" The Girl They Called Devil "

Episode 6: A World Apart

The car ride felt like it lasted only minutes, though it must have been hours. Yuju sat in the back seat, sandwiched between Mr. and Mrs. Choi, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Outside the window, the gray, dusty streets she had known her whole life melted away, replaced by wide, tree-lined roads, perfectly trimmed grass, and houses so grand they looked like palaces. She didn’t speak a word. Every time she glanced at Mrs. Choi, the woman simply smiled back—a warm, steady look that didn’t waver, even though the whole hostel had warned her not to bring Yuju along.

When the car finally slowed and the tall iron gates rolled open on their own, Yuju held her breath.

The Choi Mansion stood before her, larger than anything she had ever imagined. It wasn’t just a house; it was a kingdom. White stone pillars held up high roofs, crystal windows caught the sunlight like diamonds, and the garden stretched out further than the eye could see, filled with flowers bursting in colors she rarely got to see. Fountains sprayed water into the air, glistening, and clean paths led toward the main entrance. Compared to the cramped, drafty hostel with its cold floors and chipped paint, this place was heaven.

The car stopped at the grand steps. Before Yuju could even think of opening a door, uniformed staff rushed forward to welcome them.

“Welcome home, Sir, Madam,” they bowed deeply. Their eyes flickered toward Yuju—wondering, curious, perhaps having already heard the strange story of the girl they’d chosen—but no one whispered cruel names. No one shouted devil or cursed. They were polite, calm, and respectful.

Mrs. Choi stepped out first, then turned back, offering her hand once more. “Come inside, Yuju. This is your home now.”

Yuju took the hand and stepped onto the marble floor of the entrance hall. Her reflection stared back at her from the polished surface—pale face, dark eyes, clothes still simple and worn from the hostel, standing in a hall where chandeliers hung low, casting warm golden light over everything. The air here smelled sweet—of fresh flowers, vanilla, and wood polish—nothing like the damp, stale air she was used to.

“Everything you see here is yours to enjoy,” Mr. Choi said gently, walking beside her. “Whatever you need, whoever you want to meet, just say the word. We know change isn’t easy, but we want you to feel safe and loved.”

As they crossed into the living area, voices drifted down from the staircase. Footsteps heavy and sure. Yuju looked up, her guard instantly rising.

There, descending the wide stairs two at a time, was a boy—tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair swept back and sharp, confident features. He wore comfortable but expensive clothes, and in his hand he held a book. This was the son everyone talked about. The one they already had. The reason they only came looking for a daughter.

He stopped halfway down the steps and looked straight at Yuju.

This was Choi Woo-jin. He was older—about seventeen—known in the city as smart, athletic, and destined to lead the family one day. He didn’t look like he cared much for strangers, and certainly not for a girl brought home from a hostel just that morning.

“So this is the one you chose,” Woo-jin said, his voice clear and steady. He didn’t smile, but he didn’t sneer either. He walked down the rest of the way and stopped right in front of her, towering over her small frame.

Yuju didn’t back away. She tilted her chin up, meeting his gaze with the same fierce look she had given everyone else. She wouldn’t let him think she was weak just because she was new, or because they said bad things about her. If he expected a quiet, grateful little girl, he was going to be disappointed.

Mrs. Choi stepped between them, amused but firm. “Woo-jin, behave. This is your new sister, Yuju. From today on, you protect her, you stand by her, and you treat her like family. Do you understand?”

For a moment, the silence stretched. Woo-jin studied her eyes—eyes that looked like they had seen pain far greater than most adults ever faced. He saw the anger, yes, but he also saw the strength his mother had spoken of. Slowly, the corner of his mouth tugged upward into a faint, genuine grin.

“I heard the rumors, you know,” Woo-jin said, leaning down slightly so they were at eye level. “They say you’re dangerous. That you bring trouble wherever you go.”

Yuju didn’t blink. “And? Are you afraid?”

He laughed—a low, rich sound that echoed softly in the hall. “Afraid? No. I’m bored. And if you really are as fierce as they say… then this family is finally going to get interesting. Welcome home, little devil. I think we’re going to get along just fine.”

He reached out, not to shake hands, but to ruffle her hair gently—an act of brotherhood, strange and sudden, that caught her completely off guard.

“Your room is right next to mine,” he told her. “It’s bigger than anything you’ve ever slept in. You’ll have your own bathroom, a balcony, books, clothes—anything you want. And if anyone dares to call you names or treat you wrong… they’ll have to deal with me first.”

Yuju looked from him to her new parents, standing side by side, looking at her with such open hope and pride. For the first time since she could remember, the heavy stone pressing against her chest began to lift.

She had arrived in a world far different from the one she left behind. Here, she wasn’t an outcast. She wasn’t bad luck. She wasn’t the devil they feared.

Here… she was the daughter of the Choi family. And for the first time, she felt something she hadn’t felt in years: she belonged.