The car ride was silent.
Uncomfortably silent.
Kang Sera sat by the window, chin resting lazily on her hand, watching the city blur past.
"...So," she finally spoke, glancing sideways, "do you always threaten your business partners, or am I special?"
Han Jiheon didn't even look at her.
"Be quiet."
"...Ah," she nodded. "Special treatment. I'm
honored."
Silence again.
She smiled to herself.
Yep. Definitely male lead. Emotionally constipated and rich.
And then-
The car stopped.
Sera stepped out.
And froze.
"What the hell."
Before her stood a mansion.
No-calling it a mansion felt disrespectful.
It was a whole estate.
Tall iron gates. Endless gardens. A fountain that probably cost more than her entire past life salary.
"...Oh, I like this world," she muttered. "I take back
30% of my complaints."
She walked forward slowly, eyes scanning everything like a tourist.
"Is this your house or a historical monument?" she
asked
"No unnecessary questions," Jiheon replied coldly.
Right. Billionaire. Got it."
But her lips? Still smiling.
Inside-
Even worse.
Crystal chandeliers. Marble floors. Everything shining like it had never known dust.
Sera placed a hand over her heart.
"I think I just fell in love."
Jiheon glanced at her.
"...With the house?"
"Obviously," she replied instantly. "You're just included in the package."
A maid stifled a laugh.
Jiheon's gaze turned colder.
"Take her to her room."
"Yes, sir"
Her Room
The door opened.
Sera stepped in-
and went completely silent.
The room was huge.
Soft lighting. A bed that looked like it belonged to royalty. Floor-to-ceiling windows. A wardrobe bigger than her entire previous apartment.
"I'm not leaving," she said immediately. "Even if you kick me out, I'll hide under the bed."
The maid blinked, confused.
Sera waved her off. "You can go. I need to emotionally process my new wealth."
The maid left.
The door closed.
Silence.
"...Okay," Sera exhaled, throwing herself onto the bed.
Soft.
Too soft..
She sank into it like her problems no longer
existed.
System."
[System online.
"Explain everything. Slowly. And if possible, make
it less depressing."
The Truth of the Novel
A screen appeared before her eyes.
Cold. Clear.
Merciless.
Novel Title: "Fragile Love"]
[Genre: Romance/Drama/Tragedy]
Sera's lips twitched.
Already sounds annoying."
Male Lead: Han Jiheon)
A powerful CEO, cold and untouchable.
Deeply devoted to the female lead.
Yeah, I saw that coming."
Female Lead: Yoo Aral
A "kind and fragile" woman suffering from a rare
illness. Requires constant blood transfusions to survive.
Sera sat up.
Her eyes sharpened.
"What illness?"
Villainess: Kang Seral
Wife of Han Jiheon.
Obsessive. Jealous. Cruel.
Used as a blood donor for Yoo Ara.
Fate: Dies after excessive blood extraction.
Silence.
"...That's it?" she asked.
[Additional Information: Villainess attempts to harm the female lead multiple times. Eventually exposed and abandoned. Dies alone.]
"...Wow," she nodded slowly. "She really went all out and still lost. That's embarrassing."
But then-
Her expression changed.
Slightly.
Subtly.
"System," she said, voice calmer now.
"That illness."
[Information restricted.]
"... Of course it is."
She leaned back again, staring at the ceiling.
"...But from a medical perspective..."
Her eyes narrowed.
"...Something feels off."
Meanwhile...
In another part of the mansion-
Han Jiheon stood by the window, looking down at the garden.
"...She signed too easily," he muttered.
His assistant hesitated. "Sir... should we investigate-"
"No."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"...I'll watch her myself."
Back to Sera
She stretched lazily on the bed.
"...Alright," she said.
"So let me get this straight."
She raised her fingers, counting:
"Step one: I'm in a novel."
"Step two: I'm the villainess."
"Step three: I'm being used as a blood bank."
Pause.
"...And step four..."
A slow grin spread across her face.
"...I'm getting paid one million per bag."
She sat up.
Eyes gleaming.
Dangerous. Playful.
Excited.
"...System."
[Yes, host?]
"Unlock Stage 1 details."
A pause.
Then-
[Stage 1: Survival]
[Objective: Stay alive until the end of the original timeline.]
"...Easy."
[Warning: Survival rate-5%]
"...Okay, slightly less easy."
But instead of fear-
She laughed.
Soft at first.
Then louder.
...This is fun."
She stood up, walking toward the mirror.
The reflection staring back at her-
Beautiful.
But pale.
Fragile.
Dying.
"...Not anymore," she whispered.
Her gaze sharpened.
Cold. Intelligent. Unpredictable.
"...Let's see," Kang Sera smiled,
"How long your precious story lasts..."
"...now that I'm in it."