Chapter 1
Lily, twenty, slim and graceful, sat at her school desk, her long hair falling like a dark curtain around her shoulders. While the classroom buzzed with chatter and laughter, she was lost in her own world, absorbed in her studies. Papers, pens, and notes spread before her as she scribbled diligently, her sharp eyes scanning every word with focus. She was the class topper, not by chance but by sheer determination and hard work.
Her phone buzzed suddenly, breaking her concentration. Picking it up, she saw it was her best friend, Rose.
“Hey, Lily! Did you see the story I posted?” Rose’s voice was bubbling with excitement.
“What! Let me check!” Lily replied, her own excitement lighting up her face.
Her heart skipped a beat as she saw him—Lin Smith, her favorite actor, right there on the post. She stared, unable to look away, her mind racing. She had admired him for years, even learning Korean just to understand him better.
After school, Lily boarded the bus home, still lost in thought. The hum of the engine and the rhythmic passing of trees did little to calm her mind. Oh God, when will I be rich? Always this same bus, this same tiny house, these dull clothes… I am tired of all this! she thought, clenching her bag tightly.
At home, her mother called out, “Lily, come have lunch!”
“No, Mom! I’m not even hungry. I ate ham earlier. I have to study,” Lily replied, slipping into her room without another word.
Hours passed. Lily sat cross-legged on her bed, books open, pen in hand, determined to master every subject. Exhaustion crept in, but she didn’t stop. When night fell, she finally rested her eyes, glancing once more at Lin’s photo beside her. It was as if all her fatigue melted away at the sight of him.
Beside the photo lay an apple and some dates her mother had left for her. She ate them quietly, a small comfort in her tireless routine, and drifted into a well-earned sleep, dreaming of a future far greater than the one she had.
************
It was exam day, and Lily’s mind was buried in her books, determined to focus despite the gnawing hunger and exhaustion. Her breakfast had been minimal, and she felt weak, but she pushed herself to concentrate. Every page, every formula, every line of text demanded her attention. She refused to let anything distract her—not even the thought of Lin.
Just then, her phone rang. It was Rose, bubbling with excitement as usual.
“Hey, Lily! How’s the studying going?” Rose asked.
“I’m working on it,” Lily replied, brushing off the concern in her tone.
“You seem busy… but you know what? Lin!”
Lily froze. “Lin?”
Rose’s voice lowered, conspiratorial. “He’s coming to the restaurant nearby today. I’ve got the confirmed news!”
“What!” Lily gasped, her heart pounding.
“Will you go?” Rose teased.
“Of course! How could I say no?” Lily replied, barely able to contain her excitement.
Despite the thrill, she forced herself to finish her exam. Weakness gnawed at her body, making her feel dizzy, but she focused on the papers in front of her, determined not to let her nerves betray her. Every answer, every calculation demanded all her attention.
By evening, Lily returned home, her mind still racing from the exam. Her mother called her for dinner, placing a warm plate in front of her.
“Lily, eat something. You barely had breakfast!” her mother chided gently.
“No, Mom! I have to go! Lin’s here!” Lily exclaimed, springing from her seat.
Her mother grabbed her hand. “Wait! Eat first—you need your strength!”
“I can’t, Mom! I have to go now!” Lily wrenched her hand free and ran, excitement fueling her steps, even as her legs trembled from weakness.
By the time she reached the restaurant, she was breathless. And then, crushingly, she saw it—Lin had already left. Rose approached her, phone in hand, grinning.
“I saw him! Took a selfie, even talked to him a little. You missed it!”
Lily’s knees buckled, and she fell, heartbreak washing over her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered, “I… I’m sorry…”
Rose knelt beside her, confused. “Why are you sorry? Let’s go home.”
Lily shook her head, refusing. Her heart ached in ways words couldn’t describe. She walked home slowly, replaying every moment in her mind, when suddenly… a blinding light appeared in front of her.
Before she could react, everything went black.
*************
When Lily opened her eyes again, the world was silent. Machines beeped rhythmically, tubes ran into her arms, and her body felt impossibly heavy. She could not move, could not speak. The bright hospital lights reflected off the sterile white walls, making everything feel unreal.
Beside her bed stood her mother, eyes red and swollen from crying. She clutched Lily’s hand, her fingers trembling. “Lily… please wake up, my child. You’ve worked so hard… you can’t leave me now,” she whispered, her voice breaking with fear.
Behind her, Rose hovered, guilt etched deep across her face. “It’s my fault,” she muttered. “I told you about Lin… I pushed you to run… I shouldn’t have. Lily, I’m so sorry…”
The beeping of the machines seemed unbearably loud in the room, marking time that Lily could not feel. Her mother leaned closer, pressing her forehead to Lily’s arm. “Please, my baby… wake up. You’ve faced everything alone for so long. Don’t leave me like this.”
Tears streamed down Rose’s cheeks as she knelt beside the bed, her hands clasped together in silent prayer. “You’ve always protected him… now let me protect you, Lily. Come back to us.”
Hours passed in tense silence, broken only by the muffled voices of doctors outside. Lily remained unconscious, trapped in a world between life and dream. Though her eyes remained closed, a single tear rolled down her cheek, as if even in her deep sleep, her heart still felt the love and worry surrounding her.
In that sterile, quiet hospital room, two hearts waited desperately for her to return: her mother’s, filled with boundless love and fear, and her best friend’s, heavy with guilt and hope. And somewhere, unspoken but deeply felt, a part of Lily herself reached out from within the darkness, yearning to wake and find the world she had temporary
Lily lost.
***********
When Lily finally opened her eyes, the first thing that caught her attention was a chandelier—crystal drops shimmering like frozen stars. She gasped and tried to sit up, only to realize she was lying on a velvet bed far larger than her own. Her body felt strange, her clothes expensive and elegant, completely unlike anything she had worn before.
A tall man dressed entirely in black stood by her side. His presence was commanding, almost intimidating, yet strangely protective. “Good morning, ma’am. Time to wake up. You’re going to be late for school, Ms. Shiny,” he said, his voice calm but firm.
“Ms… Shiny?” Lily stammered, confusion flooding her. “M-me?”
“Yes, Ms. You need to get ready,” the bodyguard replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. With that, he left the room.
Lily’s heart raced. She looked around, her eyes wide in disbelief. The room was enormous, draped in silk and gold, every detail more luxurious than she had ever imagined. It felt like a palace, not her small, familiar home.
Before she could process anything, another young woman entered, also dressed like a bodyguard. Behind her came two servants carrying breakfast. “Ms. Shiny, it’s time to get ready. Here’s your uniform, and your breakfast will be served shortly,” she said politely.
“Wait… do you even know me?” Lily asked, panic rising.
The woman only smiled. “Of course, ma’am. Please get ready, or you’ll be late.”
Lily’s mind spun. She had been transported into a life she could never have imagined—wealthy, powerful, and now someone else entirely. Her name was no longer Lily; it was Shiny. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, and allowed herself to be dressed.
The breakfast that followed was decadent—golden pastries, fresh fruits, and dishes she had only dreamed of. Even as she ate, Lily’s mind raced with questions. How had this happened? Why was she here? And most importantly… what did this mean for her life, her dreams, and Lin Smith, who somehow now felt closer than ever?
Stepping outside, her jaw dropped. A gleaming luxury car waited at the entrance, the same black-clad man opening the door for her. “Ms., we’re going to school. Please, step in,” he said. Lily hesitated, still trying to reconcile the familiar yet impossible new world surrounding her.
Korea’s most prestigious academy awaited her—one that many could only dream of entering. And now, for reasons she could not yet understand, she belonged here.
***********
