Chapter 5
Days turned into weeks, and Yeonho finally made his move. He told Han Jiseok that he had regained all his memories.
But he didn't say that he wasn't the real Yeonho.
At first, Jiseok was doubtful, eyeing him with deep suspicion, but gradually he accepted it as the truth.
Acting like the original Yeonho had worked to convince the older man, but this time there was a clear difference.
Yeonho was bolder, unapologetic, carrying the aura of the man from another world—not the weak, failed villain from the novel.
They shared the same name, but their cores were entirely different.
The original Choi Yeonho was a villain who started his revenge arc only to fail miserably, dying a pathetic death.
But him? The Yeonho who transmigrated here? He was far more suited to be the villain. With his mind and personality, he would make this role everything it was supposed to be.
Yeonho stood in front of his wardrobe, changing into fresh clothes.
The upcoming arc was near, and what he needed first was a total transformation.
The original Yeonho had decent taste, but sometimes his style was tacky, failing to bring out his true beauty.
'Now the problem is… how do I ask that old man for cash?'
If he wanted to return to Korea and execute his plan perfectly, he needed resources. Right now, he had nothing, not even a single coin or even a phone.
He sighed in frustration, leaving his room to look for Jiseok. He checked the dining hall, the living room, but the old man was nowhere to be found.
He stopped one of the maids passing by.
"You. Where is Mr. Han?"
"Master is in his study right now, Mistress."
The maid bowed respectfully, but Yeonho froze slightly at the address.
"You called me… Mistress? Why?"
The maid looked up, confused. Everyone knew he had recovered his memories now, so him asking was abit confusing.
"We have always called you that, since you are Master Han's mistress. It is what we have used since the beginning."
Another servant chimed in nervously, afraid they had offended him.
"We stopped calling you that after the accident and when you lost your memory, Mistress. Please forgive us."
'So it was normal here. Calling me Mistress.'
Yeonho nodded, not bothering to make a fuss.
"That's fine. Lead the way to the study. I need to speak with him."
"Yes, Mistress."
One of the maids guided him upstairs. Walking down the corridor, a strange unease crept up his spine.
'Just need to get money. No need to be nervous.'
Standing outside the heavy wooden door, he took a deep breath. The maid bowed and left.
"Shit… why am I actually nervous?" he muttered, his palms sweating.
'Calm down. I know every single detail of this story…'
He scratched his head.
'Who am I kidding? I've been here for weeks, I know the plot backwards and forwards… but facing these characters, people who were just words on a page before… it's different.'
All his determination from days ago, the resolve to avenge the original Yeonho, felt heavy right now.
He knew he could do this, but facing reality was harder than just reading about it.
He was still standing there, lost in thought about the novel, the arcs, his plans, when the door suddenly swung open.
"What are you doing?"
Han Jiseok stood there, hand on the doorknob, looking down at him.
"Umm…"
Caught red-handed, Yeonho couldn't even form a proper sentence for a second.
"I asked what you are doing, standing here staring at the floor like a lost child?"
Yeonho swallowed hard, forcing himself to meet those calm, sharp eyes. Even after spending weeks here, Jiseok still made him feel small and tense.
"Mr. Han. Can we talk?"
The old man studied him for a long moment, clearly suspicious of his little mistress's sudden change.
"Get inside."
He stepped aside, letting Yeonho walk in first.
"Sit."
Yeonho obeyed, glancing around the room.
It was large, filled with bookshelves and heavy furniture, elegant and imposing, exactly like Jiseok himself.
They sat on opposite sofas, facing each other.
"So? What is so important that you came looking for me? You look like you have something big to say."
"Can I have some cash?"
He asked straight away, keeping his voice as calm and steady as possible.
Jiseok crossed his legs, his expression turning doubtful.
"You have everything you need here. What do you need money for?"
"Are you planning to run away? Or kill yourself somewhere far away now that you remember everything? Is that it?"
The atmosphere turned heavy instantly. Yeonho waved his hands quickly, denying it.
"No! Mr. Han, I'm not doing that anymore!"
But Jiseok didn't believe him. The "favored mistress" sitting in front of him had caused so much trouble before, had tried to end his own life more than once.
"Lies. I know you. The moment you get freedom, you will do something stupid again."
His words made Yeonho pause. He realized that the original Yeonho must have been desperate enough to want to end his suffering, and Jiseok was the one who kept stopping him, keeping him here.
'Maybe he thought if he was going down anyway, he might as well drag Hana down with him. Die with his twin sister '
Sympathy stirred in his chest for the original owner of this body.
All he knew came from the videos he watched, the truth no one else bothered to see.
"Are you even listening? Or is this just another one of your schemes?"
Jiseok's voice pulled him back to reality. He couldn't afford to be distracted now.
"Why are you dressed like that? Don't lie to me, Yeonho. You want to run away, don't you?"
Yeonho looked straight at him, all hesitation gone, replaced by unshakable confidence.
"No, Mr. Han. I am not running away anymore."
Jiseok fell silent, staring at him intently, as if trying to see through his skin.
"Talk. Stop beating around the bush and tell me what is going on with you."
He leaned back, resting his arm on the back of the sofa.
"I want to go back to Korea."
"Dear, you always say that."
'Damn. The original Yeonho was really messed up? Wanting to die one minute, wanting to go back the next?'
The original Yeonho had been suffering so much, mentally broken.
Jiseok trying to "save" him only made it worse, leaving him torn between ending his pain and getting revenge on Hana.
But Yeonho was different.
'Wait… the plot. If I remember correctly, the original Yeonho went back to Korea and tried to confront Hana during a family event. It was her birthday…'
He suddenly realized.
'No. It wasn't just her birthday. It was our birthday. We are twins, after all.'
The original Yeonho had crashed his own birthday party, only to be kicked out and humiliated in front of everyone.
"What are you thinking about? You seem more distracted than interested in talking to me."
Yeonho cleared his throat, his eyes burning with resolve.
This time, things would be different.
The villain wouldn't be the one getting hurt. He would be the one doing the damage.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Han. What I want to say is… I want to go back to Korea. Before my birthday. I need to meet my family, and finish all the unfinished business I left behind. But first, I need to change.
I need a total makeover. I need to prove that I am not weak, not pathetic anymore. And to do that… I need your help."
He watched Jiseok's expression, no longer nervous, no longer sweating.
He was in control now.
Jiseok let out a low chuckle, as if he found the whole thing amusing.
"And why should I help you do that? Hmm?"
"You will."
Yeonho answered instantly, without hesitation.
"You are so sure… What if I say no?"
Jiseok grinned, looking amused and intrigued by this new version of his little mistress.
"You won't."
Again, quick and confident. Yeonho had decided. If they wanted him to be the villain, then he would be the worst villain they had ever seen.
"My, my. Nearly dying really turned you into someone far more shameless, didn't it?"
"Maybe. So please, Mr. Han. Help me, and I will do whatever you want."
He didn't care. He would use everything and everyone to destroy that stupid novel Lim Taejoon wrote.
'Say yes, you old man. Stop doubting me and just give me what I want.'
The room was silent, heavy with tension. After what felt like forever, Jiseok finally spoke.
"Fine. But on one condition."
"I'll listen."
The playful grin vanished from Jiseok's face, replaced by something serious and possessive that made Yeonho's breath hitch.
"I am going with you."
Yeonho froze.
'What? Why? In the story, he went back alone!'
Panic flashed through his mind, but he suppressed it instantly.
'Is this a plot change? But I'm doing everything exactly as written… The only difference is, I won't die. I will be the real villain this time.'
"I don't understand, Mr. Han. Why do you want to go to Korea?"
"To watch you. To make sure you don't run away, and don't try to kill yourself again."
Great. Just great. He only wanted some cash, not to be babysat by this possessive old man.
"Mr. Han, I already told you I'm not—"
"Then you are not going anywhere."
Jiseok cut him off firmly, leaving no room for argument.
Yeonho gritted his jaw, irritated but knowing he couldn't win right now. Fine. He could work with this.
"Fine. But… Mr. Han, do you actually know anything about my family?"
Jiseok stood up and walked to his desk, leaning against it.
"Of course."
"How?"
It was a simple question, but one he needed answered.
In the novel, it was never explained how Yeonho ended up here, how he became Jiseok's mistress. Lim Taejoon only wrote that he was exiled, wasted away, and forced into a degrading life.
"You want to know?"
Yeonho nodded.
"Everyone in Korea knows about the ungrateful bastard son of the Choi family. When I found you, wasted and lying on the street outside that club… I knew exactly who you were."
So that was why. That was why Jiseok told him before that it was better to forget his past.
"Your fame didn't fade even after you left. Koreans here in Russia all know you are here… working."
Jiseok's voice was calm, but his words carried a sting.
"Then why did you pick me up? Why did you help me?"
Jiseok stopped moving. He turned around, and his eyes were cold, dark, and possessive as he looked at Yeonho.
"You were beautiful. Broken. Abandoned by everyone…"
He paused, a small, dangerous smile touching his lips.
"You were perfect to be turned into my obedient little doll, Dear. That is why I picked you up. A spoiled brat like you… I wasted my time adoring your broken self because it was entertaining."
He turned back to his desk, sitting down and started typing on his computer, as if he hadn't just said something so shocking.
Yeonho just watched him. He wasn't really surprised. He had expected this. Han Jiseok was never a normal character in the story anyway.
"So. Tell me your plan, Yeonho."
"I need cash. A lot of it. I'm going to buy new clothes, a new phone, accessories, jewelry, shoes… everything I need to remake myself completely."
"You sound exactly like a mistress asking her husband for allowance to go shopping, Dear."
Yeonho rolled his eyes internally.
'This old man. Shamelessly flirting. He doesn't even have a wife, yet he keeps calling me his mistress.'
He clicked his tongue, shifting on the sofa to get more comfortable.
"It's not allowance. It's investment. And it's a good thing your 'Mistress' finally has the will to live again, isn't it?"
Jiseok chuckled, clearly pleased and amused by his response.
This new Yeonho was far more interesting than the broken one he had kept before.
"I like you broken, Yeonho. But I admit… this is interesting too. You act just like those spoiled mistresses, demanding money to shop, acting bold… though the difference is, I have no wife."
He kept typing, while Yeonho just stared. They were going in circles, and he wanted to get this over with.
"Whatever. Just give me what I want."
"Spoiled little brat. Fine. Come here."
Jiseok stopped working and looked at him.
"Whatever."
Yeonho stood up and walked over to the desk.
"Here. Take it."
In Jiseok's hand lay a sleek black card.
Yeonho's eyes widened slightly.
'No way. A black card? And it has my name written on it? Just how rich is this old man?!'
"Don't act so surprised. It was always yours. You just forgot."
He raised an eyebrow, watching Yeonho's reaction closely.
"I remember now. I'll take it."
Yeonho reached out to grab it, but Jiseok pulled his hand back slightly.
"Bring security guards and female servants with you. Since you want to do this properly… go all out. Don't hold back."
"Don't worry. I never hold back."
Yeonho took the card firmly from his hand.
This wasn't just going to be a simple shopping trip. He was going to devour every store he entered.
He was no longer in that old world, no parents to order him around, no endless stream of annoying men pestering him with invitations, and certainly no Lim Taejoon to dictate what his life should be.
He could buy whatever he wanted, wear whatever suited him, and no one would dare say a word against him.
The sleek, luxurious black card felt heavy and powerful in his palm, a solid symbol of everything he was claiming for himself now.
He tightened his fingers around it, a sharp, ambitious glint burning in his blue eyes.
With this? He would definitely not hold back.