Approaching the Target (9)
A few days later, Bianca received the in-depth investigation report on Jin Haesol and frowned.
"This is it?"
"Yes."
"Hmm."
It wasn't a satisfying result.
"How could this be? I went to the orphanage and asked his peers about Jin Haesol, and they couldn't even remember if a kid like that had been there. They said they definitely lived together and knew the name, but weren't close."
"They were even more shocked when I told them it was that Jin Haesol."
"You said there were photos."
"Yes, they're attached on the next page."
Flip~ As she turned one page of the documents, photos came spilling out in a row.
"Who's Jin Haesol in this one?"
The first page was a group photo from the orphanage, so poorly preserved that the faces were blurry and hard to make out.
"The small kid in the corner on the left end, completely hiding his face—that's Jin Haesol."
"This one? He was tiny as a kid. And the image is totally different from now."
The childhood Jin Haesol in the photo had shaggy hair covering his entire face, a scrawny build, and was much shorter than his peers—a pitiful little kid.
"They say he was extremely timid and quiet. Barely had any presence. No one was close to him, so hardly anyone remembers him clearly. Flip to the next page—there's a photo from just before orphanage graduation. His size is similar to now, but he still didn't stand out or do anything attention-grabbing."
"So he was that spineless as a kid, then did a complete 180 and became an entertainer... Interesting. Must be a damn good actor. He probably knew what his face meant. That's why he kept a low profile in the orphanage where no one had his back."
"I think that's exactly it. Especially the testimonies about hiding his face with his hair and slinking around with his head down—it seems he didn't want anyone noticing how special his face was."
"A kid who's been calculating like this since childhood... Yeah, he could eat my little sister for breakfast."
Jin Haesol was a man whose face was his fortune. Bianca liked him even more now that she knew he wasn't some naive pushover.
Men from chaebol families had to be either purely innocent or sharply cunning—nothing in between. This was a savage world where you'd either live blissfully ignorant under women's skirts or shrewdly scheme to grab your own slice.
"Should we set up a meeting? No, wait. If I reveal myself outright, Melissa will catch on for sure. Gotta meet him on the sly."
"Just say the word, and I'll bring him right away."
Her secretary, well aware of her hatred for dragging things out, flipped through her schedule while brimming with eagerness to deliver him personally.
Bianca shook her head after a moment's thought.
"No, let's play this carefully. You're sure he's seeing that woman?"
"From what we've confirmed, it looks like two or more."
"Ballsy. And he's just a rookie idol two years post-debut."
Honestly, with that face, it'd be weirder if no women were after him. No way they'd leave him alone once they got a taste.
"That's actually a relief. At least we've got something to hold over him."
"Then let's do this: Nail down a solid weakness before we meet. Make it easier to start things off."
"Agreed."
"Get me one killer photo."
"Yes, ma'am."
At that point, the secretary figured securing Jin Haesol's weakness was just a matter of time. The pros she hired were worth every penny.
But she was wrong.
"Still no leverage?"
Even fans speculated Jin Haesol had a girlfriend, and tailing him for days showed suspicious outings now and then.
"He's no amateur to make rookie mistakes like that. My apologies."
"Sigh. Yeah, it's weird you've never slipped up before. Tell them to keep staking out till they get the shot. Once is coincidence, twice is a fluke—but three times? That's intent. He's no pushover, so don't underestimate him. Stay sharp and investigate properly. And don't get caught, for fuck's sake."
"Yes, ma'am."
They were elite pros who'd always delivered, turning impossibles into successes. Too valuable to ditch over one slip.
Of course, giving them another shot was natural.
But her faith shattered soon enough.
Two weeks of tailing by her team, and still no damning photo.
"...My deepest apologies, Director."
"This is ridiculous. Is he that slippery, or did your team fuck up? Which is it?"
"I'm sorry. I trusted them when they swore they'd nail it this time. Never imagined this."
The secretary bowed deeply.
"...Forget it. Yelling at you won't help—you just assigned it. How much time have we wasted chasing one weakness? Guess I have to handle this myself."
Jin Haesol.
She'd watched all his recent broadcasts and stages over the past two weeks.
Bianca, in the midst of her own "stan denial phase," moved in earnest without realizing her condition.
No need to switch tactics just because they missed the leverage. Her mere existence was leverage enough against him.
I couldn't pinpoint exactly when I first sensed something off.
When I went out wearing my glasses, I kept spotting the same women's faces. Figured another stalker had latched on.
They couldn't see me, but I could see them clear as day—so spotting the weirdness was easy.
But realizing how serious it was came later.
This wasn't just stalkers. They moved with scary organization.
What the hell are these guys?
No amateurs. Top-shelf gear everywhere. They even swapped shifts like clockwork without hitting the bathroom.
If I didn't have my bullshit cheat items, I'd never have noticed. Regular folks? No chance.
Started with under three tails, then suddenly hordes, switching cars and people every three days.
Change cars and crews every three days—how the hell am I supposed to keep up?
As surveillance dragged on, they ran short-staffed—familiar faces returned in disguises.
That's when I flipped the script, using items to tail the suspicious women back.
And learned they'd been on me for over a week already.
Glasses saved my ass.
But they'd gotten nothing in that time. Unless heading to a schedule, I always wore them outside.
Can't tail what you don't perceive, right? Must've been ghosting them.
Chilling reason they were tailing me: my weakness.
What the fuck did I do to deserve pros digging for dirt?
Takes serious cash for that caliber. And the only rich ties I'd made...
No way—Melissa Kay?
Maybe payback for ghosting her calls. Chaebol rumors were brutal here—worse than Earth's, if anything.
Plus, men scarce in this world. Male-related crimes rampant, swept under rugs if chaebols were involved.
This is why I avoid chaebol shit. So damn petty.
With Melissa Kay suspect numero uno, I couldn't act rashly.
So I let the suspicious women watch me.
While watching them right back.
"Lost him again?"
"...Yes."
"This is insane."
Tail specialists or what? Faces changed constantly.
But no one could track me at will. Not with my item arsenal.
Digging my tail? Dream on.
Pity I got zilch from them. Client info sealed tight.
But time fixed that. Mutual dry spell—they reached out first.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Bianca."
She's the client.
Confident stride, stunning looks that rang a bell, outfits and jewelry screaming money.
"More like Bianca Kay, right?"
"...You know me?"
She faltered at being recognized.
"You look just like Melissa Kay. Hard not to notice."
"Even so, spotting it instantly? Sharp eyes."
Chat seemed friendly, but my face was ice. The lead-up hadn't been smooth.
"Not thrilled about being dragged here. So why'd you wanna see me?"
"...I get you're pissed. Wracked my brain for a discreet way to meet without Melissa knowing. Had to get creative."
Black-suited women swarmed, insisting I "come along." Absurd.
I was stronger, but no brawling with potential tasers or gas guns. Played nice and got hauled here.
Was ready to item-escape if sketchy. No fear.
If I were normal, I'd be terrified. Infuriating.
I vented my ride-over feelings honestly.
"Mind raced wild. Psycho stalker kidnapping me? Regretted not screaming at first sight."
"If I made you uncomfortable, I'm truly sorry. Wanted a smoother setup, but urgency won out."
Her lofty apology grated from my view.
"I've had endless threats—'meet or suicide,' 'don't leave dorm or I'll stab you.' But this? First time."
"God, really? Shouldn't those psychos go to the cops for threats?"
You did worse—what's your shock?
"We ignore 'kill you' or 'suicide' stuff. They rarely follow through."
This woman tailed me via hires, now forced me here. She did follow through.
Threat-makers were bad; executors worse.
"Knew tails might lead here, so not too shocked. What do you want from me?"
Weakness-hunter like her? No warm fuzzies.
"...Wow, you're no joke. Knew about the tail?"
Eat shit! I grinned.
"Of course. Thought I wouldn't notice?"
Her tails were fucked now. Pros caught by a civvie? Trust busted.
Her orders or not—payback for my stress.
"...Would've been weirder if you hadn't. But how'd you know I sent them?"
"I don't just get watched. I watched back."
"......"
Bianca's face twisted. Satisfied at clouding her tails' futures, I smiled warmly.
"So, snag that weakness you hunted so hard?"
"Haa~ Can't recall the last time I felt this embarrassed."
Her cheeks flushed—dead serious.