Chapter 1. What The Hell Is Going On? (1)

Translator: Lili

“Ugh!”

A painful groan burst from the man’s lips as his lower body was mercilessly stomped on.

“You… Shin Sera…!”

The man, his once-handsome face marred with cuts and bruises, glared at the woman with sharp, furious eyes. His gaze burned with hostility, but with his entire body restrained, he posed no real threat.

“You’re still acting cocky. Guess you haven’t grasped the situation yet?”

At the woman’s mocking words, his expression hardened. He twisted his bound shoulders roughly, warily eyeing her as if she were some psychopathic kidnapper.

“Cut the crap and untie me.”

“You still don’t get it? There’s no way you’re walking out of here in one piece.”

“This damn… Ugh! I said, untie me…!”

“Listen, just behave while I’m still asking nicely. If you keep provoking me, even I don’t know what I might do. Are you seriously not scared?”

“You’ve already crossed the line. So just—”

“Me? Crossed the line? Don’t be ridiculous. You’re the one who did that first.”

“Urgh…!”

The moment she pressed down harder with her foot, the man convulsed as if electrocuted. She grimaced at the heavy sensation beneath her shoe, but she didn’t stop.

She had no choice. This, too, was a desperate struggle for survival.

“Poor thing. Does it hurt?”

She whispered sweetly into his ear as sweat trickled down his pain-stricken face.

“But don’t worry too much. If you behave, I’ll treat you as sweetly as you want.”

Looking at the man, whose eyes now held pure horror, as if he were staring at a serial killer, she gave him a gentle, innocent smile. She knew she must seem like a demon to him.

And that was exactly what she was aiming for.

She had just stepped into the role of a villain from a trashy soap opera.

***

On the day fate twisted in an entirely unforeseen direction, Jia was at the peak of her happiness. It was a historic moment—one that signified a new chapter in her once-exhausting life.

Not everyone starts life on equal footing, but Jia had been dealt an especially harsh hand.

Abandoned at a run-down orphanage in a small provincial town, she grew up fighting and scraping by with other kids like her. After high school, she had to build a life on her own.

With nothing but a sharp mind and sheer grit, she pushed through every obstacle with relentless determination.

And for those who give their all, opportunities eventually come.

After bouncing between part-time jobs, she was lucky to land a position as an accounting assistant at a small company. Her diligence caught the eye of her boss, who came to appreciate her work ethic.

— I really like you, Jia. You’re good at your job, hardworking, and you have a great personality. Tell me what you want, and I’ll do my best to make it happen. Why don’t you stay with us?

It didn’t take long for her to transition from a temporary employee to a full-time staff member, and then to a project manager. She had fought tooth and nail for her success.

By the time she turned twenty-eight, Jia could finally say she was happy. She had good colleagues, friends who felt like family, and, most importantly, her very first home—one she had earned with her own hands.

“Han Jia’s life—this is what success looks like.”

Admiring her new home for what felt like the hundredth time, she was overwhelmed with pride. She had achieved one of her lifelong dreams—owning her own place.

“Ah… There it is again.”

Just as she was basking in the moment, a dull ache pulsed in her chest. It had been happening more frequently these days. It worried her, but since she had always been healthy, she brushed it off as nothing serious.

— I’ll kill every single one of you… Just wait. I swear, I’ll hunt you all down and end you myself.

For now, she just wanted to focus on her drama.

As a celebration for moving in, Jia had ordered a feast of Chinese food and was indulging in a luxurious dinner while watching TV.