Chapter 39: Hana’s Short Circuit
The atmosphere in the luxury fitting room of L’Aura had shifted. The moment Hana hit the “Live” button on her smartphone, the air seemed to vibrate with a different kind of energy.
The transformation was instantaneous. The possessive, slightly aggressive girl who had been sniping at Sora just moments ago vanished. In her place was the “Nation’s Sweetheart.” Her posture softened, her eyes widened with a sparkling, innocent curiosity, and her voice jumped an octave, becoming a melodic, bubbly chime that sounded like sugar and sunlight.
“Hello, everyone! I’m back!” Hana chirped, waving a hand at the camera with a perfectly timed, adorable tilt of her head. “I’ve been a bit quiet today, but I’ve had the most amazing morning! Look at where I am!”
She panned the camera around the room, capturing the white marble, the gold-leaf trim, and the sheer opulence of the L’Aura suite. The chat window on her screen began to scroll at a blinding speed, a waterfall of emojis and exclamation marks.
【OMG! Is that L’Aura?!】
【No way! Only the top 0.1% get into those suites!】
【Hana-chan, you’re living the dream! Who are you with?】
【Wait, look at the lighting! Is she in a private suite?! I’m literally crying right now 😭】
【Slay, Queen! 👑 Show us the clothes!!】
【Is she on a date? Look at her blushing! (or is it just the lighting? lol)】
“You guys caught on so fast!” Hana giggled, her voice sounding airy and breathless. She leaned closer to the screen, reading the comments with a playful, exaggerated expression of surprise. “Yes, I’m at L’Aura! I’m doing some shopping and just enjoying the vibes. It’s so dreamy here, right? And for those asking… no, I’m not ‘living the dream,’ I’m just having a little treat!”
She let out a cute, forced gasp, pointing to a comment that had just popped up.
【Hana-chan, you’re so lucky! I bet you’re buying something for a special someone! 😉】
“A special someone?” Hana teased, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. She gave the camera a playful, slow wink that sent the chat into a fresh frenzy of hearts and “kawaii” comments. “Maybe! But I can’t tell you yet. You’ll have to wait and see!”
【Screaming!! Who is he?!】
【Is he a celebrity? A chaebol? Tell us!!】
【Hana-chan is so mysterious today, I love it! 😍】
【Stop teasing us, Hana! My heart can’t take it!】
Hana beamed, clearly enjoying the power of the moment. She spent a few more seconds interacting with her fans, replying to a few specific comments with a giggle or a pout, perfectly modulating her persona to keep the audience hooked. She was in her element, the master of her own digital stage, weaving a narrative of mystery and romance that had millions of people leaning into their screens.
Sora and Akane, watching from the sidelines, were mesmerized by the efficiency of it. It wasn’t just a conversation; it was a performance. Hana was feeding the chat exactly what they wanted—just enough information to keep them curious, but not enough to satisfy them. They had only known Hana for a short time, and the girl they had encountered was a whirlwind of territorial aggression and sharp tongues. Seeing her now—this polished, perfectly curated, and overwhelmingly charming idol—was like looking at a different person.
“Is she… always like this?” Akane whispered, her eyes wide.
Sora didn’t answer immediately. She watched Hana’s calculated movements—the way she angled her face to catch the light, the way she modulated her voice to sound vulnerable yet exciting. It was a masterclass in image management.
“It’s her talent,” Jun remarked, his voice calm as he leaned back in his chair. He watched Hana with a mixture of amusement and appreciation. “Hana is a pro at this. She knows exactly how to perform, how to pull people in, and how to make them feel like they’re the only ones in the room. It’s not just fame; it’s a skill.”
Mei Lin, sipping her tea, watched the performance with a critical eye. She wasn’t fooled by the “Sweetheart” act, but she respected the efficiency of it. To Mei, this was just another form of strategic dominance—controlling the narrative through charm.
Hana, meanwhile, was in the groove. She was feeding off the energy of her millions of viewers, her confidence growing with every comment. Then, she paused, her expression shifting to one of playful secrecy.
“Actually, guys… I have a huge surprise announcement!” she whispered, leaning in close to the lens. The chat froze for a split second, the anticipation palpable. “I’ve officially accepted an invitation from a Prime Candidate! I’m finally entering the inner circle!”
The chat exploded. The screen became a blur of questions, theories, and screams of excitement.
【WHO IS HE?!】
【Is it a nobility?】
【Is he a model?!】
Jun knew exactly what was happening. This was Hana’s move. She loved the drama, the suspense, and the feeling of being the center of attention. She was likely planning to build the tension for a few more minutes, teasing her audience and playing the mysterious role before finally revealing his identity.
But Jun had seen enough. He wasn’t in the mood for a slow reveal.
Just as Hana opened her mouth to start the “teasing” phase of her announcement, Jun stood up. In one fluid, predatory motion, he stepped forward and closed the distance between them.
Before Hana could react, Jun’s hand shot out, gripping her waist with a sudden, firm pressure and pulling her flush against his hard chest. The impact knocked the breath out of her, her phone tilting precariously in her hand.
Then, he leaned in and claimed her.
Jun didn’t just give her a peck; he crashed his lips against hers in a deep, commanding French kiss. As he did, his hand on her waist slid downward, his palm cupping the curve of her ass and squeezing firmly, hoisting her body upward so she was pressed tight against his groin. Simultaneously, his other hand reached up, his fingers splaying across her cheek and jaw, tilting her face upward to ensure she had no escape from the intensity of the kiss.
His tongue invaded her mouth with a sudden, assertive force, tasting her and claiming her in a way that was completely unscripted. It wasn’t a gentle exploration; it was a takeover.
Hana’s brain effectively short-circuited.
The “Nation’s Sweetheart” persona vanished in a heartbeat. Her eyes flew wide, then fluttered shut as she was overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the contact. She felt the heat of his body, the crushing pressure of his grip, and the raw power of his tongue. She had expected a cute, romantic reveal—not a total sensory takeover.
She froze, her body turning to stone in his arms. A deep, vivid crimson blush surged from her neck to her forehead. She was no longer the director of her own show; she was completely at the mercy of the man holding her.
Jun pulled back just an inch, his lips still brushing hers, his breath hot against her skin. He didn’t let go of her; his hand remained possessively clamped on her ass, and his thumb traced the line of her lower lip.
Hana let out a soft, broken moan, her eyes half-open and hazy with a mixture of shock and intense arousal. “O-oppa…” she whimpered, her voice a dreamy, breathless whisper. She looked up at him, her pupils dilated, completely dazed by the sudden surge of dominance.
Jun looked directly into the camera, his gaze dark and possessive, his voice low and vibrating with authority.
“I’m Jun,” he said simply. “And Hana is mine.”
The chat, which had been a storm of activity, went dead silent for a full three seconds. It was as if the entire internet had collectively held its breath, the screen freezing in a moment of absolute shock.
Then, it blew up with a violence that almost crashed the app.
The scroll speed became an illegible blur of text and emojis, a digital explosion of pure chaos. The revelation of his identity, combined with the raw, aggressive display of affection, sent the internet into a total meltdown.
【HOLY SHIT!!! DID HE JUST—?!】
【HE GRABBED HER ASS!! I SAW IT!! 😱😱😱】
【JUN!!! THE PRIME CANDIDATE!!! HE’S HOTTER THAN I IMAGINED!!】
【Look at her face! She’s literally melted! I wish I was her right now!! 😭❤️】
【THAT KISS WAS NOT SCRIPTED!! Look at how he’s holding her face! I’m actually screaming!!】【The way he just claimed her… my god, I can’t breathe. He’s so dominant!!】
【Screaming, crying, throwing up!! He’s so possessive! I’m officially a Jun-stan!!】
【DID HE JUST SAY SHE’S HIS?! I’m dead. I’ve actually died. RIP me. 💀❤️】
The comments were a mixture of pure shock and intense envy. The “Nation’s Sweetheart” had just been claimed by a man who radiated a raw, masculine power that the internet had never seen in a Prime Candidate before. The fans weren’t just reacting to the romance; they were reacting to the dominance. The way he had handled her—the firm grip on her waist, the assertive invasion of her space—had turned the livestream from a cute announcement into a visceral event.
Hana, still trapped in the haze of the kiss, could hear the faint, rapid-fire pings of the notifications, but she didn’t care. The digital world was screaming, but all she could hear was the heavy thrum of Jun’s heart against her chest and the echo of his voice claiming her.
She had wanted to control the narrative, but Jun had just reminded her exactly who was in charge.