The blinding stage lights flickered as the five members of Dreamer bowed to the roaring crowd. Their latest concert had been a massive success, and the energy in the air was electric. Fans screamed their names, waving lightsticks in synchronized movements, creating a sea of colors that illuminated the massive dome. The night was a dream, but for their manager, Lia Kang, the real work was just beginning.

Backstage, the crew bustled about, preparing for the group’s exit. Among them, a young woman adjusted her glasses, a clipboard clutched tightly in her hands.

“Lia! The van is ready,” called out an assistant.

Lia Kang, the manager of Dreamer, nodded as she pushed up her glasses, giving the impression of a frazzled, overworked employee. She hurried towards the members, her steps slightly rushed, as if she was constantly on the verge of tripping over herself.

“Alright, guys, let’s move quickly! You need rest before tomorrow’s schedule,” she said in a voice that carried authority despite her appearance.

Jae-hyun, the group’s leader, turned to her with a small smirk. “Lia, do you ever take a break? You look like you’re about to pass out.”

Lia let out a nervous laugh, waving him off. “That’s my job. Keeping you all in check.”

Min-ki, the group’s maknae, draped an arm over her shoulder playfully. “You worry too much, Lia-noona. We should be taking care of you instead.”

If only they knew.

As the idols walked toward the van, Lia subtly checked her phone. A message popped up from Kai, her assistant—and younger brother.

Kai: Father wants an update. You’re still playing weak, right?

She sighed and quickly typed back.

Lia: Obviously. No one suspects a thing.

To the world, she was just Dreamer’s clumsy and dedicated manager. No one knew she was also the CEO of Starwave Entertainment, the company that managed the very idols she served. Even fewer knew she was the daughter of a man who ruled the underworld, a man feared by those who knew the truth behind his pristine public image as a high-ranking officer.

Her life was a carefully crafted performance.

As the van pulled away, Lia exhaled, sinking into her seat. But just as she allowed herself a moment of calm, her phone buzzed again. Another message. But this one wasn’t from Kai.

Unknown Number: You’re not the only one with secrets, Manager Kang.

Lia’s heart skipped a beat.

For the first time in a long while, she felt something unfamiliar.

Fear.

—

Earlier That Day

Lia had been running on caffeine and sheer willpower. Managing a top idol group was exhausting on its own, but keeping up the act of being weak and clumsy? That took effort.

Her morning had started with a routine meeting at Starwave Entertainment’s headquarters. She had entered through the secret passageway that led to her private office, avoiding the staff who only knew her as Dreamer’s manager.

Kai was already there, waiting with a tablet in hand. He looked up and sighed. “You look terrible.”

“Thanks, little brother. Just what I needed to hear first thing in the morning.”

“I mean it. You’re pushing yourself too hard.” He slid the tablet across the desk. “The company is running smoothly, but father is asking about you. He thinks you’re getting too attached to the idols.”

Lia’s expression darkened. “I’m doing what’s necessary to maintain my cover. Nothing more.”

Kai didn’t look convinced. “Jae-hyun is always looking out for you. The others, too. If you don’t start distancing yourself, it’s going to get harder to keep your real identity a secret.”

Lia leaned back in her chair. “They don’t suspect a thing. To them, I’m just their fumbling, overworked manager.”

Kai gave her a long look before shaking his head. “Just be careful, noona.”

She had left the office shortly after, heading straight to the concert venue to oversee preparations. It had been a long day, but now, as the night came to a close, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling creeping up her spine.

Back in the Present

Lia stared at the message on her phone. Her fingers hovered over the screen as she debated whether to respond.

Before she could decide, Jae-hyun’s voice pulled her back to reality. “Lia, are you okay? You’re staring at your phone like it just threatened you.”

She forced a laugh, quickly locking the screen. “Just a work message. Nothing serious.”

Jae-hyun didn’t look convinced, but he let it go. The van continued its quiet journey back to the dorms, the members exhausted from their performance. But Lia? She knew sleep wouldn’t come easily tonight.

Someone knew her secret. And that meant her carefully constructed world was beginning to crack.

—

Midnight Confessions

Lia sat in her small office at Starwave, the message from earlier still burned into her mind. She had done countless background checks on everyone surrounding Dreamer, and no one should have known her true identity. Yet, someone did.

Kai entered quietly, setting down a cup of tea in front of her. “Still thinking about that message?”

She nodded. “If someone knows, it’s only a matter of time before it spreads.”

“Then we need to find out who sent it before that happens.”

Lia rubbed her temples. “Easier said than done. It came from an untraceable number.”

Kai hesitated before speaking. “What if it’s someone within Dreamer?”

She looked up sharply. “No. They have no reason to suspect me.”

Kai leaned forward. “You’re sure about that?”

Lia hesitated. Jae-hyun had been watching her more closely lately. Ren had made a few cryptic remarks. And then there was Dae-ho, who always seemed to know more than he let on.

Were her walls already crumbling?

As she stared at her phone, another message appeared.

Unknown Number: You can pretend all you want, but secrets don’t stay hidden forever.

Lia clenched her jaw.

Whoever this was, they had just declared war.

The city lights blurred outside the tinted windows of the van as Dreamer’s members dozed off one by one. Jae-hyun, still half-awake, stole glances at Lia, who was staring at her phone, lost in thought. She hadn’t spoken much since the concert ended, and it didn’t sit well with him.

“Lia, seriously, is something wrong?” he asked in a low voice, careful not to wake the others.

She blinked, snapping out of her trance, then gave a forced smile. “Just tired. It was a long day.”

He wasn’t convinced, but he let it slide—at least for now.

The moment the van reached the dorm, Lia excused herself and headed toward her own apartment. But before she even reached her building, her phone vibrated again. Another message.

Unknown Number: You’re playing a dangerous game, Manager Kang.

Lia exhaled sharply, tapping her fingers against the back of her phone. Whoever was sending these messages thought they were in control. Thought they had some kind of upper hand. They had no idea just who they were dealing with.

With a smirk, she typed back for the first time.

Lia: You think you know me? Cute.

For a long moment, there was no response. Then, finally—

Unknown Number: You’re not scared?

Lia: Should I be?

There was a pause. Then another message popped up.

Unknown Number: Enjoy your peace while it lasts.

Lia rolled her eyes and pocketed her phone. Amateurs. They thought they were intimidating her, but they had no clue they were threatening someone who had been trained to survive far worse.

Tonight, she would let them believe they had won.

Tomorrow, she would remind them who truly held the power.

—

The Next Day

Lia arrived at Starwave Entertainment earlier than usual. She took the private elevator to the top floor, where her hidden office was located. Only a few people in the world knew about this office—including Kai, who was already waiting for her.

“I tracked the number,” he said, handing her a file. “It’s coming from inside the company.”

Lia raised an eyebrow. “Someone from Starwave?”

Kai nodded. “But here’s the interesting part—they’re not some high-level insider. Just an employee in the security department.”

She smirked. “So they think they’ve uncovered something huge?”

Kai sighed. “Pretty much. They probably think you’re just some nobody who got lucky and stumbled into the industry.”

Lia leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. “They have no idea they just made the biggest mistake of their life.”

Kai grinned. “So, how do you want to handle it?”

She tapped her fingers against her desk. “Let’s have a little fun with them first.”

—

A Game of Shadows

That afternoon, Lia walked through Starwave’s main floor, passing by rows of employees who only knew her as Dreamer’s manager. She found herself in the security department, casually leaning against the counter.

“Hey,” she said to the staff on duty. “I heard there’s been some security issues lately. Any idea what that’s about?”

A man in his mid-30s, dressed in a standard company suit, looked up at her. He had sharp eyes that flickered with something close to amusement. “Just some unusual activity in the system. Nothing for you to worry about, Manager Kang.”

Lia smiled. Ah. So it’s him.

“Unusual activity?” she tilted her head. “Sounds serious.”

The man leaned forward slightly. “You’d be surprised how many things people try to hide. But the truth always comes out.”

Lia bit back a laugh. This guy really thought he had her cornered.

“Well,” she said sweetly, “I hope whoever is causing trouble doesn’t get in over their head.”

She turned to leave, but not before catching the flicker of unease in his eyes. Good. Let the game begin.

—

The One Who Didn’t Know Who He Was Messing With

By the evening, Lia was seated at a high-end lounge reserved for VIPs in the entertainment industry. She wasn’t here to socialize—she was here to remind a certain someone of their place.

The security employee, whose name was Jung-hoon, walked in as if he owned the place. He didn’t even notice Lia until he sat at the bar, ordering a drink.

“Rough day at work?” she said casually.

Jung-hoon turned, startled, before covering it up with a smirk. “Didn’t expect to see you here, Manager Kang.”

Lia swirled her drink in her glass. “Didn’t expect to see you digging through things that aren’t your business.”

His smirk faltered. “I don’t know what you mean.”

She leaned in, her expression completely unreadable. “Oh, I think you do.”

Jung-hoon’s fingers twitched slightly. “And what if I do? What if I found something… interesting?”

Lia let the silence stretch between them before finally chuckling. “Here’s a fun fact for you, Jung-hoon. People who dig too deep into things they don’t understand? They usually don’t like what they find.”

He swallowed hard. “Are you threatening me?”

She took a sip of her drink, completely unfazed. “Not at all. Just giving you a friendly warning. You think you know something, but you don’t. And if you don’t back off, you’re going to realize just how much you don’t know.”

Jung-hoon paled slightly. Lia set her glass down and stood up, smoothing out her blazer. “Enjoy your drink. It might be the last peaceful moment you have for a while.”

She left him sitting there, gripping his glass too tightly.

—

Back at the Dorm

Later that night, Lia stood outside Dreamer’s dorm, her usual tired expression in place. Jae-hyun opened the door, raising an eyebrow. “You okay?”

She nodded. “Just a long day.”

He studied her for a moment before stepping aside to let her in. As she entered, she caught a glimpse of Ren watching her from across the room, his sharp gaze unreadable.

Meanwhile, at her office, Kai was already working on a deeper trace of Jung-hoon’s connections. He wasn’t just Lia’s assistant—he was the top-ranked hacker in the world. And if someone thought they could outmaneuver Lia, they’d soon learn the hard way that no one could outrun Kai’s reach.

Her world was full of secrets. But some secrets? They weren’t meant to be uncovered.

And Lia would do whatever it took to keep it that way.

Lia sat in her dimly lit office, her fingers drumming against the desk. A holographic screen hovered in front of her, displaying Kai’s latest findings. He stood beside her, arms crossed, his expression calm but his eyes sharp.

“The idiot didn’t even bother hiding his tracks,” Kai muttered. “Jung-hoon’s been receiving payments from an external source. Someone wants him to dig deeper into you.”

Lia tilted her head. “Who’s paying him?”

Kai tapped the screen, revealing a name that made her expression darken.

“NOVA?” she muttered. “That underground syndicate?”

Kai nodded. “Looks like someone within NOVA is curious about you.”

Lia exhaled slowly. NOVA was one of the most powerful underground organizations, second only to her father’s empire. If they were interested in her, it meant trouble.

“Should we take them out?” Kai asked casually, as if discussing dinner plans.

Lia smirked. “Not yet. Let’s play along for now. Let them think they have the upper hand.”

Kai grinned. “This is going to be fun.”

—

The Idols Who Knew Too Little

Meanwhile, Dreamer was gathered in their dorm’s living room, oblivious to the storm brewing around them. Jae-hyun leaned against the couch, scrolling through his phone, while Ren sat in the corner, deep in thought.

“So,” Minho said, stretching, “Lia’s been acting weird lately, right?”

Haneul raised an eyebrow. “She always acts weird.”

“No, I mean, weirder than usual.” Minho frowned.

“Like, she’s distracted.”

Jae-hyun remained silent. He had noticed it, too. Lia was always professional, always composed, but lately, there was something else—a layer of tension beneath her usual cool exterior.

“Maybe she’s just stressed,” Jiho offered. “Managing us isn’t exactly easy.”

Ren finally spoke. “Or maybe something’s going on that we don’t know about.”

The room fell into a thoughtful silence.

—

The Warning

Later that night, Lia stepped into the underground parking lot of Starwave Entertainment. She had expected to find her car waiting for her. Instead, she found a note taped to the windshield.

“Stay out of this, or you won’t like what happens next.”

Lia smirked, crumpling the paper in her hand. They really thought threats like this would scare her?

A soft chuckle echoed from behind her. “You don’t seem very scared.”

She turned slowly, coming face to face with a man in a sleek black suit. His face was unfamiliar, but the insignia on his cufflinks wasn’t.

NOVA.

“You should be careful, Miss Kang,” the man said smoothly. “You’re stepping into dangerous territory.”

Lia tilted her head. “And you should be careful who you threaten.”

The man chuckled. “Brave words. But let’s see how brave you are when the time comes.”

He walked away, disappearing into the shadows. Lia exhaled, her mind racing.

She needed to act fast.

—

The Hacker Strikes

Back in their private headquarters, Lia relayed everything to Kai. He simply smirked and cracked his knuckles.

“Alright, let’s teach these guys a lesson,” he said, his fingers flying over the keyboard.

Within minutes, Kai had infiltrated NOVA’s internal network, bypassing their security like it was child’s play. Screens filled with data, financial records, and secret dealings.

“Should I crash their accounts?” Kai asked.

Lia shook her head. “Not yet. Just leave a message.”

Kai grinned, typing rapidly. A moment later, the message was embedded deep into NOVA’s system.

“You have no idea who you’re dealing with. Back off.”

Lia leaned back. The game had begun.

—

Unseen Ties

As Lia and Kai played their dangerous game, someone else was watching from the shadows.

Ren stood in his darkened room, staring at his phone. The name on the screen flashed with an unread message.

NOVA: We need to talk.

His grip tightened.

He had hoped this day would never come.

—

The Spy Among Them

Ren paced in his room, debating his next move. He knew he couldn’t ignore NOVA forever. They had ways of making people listen. His past with them was buried deep, but not deep enough.

His phone vibrated again.

NOVA: Meet us tomorrow at the old docks. No excuses.

Ren exhaled sharply. He couldn’t afford to involve the others. Not Lia. Not Dreamer.

—

The Silent Observer

Jae-hyun wasn’t the leader of Dreamer for nothing. He had sharp instincts, and lately, something about Ren had been off. The way he avoided conversations, the distracted look in his eyes—something was bothering him.

While the others slept, Jae-hyun stepped into the hallway and saw Ren standing by the window, staring at his phone. He could see the tension in Ren’s shoulders.

“What’s going on with you?” Jae-hyun asked.

Ren stiffened before pocketing his phone. “Nothing.”

Jae-hyun didn’t buy it. “You’re lying.”

Ren sighed. “Drop it, Jae.”

Jae-hyun frowned but decided not to push. Not yet.

—

The Battle Begins

The next day, Ren arrived at the old docks. A single black car was parked near the water, and a man leaned against it, waiting.

“You’re late,” the man said.

Ren crossed his arms. “What do you want?”

“The same thing we’ve always wanted,” the man replied. “Leverage.”

Ren’s jaw tightened. “I’m not part of NOVA anymore.”

The man smirked. “Oh, Ren. You don’t just walk away from us.”

Ren clenched his fists. He had worked hard to escape this life, to create a new one. But it seemed the past had finally caught up with him.

—

A Dangerous Game

Meanwhile, Lia had been tracking Ren’s movements. When he left without telling anyone, she had hacked into the city’s traffic cams and followed his route.

Seeing him at the docks with a known NOVA agent made her blood boil.

She tightened her grip on the steering wheel. “What are you hiding, Ren?”

Lia wasn’t about to let NOVA sink their claws into Dreamer.

The game had only just begun.