learned long ago—show weakness, and they’ll step all over you.
But the man ignored her defiance.
Instead, he leaned closer—sniffed—and narrowed his eyes.
“This scent. No mistake. And that face too.”
The way he muttered about scent made it clear—a pervert.
Yeon-woo’s whole body prickled with dread. This wasn’t an ordinary creep.
“Move.”
Her voice trembled, but her gaze didn’t falter.
The man smirked faintly—and reached for her wrist.
Before he could grab her, Yeon-woo reacted on instinct.
She twisted his arm sharply and slammed him to the ground.
A move learned the hard way—self-defense born of too many bad experiences.
“Ugh!”
His hat fell off, revealing his full face—brushing past hers as he hit the ground.
Yeon-woo quickly climbed on top of him, pinning him down.
“You’re paying for my phone—”
But her words died on her tongue.
That voice she’d just heard—the low groan—was familiar.
The alcohol-blurred memories of that night began to resurface.
“Uh… what?”
“Haven’t we met before?”
And suddenly, the blurred image of the man above her, whispering—
“Shh. It’s okay. I’ll take care of it.”
—flashed through her mind.
While she was still frozen, the man beneath her rose effortlessly, lifting both their bodies with one arm as if she weighed nothing.
It wasn’t that she had overpowered him earlier—he’d simply let her.
Realizing what she’d done, panic flooded her.
Before she could step back, a loud voice echoed across the parking lot.
“What the hell?! Hyung!”
Startled, Yeon-woo immediately let go, but it was too late—the newcomer had already seen her pinning the man to the ground.
The large man charged forward, the ground almost shaking beneath him.
“Wait—it’s not what it looks like!”
Yeon-woo stumbled back as the man she’d tackled stood, rubbing his arm.
To anyone watching, she definitely looked like the aggressor.
And maybe… she really was.
“Hyung, are you okay?!”
The big man’s massive frame closed in fast, pure intimidation radiating off him.
Yeon-woo’s instincts screamed at her to run.
Her body moved before her mind could.
“I—I’m sorry!”
“Hey! Stop right there, you little—!”
Ignoring the shout behind her, Yeon-woo bolted out of the parking lot.
Her heart pounded so hard it hurt.
She ran and ran until her lungs burned, until her legs gave out beneath her.
Collapsing on the pavement, she gasped for air, her hands trembling as she pulled out her shattered phone.
The screen was broken, but still usable.
There were several missed calls from Hyun-min—but she didn’t see them.
Her fingers flew to the search bar instead, typing a name with shaking hands.
“Please… no…”
But when the results loaded, her stomach dropped.
The man she had just wrestled to the ground—Sun In-hyuk.
“That thing from the other night… it’s him too.”
The man in her memories—the one from that night—had the same face.
As soon as his bright, unmistakable face appeared on the screen, Yeon-woo shoved the phone deep into her pocket.
“No way… it can’t be.”
She knew she couldn’t face Hyun-min like this.
Texting him that they’d meet another time, Yeon-woo took a deep breath and tried to sort her thoughts.
Let’s review—
-
The man from the club, whose pants she tore while drunk.
-
The ridiculously handsome man she just fought in the parking lot.
-
And that man happens to be Sun In-hyeok, the celebrity.
“This is insane… absolutely insane…”
Yeon-woo buried her face in her hands and let out a long, broken sigh.
