The moment Rax heard the word money come out of Elena's mouth—
reward money, to be exact—
His expression changed.
Not suddenly.
but dramatically.
Slowly. politely.
A smile spread across his face—the kind people wear when they're about to lose money but are trying very hard to look okay with it.
"Haha… yeah," he said, nodding a little too fast.
"I do have money."
He immediately pulled out his phone, like it might run away if he didn't grab it in time. His fingers flew across the screen, tapping so quickly it looked like he was racing against fate.
"I'll send you ten thousand right now."
Elena blinked.
Once.
Then she frowned slightly, as if she'd just heard someone say the cafeteria ran out of food.
"Ten thousand?" she repeated.
She tilted her head, genuinely puzzled, eyebrows knitting together.
"For all that hard work?"
She looked down at her hands, flexed her fingers slowly, then looked back at him.
"That's it?"
Rax froze.
Completely.
…It's not enough?
Inside his head, sirens started blaring.
Wait—how much was she expecting?
Is this per fight? Per punch?
Is this some kind of hourly rate business?!
His thumb hovered over the screen, ready to increase the amount.
He opened his mouth—
Just as Elena suddenly went quiet.
She placed a finger on her chin and stared off into the distance, eyes unfocused, like a CEO calculating profits during a board meeting.
Rax held his breath.
His friends leaned forward unconsciously.
Leo and Ivan exchanged a look.
Why does this feel like a business negotiation…?
Then—
"Oh well," Elena said suddenly, snapping out of it.
"Let's do this."
Rax blinked.
"…Do what?"
Elena's face lit up.
"You're my first client in this business," she announced proudly, chest puffing out just a little.
"So I'll give you a discount."
Rax stared at her.
"…Excuse me?"
She nodded seriously, like this made perfect sense.
"Yeah. I usually earn money by beating people."
She even adjusted her posture, looking extremely professional about it.
"Since you're my first customer, I'll be generous."
Then she leaned a little closer and smiled sweetly.
"But if you ever meet anyone else who enjoys losing and paying rewards—"
"Make sure you tell me."
She straightened up, clasping her hands behind her back.
"Because from today," she declared,
"you're my loyal customer."
Pause.
"And since I'm very kind," she continued thoughtfully,
"and beautiful,"
"and innocent—"
Rax choked.
Literally choked on his own saliva.
"I'm promoting you," Elena finished proudly,
"to Customer Number One."
Before he could process the words, she reached out and placed her hand gently on top of his head.
Pat.
Pat.
"There," she said cheerfully.
"Now you should be happy."
She smiled at him warmly.
"After all, you lost so many times to a beautiful girl…"
She tilted her head, eyes sparkling.
"And now you've become her loyal Number One customer."
Rax stared at her.
Blankly.
Inside his head, his soul was screaming.
Sister… you have a very serious misunderstanding about yourself.
Then the words finally sank in.
Loyal.
Customer.
Number One.
His eyes widened.
Internally, he was crying.
No.
I don't want this role.
I don't want discounts.
I don't want a long-term business relationship involving violence.
A few steps away, Leo and Ivan were watching everything unfold.
Leo whispered, barely holding it together,
"Wow… sis has a really creative way of earning money."
Ivan nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
Then he squinted at Rax's expression.
"But why does it feel like she's not a sister anymore…?"
Leo answered honestly,
"She looks more like a bandit."
They both looked at Rax again.
His face was priceless.
They turned away, shoulders shaking.
Don't laugh.
Don't laugh.
Okay… laugh a little.
Rax finally snapped back to reality.
He cleared his throat loudly and forced a polite, respectful smile.
"Sister," he said carefully, choosing his words like his life depended on it,
"I'm very sorry… but I don't think I can be your loyal customer."
Elena looked at him calmly.
"Why?"
Rax swallowed.
Inside his mind:
Because I'm not insane.
Out loud, still smiling:
"Because… I'm still in high school."
Elena blinked.
"And my mom is very strict," he continued quickly, not stopping for breath.
"She told me to focus only on my studies."
He gestured behind him nervously.
"Today was actually my last day at the café."
"I just came to play one last time before exams."
He nodded seriously, like he was delivering an emotional speech.
"Everything that happened today—"
He bowed slightly.
"Let's consider it… destiny."
Before Elena could respond—
Rax turned around and ran.
Not jogged.
Not walked.
Ran.
Like his life depended on it.
"WAIT—" Ivan started.
Too late.
Rax's friends stared at his retreating back for half a second—
Then, without a single word, they stood up and ran after him.
No questions.
No discussion.
Just pure survival instinct.
Leo and Ivan watched them disappear down the road.
Ivan frowned.
"…Why are they running like that?"
Leo crossed his arms thoughtfully.
"Like if they don't escape now, they won't survive."
Ivan glanced at Elena.
Then back at the empty road.
"…Sis isn't that scary, right?"
Elena tilted her head slightly.
"Hm?"
Leo and Ivan exchanged a look—
Leo and Ivan made a silent decision at the exact same moment.
Let's stay quiet.
Very quiet.
No comments.
No opinions.
No questioning her logic.
Because experience had taught them one thing very clearly—
The moment you questioned Elena, reality itself stopped making sense.
Elena noticed.
Of course she did.
She glanced at them from the corner of her eye.
Two perfectly synchronized nods.
Two very obedient expressions.
Two faces screaming we are not involved in whatever you're thinking.
Hmm…
She thought slowly, thoughtfully, like a CEO reviewing profit charts.
Looks like this business is only profitable sometimes.
Not a stable income.
She sighed internally.
I'll need to explore more income streams.
Diversification is important.
Her future financial empire was already forming in her head.
Then she turned toward Leo and Ivan, her mood instantly shifting.
A gentle, almost angelic smile appeared on her lips.
"You two gave me a new idea for earning money today," she said warmly.
Leo and Ivan stiffened.
We did?
WHEN?
HOW?
"So," Elena continued cheerfully, lifting one finger like she was making an important announcement,
"to celebrate that—"
She paused for effect.
"I'll treat you."
Their eyes widened slightly.
Ivan repeated carefully, like he was walking through a minefield,
"A… treat?"
Elena nodded proudly.
"Yes. Because I'm kind-hearted."
She placed a hand on her chest, completely serious.
Then she looked around, slowly scanning the street like a general surveying a battlefield for the perfect location.
Left.
Right.
Ahead—
"Oh."
Her gaze stopped.
A small shop glowed softly at the corner of the road.
A milk tea stall.
Steam rose gently from the counter.
The scent was sweet.
Inviting.
Elena's eyes sparkled.
She smiled like she had just discovered buried treasure.
"Let's go," she said, already walking.
"I'll treat you both to milk tea."
She glanced back at them over her shoulder and added generously,
"You'll remember this forever—how kind-hearted your sister is."
Leo and Ivan followed her.
Outwardly, they nodded obediently, like good younger brothers.
Inwardly—
Sis… your 'kind-hearted' feels less kind and more… economical.
But neither of them dared to say it out loud.
At the stall, they ordered.
Leo took one milk tea.
Ivan took another.
The cups were warm in their hands.
The sweetness hit instantly.
For a brief, dangerous moment—
Life felt peaceful again.
They turned to leave—
When Elena suddenly stopped walking.
"Wait."
Both of them froze mid-step.
Slowly, ominously, she turned around.
"Who's paying?"
Silence.
The air went cold.
Leo and Ivan stared at her.
Then at each other.
Then back at her.
Ivan blinked once.
Twice.
"…Sis?"
"Yes?" Elena replied sweetly, tilting her head.
Ivan hesitated, choosing his words carefully.
"But… this treat was from you, right?"
Elena nodded immediately.
"Of course."
Both of them relaxed.
Their shoulders dropped.
Their hearts calmed—
Until she continued.
"I treated you to drinking milk tea."
Pause.
"The money for it," she added calmly, like she was explaining basic math,
"you'll pay yourselves."
Leo's soul quietly left his body.
Ivan's eye twitched violently.
Elena smiled brightly, completely unbothered.
"Leaving without paying is bad manners," she said seriously.
"And I'm very well-mannered."
She nodded once, satisfied with her own logic.
With that—
She turned around and walked away.
Casually.
Happily.
Without looking back.
Leo and Ivan stood there, milk teas in hand, staring at her retreating back.
"…Wow," Leo muttered.
Ivan nodded slowly, his voice hollow.
"Today, we truly learned what thick-skinned means."
Leo sighed deeply.
"Our money…"
"…treating us."
Reluctantly.
Painfully.
With wounded pride—
They reached into their bags, pulled out cash, and paid the milk tea seller.
The seller watched them with quiet judgment.
Then, like two defeated warriors returning from battle, they walked after Elena.
Ahead of them—
She was sipping her milk tea peacefully.
Eyes relaxed.
Steps light.
Kind-hearted.
Innocent.
Absolutely terrifying.