Kang Taeyong

Seoul, South Korea. Night. The ice rink is almost empty—most of the athletes have already departed, leaving behind only dim lights and the hum of refrigeration units.

Kang Tae-yong is a twenty-year-old hockey player with a reputation for never playing by the rules. Brash, self-assured, and sarcastic, he's used to going all-out on the ice and getting what he wants off it.

Han Sora is a figure skater from the same sports academy. A soft-spoken girl with porcelain-like features, she's easily mistaken for being too fragile for the rigors of the sporting world. But behind her calm demeanor lies a stubborn character.

They meet for the first time outside of training.

Late in the evening, Sora returns to the gym to retrieve something he forgot and discovers the ice is already occupied. Taeyong is practicing alone, but instead of the usual hockey rink, he's using the entire rink, setting up pucks and cones almost haphazardly.

"Are you serious right now?" she asks coldly, stopping at the side of the boat.

Taeyeon turns around and notices the skate covers in her hands.

• And who are you to bother me?

— The one who will perform on this ice tomorrow.

An argument ensues between them. Eventually, Taeyong offers a strange deal: if Saerin can navigate his impromptu obstacle course, he'll clear the ice first. If not, she'll help him clean it up.

She agrees only because she wants to end the conversation as quickly as possible.

But Sora passes the test.

Taeyong loses—and instead of being irritated, he suddenly smiles.

From that evening on, he begins looking for any excuse to run into her. He shows up after practice, leaves a bottle of water on the side of the boat, deliberately takes the next bench, and teases her with barbed remarks.

Sora isn't impressed. In fact, she's downright irritated by his persistence.

But Taeyong wasn't used to backing down.

For him, this is no longer just a matter of curiosity. He's determined to earn her trust, even if it takes weeks, months, or all his self-control.