After getting over the number on his bank book, Jaemin headed straight for a clothing store.

  He walked past the greeter, ignored the perfume-sample smile, and found himself in the suit section.

  Jaemin never had a deep relationship with clothes. In his world, function > fashion, always. Hoodies, T-shirts—whatever helped him move freely, that was it. But now, standing in front of an entire section of sleek business suits, he was battling an unexpected enemy.

  Too many types of black.

  He squinted at the labels. Charcoal black. Matte black. Crisp black. Midnight black. Jet black.

  "What the hell is 'murder noir' black?"

  He muttered under his breath, staring at one particularly intimidating price tag.

  Eventually, he settled for something simple—dark black, no weird textures or wild cuts. It was fitted but not flashy, with a subtle silver stitch detail near the cuffs. Good enough to look formal. Comfortable enough to breathe in. Jaemin-approved.

  Next—a shirt, a vest, and black shoes which were shiny enough to blind someone. He paid without blinking.

  Outside, he paused by a glass wall. The reflection stared back.

  Hair is still messy. Posture loose. But dressed like someone who belonged to this world, trust me, you would not want to see his tracksuit.

  He stared. Blinked once.

  "…Anyways."

  And kept walking.

  Jaemin then got a much-needed and proper haircut, only because of Nari.

  It was almost 3 PM.

  Cursing under his breath, he flagged a cab and made it to Nari's university just in time. He stepped out, tugging at the sleeve of his new blazer, just as a familiar figure came into view.

  A girl in an oversized hoodie, swaying slightly in the breeze, clutching a paper in her hands.

  Han Nari.

  "Hey..."

  Jaemin called softly.

  "Han Nari."

  She turned—and practically did a double-take. Her eyes widened, jaw slack like she'd seen a ghost.

  "Oppa?! Is that you??!"

  Jaemin scratched his head.

  "...Yeah? Who else would it be?"

  "You—you look so different, my brother would never spend money on clothes!"

  "Like you look the same as my brother, but different."

  He shrugged.

  "You told me to wear something decent."

  Glancing down at his suit, he added.

  "Better this than another tracksuit or a hoodie, I think?"

  Nari stared, still stunned. Her brother—the hoodie gremlin—looked like someone out of a K-drama.

  "…Not bad though."

  She muttered.

  Jaemin didn't reply but rather smiled, the first time she complimented his looks.

  Jaemin took the liberty to step inside without her, his pace relaxed but deliberate.

  It wasn't like he didn't know the university layout—he did. This place used to be part of his life, too. One full year of it, before he dropped out to handle finances, run errands, and shoulder the weight no twenty-year-old should've been stuck with. Back then, he was quieter, thinner, and a hell of a lot more tired.

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  Now? Now, people were looking.

  Some professors glanced his way. A few even offered polite nods.

  Even the staff were doing double-takes.

  And the students? Well, they didn't really care much, they've got much on their plates after all.

  Nari caught up beside him, panting, tugging at his sleeve. Her hoodie swayed with her steps.

  Though, there were a few gossips about him he could hear.

  They both could hear the gossip floating in all directions like invisible clouds of smoke.

  Jaemin ignored all of it. Not coldly—he just genuinely didn't know how to respond. Compliments and stares weren't his native language.

  Nari let out a low whistle beside him, not even trying to be subtle.

  "Well, look at you, mister. Walking in without me like you know all of it."

  Jaemin still said nothing. Hands in his pockets, eyes forward.

  She nudged him.

  "How's it feel, Mister Popular?"

  Still nothing. It was getting hard for Jaemin to pretend he was cool by now.

  Her grin widened, devilish.

  "You know... if you want, I could always help you out. Maybe find yourself a girlfriend? Someone nice. Pretty. Could be your potential sister-in-law—"

  GRAB!

  Jaemin grabbed her hair and pulled slightly.

  "AH—!" She flailed, nearly dropping the paper she was holding. "owowowowo!"

  "I'm gonna have you do the laundry for the coming three weeks now..."

  Jaemin said flatly, a little amused.

  "I was just saying—"

  "Say it again and I'll throw your phone into the nearest trash can."

  Nari scratched her head, sulking like a child.

  "So violent for someone in a suit."

  "You brought this on yourself."

  They kept walking, steps falling into sync. One in a hoodie. One in a suit.

  After almost ten minutes of classic bickering—complete with head flicks, shoulder bumps, and quiet muttered threats—they finally reached the room Nari had to be in.

  The dean of her medical college was stationed there, probably already halfway through the student list.

  "You go in."

  Nari said, adjusting her hoodie.

  "I've got a theory test after this, and then two lab exams back-to-back. I'll be stuck here till night."

  Jaemin nodded, offering her a small smile.

  Back when he was in school, things hadn't been this smooth. Despite pulling good grades, he'd always caught heat from homeroom teachers during PTMs. Not because he was a bad kid, but because no one ever showed up for him. His mom physically couldn't, and he never mentioned PTMs to her. He didn't want to weigh her down any more than she already was.

  So now, he made it a point—every single time—to show up for Nari.

  To make sure she never felt that silence. That absence. Or the earful from the teachers

  Jaemin reached out and ruffled her hair.

  "Study well, alright?"

  He gave her a half-grin and headed into the dean's room.

  Nari stood frozen, face twitching.

  "I'll chop his hair off in his sleep one day."

  She muttered, fixing the mess on her head before stomping off toward her exam hall.

  No one told her how annoying protective brothers in suits could be.

  Inside, the dean greeted him with a nod. He looked like the kind of man who'd yell your name from three rooms away—loud face, strong brows, thick moustache. But the moment he spoke, his voice was calm. Collected.

  "Welcome. You must be Han Jaemin, I believe."

  Jaemin gave a polite bow.

  "Yes, I am. Surprised you recognised me."

  "Well."

  The dean chuckled lightly.

  "You were here for a year before you dropped out. And seeing as you and Nari share quite the resemblance, it wasn't hard to connect the dots."

  "He's sharp."

  Jaemin thought, his lips tugging into a subtle smirk.

  "Please, take a seat."

  Jaemin did, straight-backed but relaxed.

  "So..."

  The dean began, shuffling through a few files like he already knew what was in them.

  "First of all, Nari is, perhaps, the most exceptional student we've had in recent years. Her grades are flawless, her GPA are rising every term, and her clinical evaluations are sharp. Very promising."

  That made something in Jaemin's chest warm up. Not the kind of heat you get from a compliment about yourself, but the kind that settles in your chest when someone recognises your person. The kind that makes you quietly proud without saying a damn word.

  "She's chosen to specialise in neurology, if you weren't already aware."

  "I am."

  Jaemin nodded.

  "Perfect. It's not a path we encourage lightly. Neurology is one of the most complex tracks we offer. But Nari's been… different. Her thesis work is mature. Detailed. She reads like she's already a resident."

  Jaemin let a faint smile show. Of course she did. She always went all in.

  "That said…"

  The dean's tone shifted slightly.

  "There is one thing. Her advanced training will require additional funds. Labs, practicals, external resources... I wouldn't normally bring it up so bluntly, but—"

  "Funds won't be a problem."

  Jaemin cut in, casual but firm.

  The dean raised a brow.

  "That's good to hear."

  There was a short pause.

  "There is one more thing. Purely hypothetical, but—should Nari ever awaken as a Coreborn… her path could shift dramatically. Some options could support both her research and her safety—"

  "No."

  Jaemin didn't raise his voice. But it was a full stop. Sharp. Flat.

  The dean blinked.

  "Understood."

  He said finally, then added.

  "I only say this because… lately, several Covenant representatives have begun scouting aggressively. Offering students outrageous promises. One of ours recently left. Joined some Covenant without even finishing their coursework."

  "Is that so?"

  Jaemin said, though there was the faintest twitch in his jaw.

  "Yes. It's becoming more frequent. I only mention it as a caution."

  "Thanks for the heads-up."

  Jaemin replied, already making a mental note to do some digging.

  "Could you tell me her name?"

  He asked, voice calm.

  The dean tilted his head slightly.

  "Why so?"

  Jaemin didn't answer right away. Just stared, thoughtful.

  "Well."

  He said after a beat.

  "I just wanted to know."

  The dean studied him for a second, then gave a slow nod.

  "Very well."