Aeryun and Chaerin started walking toward Chaerin’s house as Aeryun finally gave in and decided to study for a while before heading home. On the way, they passed through the park. The air felt colder than usual, and the streetlights flickered faintly.

That was when they saw the same boy who had helped Aeryun earlier, the one in the denim baseball cap with the towering height, Tae. He was also the one who had unknowingly helped her get the chocolate by shouting (Neoneun nae unmyeongiya), “destiny,” though neither Aeryun nor Chaerin knew that yet.

But Tae wasn’t alone.

He was kneeling on the ground, gently wiping tears off his younger sister Hannah Minwoo’s face.

The emergency alert he had received earlier was because a group of kids had forced Hannah off the swing while she was eating her ice cream. When she refused to leave, they pushed her onto the ground and stuck bubble gum right at the centre of her head where her pigtails parted.

Not knowing what to do, Hannah had pressed the emergency button on her kid’s phone, the one that’s shaped like a carrot with very limited features. One of the kids noticed her pressing the emergency button, and the entire group immediately fled the scene since they all used the same emergency alert app. The app instantly sent Hannah’s location to her emergency contacts, including Tae.

“Don’t cry anymore,” Tae said softly while brushing her hair back carefully. “I’ll remove it at home. It won’t hurt.”

Hannah sniffled. “Promise it won’t hurt?”

“Promise.”

He kissed her forehead before lifting her into his arms, preparing to leave the park from the other side.

“Aww,” both Aeryun and Chaerin whispered at the exact same time, completely melted by how lovingly he treated his sister.

Tae immediately turned toward them. The streets were unusually quiet that night, so their voices carried easily. Somewhere in the distance, an owl hooted.

Aeryun leaned closer to Chaerin and whispered, “I think we should go. I’m pretty sure we’ll meet him again someday anyway. It’s a small world. We can thank him properly later.”

Chaerin looked at her in disbelief.

“It’s now or never.”

Before Aeryun could stop her, Chaerin shouted, “Hey, you! Aeryun wants to say something to you!”

Aeryun slapped Chaerin’s arm in pure shock.

The two of them awkwardly walked toward Tae and Hannah.

“The bubble gum will come off easily if you apply ice cubes,” Aeryun said quickly.

Tae nodded. “Thank you for the advice.”

Aeryun immediately interrupted.

“And thank you for saying ‘you are my destiny’.”

Hannah burst into laughter.

Tae looked completely stunned.

Chaerin stood behind Aeryun with a full facepalm.

Hannah tilted her head innocently. “Is she your girlfriend?”

Both of them screamed, “No!”

“Then who is she?” Hannah asked.

An awkward silence followed.

Aeryun quickly pointed at herself. “I’m Aeryun, the girl your brother helped outside Qyena Kwon’s house while I was trying to buy chocolates.”

Then she looked at Hannah again.

“I just wanted to thank your brother for helping me earlier.”

Finally, she turned toward Tae properly.

“Thank you.”

“It was no problem at all,” Tae replied. “Please don’t thank me.”

Hannah suddenly looked up at Tae.

“Where’s my chocolate?”

Tae sighed. “I couldn’t get it.”

“Sorry for interfering,” Aeryun said carefully, “but you can have mine.”

Hannah smiled politely before shaking her head.

“Thank you, but this isn’t the one I wanted. I wanted (uri dasi mannayo), ‘Let’s Meet Again.’”

“I’ll get it for you next time,” Tae promised immediately. “Without fail.”

Hannah smiled and hugged him tightly.

“It’s okay.”

“ Nice to meet you, Aeryun; my brother, Tae, is amazing,” Hannah proudly told Aeryun. “He helps everyone, and he’s really lovely.”

Aeryun smiled softly.

“ Nice to meet you too! I bet he is.”

After a strangely long pause, Aeryun finally spoke again.

“It’s getting late. We should get going.”

Hannah waved enthusiastically at both girls. “Bye! Thank you!”

Tae and Hannah started exiting the park from the opposite side.

The moment they disappeared farther ahead, Chaerin dramatically turned toward Aeryun.

“What was that long pause? I’ve literally never seen you speechless before. You’re always talking.”

Aeryun groaned. “I don’t know what happened to me back there. I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m rude now. Oh no.”

Chaerin laughed.

“It’s easier for me to make enemies than friends,” Aeryun continued dramatically. “And I’m also very sure Myeora isn’t going to let the whole bumping-into-her-group thing go. She’s definitely planning something. I can feel it in the air. It feels heavier today than usual.”

“Stop being dramatic,” Chaerin said.

Both of them burst into laughter again.

Meanwhile, two members of Medusa’s group, Lee Liora and Kang Kyuri, spotted them leaving the park together at the same time, and immediately informed Myeora Jin.

Myeora instantly assumed Aeryun and Tae were already dating because nobody willingly went against her, especially not people from the same school.

She ordered the others in her other group chat to investigate Tae properly and keep an eye on him. It was almost like Myeora hand-picking her juniors who were auditioning to be in Myeora’s group.

Deep down, Myeora knew Lee Liora, Kang Kyuri, and Jin Jiwon would do absolutely anything for her, including surveillance, gathering information, and digging up dirt for her to use later.

“Send me the video of Aeryun jumping around trying to get her notebook back,” Myeora ordered coldly. “I need to do some editing.”

For some reason, she no longer trusted Nohwa Rin. She thought Nohwa had become too weak to remain in the group anyway.

Aeryun stretched dramatically while walking.

“Since today was emotionally exhausting, I think we deserve to skip studying and just watch our favourite daily soap at your house.”

For the first time ever, Chaerin immediately agreed.

As they continued walking, Aeryun suddenly stopped.

“Wait. Let’s take the longer route.”

Chaerin narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“So we can check whether Mr. Park is back from vacation or not,” Aeryun admitted shamelessly as she was dying to have her favourite bowl of noodles.

Meanwhile, Tae realized there was no ice left at home, so he stopped by a grocery store with Hannah still holding onto his hand. They bought ice, and Hannah somehow managed to convince him to buy her another ice cream too.

She looked like the happiest person alive.

To Aeryun and Chaerin’s surprise, the aroma of freshly made noodles reached them before they even arrived at the shop.

Their eyes lit up instantly.

Without another word, both girls started running toward the noodle shop.

While returning from the grocery store, Tae and Hannah spotted them sprinting.

Suddenly, Hannah noticed something silver fall onto the pavement.

“Aeryun dropped this!” she said quickly.

It was a silver brooch with intricate details, featuring a tiny cat image inside with a pink ribbon.

“Let’s return it,” Hannah insisted.

The moment Aeryun entered the noodle shop, she and Chaerin shouted together: “Welcome back, Mr. Park!”

Park Pyeongho immediately burst into laughter upon seeing them again.

“Tell us everything,” Aeryun demanded dramatically. “What did you do during your vacation? Did you meet your grandson? Show me the pictures already.”

While Mr. Park happily showed them photos from his village, selfies with his wife, sheep pictures, and countless photos of his grandson, another voice interrupted them.

“Excuse me. I believe this is yours.”

It was Hannah.

Aeryun gasped. “Thank you!”

Hannah pointed at the brooch curiously. “Is this cat yours?”

“No,” Aeryun replied. “My parents won’t let me get a cat or dog because they already think I’m enough trouble.”

That made Hannah giggle.

“I found this at a thrift store,” Aeryun continued proudly while pinning it back onto her outfit. “And honestly? It matches my outfit perfectly.”

She posed dramatically.

“Doesn’t it look fabulous?”

Hannah nodded seriously. “Yes.”

Chaerin crossed her arms proudly. “My best friend has amazing fashion taste. Don’t let the shabby outfits fool you. She’s genuinely talented.”

Aeryun immediately grabbed Chaerin’s shoulders emotionally.

“You’re my best friend for a reason. My personal hype girl. Also, my outfits aren’t shabby; they’re a reflection of my mood each day. Updating my character each day.”

Hannah looked excited. “Can you dress me up someday too? In a completely new character?”

“Absolutely, why not?” Aeryun said immediately.

Then she suddenly looked at Tae and Hannah.

“Wait. Did you guys eat anything yet?”

Both of them shook their heads.

“Perfect,” Aeryun declared. “You absolutely need to try the noodles here. The soup literally makes your soul leave your body and then brings it back.”

Hannah immediately grabbed Tae’s sleeve.

“I’ll only eat if Tae eats a bowl too.”

“Aww,” Aeryun said dramatically. “I want a sister like this too.”

Mr. Park laughed warmly. “You’re lucky your sister loves you this much. May God bless you both.”

Aeryun pointed at herself and Chaerin. “Okay, so God shouldn’t bless us?”

Mr. Park burst into laughter. “Fine. Bless you both too.”

“I was kidding,” Aeryun admitted sheepishly. “But thank you.”

Aeryun immediately began recommending spice levels.

“You should get level three spicy noodles because even we barely survive them. Level six is basically a death wish.”

Tae calmly replied, “We’re used to spice. We’ll take level six.”

Mr. Park stared at them in disbelief.

“Kid, I’m literally the one cooking it. I know for a fact that it’s too spicy.”

Both Tae and Hannah answered together:

“We can handle it.”

Mr. Park sighed dramatically. “Fine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Then he proudly pointed toward a signboard.

“There’s also a cash reward and one free couple combo for a year if someone finishes the bowl alone without sharing.”

Aeryun and Chaerin gasped.

“That’s genius!”

Chaerin immediately started creating social media accounts for the shop while Aeryun volunteered to handle posting content.

Mr. Park looked emotional. “I don’t have money to pay you girls for this.”

“We don’t need money,” both girls replied immediately.

When the noodles finally arrived, Hannah looked confused.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

“Because spicy plus boiling hot is a deadly combination,” Aeryun explained seriously. “We need to let it cool first.”

“Can I try some?” Hannah asked innocently.

“Wait, let me cool it for you,” Aeryun said.

Before she could even blow on the noodles, Hannah casually took a bite herself.

“Where’s the spice?” Hannah asked.

Aeryun blinked slowly.

“Maybe Mr. Park forgot the spice.”

To confirm, she took a bite herself.

Instant regret.

Her eyes immediately filled with tears.

Chaerin slowly pushed the bowl away. “I believe Mr. Park definitely added the spice.”

Meanwhile, Hannah happily continued eating.

“It’s not even that spicy,” she said. “But it tastes amazing.”

Mr. Park immediately handed Aeryun a glass of milk.

Chaerin leaned closer and whispered, “Do they eat, drink, and breathe fire? How is a little kid handling this?”

Then she looked at Hannah seriously.

“I genuinely think she could swallow actual fire and survive.”

Now it was officially Tae and Hannah’s turn to attempt the level six challenge.

Aeryun quickly pulled out her phone.

“Tae, is it okay if I record you doing the challenge?”

Then she quietly pulled him aside.

“Mr. Park is struggling financially,” she admitted softly. “And you’re the first person in three years willing to try level six. But maybe let’s not include Hannah online. The internet is weird.”

Tae nodded immediately.

“Sure. And yes, let’s leave Hannah out of it.”

Then he smiled slightly.

“If this helps him get more customers, let’s do it.”