When Zain entered his office building, a heavy silence spread throughout the space. Dressed in a black suit, with a face like stone and an icy coldness in his eyes, he radiated an intimidating presence. The employees present froze in their places.
"Good morning, sir!" everyone said in unison, bowing together.
Zain did not even glance at anyone. Behind him, his right-hand man, Kiyan, walked briskly, nodding at everyone and offering a polite "Good morning" to ease the bitterness in the atmosphere.
As Zain private elevator ascended toward the 50th floor, the employees standing behind finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Huan Jing wiped her forehead and said, "Today we're definitely going to die! The boss's mood is even more dangerous than yesterday. Come on, get back to work quickly!"
Xia nodded in agreement. "Yes, today I could literally see the God of Death in his eyes."
Anya's Colorful World
On the other side of the city, in a modest neighborhood, a ray of sunlight fell across Anya's face. She jolted awake and immediately blew a flying kiss to the photo of Jungkook placed in front of her bed.
"Good morning, my love Jungkook!"
Then her gaze shifted to the photo of Byeon Woo-seok beside it. "Good morning, my dear Sun-jae!"
Anya's appearance was somewhat "nerdy"—messy hair, thick glasses resting on her nose, and a strangely carefree expression on her face. She was completely lost in her own world when her mother, Lu Feng, entered the room holding a rolling pin in her hand.
"Oh my! Here comes Jungkook's biggest fangirl! At least try to keep your feet on the ground, Your Highness!" Lu Feng teased, lightly tapping Anya from behind. "You've been rejected from ten interviews in China, still haven't found a job, and yet your dreams are floating in the seventh sky!"
Adjusting her glasses in annoyance, Anya replied confidently, "Mom! Just wait and see—I'll get a job. And when I do, I'll go straight to Korea! I'll find myself a handsome Korean boyfriend there, then we'll have a grand wedding. We'll have two adorable children, and then I'll bring them back to China… so they can play in your lap!"
Lu Feng burst into laughter. "First go and attend today's interview. Otherwise, forget Korea—your world will shrink to this kitchen alone!"
Anya smiled.
Where Zen's office was wrapped in silence and fear, a real "war" was unfolding inside Anya's home.
Anya stood before the mirror, trying to tame her messy hair that looked no less than a bird's nest. She adjusted her thick glasses on her nose and wore an old but clean shirt.
Just then, a loud voice came from the dining table.
"Oh! Mom, look—today the 'big star' of South Korea has graced our house with her presence!"
It was Lu Wei, Anya's 20-year-old younger brother. He worked at a nearby café, and his days were spent serving coffee to customers and teasing his sister.
Sibling Banter
"Shut up, Wei! Finish your breakfast and leave for the café," Anya said, glaring at him.
Lu Wei stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth and laughed. "I was just thinking—if Jungkook ever saw you in this form—this flying hair and those grandma-style glasses—he would quit singing altogether! The poor guy would probably take early retirement out of fear."
"You're just jealous of me!" Anya shot back, picking up her bag. "Just wait—one day I'll go to Korea, marry him, and then I'll hire you as a servant in my house."
"Yeah, yeah—first clear your eleventh interview in China," Wei replied mockingly as he grabbed his bicycle keys. "Mom, pray extra hard for her today, because with that face, only God can get her a job!"
"Just wait till I catch you!" Anya raised her hand to hit him, but Wei burst out laughing and ran out the door.
The Path of New Hope
Anya took a deep breath and clampdown herself
"Mom, my interview today is at 'Global Tech.' It may not be as big as zy empire's office, but the salary is good. If I get this job, my dream of going to Korea will come true."
Lu Feng placed her hand on Anya's head. "Go, my child. May today be a good day for you."
Anya stepped out of the house. The fresh air brushed against her face. She had no idea that on the other side of the city, Zen was planning to eliminate the enemies from his past. She also did not know that the path fate had chosen for her was not the calm of 'Global Tech,' but the storm of Zen's empire.The road roared with traffic as Anya rode her old scooter, weaving through vehicles. Earphones plugged in, that same nervous smile lingered on her face. Suddenly, the phone inside her scooter's storage compartment began ringing loudly.
Balancing the handle with one hand, she awkwardly pulled out the phone with the other. The name "Huan Jing" flashed on the screen.
"Hello! Jing!" Anya shouted, the wind nearly swallowing her voice.
"Anya! Lower your voice—I'm not deaf!" came Huan Jing's hushed reply. She was speaking from a hidden corner of the luxurious office of ZY Empire, careful not to be overheard.
"Oh! My best friend finally calls! So tell me, what tips do you have for my eleventh interview today?" Anya laughed.
"Forget the tips—where are you? And why are you yelling?" Jing whispered. Her voice was so low it sounded like she was on a covert mission.
Anya stopped at a red light and replied irritably, "I'm at a signal! But why are you talking like someone taped your mouth shut? What happened? Is that 'wolf'—Zain Yan—lurking around you?"
Huan Jing instinctively glanced behind her at the heavy closed cabin door of Zain Yan. She exhaled in relief and whispered, "No! I'm just trying my luck that he doesn't step out of his cabin. It's one o'clock—his meeting time. If he comes out, even the air here will freeze. You just focus on your interview. All the best!"
"Thanks, my love! Just pray the people at 'Global Tech' don't get scared after seeing my face," Anya joked.
The signal turned green. She accelerated. "Okay, I'm hanging up. You stay safe from that wolf—don't let him eat you for lunch!"
She cut the call and sped ahead.
She had no idea that the "wolf" she was teasing ruled an empire whose reach extended far beyond 'Global Tech.'The office of Global Tech gleamed with glass walls reflecting the afternoon sun. Anya sat outside the interview room, clutching her file tightly to her chest. Her glasses rested nervously on her nose as her legs trembled under the chair. In her mind, she repeated her mother's blessings—and for courage, she even pictured Jungkook's smiling face.
"Anya Lu!" a voice called from inside.
She inhaled deeply, tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear, and stepped in. Two stern-faced interviewers sat across the table.
The Question–Answer Round
The interview began smoothly. Her academic record impressed them. But the atmosphere shifted when the discussion turned to portfolio and field experience.
Interviewer: "Miss Anya, your academic performance is strong. However, we have very limited openings for this position. We are specifically looking for someone with at least three years of field experience."
Anya straightened her posture, trying to inject confidence into her tone.
"Sir, I may not have formal experience, but I learn very quickly. I am willing to work extremely hard—"
Interviewer (interrupting): "Hard work is expected from everyone, Miss Lu. But Global Tech is not a training center. We require a ready-to-deploy professional. You are still a fresher. There is no substantial project or field exposure that allows us to assess risk in your favor."
The language was clinical. Detached. Final.
The Collapse of Hope
The color drained from Anya's face.
In that instant, the dreams she had built—going to Korea, providing comfort to her mother—blurred like fogged glass.
"I'm sorry," the interviewer concluded, closing her file. "When you've gained relevant experience, you may reapply. For now, you are rejected."
Anya rose quietly, held her file close, and forced a faint smile. "Thank you," she said, before stepping out.
Outside the Building
The harsh sunlight stung her eyes as she exited. Her old scooter stood in the parking area, suddenly appearing as exhausted as she felt—aged, overlooked, persistent. She said herself why I am always rejected She didn't know that this rejection from 'Global Tech' was quietly redirecting her toward ZY Empire—a place where experience mattered less than courage.
At Home
The moment she tossed her bag onto the sofa, Lu Wei emerged from the kitchen holding an apple.
"Oh! Our 'South Korean Queen' returns!" he laughed. "Judging by your face, 'Global Tech' didn't even offer you tea. What happened? Did they say they needed an employee, not a cartoon character?"
"Shut up, Wei!" she snapped. "They wanted experience. That's all."
Their mother, Lu Feng, stepped out. "I told you to step out of your dream world. Go wash up and eat. Or forget Korea and marry the neighbor's son!"
Anya felt tears rising again—
But then came a heavy knock on the door.
The Return of Uncle Lu Kang
The door opened.
A tall, commanding man stood outside.
Lu Kang.
He hadn't visited in years.
"Uncle Lu Kang!" Anya exclaimed, hugging him.
He smiled—but there was depth in his eyes. A stillness that felt unsettling.
As he placed his hand on her shoulder, his sleeve shifted slightly.
A dragon tattoo marked his wrist.
The same mark that, fifteen years ago, had been seen on the hands of the men who destroyed the family of Zain Yan.
"How are my children?" Lu Kang's voice was calm—almost too calm. "I brought you something."
He placed two boxes on the table.
For Anya: a brand-new, high-end laptop.
"For your job search," he said.
For Lu Wei: a branded wristwatch.
Wei frowned. "Uncle, you always give Anya the expensive gifts. That laptop costs ten times more than my watch."
Lu Kang gently patted his head. "Because your sister needs it. She is meant to rise very high."
Anya felt happy—but unaware of the implications stitched into that dragon ink.
A Familiar Face on the Screen
The first thing she did was change the laptop wallpaper.
Up appeared a cool, charismatic poster of Jungkook.
Her lips curved into a smile.
"Don't worry, Kookie. I'll meet you soon," she whispered, touching the screen.
Her phone lit up again.
Huan Jing.
Anya replied: "Rejected. They wanted experience. As if it falls from the sky."
Instead of texting back, Jing called immediately.
"Stop crying," Jing's voice carried unusual excitement. "Maybe your destiny isn't in that pathetic 'Global Tech.' Maybe it's somewhere else."
"Where?" Anya asked tiredly.
"ZY Empire!" Jing nearly shouted. "Workload exploded here. We're short on employees. There's a walk-in interview tomorrow. Management needs people urgently."
Anya froze. "Are you crazy? That's the territory of the biggest predator alive—Zain Yan! You yourself said working there is like walking into death."
"Look at the salary!" Jing countered. "If you get this job, you could book your Korea ticket in one month. I'm sending you the address and time. Just show up."
The call ended.