Minji followed Kim Tae-Hyun, the stoic Guardian, through a maze of sterile corridors. The journey from Sub-level 1 to the CEO's private office was unnerving. They bypassed high-security fingerprint scanners and motion sensors that Minji was certain she wouldn't have even known existed as a low-level intern. The silence around them was broken only by the quiet hum of advanced air filtration systems.
Finally, they stopped before a matte black door, unmarked and seamless against the polished wall. Tae-Hyun used a retina scanner. The door slid open, revealing an office that was less an office and more a carefully curated sanctuary.
The room was vast, dominated by a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking, glittering view of the Seoul skyline. The only sources of light were subtle floor lamps and the city itself. Everything—from the deep obsidian desk to the charcoal leather seating—exuded reserved, expensive power.
And there, standing by the window, was Jeong Jungkook.
He was exactly as described in the novel: the Gucci Hero. Tall, impeccably dressed in a razor-sharp, dark suit that fit him like a second skin, and radiating an aura of solitary intensity. His back was to them, his posture rigid.
Tae-Hyun moved swiftly, guiding Minji to stand several feet from the desk, and then took up position by the door, becoming an unmoving shadow.
"The intern is here, CEO," Tae-Hyun stated.
Jungkook didn't turn around immediately. The silence stretched, amplifying Minji's already frantic heartbeat. She could feel his focus—a potent, heavy presence—even without seeing his face.
When he finally turned, his gaze was sharp and utterly dispassionate. Minji, who had only ever known him as a tragic, fictional character, suddenly found herself facing the cold reality of a fiercely successful, high-powered CEO. His eyes, usually described as warm and caring when looking at the heroine Chae A-Ri, were now dark, penetrating, and utterly devoid of trust.
"Yoon Minji," he said, his voice a low, smooth baritone that was much icier in person. "You claim you know of an 'Internal Safety Breach' and that you are going to die in Chapter 12. You bypassed three layers of security using a fabricated urgency from Kim & Associates."
He walked slowly toward her, his movements economical and intimidating.
"You have one minute to explain how a minor marketing intern knows classified information and the name of a private security protocol—'Chapter 12 Transport Mission'—that doesn't officially exist on paper, or you will be handed over to legal immediately."
Minji straightened her spine. Fear was present, but it was overshadowed by her desperate resolve to save him. She handed him the envelope.
"CEO," she said, her voice surprisingly firm, "the fabricated urgency was necessary because your security chief would never have let me pass otherwise. Everything I know comes from the document inside this envelope."
Jungkook took the envelope. He didn't look at the Kim & Associates logo. He tore it open and pulled out the single sheet of paper. As he read the bullet points—Silver Key, Chapter 35, Rion Kai's future actions—a faint tremor ran through his hand. The mask of cold detachment cracked, revealing a flash of deep, cautious shock.
He looked up, meeting her eyes. This time, his gaze was not cold; it was questioning, searching for the trick.
"The Silver Key… is the code name for the encrypted folder that contains the confidential R&D project details," Jungkook murmured, his mind already racing. "No one outside of three top executives and myself knows that name."
Minji nodded. "And it's the key Rion Kai will use to frame you for insider trading in Chapter 35. He intends to ruin you and take over the corporate landscape, paving the way for his future with Chae A-Ri."
Tae-Hyun shifted by the door, his hand moving subtly toward his earpiece. This was no longer a security issue; it was a matter of corporate espionage and prophecy.
Jungkook discarded the fake contract and leaned over the desk, his hands planted firmly on the obsidian surface.
"Let's stick to the immediate threat, Minji," he commanded. "The 'Chapter 12 Transport Mission.' Describe it. What is the sensitive document, and what is the accident?"
Minji felt a small surge of confidence. This was the part of the story she knew best.
"The document is the final, physical draft of the Dusk-Phoenix merger agreement," Minji explained quickly. "Your character, the intern Yoon Minji, is tasked with delivering it from your satellite office to the main office—a route chosen by Rion Kai's mole in your logistics department. The 'accident' is a staged collision involving a heavy-goods vehicle, ensuring the document is destroyed, and the courier… dies. The goal is to delay the merger, creating a legal loophole Kai can exploit later."
She took a breath. "The route is the Gangnam West Tunnel, at approximately 2:00 PM next Tuesday. If you check the logistics manifest for the Phoenix merger, you will find Yoon Minji, Marketing Intern scheduled for that exact delivery."
Jungkook quickly pulled up a holographic display on his desk and began typing furiously. His face was unreadable, a complex mix of disbelief and mounting dread.
He pulled up the manifest. The line entry was there.
Yoon Minji. Transport: Phoenix File. Delivery Date: Tuesday. Route: Gangnam West Tunnel.
He stared at the screen, then at the frantic young woman across from him. The fact that a fictional plot point was mirroring his current, critical business operations was impossible—yet undeniable.
"If this is a leak, it's the most elaborate, insane leak in corporate history," Jungkook muttered, more to himself than to Minji. He looked at Tae-Hyun. "Cancel that delivery immediately. Reschedule the route and the courier for the Phoenix file, and tag the original delivery details as a Level-5 Security Violation."
"Understood, CEO," Tae-Hyun acknowledged instantly.
The immediate threat was averted. Minji slumped slightly in relief, realizing she had just saved her own life.
Jungkook, however, was far from finished. He knew he had just avoided a major corporate disaster, but the woman who saved him was talking about a "novel," "chapters," and his own "tragic downfall."
"Sit down, Yoon Minji," Jungkook commanded, gesturing to a nearby chair. His voice was softer now, tinged with a dangerous curiosity. "You just bought yourself a second chance at life, and potentially saved my company. Now, you're going to tell me everything about this novel and why my future is Chapter 35."
Minji is safe for now, but she's trapped in a high-stakes, private interrogation with her favourite hero!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Is he really her 'second' hero, or her true one? If you are enjoying this love triangle, please show your support with a Power Stone! Every single vote helps 'my favourite second hero' reach new readers! Thank you for choosing this story!