When Lina woke, her phone was already buzzing.
Twenty-seven missed messages.
Eight voice notes.
Three "Are you okay?" texts from Sora.
And one call from Alec Wei with the label: Don't Ignore Me, Starlet.
Her heart dropped.
She hadn't even opened her eyes fully when the System chimed:
> [Warning: You are currently trending in seven regions.]
Keywords: "Kael Marlowe," "mystery girl," "underground event," "black dress woman."
"System," she groaned, voice muffled into her pillow. "Tell me I'm not a meme."
> [Not yet. But a slowed-down video of you walking into the venue with Kael has hit 1.2 million views. Caption: 'Wife Energy.']
"…That's worse."
---
She called Sora first.
"Do I have to start fake-dating Kael now?"
Sora practically shrieked. "Are you kidding me? This is gold! Your engagement rate just tripled. You're being invited to a global fashion campaign, and an LA agency reached out for your acting debut."
"I don't act."
"You exist. That's enough."
---
Later, she met Kael for a "damage control" breakfast.
They sat in the farthest booth of a quiet hotel café, both in black, both silent for the first five minutes.
Finally, Kael asked, "Did I ruin your peace?"
Lina sipped her coffee.
"No. You just… made it public."
"I didn't plan for the cameras."
"I know."
"But I don't regret it."
She blinked.
He stared at her like someone memorizing a picture he'd only just realized was precious.
"Do you?"
Lina set down her cup.
"No," she said. "I don't."
---
Alec showed up at her apartment that afternoon.
Uninvited, of course.
He leaned on her doorframe, grinning like chaos incarnate.
"Well, well, well. Kael's finally showing his cards. Thought he'd stay the cold type forever."
Lina raised a brow. "You sound jealous."
"Maybe I am. I brought you something."
He handed her a flash drive.
"What's this?"
"Background on Mira. Real background. You'll want to read it before she plays her next move."
"You're giving me this… out of kindness?"
He winked. "Out of interest."
She didn't ask what kind.
---
That night, she lay in bed, scrolling through the file Alec gave her.
Mira had ties to a PR firm known for blackmail strategies, a fake boyfriend who was actually a manager, and several manipulated scandals in her wake—all of which had been wiped from public view.
> [System Analysis: Threat Level Upgraded – Mira Han: Grade B Risk]
Emotional Manipulation Probability: 91%
> *[Would you like to set countermeasures?]
"Yes," Lina whispered.
> [Countermeasures Set: AI Protocol: Ghost Net Deployed]
The System fell quiet.
And Lina… smiled.
Not because she wasn't scared.
But because she wasn't scared alone.