The streets of Seoul had finally surrendered to the stillness of night. Midnight had come and gone, leaving Gangnam's skyscrapers casting faint neon glows across the sleek interior of the Mercedes AMG GT 63. As Oner steered the car toward Bukchon Hanok Village, the tension inside felt heavier than the calm outside.

His fingers gripped the wheel, the soft blue light from the dashboard casting shadows over his clenched knuckles. His gaze flicked toward Hye Jin, her face partly obscured in the dim light. She sat stiffly, her eyes focused ahead, though he knew her mind was far from quiet.

"What were you thinking, Noona?" he asked, breaking the silence. His voice was low but sharp. "You could've been hurt."

Hye Jin's shoulders tensed. "I wasn't planning to jump into the chaos, nam-dongsaeng," she shot back. "Professor Cuenca invited me. I couldn't say no."

Oner's frustration boiled over. He pressed the gas pedal harder, the car speeding past Cheonggyecheon Stream. The tranquil waters stood in stark contrast to his rising anger. "An invitation? That's your reason? You risked your safety because of an invitation?"

She turned to him, her voice soft but steady. "I love history, you know that. I didn't expect to be caught in a heist. I just... wanted to learn."

Her words hung in the air as they approached Bukchon Hanok Village, the traditional hanoks lining the quiet alleyways. Oner's grip on the wheel tightened, but his anger was beginning to ebb, replaced by something more complicated. "You shouldn't have been there. End of story."

His tone softened as they neared their ancestral home, its sloping roof silhouetted against the moonlit sky. The car slowed as they entered the narrow alley leading to the gate.

Hye Jin reached out, placing a hand on his arm. Her touch was light but grounding. "You think I wanted you there, running headfirst into danger?" Her voice was calm now, almost a whisper. "We both got caught up in something beyond our control. But we're okay. That's what matters."

Oner sighed, his shoulders relaxing. "I know... I just can't help it. You're my sister. I'll always worry."

"And I'll always worry about you." She smiled, the tension between them easing as they passed the stone wall marking their home. "But we're safe now. Let's just be thankful for that."

As they pulled up to the gate, Oner shot her a sidelong glance. "So, what were you really doing at the exhibition? History isn't exactly your scene."

He saw her hesitate, her fingers nervously playing with the sleeve of her dress. "I've always liked history. It's just... a secret." She gave him a sheepish smile. "Eomma and Appa wouldn't understand."

The admission settled over him like a weight. Oner hadn't expected that. His sister, always the practical one, keeping her true passion hidden? He hadn't seen it. He hadn't noticed.

"You're really into it, huh?" His voice softened, a pang of guilt twisting in his chest. "I never knew. I'll keep your secret, Noona. Promise."

Her smile widened, though there was a flicker of sadness behind it. "Thanks." She looked away, her gaze distant. "It's not that I don't like engineering. I do. But history... it's different. It feels like I'm part of something bigger."

Oner's stomach clenched. He knew what she wasn't saying. Engineering wasn't her dream—it was their father's. The family business in construction had always been his expected path, not hers. But he had chosen e-sports, leaving her to shoulder the burden he had shrugged off.

"You're only doing it because of me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Hye Jin's smile faltered, but she quickly recovered, shaking her head. "It's okay. I enjoy it." She paused, her voice quiet but resolute. "But history... it connects me to something more."

Oner swallowed hard, the guilt pressing down on him. He hadn't realized how much she'd sacrificed for him. How much she'd taken on to keep their parents' dreams alive.

"I'm sorry," he said, his words thick with regret.

Her eyes softened, and she shook her head, her smile returning, gentler this time. "Don't be. I'm proud of you, Baby Tiger. You chased your dream. That takes courage."

The car slowed to a stop in front of the gate. Oner, his mood lighter but still tinged with remorse, tried to shift the conversation. "So... how do you know Professor Cuenca? She seemed familiar with you."

He caught the amused look in her eyes as she turned to him. "She saved my butt last year. I was lost in the Philippines... couldn't even read the signs."

"Oh yeah, your post-Worlds sulking trip," she teased, a laugh escaping her. "You were 'so' against it."

"Yeah, well, work made me go," he muttered, though a small grin tugged at his lips. "But meeting her? That was unexpected. And kind of nice."

Hye Jin chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "So, you lost touch with your savior?"

"More like I washed her contact info with my pants," he laughed. "Total disaster."

As they reached the gate, Hye Jin noticed the shift in his mood. The tension that had weighed him down was easing, replaced by something more hopeful. "What's on your mind now?" she asked, eyeing him curiously.

"Something good," Oner said, his voice warm with quiet determination. "And I'm going to need your help."

She was about to ask for details, but the car had already come to a stop. Hye Jin stepped out, casting him a questioning look. "What do you mean?"

Oner just grinned. "You'll find out. Keep your phone close."

He watched her walk up to the house, a small smile playing on his lips. As she disappeared inside, he turned the car around, heading back toward Gangnam and the T1 gaming house. The streets of Seoul stretched out before him, quiet and welcoming. The tension from earlier was gone, replaced by a sense of resolve.