**Chapter 4: The Blind Leap**

As Sae-byeok soared through the air, Sang-woo's eyes were fixed on her, his mind racing with calculations. He had to time her jump perfectly, or she would crash into the spinning wheel and be sliced to ribbons. The wheel's blades seemed to be spinning faster, the sound growing louder and more menacing as Sae-byeok hurtled towards it. Sae-byeok's body was a projectile, her trajectory uncertain, and Sang-woo's heart was in his mouth as he watched her fly. He had to guide her, but how? He couldn't see the wheel's rotation, couldn't predict exactly where the blades would be. And then, in a flash of inspiration, he remembered the emcee's earlier words: "The answer is in the sound." Sang-woo focused on the noise of the wheel, listening to the rhythm of its rotation. The blades created a staccato beat, a series of sharp cracks that seemed to be getting faster and faster. He timed Sae-byeok's jump to the beat, counting out loud, "One, two, three..." As she reached the apex of her arc, he shouted, "Now!" Sae-byeok twisted in mid-air, her body aligning with the gap between two blades. Time seemed to slow down as she passed through the narrow opening, her blindfolded face inches from the spinning metal. Sang-woo held his breath, his heart pounding in his chest, as Sae-byeok landed safely on the other side. She stumbled, her blindfold slipping, and Sang-woo rushed to her side, helping her to her feet. For a moment, they just stood there, panting, their eyes locked on each other. Sang-woo could see the gratitude in Sae-byeok's eyes, and something more - a spark of connection that went beyond mere survival. The emcee's voice cut through the air, booming and triumphant. "And they make it through! The first team to complete the obstacle course!" The crowd erupted into cheers, and Sang-woo felt a rush of excitement mixed with relief. As they made their way off the course, Sae-byeok turned to him, her blindfold still askew. "Thanks," she said, her voice low and husky. "I owe you one." Sang-woo smiled, feeling a sense of camaraderie with this mysterious, enigmatic woman. But as they walked away from the course, Sang-woo couldn't shake off the feeling that he had just made a deal with a stranger - a deal that might cost him more than he was willing to pay. Sae-byeok's eyes seemed to hold a secret, a hidden agenda that Sang-woo couldn't quite decipher. As they entered the bright lights of the game's central area, Sang-woo was confronted with a sea of faces, all of them eager to see the contestants up close. He felt a tap on his shoulder, and turned to see a figure in a black hoodie, their face obscured. "You're quite the team," the figure said, their voice low and menacing. "But don't get too comfortable. The game is far from over." With that, the figure disappeared into the crowd, leaving Sang-woo with more questions than answers. What did they want from him? And what lay ahead in this twisted game of survival? Sang-woo's instincts told him to be on guard, to watch his back, but for now, he just smiled, his eyes locked on Sae-byeok's. Together, they would face whatever challenges came their way. But for how long?