The waiter finally returned, clutching a bag of frozen peas wrapped carefully in a clean towelette—like an offering.
"Here you go, boo boo," Tuesday said gently, pressing the cold pack to Hyouka's cheek. "Let's keep those chubby cheeks from swelling."
"Thank you, my queen," Hyouka replied shyly, eyes soft.
"I gotta say," Luca said, still visibly impressed, "you really are something. I can't even imagine how tonight would've gone if you hadn't swooped in."
"Don't even finish that sentence," Tuesday snapped. "I refuse to imagine it."
"I couldn't let your day be ruined over an inconvenience," Hyouka said lightly. "Plus, it's literally my job to take out the trash—as Sir Foca's personal assistant-slash-secretary." She flashed a peace sign.
"If you didn't already know," Luca added, "you're getting a bonus."
"Already?" Hyouka gasped. "In this economy?" She blinked in disbelief. "But I was just doing my job!"
"And you did it very well, boo," Tuesday said firmly. "Now shut up and take the money."
"Yes, ma'am!" Hyouka saluted, eyes practically sparkling with dollar signs.
"By the way," Foca began, "I haven't formally introduced you yet. This is my sister—"
Hyouka shot to her feet before he could finish, peas still pressed to her cheek with one hand while she stretched the other out eagerly.
"Hi! Oh my God, it's such an honor to finally meet you!" she beamed.
"You… know us?" Pearl asked, startled, though she shook Hyouka's hand anyway.
"Of course!" Hyouka grinned. "As Sir Foca's number one stan, I've done my due diligence. I've researched everything. It's such an honor to meet you, Miss Pearl—and Cole De Clairmontin!"
Pearl and Cole blinked.
"Likewise…" Pearl managed. "But—research?"
"Yes!" Hyouka nodded enthusiastically. "An in-depth study. Anything Sir Foca-adjacent—including El'Tamora, since it's one of LEAVEN's sponsors."
She turned fully to Pearl, eyes shining.
"Miss Pearl, you are such an inspiration to the girlies. You are mother. Capital M. You mothered so hard you rewrote history. I bow in respect."
She actually bowed.
Pearl laughed, pleased. "You think far too highly of me—but thank you."
"I'm just stating facts, Queen," Hyouka said reverently. Then she pivoted to Cole. "And you—when I first saw you, I was like, why does this man look familiar? And then it clicked."
Pearl was already giggling.
"That Men's Health cover," Hyouka continued cheerfully. "The one where you were wearing nothing but an apron."
"WAIT—YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?!" Pearl howled with laughter.
Cole turned red instantly, burying his face in his hands. "That was so long ago," he groaned. "How deep did you even go to know that?"
He looked at her—equal parts impressed and mildly terrified.
"Deep enough…" Hyouka replied simply.
Then she shrugged. "But whenever I tried digging into Sir Foca's family background, I kept hitting a wall." She immediately turned to him, palms up. "I swear I'm not a stalker—and I'm sorry if I crossed a line. Apparently, I just have way too much time on my hands."
She laughed it off, then continued, more thoughtful now.
"Anyway, every time I ran into a roadblock, I got more curious. I started wondering who you really were. And I think I finally figured it out—just now."
Something clicked behind her eyes.
"If Miss Pearl is your sister," she said slowly, "then it makes perfect sense why you'd want to hide your identity."
She knew.
Not vaguely. Not partially.
She knew.
"I'm suddenly very scared of what dirt you have on me," Luca said, half joking—half absolutely not.
"Oh, not much," Hyouka said breezily. "Just how many girls you've slept with. The fact you only do one-night stands. How every single one of them wanted to marry you because apparently you're that good in bed." She ticked things off on her fingers. "Graduated Juilliard with high honors. Everyone thought you'd be in Hollywood by now, considering how insanely good you are at directing and acting."
"Please," Luca smirked, leaning back. "Go on. Glaze me more."
But Hyouka's expression shifted. Just slightly. The playfulness dimmed.
"I also know about… that incident," she said quietly. "When you were younger."
She didn't elaborate. She didn't need to.
The table fell still.
"You really do know everything," Luca said after a moment, letting out a strange half-laugh, half-sigh.
That incident—
That was a story for another time.
"I'm sorry," Hyouka said quickly. "I didn't mean to overstep."
"Nah, you're good," Luca replied, snapping back into his easy grin. "But for the record—I never want to be your enemy."
"Yeah, boo," Tuesday added. "You scary."
Foca cleared his throat. "By the way—how did you know we were here? We never told you." He paused. "But when you showed up earlier, you already knew."
"Oh, I knew," Hyouka said cheerfully.
"…Are you a fortune teller?" Luca asked.
"A psychic?" Tuesday chimed in.
"Nope." Hyouka smiled proudly. "It's my Sir Foca radar."
Silence.
"When you're a die-hard stan," she continued like this was common knowledge, "you get tingles whenever they're within a certain proximity. The more devoted you are, the wider the radius."
Everyone stared at her like she was a rare species discovered in the wild.
"You are very strange," Pearl said slowly. "But somehow… not repulsive. Actually—very endearing."
"Thank yew," Hyouka said shyly.
"What do you say you work for me?" Pearl offered casually.
Foca shot her a glare. The rest of the table hid their laughter.
"It would be an honor to work for THE Mother herself," Hyouka said solemnly. "But I must respectfully decline." She placed a hand over her heart. "I was put on this earth by the Almighty to be Sir Foca's personal assistant. It is my divine calling."
The table lost it.
"You're very loyal," Pearl laughed.
"So I've been told," Hyouka replied gravely—still doing the absolute most.
Hyouka was the kind of person who existed at full volume at all times.
Born with audacity as her factory setting.
The kind of extra you either deeply despised or fiercely adored.
There was no in-between.
****
"By the way," Hyouka said suddenly, "I didn't mean to intrude on your family bonding time." She gave an awkward little smile. "I only stepped in because I had to. Now that everything's settled, I'll just—GTFO and let you guys enjoy your time."
She was already halfway out of her seat when Tuesday firmly pushed her back down.
"It's fine, girlie pop," Tuesday said. "You're staying."
"But—" Hyouka hesitated.
"Yeah, please stay," Cole added quickly. "We haven't even properly repaid you for tanking a hit from that fucker."
Hyouka's hesitation vanished instantly.
"Very well," she said solemnly. "I shall stay."
She raised her hand.
The waiter appeared in record time, loyal as ever. "Yes? What can I get for you?"
"I'll have the unsweetened salmon gelato," Hyouka said cheerfully. "Sounds hella disgusting, but y'know—YOLO." She shot the waiter a knowing look before returning to the menu.
"Oh! And the macaron set, a slice of the blueberry mascarpone pie, and… hmm." She tapped the page thoughtfully. "Another glass of that Goût de Diamants, please."
The table stared at her in amused silence.
"Would that be all?" the waiter asked politely.
Hyouka glanced around. "Anyone else want something?" She waited a beat. "No? Okay. That'll be all, thank yew."
"I'll be right back with your order," the waiter said, retreating.
Hyouka smiled brightly—then froze.
Everyone was still staring at her.
"What?" she snapped defensively. "I wasn't finished eating."
"And you're using the company card for all that?" Luca asked, eyebrow raised, smirk firmly in place.
"I was told I could eat whatever I want," Hyouka said immediately. "I'm simply following instructions. And it's bad manners to refuse a blessing, so I'm accepting it fully. Also, I'm pretty sure it's stated in the constitution—or the labor code—or something—"
She launched into a full-blown legal defense.
"Okay, okay, okay!" Luca laughed, holding up his hands. "Chill. No one's suing you for wanting dessert. Calm down, damn."
The table erupted into laughter again.
And then—out of nowhere—Hyouka froze.
Like, fully blue-screened.
"Uh… Hyouka?" Foca asked gently. "You okay?"
No response.
"Girlie pop?" Tuesday leaned in. "Anyone home?"
Nothing.
"Should I call an ambulance or something?" Luca said, already reaching for his phone.
Then—
"HOLY SHIT!"
Hyouka practically screamed, fingers flying across her phone at lightning speed.
"Holy fuck, dude!" Luca yelped, nearly dropping his phone. "You scared the shit outta me! A warning next time, please?!" He clutched his chest like a Victorian widow.
Foca chuckled, utterly fond. Luca being terrified was always funny—especially since no one ever expected him to be scared of anything. Horror movies had never stood a chance against that man.
"MOTHERFUCKER—I KNEW IT!" Hyouka shouted triumphantly, her cursing reaching a whole new, crispy tier.
"Get a load of this."
She flipped her phone around and slammed the video into full screen.
Everyone leaned in, curiosity instantly piqued.
It was a TikYin clip—grainy, loud, and deeply migraine-inducing. A pack of obnoxious dudes packed into a dark club, shouting over blasting music like they were God's gift to oxygen. Drinks everywhere. Smoke everywhere. Girls dressed in almost nothing weaving through the crowd.
Definitely a strip club.
Definitely filmed by someone already drunk off their ass.
The camera jerked wildly, the chaos almost aggressive.
"Wait…" Tuesday squinted. "Isn't that the brat who was just here?"
Sure enough—Merth.
Absolutely obliterated. If someone cut him open right then, he'd bleed straight alcohol.
"Yep," Hyouka said flatly. "That's him. But he's not who we're watching."
She glanced at the table. "Does anyone else look… familiar?"
"WAIT." Luca suddenly shot to his feet. "Go back—go back!"
Hyouka rewound.
"There!" Luca pointed like he'd just seen a ghost. "Pause!"
The video froze.
"What are we—ohhh no," Tuesday breathed, finally seeing it. Or rather—him.
"I see it," Foca said slowly. "Isn't that… Kang Seo-yul?"
"Ding ding ding," Hyouka smirked, menace curling at the edge of her grin.
And just like that—
The night wasn't over.
Because of how chaotic the footage was, it would've been easy to miss the details if you weren't paying attention.
But there was no mistake.
The man in the clip—partying, drinking, smoking, hands all over a woman's chest like he owned the place—was none other than Kang Seo-yul.
E:Den's center.
"Wait…" Pearl frowned. "Why does that name sound familiar?"
"Isn't that the youngest son of the head of Hwarang Motors?" Cole said.
Pearl snapped her fingers. "Oh—him!"
"But what the hell is he doing with Merth of all people?" she added, genuinely baffled.
"A little context," Hyouka said, already settling in.
She explained exactly who Kang Seo-yul was—his background, his scandals, the shit he'd gotten away with, and the things that somehow never made it to the headlines. She spared no detail. None.
"Birds of a same feather…" Pearl muttered, her eye twitching with the sudden urge to punch both Merth and Seo-yul.
"That's why something felt off when I saw brat number one earlier," Hyouka continued. "During my very extensive research, I unfortunately came across his brain-rot content on social media." She paused. "I was this close to admitting myself into a mental asylum from consuming it."
Everyone nodded. Fair.
"But then," she went on, "I stumbled onto a collab. One that felt like a fever dream—and not in a fun way. More like I took Xanax and crystal meth together while drinking red wine."
The table stared at her.
The look was very much: how do you know that comparison?
"Not me," Hyouka waved them off quickly. "Shh. Not relevant. Anyway—I digress."
She continued seamlessly.
"It was Merth and Kang Seo-yul's first interaction. They hit it off immediately. A match made in the deepest pits of hell, if you ask me." She smiled darkly. "Since then, brat one and brat two have been very good friends."
Pearl groaned. "Of course they are."
"Oh—and it gets better," Hyouka said brightly. "They're in a Telegram group chat."
The table collectively stiffened.
"With other nepo incels. Nepo babies. The worst people you can imagine."
She tapped at her phone and turned it around again.
On the screen: an active group chat.
The kind of chat that made you want to rinse your eyes with bleach and holy water after reading even a single line.
Everyone leaned in for half a second—then immediately regretted it.
"I feel my brain cells dying," Tuesday muttered.
"Same," Luca said. "Actively."
The messages kept rolling in.
Live.
Unfiltered.
And whatever night they thought they were having?
Yeah.
It just got a whole lot messier.
****
Ping!
AlphaMerth: bro I just got fucking grounded outta nowhere 😤
deadass—my dad cut off all my credit cards
GOAT Seo-yul: lmaooo sucks to be you 😂
come to Korea, it's boring as hell here anyway
"How the hell did you even get into their group chat?" Luca asked, genuinely unsettled now—and deeply grateful Hyouka was on their side.
"Honestly? Way too easy," Hyouka frowned. "I just acted like a spoiled nepo baby. Flashed fake proof of money—nothing a little Photoshop couldn't fix—and boom." She shrugged. "They opened the gates wide for me."
Foca opened his mouth to comment—
—but the chat lit up again.
AlphaMerth: wait aren't you busy doing that idol shit?
GOAT Seo-yul: it's not fun anymore
we just won rookie of the year 🙄
CoronaV: LMAO bullshit
you paid for that
GOAT Seo-yul: what can I say
we got the money 🤷♂️
unlike some dumbass who let faggots walk all over him and got kicked out day one
AlphaMerth: fuck you
ain't nobody walk over me
I left on my own cause that shit was gay as hell
I ain't gonna act like a pussy just so people like me
CoronaV: just admit it
you couldn't fight back cause the faggot was richer than you 🤣🤣🤣
AlphaMerth: say that to my face
you better run when I see you
GOAT Seo-yul: just come to Korea bro
I wanna dip too but my parents won't let me
talking bout "you started it so you finish it"
like bro fuck my life
AlphaMerth: I'm at the airport rn
I'll fuck you just like you wanted 😈
CoronaV: ew get that homo shit outta here
that's nasty bro
stick to milfs
AlphaMerth: like your mom?
how she doing btw
she was loud as hell riding me
GOAT Seo-yul: wait bro
you actually fucked his mom??
CoronaV: yeah
mom liked it
finally stopped bitching at me
guess she needed it
GOAT Seo-yul: ayo do my mom next 💀
she won't shut up lately
AlphaMerth: say less
get me outta this hellhole
I'll give you another sibling so she leaves you alone
The messages kept coming.
Fast. Casual. Effortlessly cruel.
The table stared at the screen in stunned silence.
These were boys—barely adults, eighteen to early twenties—spewing bile like it was entertainment. No shame. No filter. No humanity.
Just rot.
And the worst part?
They thought this made them powerful.
No one at the table spoke at first. They could only stare as the conversation continued to scroll, each message somehow worse than the last.
"Is that why Merth threw a tantrum about wanting to join LEAVEN?" Tuesday finally said, her voice thin, almost afraid of the answer. "Because his buddy became an idol... because he bored?"
"Motherfucker…" Luca breathed, the pieces clicking together in a way that made his stomach drop.
And Foca?
Foca was seething.
Not loud. Not explosive. The kind of fury that settled deep in the bones.
How dare he.
How dare they turn people's dreams into a joke. How dare they cheapen years of sacrifice, of sleepless nights and broken bodies and relentless training. Blood, sweat, tears—reduced to a plaything for bored nepo babies with too much money and no spine.
Everyone at the table felt it.
Foca wasn't just angry.
He was done.
One thing was crystal clear now: Merth could not be allowed to leave the country. And Kang Seo-yul—along with whoever the hell was hiding behind the username CoronaV—had to be dealt with.
Immediately.
Cole was the first to move. He was already on his phone, calling his sperm donor, voice sharp and clipped as he demanded they keep eyes on Merth. No excuses. No delays.
Pearl was already a step ahead.
"Yeah," she said into her phone, calm but unyielding. "I'm with him right now. …Yes. Tomorrow afternoon works."
She hung up and looked at Foca. "We'll go together."
A meeting with their father was set.
Ironically, this had been one of the original reasons Foca invited Pearl and Cole to dinner in the first place. Their Father, Jonathan and Pearl—through their family—held a controlling share in Hwarang Motors. Foca had planned, hesitantly, to ask for help. Maybe leverage. Maybe pressure. Something—anything—to rein in Kang Seo-yul.
But as the night went on, he'd decided against it.
He didn't want to drag his family into his problems. It felt selfish. It felt like crossing a line.
So he'd buried the thought.
Now?
He didn't even have to bring it up.
The situation had detonated on its own—escalating past the point of politeness, past the point of restraint. Whatever came next wouldn't be subtle, and it wouldn't be clean.
But it would be decisive.
Consequences were coming.
And this time, there would be no buying their way out of it.