He later found her near the west wing corridor.
Lizzy.
She was standing with two girls, laughing lightly, posture relaxed, confidence wrapped around her like silk. The moment her eyes landed on Minho, her face brightened pleased, expectant, certain.
"Minho!" she called happily.
Before he could even open his mouth, she ran toward him and flung her arms around his neck. Why didn't you come to school last week? She asked, but didn't get an answer.
The contact lasted less than a second.
Minho shoved her away hard.
Lizzy stumbled backward, her shoes skidding against the polished floor. A sharp gasp tore from the surrounding students as she nearly slammed into the wall behind her.
"How dare you?" Minho groaned, his voice low and shaking.
Lizzy stared at him, stunned.
"How dare you!" he roared, the sound echoing violently through the corridor. "How dare you lay your dirty fingers on her?"
Her confidence shattered.
Lizzy's body trembled, lips parting as fear finally reached her eyes. "I… I don't… I don't know what I did," she stammered.
By then, students were already gathering—drawn by the noise and the tension. They brought out their phones and lifted their cameras. Whispers crawled through the hallway like smoke.
"What did I do?" Lizzy cried, tears spilling as she clutched her chest, her voice wobbling into a dramatic sob. "Why are you yelling at me like this, Minho?"
Minho took a step closer, his presence suffocating.
"How many of you were there?" he demanded. "Where are your accomplice?"
Lizzy lifted her head slowly, blinking at him as if she truly didn't understand.
Minho suddenly grabbed her wrist, his grip rough, furious.
"How many of you beat up Bobae?" he shouted.
The hallway went dead silent.
It felt unnatural, like time itself had paused. Even breathing seemed too loud.
Then the whispers began.
"Did he say Bobae?"
"Who's Bobae?"
"That quiet girl?"
Lizzy ripped her hand free and straightened abruptly. She wiped her tears away, surprise melting into something cold and sharp.
She stepped toward Minho, stopping just short of him.
"So that's what this is about," she scoffed. "That trash?"
Minho's hands were shaking now.
"That lowborn girl?" Lizzy continued bitterly. "Because of her, you yelled at me? Because of her, you pushed me away?"
Minho lost control and lunged forward, but Jinho stepped in instantly, gripping Minho's arms tightly and positioning himself between them.
"Minho!" Jinho hissed urgently. "Stop it! People are watching!"
And they were.
Students crowded the corridor now, phones raised high, recording every second, word, and expression.
"Leave me alone!" Minho shouted, trying to break free. "You all caused this! You bullied her! You made her life hell!"
His voice cracked with fury.
"And now she's been sent to the West Estate because of you!"
Jinho froze.
"The West Estate?" he repeated softly, shock rippling through him.
Before he could ask another question, his phone rang.
He looked at it, it was his brother junpyo.
Jinho answered without thinking.
"Where are you?" Junpyo's voice came through—tight, controlled, already irritated. "Listen carefully. The family dinner I told you about yesterday is starting in two hours time.
Jinho frowned. I don't think I can be there."
"It's the kind you don't miss, so you don't have a choice" Junpyo replied coldly. "Vivian is here. Her entire family is coming. Our parents are hosting a formal gathering, board members, elders, relatives. This isn't just dinner. It's an announcement."
Jinho's chest tightened.
"Mother and Father are waiting," Junpyo continued. "They want everyone present. You and Me. No excuses. Be home within two hours."
The line went dead.
Jinho lowered the phone slowly.
Around them, students continued filming.
"Delete those videos!" Jinho suddenly shouted at the crowd. "Delete them right now!"
Some students hesitated.
Others didn't.
Notifications began to chime. Screens refreshed. Faces lit up with shock and excitement.
It was already spreading.
MINHO, SON OF BUSINESS TYCOON JANG GEUM, CAUGHT IN SCHOOL SCANDAL OVER A GIRL NAMED BOBAE —
JINHO OF JJEJUK GROUP ALSO INVOLVED
Jinho's stomach dropped.
He pulled out his phone and started making calls—bloggers, editors.
One response after another crushed his hope.
"It's viral."
"We can't stop it."
"It's already everywhere."
Frustration burned through him.
Without another word, Jinho grabbed Minho by the wrist and dragged him away from the crowd, through the suffocating stares, out of the school building.
He shoved Minho into the car, got into the driver's seat himself, and sped off
leaving the school in chaos, reputations cracking, and Bobae's name burning through the city like a truth that refused to stay buried.