The fan meeting was loud, full of flashing lights and excited chatter, but Jae-Hyun felt detached, his usual stoic mask firmly in place as he waved to the crowd. To everyone else, he was the perfect, poised celebrity, his handsome features unreadable. His gaze occasionally wandered over the rows of fans, giving polite smiles as they cheered his name.

But then, a commotion caught his attention—a girl, a bit closer than security typically allowed, her eyes bright with determination. She was moving forward, weaving through the crowd with single-minded focus. One of the guards immediately stepped in, extending an arm to block her, but she ducked around it with a defiant grin.

“Miss, please—” the guard began, but she ignored him, pressing forward until she was just a few steps away from Jae-Hyun.

For a moment, he simply stared, surprised. No one had ever dared to break protocol like that, especially not with such a fearless look in their eyes. She stood there, unwavering, her presence somehow more commanding than the flashing cameras or the loud crowd.

Jae-Hyun’s expression softened, a flicker of amusement in his gaze. He raised a hand slightly, signaling the guard to let her through. The guard hesitated, glancing back at Jae-Hyun, but obeyed, stepping back reluctantly.

She took those last few steps confidently, finally standing directly in front of him, her determination almost palpable. Jae-Hyun inclined his head, studying her with interest.

“So, you decided not to listen?” he murmured, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

She didn’t flinch, meeting his gaze head-on, her eyes sparkling with excitement. The crowd watched, fascinated by the interaction, and for the first time in a long while, Jae-Hyun felt himself breaking character. He tilted his head, his gaze softening as he continued, “What’s your name, Little Flame?”

Then, almost impulsively, he reached out, gently taking her hand.