A Dangerous Invitation

"Some invitations are not meant to be accepted. But some traps are impossible to avoid."

Joon-hyuk had spent years perfecting the art of being invisible. He walked through Shinseong High like a ghost, just another nameless scholarship student among heirs and heiresses who controlled Korea’s economy.

But now, it felt like every pair of eyes was on him.

And one of those eyes belonged to Han Soo-ah.

He could feel her gaze from across the cafeteria, sharp and unwavering. She wasn’t just watching him—she was studying him.

It made him uneasy.

Because people who got too curious about him? They never ended well.

The Unwanted Invitation

Joon-hyuk pushed his tray away, ready to leave, but his plan to escape failed miserably when a shadow loomed over him.

Kang Min-ho.

The guy was pure arrogance wrapped in designer clothing. The eldest son of Kang Corporations, heir to billions, and a future CEO.

And right now, he looked like he had just won something important.

Min-ho smirked. “You’re coming to my father’s gala tomorrow.”

Joon-hyuk frowned. “Why would I do that?”

Min-ho leaned in, lowering his voice. “Because my father personally requested your presence.”

A chill ran down Joon-hyuk’s spine.

Kang Joon-seok.

CEO of Kang Corporations. Ruthless. Intelligent. A man who never did anything without a reason.

Joon-hyuk didn’t react. He simply looked at Min-ho with unreadable eyes. “I don’t do rich-people parties.”

Min-ho’s smirk deepened. “You don’t have a choice.”

Something was wrong.

Did Kang Joon-seok… know something?

Did he somehow find out that Joon-hyuk wasn’t just a nobody—but the only son of Lee Tae-sung, Korea’s most powerful billionaire?

Joon-hyuk stayed silent, calculating.

He couldn’t decline the invitation. That would be suspicious.

But attending? That was walking into a lion’s den.

A Partner in Crime?

Joon-hyuk spent the rest of the day debating his options. By the time classes ended, he still had no solution.

And then came problem number two.

Han Soo-ah.

She blocked his way just as he was leaving.

“Lee Joon-hyuk.” She crossed her arms, tilting her head. “Why didn’t you tell me we have a date?”

Joon-hyuk blinked. “…What?”

Soo-ah smirked. “The Kang Gala. You and me. Tomorrow night.”

Joon-hyuk groaned. “You’re actually going?”

“Of course.” She flicked her hair back. “Do you know how exclusive this event is? Even chaebol heirs fight to get in.”

“And you just happened to get invited?”

She shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Let’s just say I have my ways.”

Joon-hyuk sighed. “This is a bad idea.”

“Oh, absolutely.” Soo-ah grinned. “That’s what makes it fun.”

He rubbed his temples. This girl was going to be a problem.

A very big problem.

The Unseen Threat

That night, as Joon-hyuk sat in his small apartment, staring at the city lights, a single thought haunted him.

Why did Kang Joon-seok invite him?

Did he really know something?

Or was this just the beginning of something far worse?

One thing was clear—tomorrow’s gala was not just a party.

It was a trap.

To be continued…

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