Chapter 1: The Manager Who Wasn't Just a Manager

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.

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