"Hello. It's us again," the man in the white shirt greeted them with a bright smile, the same group from yesterday standing behind him.
"Have you thought about our offer?" he asked directly.
"Offer?" Minho arched an eyebrow.
"Yes, our club," the man replied smoothly. "We'd like to introduce you to our university—show you how students live and what campus life is really like. And if you have any questions, feel free to ask."
Taehyun spoke up, a little cautiously. "I've been thinking about applying to Seoul National University."
"That's every student's dream," the man said with a light laugh.
Nau Rin abruptly cut in. "We have things to do, so we probably can't go." Her voice was firm and unyielding.
The man in the white shirt placed a hand over his chest as if wounded. "You treat us like we're bad people. Look at us—do we seem dangerous? We're only doing this because we actually liked you guys. We're busy people too, you know."
One of his friends added with a grin, looking at Nau Rin, "We watched your match. We've practically become your fans."
"I'm sorry, but we really can't," Seohun said, refusing as well.
The man glanced between Minho and Taehyun. "Do you feel the same? Well then… it was nice meeting you," he said, turning as if to leave.
"Wait! We'll go with you!" Minho suddenly shouted. He pulled his friends aside, turning his back to the group as they began whispering.
"They're right. What's wrong with talking for a bit?" he insisted.
Nau Rin frowned deeply. "What kind of university students take interest in middle school kids? To be friends? Upperclassmen never even befriended you before."
"You always look at things negatively," Minho argued. "Not everything is as bad as you think."
"I don't feel good about it either," Seohun added quietly.
Minho looked at Taehyun.
"I'm not sure," Taehyun answered hesitantly. "They seem okay. But since these two are against it, maybe it's not a good idea."
"Seriously, you guys! Just once," Minho urged, continuing to persuade them.
Meanwhile, the man in the white shirt observed their hushed discussion. When it seemed to end, he politely asked if they had decided. Minho immediately nodded and, almost dragging his hesitant friends along, followed after the group.
Just as they had promised, the they gave them a thorough tour of the campus, answering every question without the slightest hint of annoyance. They spoke easily, confidently—like they truly belonged there.
Eventually, the group made their way to the club room.
The moment they stepped inside, Minho's eyes widened.
The space was surprisingly inviting. A billiards table stood near the center, polished and well-used. A dartboard hung neatly on the wall, and various small games and decorations filled the shelves. Except for a long table placed along one side of the room, the place felt less like a university facility and more like a cozy living room.
Taehyun looked around in disbelief. "But… does the school actually allow this?"
"How we decorate our club room is up to the members," the man in the white shirt replied casually. "Though I doubt you'll find another club quite like ours."
"Yeah," one of his friends added with a grin. "We know how to balance work and fun."
"Well, don't just stand there. Have a seat," the white-shirted man said, gesturing toward the couch.
They filed in one by one. Seohun chose the corner of the sofa; Nau Rin sat beside him. Minho and Taehyun followed. Before long, the table was covered with fried chicken, pizza, and bottles of soda.
The mans sat opposite them, and soon everyone began eating together.
Everyone began eating—everyone except Nau Rin.
She hadn't touched a single thing.
The white-shirted man noticed immediately. "What's wrong? Did we order something you don't like?" he asked, his voice soft with concern.
"I'm on a diet," she answered briefly.
"Really? One bite won't make you gain weight," he said with a soft laugh.
From beside him, another friend chimed in, smiling. "It's fine. Girls should stay slim anyway. By the way, do any of you have a manfriend or girlfriend?"
Minho, his mouth stuffed with pizza, shook his head. "Nope," he mumbled.
They chatted about all sorts of things, and the man in the white shirt kept watching her out of the corner of his eye while talking with his friends. Nau Rin sat there, seemingly oblivious, staring blankly at her surroundings without joining the conversation. She would occasionally bring the drink to her lips, barely touching it, before setting it back down.
The man's friend noticed her barely touched drink. Reaching over, he picked up a bottle of soda.
"Anyone need a refill?" he asked casually. Then his eyes fell on Nau Rin's glass, still nearly full. "Oh—you haven't even had any?"
"I have," Nau Rin replied evenly.
He gave a small nod and moved on.
When no one was looking, Nau Rin quietly tilted her glass, pouring the soda into her friends' cups little by little until her own was empty. She set it back down as if nothing had happened.
Gradually, everyone scattered to entertain themselves. Minho and Taehyun headed to the billiards table with one of the mans, their competitive voices rising in playful argument. Seohun drifted toward the display shelves, examining the items lined up there.
Soon, only two people remained on the sofa.
Nau Rin.
And the man in the white shirt sitting opposite her.
The man suddenly bent down and retrieved a bottle of liquor from beneath the table, setting it on the surface with deliberate ease.
"Care for a drink?" he asked.
In that instant, Nau Rin's face hardened. Her eyes turned cold, clearly caught off guard—she hadn't expected him to bring out something like that.
He gave a faint smile, poured himself a shot, then filled a second glass and slowly slid it toward her across the table.
The man looked at her steadily and spoke in a quiet voice.
"To be honest… the reason we brought you guys here was because I wanted to get to know you."
He paused, carefully watching her eyes.
"Don't look at me like that. I told you—we're not bad people. When I saw you in the ring, I noticed something. You never once looked at the crowd. Your eyes were fixed only on your opponent. At first, I thought it was just concentration. But the more I thought about it… it wasn't."
His gaze deepened, as if trying to peel back her composure.
"You weren't focusing. You were avoiding them. You didn't want anyone to see you. You separated yourself on purpose. After meeting you, I became sure I was right."
"Was I wrong?" he asked softly, studying her face.
But the reaction he seemed to expect never appeared. Nau Rin's expression remained calm, almost indifferent.
"And?" she replied evenly.
He adjusted his posture and continued, locking eyes with her.
"You felt familiar to me," he continued. "When I was younger, I was bullied a lot. I used to stare at the ground all the time, wishing no one would notice me. Maybe that's why you seemed close to me from the start."
The moment he finished speaking, Nau Rin stood.
Without a word, she picked up the glass he had poured for her and tipped it sharply into his own. The two glasses struck each other with a sharp clink, the liquids mixing and spilling slightly over the rim.
The man looked at her in surprise.
Nau Rin's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile, but her eyes remained cold and composed.
"Your story is sad," she said quietly, her voice steady. "But my story is different. I don't need anyone to pity me… and besides, I'm not interested in older man."
Her tone was soft yet unyielding. She turned calmly and walked back to her friends.
Color rose sharply to the man's face.
"I've treated you well this whole time," he snapped, frustration breaking through his composure. "Don't you think you're going a little too far?"
Before the last word had fully left his mouth—
Minho suddenly collapsed onto the floor.
Nau Rin and Seohun rushed to Minho's side, bending over him. His body was completely limp, lying motionless without any resistance. Nau Rin shook his shoulder urgently.
"Minho! Are you okay?" she called out sharply.
Minho's eyes fluttered open briefly, then closed again His breathing was heavy and ragged, almost like a stifled snore. Nearby, Taehyun clung to the edge of the billiards table, barely able to stand as he swayed on his feet, his dazed eyes fixed on the scene.
Seohun spun toward the man in the white shirt, his expression hard.
"What did you do to them?" he demanded.
The man leaned back casually against the sofa, silent, watching them with an unreadable expression. Seohun's anger flared, and he stepped forward, pointing at him.
"Answer me!" he shouted.
The man remained still, saying nothing.
Some of his friends stepped closer, but Nau Rin intervened quickly, her voice firm.
"Seohun, stop. Let it go. Let's just leave," she said.
But Seohun didn't release his hold.
"Seohun!" Nau Rin's voice cut sharper this time.
With a strong shove, Seohun pushed the man aside and supported Minho to his feet. Nau Rin helped steady Taehyun, and together they hurried toward the door, moving quickly to get out of the room.