A/N: Chapter eleven! This one was a bit longer in length size. This chapter may be a little off, I'm sorry. I really tried executing the plot as well as I could. I'm sorry if anything seems wrong or forced or anything like it.

Also sorry if this chapter was at all confusing. It may have been. So I'm sorry ahead of time.

Anyways, I'm sorry to say it, but this plot might actually drag on for two more chapters. The next chapter is supposed to be big but that's just what I have in mind. I might change things up, and it might not be as big as I expect. Anyways, get ready for some plot twists or something!

"Kang San!" She jerked upward, wincing visibly as excruciating pain shot through her shoulder. Thanks to that pain, she was now fully awake; or at least, mostly awake. For Geum Jan Di, being fully awake was difficult enough. Rays of sunlight were sneaking in through the glass windows in the room, giving her no choice but to actually wake up. She ran a hand through her short, brunette locks, grumbling slightly as she went to lay back down on her very comfortable bed. "I could sleep forever.." she murmured, closing her eyes as she snuggled her face into the pillow that held a certain, sweet, familiar scent. She smiled faintly as she nuzzled her face into the cotton pillow. "My, what a comfortable bed.. Mm, Kang San must be jealous.." That's when realization finally hit her. Her eyelids flickered open, and her eyes met with the framed picture of young Yoon Ji Hoo and his grandfather on the table beside the bed. "..Ji Hoo Sunbae.." She could barely remember anything of the previous night, although she felt a tiny bit suspicious. She immediately sat up and yanked the blankets off her small body. "Eh?!" Her eyes widened. She was dressed in a pair of silk pajamas—note, these pajamas were ones she could not afford, nor were they even hers. The memory from the night before was unusually hazy, it left her wondering and pondering what exactly happened. Although, why she woke up yelling Kang San's name sent her into utter curiosity..

"Kang San.. He was.." she mumbled under her breath, screwing her eyes shut in an attempt to remember.

Ah—

That's right..

Her content faded away, and she was left sitting in someone else's bed, recalling the events of the previous night with such a heavy feeling building up in her chest. The tight feeling of Kang San's disappearance, and something else that set her off last night—

"Ah, thank you very much for your help.." she murmured quietly, bowing sloppily as she stumbled back away from the door. It was another dead end. No one saw, heard, or knew anything. It was almost as though Kang San didn't exist at the moment. Honestly, for the first time in her life, she had a strong urge to just cry. She wasn't smart. She wasn't pretty. She was poor. And she was ultimately a failure. She couldn't keep her brother safe and sound in a nice, warm home of comfortable living. Instead, she left him alone, and spent her time working too long or studying all night. Kang San, whom she carried the responsibility of for now, was gone, and it was her fault. Who wouldn't want to cry after something like this? Even the brave Wonder Girl couldn't handle the stress of it any longer. She needed to cry, but she didn't want to. Kang San didn't need a pity party or anyone crying over him. What he needed were people who were willing to search forever until he was found.

Only Yoon Ji Hoo could grant her such reassurance.

"Ji Hoo Sunbae.." She cleared her voice and spun around, beginning to jog over to the apartment where he was hopefully asking about Kang San. However, her eyes saw something completely different. Instead of asking a question, he was writing down something on a piece of paper—more than likely his number; after all, what else could he write down?—before passing it to the female who stood before him. She wore a very, very pretty smile. After taking a good look at her, Jan Di noticed she looked stunningly beautiful. Almost like a model.

' Like Seo Hyun.. '

She blinked slowly as she watched the beautiful female cup Ji Hoo's face, brushing her thumb gently, softly, sweetly across his cheek as if to enchant him. And for a second, she believed that he had looked into her eyes. Her chest—which already felt tight and constricted—began to feel heavy again. Like she wasn't important. Like her brother wasn't important. She felt bitter, because it felt like a game to her, and she was feeling this way when her brother was missing. It was shameful, disgraceful—absolutely disgusting. She was disgusting. She shouldn't have cared about this, but what could you do about a foolish girl's emotions? Even now, when she didn't want it to, her feelings got in the way of something that was important to her. It was so horrible. She was terrible. And because of that, she decided to take her feelings out on Ji Hoo, whom she misunderstood. That's when they both noticed her, and she tried holding back, she really did. But her emotions got in the way. This was supposed to be about saving Kang San, but she was the worst of them all.

"Ah.. Sorry for interrupting, Ji Hoo Sunbae.. I was.. just wondering if you made any progress.."

"I am. Have you, by any chance?"

"Is that so? You've been at this apartment for a while now. And I've already finished the street.."

"Well aren't you Miss Bitch." Jan Di blinked slowly when the woman spoke up suddenly in a bitter tone, clenching her fists angrily before glancing away. Her eyes locked onto the ground as she bit her lower lip. "If you need help, I can always assist—."

She wasn't going to listen further, nor did she plan to let her feelings get in the way. She stormed off. Kang San needed her at the moment. She had to push aside personal feelings for him. She couldn't—she wouldn't—live with herself if she failed him one more time.

"Geum Jan Di." She heard his footsteps right behind her. "Jan Di.."

"What? We need to keep searching.. Or is that even important to anyone?"

"Jan Di.. I do care."

"Could have fooled me. I could've sworn I just saw you talk to her for almost fifteen minutes. You even gave her your number.. We're here to ask people if they've heard a commotion."

She was being unfair.

"I gave it to her for a reason.."

"Ji Hoo Sunbae.. Just stop." She heard her own voice crack. How humiliating. Acting like this, especially when her brother's life was on the line. It was utterly sick of her. "..He's probably gone. We've done pointless searching. I.. I've done this to him."

"He's not. Geum Jan Di, please listen to me -"

"I'm tired of listening, Sunbae.. I want Kang San." And foolishly, she ran off. Her body felt warm, although her skin was clearly freezing. She hadn't noticed though, since her emotions only distracted her. She didn't want to worry about herself when someone else was in need of help. She called out to a nearby man, but her voice felt strained. Her legs were exhausted, almost as though they couldn't carry her any longer. Like the weight of the world dropped onto her back. Almost as though it were crushing her body, until her legs could no longer lift up such a heavy weight or carry such a heavy burden. Then she felt it. Her breathing quickened, and her legs gave out beneath her. She fell into a world of darkness, but only after she heard his sweet voice.

"Jan Di!"

"Right.." she murmured under her breath. "..I really screwed up.." She covered her face with her hands, exhaling shakily. She messed up. She grew jealous at the wrong time. She let herself collapse, even when her brother needed her most. She put this entire situation at risk. It was amazing at what a bother emotions became. But now she remembered that it was day. The incident occurred in the late hours of the night. Kang San was kidnapped, so why was she asleep for so long, and why was she here? Did everyone already give up? Did they receive bad news? She couldn't help the scenarios that played through her mind; it was practically unbearable.

"I really messed up, didn't I Kang San?" she whispered silently to herself. "Geum Jan Di is a terrible sister, isn't she?"

She could almost imagine her brother's smiling face.

She probably wouldn't see it again.

Her parents would probably cry and hate her.

—Cross that. They would.

"Ah, Jan Di; you're finally awake." A voice interrupted her thoughts. She swallowed her sorrow and pain. Then she removed her hands from her face. There stood Ji Hoo's grandfather to greet her.

"Harabeoji," she spoke suddenly. "I almost forgot you live here now.. Shouldn't you be working though?"

"It's only thanks to you that I do." He offered up one of his smiles to her. "I should be. But I decided to close the clinic for today."

"Why?"

Ji Hoo's grandfather simply smiled faintly before he motioned for her to get up. "You slept a long time, Geum Jan Di. Breakfast is prepared for you, so hurry up and go eat." He then began walking away, when she suddenly called back out to him.

"Eh? Harabeoji! Wait, wait!" She began to climb out of bed, though once her feet touched the ground, she lost her balance and almost fell forward. She stumbled against the wall that had luckily caught her fall. "Ow.."

"Hey, be careful!" A voice full of concern snapped at her, which surprised her so suddenly. "You're suffering from exhaustion, young girl. Be careful when you walk. Otherwise, you'll end up falling and hurting yourself further."

"Hurting myself further..?"

"Didn't you know?" Ji Hoo's grandfather retorted scornfully. "If you do not take proper care of your body, it will eventually weaken. And you won't live a very long life. You're lucky Ji Hoo was there to help you back here.. Now, come and eat before I drag you over there myself." Again, a friendly smile reappeared on his lips. "Come, come.." He began walking off to the kitchen; leaving Jan Di a little confused.

"Wait, harabeoji! I can't.. I need to leave now," she called after him, following right behind him. "I need to go.. I have to find my brother.."

"Ji Hoo said to keep you here, and that is exactly what I plan on doing."

"Ji Hoo Sunbae..?" she questioned uneasily. "..I can't, though.."

"Do you trust him?"

"What..?"

Ji Hoo's grandfather turned to look at her. "Do you trust him? My grandson?"

It was a little confusing, and she was impatient to leave, but she nodded. "I do.."

"Then listen to him just this once, Geum Jan Di. Now come eat." His grandfather motioned for her to follow once again.

Listen to him? When my brother is missing?! I can't eat at a time like this!

Quietly, she followed behind him. She would down her food just this once—until he wasn't watching her. Then she would return to searching for her brother.

He wasn't going to alert Ga Eul. That would be unwise, since she was going to make it obvious that she knew they were being followed. It was best to only stay aware of his surroundings so he could protect her. Woo Bin—he didn't want to admit it, but he was probably caught in one of their traps. He could only assume such, since he never returned just as he promised.

' Woo Bin always keeps his word.. Time to put on a little acting.. '

So Yi-Jeong glanced over at Ga Eul with his charismatic smile. "Miss Ga Eul, did I mention how you look lovely in this moonlight?" He slowed his footsteps to a halt, and grasped a firm hold on her wrist.

"Yi-Jeong Sunbae, now isn't the time.." she began, but she was silenced when he suddenly grasped her chin to tilt her head up so they could make eye contact.

"It isn't?" He laughed a little. "Maybe he left us alone for a reason.."

"Yi-Jeong Sunbae, what are you.."

She was interrupted when he suddenly leaned down close to her, watching the dark figure in the corner of his eyes. The dark figure was watching them from behind a car very suspiciously, and he knew they were being followed. The only way to diminish their little 'stalkers' suspicion, he had to act as though they were lovers simply taking a midnight stroll. Then, without realizing it himself, his lips brushed against hers for a brief and light kiss. It only lasted a few seconds before he pulled away to smile at her once more.

"I wonder why I haven't realized it earlier," he whispered to her quietly.

Suddenly the dark figure that was once watching them ran off. His little act probably diffused any suspicion on them.

"Good.." he began before the palm of a hand came in firm contact with his cheek. He grimaced at the slap, though he remained utterly calm with his smile fading away.

Ga Eul looked angry. "What did you do that for?"

She was clearly angry. He really couldn't blame her.

"We were being followed," he responded simply before releasing her and pulling away. "I did what was necessary to pull off the act that we were lovers taking a midnight stroll." Ga Eul's eyes widened, almost in shock. Before she could ask anymore questions, he quietly added, "You were right, Miss Ga Eul. We should have tagged along with Woo Bin. Now let's hurry and go."

He took her hand once more, and began leading her to Jan Di's home. Once they both reached her cheap apartment, they jogged up the stairs to the door. Yi-Jeong tried opening it by the handle, but it wouldn't budge. Suddenly a voice sounded from the other side of the door.

"So Yi-Jeong?!"

"Woo Bin?" responded Yi-Jeong, recognizing his friend's voice.

Chu Ga Eul chimed in almost immediately, "Woo Bin sunbae! Did something happen?"

"Yeah!" Yi-Jeong could hear him banging his fist against the door. "Some bastards locked me in here!"

"Locked? You can't unlock it from the inside?" asked Ga Eul.

"No. It's one of those old apartments where you have to carry around a key to lock and unlock this door," he mumbled under his breath. "I can't unlock it from the inside, and I don't have the key."

"Those still exist?" Yi-Jeong asked.

"Apparently so." Woo Bin banged against the door again. "Is there anyway you could open it?"

Yi-Jeong glanced at the door. "I could try pick-locking it."

"Ohh!" It was almost as if Woo Bin suddenly remembered.

' I'm skillful with my hands. '

That didn't just mean pottery wise. Yi-Jeong had blessed and gifted hands that were skillful in almost anything. He learned how to pick a lock at a young age, when Woo Bin was locked in his own room by his father for something he had said. At the time, Yi-Jeong had visited, and learned to pick lock the door to help Woo Bin escape his locked room. Afterwards, the two had gone out to sit on the front steps.

"Miss Ga Eul," began Yi-Jeong, glancing over his shoulder at her. "Your hairpins; may I borrow them?"

She blinked slowly, before nodding her head in response. "Yeah, sure." She took out her hairpins and handed them to Yi-Jeong, who then knelt down and began to pick the lock. With great precision and accuracy—like most of the time he was—Yi-Jeong had managed to unlock the door within a matter of minutes. Then, standing up, he turned the doorknob and opened the door for Woo Bin. Woo Bin was grinning wide now as he clapped his hands together loudly once in appreciation for his 'savior'.

"Yi-Jeong, my bro! I knew you could do it!" Woo Bin patted his friend on the back.

"Is this where you've been this entire time?" asked Yi-Jeong. "Why would someone lock you in here?"

"And how did they get the key?" questioned Ga Eul. It only took a few seconds for all of them to put the pieces together. "One of Kang San's kidnappers..?"

"Seems so." Woo Bin nodded firmly. "I discovered a ransom note in Jan Di's room. He was taken hostage."

"Did you tell Ji Hoo?"

"Yeah. I called him after getting locked in. According to this note," Woo Bin shook a single piece of paper in the air. "Kang San is safe. We have 48 hours to gather the ransom money. They're asking for a lot. I don't think Jan Di would've been able to pay this off all on her own."

"So what does Ji Hoo plan on doing? Jan Di doesn't have any money to get her brother back. Unless.." Yi-Jeong's voice trailed off.

"Yeah. He plans on paying the sum himself." Woo Boo sighed heavily as he slid the note back into his pocket.

"Why try kidnapping Kang San in the first place, though?" Ga Eul still didn't understand. "She doesn't have money, that was clear to them, wasn't it? How could they possibly know that they would get money for Kang San when both Kang San and Jan Di live here?"

Yi-Jeong slowly began to understand it all himself. "They knew she didn't have the money. But the Shinhwa heir does."

"And so does the rest of F4," Woo Bin added. "They must've caught one of us with Geum Jan Di. But it still doesn't make sense entirely."

"And why is that?" pressed Ga Eul, who was looking more concerned than before.

Woo Bin stepped aside and gestured inside the apartment. "Because this was staged. A little kid Kang San's age couldn't have been able to struggle as much as an average person. More than likely, he was caught easily. They tried so hard to make it look like some kind of crime scene. But I don't think that's important. See, what I want to know is why Kang San? Jan Di would be more suitable, wouldn't she?"

A/N: So what do you think?

Improvements? Thoughts?

Do you guys trust Ji Hoo to handle this situation himself? :D And we haven't heard from Jun Pyo for a while! Wonder what he's been up to.